I am not sure how I’ve managed to be in Singapore for more than 10 years without dining at the renowned and equally aged Maison Ikkoku – however I am secretly pleased that I waited this long because their latest concept Eden is well worth writing about.
As we climb the stairs to the rooftop of the quaint shophouse on Kandahar Street, our collective jaws drop to the floor when we are greeted with the stunning rooftop oasis aptly named Eden.
Image Credit: Reporter Rebecca Assice on the Balcony Maison Ikkoku Eden
Perched a mere stone’s throw from the impressive gold dome of the Sultan Mosque, one is immediately transported to an era of Arabian nights where the warm tropical breeze, blue and purple shades of dusk and soothing music from the Mosque tantalise our senses.
The captivating view has already won us over and the intimate rooftop space is the ideal location for a delicious 2 guest date night - and would be the most perfect venue for a small group dinner or celebration - when such groups are allowed once more.
Spending more than enough time taking instaworthy shots, we are ready for our tastebuds to be tempted and commence with a bespoke cocktail of passionfruit, gin and fresh thyme together with Foie Gras Maki (pictured below). Pan seared foie gras, with cucumber, grilled Wagyu Beef and a splash of Balsamic.
The food and drinks are provided by the Maison Ikkoku bar cum restaurant many of you would know and love – there is no need for a cocktail menu here, just let the team know what you like and leave it up to their creative genius to please you.
Images Credit: Maison Ikkoku Oyster Orgasm
The food is resplendent in both its appearance, supreme quality and taste – a nod to owner Ethan’s love of fine Japanese cuisine. We commence with an Oyster Orgasm (pictured above) – aptly named for its fusion of ikura, uni and caviar atop a live Normandy oyster.
MI Tartare (pictured above) is an intriguing and modern take on a classic tuna tartare – blending Maguro bluefin tuna with a special house made chili served with butter brioche, onion and onion sprouts.
We were fortunate to try a seasonal October special known as Champignon Pied Blue (pictured above) – a French bluefoot mushroom lightly brushed in tempura and 7 Japanese spices. The textures and flavours a unique and delightful combination.
Highlights of the more substantial dishes include the famed Lobster Linguini (pictured above) – where you can expect a 72 hour cooked whole or half lobster to delicately laze on top a bed of linguini drenched in a rich lobster, tomato, garlic and cognac broth. The honey grilled rack of lamb (pictured above) with its Japanese pepper creates a subtle contrast of sweet, spicy and earthy tones.
We could not look past the range of Crepe Suzettes on offer for dessert – and after some debate chose the Bergamot Martinique – where the crepe is flambeed in French orange liqueur, bergamot citrus, green kaffir zest, almond, pumpkin seed and sunflower seed before being topped with fresh cream.
In a city where new restaurants pop up every week, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd – but the new offering Eden by Maison Ikkoku has managed to create a flawless concept with that little je ne sais quoi that makes any evening spent there something truly special.
