Novus Restaurant & Bar

Quaint little eatery and bar, immersed in comfortable lighting from three chandeliers encased in large reflective rings. Mirrors hung from the pearl coloured walls, with many more covering the ceiling. Wine bottles adorn a wall, alternating from side to side. Servers decked in white long sleeved shirts, supremely trained and extremely well mannered. I am trying to paint a picture of swank and splendour, but in reality, Novus didn't really live up to all the hype and expectations.

In a place where the bar takes up half the restaurant, one can hardly expect a quiet dinner. The food was pricey, ranging from $30 to $108 for a main course. For an appetizer, main course and dessert, be prepared to spend at least $120+++ per person. (That is if you do not have the Wagyu Tenderloin with Foie Gras priced at $108+++) However, the excellent service staff made this visit seem to resemble a visit to Au Jardin in the Botanical Gardens. But apart from that, nothing else in the place would even make you think that you were in a fine-dining restaurant. With roughly 20 tables at very most and six servers working, service levels were never found wanting.

The food however was excellent. Starting the meal is an assortment of breads, not too sure about the origin, but great for a start to the evening. The kitchen then gave a little treat, one tiny Cod Ball, drizzled in Basil, left to rest in a small paste which had a small hint of cheese. Next up, try the Scallops with quad fried bacon. An excellent starter, one large scallop served on top of a piece of pork, interestingly, with sauce that resembled peanut butter. Sounds weird? But actually very very good. For the main course, try the fish, Cod or the crispy skinned Sea Bass. The Cod is grilled and submerged into a thick, vegetable chowder and the Sea Bass is grilled to a crisp and served with a nutty spinach paste.

One thing about Novus is the impeccable presentation of the food. All the dishes are like works of art, none more so than the desserts. The Creme Bulee looked almost too good to eat and its taste reflected the chef's artistic brilliance. After the final course, I think the desserts sealed the deal for a repeat visit. But given the price tag, Novus Restaurant and Bar is an indulgence, making it a once-a-year kind of restaurant. Furthermore, if you want a quiet place to eat and chat, Novus isn't the place for you. But if you don't mind the noise and you want to bring your special someone somewhere nice, the great food and impeccable service trumps the chatter any day.