San Marco - Where it all started...

As we sat savoring the last drops of the 2001 Torbreck - The Factor, and trying to make sense of the degustation menu we just paid for, we just thought, "we've got to share what we went through - the good AND the bad!"

So thank you to the guys at San Marco for everything you did (and didn't do)...coz the lightbulb came on!

It started out as a slow Saturday in late May, avoiding the madness that was Orchard Rd, He wanted to check out what was on the shelves of some wine shops...so when we found The Factor, what better way to try a promising wine than to try a (promising?) new restaurant?

He had tried San Marco with a group of friends - and since that experience was not entirely fulfilling, He felt generous enough to try it again. In hope of some redemption by the Chef??

Going up that lift should have told me something...The amount of time it takes you to get up there is enough time to change your mind, pick another restaurant and make a reservation somewhere else!

Yes the chic interior, soothing ambience and smartly-dressed staff were plus-pointers, and seating us right next to half of their wine selection deserved bonus points...and hey, who doesn't like white asparagus right? (which was their speciality ingredient that month)

After being recommended by the spunky Asst Managress (?) the Special menu's duck main course, we felt big enough to go through the Degustation menu but with the kurobuta piglet replaced with The Duck with white asparagus.

If you ask me now ( and right after the dinner) what I felt about the meal, all I can say is "Thank God the wine lived up to its 98 points!!!"...at least something went right...

The menu sounded promising, but 2 courses down, I was losing interest - doing the whole Italian menu given a French twist (or vice versa) just wasn't happening!!! Chef Lee, we sense you've got potential...but sometimes all one needs is a clean linear taste. Good food does not have to play games with one's palate. All through the meal we waited for that ONE thing that would give us a reason to come back...the pan-fried foie gras was reminiscent of Saint Pierre and probably the only dish we'd single out...BUT unfortunately it was outshone by the palate cleanser of Champagne sorbet (truly yummy!).

But even then...it DID NOT justify charging us an additional S$30+++ per person for switching the piglet to the Duck. The Duck was nothing to scream about!!!! And neither was the accompaniments, the white asparagus inclusive. THAT was the final straw unfortunately.

NOTE: We've never had to pay for switching some item(s) in any other restaurant's Degustation menu.

NOTE: And even if they HAD to charge us, it would've been simply more fair and polite to inform us and enquire if we'd mind bearing the extra cost. We would have gladly agreed and be saved from A Rude Shock.

So till today we are still wondering if the Torbreck was wasted on the food...

or if It was the only thing that got us through the experience...which was San Marco.