Frantzén fanfare

When we first heard that chef-owner of three Michelin-starred Frantzén, Björn Frantzén had partnered with restauranteur

Loh Lik Peng to take over Andre Chiang’s three-storey shophouse on Bukit Pasoh Road, our palates rejoiced. After all, Restaurant Zén is Frantzén’s first international restaurant to offer a tasting menu – his two outposts in Hong Kong only have à la carte menus.

A meal at Restaurant Zén is nothing short of a gastronomic journey. On the ground floor, diners are served five exquisite snacks at a stone counter that fronts the open kitchen. Mains, such as the signature Frantzen’s French

Toast and Parmesan Custard, are served on the second floor, where brushed wood furnishings are accented by ash-hued wainscoting and a copper-lined ceiling. Every table is flanked by its own pale-wood trolley upon which Scottish head chef Tristan Farmer and his team will finish each dish before serving. Eight courses later, diners are shepherded upstairs to the gorgeous living room, appointed with low-slung armchairs, sofas and open shelves which display a quirky collection of pictures, books and decorative items, to end off the experience with dessert, drinks and petits fours.

Adding on to the Frantzén experience is the playlist, an eclectic mix of 300 songs that include beats from The Smiths, Guns ‘N’ Roses to hip hop duo, The Flying Elk, is curated by Frantzén himself. “I don’t want it to be too serious. Going to a restaurant should be a fun experience,” explains the 41-yearold. $450/person for nine course, plus snacks. 41 Bukit Pasoh Road. restaurantzen.com21 Keong Saik Road. Tel: 6221 2189