[Review] Escargots, Steak Au Poivre And All Under $25 at Les Canons, ilLido Group’s Affordable French Bistro in the CBD

Tucked within the CBD at the IOI Building, Les Canons is the latest concept by the ilLido Group, the team behind Baia, Sospiri, and Southbridge. Positioned as a casual, all-day French bistro, the restaurant draws inspiration from neighbourhood spots in Paris where good food, wine, and conversation flow easily without the fuss.

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When we walked into Les Canons on a midweek weekday night, we instantly liked the buzzing feel of the restaurant. The place was full of people, and business was clearly thriving.

A major highlight of Les Canons is that French food does not have to be expensive and stiff.

The menu is designed as an all-day offering with all items priced under $25, making it well suited to everyday dining. You can find a lineup of popular French staples prepared simply and served generously.

We started our meal with the Rillettes de Canard ($9), a rustic duck rillette that pairs well with the accompanying bread.

This was followed by the Encornets Marie Rose ($10), calamari served with a tangy cocktail sauce and then the Escargots ($12), French snails prepared with garlic butter.

We also indulged in the classic Foie Gras ($16), a roasted duck liver, served with a pancake and drizzled with maple.

The portions are very reasonable for the price point, and getting these classical French dishes at such competitive prices is something you simply cannot easily find elsewhere in the CBD or maybe even anywhere else in Singapore.

Moving on to mains, the Steak au Poivre ($22) features Angus sirloin that was cooked well, coated in a punchy pepper sauce, and served with fries for a complete, no frills plate that hits all the right notes.

The Coq au Vin ($16), chicken braised in red wine, leaned into comforting flavours with tender meat and a rich, savoury sauce that made it an easy crowd pleaser.

To accompany the meat, we enjoyed a side of Pomme Purée ($5), which consisted of smooth mashed potatoes.

We also got the Haricots Verts ($6), featuring brown butter French beans and toasted almonds. This vegetable dish was a surprise delight for us. We loved the rich buttery flavour, and the crunch of the toasted almonds really enhanced the entire plate.

To round off the menu, we tried several familiar favourites from their dessert selection.

We had the Mousse au Chocolat ($8), a rich and decadent dark chocolate mousse.

Next was the Mont Blanc ($9), a gorgeous chestnut and meringue dessert served with hazelnut ice cream.

Finally, we shared the Tarte Fine aux Pommes ($9), a thin apple tart served with creme chantilly.

Overall, we find it refreshing to have a restaurant that brings together great food, an energetic crowd, and an affordable menu in the CBD. Les Canons proves that you can enjoy a decent French culinary experience casually and comfortably any day of the week.

Judging by the steady stream of customers at the restaurant, it is clearly on the right track to do well and carve a name for itself in Singapore’s competitive F&B scene.

Les Canons

Address: IOI Central Boulevard Towers, #01-07

Contact: +65 8926 0726

Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday
Breakfast: 8.30am-11am
All-day Dining: 11am-10pm

[Review] Sospiri: ilLido Group’s New South Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar at IOI Central Boulevards Towers