Les Amis

78th Best Restaurant in the World 2010

Designed by local renowned architect Tan Kay Ngee, Les Amis’ city-chic elegance exudes sophistication with its irregular glass façade with an interior of teak and yellow marble.

Les Amis has five private rooms – one on the first level and four on the mezzanine floor. Also known as the Chef’s Table, the private room on the first floor offers up to eight diners a view of the kitchen through a glass window. It also boasts two temperature-controlled wine cellars, which house the restaurant’s S$5 million wine collection. Its 2000-label wine list has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award – one of the only three Grand Award winners in Asia – since 1996.

Keeping to its philosophy of offering the ultimate in fine-dining experiences, Les Amis places emphasis on both exquisite cuisine and gorgeous wines. The cuisine style of Chef de Cuisine Armin Leitgeb is light and contemporary, with a focus on the natural flavours of the ingredients used to ensure a delightful complement to our local climate and palates.

Signature dishes

Behind the stove

Armin Leitgeb

Of Austrian descent, Chef Armin Leitgeb worked his way through the ranks with several Michelin-starred chefs in Europe, including the then Michelin 3-star Pourcel brothers of Jardin des Sens in Montpellier, Michelin 3-star Michelin Paul and Marc Haeberlin of Auberge de L’ill in Alsace and Michelin 2-star Hans Haas of Restaurant Tantris in Munich.

Having seen enough of the fine-dining kitchens in Europe, he also travelled to the US to cook at The French Laundry with Thomas Keller. In the 11 years he spent on both sides of the Atlantic, Leitgeb finessed a cooking style that emphasises textures and flavours, leaving no margin for error in the kitchen. “The simplest technique of cooking is actually the most difficult because there is nothing to camouflage any mistakes,” says Leitgeb.

While he works primarily with contemporary European cuisine, Leitgeb prefers not to be circumscribed by a singular style. He enjoys presenting guests with pleasant gastronomic surprises and relishes the reactions that his creations have evoked. Reflections of the seasons are found in his menus, which change regularly to include ingredients of the best provenance sourced from Hokkaido to Europe.

Les Amis – Facts