Elemen
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-76 Millenia Walk
301 Upper Thomson Road
#01-113 Thomson Plaza
http://www.elemen.com.sg/
Naturally Good Food, Modernised
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 7
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $35 per person.
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Opened in June 2015 by the Koufu Group, Elemen is a wholesome, modern vegetarian / meat-free restaurant, offering delicious Western and Asian cuisine made using fresh, natural ingredients. Despite a rather quiet opening and little publicity, Elemen has managed to pull in crowds via strong word-of-mouth from those who have dined here before, thanks to their overall good ambience, service, and food.
Ambience at Elemen is modern zen, clean, and comfortable. While the exterior is rather plain and unassuming, blending into the background of the other shops, the interior is brightly lit with natural vibes, in calming colours of white, grey, wood, and leaf green hues. Furniture within the spacious area is very comfortable, with soft cushions for booths. Very zen, tranquil feeling, time passes by so quickly here!
Service at Elemen started off fantastic, with the most experienced senior staff introducing himself, and providing explanations on the menu. Very personalised, engaging service. However, the service discrepancy is stark, the younger / newer staff aren't as engaging, and not that attentive. While they check for feedback on the dining experience, and respond quickly to requests, attracting their attention may take awhile. The service level is still good, but disjointed, and could potentially be so much better.
Food at Elemen is pure vegetarian, with modern Western and Asian dishes. Not like your typical Zi Char, more akin to a fine dining restaurant style. They offer a pure set meal concept, a 5-course set meal for lunch, and a 8-course set meal for dinner, where you choose from a selection of over 30 menu items. Ala-carte is not available, and there are no prices for individual dishes. You can still request for ala-carte, but prices are naturally more expensive. For comparison, their 8-course set meal costs about SGD $35 per person, but 1 ala-carte main dish costs about SGD $16. Set meal portions are designed for individuals, and it's possible to finish on your own, though it's also possible to share for communal dining.
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Absolutely loved the zen atmosphere here, which also makes for excellent photography, and slow, lingering meals.
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| Elemen Exterior |
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| Elemen Interior |
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| Seating Layout |
Their presentation of plain water alone is zen. Feels very natural, with the sprig of rosemary herb within, and also lends very well to decor.
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| Water Glass |
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| Water Flasks |
The soft and chewy texture of the Rosemary Breadsticks With Raspberry Yoghurt Sauce (SGD $2.80) is decent, and I like the faint fragrance of the rosemary herbs. But the real star here is the sweet and tart raspberry yoghurt sauce, almost like a fruity dessert glaze, it pairs well with the breadsticks, lending an additional dimension of flavour.
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| Rosemary Breadsticks With Raspberry Yoghurt Sauce (SGD $2.80) |
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| Rosemary Breadsticks With Raspberry Yoghurt Sauce |
With The Elemen Appetizer (SGD $4.80), chef has created a trio of small bites, showcasing modern vegetarian fusion cuisine. Staff will recommend that you eat from left to right, as the items build in taste and flavour. This is a standard item, included with every set meal.
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| The Elemen Appetizer (SGD $4.80) |
The Mashed Chickpea Wrapped In Japanese Cucumber In Teriyaki Sauce features a small ball of smooth, creamy mashed chickpeas, contrasted by the crunchy, refreshing taste of the cucumber. The sweet teriyaki sauce glaze lends a nice depth of flavour, and the overall dish is rather light.
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| Mashed Chickpea Wrapped In Japanese Cucumber In Teriyaki Sauce |
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| Mashed Chickpea Wrapped In Japanese Cucumber In Teriyaki Sauce |
The Black Sesame Tofu With Alfalfa Sprouts In White Sesame Dressing is unique for its earthy, floral sesame flavour. The tofu is smooth, almost melting away in the mouth, while the alfalfa sprouts lend a slight crunch.
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| Black Sesame Tofu With Alfalfa Sprouts In White Sesame Dressing |
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| Black Sesame Tofu With Alfalfa Sprouts In White Sesame Dressing |
The Cherry Tomato In Plum Sauce is intense in flavour, and very juicy! The tart sharpness of the sour plum sauce contrasts well with the slightly sweet, ripe tomato, cleansing the palate. Perfect way to end off the appetizers!
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| Cherry Tomato In Plum Sauce |
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| Cherry Tomato In Plum Sauce |
The Button Mushroom With Edamame In Light Soy Sauce features a single, earthy tender button mushroom, in a light soy sauce, along with firm edamame / young soy beans. Despite the look, this is surprisingly light!
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| Button Mushroom With Edamame In Light Soy Sauce |
The Mushroom Salad (SGD $5.80) features a trio of mushrooms (shiitake, brown, king trumpet) in a house-made, light and savoury, chilled mushroom gravy. Rather refreshing as a salad, the earthy taste usually associated with these ingredients is much lighter on the palate here.
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| Mushroom Salad (SGD $5.80) |
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| Mushroom Salad |
The Avocado Salad (SGD $5.80) is packed with vitamins with its wild rocket leaves / arugula, sliced carrots, sliced cucumbers, chunks of strawberries, and creamy avocado, dressed in a savoury salty Japanese wafu sauce. Each bite makes you want to go back for more of that salty, fresh goodness, and the balance is just right so you don't feel thirsty later. Good!
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| Avocado Salad (SGD $5.80) |
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| Avocado Salad |
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| Avocado Salad |
The Quinoa Salad (SGD $5.80) features the light, grainy quinoa in a decorative pattern around this salad. A very light dish overall, serving to open the palate, but you won't be satisfied with an individual portion. Personally, I didn't think this was good.
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| Quinoa Salad (SGD $5.80) |
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| Quinoa Salad |
The Fresh Burdock Roots With Monk Fruits Soup (SGD $8.80) and Apple Cider Vinegar are actually considered 2 different courses. The soup / broth is clear and clean tasting, light in texture with the natural sweetness from the monk fruits, complemented with the chewy, earthy burdock roots. Very satisfiying comfort dish!
Cleanse the palate with the shot of Apple Cider Vinegar, but be warned that it's strongly sour, with a fruity taste of fresh apple at the front. Rather than drinking it in 1 gulp, I drank it sip by sip.
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| Fresh Burdock Roots With Monk Fruits Soup (SGD $8.80) |
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| Fresh Burdock Roots With Monk Fruits Soup (SGD $8.80) |
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| Apple Cider Vinegar |
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| Apple Cider Vinegar |
The Cream Of Pumpkin Soup (SGD $6.80) has a mild, delicate flavour, but a rich, creamy, semi-thick texture. Love the light sweetness and the floral aroma of the pumpkin, this warm, hearty soup / broth is very drinkable. Opens the palate for the meal to come!
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| Cream Of Pumpkin Soup (SGD $6.80) |
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| Cream Of Pumpkin Soup |
The Wild Mushroom Cream Soup With Truffle Oil (SGD $6.80) has a rich, creamy texture, yet is still light instead of cloying. The earthy mushroom flavour is nice, and the chunks of button mushroom within are tender, fragrant from being perfumed with white truffle oil. Decent as a soup / broth appetizer!
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| Wild Mushroom Cream Soup With Truffle Oil (SGD $6.80) |
Loved the Braised Golden-Brown Pumpkin With Glutinous Rice In Hot Stone (SGD $15.80), which arrived steaming and bubbling, with a satisfiying sizzle. This savoury dish with thick braised red wine and teriyaki sauce gravy features crispy, chewy glutinous rice, soft pumpkin chunks, crunchy green apple chunks, and king oyster mushrooms. Oriental style, but with a nice twist! Highly recommended!
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| Braised Golden-Brown Pumpkin With Glutinous Rice In Hot Stone (SGD $15.80) |
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| Braised Golden-Brown Pumpkin With Glutinous Rice In Hot Stone |
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| Braised Golden-Brown Pumpkin With Glutinous Rice In Hot Stone |
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| Braised Golden-Brown Pumpkin With Glutinous Rice In Hot Stone |
The Wild Mushroom And White Truffle Pizza (SGD $15.80) has a rich blend of caramelised arugula / wild rocket leaves, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, and shaved cheese, all coated in a light drizzle of white truffle oil, on a very thin, extremely crispy crust. Tasty and delicious! The portion is large enough to share, but is so light that 1 person actually can finish it on their own.
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| Wild Mushroom And White Truffle Pizza (SGD $15.80) |
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| Wild Mushroom And White Truffle Pizza |
The Oven-Baked Mountain Yam With Walnut Penne (SGD $15.80) reminds me of an Italian pasta casserole, with its crunchy chunks of mountain yam, water chestnuts, ginko nuts, walnuts, and penne pasta, coated in a light cream sauce, served in a small hot plate. Surprisingly light and not cloying or heavy, this dish is above average, with its nice contrast of textures ranging from crunchy to soft. Somewhat light on flavour though.
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| Oven-Baked Mountain Yam With Walnut Penne (SGD $15.80) |
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| Oven-Baked Mountain Yam With Walnut Penne |
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| Oven-Baked Mountain Yam With Walnut Penne |
The Sizzling Quinoa Brown Rice (SGD $15.80) features a hot stone bowl, filled with nutritious brown rice and quinoa grains, along with tender earthy shiitake mushrooms slices, crunchy kai-lan / Chinese kale / Chinese broccoli, and bell peppers / capsicum for colour. Decent enough as a dish.
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| Sizzling Quinoa Brown Rice (SGD $15.80) |
Loved the Japanese Curry Noodles With Beancurd Roll (SGD $12.80), with its thin wheat noodles in fragrant savoury Japanese curry, along with crunchy kai-lan / Chinese kale / Chinese broccoli, tender king oyster mushrooms, earthy chestnuts, and satisfiying beancurd rolls. So good! Mix the noodles into the curry before eating. Highly recommended!
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| Japanese Curry Noodles With Beancurd Roll (SGD $12.80) |
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| Japanese Curry Noodles With Beancurd Roll |
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| Japanese Curry Noodles With Beancurd Roll |
The Tempura Tofu With Avocado Roll (SGD $15.80) features vinegared sushi rice, stuffed with crunchy deep-fried enoki golden mushrooms and juicy cucumber, topped with fresh creamy avocado slices. Served with tempura tofu beancurd, which has a savoury crip exterior skin, and a moist soft interior. Good!
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| Tempura Tofu With Avocado Roll (SGD $15.80) |
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| Tempura Tofu With Avocado Roll |
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| Tempura Tofu With Avocado Roll |
The Chilled Coconut Puree (SGD $5.80) resembles a typical Singapore dessert, but instead of sago / tapioca pearls, this has brown ice crystals instead, within a strongly earthy and floral chilled coconut milk soup / broth. Refreshing, and it doesn't feel heavy.
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| Chilled Coconut Puree (SGD $5.80) |
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| Chilled Coconut Puree |
The Osmanthus Flower With Grass Jelly (SGD $5.80) is a delicate dessert said to aid the skin. With aromatic, floral osmanthus flower, sweet and light grass jelly, garnished with wolfberries, this dessert is rather pleasing, with a hint of herbal taste.
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| Osmanthus Flower With Grass Jelly (SGD $5.80) |
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| Osmanthus Flower With Grass Jelly |
The Chocolate Lava Cake With Gelato (SGD $8.80) is well executed, with a molten chocolate center that just oozes out from within the soft, moist, rich chocolate sponge lava cake. Paired with a vanilla gelato, this is possibly among the better desserts here! Sweet without being overly so, rich and decadent in looks and flavour, nicely executed in texture. Highly recommended!
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| Chocolate Lava Cake With Gelato (SGD $8.80) |
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| Chocolate Lava Cake With Gelato |
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| Chocolate Lava Cake With Gelato |
The warm Double-Boiled Lemongrass With Peach Gum (SGD $6.80) may have a modern name, but it's a pure Asian comfort dessert. A sweet lemongrass infused soup / broth, filled with tender white fungus, and a fruity sweet peach gum that has a jelly-like texture. Great choice to finish a meal!
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| Double-Boiled Lemongrass With Peach Gum (SGD $6.80) |
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| Double-Boiled Lemongrass With Peach Gum |
The Chilled Sweet Potato Puree (SGD $5.80) has a smooth, thin texture, yet still holds good flavour from the purple sweet potato. Crunchy almond shavings lend a contrast of texture to this attractive, vibrant dessert beverage. Overall though, the flavour is a little too light, bordering on plain. Decent at best, could be better if it was slightly sweeter.
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| Chilled Sweet Potato Puree (SGD $5.80) |
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| Chilled Sweet Potato Puree |
A cute little pot of Roselle Tea (SGD $4.80) completes the 8-course meal. The tea is fragrant and floral, with a distinct sourness behind the floral sweetness. Not as intense in flavour as a rose flower tea. Pretty good, and staff will even help you refill the pot on request, though the strength drops off drastically by the 2nd pot.
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| Roselle Tea (SGD $4.80) |
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| Roselle Tea |
The refreshing Iced Lychee Green Tea (SGD $4.80) is a great thirst quencher. A light sweetness from the fruity lychee and the refreshing taste of green tea, make this quite a standout beverage. Pity about the sole lychee fruit within, I would have liked to see more! Still, it's a good drink overall.
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| Iced Lychee Green Tea (SGD $4.80) |
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| Iced Lychee Green Tea |
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CONVERSATION