The likes of foie gras and smoked duck pasta with truffle oil are on its menu, and numerous awards from publications such as Tatler and Wine & Dine are under its belt. Yet, Cilantro - the outlet in question - is not a sleek restaurant but a corner stall in a Bukit Merah coffee shop.

Says co-owner Jackie Ong: 'Previously, we were located in a shophouse in Purvis Street but when the rental hit $20,000 a month, it was time to move. We decided to take the coffee shop route because it's the culture in Singapore to go casual but still have fine food.'

The Bukit Merah outlet, which opened in June, offers a similar menu to that of the Purvis Street restaurant, save for the fact that several of the fancier dishes - such as the duck pasta with truffle oil and the lobster gratin - now have to be ordered several days in advance.

What's available if you pop by are bestsellers such as the foie gras and a soft-shell crab salad, along with simpler fare such as pan-seared dory.

While the latter ($7.50) was soggy from swimming in a gelatinous mushroom-and-carrot sauce, the foie gras and crab salad reflected the pedigree of Cilantro chef Frankie Ding, formerly of Club Chinois.

The foie gras, in particular, is good value for money. For $15, you get a slab of pan-seared, creamy goose liver cooked nice and crisp on the outside. This was drizzled with a sweet-and-spicy plum sauce and topped with a raisin compote.

Also enjoyable was the soft-shell crab salad ($4), which was not too oily and came with a medley of lettuce, cherry tomatoes and Japanese cucumber.

Cilantro's concept seems to be working - last month, the company opened another stall at Marine Terrace serving Japanese food such as wagyu beef shabu shabu, and one more branch at Alexandra Village (that Ms Ong says will offer a sashimi bar and wagyu burgers) is set to open next month.

Cilantro Modern Asia
Block 28 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01/4476
Tel: 9795-0289