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Charming little canteen
2015-07-05 4910 views
This is a laid-back, small French eatery with a tempting menu full of homemade French classics as well as a few unusual dishes inspired by other cuisines. Despite its slightly offbeat location, La Cantoche is popular on Friday and Saturday nights so you'll have to book at least two days in advance. The entrance is easy to miss and the address coincides with another shop located on Hollywood Road. You have to go through the narrow alley, pass another restaurant before you see La Cantoche. I came
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This is a laid-back, small French eatery with a tempting menu full of homemade French classics as well as a few unusual dishes inspired by other cuisines. Despite its slightly offbeat location, La Cantoche is popular on Friday and Saturday nights so you'll have to book at least two days in advance. 

The entrance is easy to miss and the address coincides with another shop located on Hollywood Road. You have to go through the narrow alley, pass another restaurant before you see La Cantoche. 

I came here the first time around December and kept coming back whenever I could. I like this place because it offers several unique and tasty dishes at reasonable prices (less than $200). The setting is casual and unpretentious, but also slightly uneasy as the eye-popping graffiti and the brick walls somehow remind me of Kassovitz's blistering La Haine. I could easily imagine this as the regular hangout of suburban French teens. 

At least one or two of the attending staff are French natives and as there are always enough French expats passionately engaging in their debate while enjoying their frites and red wine, La Cantoche has a genuine French vibe to it. 

One of their dishes with the widest appeal is no doubt the camembert chaud with deep-fried potato balls where you can devour your own wheel of cheese. An irresistibly sinful dish which throws that resolve out the window. The camembert is tangy and gooey, and goes well with the crispy balls of potatoes. This makes a great starter to go with red wine. 
Camembert Chaud
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 Then there is the chicken cordon bleu--a simple, breaded chicken in deep-fry with cheese wrapped in the meat. You can pick any two sides to go with it. The crispy chicken is tasty and tender, but the amount of cheese wrapped inside is rather limited. It helps make the dish less heavy though. The hollandaise sauce is always creamy and satisfying. 
Chicken cordon bleu
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 Barramundi is served on top of an aluminum foil. This baked fish is soft, fresh and retains its original flavors. A light and healthy choice that would go well with some vegetables.
Barramundi
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 One of my favorite starters is their rice krispies with lettuce wrap. The rice krispies are mixed with some fried, savory bits of meat (or so I believe). You can spoon the crisps into a large piece of lettuce and wrap it. Very crunchy and light; a great dish to share. 

Their lemon tart (which was the 'dessert of the day' for a long time in the first half of the year) is amazing, even for someone who is not a big fan of lemon tarts. It's rather flat and big. The shortbread crust is buttery and solid, and the citron filling is refreshing and not too sweet. If it's available, don't pass it up. 
Tarte au citron
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 Service is okay. This is a fun place to try different dishes with a group of friends or with family, or to satisfy a craving for cheese or decent Western food with a reasonable price tag. Slightly too casual for romantic dates and important events, but it definitely lives up to its name, The Canteen. 
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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    DETAILED RATING
    Taste
    Decor
    Service
    Hygiene
    Value
    Dining Method
    Dine In
    Spending Per Head
    $200
    Recommended Dishes
    Barramundi
    Tarte au citron