Leave your inhibitions at the door as sensuality takes a multitude of meanings with Desire's winning concept. It titillates in a variety of ways; be it in décor, food and service. Located in the very stylish and creative vicinity of Ann Siang Hill, The Scarlet's main restaurant succeeds in differentiating itself from other Modern European establishments.

• The Vibe
  With the opulence of the furnishing apparent in the black and bold crimson theme, it is hard not to feel momentarily small. However, bask in the luxury of the comfortable and yet, elegant seating, and feel like royalty for an evening. The experience is best felt after dark, even though Desire is known to morph effortlessly from day to night, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• The Food
  Desire's breakfast menu offers local delights with a twist, in addition to the typical international fare, catering to hotel guests and walk-in diners alike. Creative minds in the area might be pleased to note that they offer Quickie set lunches priced affordably at $32++, inclusive of soup/appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee/tea.

  Awaken your glossal senses with appetisers such as the King Prawn Crunch on Citrus Jelly ($16) and Tuna Carpaccio ($18). It is a pleasant surprise to find the wrapped prawn remaining both crispy and crunchy despite being drizzled liberally with dressing. The orange crustacean emulsion that accompanied the tuna is a little strong on the palate, but the mud crab rilette on the side balances it off nicely. Soups are teasingly termed “Love Potions”, but most may find the Corn Crustacean Chowder ($10), although laced with slivers of savoury crab, too sweet even for a soup named as such.

  For your main course, do consider the Tender Lamb Rack ($38) and the Tenderloin of Beef ($38). Sculpted like little pieces of art, the former boasts of well-marinated lamb amidst complementing sides such as a coco bean ragout and juicy Shiitake mushrooms. The Tenderloin, however, has its thunder stolen by the side of vanilla-scented Roesti potatoes, as it is skillfully prepared to remain both crisp and moist at the same time. Seafood-lovers can indulge in their Grilled ‘Live' Maine Lobster ($60) lounging on top of an open-faced ravioli with leek fondue. While the small lobster is succulent and flavoursome, the leeks and cepe mushrooms leave a slightly unpleasant aftertaste, somewhat tainting your Maine experience.

  Fatal Attractions is no misnomer for Desire's wide range of desserts as they are, indeed, out-of-this-world. The Chocolate Calamansi Mousse ($16) with dark sweet cherry compote is a definite must-try. A refreshing take on the usual mousse, the calamansi blends surprisingly well with the bitter-sweet chocolate, encased in a beautiful tear-drop shell. Another diversion from the usual will be their unique Chrysanthemum “Tea”ramisu ($12) which truly tastes as good as it looks. Reminiscent of the common Italian dessert, the floral scent of chrysanthemums is a welcome change from the strong aroma of coffee.

• The Service
  Rest assured that your needs will be well taken care of by their warm and earnest staff. Their standard in service is apparent, as the staffs were impressively articulate and well-versed in their field. Immerse yourself in the royal treatment and feel on top of the world, even if it is just for an evening.

SD Food Advisor's Take on Desire
Be prepared to be consumed with Desire for the restaurant's many alluring creations are all capable of pleasuring your senses. However, do so quickly as the management is in talks of a new menu after April 2007, set to articulate the culinary creativity of Chef Vincent Teng, previously from My Dining Room. For the ultimate dining experience laced with a tinge of risqué passion, Desire at The Scarlet Hotel is the perfect choice, even for the unadventurous.