The Plump Frenchman

If you’ve ever wanted to eat like a Parisian who doesn’t count calories, The Plump Frenchman is your guy.

This cosy bistro at Guoco Midtown II leans into classic, unapologetic French comfort food, the kind that favours butter and bold flavours over dainty fine-dining fare. But even though the menu primarily features old-school French cooking, there are also unexpected light Singaporean accents, resulting in a meal that feels familiar yet surprising at the same time

The vibe

Think bustling neighbourhood bistro rather than hushed date-night destination. Tables are packed close together and the room hums with convivial chatter from families and groups of friends, though we did spot plenty of couples holding hands from across the table as well.

Service is warm from the get-go, with staff checking in promptly about allergies and preferences. That said, on a busy Friday night with a lean floor team, some tables at the edges of the room do end up waiting a little longer for attention, and a drink order or two takes its time to arrive.

To make up for potentially longer wait times between dishes, you’re distracted by a roaming magician performing tableside from around 7pm to 9pm. There’s no fixed schedule, but if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to card tricks, coin illusions and even a sock-based performance that we won’t spoil here. It’s an unexpected touch that left us completely bamboozled and genuinely entertained.

The food

The Plump Frenchman goes big on hearty French fare. The onion soup ($18) is a clear standout among the starters: rich, deeply savoury and slow-cooked until the onions are meltingly sweet beneath a gratinated cheese crust. The beef bourguignon ($41) follows suit, braised until the beef yields at the slightest nudge of a fork, soaking up all that glossy, wine-dark sauce alongside a plate of smooth and buttery mash.

You’ll also notice the large rotisserie oven at the centre of the restaurant and a chicken on nearly every table. It’s served a few ways, but the most intriguing version is the Singapore-style chicken rice ($98), a cross between Hainanese chicken rice and paella but with pilaf rice and uni cream. The rice is deeply flavoured and unmistakably chicken rice-esque, though slightly softer in texture, topped with juicy rotisserie chicken, a couple of prawns and even chilli sauce on the side. While we could’ve done without the prawns, we did wish they’d leaned even harder into the chicken rice flavours and gave us a punchier chilli sauce. Purists can always opt for the classic rotisserie chicken, served half ($21) or whole ($39) with a side of mesclun salad, sriracha and pickles.

For dessert, you can't miss the Instagram-viral chocolate mousse ($14) served tableside from a large dish and spooned generously onto your plate. It’s rich, indulgent and studded with chocolate shavings that add texture between bites.

The drink

The wine list is solid, leaning towards approachable French table wines alongside cocktails and non-alcoholic options. Drinks play a supporting role here, competent and well-paired, but firmly second fiddle to the food.

Time Out tip

Most plates are designed for sharing, but trust us and order a French onion soup for yourself, or at most share one between two. You’ll regret being polite.

Overall, The Plump Frenchman is one for nights when you want proper comfort food, decent wine and zero unnecessary fuss.