By Rihaab Mowlana
Pic credit: Cinnamon Life

Cinnamon Life’s bistro leans into lighter lunches, comfort dishes, and less decision fatigue.
For a while, Bistro Des Marées felt like the kind of place you only went to for a long lunch, where the food was great, but the formality made it feel like an occasion. It was smart, polished, and just a little too heavy if you were looking for something quick and satisfying in the middle of the day. This new menu changes that.

It’s still got the same calm atmosphere, the kind that feels like a step out of the city, but the food now feels more in step with weekday reality. The set lunch menu gives you the choice of two or three courses, which makes ordering less of a debate. But if you’re after something lighter, the grain bowls are available on their own too. No pressure to commit to a full meal if all you want is a quick, balanced lunch. The additions are a mix of Mediterranean-style grain bowls, some health-conscious picks, and a few straightforward comfort meals that don’t try too hard. I went for the three-course option to get the full experience. Here’s how it played out.

Starter: White Mushroom Soup - With parmesan foam and mushroom chips
The first thing to land on the table was a basket of freshly baked bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Still warm, still crusty, and honestly, I could’ve stopped right there and been content. The kind of bread you keep telling yourself to stop eating, but somehow find your hand reaching for again.

Then came the mushroom soup, which turned out to be the surprise favourite. It was smooth, earthy, and packed with flavour without being heavy. The parmesan foam gave it that extra hit of savoury, and the mushroom chips on top added just enough texture to keep things interesting. That bread was the perfect pairing. Save a slice and dunk it. It does more for the soup than any spoon ever could. It’s the kind of dish you don’t expect to remember, but I would go back for this alone. Easily the best part of the meal.

Main: Corned Beef & Sauerkraut Sandwich - With Swiss cheese, gherkin, thousand island dressing, toasted rye and fries
The soup and the sandwich both came out looking… fine. Nothing glossy, no garnish, no visual drama. And in the food world, where pretty privilege is real and we’re all guilty of eating with our eyes first, that usually works against a dish. But not here. Both were proof that good food doesn’t need to perform.

The sandwich was hot, stacked, and properly layered. The corned beef had bite, the sauerkraut added sharpness, and the Swiss cheese melted into everything nicely. It was messy, in a good way. You’ll need a napkin. 

The fries were basic in the best possible way: hot, crisp, and salty. No reinvention here, just comfort food done right.

Dessert: Coconut Crème Brûlée - With a chocolate biscotti
The top cracked like it’s supposed to. The coconut in the custard was subtle, not too sweet, and not too heavy. Clean finish. The biscotti was fine (more for show than flavour, if I’m being honest), but the brûlée itself held up. You’re not going to dream about it later, but you’ll finish it without hesitation.

The Overall Experience
Still the same Bistro: quiet, polished, and good for a proper lunch without chaos. The staff were efficient and didn’t hover, and everything came out at a comfortable pace. It works whether you’re there to catch up, take a meeting, or just eat in peace.

Bistro Des Marées isn’t trying to reinvent itself, just make itself more accessible. The updated menu makes sense. It keeps the quality and attention to detail, but removes the fuss. It’s now the kind of place you can walk into for a solid two- or three-course meal without needing a special reason.
The food feels grounded. You’re not getting experimental pairings or over-designed plates, just familiar dishes that taste good and arrive on time. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.