Since opening in 2019, Louise has seen some ups and downs. The restaurant opened to great fanfare thanks to its association with Julien Royer of the three-Michelin-starred Odette in Singapore and was promptly rewarded with a Michelin star less than a year later. The star may have been retained but more recently the restaurant was starting to feel a little like a dish left on the side too long. All that changed with the appointment last year of Loïc Portalier as executive chef. Formerly the restaurant’s sous chef, Portalier is seizing his moment. The division of Louise into a more formal upstairs dining room and the more casual terrace space downstairs has helped make the entire concept more inviting to casual diners. The move could have backfired, the different menus and vibes creating confusion, but Portalier has handled the shift expertly and maintained Louise’s high standards for contemporary French cuisine across the board.