THE wait is over for gourmands anticipating the re-opening of luxe restaurant Les Amis at Shaw Centre.

After a two-month renovation costing $2.5 million, the 13-year-old flagship restaurant of the Les Amis restaurant group will have guests waltzing into a bigger, more luxurious space on Monday.

The store, which has almost doubled in space, boasts a new mezzanine level occupied by four of its five private dining rooms, which seat between four and 12 people each.

'The revamp was prompted by the huge demand from our clientele for privacy. Previously, our two private rooms were fully booked almost every night, one week in advance, for the last two years,' said Les Amis spokesman Raymond Lim yesterday.

The ultimate mark of exclusivity for one of these private rooms is its own entrance, which leads directly from an obscured lift landing to the carpark.

The restaurant's third makeover was helmed by Singaporean architect Tan Kay Ngee, who also designed Les Amis' recently revamped La Strada next door.

Elegant opulence marks the restaurant's new look with maroon velvet upholstered walls, wheat-cream marble flooring and no fewer than seven 18th-century French crystal chandeliers dripping from the high ceiling.

Running the show in the kitchen will be Les Amis' new chef, Thomas Mayr (main head picture), who has worked in the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Tantris in Munich, Germany, as well as with renowned chefs David Bouley in New York and Charlie Trotter in Chicago.

The 34-year-old Italian has overhauled the menu and will be offering his style of contemporary French cuisine, tuned to the local palate.

The in-store wine cellars, which have expanded by at least four times, sport a sleeker design with open shelves that allow the wine labels to be displayed prominently.

The wine list has also been beefed up by 400 labels, bringing the total value of its 2,000 labels to some $3 million.

Those wanting to get a table at the swankier restaurant will have to act fast. Already, it has received several reservations despite no publicity about its re-opening.

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'The revamp was prompted by the huge demand... Previously, our two private rooms were fully booked almost every night, one week in advance, for the last two years'
- Les Amis spokesman Raymond Lim