Fine dining Khmer restaurant Madame Butterfly on National Road Six has unveiled its new look after a two month renovation, following its purchase by Angkor W Group a year ago. Upgrades include new menus, new uniforms and an air-conditioned upstairs dining area.

“We have still kept the concept – an elegant traditional wooden house in a tropical garden – but upgraded everything,” says Angkor W public relations manager Clem Balasoto.

The entrance has moved to the side of building, where part of the garden has now been paved to create a seating area in front of the newly-renovated bar. The area also leads on to the restaurant’s shop, La Boutique, which has been given a stylish overhaul by Thai decorator Tan Brun.

The Madame Butterfly staff has new uniforms designed by Loic and Sirivan Dumas of the Galerie Cambodge boutique in Raffles, with red, brown and gold chosen to match the colour scheme of the restaurant.

“The uniform was inspired by traditional clothes worn at special ceremonies such as weddings,” says Balasoto. “Stylistically they were designed specifically for Madame Butterfly.”

French chef and Angkor W coach Patrick Guerry has been working with executive chef Kimsan Sok to refine the menu.

“We’re focusing more on fine Khmer cuisine, but updated to international standards,” says Balasoto. “We have taken out all the western dishes and Patrick and Kimsan have been developing new Khmer dishes.”

Guerry adds, “We tried to find subtle cuisine. We cannot give this kind of customer too much of a Khmer or Asian flavour, so we’ve tried to find a composition of basic Khmer cuisine, quite simple, and we’re doing a new kind of presentation.”

Customer favourites include the seafood amok, fried eggplant and a new dish, Mekong lobster amok, Balasoto says.

Next month Madame Butterfly will host a gala dinner featuring Michelin-starred chef Gilles Choukroun, from Paris.