Wild Rocket at Mount Emily

The realization of his dream started in early 2005 when a friend convinced him to take a look at the Hangout Hotel nestled in the quiet enclave of Mt Emily Park. He took a look at the place and knew straightaway that that was it. There are not very many places in bustling Singapore where you can find a restaurant set in the tranquility of a private garden.

Home to the Istana, where the British governors once lived, Mt Emily Park exudes a quiet charm that is a perfect contrast to the rest of Singapore. Being located in District 9 but nestled on a hill away from Orchard Road nearby gives Wild Rocket the advantage of being accessible yet being far away from it all.

Seating 40 guests comfortably, the casual bistro with its floor-to-ceiling glass walls is located on the ground floor of the hip Hangout Hotel. Within the bistro, there is a concave lounge perfect for sipping martinis and margaritas. For those who prefer having their drinks alfresco amidst lush greenery under the stars, there is the Balinese rooftop garden where the natural elements of Mt Emily Park are brought into the bistro experience. The fragrance of the frangipanis, the romantic glow of the Moroccan lamps and the relaxing sound of the water feature all add to the idyllic experience to help urbanites relax.

The rooftop garden is also a perfect location for wedding ceremonies, marriage proposals, BBQ dinners and corporate functions.

Wild Rocket at Mount Emily

Ground Floor, 10A Upper Wilkie Road S(228119)
Tel: 6339 9448
http://www.wildrocket.com.sg/

#02-131/132, 1 HarbourFront Centre Walk, VivoCity
Singapore 098585

Reservations

63769970

Opening hours

11.30am to 10.30pm Daily

Walking into Uluru, it immediately strikes you as an upscale steakhouse. The décor is impressive to say the least. Dark wood panels line the walls as we walked in and the parquet flooring echoes our presence with its soft thuds with our every step. Our entry was immediately brought to the attention of the waiting staff.

The nearest waiter took no hesitation in walking briskly towards us and showed us to a table in a cosy corner. Andre and I felt most at home immediately. After bring us our menus, our waiter gave us a reassuring nod that he’ll be back to take our orders and left us to ponder over the selection of exquisite meats.

It was our first time here so I decided to kick dinner off with a safe bet, the three-course set dinner. Dinner at Uluru started off well with Wild Mushroom Soup. Now, Mushroom soup is pretty much an item that’s overused too many times in many restaurants in Singapore. So my expectations are high when it comes to this particular item. If you want to make mushroom soup memorable in an island where more than half of the restaurants around serve it, it had better be really good. Uluru does not disappoint. A creamy and full bodied blend of Shiitake, Portobello, button and Chanterelle mushrooms was well balanced with a slight hint of the mushrooms being seared before they were added into the soup. Every mouthful was filled with chewy, generous pieces of mushrooms. They have somehow also had the perfect portion sized down for the both of us. You know, the right amount that gets the appetite going and leaves you wanting more.

When the main course of red wine braised lamb rump came, we were all over it. The lamb was simply incredible. It was tender and every time you chew into it, the natural juices from the lamb mixed with a hint of the red wine gently spreads itself all over your taste buds.

Andre, being the bigger eater between us both, just had to have the Angus beef tenderloin steak. $44 gets you a generous portion of beef with 2 sides and of course, prepared to your choice. Steak lovers will be glad to know that Uluru is pretty good at what it does, being a steakhouse. He ordered it medium rare and it came as requested. Nice and slightly charred on the outside yet pink at the centers, sealing the flavors inside making each piece tender and juicy.

The evening ended off well with a Gingerbread Cheesecake. The sharp, tangy gingerbread really cuts through all that creamy cheese, giving it a lighter and less overwhelming flavor to it.

Andre’s Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream was a sinful combination of warm and smooth bread pudding topped of with a cold dollop of vanilla ice cream. Each spoon of the warm pudding was just absolutely delicious when mixed with the ice cream. This is something I’ll want to come back for.

The meal amounted to just under $150 for two and I’m glad to admit that although it’s probably not something most people can afford to have on a weekly basis, it’s very much value for money given the ambience, the service and the quality of the food.

An important note to all you Flavor readers out there is that this restaurant seats about only 20 people so if you have intentions to dine here over the weekends or a Friday, I suggest you call early to make reservations.

Uluru Aussie Bar & Steakhouse
40 Duxton Hill, Singapore
Telephone: +65 6223 3654
Monday to Friday : 12pm – 11pm Saturday : 06pm – 12pm Sunday: Closed.
http://www.uluru.com.sg/

Opened in 1991, this diner was — in its heyday — known for its all-American thick milkshakes and generous burgers. Today, the American-styled diner is still going strong and synonymous in Singapore with hearty grilled burgers and sandwiches. I went for the Seah Street burger – a freshly ground beef patty – with just the right amount of fatty and lean cuts going into the mix – topped with tomatoes, lettuce, onions and cheese. Another signature dish that I love is the Reuben sandwich —beef pastrami laden with sauerkraut, wholegrain mustard and Swiss cheese on rye – which always brings to my mind the image of the an old Jewish deli in New York. For dessert, the chocolate decadence is the ultimate indulgence. With seven layers alternating between chocolate sponge cake, chocolate ganache and cherry marmalade, the hefty slice is a great way to share a sweet.WINE: No wine list available.