Town Restaurant
Lobby Level, The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square
$78+++ (adults), $35+++ (5-12 years)
Tel: 6877 8128 / 6733 8388
Operating Hours: Lunch: 11am – 3pm Dinner: 6pm – Midnight(Mon – Thu) 6pm – 1am
Another one of those good hotel cafes that Singapore abounds with, Town Restaurant boasts a wide repertoire of cuisines and an extensive menu. I passed over the “Asian curry-like things” section, which included some laksas and Malay-style chicken curries, then the “favourite Old-World bastardizations” pizzas baked in wood-fired ovens and meaty western grills – before finally settling upon the nice looking Japanese section. I ordered some sashimi which proved meritable, and then some lovely, authentically thick and chewy udon noodles in a hot, smoky dashi. But please, don’t take a detour just for the food – it’s the view that makes this place special – a magical ambience is provided by the river, especially in the evenings. The gentle tug of a warm tropical breeze, the sparkling of the city lights on the water, the slap, slap, slap of the waves against the bank when a picturesque junk chugs by, the regal colonial-era buildings that speak volumes… It all reminds me, in a strange, melancholic way, of the cold European towns I grew up in: sans, of course, the cold weather, sparkling city, junk boats and chewy udon. WINE: An entirely adequate range, skewed towards solid French bottles but also including a smattering of good New World picks.http://www.fullertonhotel.com/en/dining/townrestaurant.html
The Line
Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Road, Tel: 6213 4275
Buffet Breakfast: 6am – 10.30am (Mon – Fri) 6am – 11 am (Sat – Sun) Buffet Lunch: Noon – 2.30pm Buffet Dinner:6.30pm – 10.30pm
A seafood counter is laden with oysters in their shells, waiting to be shucked to order; thickly sliced maroon-coloured smoked salmon lies on a platter, the fat on its surface shining, and bizarre looking (but delicious) slipper lobsters, still alive, nervously wait for someone to order them. Sushi chefs industriously slice fresh sashimi from glassy pieces of hamachi and hirame – more chefs in spotless whites dress fresh salads and carve moist meats, and at the fresh pasta counter piles of floured handmade taglietelle and stracci lay on the work surface waited to be blanched until firm and smooth and smothered in generous helpings of fresh sauces. This is not a buffet as we know it. For me the highlight was a slipper lobster from the grill, torn apart with my hands – the sweet white meat taking on the salty shell flavours from my fingers – heaven. Sweet luxuries include a novel cooked ice cream with fruit from the teppanyaki counter, and a lovely crepe suzette from the, you guessed it, crepe suzette counter. This is truly a feast of the highest order absolutely worth starving for.WINE: A strong wine list with especially good selection of class Old World vintages by the bottle. By-the-glass selection of more than a dozen wines, predominantly New World, including some sparklings.
Oscar’s
Level 1, Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Boulevard,
Tel: 6432 7481 / 6432 7463
Operating Hours: Lunch: Noon – 2.30pm Dinner: 6pm – 10pm
Brisk, breezy and fun, the newly renovated Oscar’s now boasts a ‘kitchen library’ from which diners can look into the kitchen proper, and from which comes a spread of cold seafood, Continental cooked dishes and a kaleidoscopic array of desserts. But the a la carte items looked rather better – so this is what I went for. A tender and spicy chicken satay with a delicious pineapple marmalade; and the Oscar’s burger — a thick, juicy and beef patty made with coarsely minced, prime beef cuts and wedged into a thick sliced bun — were uber-delish. Service is warm and the staff are commendable for their initiative and promptness of service. WINE: A selection of wines mainly from the New World – America, New Zealand and Australia. All wines are available by the glass.
Equinox at The Stamford
Level 69, Swissotel The Stamford
Tel: 6431-6156/11.30 am-2.30 pm
$75+++ (adults), $37.50+++ (4-12 years)
http://www.swissotel.com/singapore-stamford/z964/dining_02.html#2
Mezza9 @ Grand Hyatt
Grand Hyatt Singapore $78+
http://www.restaurants.singapore.hyatt.com/mezza/mezza_intro.html
