Following part 1, these are short notes to fine dining restaurants I’ve been in the past year. Again, this is for my personal reference and some are outdated but if it’s helpful for you, I’m glad.
Lavo
Marina Bay Sands Hotel Tower 1, Level 57, 10 Bayfront Ave Singapore 018956
T: +65 6688 8591
12pm to 12am daily
Visited: 2 Dec 2021
Oh god, the food was awful and extortionate – why was it so crowded? Don’t rich people have taste? The chocolate cake, which every table had one, was THE worst chocolate cake I ever had, dry like sand. The steak was tough and dry. The two reasons I could think of why people actually chose to dine here willingly are: the casino gave them vouchers or they were so desperate to be seen.
Food: 3/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Price/value: 3/10
Orchid Live Seafood
HomeTeamNS Khatib, 2 Yishun Walk #03-01 Singapore 767944
tel: +65 6756 0311
11am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10pm daily
Visited: 5 July 2022
The food was average but it was expensive. $160 for a lobster salad? I think the seafood is supposed to be super fresh since they got it out live from the tanks but my tongue cannot differentiate. I guess my tastebuds aren’t refined enough.
Food: 6/10
Ambience: 6/10
Service: 6/10
Price/value: 5/10
Racines Sofitel
Sofitel Singapore City Centre, 9 Wallich Street, Singapore 078885
t: +65 6428 5000
7am – 10.30am, 12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm
Visited: 12 Sept 2022
Semi-buffet style. You pick a main course, but apps and desserts are buffet-style. Not a big selection but it’s classy and most items were good. There were cold prawns, small lobsters (those that China eats), and sashimi when we were there. The sambal seafood rice as a main was surprisingly good.
Food: 6.5/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Price/value: 5.5/10
Rosemead
19 Cecil St Singapore 049704
t: +65 9781 9084
M – F 12pm – 2.30pm
Tues – Sat 6pm – 11pm
Visited: 25 Mar 2022
It’s open by Jigger and Pony and I think they should stick to opening bars. It cooks food via wood fire, like Burnt Ends. For food this mediocre and simple, it was ridiculously priced. $47 for a burger that tasted so mid? I had better burgers at Shake Shack. Quality ingredients are only part of the formula; food should taste as good as they are priced. Hawkers don’t use the best ingredients but some of them make magic with what they have.
The bread ($19 when we visited) was the saving grace but why do we need to pay for bread when it is gratis in many restaurants? I was okay that the food was ordinary–that happens–but to price mediocre food so highly? I can’t.
Post-script: After writing this entry, my blogger friends told me that Rosemead has very recently (this one week or two) revamped its concept to casual dining because the fine-dining didn’t work. SO… customers are discerning after all!
Food: 6/10
Price/value: 2/10
Ambience/decor: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Siri House
8D Dempsey Rd, #01-02 Dempsey Hill, Singapore 249672
t: +65 9487 1552
Tue – Th & Sun 11.30am – 10pm
F & Sat 11.30am – 11.30pm
Closed M
Visited: 13 Apr 2022
I had never heard of Siri House, never see anything on social media, and my friends didn’t introduce it to me. I attended the collaboration of Siri House with Veuve Clicquot. And the food was fantastic and quite impressive but I was still hungry after the meal. I shortlisted it for my “Best Food in Singapore 2022” but it fell just outside the top 10. Ambience-wise, the whole place was a bit dark for me, but maybe because I’m old.
Food: 8/10
Ambience/decor: 6/10
Service: 7/10
In conclusion, I recommend Siri House and do NOT recommend Lavo and Rosemead. The other two restaurants, Racines and Orchid Live Seafood, are fine.
You may be interested in…
– Best Food in Singapore 2022
– New Restaurants & Promos: Nori Nori Yakiniku (Telok Ayer); Zorba (Clarke Quay); Peppermint (Parkroyal Marina Bay)
Written by Dr. A. Nathanael Ho.
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