This weekend, eat all you like. Food is, after all, the national obsession here in Singapore. Here, our top picks of all the National Day dining promotions out there in restaurants that don’t just serve great food, but have stylish interiors too:
1. The Pelican Seafood Bar & Grill (#01-01 One Fullerton, tel: 6438-0400)
The place: Set up by the same folks behind Marmalade Pantry, its red leather booths and nautical-themed knick knacks at the entrance add an old-world charm to its otherwise contemporary decor (look for the bright pink seahorses mounted on the restaurant walls). It’s also a prime spot to get a full view of the NDP fireworks.
The deal: The Fireworks Package: $500 nett (includes cover charge for up to 6 people) for a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut and a bottle of Belvedere vodka – or Glenmorangie 10 Years, if whisky is your preferred poison. There’s a dinner package too: $88 for a 5-course feast of oysters, clams, lobster, toothfish and whoopee pie (above, right). August 9 only
2. Manhattan (Level 2, The Regent Singapore, tel: 6725-3377)
The place: Looks like an old-school gentlemen’s club – stylish and sexy. Dark purple drapes, plush brown leather sofas and a glittering long bar at the back of the room give it a rather theatrical, Great Gatsby-esque appeal.
The deal: $50++ for two Singapura Nacional cocktails (above, made with apricot brandy and spices, usually $23++ each) and a serving of the bar’s signature Village Steam Buns (made with Duroc pork belly, these are head chef Nicholas Troisien’s take on local favourite kong bak pau – braised pork in steamed buns). August 8-9
3. The Kitchen Table (W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, tel: 6808-7268)
The place: Known for its whimsical decor – upturned tables suspended from the ceiling from which large chandeliers hang, quirky salt and pepper shakers in the shape of a rubber ducky – and live cooking stations within its bright and airy space.
The deal: Lion Remix, from $188++ per person. A lunch buffet spread of local dishes such as chilli crab and cereal prawns, plus dishes inspired by Singapore favourites, such as Alaskan crabmeat pohpiah. Free flow of champagne, beer, wine, soft drinks and juice. August 8-9
4. Fat Cow (Level 1, Camden Medical Centre, tel: 6735-0308)
The place: With Japanese bamboo panelling and wooden counters, it’s warmly furnished and meditative – perfect for a cosy tete-a-tete. (Read our review of their wagyu beef dishes and Japanese fare here.)
The deal: SG50 Shokado Bento, $50++. This lunchtime bento set features traditional Japanese dishes like kinpirago (sautéed burdock and carrots) and wakeginuta (leek, seaweed and shellfish with vinegar miso), the restaurant’s signature Wagyu Hamburg Steak and an assortment of sashimi. August 1-31
5. Lewin Terrace (21 Lewin Terrace, tel: 6333-9905)
The place: Well-hidden behind dense foliage, this colonial bungalow in the downtown heritage belt boasts a genteel, white-washed interior and a spacious terrace bar (great if you want to unwind alfresco-style).
The deal: LT50, $50++. You get three of its signature spice cocktails – choose from 11 in the bar’s new menu – plus a bar snack. Must-tries: the Lewin Sling and the Ancient Garden. August 6-9
Like this? Here’s a Karl Lagerfeld-inspired secret pop-up dinner you’ll want to grab seats at.
