Valentine’s Day takes place this Sunday, and if you’ve not planned for a short weekend getaway overseas, take your date to one of these stylish restaurants for their specially created Valentine’s Day menus. By Hemalashvini Ragoo.
Where: The Quayside Isle steakhouse with sleek, polished decor worth dolling up for (check out the dresses and accessories we recommend for a black tie affair).
On the menu: Three or four-course dinner options, along with two glasses of rose. Highlights include a lobster truffle risotto, cured duck ham, and the restaurant specialty: blackmarket sirloin that’s been grilled to perfection. $316/$356, 21 Ocean Way Sentosa, tel: 6808-7208
What: The fine-dining European restaurant that offers a unique meat trolley service, where guests can preview selected cuts before they are sent off to the kitchen.
On the menu: Executive chef Gan Swee Lai’s six and eight-course tasting menu includes crowd-pleasers like Gilardeau oysters with pickled cucumber and grilled Australian wagyu beef in red wine sauce. $198-$360 per couple, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, tel: 6730-1743
What: A cosy Italian restaurant located on the ground floor of a three-storey shophouse in the Tanjong Pagar district.
On the menu: A five-course dinner comprising two complimentary glasses of prosecco, hearty courses like a lobster spaghettini with coriander pesto and ginger and boneless suckling pig with crispy skin. $150 per couple, 38 Craig Road, tel: 6423-0918
What: If you’re looking for a venue that’s all about understated elegance, this modern European classic restaurant housed in a former chapel fits the bill to a T.
On the menu: Seafood lovers will dig the starter (an ocean trout tartare served with smoked trout roe and a cucumber parfait), while meat lovers will enjoy tucking into the wagyu rump cap, which is slow-cooked over 48 hours so the meat is soft and tender. $108 per person for the first seating (6pm-6:45pm), $128 per person for the second seating (8:30pm onwards), 39C Harding Road, tel: 6473-9965
What: The upmarket Japanese steakhouse with a loyal following, spot-on dishes and pretty cocktails to boot.
On the menu: A six-course dinner menu beginning with a raw osyer shooter and culminating in a wagyu steak served with sauteed brussel sprouts and blue cheese. 1 Orchard Boulevard, tel: 6735-0308
What: Enjoy stunning views of the Singapore skyline in the three-cuisine-concept dining establishment (they offer French, Japanese and Chinese dishes).
On the menu: The first seating’s menu comprises four courses, with a miso cod (for the lady) and duck breast (for the man). At the second seating, the six-course menu includes a sashimi tasting segment as well as more expensive mains (lobster thermidor and wagyu steak). $125/$245, OUE Bayfront Rooftop, 50 Collyer Quay, tel: 6634-4555
What: The hotel buffet with a tantalising array of international delicacies.
On the menu: Dishes that are inspired by famous love stories across Asia, from ginseng chicken soup (based on a Korean folk tale, the Chunhyangjeon) and juicy lamb briyani (a tribute to the love shared between Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal – the one whom the Taj Mahal was built for). $128/$148, Level 3, 7 Raffles Boulevard, tel: 6826-8240
What: The British gastro-pub whose newly opened rooftop bar makes a great spot for post-work and pre-party tipples.
On the menu: A three-course candlelit dinner, with starters like smoked venus clams; mains like Welsh lamb shoulder or seabass; and desserts like a zesty lemon posset or a ginger cake served with dark chocolate ice cream. $88 per person, 5 Ann Siang Road, tel: 6438-3984
What: Located in Park Hotel Alexandra, the buffet restaurant serves high quality roasted meats in a chic, contemporary setting.
On the menu: A semi-buffet treat for seafood lovers (you’ll enjoy the servings of red claw crab, freshly shucked oysters and tiger prawns) and those with a sweet tooth (don’t miss the dessert: churros served with a special pink chocolate dip). $188 per couple, Park Hotel Alexandra, 323 Alexandra Road, tel: 6828-8888
What: The perfect place for an intimate tete-a-tete, with plush booth seats to while away the time in (and attentive service to boot).
On the menu: Two set meals are available for Valentine’s Day. One includes a grilled Australian pasture-fed double sirloin steak meant for two served with coddled egg, creamed spinach and beef tallow rosemary potatoes. The other option includes braised boneless U.S. beef short ribs and brown butter lobster tail with smoked tomatoes, asparagus and truffle bearnaise sauce. $148/$248 per couple, #01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, 96 Somerset Road, tel: 6238-0054
What: One of the team’s favourite lunch spots, we like its unpretentious, hearty fare and casual setting (read: a good place for first dates).
On the menu: Start off the three-course dinner with a truffle lobster bisque. Choose between a juicy beef tenderloin or a smoked quail with creamy foie gras mousse for your mains, and end off by sharing a dark chocolate fondue for two. $128++ per couple, #01-02/04 Oasia Hotel Novena, 8 Sinaran Drive, tel: 6664-0348