Saketoshi @ UE Square Shopping Mall - New Modern Izakaya & Sake Bar That Accepts Cryptocurrency Payment

Saketoshi is a newly opened modern izakaya located at UE Square Shopping Mall, offering exquisite sake and classic Japanese bar bites. It also has an alfresco dining area for guests that prefer to enjoy their sake outdoor with the night's cool breeze. On top of that, the sake bar allows customers to pay their bills with cryptocurrency.

Amaebi Karaage 4.2/5

Ika Geso Karaage 4/5

We started with some Agemono to go with our drinks. The Amaebi Karaage ($15) is extremely addictively, sweet and crispy. The Ika Geso Karaage ($15) is also ideal for pairing with a couple of drinks. The portions for both bar snacks were huge too.

Japanese Oysters Karaage 3.8/5

Instead of fresh oysters, we decided to go for the Japanese Oysters Karaage ($24). Another deep-fried item that has a delightful exterior crisp locking the briny tang of the plump oyster within.

Saketoshi Cocktail 4.5/5

For a luxe enjoyment, the Saketoshi Cocktail ($39) consisting of caviar, uni and ikura tasted heavenly with all three ingredients coming together harmoniously.

Uni Seaweed Tempura 4.8/5

Elevate the experience at Saketoshi with the Uni Seaweed Tempura ($24 for 2pc), comprising fresh sea urchin perched atop a bed of seaweed tempura and juicy slices of otoro and garnished with a dollop of truffle caviar.

Scallop IKura 3.5/5

Scallop lovers will have a choice between the Scallop Ikura ($24) and Scallop Foie Gras ($48). The Scallop Ikura is deep-fried in a thin crusty coat, plump and juicy, topped with popping ikura. However, I thought it was slightly on the salty end.

Scallop Foie Gras 3.5/5

As for the Scallop Foie Gras, while I enjoyed the beautifully pan-seared foie gras and scallop, the combination didn't come together as a dish. Instead, they are individually delicious on their own, paired excellently with the mentaiko sauce.

A4 Wagyu Steak 4.5/5

One of the crowd's favourites is the A4 Wagyu Steak ($48) that is given a quick kiss on the grilled for the appreciation of the beautiful full flavoured tender beef. Customers can also have it with salt on the side to enhance the taste profile.

Aburi Engawa 3.8/5

Suppose you are still hungry and need something more filling. In that case, you can try the Aburi Engawa Donburi ($28), which features a flame-seared halibut fin atop Japanese pickles, ikura, pickled ginger and an onsen egg. The mild sweetness of the halibut is complemented by the crunchiness from the pickles, ginger and ikura for that extra textural enjoyment.

Saketoshi is unlike typical modern izakaya. Established by a group of crypto-investors, you can pay for your meals with cryptocurrencies at Saketoshi. In fact, its name is a witty play on the pseudonym for the elusive Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Saketoshi

UE Square Shopping Mall

81 Clemenceau Avenue
#01-14
Singapore 239917
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Website
Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to traffic junction Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to UE Square. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

The Dragon Chamber @ Circular Road (Boat Quay) - Reopens With An Updated Menu And An Extended Service Area

The Dragon Chamber, the hidden restaurant inside a kopitiam, has reopened with an updated menu. In addition, the front of the restaurant, originally designed to look like a nondescript kopitiam to conceal the dining area, has been refurbished into a functional open-air casual bar known as Dragon Chamber Kopitiam, offering bar snacks and cocktails.

Firecracker Chicken and Maple Fritters 4.5/5

The signature Firecracker Chicken and Maple Fritters ($16/$30) gets to stay on the new menu. The crispy deep-fried diced chicken paired with chopped dried chillies, cashews, chives and Szechuan peppercorn is very addictive. It is served with crunchy "youtiao" fritters baked in maple syrup which I felt is a welcome addition to cut the spiciness.

Double Boiled Almond Mushroom, Sea Whelk & Conpoy Soup 4.5/5

The Double Boiled Almond Mushroom, Sea Whelk & Conpoy Soup ($16) is new. The flavoursome soup is extracted from boiling chicken and pork for four hours before double-boiling for another two hours with ingredients such as mushrooms and conpoy.

Tofu Duo in Pumpkin Gravy 4/5

Another new item on the menu is the Tofu Duo in Pumpkin Gravy ($24). Sitting in the pool of pumpkin gravy is a duo of egg spinach tofu and charcoal-infused tofu served with roasted pumpkins. I enjoyed the smooth and silky tofu, but the roasted pumpkin is on the tough side for my likings. 

Assorted Beef Claypot 4.8/5

My favourite dish among the new items is the Assorted Beef Claypot ($40). It comprises beef tendon, oxtail, tongue and cheek, cooked in a house with special fermented beancurd and oyster sauce. It is so comforting and hearty that I can have it with at least two bowls of rice.

Wagyu Truffle Beef Hor Fun 4.2/5

A must-have at The Dragon Chamber is the Wagyu Truffle Beef Hor Fun ($32/$58). I realized the restaurant had changed the A4 Kagoshima wagyu with US wagyu short rib. No wonder the price has dropped. The rest of the components making up the dish remains the same. The guests still get the crispy deep-fried hor fun strips, poached egg and wok-fried flat noodles finished with truffle gravy.

Kinmedai Fish with Crispy Scales 4.5/5

From the sea, we have the wild-caught Kinmedai Fish with Crispy Scales ($88). The fish stood out for its huge, big eyes. It is steamed and flash-fried for a crispy scale texture served in a special in-house Hong Kong-style sauce.

Golden Cloud Dragon Mountain 4/5

Making a theatrical entry in smoke from the dry ice is the Golden Cloud Dragon Mountain ($88/$138). The whole lobster is chopped into chunky pieces, deep-fried and tossed in a sweet and savoury golden egg floss.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Fries 3.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we have the Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Fries ($12) smothered in a house special Szechuan sauce. The combination is unique, and it's my first time having ice cream with fries. It is quite a unique experience.

I have enjoyed the Assorted Beef Claypot and Kinmedai Fish with Crispy Scales from the newly updated menu. In addition, it is great to see that the signature Wagyu Truffle Beef Hor Fun and Firecracker Chicken and Maple Fritters are still on the menu.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Dragon Chamber
2 Circular Road
Singapore 049358
Tel: +65 68058181
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Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down the road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout @ South Bridge Road - Journey Through 300 Different Types Of Sake With Modern Kappo-style Japanese Cuisine

SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout at South Bridge Road is a haven created for the sake of aficionados and novices alike. At any one time each season, it carries around 300 types of artisanal sake. First established as an online sake subscription service provider for five years, SAKEMARU ventured into their first restaurant business. The dine-in restaurant offers an impressive range of artisanal sakes and a modern Kappo-style Japanese cuisine fronting the restaurant.

The sake and food menus are seasonal, with the former curated by Head Sommelier Tadashi Okushima, one of the honorary Sake sommeliers designated by the Japan Sake Sommelier Association, the latter executed by Head Chef Daisuke Yomogi. You can opt for a 15-course Omakase tasting menu for $200, with an optional Sake pairing that comes highly recommended. At Sakemaru, you will get to taste sakes that are rarely available, even in Japan, as they work closely with small and unknown but excellent breweries in Japan.

Persimmon and Tiger Shrimp 4/5

Our tasting was a 9-course Omakase with an opening course featuring Persimmon and Tiger Shrimp with Sesame Tofu Sauce. The nutty and savoury sauce complements the key ingredients, which are inherently on the sweet side.

Wagyu Uni Sushi 3.8/5

The theatrical effect of this course was when the Chef unveiled the Wagyu Uni Sushi hidden underneath the whole Persimmon. It won us over with its luscious and mouth-filling combination of wagyu and uni.

Kasaichiyo Casareccio

The sake to kickstart our dinner was Kasaichiyo Casareccio from the Kyoto Prefecture. Brewed with White Koji, this Sake is perfect for starting any meal with extremely fruity notes and considerably low alcohol content. It is one of our favourites of the night.

Teapot Soup 4/5

Nigiri Salmon Ikura Steamed Sushi 3.5/5

Shichisui Yumesasara 40

For Appetiser, we had a comforting Teapot soup - Matsutake Mushroom and Pike Cougar Steamed In Teapot, followed by Nigiri Salmon Ikura Steamed Sushi. A simple dish but elevated with zest from Japanese lime. They are paired with a slightly stronger Shichisui Yumesasara 40 from the Tochigi Prefecture.

Horse Mackerel Wrapped in Radish 3.5/5

Sliced Usujukuri with Uni 3.5/5

Bluefin Tuna 4/5

We had Seasonal Sashimi 3 Kinds - Horse Mackerel Wrapped in Radish, Sliced Usujukuri with Uni and Bluefin Tuna for the Sashimi course. I appreciate how each kind of sashimi was presented individually and treated differently, which brought an entirely new experience to eating the same ingredients that I had before. That certainly prolonged the pleasure of pairing them with Sharaku Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki from the Fukushima Prefecture. If you are good, you might detect banana notes in it.

Grilled Miyazaki A5 Sirloin 4/5

Next, we had Grilled Miyazaki A5 Sirloin with Japanese Yam on Hoba Leaf. One of the joys of this course is watching the Chef at work - smoking the Hoba Leaf, grilling the sirloin and eventually placing the beautiful dish in front of me. The Hoba Leaf evoked a sense of walking in the woods, with the yam and Japanese green pepper adding a touch of rustiness to the plating. The Sirloin, though I thought it needed to be slightly more charred to render its fats was still yummy with the help of rich and savoury dark miso sauce. This course is accompanied by Tengumai Yamahai Junmai from the Ishikawa Prefecture, served at 30 degrees Celcius. The key to note about this sake is that it is produced using a very traditional method: Yamahai Style. I learned that such a method has a wilder flavour in sake, perhaps explaining its interesting mushroom notes.

Hairy Crab with Tosazu Jelly Sauce 4/5

Tatenokawa Muga Junmai Daiginjo Nama

We also had a dish to refresh our senses in between - a chilled dish featuring Hairy Crab with Tosazu Jelly Sauce. The combination is sweet, citrusy and tangy. It did what it was meant to do - awakening my taste buds, alongside a serving of Tatenokawa Muga Junmai Daiginjo Nama from the Yamagata Prefecture.

Fig Tempura 4.5/5

Deep-fried Pacific Saury 4/5

Nabeshima Blossom Moon

The Deep-Fried item stood out for me. First, we had Fig Tempura served with Miso Sauce and Yuzu Zest, followed by the Deep-fried Pacific Saury rolled with Shiso basil, served with Ume Sauce. Coated with a light tempura batter, deep-frying the fig seemed to change both its flavour and texture profile, for it reminded me so much of a fried Breadfruit. The sake paired with it was a highlight for me - Nabeshima Blossom Moon from Saga Prefecture. Using Tajima Gouriki rice, it has very distinct strawberry notes.

Mushroom and Sea Eel Claypot Rice 4.5/5

After so much drink, a carbs-heavy dish in the Mushroom and Sea Eel Claypot Rice served with Miso Soup is always welcome. It showcases the simplicity of Japanese claypot rice and how one can derive such extreme comfort from eating it. With that, indeed, perhaps the perfect pairing will have to be this Kuromatsu Kenbishi, served at 45 degrees Celcius. Being one of the most rustic styles of sakes from the Hyogo Prefecture, it has characteristic mushroom notes that syncs with the dish.

Shine Muscat Daifuku 4.8/5

Rounding off the meal was a mellow sweet Shine Muscat Daifuku served with hot tea. It marries the beauty of the Japanese Shine Muscat with one of our most well-loved traditional Japanese dessert.

From $55 a month for the classic plan, SAKEMARU subscribers get a 720ml bottle of seasonal Junmai or Junmai Gingo grade sake. Some of the sake breweries are Tempoichi Shuzo, a 106-year-old small brewery in Hiroshima, Kikuzakari Shuzo, a family-run brewery from Iwate Prefecture and Mikunibare Shuzo, a 131-year-old brewery in Ikuji Kurobe, famed for its water quality. The sakes from Sakemaru are available exclusively through them.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout
55 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058686
Tel: +65 65132789
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat:3pm – 1145pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road and walk to Carpenter Street. Walk down Carpenter Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Chulia Street to North Canal Road. Walk to the junction of North Canal Road and South Bridge Road. Turn right onto South Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Park Hotel Clarke Quay Celebrates The Year Of The Ox With A Selection of Bountiful Feasts

Park Royal Clarke Quay ushers in the Year of the Ox with a selection of bountiful feasts curated by the hotel's Banquet Chef James Wong, a veteran culinary specialist with four decades of experience in Asian and Cantonese cuisines. The four set menus ranging from six to eight courses ($388 to $768) will be available for dine-in or takeaway via self-collection or delivery from 29 January to 26 February 2021.

Prosperity Tuna Yu Sheng Platter 3.8/5

A staple for every Chinese New Year is the Lo Hei. This year Park Hotel Clarke Quay features the refreshing Prosperity Tuna Yu Sheng Platter. Instead of raw fish, it is substitute with tataki style tuna slices paired with a medley of white and green radish and carrot, purple cabbage, pickled vegetables, torch ginger flower, chiffonade of kaffir lime leaves.

Superior Braised Fish Maw with Crabmeat and Homemade Stuffed Crab Claw 4/5

I am quite familiar with the Superior Braised Fish Maw with Crabmeat and Homemade Stuffed Crab Claw. It is one of the chef's signature dish which I have tried before though he changes the accompanying ingredients. This year he replaces the shark fin with braised fish maw and crabmeat accompanied with plump crab claws made with prawn paste and crabmeat.

Steamed Red Garoupa with Yellow Bean Paste 4.2/5

Steamed to perfection is the Steamed Red Garoupa with Yellow Bean Paste. The yellow bean paste enlivens the celebrative dish a new change from the usual Cantonese or Teochew style.

Fragrant Crispy Duck 4/5

The Fragrant Crispy Duck is inspired by the Cantonese 'Heung Song' duck. Chef James first marinated the duck with spices such as cinnamon stick, star anise, Sichuan peppercorn, ginger juice, and hua diao wine, then steamed till soft and tender. For the finishing touch, the duck is coated in a batter and deep-fried. The crispy and tender duck is complemented with sides of tangy achar and duck jus.

Braised Sea Cucumber, Fish Maw, Baby Abalone with Broccoli 4.2/5

Somewhat like a mini Pen Cai is the Braised Sea Cucumber, Fish Maw, Baby Abalone with Broccoli. Though these are individual delicacies, the delicious sauce binds them together excellently.

Salted Egg Yolk Golden Tiger Prawn 4.5/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Golden Tiger Prawn are tossed in a coat of auspicious golden sauce of salted egg yolk with butter, garlic, and curry leaves. It is so delicious that I ate it together with the deep-fried crispy shell.

Steamed Fragrance Rice in Lotus Leaf with Duck Meat and Chinese Sausage 3.5/5

I understand the chef wants to give diners a healthier choice; hence he chooses to steam the rice instead of stir-frying it. However, I find the Steamed Fragrance Rice in Lotus Leaf with Duck Meat and Chinese Sausage lacked the stir-fried aroma. I guess I still prefer it being stir-fried.

Crispy Durian 4/5

Last but not least, we end our dinner with Crispy Durian. Encased in the crispy batter is the pungent durian which comes in lava form. It is as if I am having a molten chocolate cake.

- Early Bird treat (book before 29 January): Every reservation will enjoy a discount of 15% off the Chinese New Year set menus.
- Bookings on 29 January and after: Every reservation will enjoy a discount of 10% off the Chinese New Year set menus.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 65938888
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight At Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and turn left onto Clemenceau Ave. Walk down Clemenceau Ave. Turn right onto Unity Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Clark Quay Station (Stop ID 04222). Take bus number 54. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to the end UE Square Shopping Mall. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]