Claudine @ Dempsey Hill - Sister Restaurant Of Three-Starred Michelin Restaurant Odette By Chef Julien Royer

With a few foodie friends, we make a reservation at Claudine at Dempsey Hill, the sister restaurant of Odette. It is another concept by Chef Julien Royer. The restaurant, located inside an old chapel building where the former White Rabbit restaurant was, has been transformed into a beautiful French brasserie.

Charred Leeks 4/5

We started with the Charred Leeks ($22). I have never eaten leeks served in 'gribiche' dressing with cornichon and chives. While it looks like a pool of mess, it was a tasty finish that allowed me to appreciate the charred leeks.

Nougat De Foie Gras 4.5/5

My friend, who loves her terrine, insisted on ordering the Nougat De Foie Gras ($38), which was an excellent choice. Best to spread it on the bread to enjoy the creaminess of the goose liver. It even comes with almond, cranberry and apricot to cut that richness.

Herring & Potato Salad 4.2/5

The Herring & Potato Salad ($28) topped with frisee surprised me for its simplicity, yet the various ingredients combine to make it a delicious dish. I adore the pairing of herring and potato, which is a first for me too. Herring can be quite sourish, so the starchy potato kind of balanced it.

Vol-Au-Vent 4/5

The Vol-Au-Vent ($58) looks somewhat like a volcano to me in its form. The towering puff pastry is filled with sweetbread, morel and chicken quenelle. The creamy mushroom jus at the base is like the after-eruption volcano lava that has flowed to the bottom of the volcano.

Chou Farci 4.2/5

It is another eye-opener for me at Claudine in the Chou Farci ($98). It didn't come across me that the French also use cabbage to wrap their food in their cooking. I thought only the Chinese did it. Cutting through the huge cabbage dome reveals luxe fillings of Gascon bacon, foie gras, prune etc. It is a richly flavoured and hearty dish that requires approximately 30 minutes of preparation time.

Claudine Bouillabaisse 4.2/5

The Claudine Bouillabaisse ($198) is probably the most expensive item on the menu. The classic French fish soup with seafood is good for sharing. It consists of deep-sea prawns (carabineros), scallops, john dory fish, razor clams and mussels. The seafood is accompanied by a plate of saffron rouille sauce and croutons to soak up the delicious soup. I enjoyed the dish, but it hurt my wallet.

While I heard mixed reviews of the restaurant, my friends and I enjoyed the food at Claudine. However, the dining experience could be better. Unfortunately, the experience was spoilt by the waiting staff reminding us numerous times throughout the dinner that we had to finish by a specific time for the second seating.


Claudine
Dempsey Hill
39C Harding Road
Singapore 249541
Tel: +65 62652966
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Nearest MRT: Napier (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Wed-Sun: 1145am - 2pm
Dinner
Tue-Sat: 6pm - 9pm
Sun: 6pm - 830pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
Alight at Napier MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to Minden Road. Turn left onto Minden Road and walk to the end of Minden Road. Turn right onto Harding Road. Walk down Harding Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

SIRI HOUSE @ Dempsey - Breathtaking Garden Dining Experience In Partnership with Veuve Clicquot

In partnership with Veuve Clicquot, Siri House at Dempsey presents a stunning new outdoor dining experience at their outdoor terrace. The new open-air garden trellis comes with a ceiling of greenery and light bulbs complemented by dreamy hanging glass baubles filled with candles and florals. It is a romantic setting for the night. During the day, fabrics are draped over the structure, providing shelter from the heat and excessive light.

We visited Siri House for dinner to experience the Dining at Dusk - An Outdoor Dinner Experience. Diners can indulge in an exquisite 4 or 6 course menu complemented by Veuve Clicquot Champagne. The 4 course menu is priced at $98++ per pax, and 6 course menu is $128++ per pax. Each menu includes a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne per person.

Amuse Bouche

The 4 or 6 Course Menu starts with an Amuse Bouche that will be changed daily. Pop the bite-size morsel for a burst of flavours.

Doenjiang Glazed Beef Short Rib 4.5/5

For the Appetiser course, diners have the choice of Doenjiang Glazed Beef Short Rib and Stracciatella. The Doenjang Glazed Beef Short Rib is cooked to tender to a beautiful pink, marinated in soy, nashi pear, apples, garlic and onions. It is paired with pickled napa cabbage and pickled daikon for a refreshing touch to cut through the richness. On top of that, it is served with celeriac and parsnip puree to go with the 36 hours sous vide beef short rib.

Stracciatella

The Stracciatella is light yet flavourful appetiser with a sweet aburi amebi. The prawn head is deep-fried to crispy, which can be eaten.

Crumbled Pork Ribeye 4.5/5

Moving to the mains, diners can choose from the Crumbled Pork Ribeye, Lobster Miso Carbonara and Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge. Starting with the Crumbled Pork Ribeye that uses Iberico pork ribeye, it is served with a house blend of smoked chillies mixed with honey and Dijon. It also comes with shredded pickled cabbage, drizzled with an umami-rich nori mayo. Usually, tonkatsu can be pretty dry if not done correctly, but I have to admit this is one of the best I have eaten. It is succulent and yet not greasy.

Lobster Miso Carbonara 4.8/5

If you have been following me, you will know that I like my pasta to come with a lot of sauce. So though the Lobster Miso Carbonara is not that saucy, flavours come with depth and robustness made with egg yolks, 3 kinds of cheese and white miso. Noteworthy is the housemade pappardelle with a delectable textural bite paired with a whole maine lobster tail that has been bincho grilled and glazed in chicken fat.

Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge 4.2/5

The Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge is paler in flavour than the other two mains. Though so, it allows the fresh and buttery flavour of the Chilean seabass to shine through.

Orange Chocolate 4/5

From savoury, we moved on to the sweets, starting with the Orange Chocolate infused with preserved orange peel. It even comes with a scoop of hazelnut ice cream, shaved candlenut, and dehydrated chocolate mousse for added texture.

Jasmine 4.2/5

The Jasmine is a pretty dessert in which a scoop of Jasmine tea ice cream sits atop layers of puff pastry sandwiched with jasmine chantilly cream, further sweetened with a drizzle of chamomile syrup. Toasted buckwheat is scattered for extra texture.

Sicilian Pistachio 4.8/5

A must-have is the Sicilian Pistachio. The whole block of pistachio ice cream is served with brown butter crumble base, topped with shavings of cured egg yolk.

Outdoor Private Dinner bookings are available, Tuesday to Sunday Evenings, 6.00pm to 8.00pm. To complement the dinner, guests can order bottles of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label, Rosé or La Grande Dame at special promotional prices, starting at $120 per bottle.

Outdoor Brunch Private Dining is available to book for 5 to 10pax, Saturday and Sunday Afternoons, 11.30 am to 1.30pm. Priced at $70++ per pax with a minimum of 5 pax to book, SIRI HOUSE outdoor brunch feast includes a list of 13 brunch plates to share, a bread and pastry platter and a selection of seasoned butters and jams.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Siri House
Dempsey Hill
8D Dempsey Road
#01-02
Singapore 249672
Tel: +65 96670533
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Napier (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 1130am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Napier MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to bus stop opposite Singapore Botanic Gardens (Stop ID 13011). Take bus number 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 2 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 12 minutes. [Map]

Open Farm Community @ Minden Road - New Farm To Feast, Reinvigorate The Different Relationships Found On The Dining Table

Open Farm Community (OFC), Singapore's pioneering urban farm and restaurant concept, launches Farm Feast. It is a new family-style tasting menu designed to reinvigorate the different relationships on the dining table - between friends and families, as well as diners and their food. Each feast serves an array of snacks, starters, mains, house-made accompaniments, and desserts that can be adjusted to any group size. It is priced at $88 per pax for dinner, with a minimum company of two.

SG Grown Radishes 4.2/5

We started with the SG Grown Radishes that is freshly plucked and served from farm to table. It is paired with cultured cream and sourdough crumble. It is my first time having raw radish. It has an enjoyable sweetness similar to a guava couple with a delightful crunchy texture.

Cauliflower Wings 4/5

Interestingly the Cauliflower Wings are shaped to look like chicken drumettes. It is coated in an addictive tamarind miso sauce, finished with sprinkles of sesame and green onions. It works for me, and I think children that dislike eating vegetables will enjoy this too.

OFC Farm Sweet Corn 4.2/5

One of my favourite starters is the OFC Farm Sweet Corn from the restaurant's farm. The grilled corn is very sweet. It surprises me that our local farm can produce such top-quality ingredients.

Hokkaido Scallop 4.2/5

The Hokkaido Scallop was plump, sweet and beautifully seared. However, what caught my attention is the sweet, smooth and creamy corn puree that complement the scallop excellently.

Grassfed NZ Short Ribs 3.8/5

For the mains, we had the Grassfed NZ Short Ribs. The bone-in meat is roasted to tender and doused in a Mexican mole sauce, giving it a spicy, smoky and sweet note. It is further enhanced with the topping of caramelised, pickled and deep-fried onions.

Accompanying the mains, we have a couple of house-made accompaniments such as Ancient Grains & Seeds, Smashin' Pumpkin, SG Green Salad and QJ's Kimchi. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get my head around the concept of the accompaniments as they did not complement the short ribs.

Before moving to the dessert, we had the refreshing Cucumber Sorbet for pre-dessert. 

Wrapping up the Farm Feast is the decadent Chocolate Dessert made from Single Origin beans from neighbouring countries. Chocolate lovers will adore the dessert for its delicate sweetness.

Wine lovers can also opt for wine pairing with the Farm Feast for an extra $40 per guest. Guest will get 3 glasses of natural wine to pair with the sumptuous meal.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Open Farm Community
130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819
Tel: +65 64710306
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 330pm, 6pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop at Boulevard Orchard opposite Orchard MRT (Stop ID 09022). Take bus no. 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Minden Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Moonbow @ Dempsey Hill - New Royal Midday High Tea, 70% Savoury 30% Sweet

Having visited Moonbow when it opened earlier in the year, I was back at the restaurant on a weekend afternoon to check out the newly launched Royal Midday High Tea. The high set is available on Friday to Sunday, from 230pm to 530pm.

High Tea Set

I am not a high tea person because I do not have a sweet tooth. Thanks to Chef Heman, who has come up with the new High Tea Set ($68.80) that focuses more on savoury than sweet. I was overwhelmed as 70% of the high tea set is savoury, and only 30% is sweet. For the savoury items, diners can look forward to Parma Ham Rose, Evvo Caviar, Salted Egg Bacon Bits Choux Pastry, Scallop Flower Amuse Bouche, Braised Short Rib Artisan Squid Ink Bread and Dark Chocolate Coated Foie Gras Lollipop.

High Tea Set

There are Green Tea Fondant, Black Berries Rice Sorbet, Bacon Cheesecake and Mango Chocolate Mousse for the sweets selection.

Tomato Butter Scones

A must-have to complement the high tea experience is the Tomato Butter Scones. Unlike the traditional English scone, Chef Heman's version is infused with tomatoes giving it a sweet, tangy finishing.

As it is the truffle's season, Chef Heman has also incorporated the premium ingredients into the high tea menu.

Cheesy Truffle Curly Fries

Besides the high tea set and scone, do check out the small plates to complete the high tea experience. The Cheesy Truffle Curly Fries covered with Parmesan Cheese and paired with Truffle Mayo Dips are delightfully addictive.

Crispy Salmon Finger in Drawer

I feel that the Crispy Salmon Finger in Drawer is worthy of a shot at the main menu. Deep-fried to golden brown and looks like our local goreng pisang, it is a unique take of the usual deep-fried fish with a crispy exterior coat. In addition, it comes with two dipping sauces - truffle mayo and arrabbiata olio for the fullest enjoyment of the crispy salmon finger.

Suppose you are someone like me preferring savoury over sweets. In that case, you will enjoy the high tea set at Moonbow, which is different from other places with more sweets than savoury. As you can see from the set that I tried, it's not your usual cake, tart, sandwich or kueh.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
MOONBOW
Block 10 Dempsey Road
#01-21
Singapore 247700
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 10am -3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11119). Take bus number 174 or 564. Alight 5 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

SIRI HOUSE @ Dempsey - Launches New Weekend Brunch And Brunch Cocktails

SIRI HOUSE at Dempsey is known for its modern Asian cuisine. Making full use of its tranquil setting, with lush greenery right outside its doorstep, SIRI HOUSE invites you to spend a relaxing weekend with them. It has launched the new SIRI HOUSE Weekend Brunch, available on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The casual and communal brunch menu offers a la carte small and large brunch plates to share, coupled with a range of classic brunch cocktails concocted with a modern Asian twist.

Brunch Cocktails

The brunch cocktails at $12 per tipple are very affordable. It incorporates handcrafted infusions, freshly squeezed juices, housemade syrups and spice blends. I kick start the brunch with the Mary Nagano, which showcases an Asian twist to the popular Bloody Mary. You can taste the familiar heat from wasabi and other Asian ingredients - Worcestershire, chilli padi and Japanese vinegar. For a refreshing note, go for the more citrus-forward mix of Aperol, Summertime Madness for an easy start to your day.

Lobster Scramble 3/5

We had Lobster Scramble ($21) and Aranici ($21) from the small plates menu. I suggest going for its regular Easy Scramble ($7) instead, as the lobster scramble being a more luxurious egg dish was rather underwhelming. A good and straightforward scrambled eggs dish would have brought more joy.

Arancini 3.8/5

On the other hand, the Arancini surprised us with its takoyaki-alike flavours, giving the classic risotto balls an Asian facelift. Instead of using Italian rice, this is made using dashi infused Japanese rice, chunks of octopus and chorizo and encased within is oozy mozzarella. Atop the crisp balls are Jaew (Thai chilli) mayo, bonito flakes and furikake.

Champion Roll 3.8/5

We had the Champion Roll ($26) - a sourdough bread loaded with a baked egg, mushrooms, bacon, asparagus, gouda, and an arrabbiata cream sauce from the Large Plate menu. If you like pizza, this will be your thing.

Cheeseburger 4/5

Also on the menu is SIRI HOUSE’s Signature Cheeseburger ($29). The fluffy toasted milk bun is a plus point. The housemade beef patty was flavourful, with a good spread of harissa mayo to bring all the ingredients together.

Bomboloni 3.8/5

Cherry Sundae 4/5

For dessert, we had the adorable, bite-size Bomboloni ($16). It's an assortment of fluffy Italian style doughnuts with cashew chocolate ganache and mixed berry compote fillings. The Cherry Sundae ($18) with tart cherry compote and a milky sweet yoghurt ice cream is delicious too.

The SIRI HOUSE Brunch menu is available on Saturdays from 11.30am to 2.30pm (last order 2pm) and on Sundays from 11.30 am to 9.00pm (last order 8pm.

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.


Siri House
Dempsey Hill
8D Dempsey Road
#01-02
Singapore 249672
Tel: +65 96670533
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 1130am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]