Vin Geek @ Pacific Plaza - Launches A New 3-Course Set Menu From $25 Onwards

Vin Geek at Pacific Plaza is a cosy wine bar and retail concept designed to allow you to experience the joy of wine drinking in a light-hearted atmosphere. It has recently expanded its offerings to include lunch service, which means you can have the pleasure of early-day wine drinking if you are in the mood for it.

Burrata 4/5

Introducing its first Set Lunch menu, priced at just $25, you have the option of 3-course (Starter, Main, Dessert) or 2-Course (Starter/Dessert, Main) with a choice of red or white wine. As a Starter, I had a Burrata. The burrata itself boasted a fresh and creamy flavour and was further complemented by the juicy sweet tomatoes and the earthy green peas.

Cioppino 4/5

As a Main, I relished in a comforting and wholesome plate of Cioppino (+$10) featuring sweet Maine lobster meat, prawns, seabass and clam. There was a rustiness to it, which I enjoyed. The broth was light and well-balanced, with a pronounced depth of crustacean flavour, which complemented the seafood.

Affogato 4/5

Summing up, my lunch is a simple and classic Affogato.

Smoked Butter, Salted Butter, Kombu Butter

There is also a special menu that includes curations based on collaboration with makers dedicated to a speciality product. Within these couple of months, Vin Geek and @atasbutter have come out with 2 specials. One of which is Sip & Spread: The Geek's Butter & Wine Flight ($30). It showcases a trio of flavoured cultured butter paired with a flight of white wines served with sourdough bread. Fans of butter, this is highly recommended!

One of the key highlights of Vin Geek is that it has a DIY wine dispenser of 24 bottles that offers a 30ml tasting portion, which is just $2.50! Simply order via the QR code tag on each bottle. Showcasing 12 red, 2 rose, and 10 white, the selection of wines rotates every 3 to 4 months.

Vin Geek also has a unique way to help you decide on your bottle of wine - according to your mood. Hence, each bottle of wine is painstakingly categorized by the sommelier and labelled with in-house mood stickers. At every turn you make of this 52-seater space, there is always something for you to explore - from the wine dispenser to the wine shelves and chillers, cheese counter, and shelves filled with artisanal jams, condiments and chocolates. You can perhaps DIY your charcuterie board to pair with your favourite wines.

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.


Vin Geek
Pacific Plaza
9 Scotts Road
#01-04/05/06/07
Singapore 228210
Tel: +65 63341622
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Follow the underground walkway to Shaw House. Walk to the ground level. Walk to Scotts road. Turn left and continue down Scotts road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Gyutan-Tan @ Tras Street - Singapore's First-Ever Ox Tongue Specialty Restaurant

Gyutan-Tan is the newest kid on the block along Tras Street, which opened in November 2022. It is Singapore's first-ever gyutan (ox tongue) speciality restaurant, showing the ingredient in various forms such as delectable appetisers, chargrilled mains, donburi and teishoku.

Sumiyaki Gyutan Set 4.2/5

Not to be missed at Gyutan is its Sumikayi Gyutan Set ($20). The lunch set includes fluffy mugimeshi (a mix of rice and barley), two kinds of Japanese pickles, salad with lemon olive oil dressing, tororo (grated Japanese mountain yam, and a choice of oxtail or miso soup. The grilled 4mm thin cuts of gyutan are incredibly tender and cloaked in fragrant binchotan char. The pairing of grated Japanese mountain yam with the fluffy mugimeshi was new and enjoyable.

Cold Roasted Gyutan Carpaccio 3.5/5

We tried the Cold Roasted Gyutan Carpaccio ($15) under the chilled appetiser menu, which is only available during dinner. A delightful appetiser featuring thin slices of cold-roasted gyutan, arugula, crunchy pickled white radish, and parmesan and finished with a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze.

Pork Kakuni 3.8/5

We tried a few a la carte dishes available only during dinner, starting with the Pork Kakuni ($18). While the 4-hour braised pork belly is richly flavoured, the texture can be more tender. It shows that other non-beef tongue dishes are also available on the menu.

Gyutan Demi-Glace Stew 4/5

The Gyutan Demi-Glace Stew ($20) is a classic French-braised gyutan chunk. Once again, the sauce is rich and robust. However, like the braised pork belly, I preferred it to be more tender.

Premium Gyutan Shabu Shabu 4.2/5

The highlight at Gyutan-Tan has to be the Premium Gyutan Shabu Shabu ($28). The dashi-based hotpot comes together with premium gyutan slices and vegetable platter. It is unique, as I don't remember ever having ox tongue for shabu shabu. It also demonstrates the versatility of the ingredients in different cooking methods.

Homemade Egg Pudding 3/5

Japanese Tiramisu Parfait 3.5/5

Complete the meal at Gyutan-Tan on a sweet note with the Homemade Egg Pudding ($4) and Japanese Tiramisu Parfait ($11.50). The egg pudding was smooth and silky, not overly sweet, same for the tiramisu parfait's sweetness level. Hence I enjoyed both desserts.

Matcha Affogato 4.2/5

The crowd's favourite was the Matcha Affogato ($11.50). The green tea is whisked at the tableside and then poured onto the plate of vanilla ice cream, warabimochi and white chocolate, paired with kuromitsu.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gyutan-Tan
41 Tras Street
Singapore 078980
Tel: +65 83213359
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 330pm, 530pm - 10pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right on Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]