Ember @ North Canal Road - A Woodfire Restaurant With The Menu Built Around Dishes Prepared Over Open Flames

Ember at North Canal Road is a woodfire restaurant where the menu is built around dishes prepared over open flames. The offering is concise yet well-curated, spanning starters, sharing plates, and mains, with some creative touches that also make it brunch-friendly.

Signature Cold Angel Hair 3.5/5

For appetisers, the Signature Cold Angel Hair delivered a pasta done perfectly al dente, coated with truffle paste and topped with sashimi scallops and ikura. While the dish was indeed crowd-pleasing with the standard combination, I wonder if the truffle paste can be swapped with an alternative for a more refreshing approach.

Taramasalata Crab Toast 3/5

From the Coals section, the Taramasalata Crab Toast with N25 Caviar offered a fresh spin on the traditional Greek mezze. The assertive char on the bread helped offset the richness of the creamy taramasalata, but an extra crunch or a deeper savoury element would have brought the dish a better balance.

Spanish Octopus Tentacles 5/5

For mains, the Spanish Octopus Tentacles impressed with tender, meaty slices dressed in a vibrant Nam Jim. The piquant dressing drew out the sweetness of the crunchy white corn kernels and tomatoes, layering brightness onto the smoky octopus. Each bite excited the taste buds, with both flavour and textural interplay.

Koji-Aged Grain-Fed Ribeye 3/5

The Koji-Aged Grain-Fed Ribeye delivered robust, beefy flavours, elevated by a well-developed char and further enriched by the accompanying port wine jus. That said, the cooking was noticeably uneven, affecting the overall enjoyment of the dish.

Ember’s Cheesecake 4.5/5

For dessert, Ember's Cheesecake provided a pleasant sweet ending, well-baked with a slightly oozy, luscious core.

Overall, Ember presents a well-thought-out menu, though the execution could benefit from refinement. With woodfire concepts becoming increasingly common, it would be even more compelling if the desserts, too, carried some of those elusive charred flavours to complete the experience.

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.


Ember
35 North Canal Road
#01-01
Singapore 059291
Tel: +65 9839 3877
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed: 6pm - 10pm
Thu-Sun: 12pm - 4pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to North Canal Road. Cross the road. Turn right onto North Canal Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Marcy's @ Duxton Road - A Seafood-focused Restaurant with an Eclectic Fusion of Styles Combining Modern Sophistication

Having previously enjoyed a lovely date night at Marcy's Restaurant, I was eager to return and try their refreshed menu, along with a special festive offering that they have prepared for the season. A seafood restaurant at its core, Marcy's has earned a well-deserved reputation for delectable dishes perfect for sharing. We found the portions to be quite generous too! Every dish is thoughtfully crafted with high-quality ingredients from delicate seafood bites to hearty indulgent mains.

I also absolutely love the ambience at Marcy's, an eclectic fusion of styles combining modern sophistication with the intimate charm of a speakeasy. Think dim lighting, rich textures, and unique, quirky design elements that come together to create a luxurious and stylish space.

Pacific Amberjack Tiradito 4.2/5

The first dish we sampled was the Pacific Amberjack Tiradito ($29), showcasing thick slices of raw amberjack (yellowtail) with sundream tomatoes and Avruga caviar for a touch of luxury. The tomatoes' slight tartness perfectly complemented the fish's clean, sweet flavour. A drizzle of fish sauce added some depth of flavour for a nice balance of freshness and complexity.

Crab Toast 4.2/5

The next dish was a special request of mine — Marcy's Crab Toast ($26) — since I have fond memories of how yummy it was the last time I had it. This dish features a good amount of tender, sweet crab meat in a rich anchovy mascarpone. The brioche toast itself is also crisped up in umami butter. It's definitely on the rich side, but since we were sharing the dish, I found it to be a delicious slice of indulgence.

Hasselback Frites 4/5

Another dish of comfort food arrived in the form of Hasselback Frites ($18). The top half of the potatoes are thinly sliced and deep-fried, whilst the bottom is left untouched for a soft, fluffy finish. These frites were topped with a tangy Patagonian prawn cocktail and olive tartar, offering a contrast in flavour and texture. As a self-professed potato lover, whilst I didn’t notice a very large difference in texture between the crispy top and the soft bottom of the potato, I still found this to be a satisfying dish.

Rock Lobster Wellington 4.5/5

We were treated to a beautifully crafted seasonal special for our main course: the Rock Lobster Wellington. This exquisite dish featured succulent rock lobster, tender salmon, and savoury mushroom and spinach duxelles. The sweet, delicate lobster and buttery salmon created a luxurious filling, perfectly balanced by the earthy depth of the duxelles. All of this was wrapped in a golden, flaky puff pastry, baked to perfection. The dish was finished with a light marigold hollandaise and enhanced by a special seaweed caviar (supplement required). A well-executed seafood take on the traditional Wellington.

Pavlova 3.8/5

By this point, we were absolutely stuffed, but there was no way we could leave without trying one of Marcy’s "happy ending" desserts. We had the Pavlova which featured a light, crispy meringue on top, and a rich, creamy base layer of cheesecake. The smoothness of the cheesecake complemented the airy crunch of the meringue, and the dessert was finished with fruits, adding a burst of colour and freshness to every bite. It is however, a little on the sweet side.

You will find that Marcy's is a popular choice for both couples enjoying a romantic date night and groups of friends celebrating special occasions. From the first bite to the last, Marcy's feels special and comfortable, ensuring it's a meal to remember.

Penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Marcy's
39-40 Duxton Road
Singapore 089503
Tel: +65 9012 3747
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Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 530pm - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 530pm - 12midnight
Sun: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road towards Duxton Road. Turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]