The Chop House @ I12 Katong

I first visited The Chop House at Vivocity when it first opened back in 2013. The Chop House is opened by the same people behind Wooloomooloo Steakhouse. Now a second outlet, The Chop House has opened at the heart of Katong at I12 Katong. I realized the gastro-bar seems to offer more varieties on the menu compared to their flagship

Thoo Japanese Yen

We started with some drinks from the bar before commencing our dinner. From the cocktail list, we tried the Thoo Japanese Yen ($16) and Lychee Mojito ($16). Both are very refreshing drinks to kick start the dinner.

Lychee Mojito

The bar also offers An All Day Happy Hour with 5 ice cold draught beers on tap such as the Australian Pure Blonde Lager and the award winning Weihenstepaner from the world's oldest brewery.

Burrata 4/5

Our dinner started with the classic Burrata ($16). The creamy burrata and sweet vine ripened tomato, dressed with basil pesto sauce is a classic combination that whets up the appetite.

Freshly Shucked Oysters 4.2/5

The Chop House is not just all about meat now. As I mentioned earlier, the menu has been expanded with the Freshly Shucked Oysters ($26 for half a dozen). It is served natural with lime and Japanese chive vinaigrette for the full appreciation of the creamy shell fish.

Crispy Pork Belly 3.5/5

Everyone loves a good crackling Crispy Pork Belly ($18). Unfortunately the skin was thick and hard that I have difficulty cutting through it. Saying that, the meat itself was flavoursome and succulent. The apple jam and the apple radish salad help to cut through the greasiness

Pan Fried Barramundi 3/5

From the sea, we tried the Pan Fried Barramundi ($26) served with green apple, fennel and rocket salad, steamed potatoes, baby beetroots and lemon aioli. The barramundi to my disappointment was slightly on the dry side while the star was actually the accompaniments.

Patty Melt 3.8/5

The perfect food to go with the selection of draft beers would be the Patty Melt ($24). The one half pound beef patty is smothered with sauteed onions and melted cheddar cheese. A delectable burger with moist patty covered with the saltiness of the melted cheddar cheese, ideal to wash down with a glass of beer.

Mixed Grill Platter 3/5

Good for sharing and to try a bit of everything is the Mixed Grill Platter ($68). Served in a pan, it comes with Australian grass fed feed tenderloin, lamb cutlets, pork sausages, lamb sausages, grilled tomato and red wine sauce. I have tried the grilled meat at The Chop House previously but this is rather ordinary compared to what I had before.

Truffle Potato Salad 4.5/5

Creamy Spinach 2.8/5

To go with your mains, The Chop House also offers a selection of side dishes. There are 8 choices on the menu. We had the Truffle Potato Salad ($7) and Creamy Spinach ($5). I would recommend going for the truffle potato salad while the creamy spinach is subjective to individual. I like spinach a lot but I don't quite enjoy the creamy execution.

Apple Strudel Tortillas 3.5/5

The Chop House has a small but delectable choices of desserts to complete the meal. The Apple Strudel Tortillas ($8) comes with stuffed seasoned apples and pastry cream with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed the light custard creme anglaise that complemented the crunchy tortillas while the chopped pistachios give it an extra nutty crunchiness.

Churros 3/5

I not a big fan for churros but the version is bit different from elsewhere. The Churros ($6) is fatter in size and coated with cinnamon sugar for a sweet and crumbling exterior.

While I mentioned earlier that the new outlet has an expanded menu offering more variety. Another thing I noticed about the new outlet is the decor. It is brighter compared to the flagship with a modern industrial decor, providing a casual, relaxed and cosy place for a meal or gathering. Diners can also enjoy a late night meal while watching their favourite sports match.


The Chop House
I12 Katong
112 East Coast Road
#01-13
Singapore 428802
Tel: +65 64431011
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota MRT (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 16. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to 112 Katong. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to 112 Katong. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Angelina @ Capitol Galleria

For Valentine's Day this year, instead of choosing a regular restaurant, perhaps, you can consider having some quiet time with your partner at historic tearoom Angelina, located at Capitol Galleria. I have heard quite a bit about their desserts, but little do I know that they have more than a century of heritage. What surprises me as much is their extensive range of dishes that is more than enough to give you a complete meal. Just for the upcoming Valentine's Day weekend, their chef has specially crafted a menu to entice couples with.

Amuse Bouche 3.5/5

A teaspoon on the plate but still looking as elegant as it can be, chef's colourful Amuse Bouche woke up my tired eyes. The distinct attributes of ingredients allow the individual taste of each amuse bouche to stand out - we have the light and refreshing avocado cold soup served with Hokkaido scallop, which was my favourite, the savoury sweet jamon Bellota and rock melon, as well as the tart, smokey Beetroot & feta ravioli with herring caviar.

White Onion Soup 3.8/5

For starters, you can either go for a warm, comforting White Onion Soup with truffle oil or a cold, fiery Tuna au Poivre. Of course the best is to have one of each. Creamy, sweet and earthy with the aroma of truffle in each mouthful, the soup sets your body craving for more.

Tuna au Poivre 3/5

Whereas for the Tuna au Poivre, the peppery crust of the yellow fin tuna was a little too intense, which overwhelmed the delicate flavour of the fish. However, I kinda like how the cream cheese underneath soothed that down, giving a overall creamy sweet-sharp taste. The sprinkle of the sweet buttery Angelia tea 'granite' would have added on to that effect, should it have not been lost amongst the towering ingredients. More of it would have been better.

Fjord Trout 4/5

For mains, you will have 3 choices - fish, chicken or beef. My favourite is definitely the pan-seared Fjord Trout - Crisp crust contrasted with a moist and flaky core, with some fatty parts barely-done. What supports it is cauliflower puree, which you might mistaken it to be mash potatoes. Intense in flavour, I appreciate how the garlicky squid ink aioli and the savoury, chewy baby squids illuminate the dish like spotlights, which is rare in a typical salmon dish.

If you have noticed, our trout was served on a Villeroy & Boch plate, which hails from the Old Luxembourg collection introduced in 1768. Timeless indeed. If you are keen to have a piece, it is available at $49.00.

Classic Chicken Supreme 3.8/5

The same goes for their Classic Chicken Supreme. The seemingly plain looking dish was given a florid complexion by a blood orange potato mash, which was flavoured and coloured by rich chorizo. Marinated with garlic and thyme, the chicken fillet was exceptionally moist and tender.

Beef Pot au Feu 3/5

The melt-in-your mouth texture of Beef Pot au Feu was impressive. I love the asparagus vol-au-vent (puff pastry with hollow centre) and the unique asparagus mousseline. The emulsion on top was actually hazelnut flavour, which I thought was interesting but its sweetness didn't quite work out in this dish. As much I would love to have more of it, but the meat was also too salty for my liking.

Tummy filled, we were then introduced to the tearoom’s signature Hot Chocolate. Made with a 110 years old recipe, the potency of this shot of hot chocolate is unimaginable. I definitely love it - the richness, the sweet-bitterness, and what I really find amazing is that I don't get the sick-in-the-throat sensation that one might get when drinking hot chocolate. That I would attribute to high level of sugar and unnatural sweetness. I felt nourished instead, with all the anti-oxidants in my body. If you are unable to handle its potency, the whipped cream at the side is to help you lighten it.

They have a selection of fine teas, in which I would recommend their Angelina's special flavoured tea. With China Oolong Tea as the base, it is really light and fragrant with fruity notes.

Your dessert would depend on the pastry created especially for the evening. We were lucky to have a go at some of their specials - Negresco, Mont-Blanc Framboise, Cheesecake Citron and Paris-New York. With a raspberry heart, the Mont-Blanc Framboise is a level up from their signature Mont-Blanc. Unfortunately, nobody has yet made a Mont-Blanc with a sweetness that doesn't make my face squint. What sit well with my palate are their bitter sweet Negresco and sweet tangy Cheesecake citron. Negresco is a cocoon of meringue, dark chocolate mousse, icing and shavings. The cheesecake mousse was extremely light and fluffy, with a tangy lemon-lime confit in between. One could easily finish the entire slice.

It had been a pleasant evening for us, with impeccable and personal service extended by the team. At $75++ per pax, well, heritage does come with a price. You can also drop by at their boutique and get a box of their limited edition chocolates to surprise your the other half. Happy Valentine's Day!

Photograph and written 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.


Angelina
Capitol Galleria
15 Stamford Road
#01-82
Singapore 178906
Tel: +65 63840481
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]