The Masses @ Arcade The Capitol Kempinski - Relocated to a More Centralised Place While Maintaining the Pricing Affordable

The Masses by Chef Dylan Ong has relocated from Beach Road to the prestigious Arcade at the Capitol Kempinski Hotel. This new chapter introduces a refreshed menu that marries contemporary French cuisine with bold Asian elements, delivering a unique Franco-Asian dining experience. The menu offers a cuisine with a French core harmoniously layered with Asian elements.

Squid Ink Kueh Pie Tee 4.2/5

We began our culinary journey with the Squid Ink Kueh Pie Tee ($12.90/4pc). Unlike the traditional version stuffed with cooked jicama, Chef Dylan elevates this snack by infusing the shell with squid ink and topping it with fresh crab meat. The sweetness of the crab pairs beautifully with the savoury crunch of the shell, making for a delightful start.

Smoked Pu Er Caviar & Beignet 4/5

Next, we tried the Smoked Pu Er Caviar & Beignet ($9.90/2pc). These fluffy beignets are filled with yuzu creme and topped with Avruga caviar, which has been smoked in-house with pu er tea. The tea's subtle aroma and the caviar burst create an elegant and unique flavour profile.

Steak Tartare 4/5

The Steak Tartare ($26.90) here is a symphony of flavours and textures. Served with sour cream, wasabi, mustard, charred onion, and pickled chye sim and topped with fried garlic chips, shallot chips, and caviar, it offers a rich and complex taste. Spreading the tartare on the accompanying shiso Kueh Loyang adds a crispy contrast that enhances each bite.

Salad Nicoise 3.5/5

A refreshing and healthy option is the Salad Nicoise ($23.90). This vibrant dish features gem lettuce, seasonal vegetables, tomatoes, olives, and aburi swordfish, all dressed in a tuna emulsion and topped with a soft-boiled egg. It perfectly balances flavours and textures, making it a standout salad.

Moules Marinieres 4/5

The Moules Marinieres ($16.90) is an innovative twist on the classic chawanmushi. Beneath the uni sabayon sprinkled with Espelette pepper lies a soft and creamy steamed egg custard with blue mussels. It's a delightful mix of textures and flavours paired with a crispy rice paper cracker.

Wagyu Beef Tongue 4/5

The Wagyu Beef Tongue served atop a crispy scallion pancake, is layered with red wine onion marmalade, pickled mustard seeds, pickled onions, shiso leaf, Dijon mustard, and lemon vinaigrette. The sweetness of the marmalade and the sharpness of the pickled elements create a harmonious balance, making this dish a highlight.

Stuffed Zucchini Flower 3/5

The Stuffed Zucchini Flower ($29.90), air-flown from Holland, is filled with mozzarella cheese and drizzled with lavender honey. Though the flower-to-cheese ratio felt a bit off, the lemon and caper aioli lifted the dish, adding a zesty finish.

Lemon Sole Meuniere 4/5

The Lemon Sole Meuniere ($39.90) makes a grand entry with a whole sole fish served in an "Asian Grenobloise" sauce topped with coldwater shrimp and sliced almonds. The unique twist of salted vegetables blended into the sauce offers a nod to the traditional Teochew steamed fish.

Dry Aged Spiced Roasted Chicken 4.5/5

A favourite is the Dry Aged Spiced Roasted Chicken ($21.90/half). The tender chicken served with parsnip puree, chilli jam, and charred kailan in a soy sauce chicken jus, stands out for its flavorful skin and well-balanced accompaniments.

Duck Confit 4.8/5

The Duck Confit ($21.90), a signature dish from Chef Dylan's early career, is served atop rice noodles with local mushrooms and mirabelle plum vinaigrette, finished with house-cured egg yolk. This dish reinterprets the local moonlight Hor Fun, adding a nostalgic yet innovative touch.

Steak Au Poivre 5/5

The Steak Au Poivre ($29.90) features 2GR Australian Wagyu seared and served in a browned butter sauce accented by lemon and capers. The tender shoulder cut is packed with robust flavour, and the black pepper sauce is truly the soul of this dish.

Corn & Cereal 4.5/5

For dessert, we had the Corn & Cereal ($13.90), a warm toffee and corn pudding served in whiskey caramel sauce, topped with cereal and housemade cereal ice cream. It's not overly sweet and offers a delightful play of textures and flavours.

Truffle & Tulakalum, TNT 4.2/5

The Truffle & Tulakalum, TNT ($15.90) is a savory-sweet chocolate-based dessert. Housemade black truffle ice cream is paired with Valrhona Tulakalum chocolate ganache and piped chocolate mousse and finished with shaved black truffle, sea salt, and lemon verbena oil. This dessert is a must-try for chocolate lovers.

The Masses at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel offers a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience with its Franco-Asian cuisine. Chef Dylan Ong's innovative take on classic dishes and his use of premium ingredients make this a must-visit destination. The varied menu ensures there is something for everyone, and I'm excited to see how the menu evolves over time.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Masses
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski
13 Stamford Road
#01-84
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 6518 4988
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 1030pm

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

Pura Brasa @ Guoco Tower - New Fiery and Smoky Menu Featuring Charcoal-grilled Creations

Pura Brasa, located directly above Tanjong Pagar MRT in Guoco Tower, is a well-known Spanish restaurant chain with its seventh outlet in Singapore. Known for serving quality Spanish comfort food, Pura Brasa is launching a new fiery and smoky menu at the end of May, featuring items made with its Josper charcoal oven. Despite being a Tuesday night, the restaurant was bustling with diners happily chatting over food and drinks.

Hand-Cut 72-Month-Aged 100% Acorn Fed Bellota Jamón Ham 4.5/5

We started with a classic appetiser: Pura Brasa's Hand-Cut 72-month-aged 100% Acorn-Fed Bellota Jamón Ham ($65/60g, $35/30g) from award-winning producer Monte Nevado. The jamón had a lovely and delicate saltiness that didn't overwhelm, making it perfect to pair with the provided slices of bruschetta.

Josper-Grilled House Smoked Wild Tasmanian Abalone 4.2/5

Presented in its shell, the tender Josper-Grilled House Smoked Wild Tasmanian Abalone ($48) carried a waft of smokiness. The portion is suitable for sharing.

Pancetta and Kale Pizza with Sour Cream 3.8/5

Pura Brasa's pizzas feature a much chewier crust. We tried the Pancetta and Kale Pizza with Sour Cream ($33). While we enjoyed the combination of roasted kale, slices of cured pork belly, and tangy sour cream, we found it a tad too salty overall.

Josper-Grilled Crispy Pork Belly with Porcini Mushroom Sauce 4.2/5

Fans of fattier cuts of pork belly must check out the Josper-Grilled Crispy Pork Belly with Porcini Mushroom Sauce ($29). Each piece of sous vide pork belly boasts a crunchy skin, while the high fat-to-meat ratio ensures the rest melts in your mouth.

Josper-Grilled Red Snapper with Panaderas Patatas and Umami Crab Sauce 4.2/5

Next on the menu was the Josper-Grilled Red Snapper with Panaderas Patatas and Umami Crab Sauce ($34). Enjoy the fish with its skin for a distinct smokiness. I thoroughly enjoyed the flaky fish meat, complemented by the crab sauce, which added bits of umami and crustacean sweetness.

30 Days Dry-Aged Australian Wagyu Ribeye

While I couldn't try the 30 Days Dry-Aged Australian Wagyu Ribeye ($33), my dining companions found it flavourful and tender. They quickly polished it off the plate.

Injeolmi Iceballs with Chocolate Comb by Sobok 3.8/5

I was surprised to see that the dessert we were having was Korean. The Injeolmi Iceballs with Chocolate Comb by Sobok ($16) featured chewy rice cake iceballs in assorted flavours, covered in ice cream and rolled in bean powder. They were topped with a sweet comb-shaped chocolate.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Pura Brasa Singapore
Guoco Tower
#01-16
5 Wallich Street
Singapore 078883
Tel: +65 6386 9678
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]