Binary @ Palais Renaissance - 45-Seater Gastrobar with Asian and Western Concepts Blended in One Space

Binary is a contemporary 45-seater gastrobar along Orchard Road that blends Asian and Western culinary concepts. Its menu offers diners a unique experience by providing different takes and cooking methods for the same produce in both their Small Plates and Mains.

It was a weekday night, and the restaurant was busy with diners winding down from the day, enjoying their extensive selection of drinks, such as wines, craft beers, and specially crafted cocktails.

Signature Kubaneh Bread 4.2/5

We knew that the Binary Signature Kubaneh Bread ($14) was a must-try, seeing it on almost every table. This homemade Yemenite Jewish bread served warm with compound garlic butter and kombu butter, had a fluffy, soft texture with a thin, crisp exterior. I loved it most paired with the fragrant and savoury kombu butter.

Cheese - Asian 2.8/5

For Cheese ($18), we opted for their Asian rendition, which featured triangles of grilled halloumi cheese on a salad drizzled with a spicy cheese sauce. Although the slight heat was appetising, the halloumi's texture was overly tough.

Octopus in “Lao Gan Ma” Chilli Crisp 3.5/5

We also tried the Asian version of Octopus ($32), prepared with "Lao Gan Ma" Chilli Crisp. While it was an interesting fusion, we expected a bit more depth in flavour for the price. Otherwise, the octopus bites had a good cook on them. The Western version offers the octopus with homemade pesto.

Grilled Asparagus 2/5

The Grilled Asparagus ($14), nicely charred to a crunch, was paired with cured egg aioli, grated parmigiano, and Viking salt-cured egg yolk. Unfortunately, it was too salty.

Mushroom Fritti 3.8/5

The Mushroom Fritti ($14) featured deep-fried king oyster mushroom strips tossed in a salt and pepper spice mix. These were well-fried without being greasy, though slightly pricey for the portion.

Seafood Laksa Pasta 2.8/5

We were looking forward to the Seafood Laksa Pasta ($14), which had tiger prawns, fishcake, fried beancurd, and quail eggs. Although the laksa sauce was decently aromatic, the amount of salt could have been reduced.

Iberico Presa - Asian 4/5

Mains' options include 'Catch of the Week', Spatchcock Chicken, King Prawn, Wagyu Flank Steak, and Iberico Presa ($42). We chose the pork for its intriguing Asian twist with Vietnamese spices and a side of nước chấm (fish sauce) for dipping. The pork slices had a fresh hint of lemongrass and were moist with a good bite.

Reservations for Binary can be made via call to 9363 0101.

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.


Binary
Palais Renaissance
#01-01A
390 Orchard Road
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 9363 0101
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Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10.30pm

Direction:
Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to Wheelock Place. Walk to traffic junction of Orchard Road and Angullia Park. Cross the road to Royal Thai Embassy. Turn left and continue down Orchard Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Po Restaurant @ The Warehouse Hotel - A Refined Modern Singaporean Concept

Known for its modern interpretations of Singaporean and Chinese classics, Po Restaurant is the flagship restaurant of The Warehouse Hotel, where people gather and bond over its famous popiah and other signature dishes.

Popiah with Fresh Flower Crab 4.8/5

Naturally, Popiah was the first course of our evening. We had the Fresh Flower Crab ($52) popiah, with plump flower crab meat as a topping. All options, including the Classic ($32) and Prawns ($42), come with 4 skins, classic toppings, and condiments, serving 1-2 persons. Seeing the platter of popiah ingredients laid out on our table was just as exciting as wrapping our own and tucking them in. All the popiah platters include fresh handmade wheat skins, specially sourced for their desired stretchy and chewy texture, stewed pork and vegetable filling, lettuce, beansprouts, as well as all the toppings and sauces. A vegetarian option ($32) is available as well.

The popiah filling, which includes jicama, carrots, and Holland peas, is hand-cut, resulting in a tender but not mushy texture despite being stewed and caramelized over four hours. There was a rich and savoury depth to it and a textural enjoyment thanks to the addition of pork, dried shrimp, and bamboo shoots. Lettuce and beansprouts provided freshness, served alongside a condiment platter that included crispy flatfish, giving the popiah an extra moreishness. The sweet sauce had a subtle honey-malt sugar taste, binding the savoury elements with the skin harmoniously. By the time I was done putting all the ingredients, my popiah was the size of a burrito and deeply satisfying.

Nyonya Prawn Salad 4/5

Next, we had some starters from the menu: Nyonya Prawn Salad ($24) and Gobi 65 ($20). The Nyonya Prawn Salad was mouthwatering with a piquant dressing concocted with sambal, plum sauce, and calamansi. Alongside fresh and crisp organic lettuce, succulent tiger prawns, and crunchy cucumber cubes, tomatoes pickled with plum sauce were thrown in, adding to the delectable texture and flavour. Crispy shallots and sakura ebi accented the salad with umaminess.

Gobi 65 3/5

Gobi 65 consisted of nuggets of fried cauliflower marinated with spices and curry leaves. The flavour was more curry-forward than expected, and while a side salad was provided to lift the flavours, the dish would have been more exciting with a creamy dip or something similar.

Beef Cheek Rendang 4.5/5

For mains, the Beef Cheek Rendang ($40) is a taste of a century-old recipe, and the execution definitely did the recipe justice. The Angus beef cheek was succulent and fork-tender, intensely flavoured with a concoction of 11 different spices. Served with sago chips and coconut milk crumbs, the latter added an enjoyable sweetness akin to crushed coconut candy.

Stir-Fried Brinjal 4.2/5

Stir-Fried Brinjal ($22) felt homely. The generous dose of stir-fried minced pork and dried shrimps, coupled with thinly sliced crunchy ladyfingers, gave this brinjal dish a considerable amount of texture. There was also basil in it, but it was too mild to impart any noticeable flavours.

Nasi Lemak 4/5

We also had the privilege of trying an off-menu item known among Po's regulars: Nasi Lemak, served with sambal telur buried in a reasonable amount of sweet-spicy sambal. The rice was aromatic and not overly rich with coconut, with a comforting soft bite. Served alongside are the quintessential crunchy peanuts and refreshing cucumber slices.

Kueh Kosui 4/5

Summing up our meal was the Kueh of the Day ($18), handmade daily specials from the kitchen (limited portions available), featuring Kueh Kosui. Only rice flour and palm sugar were used, making it gluten-free. They had a wonderful soft texture, though not the usual wobbly kind. The palm sugar is specially sourced from Jawa Timur, which is pure and has no sugar added. That said, we felt the kueh would be even more yummy if it were a little less sweet.

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.


Po Restaurant
The Warehouse Hotel
320 Havelock Road
Singapore 169628
Tel: +65 6828 0007
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Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7 - 1030am, 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 4. Turn left and walk down Havelock Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]