Monday, October 14, 2024

Barossa Steak & Grill @ Vivocity - Debuts All-new Menu of Chargrilled Meats, Seafood Platters and More, Together with Seaside Vibes and Live Music

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Barossa Steak & Grill at Vivocity has launched an all-new menu showcasing char-grilled meats, fresh seafood platters, and delightful sides, making it a destination for meat lovers and seafood enthusiasts. With its waterfront location and live music every Thursday to Saturday from 7.30 pm, the restaurant offers a relaxing seaside dining experience that's perfect for unwinding with family and friends.


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Cold Seafood Platter 4/5

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To kick off our meal, we indulged in the Cold Seafood Platter ($88), a seafood lover's dream that serves 3-4 people. This generous platter comes with half a dozen oysters, chilled tiger prawns, Chardonnay wine Yumbah mussels, and fresh scallops. It's accompanied by an array of dipping sauces, including cocktail sauce, mignonette, seaweed granita, sauce vierge, and fresh lemon — allowing you to customise each bite to your liking.

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The plump and briny oysters were my favourite, while the prawns were sweet and firm. Each seafood item was fresh and chilled, making it a great dish to enjoy as a starter or as a lighter option on a warm day by the sea.

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Seafood Bouillabaisse 4/5

For something a little heartier, we tried the Seafood Bouillabaisse ($58), another new addition that serves 2-3 people. This dish is packed with a medley of seafood, including Humpty Doo Barramundi, Yumbah Mussels, Char Baby Squid, and Tiger Prawns. The seafood is nestled in a rich broth along with Potato Fondant and Char Fennel, creating a dish with both depth of flavour and texture. The broth was flavourful, and each bite of seafood was cooked to the right doneness, making this dish perfect for sharing.

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Buffalo Cauliflower 3.5/5

For something on the lighter side, we also sampled the Buffalo Cauliflower ($14), a char-grilled, crunchy cauliflower dish dressed in a tangy, spicy sauce and finished with ranch dressing. The pickled onions added a sweet contrast to the fiery cauliflower, resulting in an explosion of satisfying and guilt-free flavours. It's a great vegetarian option that delivers a punch of bold flavours.

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Barossa Mac & Cheese 4/5

No steakhouse experience is complete without a good Mac & Cheese ($14), and Barossa's version didn't disappoint. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to a delightful golden-brown crust, the Barossa Mac & Cheese offered a comforting side dish that paired wonderfully with the chargrilled meats. It's the kind of dish that brings a sense of indulgence to the table, elevating the meal with its richness.

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Trio Cuts of Australia Grass-Fed Beef 3.8/5

For meat lovers, the highlight of the meal was the Trio Cuts of Australia Grass-Fed Beef ($105). This platter, perfect for 3-4 people, features three different cuts: Ribeye (250g), Striploin (220g), and Tenderloin (200g). Each cut had its own unique texture and flavour profile, allowing diners to enjoy a variety of beef experiences in one sitting. The tenderloin was especially succulent and tender, while the ribeye offered more marbling and a richer flavour. It's a great sharing platter showcasing the best Australian grass-fed beef.

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Aburi Brulee Cheesecake 4/5

We wrapped up our meal on a sweet note with the Aburi Brulee Cheesecake ($18). This dessert is a delightful fusion of rich cheesecake topped with a brulee layer, offering a satisfying caramelised crunch. The dish is beautifully garnished with summer berries, raspberry gel, and butter cookies, adding both a fresh and buttery contrast to the creamy cheesecake. It’s the perfect dessert for those who love a sweet, creamy treat with a bit of texture.

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Barossa Steak & Grill’s new menu offers something for everyone—whether you’re in the mood for fresh, chilled seafood or hearty, chargrilled meats. The Cold Seafood Platter and Trio Cuts of Australia Grass-Fed Beef are definite highlights for sharing, while sides like the Buffalo Cauliflower and Mac & Cheese bring depth to the overall dining experience. Paired with the restaurant’s breezy waterfront views and live music, Barossa Steak & Grill is an ideal spot for an unforgettable seaside dining experience at Vivocity.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Barossa Steak & Grill
Vivocity
1 Harbour Front Walk
#01-161/162
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62551855
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm
Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm
Sat: 12pm - 11pm
Sun: 12pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, October 13, 2024

OUD Restaurant @ Kandahar Street - Woodfire-grilled Delights Nestled in a Charming Shophouse Celebrates First Anniversary

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OUD Restaurant is thrilled to announce the celebration of its first anniversary! Nestled in a charming shophouse, OUD showcases the talent of local chefs Indra and Ridz, who bring their unique culinary flair to the menu, having previously trained in Michelin establishments. The restaurant is proudly halal-friendly, ensuring that everyone can enjoy their offerings. It specialises in woodfire-grilled delights fired up by house speciality citrus wood. OUD offers a casual, inviting atmosphere where diners can enjoy dishes infused with rich, smoky flavours.

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To start, we were served some of their bread with smoked butter, which was enjoyable. However, the butter was still slightly cold instead of at room temperature, making it a bit difficult to spread smoothly on the bread. We had to wait a little while for it to soften.

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Caviar Cornets 3.5/5

The Caviar Cornets ($11 per piece) are made with a thin spring roll skin, then filled with smoked cream cheese and topped with Sturgeon caviar. It's a tasty appetiser but could benefit from more complexity.

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Fire-grilled Unagi 3.8/5

Next, we were served Fire-grilled Unagi ($10 per piece) featuring barbecue-glazed unagi slices on rice puff. The rice puff was nicely textured, with a satisfying crunch on the outside that gave way to a surprisingly chewy, mochi-like interior.

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K.F.C, Krispy Fried Cauliflower 4/5

Then came the creatively titled K.F.C (Krispy Fried Cauliflower) ($12), which had florets of cauliflower battered and fried to a golden crisp, delivering a satisfying crunch with every bite. It's also coated with a tasty sauce and is quite a nice snack appetiser.

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OUD Fries 4/5

The OUD Fries ($15 for 3pc) is a signature dish featuring layered crispy potatoes topped with a choice of beef tartare, salmon tartare, or tuna tartare. I preferred the salmon and tuna tartare as I found the flavour of the beef tartare a bit overpowering. The crispy potatoes themselves were well-executed, providing a solid base for the toppings.

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Grilled Octopus 2.8/5

We then had Grilled Octopus ($26) with romesco sauce, beef chorizo butter, and smoked paprika. The octopus was nicely charred. However, the plentiful sauce caused the octopus to become 'wet', and the crispy exterior was quickly lost. I also found the beef chorizo butter to be quite strong in flavour, which overshadowed the more delicate taste of the octopus.

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Firegrill Chicken Skewers 4.5/5

I much preferred the Firegrill Chicken Skewers ($26), which was perfectly grilled to achieve a delightful tenderness and smokey char. Accompanying the skewers is a vibrant coriander sauce that adds a refreshing herbaceous note. The dish is also served with an onion herb salad, bringing a crisp texture and freshness to the plate. The combination of the juicy chicken, zesty sauce, and lively salad created a well-rounded dish that feels light and satisfying.

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Atlantic Miso Cod Fish 4.2/5

The next dish, Atlantic Miso Cod Fish ($38), was also very much to my liking. The cod is marinated in miso and roasted in corn husks, and the fish is perfectly done for a soft, buttery texture. The miso marinade enhanced the natural sweetness of the cod, creating a balance between savoury and slightly sweet notes.

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Squid Ink Seafood Paella 3.8/5

The Squid Ink Seafood Paella ($48) is quite impressively presented with large fire-roasted prawns and bits of octopus. The rice is evenly coated with the squid ink, imparting a slightly earthy and umami-rich quality. Regarding the texture, it could be due to how the paella was individually portioned. Still, I didn't encounter any of the characteristic crispy bits I usually get from a paella. The texture was creamier, like risotto, for my plate, at least.

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Pressed Lamb Belly 4/5

The Pressed Lamb Belly ($38) features a prime cut that has been skilfully prepared and flavoured with a distinctive glaze of chives, curry, and sesame seeds. This combination enhances the succulent qualities of the lamb. The lamb belly is juicy and melt-in-your-mouth soft, with a generous amount of fat. This dish not only highlights the richness of the lamb but also introduces intriguing layers of taste. It's best enjoyed as a sharing dish, as the high-fat content can become quite rich after a while.

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Oudfire Mushrooms 3.8/5

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Honey Roasted Baby Carrots 3.8/5

Accompanying the main plates were some sides of Oudfire Mushrooms ($16) and Honey Roasted Baby Carrots ($12). The grilling of the mushrooms brought out their earthy flavours, and the carrots' sweetness was enhanced by the caramelisation from roasting. The price point is on the high side though for a side dish.

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Mango Sorbet 4.5/5

I was wowed by the presentation of the Mango Sorbet ($18), which was served in the hollowed-out skin of a mango itself. This creative touch made the whole dessert very aesthetic. The sorbet itself was deliciously smooth, with a perfect balance that wasn't overly sweet or sour. The addition of finger limes introduced a burst of citrusy brightness, while the fresh honey mangoes provided a lovely sweetness and texture that complemented the sorbet beautifully. After a lot of grilled dishes, this was a refreshing treat for my taste buds.

Some final thoughts about my experience are that OUD excels at woodfire grilling for tender and juicy meat dishes. However, it's worth noting that the open-concept kitchen means you might find the aroma of smoke lingering in your clothes and hair after your visit. Still, it is an inclusive, halal-friendly option to check out if dining with friends with dietary requirements.

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


OUD Restaurant
48 Kandahar Street
Singapore 198899
Tel: +65 9727 3048
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm -10pm
Sat-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Fri)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Eixt B or E. Walk to North Bridge Road. Walk down North Bridge Road to traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Ophir Road. Cross the road. Walk to Haji Lane. Turn right onto Haji Lane. Walk down Haji Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]