Smolder @ Outram Road - Brings Authentic Farm-to-Table Coastal Backyard BBQ to the Heart of Singapore

If you’re looking to support local while indulging in something delicious and exciting, make your way to Smolder, a vibrant new seafood grill and bar along Outram Road. Brought to you by the team behind Scaled and Ah Hua Kelong, Smolder continues their mission of championing locally farmed seafood, this time with a bold, flame-kissed twist.

The menu at Smolder is divided into five sections, and the Sides segment alone is enough to draw your attention, with tempting offerings such as stuffed squid, calamari, fresh local green lip mussels, octopus, and potato salad, as well as zucchini-parmesan fritters.

Elote 4.5/5

Since we knew more seafood dishes were coming later, we opted for the Elote ($9), a grilled sweet corn slathered in mayo, sour cream, parmesan, chilli, garlic, coriander, and lime. The white corn had the perfect balance of sweetness and crunch, lifted beautifully by the smoky, tangy glaze. I could easily have eaten a whole cob on my own!

Portuguese Seafood Stew 4/5

From the Mains section, we went with the Portuguese Seafood Stew ($28) and the Clams Linguine in Buzara Tomato Sauce ($26). Other options on the menu include Braised Short Ribs, a Wagyu Beef Burger, steak, blackened sea bass, and grilled snapper or grouper piccata pasta.

The Portuguese Seafood Stew ($28) is one of owner Wong Jing Kai’s personal favourites, crafted with a hearty mix of both seafood and meat. Think pork belly, plump mussels wild caught daily, clams, and prawns, all simmered in a paprika and tomato-based broth, served with grilled garlic bread on the side. While the freshness and generous portions of the ingredients stood out, I found that the flavour of the stew itself could have been a little more robust.

Clams Linguine in Buzara Tomato Sauce 4.5/5

I personally preferred the Clams Linguine in Buzara Tomato Sauce ($26), which features fresh clams simmered in a tomato and white wine base. What’s interesting is that no salt is added; the dish relies solely on the natural brininess of the clams for seasoning. The result was simple yet tasty, and I found it very much to my liking.

Pearl Grouper 4.5/5

For the Big Plates, diners can opt for a whole 700g fish, with choices including snapper, seabass, or pearl grouper, or go all out with Boston lobster or Alaskan king crab legs. Each Big Plate is paired with two Small Plates, with options such as cornbread, fried potato, grilled corn salad, grilled vegetable salad, or broccolini.

If you’re unsure which fish to pick, the team is happy to recommend one. Since we prefer fish with a flaky texture, we went with their suggestion of the Pearl Grouper ($85). The Pearl Grouper arrived marvellously executed. Its skin was seared till it was pretty crisp, while the flesh inside was fresh, moist, and flaky. The clean, delicate sweetness of the fish really shone through, showcasing the quality of the produce, enhanced by some good flame grilling. It felt like an indulgence, but also a relatively healthy one at the same time. The grouper was also served with a spicy but satisfying house chilli and a lemon wedge.

Cornbread 4.2/5

We chose the American-style Cornbread as one of our small plates, and I enjoyed its dense, hearty texture, which was not too dry, and was studded with sweet grilled corn kernels for a satisfying bite.

Broccolini 3.8/5

We also picked the charred baby broccolini, drizzled with smoky, house-made romesco sauce and with toasted almonds, adding a nice crunch to the greens.

The dessert menu features four options: a double-layered chocolate cake, an olive oil cake, a New York–style cheesecake, and a spiced apple wonton with vanilla semifreddo. We were unfortunately too full to try any, but they certainly sound like a sweet finale worth saving room for next time!

The newly opened 90-seat restaurant was lively even on a weekday night. The buzz reflected Ah Hua Kelong’s loyal following, drawn by local seafood that’s as fresh as it gets.

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


Smolder Seafood Grill and Bar
271 Outram Road
Singapore 169062
Tel: +65 9888 6849
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Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 5pm - 11pm
Fri-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 5pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock Road. Take Exit 1. Walk straight to Seng Poh Road. Turn left onto Seng Poh Road. Walk down Seng Poh Road to Outram Road. Turn right onto Outram Road. Walk down Outram Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Fortuna Terrazza @ Craig Road - New Amalfi-inspired Cafe and Burnch Terrace by The Team Behind Fortuna Italian Trattoria

Fortuna Terrazza, situated along Craig Road, is an Amalfi-inspired café and brunch terrace newly opened by the team behind Fortuna Italian Trattoria, located just a stone's throw away. Taking on a distinctly different vibe from its sister concept, Fortuna Terrazza is bright and sunny, dressed in lemony-yellow hues and breezy shades. The menu leans brunch-centric, rounded out with a selection of mains, pastas, and panuozzi crafted with their signature pizza dough.

Folded Eggs alla Diavola 4/5

From the brunch selections, I had the Folded Eggs alla Diavola ($26), which resembled a breakfast-worthy fried pizza. A layer of ricotta spread over Fortuna's fried pizzetta formed the base, topped with wilted spinach, tender folded eggs, and savoury strips of salamino Napoletano, finished with crispy shallots and threads of chilli. It was hearty and wholesome.

Caprese Panuozzi 2/5

From the panuozzi section, I opted for the Caprese Panuozzi, essentially a Caprese salad encased in a folded pizza. While the marinated ox heart tomatoes were sweet and juicy, the overall combination didn't quite come together. The tomato's marinade leaned overly acidic, and the cheese, which was meant to be mozzarella, was runny to the point that I initially mistook it for stracciatella. With nothing substantial to bind the filling to the pizza base beyond the tomato's juices, which unfortunately caused the inside of the pizza to be soggy, the result felt loose and unbalanced.

Amalfi Ravioli 2/5

There are 2 pasta dishes, in which I had the Amalfi Ravioli ($29), featuring crab and ricotta-filled ravioli in a vibrant limoncello sauce accented with basil and chilli oil. The sauce was divine, but the ravioli itself fell short of expectations. The dough was tough and a little dry, with one even arriving cracked, and the thick rims gave a heavy, doughy bite that took away from the delicacy of the filling.

To round off the experience, Fortuna Terrazza also offers a range of Bellinis, wines, and signature drinks, which include the Pistachio 2.0, an indulgent iced coffee topped with pistachio cream.

Overall, while Fortuna Terrazza is charming and enjoyable, with its energetic vibes and wholesome, joyful offerings, the dishes could be more polished to live up to its concept.

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Fortuna Terrazza
10 Craig Road
Singapore 089670
Tel: +65 9115 1597
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 430pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Continue on Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road and walk to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. Turn right onto Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]