Equinox Restaurant @ Swissôtel The Stamford Review: Unforgettable Truffle Macaroni Cheese & Panorama of Singapore

Equinox has been known as one of those restaurants that people would visit for special occasions. However, I know that it recently has been overshadowed by many other new restaurants, or the one next door (JAAN), which has received a Michelin-star a month ago.

Nonetheless, I chose to dine here for my 2nd Anniversary with my boyfriend and it was a great experience! This is one sky dining establishment that you can’t miss with your special someone *wink wink*

To gain entry to level 85, you’d have to enter its designated lift lobby and walk through this dark corridor towards a HOLOGRAPHIC lift. There were no hosts were there to lead us, by the way (minus points!).

One you step out of the lift, VOILA – Singapore is at the tip of your feet!

This space is also connected to the New Asia Bar and Michelin-star restaurant, JAAN.

We noticed that Equinox has varied seatings for couple and group dining – perfect for families, couples and business meals, which is wonderful.

Once the sun started to set 6.30pm, we began to scramble for our cameras for some intense photography of Singapore and us (hehe). I’d suggest those interested in taking photos to head up earlier!

I mean, how often do we get such opportunities to see Singapore at this angle?!

FYI, we reserved a table in advance with a view (topped up $20++ for it, yes we had to pay). The table above  was what they assigned. Not exactly what I had in mind, as I preferred the one closer towards Marina Bay (to the left).

Thankfully, the manager helped to check the availability of the tables for the night and there was one left! Yay.

We had this view! I find staring into Marina Bay and the horizons very therapeutic. It’s my all-time favourite scenery of Singapore, and I’m proud of how beautiful Singapore is!

After our photography session, we made our orders as our bellies were getting hungry.

To be honest, the food menu that featured “modern European cuisine” was pretty limited.

It was the mains that really caught our eye. I knew that they are known for their steaks. In the end, we went with two mains, as we didn’t feel that the appetisers were worth it.

To begin, we had complimentary starters that my boyfriend liked. I didn’t have much impression of them though.

I was looking forward to the 300g New York strip [$85++] instead!

Taste: 4/5

This is the epitome of how beef should be like!

We asked for medium rare, and cut was tender-perfection. The accompanying truffle butter was also extremely addictive with ample truffle tones (oh yeah). Could even spot the black truffle bits swirling in the glass saucer.

When you actually see this happen, you know it’s legit stuff.

One aspect of the dish that didn’t please us was the side of bone marrow. It was really oily and didn’t add any value to any of the components.

While the steak was great, what left us  yearning for more was actually the…

Macaroni Cheese with Black Truffle  

Taste: 100/5 

Gosh, this outshone the beef, and it’s something that I’d return again and again for! This is coming from a person who doesn’t even fancy Mac n Cheese or pasta. I know friends who go crazy over them.

I went crazy over this!

Served in an adorable cast iron mini pot, it was literally “so cheesy I can die” moment!

It was also the only dish that retained its heat even though I took a gazillion photos. I daresay this is by far the best Macaroni and Cheese I’ve had – due to the obvious TRUFFLE taste. It was also not cloyingly creamy.

Overall, it was aromatic, contained a subtle saltiness and macaroni was not mushy or overcooked. I’d like to add that the Crème brûlée-like caramelised crust was heavenly.

Didn’t know that mac n cheese could be made this way!

Nonetheless, please be sure to devour it immediately when served, as the cheese hardened at the sides of the pot; we were multitasking with our food and neglected it for awhile, oops.

Finally, our last dish – Saddle of Lamb Saddle [$60++] didn’t perform up to our expectations after the first two dishes – unfortunately!

Taste: 3.5/5

Asked for the lamb to be done medium, but it came out medium rare… so rare that I could taste the rawness of the meat and blood. Not a good sign.

I wonder why this happened, as the beef was done just right.

Also felt like the chef’s attempt to weave some level of Middle Eastern sophistication with European cuisine was a failed one. 

I didn’t like the sour pickled celery and mint purée.

The greens didn’t match the red meat at all, causing the entire dish  to be a bad orchestration. Just bring over the BBQ sauce, guys. The lamb samosa was passable, but pastry wasn’t crispy (maybe we left it out for too long?).

Won’t recommend this to anyone!

All date nights should end on a sweet note! Went to have a glimpse of their menu, but we were happy to receive a complimentary chocolate cake!

Very grateful for it (prepared by the restaurant, not my boyfriend though HAHA).

Taste: 4/5

Thought it may be “cheap tasting”, but nope. It was no ordinary cake!

Top tasted something like a tiramisu – covered with cocoa powder, and the layers were rich with dark chocolate (at least 60% I reckon). We finished it even though we were really full!

My boyfriend and I exchanged gifts after that. I received personalised vouchers LOL.

Not long after, we were presented with another complimentary dessert! It had caramel, hazelnut and raspberry sweets, which would satisfy the sweet tooth (aka my boyfriend).

We spent the rest of our night admiring the city skyline and MBS lightshow – enjoying our final moments at Equinox. Had to make use of our $20++ to the fullest!

We also explored the nearby New Asia Bar (one staircase up), since it was free for all diners at Equinox. It was quite empty on a Friday night. Maybe because it was still early at 10pm.

Went on to visit City Space bar too. It looked super cosy with thick plush seats. Wanted to chill there but it was full house!

FYI, the way to the  toilet from Equinox is a bit troublesome it is located at the “basement” of these establishments. They are big though.

There’s also a huge wine cellar next door if you like looking at wines!

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BUNNY’S VERDICT:

YES! Best for birthdays, anniversaries or corporate meals.

This would most definitely be my top 3 list of sky dining in Singapore! You can’t get such clear panoramic views of Singapore at Stellar at 1-Altitude (One Raffles Place) and Spago @ Marina Bay Sands (places I’ve been to).

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: New York Strip Steak, Macaroni and Cheese with Black Truffle

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RATING

Overall Taste: 4.2/5 Although we only came here to enjoy the view, the food surpassed our expectations. If only I could order the Macaroni and Cheese on its own! Found out that it is only available for the dinner service *sniffs* Price is quite reasonable for the views that you get, but quality will of course be better next door (JAAN), which charge a lot more per head at night.

I’m just happy with my $20++ view, Macaroni and Cheese, and company!

Ambience: 4/5 Restaurant was a bit dated compared to other fine dining restaurants, but the view made up for it! The ability to have a bird’s eye view of the entire Marina Bay, Central Business District and Clarke Quay made my dining experience a memorable one.

 

Service: 4/5 Friendly and attentive. Even entertained my random request to heat up the steak when it turned cold (air con was quite strong & cold steaks don’t taste so good).  They even topped up a bit of the truffle sauce for us, which was a touch that we didn’t expect!

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 Equinox Restaurant

Swissôtel The Stamford

Address: 2 Stamford Rd, Swissôtel The Stamford, 178882

Phone: +65 6837 3322
Email: reservations@equinoxcomplex.com

Opening Hours:

Semi-Buffet Lunch:
Monday to Friday: 12.00 – 14.30

Buffet Lunch:
Saturday and Public Holidays: 12.00 – 14.30

Brunch: Sunday: 11.00 – 14.30

Early Bird and Pre Theatre
Dinner: Monday to Sunday: 17.00 – 18.30,
Last order at 6.15pm

A la carte Dinner: 18.30 – 22.30
Pink Brunch: Every Last Sunday Of The Month

RESERVATIONS: book now

GENERAL INFO
Dress: Smart Casual
Capacity: 110 persons

 Directions: 

• Nearest MRT station: 5-minute walk from City Hall MRT

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

DON’T BE A STRANGER!
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Regent Hotel Weekend High Tea Buffet Review: Great Variety and Balance of the Sweet & Savoury

With the never-ending cafes and afternoon tea places sprouting up in Singapore, the Tea Lounge at Regent Singapore seems to be able to sustain its influx of customers. Apparently, while I was at Regent for a function in December 2015, the Tea Lounge was filled with a throng of Singaporean families, tai tais, expatriates and tourists. When my mum and I decided to visit the next Saturday, their host told me the restaurant was full.

“Wow, it’s so popular?” My mum asked after I told her I was rejected.

“Maybe it’s the school holidays?” I replied.

Thankfully, we managed to return during the Chinese New Year period and it was not as crowded as before. We were “kiasu” and made a reservation one week ahead for the second seating, which is from 3pm to 5.30pm.

Upon approaching towards the Tea Lounge that converts into a cocktail bar for dinner functions, you’d be greeted by a pianist playing jazzy and familiar classic tunes and the restaurant’s elegant, yet welcoming atmosphere.

We were given a choice of two drinks each – either tea or coffee. I was immediately impressed by their diverse range of teas, from flower, to spiced and green teas. The teas also seem to be of premium quality and specially-sourced; I have never come across decaffeinated English Breakfast!

There were also other kinds of decaffeinated teas for the early owls, who’d want to have a good night’s rest!

After ordering my choice of drinks, I scrambled off to take some food. Me being the ultimate sweet-tooth first attacked the sweet department, of course!

There were sooooo many pretty slices of cakes, such as Hazelnut, Rainbow, Spice Rich Chocolate cake, Eclairs, Macarons, and Fruit Tarts to choose from! And then I got distracted by these…

This has gotta be every dessert lover’s dream come true! Waffles, Scones, Churros AND Pancakes…

All that’s missing is a Crepe station!

Am I asking too much? The buffet at Wynn Las Vegas has spoiled me too much heehee…

Based on my memorable afternoon tea experience at the Peninsula Hong Kong,  I was only given Strawberry Jam for the scones even though I secretly preferred Raspberry. My mum, who was more vocal about her dismay, asked for some Marmalade and the waiters complied to her request.

Therefore, I like how the Tea Lounge provides such a great assortment of ingredients for customers to DIY their dessert, including crumbles, icing sugar, and sauces like Raspberry, Chocolate, Vanilla and Maple Syrup. Besides the mandatory Clotted Cream, were also Lemon Curd, and Strawberry, Passion fruit and Vanilla, Raspberry Jams to choose for their Scones – wonderful for both the picky and adventurous foodies!

They even had Raspberry Sorbet and Fromage Blanc Ice Cream, where the latter is made out of cheese from France! Do I spot some Vanilla bean in there?

I was a bit turned off by the amount of ice creams left though. These were probably the leftovers from the previous seating at 12pm.

Tea Lounge also offers old-school Nonya desserts to relive my childhood days! Too bad their Ang Ku Kuehs were filled with Mung bean; I prefer mine with Peanut.

Cheng Teng can be a saviour for those who do not want to indulge in Western pastries, but still want to instill sweetness in their life. However, I felt the soup to be rather diluted with that huge chunk of ice, occupying more than half the tank! I felt like I was fishing for the ingredients that sank at the bottom.

After my first round of sweets, I moved onto the appetisers and other savouries, which occupied two-thirds of the buffet.

There were four Salad bowls, such as Duck, Mussel, and Tomato and Mozzarella Salads for the Vegetarians. A canapé and finger food section is also located behind them, consisting of wraps, European cheese, and not forgetting sandwiches like the classic Smoked Salmon and Egg and Cucumber Mimosa.

Everything looked so delicious and I was spoilt for choice! I wish I had five stomachs.

The European section expands even more over here: Scallop and Octopus Salads and Smoked fishes, including Smoked Beetroot Salmon, Scottish Smoked Salmon, Smoked Mackerel, Smoked Cajun Tuna, Salmon Mousse with Horseradish, and herbs.

I could not go past this section without taking some caviar! It’s also my first time seeing varying types on the same table. The orange Salmon Roe and Tobiko are usually seen in Japanese food!

I was also pleasantly surprised by the Dips that Tea Lounge has to offer; I liked their Hummus and Artichoke. The Tzatziki was a bit too creamy for my liking.

AND I found something interesting for all die-hard Truffle fans:

You could probably add the honey into your waffle. Tell me how it goes! Moving onto the drool-worthy Asian food counter… Yes this is NOT the end.

It is definitely the most popular amongst diners – even spotted a line at one point in time!

Local delights have never looked better.

The counter was filled with Spicy Chicken Wings, Char Siew Paus, Alaskan King Crab in Singapore Chili Sauce and Fried Man Tous, Chicken Satays, and Steamed Salted Egg Custard Buns.

All my weaknesses…

Nevertheless, what attracted me most was this thick gooey goodness – King Prawn Congee with Dry Scallop and Goji Berry.

I rarely have congee and when there’s King prawns and dried scallops in it, I am sold.

Common to traditional Chinese cuisine, dried scallops are known to add a distinct and dimension to any dish, like stir-fried broccoli, egg white fried rice, braised dishes and Chinese broths. I love mine in Chicken soups with dried shiitake mushrooms because it gives off a rich, salty and seafood flavour. And the bigger scallop, the better (and more expensive). I even regularly brought my own dried scallops to Australia so I could cook them in my soups! Say bye bye to MSG-laden stock cubes.

At the other end of the counter is the Carving Station, which comprises of all the proteins! I believe that there was Roasted Leg of Lamb and Confit Salmon in Olive Oil, which I did not have the opportunity to take!

We’d expect every buffet to have some sort of bread or savoury carbohydrates right? Don’t worry, Tea Lounge has got it covered.

There were varying Pies and Quiches.

And can you guess what this is?

I thought it was roasted pork from afar. And when I went for a closer look…

You’ll never guess it in a million years…

IT’S TOM YUM FOCCACIA, yup. The warm light is not doing any good too. It looks SO mouth-watering under it!

Even these Chicken Floss Buns are screaming at me to put them into my tummy.

Last but not least, we have the sushi section that looks a bit underwhelming…

But why stuff yourself with rice when you can have the rest of the yummy and not-so-ordinary food?

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RATING

Since it’s a buffet, I would focus on some of the more distinctive dishes:

Traditional Scones

Taste: 2/5

Oh man, I was looking forward to having this for a comparison taste test to the faultless ones at the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong.

And once again, I was right about Singapore’s scones – what a letdown. This is exactly what I mean when talking about unpalatable scones, and has immediately made it to the list of the “bad” scones I’ve had (TWG and Coffee Club are inside).

The texture was too dry and it did not give that airy, fluffy crumble when breaking it apart with my fingers like how it should. To be honest, I died a little bit inside. Seems like I have lost confidence in scones, yet again. Sigh. You can do better, Singapore.

King Prawn Congee with Dry Scallop and Goji Berry

Taste: 4.5/5

Being a fan of seafood, I am pleased with the sweetness of the broth, broiled with the King Prawns – to the extent of wondering if any sugar was added!

The addition of fried onions on top, and random bursts of sweetness from the goji berries made the congee made it even more comforting and tasty. I went for a second round of this.

Alaskan King Crab in Singapore Chili Sauce and Fried Man Tous

Taste: 4.5/5

This would have been full marks if the Fried Mantous were as crispy like Jumbo Seafood’s. However, the Tea Lounge has managed to perfect the signature Chili Crab Sauce! I love how the luscious shreds of Alaskan Crab supplemented the thick and not-overly-spicy sauce.

Very addictive. I finished the sauce like a soup – until there wasn’t a single drop left! (My mum witnessed my act of gluttony.)

On a side note, I suspect their Alaskan Chili Crab dish originates from Summer Palace restaurant upstairs. I have tried it previously and felt that it was too watery – not as thick and flavourful as I’ve liked it to be. Thankfully, the rendition served at Tea Lounge was a lot better – maybe because they kept it in the fridge overnight and the flavours started to set in, like how a curry or pho broth does.

Apparently, I gave into the Chicken Floss Bun and Tom Yum Foccacia, and I did not regret having them! They were absolutely DIVINE and I paired them with the Alaskan Crab in Singapore Chili Sauce.

Chicken Floss Bun

Taste: 4/5

Surprise, surprise! I haven’t had any Floss bun for a really long time (many years to be exact since I’ve been living in Australia), and while I was munching it, I discovered another layer of tasty floss.

I opened it up and wow!

I am not sure if all floss buns are like that, but it definitely makes the bun here more special! Floss bun foodies out there, please enlighten me on this.

Tom Yum Focaccia (Before & After).

Taste: 5/5

Pardon me for my messy eating, but I like all my breads to be soaked with spreads and sauces.

I know I am weird.

Nevertheless, the Foccacia is fluffy and each bite feels like a warm hug. The fried shallots and dried cherry tomato slices on top further adds a fresh local take on the quintessential Italian bread! Paired it with foie gras, artichoke dip, and the Chili Crab sauce and I magically ascended to heaven.

Another delightful surprise was my Cappuccino that came with latte art! This is one exceptional point that outshone Peninsula’s, as it was made by a coffee machine.

My fill of their salads and other appetisers.

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Cappuccino, Rose Tea, King Prawn Congee, Chili Crab, Octopus Salad, Nonya Kueh, Tom Yum Focaccia, Mushroom Tart

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OVERALL RATING

Taste: 4/5 I daresay that this might be one of the top afternoon teas in Singapore. I like the range of their Western and Asian, and sweet and savoury offerings at $63++ and you could pick food that you fancy; many afternoons teas places like the Landing Point and Sheraton, which have a similar price point, serve their tea on a cake tier. I usually feel pressured to finish those finger food that I do not like. It is also a great occasion to treat yourself, and half of your meals for the day are settled!

Ambience: 4/5 Great mood set by the pianist. My mum enjoyed his repertoire of Mandarin and English melodies. The organisation of dishes was also flawless and ambience was enhanced by stunning flower centrepieces.

Something to be improved would be the arrangement of tables because we were half-seated under a staircase.

Service: 4/5

Frankly, I was a tad annoyed by the handling of reservations because one day before my actual booking, I was called by the hotel twice. However, as I was away, I called back the next morning to confirm my booking – only to have another person calling to confirm my reservation an hour later again. And the funny thing is that, the place was not even full when I was dining there. I was stumped by their miscommunication or what not.

During the buffet, all the chefs and waitresses were polite and approachable in general. The chef who helped me to take my servings of King Prawn congee thought I am a tourist and was amused by my lengthy photo-taking sessions around the restaurant (as usual).

I’ve met quite unfriendly reactions when I take photos of every crevice of a cafe, or restaurant, but this was a positive one. I had a good laugh when he had the notion that I was Japanese!

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Tea Lounge @ Regent Hotel Singapore

Address: 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715
Phone: +65 6725 3245 / +65 6725 3246
Email: tealounge.rsn@fourseasons.com
Opening hours:
– Three-tier Afternoon Tea (Monday to Friday): 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
– High Tea Buffet (Saturday and Sunday):
12:00 – 2:30pm (first seating)
3:00 – 5:30 p.m. (second seating)

Reservations:
> Instant Online Reservation

Directions: The Regent is located in between Tanglin Mall and St. Regis. 

Nearest MRT would be Orchard, where you can walk 13-minutes towards Tanglin Mall for a little work out. If you prefer not to walk, you can take a bus 26 from opposite Four Seasons Hotel, or 103 opposite Orchard station.

 

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY

 

 

Salt Grill and Sky Bar: Value-For-Money Set Lunch

Salt grill & Sky bar serves up contemporary Australian cuisine in a fashionable urban setting, high above the landscape of the bustling Orchard Road. Although it has been around since the opening of ION Orchard in 2009, this is my first time visiting! It was for a special occasion though – Valentine’s Day.

I’ve passed by the Salt Grill when I stayed at Hilton, Surfers Paradise, but it was deathly quiet, and food reviews of both Singapore and Surfers Paradise’s Salt were mediocre. My mum also emphasised that their food was horrible when she dined here several years back. Nevertheless, current food reviews looked positive so my date and I decided to give Salt a go for their 3-course lunch set priced at $49++.

To gain access to Salt, one has to arrive at their concierge on Level 4 of ION Orchard, and ride on a magical dark lift up to Level 55.

You would then immediately be greeted by their host, who brings you to your table.

The restaurant has a contemporary furnishing, boasting 6000 sq area and stunning ceiling to floor windows. We were seated at the far right corner of the restaurant, where it had a good bird’s-eye view of the Orchard and Bukit Timah neighbourhoods, as well as Keppel Bay seen ahead.

All the entrees listed looked delectable on paper, and the mains had a good range of meats and vegetables.

Not more than five minutes after we were seated, the starts were presented to us, and I was astonished by their variety! We couldn’t decide on which to dig into first.

Nevertheless, I reached out to dip my wholemeal bread into the extra virgin olive oil and Dukkah – a staple in the Aussie cuisine!

I was very excited to have it, because coincidentally, I was just replenishing my fill from scratch the day before. I usually make my own batch once every two months and use it as a seasoning each week for my cooking.

Their dukkah is made out of hazelnut, cumin, white sesame, while I used pistachios. Although it was a bit tasteless and lacks the aroma of spices that I’m used to, I polished it up anyway.

Assorted chips were also provided, including potato and sweet potato chips. I wasn’t sure what the black one was, but we avoided it because it  wasn’t very flavourful.

Could it be purple sweet potato?

For their final starter – radishes and hummus dip – they were fresh and radishes were crunchy. I particularly liked the idea of eating radishes straight from the stem… Felt like a bunny for a moment!

My date had the Baked Bone Marrow, Onion, Watercress and Garlic Toast for his entree. Initially, he wanted to have the same entree as me – Crab Omelette, but I advised him to get the Bone Marrow instead, since it is not very commonly found at a fine dining establishment and I was very curious on how it would be executed. I usually have mine boiled in a soup when I was young!

Taste: 4.5/5

This would have attained a perfect score if the garlic toasts weren’t so charred! I was extremely turned off by it at first glance.

Ironically, I couldn’t taste the burnt parts, and the bone marrow was just too irresistible! The collagen-filled goodness was infused with yummy truffle oil. Everything just tastes better with truffle oil, ain’t it?

Thankfully, my recommendation for my date went well!

Similarly, Salt’s signature ‘Glass’ Sydney Crab omelette, Miso Mustard Broth was the best omelette I’ve had so far.

Taste: 4/5

While the miso mustard broth was a tad salty, I liked how the silky omelette was paired with stringy enoki mushrooms, fragrant fried shallots, as well as basil and coriander leaves. My company felt that the herbs were too overpowering, but I felt that it adds a nice balance with the sweet contrast of the chunky crab meat.

Moving onto the mains.

The plating of their Rangers Valley Sirloin, Spiced Pumpkin puree, Asparagus, Date, Almond, Orange Salad (Additional $12) won my heart over. But I wondered, will it taste as good as it looks?

Taste: 5/5

Overall as a whole, everything came together flawlessly. This might be the best beef dish I’ve had.

Like the Baked Bone Marrow, fresh crunchy watercress was employed for their salad. The amalgamation of flavours were wonderful – sweet from the pumpkin puree and Medjool date slices, citrus from the orange salad, and salty from the brown dressing that contained soy I reckon.

The sauce was the most outstanding of all, as it that matched the puree perfectly and was just enough to savour with the protein. My date ordered medium rare for the sirloin, but it wasn’t as rare as he’d it liked it to be. Despite without much tracings of blood, the cut is still tender so I give the dish full marks!

I felt that’s better to have less blood to avoid food poisoning as well.

 

I originally wanted their Seared Blue Fin Tuna with Potato, Pimento, Soft Quail Egg, Olives and Anchovies dressing. Unfortunately, I was told that their Tuna was switched to Seared Salmon instead.

Taste: 3/4

At first bite, I was not please with this dish at all. Every element just failed miserably – especially its accompanying sauce. I wished I had the beef instead; even took some of its sauce to coat the salmon.

The mustard-tasting paste did not enhance the flavour of the salmon, and soft boiled quail egg was watery and tasted odd. Olives and anchovies were nowhere to be found too. Very disappointing, especially from the first few hits!

Last but not least, our final course was desserts, hurray!

Being a milk chocolate lover, he ordered their Dessert of the day, Chocolate Tart.

Taste: 5/5

To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the tart because it’s something that I would not order on a normal day. I assumed it would be made from milk chocolate, which I dislike. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the richness of the tart – it was made out of bittersweet dark chocolate – at least 60%, I can guarantee!

It was actually good stuff! I couldn’t help but have a few more servings and even have the whole thing to myself. Similarly, the Chocolate Tart seemed to satisfy all chocolate lovers’ palate! My company who does not fancy dark chocolate liked this.

There were also cute mini brownies, comprising of hidden walnuts and sultanas on the side , but the pastry was towards the sweeter side.

Blood Orange Sorbet with Crumbles.

Taste: 4/5

Salt’s sorbet of the day was blood orange, and I am a fan of it because I love all things sour! It’s very similar to grapefruit and left a bitter aftertaste. The crumbles were also delicious – with a delightful crunch. A few chunky pieces of crumbles were given, so they were fun to bite on.

On the other hand, the components provided were lesser than the Chocolate Tart.

Suggestions:

It may be better to add more fruits like orange or apples, jellies, or  a warm pastry to create an interesting contrast in temperatures.

To end off our meal, we had a good tour around the Sky Bar and its vicinity.

The place is also great for photo opportunities.

There are a few working, non-coin-operated binoculars that you can use to target a specific area and find out about its information and history! It’s really cool for tourists.

We left at about 3pm, where afternoon tea was being prepared by the chefs. It was such a joy seeing them being freshly made!

BUNNY RECOMMENDS: Rangers Valley Sirloin, Baked Bone Marrow, Sydney Crab Omelette, Sorbet with Crumbles

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RATING

Overall Taste: 4.25/5 I need to reinforce how value-for-money the meal was. It has a large portion size – particularly for the starters and entrees, and definitely not that kind of fine dining that you’d go home hungry.

While my Seared Salmon was a letdown, the rest of the meal was a predominantly terrific. Maybe it’s the Australian flavours and portion size that I’m accustomed to? I’ll be looking forward to my revisit when there is a change in their menu!

Ambience: 4/5 This is a must-come for all Singaporeans! It’s nice to come in the day to admire at the panoramic view of this amazing city, and for those who wish to avoid the crowd at Marina Bay Sands. The decor of the restaurant could be improved though; the modern theme was lacking some oomph.

Service: 4.5/5 I was glad that my reservation was withheld even though I arrived late, and my request for window seats was granted. Food was also served at a perfect pace.

For Singaporean standards, everyone was very well-trained and professional, except for our waitress – wished she would smile more.

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Salt Grill and Sky Bar

Address: 2 Orchard Turn,
#55-01 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Phone: +65 6592 5118
Opening hours: 
– Lunch: 11am – 2pm (Last Order 1.45pm)
– Tea: 2.30pm – 4.30pm daily
– Dinner: 6pm – 10pm (Sunday to Thursday)
6pm – 10.30pm (Friday, Saturday)
 www.saltgrill.com

Dress code: Smart casual; no flip flops, shorts, or tank tops.

Directions: Nearest MRT would be Orchard. Concierge of Salt Grill and Sky Bar is at Level 4 (top level) of ION Orchard mall, where you need would have to take a different lift to level 55.

Hopping out…
ANDREA THE #FOREVERHUNGRY BUNNY