Photo: Unsplash
It’s almost time to usher in the new year. But not before we feast! We round up 13 places in Singapore worthy of being your last meal in 2018. Because it’s not worth ending your year on a sour note.
Affordable (Under $100)
The Salon at Hotel Fort Canning
Photo: Hotel Fort Canning
Enjoy an exquisite four-course set menu with dishes that meticulously-crafted by the chefs at The Salon. Start the meal with Seared Pacific Sea Scallops that are delicately sweet, tender and umami-loaded. Next, sip on a hearty serving of Broccoli and Celeriac Soup before indulging in your choice of mains: Either the fresh Ginger Yuzu Glazed Barramundi or succulent Australian Grain-fed Rib Eye Steak. End it off with a Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cake that is a tantalising mix of bitter and sweet notes.
Price: $68++ per person. Available on Dec 31 and Jan 1 for lunch and dinner.
The Salon is at Hotel Fort Canning, 11 Canning Walk, Singapore 178881, tel: 6799 8809.
Coastes Singapore
Photo: Coastes
For a fiery hot New Year’s Eve, eshew the typical air-conditioned sit-down affair and go for a casual but fun Beach BBQ Countdown party at Coastes instead. Not only do you get to indulge in a delectable buffet spread of freshly-grilled seafood, hearty mains and sweet treats, you can also groove to live music by SF-Xpress. Led by music maestro Stephen Francis and featuring the vocals of Lily Anna Nuris, bop to their rendition of upbeat pop classics and chart-toppers while enjoying the rustic vibe and a cool sea breeze.
Price: $75 for adult and $35 for child (before GST) for an admission ticket, which includes the BBQ buffet and a choice of soft drink, juice or iced tea. To get tickets, go here. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner from 6pm till late.
Coastes is at 50-52 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 099000, tel: 6631 8938.
Pricey ($100 to $250)
The Black Swan
Photo: The Black Swan
End the last day of the year in a classy fashion at this art deco-style bistro that is located in a beautifully restored 1930s building. For New Year’s Eve, The Black Swan is serving exquisite classic European dishes featuring a freshly shucked Romeo Oyster with yuzukosho mignonette and a choice between the hearty Westholme Wagyu Ribeye Roast and all the fixings or fork-tender Sea Bream En Papillote served with couscous, olives, fennel and tomatoes. Round up the meal with a luxuriously silky Classic Lemon Tart.
Price: $98++ per guest for four courses for the first seating (around 6pm to 6.45pm) or $118++ per guest for five courses for the second seating (around 8.15pm to 9pm). Add $48++ per person for wine pairing. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner.
The Black Swan is at 19 Cecil Street, Singapore 049704. Call 6438 3757 or e-mail enquiry@theblackswan.com.sg for enquiries and reservations.
Azur at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
Photo: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
It’s a grand feast at Azur, which is serving a dizzying array of dishes guaranteed to make you feel completely stuffed. Seafood aficionados can dig into their seafood on ice which includes Black Mussels, Korean Clams, Tiger Prawns and Half Shell Scallops, while meat lovers will be satisfied by their Herb Crusted Beef Ribeye and Crispy Pork Knuckles at the carving station and traditional Cantonese roasts such as Roasted Char Siew, Pork Belly, Chicken and Duck. Don’t miss Asian favourites such as Sambal Stingray and assorted Satay, or Western delights such as Seafood Risotto with Herb Sautéed Mushrooms and Mussels with Chilli and Garlic in Beer Broth. Still in the mood for some action? Make a beeline for the Lobby Lounge and dance the night away to the tunes of both current and past hits played by the NationOne band. With unlimited servings of selected alcoholic drinks and a massive balloon drop, you get to welcome 2019 with style.
Price: For Azur — $98 ++ per adult (top up $30++ for unlimited Bottega Prosecco, house wine, juices and soft drinks), $49++ per child. Available on Dec 31 for dinner and Jan 1 for brunch. For Lobby Lounge — $75++ per person (includes unlimited servings of Bottega
Prosecco sparkling wine, house wines, beer, juices and soft drinks). Reserve a table for four and receive a sharing platter of party snacks. Available from 10.30pm to 1am.
Azur is at 75 Airport Boulevard, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore 819664. For reservations at Azur, call 6823 5354 or e-mail
azur.cpca@ihg.com. For reservations at Lobby Lounge, call 6823 5367 or e-mail LobbyLounge.cpca@ihg.com.
The White Rabbit
Photo: The White Rabbit
There’s no better way to celebrate 2018 than in the hallowed halls of the beautifully restored 1930s chapel that The White Rabbit is housed in. Chill out in its serene setting amongst the lush greens of Dempsey while partaking in light, wholesome takes on classic European favourites. Its New Year’s Eve set dinner involves fresh produce and rich festive meats, such as an Amuse Bouche of smoked fish parfait and Shadi Schrenckii caviar, an Uni Custard featuring scallop tartare and black garlic crumble, and a hearty Roasted Pigeon featuring a confit leg pithivier, butternut purée and trumpet mushrooms.
Price: $108++ per guest for first seating (6pm to 8pm, 6.15 to 8.15pm, 6.30 to 8.30pm) or $128++ per guest for second seating (8.30pm, 8.45pm or 9pm till closing). Add $68++ per person for wine pairing. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner.
The White Rabbit is at 39C Harding Road, Singapore 249541. Call 6473 9965 or e-mail eat@thewhiterabbit.com.sg for enquiries and reservations.
Garden Terrace at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
Photo: Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
If you’re looking for a place to countdown after having your dinner, or you’re still feeling peckish, head to the Terrace on level 5 of Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay. Nibble on specially crafted canapés such as Chicken Rice “sushi”, Rillettes of Braised Beef Cheek with Edible Soil and “Marble” Squid Ravioli with Smoked Eel Brandade, while sipping on free flow drinks that include Prosecco, wines, beers, chilled juices and soft drinks. Sing Auld Lang Syne and toast to new beginnings while greeted by a spectacular view of the magnificent Marina Bay Fireworks display. What a great start to the new year.
Price: $115 nett per adult. Available on Dec 31, 10pm to 1am.
The Garden Terrace is at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, 177A River Valley Road, Singapore 179031, tel: 6338 3333.
Ash & Elm at InterContinental Singapore
Photo: InterContinental Singapore
Send the year off in style at European restaurant Ash & Elm, a charming spot which has a charcuterie and cheese room, a wood-fired oven and an open charcoal-grill kitchen. They are serving an indulgent six-course New Year’s Eve dinner which includes a Crab Cannelloni with zucchini, tomato salsa verde and ikura, Boston Lobster Rice, a juicy Australian Beef Tenderloin that’s beautifully pink in the centre served with cassava, beetroot, vine-ripened tomatoes, a creamy Truffled Camembert with toasted baguette and mesclun salad and a Mille-Feuille for dessert.
Of course, it won’t be a celebration without paired wines and Champagne. Cheers to that!
Price: $128++ per adult. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner.
Ash & Elm is at InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966, tel: 6825 1008.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore
Photo: Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore
Expect nothing but the best at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore. Instead of its usual four-course offerings, the fine-dining restaurant is serving up a tantalising six-course New Year’s Eve Celebration Menu this year, with carefully plated European and Japanese-inspired dishes. First, an Amuse-bouche of Lobster with Porcini Ravioli in rich lobster bisque sauce, a crispy Golden Oyster with Wasabi Mayo and ikura, and a soft and savoury Camembert Cheese pillow with truffle sauce. Next, a creamy Truffle Clam Chowder is served with crispy pockets of monkfish — an interesting twist to the usual hearty broth. An appetiser of prosciutto ham with cherry tomatoes and burrata is next, followed by your choice of mains. We say go for the Signature Roasted Prime Rib of Beef ($199) — a nicely pink piece of juicy meat served in beef au jus and topped with whipped cream horseradish for that extra kick.
But the surprising star is the wonderfully creamy and sweet corn that comes as a side. Make sure you mop up the jus with the accompanying crispy Yorkshire Pudding. Not a meat lover? Seafood lovers will like the Atlantic Lobster Tail and Okaka Furikake Cod ($199) served with sautéed Nameko mushroom and parmesan crisp. The taste of satisfyingly fresh lobster is boosted by a rich tobiko cheese sauce, while the cod, accompanied by truffle mash, is both delightfully soft and firm.
Price: $179++ or $199++ per person. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner. A complimentary bottle of Moscato (750ml) will be given for every three menus ordered.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore is at #04-01/31, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897. Call 6836 3333 or e-mail reservations@lawrys.com.sg for enquiries and reservations.
Marriott Cafe at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Photo: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
A fun party and a scrumptious feast awaits those who head to the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel to herald in 2019. Look forward to fresh seafood on ice and dig into delicacies such as Lobster Thermidor, Oyster Florentine, Grilled Scallops with Salsa Verde, Slow-Roasted Australian Beef Prime Ribs, and Pan-Fried Duck Foie Gras with Chutney and Brioche. Also not to be missed are Asian delicacies like Singapore Chilli Crab, Indian Chicken Biryani Rice and Singapore Laksa. End your meal on a sweet note with desserts such as Pink Champagne Jelly with Lychee Syrup, Yuzu Ivory Eclairs and Pandan Infused Double Cream Terrine. Psst, balloons will be hung to the ceiling, and will fall all around you with dramatic flourish to the sounds of enthusiastic tunes at the stroke of midnight. How fun.
Price: $188++ for adults (inclusive of free flow of champagne, red & white wines, beer & soft drinks) and $88++ (inclusive of free flow of juices and soft drinks). Available only on Dec 31 for dinner (lunch is $78++ with no free flow of alcohol).
Marriott Cafe is at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865. For reservations: Call 6831 4605.
db Bistro and Oyster Bar
Photo: db Bistro and Oyster Bar, Marina Bay Sands
Meals here are often interesting and unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before, so you can expect this restaurant — which marries traditional French bistro cooking with contemporary American flavours — to serve up some creative dishes to bid farewell to 2018. Its five-course menu begins with a rich and creamy Oyster Chowder, followed by a Maine Lobster Salad. The star is Chef Daniel Boulud’s signature Maine Scallops in Black Tie, an intriguing creation which features black truffle studded diver scallops wrapped in spinach and baked to golden perfection in a flaky pastry crust. Opt for either a Rose Pavlova or a Chocolate Decadence to conclude the feast.
Price: $198++ per person
db Bistro and Oyster Bar is at B1-48, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956. Call 6688 8525 or e-mail dbreservations@marinabaysands.com for enquiries and reservations.
Splurge (More than $250)
Saint Pierre
Photo: Saint Pierre
The French restaurant helmed by celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant is serving a one-of-a-kind New Year’s Eve menu this year. Chef Stroobant will be paying homage to three culinary legends who passed away this year – Paul Bocuse, Joël Robuchon and Baron Pierre Romeyer – by reinterpreting some of the three masters’ classics. Mouth-watering dishes include a caviar with Robuchon’s signature cauliflower cream guarding its treasure of caviar and crab in the centre, a Bocuse classic of sautéed scallop in beurre blanc butter sauce with spinach and little pomme soufflé potato balloons, and mains such as a delicious lobster ravioli – made with celeriac skin instead of ordinary dough – which is poached in shellfish consommé and a juicy veal tenderloin accompanied by a rich red wine-based sauce with crispy julienne of bayonne ham and parsley (both a tribute to Romeyer). There’s also a seabass baked in puff pastry (Bocuse) and Robuchon’s famed mashed potato made with smooth, buttery Ratte potatoes and farmed butter. Dessert is a chocolate mousse moulded in finger biscuits and scented with orange zest. What an exquisite experience.
Price: $388++ per person. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner.
Saint Pierre is at #02-02B One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, Singapore 049213. Call 6438 0887 or e-mail info@saintpierre.com.sg for enquiries and reservations.
JAAN
Photo: JAAN
This one Michelin-star restaurant — known for its innovative British-inspired dishes — never disappoints. Expect flavourful and exquisitely plated meals that are painstakingly planned by its executive chef Kirk Westaway. Dig into dishes like the Langoustine with Avocado Caviar, Taskaya Oyster with Baby Lettuce Emulsion, and a Brittany Lobster with Pink Fir Potato. Dessert is a satisfying Pear and Pistachio Crumble. What’s more, you get to enjoy your meal while admiring a glorious view of Marina Bay Sands and The Singapore Flyer. It will be quite the gastronomical experience.
Price: $450++ per person, inclusive of a glass of Krug. Premium wine pairing available for an additional $250++ per person. Available only on Dec 31 for dinner
JAAN is at Level 70, Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882, tel: 6837 3322.
One Farrer Hotel
Photo: One Farrer Hotel
One Farrer Hotel’s New Year’s Eve event is a spectacular extravaganza which promises to be jam-packed with entertainment, activities and a hearty feast all-in-one. A five-course menu will delight foodies, with an Alaskan Crab Leg with Compressed Watermelon and Spring Truffle appetizer, followed by a Chicken Consomme with Abalone, double-boiled with American Ginseng and Cordyceps Flower. Two mains will leave you stuffed — the Grilled Ayu with Fleur de Sel and the Duo of Miyazaki Wagyu that melts in your mouth and fork-tender Jing Du Spare Ribs that has been braised for hours. Dessert is a mysterious chocolate dome that melts to reveal a Honey Yuzu Mousse with Apple Compote, Pistachio Crumble and a homemade Pandan Kaya Sorbet.
While dining, Abba fans will love the performance put up by a popular ABBA Tribute band from the United Kingdom, where you can expect to jive to popular hits like Mama Mia, Dancing Queen and Super Trouper — addictive tunes that will keep you on your feet. Australian Comedian-Magician Adrian Saw will also thrill diners with his special blend of comedy and magic using sleight of hand, psychology and hilarious illusions, followed by performances by The David Gomez Jazz Trio and singer Junji Delfino, as well as Soprano singer, Lauren Yeo. Champagne will be available for you to toast the new year, and after that, a Teochew porridge supper awaits those who are feeling peckish. Worth it!
Price: $550 nett per ticket (includes free-flow of selected wines). Available from 7.15pm to 2am.
At Grand Ballroom, Level 6, One Farrer Hotel, 1 Farrer Park Station Road, Singapore 217562. To purchase tickets and table enquiries, email fnbevents@onefarrer.com or call 6705 7825.
Waku Ghin
Photo: Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands
New Year’s Eve happens but once a year, so if you want to indulge in one luxurious and decadent meal to ring in the new year, head to this two-Michelin-starred restaurant for an utterly delightful culinary treat. Its specially-created 10-course menu is mouth-watering, featuring dishes such as Charcoal Grilled Unagi with Foie Gras and Okinawa Spinach, Marinated Botan Shrimp with Sea Urchin and Oscietra Caviar, as well as Pan-Seared Hokkaido Scallop with Oscietra Caviar and Butter Sauce.
Sweets by executive pastry chef Yasushi Ishino, such as the Peach Compote with Lychee Granita and Champagne Jelly, and the Jasmine Mousse with Kumquat and Chocolate Sorbet, will thrill anyone with a sweet tooth. Come dessert, guests will be ushered into the drawing room, where they get a spectacular view of the Marina Bay area and the fireworks display. It does not have two stars for nothing!
Price: $550++ per person, available on Dec 31 and Jan 1.
Waku Ghin is at Level 2 Dining, L2-01, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956. Call 6688 8507 or e-mail wakughinreservation@MarinaBaySands.com for enquiries and reservations.
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