Cocktails, local favourites and even regional cuisines — Palette’s offerings are hard to top
From the established BreadTalk Group comes a multi-brand dining concept that doesn’t seem all that new, but is it?
For the many of us who frequent Food Republic, Palette Restaurant and Bar might appear to be a gimmicky atas food court, complete with overpriced dishes. However, with ten speciality food brands and more than 400 items on a single menu, mainly from popular hawker or restaurant brands in the region, we were excited for what it could offer.
Goodbye Queues, Hello Table Service
Located at the basement of Capitol Piazza, the new hotbed of F&B outlets, is Palette Restaurant and Bar. The 12,000 sq ft dining hall is dressed in a casual-chic interior with a somewhat Euro-Peranakan influence. This decor also distinguishes it from a typical food court.
After we were ushered to our seats, we were given a physical menu as well as iPads to place our orders. A friendly waiter was on standby.
Cocktails Along with Hawker Favourites
Palette even has a full-fledged bar. Creatively titled 90 Gastro Bar, with the “90” translating to jiu shi (a pun on the words for “wine” and “food”) in Chinese, it offers an extensive range of wines, beers, hard liquor and cocktails. But before you start making happy hour plans, note that the drinks are a bit of a menagerie of hits and misses.
I liked the Musical Express ($17), an aromatic potion of pandan and banana-infused rum — a light and creamy drink with a heady scent of fruit. However, the 1686 ($17), a grape-and-raspberry-infused gin tribute to the number of seats in the Capitol Theatre, didn’t quite hit the spot for me.
Big Names All in One Place
Nonetheless, if you need convincing, there are a few good reasons to patronise Palette. These are the overseas brands that have set up shop exclusively at Palette.
Have a taste of Ah Koong Restaurant, a Johor Bahru noodle joint renowned since 1987. You won’t be able to stop when it comes to the delicious handmade fishcake ($4.90).
For beef lovers, you have to try the beef noodles from the famous Hok Kee Authentic Hong Kong Noodle & Congee. The Braised Beef Brisket Noodles ($9) was excellent.
The noodles with an al dente chewiness were perfectly paired with beef that was fall-off-the-bone tender and flavourful in every bite.
Apart from regional names, local favourites are also aplenty. Take your pick from Balestier Bak Ku Teh, Yong Xin Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee and, my personal favourite, Huat Huat BBQ.
We especially enjoyed the Tahu Telor ($9.80) from IndoChili, a simple dish of deep fried tofu blanketed in crispy fried egg. Unlike the big tofu blocks commonly served in other Indonesian restaurants, IndoChili’s rendition was served in tiny fried cubes, allowing it to be even more crispy.
By Samantha Francis
Palette, Capitol Piazza, 15 Stamford Road, #01-83, Singapore 178906, Tel: 6384 3359.
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