Feast on an Austrian Emperor’s favourite dish and other traditional delicacies at this posh restaurant
Cuisine from the Habsburg Empire is certainly refreshing.
Kaiserhaus has a menu that features signature dishes from Austria-Hungary to even the Balkan region. You can expect generous portions of hearty dishes that are meat-heavy and rich in flavour, and even historic desserts such as Emperor’s Pancake and Sachertorte.
A Grand Setting
At first glance, Kaiserhaus is an opulent sight — right down to its royal crest.
The centrepiece of the two-storey restaurant at the newly-refurbished Capitol Theatre is a grand staircase, created specially by a wrought-iron artisan from Austria.
The seating is plush and comfortable, in a modern take on aristocratic decor. Being surrounded by handcrafted and elegant fittings, I couldn’t help but wonder if my dressing was regal enough to match.
Bite into Historical Flavours
With the kitchen helmed by Executive Chef Hans Lüftenegger, originally from Austria, you’ll be tucking into dishes such as the Tafelspitz ($38), said to be a favourite of the former Austro-Hungarian Emperor, Franz Josef I.
As a small-eater, the portion left me wide-eyed. Grain-fed beef rump and oyster blade in a copper pot filled with beef bouillon and mixed root vegetables, bone marrow, toasted rye bread, crispy rosti potatoes, creamed spinach and spicy horseradish sauce — imagine all that wholesome goodness in one course.
Just as I was wondering where to start, I noticed an illustrated card which instructed me, step by step, on which to start with.
Each step offered a different dimension of flavour to the dish. For instance, the creamy bone marrow as a flavourful spread for the rye, as well as the crisp rosti that was delicious between sips of well-simmered beef broth.
If you like your meat well-roasted, you should opt for the Veprova Pecene ($24), a dish of roasted pork with crispy crackling, roasted root vegetables and natural jus.
The roasted pork was lightly-seasoned yet tasty, and tender.
It was served on a bed of gabelkraut and accompanied by bread dumplings. You can imagine how happily stuffed I was by now.
Not All Hits
We found the appetisers, especially the Caprese Tonnato ($19), rather ordinary.
The vine-ripened tomatoes and mozzarella with a touch of pesto tasted refreshing but was unfortunately overwhelmed by the heavy tuna sauce atop the thinly-sliced pork roast.
Some of the Finest Desserts from Europe
Dessert lovers will be delighted to know that Kaiserhaus has partnered with renowned Austrian patisserie Zauner to offer diners some of the finest sweet delicacies from Europe. The Zaunerstollen (145g for $23) is a must-try with its addictive combination of nougat, wafer, hazelnut and chocolate — I think it’d make a great gift for takeaway.
Give Mozartknodel ($13) a try. It’s a rather decadent dessert featuring dumplings filled with marzipan and nougat pralines. Served with a scoop of pistachio ice cream and marinated raspberry, a variety of flavours will greet you with every bite.
Kaiserhaus is a great dining destination if you’re looking for hearty comfort food with an interesting Austro-Hungarian influence.
By Samantha Francis
Kaiserhaus, Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road, #02-06 / 03-06, Singapore 178907
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