A new gastrobar with fancy cocktails and reasonable food has opened on Seah Street
Seah Street has seen quite a few shake-ups lately, with several closings as well as openings for new restaurants and bars.
One of the newer additions to the street is Tess Bar & Kitchen which serves bespoke cocktails and proper food. The chef once trained in Joel Robuchon’s restaurant in Singapore, and the bartender is Alex Ng, formerly from Bitters & Love.
Fancy A Drink?
The elusive ‘Tess’ is not a person, we were told. It is simply an acronym for 38 Seah Street. How clever! And at Tess Bar & Kitchen, they also specialise in bespoke cocktails for a reasonable price.
I told him I liked whisky and smoky flavours, and he brought me a whisky drink with an orange peel and studded with star anise. Not bad indeed! As for the menu, I liked the Luscious Duo ($24) with Remy Martin VSOP, dark grapes, apricot liqueur, and fresh lemon with Cinzano Prosecco.
It may have run slightly on the sweeter side, but I did like the fresh and fruity flavours with the strength of the VSOP. If you prefer a creamier drink, I’d suggest the Scandalous Pear ($21), which comprises Bankes Gin, homemade pear with port puree, fresh lemon, egg white, and cinnamon sugar.
Food Failings
Unfortunately, the food at Tess is more miss than hit, considering the chef’s training. But I’ll talk about the hits first. I liked the Baby Octopus, Chorizo and Sun Dried Cherry Tomato ($9) tapas, and Tess Wagyu Cubes and Bone Marrow ($26) from the medium plates.
A lot of the other dishes I tried at Tess were a little odd and mismatched, such as the Medley of Forest Mushrooms with Ravioli Surprise ($10). It was an attempt of innovation gone wrong. The tossed mushrooms tasted all right, but the ravioli surprise was cheese-wrapped wanton skins. It felt cheap, and the smell of alkali from the wanton overpowered most of the dish.
All in all, I’d say go for the drinks at Tess instead of the food.
Tess Bar & Kitchen, 38 Seah Street, Singapore 188394, Tel: 6337 7355
By Cheryl Chia
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