Looking for a new, exciting place for your next night out or group dinner? Look no further than KOMYUNITI, in the heart of Orchard Road!
YOTEL Singapore may be known to many as a futuristic, “smart” hotel located in the city – but not many know about their restaurant & bar, KOMYUNITI, which has recently launched a new fusion cuisine menu. Presenting dishes that reflect Singapore’s diverse restaurant culture with a fun twist, along with a whole host of inventive and equally playful cocktails, the restaurant aims to encourage communal dining with creativity and flavour.
Located on the 10th floor of YOTEL Singapore, KOMYUNITI is helmed by their new Head Chef, Benny Lim, and award-winning mixologist, As’ad Isnin. Chef Benny has 14 years of experience with Western culinary techniques, and in this new menu, presents a fun twist on both Eastern and Western favourites sharing plates for a kommunal-style dining experience.
The Italians were right about starting off a meal with warm bread; and here, Chef Benny fuses the traditional Peking Duck dish with his love for pizza with his Hoisin Duck Flatbread. Hand-made flatbread is spread with tangy tomato sauce and topped with smoked duck breast, crisp fresh cucumber and spring onions, and liberally sprinkled with mozzarella cheese. Finished off with drizzles of pre-mixed Hoisin sauce, this is a warm, carby dish that tastes familiar and so very addictive. While we found the Hoisin sauce a tad too sweet, we absolutely loved Chef Benny’s flatbread: fluffy on the inside and crisp at the edges, the perfect vehicle for the melted strands of mozzarella and swipes of tomato sauce.
Now, mala may be all the rage, but nothing beats some good ol’ fried chicken – Korean-style! The Spicy Korean Fried Chicken here at KOMYUNITI is covered in a home-made Korean buffalo sauce, a medley of spicy, sweet and savoury flavours. Garnished with fragrant sesame seeds and spring onions, and served with a side of delightfully tangy kimchi; this is a dish great for sharing with a drink or two!
Another dish good for sharing, and one of our favourites, is the Beef Pita Bread Pockets. Nicely pink and tender, pan-seared Black Angus steak is laid out with veggies and toasty pita pockets; as well as a trio of dips: red aioli, sour cream and Asian jus (made from chicken jus and sesame oil). We loved how juicy the beef was, and how it paired well with all the dips – especially the fragrant Asian jus!
A dish for the meat-lovers would be KOMYUNITI’s signature Beef Burger. A gorgeously-thick, grilled Angus beef patty is sandwiched between two fluffy charcoal buns, along with a moreish bacon jam, mayo dressing, melty cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes and lettuce. Bursts of juicy, meaty, umami flavour with every bite; you may not want to share this one! Don’t look down on the accompanying purple cabbage coleslaw and shoestring fries either – they’re not mere side dishes!
Santa may give naughty children coal for Christmas, but if coal tasted as good as these Charcoal Fish Fingers & Chips, we’d gladly act up! Just kidding – while these hunks of dory fish coated with bamboo-infused charcoal batter don’t look the best, we assure you, they were absolutely delish, especially with a squeeze of lime and a dollop of the accompanying paprika tartar sauce.
Unassuming, and perfect as decoration, this Potted Plant Tiramisu is also just the right way to end off your meal. Served in an adorable flower pot, this dessert consists of espresso-infused coffee sponge layered with espuma liquor custard; topped off with Oreo “soil” and fresh mint leaves. Wonderfully light and not too sweet, this playful dessert is just missing some gummy worms to complete the illusion!
Now, onto the drinks! Mixologist As’ad, who was one of the Top 5 Bartenders in Asia in the recent Barstylez International Bartender Championship 2019, has curated a playful range line of innovative and nuanced hito-inspired cocktails. “Hito” is derived from the Japanese character that translates to “people”, and sums up how As’ad’s tipples draw inspiration from the city and its people.
KOMYUNITI’s signature cocktail is the gorgeous and refreshing KOMpliment (S$18), made with butterfly pea flower gin, violet liqueur, chickpea brine, orange bitters and a spritz of floral perfume.
If you have a sweet tooth, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the curiously-named, Lost Not Found. Inspired by the almost-lost art of incorporating strawberries into cocktails; this drink consists of prosecco with a mix of said fruit, fermented, together with herb liqueur and sprigs of fragrant botanical herbs.
Our favourite drink was the Comic Coffee: a vodka-based cocktail that’s sure to perk you up with its addition of salted espresso, along with citrus and dark cherry. Ask for a spoon and have it chawanmushi-style: wobbly home-made tauhuay awaits as an intriguing but flavourful surprise at the very bottom!
Besides that, for the month of July, KOMYUNITI is putting As’ad’s skills to the test by challenging him to concoct cocktails from unexpected ingredients – so far, some of these ingredients include seaweed, and even salmon! The event, Challenge YO Bartender, will be shared on KOMYUNITI’s social media platforms, with two ingredients introduced each week. Taste-testers will come together to sample As’ad’s creations and vote for their favourite, with the winning cocktails later selected to be a part of KOMYUNITI’s limited-time-only cocktail menu. Do stay tuned!
KOMYUNITI
Level 10, YOTEL, 366 Orchard Road, S238904
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