Here are a few great steak options that range from reasonably priced to splurging, to suit your wallet and your appetite
For many westerners, the mark of a good restaurant is the chef’s ability to cook a piece of steak to the desired taste and tenderness.
From experience, however, restaurants in Singapore have a lot to learn from western counterparts when it comes to cooking the perfect steak. In a place where finding a good steak restaurant is a rarity, my memory clings on to the places that have offered me the mouth-watering steaks I crave.
Below are a few places that have outdone themselves when it comes to preparing excellent steaks. They’ve taken the cue from western recipes and have added their own unique taste.
What’s more, the list has been compiled in ascending price order, to fit every foodie’s budget.
SAVE
Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill
Hippopotamus is the French equivalent of Jack’s Place, a steakhouse chain that opened in Singapore a few years ago.
Apart from the signature 1.2kg steak that it serves (for sharing, unless you’re especially hungry), it also has a cheap lunch set ($15.90) on weekdays from 11am to 3pm, where the rump steak is available as a main dish.
You can also choose sides such as fries, potato gratin or ratatouille and a dessert.
Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill, Marina Square, #01-204/205, Singapore 039594, Tel: 6338 5352
L’Entrecote
I highly recommend going to L’Entrecote’s flagship outlet in Duxton Hill for the best and most authentic bistro experience in Singapore. L’Entrecote only has one main dish ($29.90-$39.90): a trimmed steak covered in a secret house sauce and served with unlimited servings of French fries.
It serves the steak in two separate portions, and I like having the illusion that I’m eating more of it. The main also comes with an appetiser of walnut salad.
L’Entrecote does not take reservations, so go early if you want to get a table quickly. Do note, on Saturdays it only opens from 6pm onwards.
L’Entrecôte, 36 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089614, Tel: 6690 7561
Roundhouse Pizza, Bar & Grill
Owned by local personality Vernetta Lopez and her husband, Roundhouse serves family-friendly grub such as pizzas and pastas, but it also does a fairly good steak at reasonable prices.
Serving cuts such as Angus sirloin ($29), rib-eye ($34) and tenderloin ($39) in hearty portions, the steaks comes without sides but with your choice of sauce such as red wine jus, gorgonzola sauce, Dijon mustard and béarnaise sauce.
Roundhouse Pizza, Bar & Grill, 100 Turf Club Road, Horse City, Singapore 287992, Tel: 6466 0966
SPLURGE
Bedrock Bar & Grill
You’d better empty your bellies if you want to dine at Bedrock Bar & Grill. This place does a huge Tomahawk Steak (Market Price), a 400-day grain-fed F1 long-bone wagyu rib-eye that can feed up to several people.
The standard cuts of USDA Prime and Australian Grass-fed ($79-$96) are also available.
Bedrock Bar & Grill, 96 Somerset Road, #01-05, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, Singapore 238163, Tel: 6238 0054
Morton’s of Chicago Steakhouse
This long-time favourite for steak is famous for grilling meats to the point of perfection in hearty portions – the “aged USDA prime beef selection” for example has a centre-cut prime rib-eye ($99.50) at a hefty 450g.
They also have their double porterhouse for two ($234) in their “aged Australian beef” selection. So, if you’re a massive meat lover and are willing to pay for quality, Morton’s is always a safe bet.
Morton’s of Chicago Steakhouse, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Level 4, Singapore 039797
Fat Cow
Japanese-style beef can be found at the Fat Cow and it is excellent. It stocks goodies such as the Iwate grade-A5 rib-eye ($99-$288) and Snake River Farms American wagyu ($89). The meat can be cooked to your liking. Have sumibiyaki which is prepared over binchotan charcoal, and sukiyaki, prepared over cast-iron with a shoyu stock sweetened with rice wine.
There are short descriptions that offer you a distinct idea of what exactly you are paying for, but if all else fails, ask the staff: they’re happy to help.
Fat Cow, 1 Orchard Boulevard, #01-01, Camden Medical Centre, Singapore 248649
If you are hankering after a steak but don’t have the budget for a restaurant, here are some cheap and good options.
Astons
What used to be a humble hawker stall has grown into a huge chain all over the island. With a burger for as low as $12.90, a Grade-9 wagyu steak for $89.90, and fish dishes for $5.90, you’ll be able to find a meal to fit your budget with restaurant quality.
Visit www.astons.com.sg
Apollo Western Food
The owner only uses chilled (not frozen) beef, so it is not tough.
An Angus beef rib-eye can cost as low as $12
Block 105 Hougang Avenue 1, #02-32, Singapore 530105
Ye Lai Xiang Tasty BBQ
This western food stall is over 43 years old, with the late founder having worked in the British Navy as a head chef. The secret to his well-charred meats? His top-secret brown sauce.
Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-94, Singapore 069184
LavaRock Grill House
If you’re craving a mammoth-sized surf and turf with pasta, you’ll be able to find it here. There are several outlets around the island.
Block 449, Clementi Avenue 3, #01-211, Singapore 120449
By Cheryl Chia
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