FLUTES Restaurant.Bar
Located in the National Museum of Singapore, fine
dining restaurant FLUTES is one of the most delightful
yet underrated restaurants along Orchard Road. It stuns
with a gorgeously elegant setting that cleverly combines
contemporary touches with colonial architecture. The
contemporary European fare here is consistently good, with
pretty presentation to boot. Service is prompt and personable,
and pricing is keen, especially for weekday set lunches and
Sunday brunch on an a la carte basis.
From the a la carte menu, have pan-fried foie gras
delectably paired with pineapple and chocolate, and ravioli
filled with wagyu oxtail and foie gras. For mains, pan-roasted
barramundi fillet is gently crisp outside, firm yet juicy within,
and nicely paired with chargrilled octopus and jamon Iberico.
Wagyu striploin with artichokes, mushrooms and potato mille
feuille is perfectly done with classic autumnal flavours, while
Spanish suckling pig with scallop and white beans is flawless
technically, if a little gamey.
Don’t miss truffled shoestring fries on the side. For
desserts, lemon meringue and chocolate mousse with
peanut butter caramel mousse and peanut praline is a lovely
indulgence.
*Good to note: Flutes offers a wide range of wines and cocktails.
Go for the bottles, many of which are under $100.
National Museum of Singapore, #01-02, 93 Stamford Road,
Singapore 178897
NUDE Grill
An all-local effort, NUDE Grill has the energy, enthusiasm
and style that reminds one of Les Amis in its early days. Just
opened months ago, it shows great promise and is a testament
that a restaurant doesn’t need an imported celebrity chef to
be successful. Within its dark, streamlined interiors, NUDE
Grill serves up downright excellent food. Run by a young team,
creativity here is rife, original and proudly local. We love its
contemporary fare—Western in framework, but with an Asian
body, flavour and soul.
The delectable côte de beouf, a cornfed US prime rib dry-
aged 45 days in-house, is a must-have. It is served with a 90-day
housemade black garlic purée and a glorious katsuobushi rösti.
Other highlights are pork jowl with pineapple, celeriac purée,
tamarind; poussin with glutinous rice, scallop and shrimp,
shiitake; and Iberico pork with cherries and roasted pumpkin.
The Kagoshima wagyu is also worth trying, served with a smoky
rojak flower jus, and an intriguing buah keluak Yorkshire
pudding. The dessert Wendee in Wonderland is great fun to eat,
comprising matcha pistachio praline, compressed apples, apple
tea jelly, granny smith sorbet, lime meringue and caramelised
pistachios.
The bonus? The owners work the floor well, and provide
enthusiastic, engaged service.
Marina One, #01-22, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935