Dads are always difficult to please, and you've probably already confronted the worst of those years while you were growing up. This Father's Day, we make it a little easier for you to choose the location for your annual celebratory meal with a list of restaurants that serve tasty renditions of the top five foods our fathers crave. Approval from your paternal parent is guaranteed!
Craving: A Good Hunk of Meat
CUT (The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., #B1-71, 6688-8517) or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse (25 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6735-6739)
A juicy wagyu steak is often enough to set any carnivore's tail wagging, so we say go for broke this Father's Day. Unless you've been to Hokkaido, you probably have not sunk your teeth into the soft, buttery deliciousness that is Hokkaido Snow Beef. Wolfgang Puck's CUT is the first in the world (outside of the Japanese island) to offer this beef with a marbling score of 10 and above. Indulge your dad in sirloin, ribeye or tenderloin cuts grilled on almond wood (prices start at $230). But if that pains your pocket, you can't go wrong with Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse's signature Fiorentina ($178). The 1.1kg wagyu is good for three people and is cooked in the traditional Tuscan method: seared over a high flame, making it charred and crusty on the exterior and oh-so juicy and succulent on the inside.
Craving: The Best of the Ocean's Harvest
Dancing Crab (The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Rd., 6466-3303) or Sushi Kuu (Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Rd., #01-06/07, 6736-0100)
If your family's table manners are slightly crude and you're a tad wary of booking a meal at a no-elbows-on-the-table kind of joint, fret not. TungLok's newly opened “country-style Cajun and Creole cuisine” eatery is the go-to spot for seafood lovers that prefer to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Come for the Combo Bags ($40-80) which include a mishmash of seafood (Sri Lankan crab, prawns, mussels and clams) dumped directly onto your table. Yes, it's messy, but we promise it's good fun. Amp up your order with Boston lobster ($9.50 for 100 grams), Alaskan king crab ($13 for 100 grams) and fresh oysters ($18). If your family prefers indulging in fruits de mer in a more genteel atmosphere, visit Sushi Kuu for one dish and one dish alone: the assorted sashimi chirashi ($65). This dish has got all the premium raw seafood you could ever ask for in one seductive bowl: uni, ikura, otoro, maguro, hamachi, botan ebi and much more.
Craving: Glorious Greens
Pollen (#01-09, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, 6604-9988) or Afterglow (24 Keong Saik Rd., 6224-8921)
There's no need to feel the burn of being on a restricted diet because these dining spots make vegging-out look damn sexy. Michelin-starred Brit chef Jason Atherton's fine dining, Pollen, is encased in a cool, botanical bubble and is surrounded by a luscious abundance of sweet-smelling herbs. It's a perfect setting to showcase the endowment of nature. Atherton's dishes are vibrant and a visual treat and the vegetarian dishes, thankfully, are not compromised. Go for the potato gnocchi with grilled asparagus, pickled mousseron mushrooms and roasted hazelnuts ($28) or the fermented golden beets with beetroot sorbet, horseradish and black olive oil ($26). Alternatively, you can level up and go full-on vegan at Afterglow - it's a good way to give him a crash-course on cholesterol-free, plant-based eating. The Deconstructed Sushi Bowl ($16) with pickles, shiitake mushrooms, avocados and miso or the Raw Taco Bowl ($16) with salsa, marinated walnuts, avocados and cashew cream is sure to fill up your old man's belly. Plus enough with shaming salad-eating-men. It's 2014 - real men eat greens!
Craving: Yummy Ayam
Bar-Roque Grill (top photo; 65 Tanjong Pagar Rd., #01-00, 6444-9672)
The folks at Bar-Roque Grill do poultry right and their showpiece is the juicy, tender free-range rotisserie chicken ($38 for a whole chicken and $22 for half a chicken). This succulent bird is slowly roasted after being seasoned simply with salt, peppers, paprika, sugar and oregano. Chef Stephane Istel's menu is rustic, French-inspired and best experienced when shared. The lavish charcuterie boards ($36-62) and chilled seafood platters ($118-225) make for perfect family-style dining. Get some homey sides into the mix and order the mashed potatoes, creamy corn and butternut squash (all $10 each). If you need extra incentive, all fathers will be treated to a complimentary glass of vanilla, pineapple, chilli or berries infused French-Caribbean white rum. A la vôtre!
Craving: Bounty of Booze
Mars Bar (Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 9651-6741) and Farm to Table (Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 6238-5681)
If your dad has a hard time refusing a libation and/or needs a dose of trendiness, treat him to a pre-dinner sip at the pop-up Mars Bar. It's a quaint, comfy little space built into the lobby of the livened-up The Duxton Hotel Singapore. These days, cocktails can be a little uppity and intimidating, thankfully the drinks here are perfect for entry level folk (ahem, your parental unit). Familiarity and nostalgia is king here as drinks are based on good ol' Milo, rojak, Ribena and yes, chilli crab ($18-23)! Next, head over to the adjacent restaurant, Farm to Table Cafe, for dinner where the American-style dishes offered as equally accessible. Pop will love the Farmer's Burger ($18), a thick juicy grass-fed beef patty served on a soft sesame bun and topped with maple bacon relish, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and signature mayo. We appreciate the long list of Japanese craft beers ($12-18) of offering. Try the Tawazako Rauch ($18), voted the world's best smoked beer at the World Beer Awards 2013, this ale has lovely aromas of Lapsang Souchong, kippers and wood fire and is faultless when paired with grilled meats.
Dads are always difficult to please, and you've probably already confronted the worst of those years while you were growing up. This Father's Day, we make it a little easier for you to choose the location for your annual celebratory meal with a list of restaurants that serve tasty renditions of the top five foods our fathers crave. Approval from your paternal parent is guaranteed!
Craving: A Good Hunk of Meat
CUT (The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., #B1-71, 6688-8517) or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse (25 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6735-6739)
A juicy wagyu steak is often enough to set any carnivore's tail wagging, so we say go for broke this Father's Day. Unless you've been to Hokkaido, you probably have not sunk your teeth into the soft, buttery deliciousness that is Hokkaido Snow Beef. Wolfgang Puck's CUT is the first in the world (outside of the Japanese island) to offer this beef with a marbling score of 10 and above. Indulge your dad in sirloin, ribeye or tenderloin cuts grilled on almond wood (prices start at $230). But if that pains your pocket, you can't go wrong with Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse's signature Fiorentina ($178). The 1.1kg wagyu is good for three people and is cooked in the traditional Tuscan method: seared over a high flame, making it charred and crusty on the exterior and oh-so juicy and succulent on the inside.
Craving: The Best of the Ocean's Harvest
Dancing Crab (The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Rd., 6466-3303) or Sushi Kuu (Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Rd., #01-06/07, 6736-0100)
If your family's table manners are slightly crude and you're a tad wary of booking a meal at a no-elbows-on-the-table kind of joint, fret not. TungLok's newly opened “country-style Cajun and Creole cuisine” eatery is the go-to spot for seafood lovers that prefer to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Come for the Combo Bags ($40-80) which include a mishmash of seafood (Sri Lankan crab, prawns, mussels and clams) dumped directly onto your table. Yes, it's messy, but we promise it's good fun. Amp up your order with Boston lobster ($9.50 for 100 grams), Alaskan king crab ($13 for 100 grams) and fresh oysters ($18). If your family prefers indulging in fruits de mer in a more genteel atmosphere, visit Sushi Kuu for one dish and one dish alone: the assorted sashimi chirashi ($65). This dish has got all the premium raw seafood you could ever ask for in one seductive bowl: uni, ikura, otoro, maguro, hamachi, botan ebi and much more.
Craving: Glorious Greens
Pollen (#01-09, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, 6604-9988) or Afterglow (24 Keong Saik Rd., 6224-8921)
There's no need to feel the burn of being on a restricted diet because these dining spots make vegging-out look damn sexy. Michelin-starred Brit chef Jason Atherton's fine dining, Pollen, is encased in a cool, botanical bubble and is surrounded by a luscious abundance of sweet-smelling herbs. It's a perfect setting to showcase the endowment of nature. Atherton's dishes are vibrant and a visual treat and the vegetarian dishes, thankfully, are not compromised. Go for the potato gnocchi with grilled asparagus, pickled mousseron mushrooms and roasted hazelnuts ($28) or the fermented golden beets with beetroot sorbet, horseradish and black olive oil ($26). Alternatively, you can level up and go full-on vegan at Afterglow - it's a good way to give him a crash-course on cholesterol-free, plant-based eating. The Deconstructed Sushi Bowl ($16) with pickles, shiitake mushrooms, avocados and miso or the Raw Taco Bowl ($16) with salsa, marinated walnuts, avocados and cashew cream is sure to fill up your old man's belly. Plus enough with shaming salad-eating-men. It's 2014 - real men eat greens!
Craving: Yummy Ayam
Bar-Roque Grill (top photo; 65 Tanjong Pagar Rd., #01-00, 6444-9672)
The folks at Bar-Roque Grill do poultry right and their showpiece is the juicy, tender free-range rotisserie chicken ($38 for a whole chicken and $22 for half a chicken). This succulent bird is slowly roasted after being seasoned simply with salt, peppers, paprika, sugar and oregano. Chef Stephane Istel's menu is rustic, French-inspired and best experienced when shared. The lavish charcuterie boards ($36-62) and chilled seafood platters ($118-225) make for perfect family-style dining. Get some homey sides into the mix and order the mashed potatoes, creamy corn and butternut squash (all $10 each). If you need extra incentive, all fathers will be treated to a complimentary glass of vanilla, pineapple, chilli or berries infused French-Caribbean white rum. A la vôtre!
Craving: Bounty of Booze
Mars Bar (Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 9651-6741) and Farm to Table (Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 6238-5681)
If your dad has a hard time refusing a libation and/or needs a dose of trendiness, treat him to a pre-dinner sip at the pop-up Mars Bar. It's a quaint, comfy little space built into the lobby of the livened-up The Duxton Hotel Singapore. These days, cocktails can be a little uppity and intimidating, thankfully the drinks here are perfect for entry level folk (ahem, your parental unit). Familiarity and nostalgia is king here as drinks are based on good ol' Milo, rojak, Ribena and yes, chilli crab ($18-23)! Next, head over to the adjacent restaurant, Farm to Table Cafe, for dinner where the American-style dishes offered as equally accessible. Pop will love the Farmer's Burger ($18), a thick juicy grass-fed beef patty served on a soft sesame bun and topped with maple bacon relish, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and signature mayo. We appreciate the long list of Japanese craft beers ($12-18) of offering. Try the Tawazako Rauch ($18), voted the world's best smoked beer at the World Beer Awards 2013, this ale has lovely aromas of Lapsang Souchong, kippers and wood fire and is faultless when paired with grilled meats.