Bread Service

We were served baskets of assorted bread and complimentary cheese puffs that were all very delectable. Some were pillow-soft, and some were fragrant. It was certainly a carb-loading start to the night but no one was complaining.

Starters

While the steak at CUT is undoubtedly, highly praised by the general public, I must say that their starters are excellent too! All of us are pretty picky eaters but we couldn’t find a single fault with the starters we ordered. First, it was Mini Kobe Sliders in Brioche Bun and Sweet Pickles as the amuse-bouche.

It is evident that CUT went all out to impress its diners — Kobe beef sliders to start the meal?! We felt so spoilt. I liked that combination of beefy and juicy patties, with that soft, moist, and fluffy brioche bun. It was so tasty that if I weren’t there for their steak, I would have down another serving.

Next up was the Prawn “Cocktail”, Wasabi Panna Cotta, Celery Salt, Avocado Mousse, and Calamansi. Those plump deshelled prawns have a sweet mild taste with a crunchy texture — a refreshing dish to savour after the sliders.

I really liked the Maple Glazed Pork Belly. It was served with Apple-Apricot Compote, Chicharrón and Sesame – Orange Dressing. While we do find some Chinese influence in this dish, it was incredibly tender and succulent, the meat literally melt in my mouth and the bold flavours left me wanting more.

As with most steakhouse visits, a crab cake is always on the list. While I can’t enjoy the dish due to my shellfish allergy, the feedback from my dining companions was that this Maryland Blue Crab Cake was loaded generously with meaty chunks of fresh blue crab and was absolutely lovely!

Burrata Cheese with Tomatoes was the crowd-pleaser that can never go wrong. The salad was really refreshing. Those chilled tomatoes were sweet and juicy, perfect for the sweltering Singapore weather.

Mains

We had the USDA Prime New York Sirloin (350g) and American Wagyu Filet Mignon (170g) that night.

The USDA Prime is corn-fed, and dry-aged on-site for 28 days before being cooked to that medium-rare perfection, with that nicely charred surface that gave a crisp with every bite. The cut was very juicy and embodied a bold and beefy flavour that we like very much.

While we enjoyed the American Wagyu Filet Mignon from Snake River Farms, which was the restaurant’s signature cut, we actually prefer the USDA prime as it was more juicy and flavourful.

CUT serves their beef with a variety of sauces, but they’re so well seasoned (in fact, the chefs are very generous with the salt) that they go perfectly well without the condiments.

Sides

We had the Creamed Spinach, Peewee Potatoes and Sauteed Field Mushrooms as sides. The creamed spinach was smooth and creamy, just the way I like it. Potato lovers should not miss their Peewee Potatoes that came coated generously with that crispy shallots and cheddar cheese. The field mushroom was an interesting take as it tasted just like Kung Pao Mushrooms at a Chinese restaurant!

Dessert

We end the dinner with Honeycomb Espresso Cake, which includes honeycomb gelato, honey cake, sour cream, lemon curd and espresso. It was a nice combination of honey-sweet and lemony-sour and the dash of espresso added a perfect touch to the dessert.

Service

The service at CUT was warm and impeccable. Though the restaurant was busy during dinner hours, we were greeted by our names and the crew went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience. Little snippets of conversation here and there throughout the night without making us feel interrupted just show how tactful their service crew are. It is definitely one of the better dining experiences we have in Singapore.

Restaurant Information

CUT by Wolfgang Puck
The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-71,
Galleria Level, Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 8517
http://wolfgangpuck.com/dining/cut-singapore/

DINNER
5 PM– 10 PM (last seating)

DRINKS
Last order at 11.30 PM

The name of the restaurant pays homage to its homeland, where typically, a family-run restaurant would have “no menu”. While the restaurant does have a menu (and a pretty extensive one!), you can always check with their staff regarding their exciting dishes of the day which is not listed on the menu.

We were seated on the second floor and the atmosphere was nice and cozy, with family photos and keepsakes adorned on the walls. As it was a simple lunch meeting, we skipped the Aperitivo. However, the meal was off to a great start with their warm and fluffy bread paired with EVOO and the special ‘Nduja’ — Italy’s buttery, spreadable salume that is made of fermented pork and fiery Calabrian chilies.

Antipasti

We had the Burrata Cheese with Sicilian Tomatoes & Parma Ham ($34 Half Burrata, $58 Whole Burrata) as appetizer. It was served at the perfect ambient temperature. It wasn’t too hard like some of the restaurants may serve it at. You’ll know it as you cut into that pearly white ball that oozes with the luscious cream. Fresh, creamy and decadent, this dish was the highlight of the meal!

Primi

For the pasta, I choose the Homemade Tagliatelle With Beef Bolognese Ragu ($34), a classic Bologna pasta dish made with ground beef. The dish was packed with flavours and I liked that the al-dente texture of my homemade, silken egg tagliatelle! Each bite transports me to the terracotta rooftops of Bologna which I absolutely adore.

My lunch companions ordered the Homemade Tagliolini with King Prawn in Olive Oil & Garlic Sauce ($36). The king prawns were chunky and fresh, and even though the ingredients were simple, the pasta was oozing with rich flavors from olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes! If you love aglio e olio pasta, this wouldn’t go wrong.

Dolci

As every great meals must end with a dessert, we ordered their Classic Tiramisu ($18) to share. The dessert was served in a bowl. Famed as the restaurant that serves one of the best tiramisu in Singapore, I had high expectation of this dish. It was creamy but light, with a tinge of fragrance from the espresso. Light, fluffy and not too sweet, the tiramisu was palatable, but definitely not the best in Singapore.

Writer’s Note: If you’re looking for a cosy restaurant that serves quality food, is conducive for conversation and with an extensive Italian wine list, No Menu would be an ideal choice. The dishes were delicious, and the staffs were friendly and accommodating. While the price are on the higher side, the charming ambience, warm service, fresh ingredients from Italy and an Italian chef made up a full, authentic Italian restaurant experience in Singapore.

Contact Details

No Menu Restaurant
23 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069621
Tel. 6224 0091
www.osvaldo.sg/m/nomenu/

MON- FRI :
11:30AM – 2PM | 6PM – 9PM

SAT :
6PM – 9PM

CLOSED ON SUNDAYS

And of course, for an authentic Italian experience in an Italian restaurant, we have to order Aperol Spritz ($18) as aperitivo!

Appetizer

For the appetizer, we ordered Burrata e Pomodorini in Insalata con Basilico ($32), it is a simple dish comprised of burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, olives, and pistachios and basil oil. I love the combination, and the olives are divine. However, the texture of the burrata cheese wasn’t soft enough when we cut it open — it wasn’t the creamy, smooth and buttery consistency of a burrata, which was a disappointment. Well, I do believe I went on a bad day because I have ordered this dish in the past and it was perfect!

On the other hand, the focaccia bread served before the meal was warm, moist, subtly oily and flavourful.

Soup

I’ve always loved Prego’s mushroom soup. This Zuppa di Funghi cost $20 per bowl, but it is indeed soup for your soul. It has the right consistency — not too watery nor creamy, and is packed with the fragrant, earthy notes of mushrooms. It isn’t the most decent-priced mushroom soup on the market, but I’d gladly order another bowl if I hadn’t ordered other dishes that day.

Side Dish

I enjoyed the Carciofi alla Romana ($18), a classic Roman-style Fried Artichoke. These “Golden Sunflowers” have an addictive crunchiness, with tender and soft meat in the centre that is so deliciously nutty and addictive. I found myself popping them like potato chips before the mains arrived.

Pasta

Trust Prego when it comes to pasta. I still fondly remember their pappardelle in baby spinach sauce and shaved generously with Parmigiano cheese which I had years back. It was phenomenal. While the dish is no longer on the menu, pasta at Prego never fails to impress.

I ordered Tortelli al Parmigiano Fondente ($34), a Parmesan Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce, sprinkled with almonds. Each small parcel is filled with luscious cheese fillings. As you bite into the al-dente pasta squares, the creamy cheese filling bursts out, leaving a flavourful, delightful, cheesy creamy mess.

Pizza

Margherita Pizza ($30) — a classic staple in any Italian restaurant with super simple ingredients: tomato, mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, and basil.

Prego’s pizza dough was slightly towards the fluffier side. So if you’re looking for crisp, light and airy dough, you may be slightly disappointed. That said, the ingredients are fresh, and they are super generous with the cheese and toppings. The restaurant is equipped with a proper wood-fired oven so there is a nice smoky flavour to your pizza!

The signature Prego Pizza ($40) topped with sundried tomatoes, ham, wild and brown button mushrooms, fresh cream and parmesan is another crowd pleaser at the restaurant too!

I can’t pick a favourite between the two, as the Margherita Pizza is tomato-based while Prego Pizza has a more cheesy taste profile, and both are equally appealing.

Main Course

The main course worth trying is their Pancetta di Maiale in Porchetta ($50). It is a mouth-watering slow-roasted pork belly, seasoned with salt, garlic, rosemary and assorted wild herbs. The crackling skin, succulent fats and perfectly seasoned and tender meat just hit the right balance. If you’re looking for that distinctively glorious melt-in-your-mouth fatty texture, capped by a satisfying crunchy crackling, this dish would satisfy your cravings.

Digestif

For an authentic Italian experience, order a Limoncello Pallini ($18) as your digestif while waiting for your dessert to be prepared.

Dessert

The restaurant offers a variety of gelato ice-creams. I have always ordered the pistachio flavour (one scoop $6, Biscotti add on $2). Overall I would say that the gelato at Prego is above the average café standard in Singapore, but it doesn’t satisfy my cravings for Italian gelato.

Writer’s Note: Prego is a restaurant with a warm, friendly and welcoming ambience, great for families and gatherings. I love their pasta, and I have always enjoyed their pasta offerings. The consistency for pizza and some other dishes can be floppy, probably exaggerated by how much I enjoyed their pasta. That said, Prego is a good restaurant to dine in, especially if you have credit card promotions or Accor Plus Membership that offer great discounts.

Contact Details

Prego
80 Bras Basah Rd, Fairmont Singapore S189560
Tel. 6431 6156
https://prego.com.sg/
Operating Hours: 12PM – 10:30PM

What I really love about this Catalan establishment is its vibrant interior. Food is plated with modern aesthetics, and it does feel like we were dining in an idyllic, charming coastal resort.

The Food

Like most modern Spanish restaurants in Singapore, the food here encompass the philosophy of communal dining and sharing a meal with loved ones. Other than the starters which are mini bites, the other food portions are generous. And I really love that homey flavours with fine-dining presentations.

The Spherical Olives ($1.5) were a fun dish to kick off the lunch. I popped one in my mouth and it exploded, letting out that briny, rich and delicious olive juice – I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves olive.

Ham Croquettes (2pc, $16) were made of Ibérico ham, enveloping the fragrant & melty cheese. It was slightly on the pricier side but overall a nice starter that makes u want to go back for more.

Next up was the Classic Tenderloin Steak Tartare with Avruga Caviar ($56). Finely chopped fatty beef steak topped with a thick bed of luscious caviar, and served with piping hot, thick-cut fries on the side! We also paired the crostini with the tartare and it was truly an enjoyable dish!

The highlight was Octopus ‘A Feira’ ($39). On top of that creamy mash was crispy pork belly, tender and flavourful octopus, with the fragrance of caramelised onion. It was so good that I would probably order one serving for myself on my next visit!

Dessert

For first-time visitors, please do not miss out on that classic Olivia’s Creamy Homemade Cheesecake ($15)! With the lightly burnt surface, each bite was loaded with a delightful sweetness, with a hint of saltiness and earthy flavour from their blue cheese. The texture was perfect – with that creaminess outside and almost liquid centre. It was sinfully indulgent and truly divine. Perfect for sharing!

Writer’s Note

I enjoyed my birthday lunch at Olivia. The octopus, crispy pork belly and potato foam was the star dish. Not forgetting the melty creamy homemade cheesecake to finish off the birthday meal. The service was warm and attentive but the pace felt a little rushed. Probably because it was a buzzy weekend and they needed the table asap. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience!

Restaurant Information:

Olivia Restaurant & Lounge
#01-03 55 Keong Saik Road, Singapore, 089158 Singapore
+65 6221 0522
www.olivia.com

TUE- THUR:
12PM – 2PM | 6PM – 10:30PM

FRI – SUN:
12PM – 2.30PM | 6PM – 10:30PM

CLOSED ON MONDAY

We got a nice window seat that evening. It was a cloudy day in Singapore, so we couldn’t see the iconic sea view clearly even when we were on the 70th floor but the sky cleared off when the night falls and the lights and sparkles at Marina Bay were truly magical!

Bread Service

The bread basket consists of warm sourdough and SKAI’s signature mushroom butter. The luscious, fragrant and earthy butter was a great compliment to the freshly rolled bread! I would have stuffed myself with another serving of sourdough and this beautiful butter if we hadn’t ordered so many dishes for the night!

By the way, you can also get this butter at Fairmont At Home, the hotel’s very own curated premium grocery e-mall.

Small Plates

We ordered a few small plates as starters. Their Signature Crab Cake was the most popular dish among what we ordered that night. As I have a mild shellfish allergy, I only took a very small bite of the crabcake. I could taste the sweetness of the seafood from the cake. The crispiness from the fried dough skin and daikon, together with passion fruit and chilli added a nice and refreshing touch to the dish.

Mains

Rejoice, steak lovers! You’ll be pampered by the steak selections here at SKAI. They have sharing cuts, A4 Miyazaki Wagyu, A5 Saga Wagyu, and different cuts of Australian Wagyu to choose from. The beef comes with a perfect buttery texture and an aromatic char, I am sure you’ll find something you like here.

Dessert

The dessert was a cheesecake tart topped with strawberries and a scoop of strawberry sorbet – it was a nice and balanced end to what was a great dinner.

Service

The service at SKAI is always warm and welcoming. We were well taken care of that night, with great food, bubbly champagne, nice wine and great company, it was truly an enjoyable dinner!

Restaurant Information:

SKAI Restaurant & Bar 
level 70 Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882
6837 3322；skai@swissotel.com
https://skai.sg/

LUNCH

SUN – FRI
11:30 AM – 02:30 PM

DINNER

MON – THUR
06:00 PM – 10:30 PM

FRI – SAT
06:00 PM – 11:00 PM

SUN
06:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Speaking of which, I have decided to blog everything about South Korea at another site. I know many of you actually discover my site through my South Korea travel content, so please also visit The Calm Chronicle.

COVID-19 has made birthdays a little different. No more travel. It has also altered the way we see travel and tourism, and many other aspects of life. To spice things up a little, we decided to dine at Zafferano Italian Restaurant & Lounge on my birthday. And it was indeed a blessing as my birthday falls on the Singapore Restaurant Week, a yearly culinary event that is highly anticipated since its debut in 2002!

Perched on the top of the Ocean Financial Centre, Zafferano is a beautiful Italian restaurant in the heart of Singapore’s central business district. I love the bright &  airy space filled with natural light. The restaurant never fails to impress with their food during media tastings, which is one of the obvious reasons I choose this place – I wanted K to try out the food here, especially when we do not know when is the next time we can finally fly to Italy.

Everything was perfect – the starter, stracciatella cheese, tasted just like how it was during a media tasting years back. I wiped out the entire plate. The fresh seasonal oyster with onion sorbet was a brilliant combination. Our primi – lobster pasta and ravioli, were well executed. And I really enjoyed that juicy, flavourful beef steak. The cioccolato lava cake was another highlight too. It is not too sweet, and the pairing liqueur added a nice, smokey flavour.

And just when I thought the perfect birthday celebration is almost over, the waiter surprised me with a birthday cake on the house! This came as a pleasant surprise and I really appreciate the all-round, warm Italian hospitality. Friendly and impeccable service, delicious food and great wine!

Writer’s Note: 

We made a reservation through the Singapore Restaurant Week website. Apparently, due to the site settings, we booked in a slot that isn’t available at the restaurant. However, the restaurant was quick to rectify the issue and sort everything out within a call. Kudos to the Zafferano team!

Singapore Restaurant Week offers a great opportunity for diners to sample some of Singapore’s culinary powerhouses dishes at a slightly more pocket-friendly price. So don’t miss out on the chance! Please note that you’ll need to pay a deposit for bookings during Singapore Restaurant Week at Zafferano. The deposit will be forfeited in case of a no-show.

Restaurant Information:

Zafferano Italian Restaurant & Lounge
10 Collyer Quay, Level 43 Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315
Tel. 6509 1488
www.zafferano.sg
Mon-Sun, 12pm-3pm; 6pm-11pm.