Redpan

Redpan is a collaboration between DP Architects and Grub. 

Taking into account the experience of an established homegrown architecture firm with that of a restaurant which knows how to dish out good casual fare, we had high hopes for this place.

The restaurant was spacious and beautifully designed- normal lights are too pedestrian so they got curvy lights instead.

When someone who has artistic genes sets up a restaurant, this is clearly evident, even from the layout of their website.

I know, I know. Truffle fries are just means to cheat people of their money since there is no truffle in truffle oil. But if I like the taste of truffle oil, why not? We ordered the Truffle Floss Fries ($9) - the generous portion of fries came with chicken floss- giving a spin on the otherwise boring truffle fries. Best to be shared by more than 3-4 people.

We ordered the Lup Cheong Iberico Chorizo Paella ($28). This was good enough for at least two to share. The Chinese element in this was the lup cheong which went well with the moist paella rice drizzled with garlic oil. This was in fact a rather genius combination because it was probably meant to taste like claypot rice (along with some slight charred rice). There was really nothing to complain about the dish, except, which is the Iberico chorizo? This was the question that everyone at the table had. Unless we all had issues with understanding what Iberico chorizo is (which we understand to be pork sausage), besides the lup cheong, all we saw and tasted were pieces of chicken.

We also tried the Prawn and Hae Bi Hiam Pasta ($19). The tagliatelle was tossed with a spicy shrimp paste, and accompanied by fresh prawns.

Redpan 
#02-03/04 Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
Tel No: 6884 6884 

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Seoul Yummy

Seoul had so much great food that we decided to have some Korean food since we were walking aimlessly around in Marina Square. It was spacious and we were surrounded by K-pop related pictures, videos and music the moment we stepped in. 

The banchan were unfortunately a far cry from those that we had in Seoul. Miserable in quantity and didn't taste fantastic either- look at the miserly and pathetic looking vegetables. The ikan bilis were also too salty.

I had the Special One Combo ($15.90). This combo came with a choice of your main (kimchi ramyon, korean fishcake udon, korean jajang rice or seoulyummy bibimbab) and side (fish pancake, fried pork dumplings, fried kimchi dumplings, fried prawns, fried assorted mushrooms or fried wings and drumlets).

I opted for the fried prawns where they surprisingly gave more pieces than I had expected. It was deep fried to a golden crisp and accompanied by a sweet mayonnaise like dip.

As for the mains, I went with the Kimchi Ramyon. While it was definitely spicy, it was not overwhelmingly so. The ingredients were a little sparse and I wish they had given more mushrooms to give the soup a more robust flavour.

This is what I would call the Pastamania of Korean food- affordable, fast and average. Service was pleasant and friendly.

Seoul Yummy
6 Raffles Boulevard
$02-202
Tel No: 6337 3730 

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The Tastings Room

I walked out of The Tastings Room thinking, wow I need to come back here again. And I don't feel this way that often because often something is lacking before it can be considered a perfect meal. But the experience here was near perfect- the food, the service and the ambience.

We had a group of seven and we requested for the White Room in the Tastings Room in advance, a place where we enjoyed complete privacy. When we first arrived, one waitress (a very helpful one) proceeded to pour warm water into our glasses. My friend asked, "Do you have cold water instead?" And she answered, "Yes, sure! But just that the room will get colder so you might want to have some warm water instead." Thoughtfulness, check. Being the wine noobs we are, she also bothered to explain the different kinds of wines and how they tasted different, some sweeter than the rest.

I had a Confit of French Duck Leg ($27.90) which was served on mashed potato, poached pear and orange sauce. I know some people don't eat the skins of animals due to the fats, like chicken skin or duck skin, but seriously, if you don't try this, you are obviously missing out. I didn't expect the skin to be so crispy. Coupled with the tender meat of the duck which shredded apart so easily, and the sauce, it was such a pleasure to eat this dish. Admittedly, however, I didn't really like the grilled poached pear. Sure, it adds the sweetness to this otherwise salty dish. However, grilled fruits just don't quite do the trick for me, although it's more of a personal preference.

My friends ordered the saffron seafood, steak frites, truffle cream fettucine with wild mushroom and the rose sauce linguine with salmon. Not a hint of criticism and nothing but praise.

Before I round up this laudatory post, I give two thumbs up for service! Besides the fact that they kept coming in to refill our glasses and to make sure that they got the iced water and warm water right, the most special part was where they served a cake on a plate for three of our friends who had their birthdays in February. The cake was not even bought from them, yet they went the extra mile, to put it on a dish, to write happy birthday, and with all that lovely decoration! This small decoration goes a long way. Even better, the waitress even asked if we wanted the chef to cut the cake for us. We declined politely because we didn't want to trouble them further.

I think we all agreed that the food here is great and that the outstanding service is something really memorable!

Tip: Just in case you lose your way like my friends did, this restaurant is not within the Marina Square block. Instead, it's next to the road, and if you take the MRT and exit from City Hall to Marina Square, you just need to cross the small road and you will see it on your right.

The Tastings Room 

Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
#01-08

Tel: +65 6338 1829

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