Housed in a dignified colonial building, Mess Hall is the pinnacle of exquisite dining in the new Sentosa experience – Mess Hall, Village Hotel Sentosa, The Outpost Hotel and The Barracks Hotel. What was originally a military outpost has now been transformed into a contemporary village of endless gourmet possibilities.

More than just culinary excellence, the architecture of the building brags of a quiet elegance. Beyond the perimeters of the building lies a Heritage Courtyard, replete with grassy terrains and a serene atmosphere.

From Hidemasa by Hide Yamamoto’s refined Japanese cuisine, to Royal Taj’s curries and biryani, and Quentin’s Bar and Restaurant’s sophisticated Eurasian dishes, here is our guide on the 3 restaurants at Mess Hall that you have to dine at.

HIDEMASA BY HIDE YAMAMOTO

For a luxurious Japanese indulgence, set your sights on Hidemasa by Hide Yamamoto. This elegant Japanese restaurant prides itself on its multi-disciplinary dining concept — Hide and Masa — which sees the harmonious matrimony of teppanyaki and omakase in a single venue.

The man behind the establishment, Hide Yamamoto, is a Japanese-born French chef who was trained in Italy. With multiple culinary accolades under his belt, you can rest assured that you will definitely have an amazing dining experience here.

Hide, their teppanyaki concept, is housed in a sophisticated space dressed in warm, woody tones. Guests can have front-row seats at the teppanyaki counter to get a first-class view of the chef’s performative cooking.

Their signature menu sees a significant number of truffle-infused creations, such as Truffle Chawanmushi, Robatayaki, and Truffle Ice Cream.

The Robatayaki features a whole young chicken stuffed with truffle butter rice and grilled atop charcoal fire. The succulent chicken was served in tasteful pieces and liberally garnished with fresh truffle shavings. Not forgetting the truffle rice, which had a delicious buttery crisp.

But the highlight of the entire menu for us has got to be their Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Chateaubriand. Juicy, melt-in-your-mouth tender and finished with a charred crisp, the beef was absolutely divine.

As for Masa, their omakase dining counterpart, it is set in an intimate space equipped with a long bar seating. The open-concept kitchen showcases fresh seasonal ingredients snagged straight from the markets of Japan. Relish in thick slices of buttery sashimi and artistically crafted sushi.

Simply quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy 1-for-1 330ml beer with teppanyaki & Omakase order from now until 2 April 2020.

#01-05
Tel +65 6513 6699
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
https://www.hidemasa.com

ROYAL TAJ

If you are in the mood for some piquant curries and biryani, Royal Taj will be more than happy to accommodate you. This respectable establishment showcases inventive and classic Indian fare in their ala-carte lunch and bountiful dinner buffet selection.

Influenced by flavours from all across India, you’ll be getting a taste of authentic, age-old recipes made from globally sourced ingredients. With endless streams of tikka masala and fresh naan at your disposal, it’s the ultimate Indian dining experience.

Their interior brags of a cosy and clean atmosphere, with pops of dark blue and vibrant paintings. It’s perfect for either a casual lunch for a relaxing dinner.

Some of the highlights of their buffet line-up include the Tandoori Platter, Royal Taj Special Butter Chicken, Paneer Pasanda and Mango Phirni.

The Tandoori Platter features Paneer Achari Tikka, Mustard Broccoli, Chicken Malai Kebab and Fish Amritsari Tikka. Our favourites were the Paneer Achari Tikka — grilled marinated cottage cheese — and Chicken Malai Kebab.

Royal Taj’s rendition of Delhi-style Butter Chicken was easily the best we’ve had. Thick, creamy and delectably spiced, it was everything you could ever ask for. Their Palak Paneer was a crowd favourite as well, brimming with herbaceous creaminess. Paired with their crisp fluffy naan and fragrant basmati rice, it was the dreamiest combination.

Also, for those of you reading, you’re in for a treat! Our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ to get 10% off your bill at Royal Taj from now until 2 April 2020.

#02-07
Tel +65 9118 5896
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
http://www.royaltaj.sg

QUENTIN’S BAR AND RESTAURANT

Talk about Eurasian cuisine in Singapore and one name will come up. Quentin’s Bar and Restaurant is the ultimate spot for authentic and sophisticated Eurasian dishes.

If you aren’t too familiar with Eurasian cuisine, it’s the beautiful matrimony of European and Asian flavours. That particular style of cooking often involves a blend of exotic spices and piquant sauces, such as tamarind and vinegar.

The kitchen is helmed by Chef Quentin Pereira, who combines quality ingredients with age-old recipes to produce delicious, mouthwatering dishes. Expect nothing less than a lavish chow-down at his chic abode.

The space speaks of modern minimalism, with a play on monotones and chic textures. The varying wine glasses add a touch of sophistication to every table.

Take your pick from their mains selection which includes dishes such as Chicken Curry Debal and Pot Roast Beef. Their Pot Roast Beef was excellently succulent and doused with a light savoury jus. Bolstered by roasted vegetables, it made for a super hearty dish.

End your dinner on a sweet note with their thoughtfully decadent desserts. Their Sugee Cake is delightfully buttery with a super addictive crunch from the almonds embedded within.

Quote “ladyironchef” for a 10% discount off Quentin’s Bar and Restaurant’s food & beverage menu from now until 2 April 2020.

#01-08
Tel +65 8817 6742
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
https://www.quentins.com.sg

You can also enjoy 3-hour free parking promotion when you dine at Mess Hall. Redemption at the participating restaurants.

Mess Hall at Sentosa
2 Gunner Lane
Singapore 099567
Nearest Station: Imbiah Station

This post was brought to you by Mess Hall.

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A real gem in Havelock’s Central Square is Annalakshmi Restaurant, offering homely and authentic vegetarian Northern and Southern Indian cuisine.

Annalakshmi boasts an interesting dining concept: they offer absolutely no menu and their food is served buffet-style. At the end of the meal, diners pay as they wish.

We had a unique dining experience here, just like that of having a meal cooked by a friend’s mother at their cosy home.

GENEROUS SERVICE

In addition to providing an unconventional dining experience, Annalakshmi is also mostly run by generous volunteers who dedicate their time to the restaurant and provide their help in all aspects including cooking, serving, dishwashing, transportation and more.

The reason behind Annalakshmi’s business model is simply to provide service to their diners and not put too much pressure on the amount of profit they earn. As such, they also do not run on a typical hierarchical structure one is used to in an organisation.

Since the restaurant is mostly run by volunteers, it is tough to pin a price point on these selfless and compassionate acts of service. That said, we recommend paying at least S$10 for your meal.

MOUTH-WATERING INDIAN FOOD

We arrived at Annalakshmi early and were promptly seated at a table right by the delectable spread of food, ranging from fluffy and fragrant basmati rice to dhal and several varieties of side dishes.

Each of the vegetarian dishes was incredibly aromatic and tempting with the delicious mixture of scents and spices wafting through the air.

One of our favourite combinations on the plate was the Naan which soaked up the Moong Dhal’s flavours and delivered a burst of spices into our mouths.

There is also a live station of Dosa Delights, where diners can choose from 4 different types of dosas such as Plain, Butter, Masala and Jaffna (a Sri Lankan variation of Dosa).

We also headed over to the live station and ordered a Plain Dosa and Masala Dosa from the friendly chef who promptly cooked it before us. The dosas were thin and perfectly crisp yet soft in the centre as well, and both the sauces paired beautifully with it.

Offering a vast array of drinks as well, we ordered their Grape Lassi to round up our meal at Annalakshmi. The lassi was creamy from the yoghurt and had just the right amount of sweetness.

Give Annalakshmi a visit if you wish to introduce a foreign friend to Indian cuisine, or even if you are craving for a hearty, delicious vegetarian meal and wish to contribute to a good social cause.

The compassionate restaurant and its volunteers will definitely have us visit again soon.

Annalakshmi Restaurant
#01, 20 Havelock Rd,
04 Central Square, Singapore 059765
Tel: +65 6339 9993
Mon: 11am – 3pm
Tue to Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6.15pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Clarke Quay