Opus Bar & Grill is an intimate and modern grill restaurant which also happens to serve some of the best steaks in Singapore. Located on the ground floor of Hilton Singapore, the restaurant’s secret recipe in divine meat lies in its specially commissioned Himalayan salt tile dry-aging cabinet, charcoal grill, and the usage of only excellent prime cuts and high-quality ingredients.

Executive Chef Vijay and his culinary team mean business when it comes to meat. From the way that each individual cut is treated—from the aging process right down to the actual cooking—we know that we can always depend on them for a quality steak feast every time!

We went down recently to sample the new menu and we can’t wait to share our dining experiences with you! With any order of Opus steak, enjoy 2-hour free-flow red, white and sparkling wines from 7pm to 9pm (Sundays to Thursdays) and 50% off on selected wine by the bottle (Frdays & Saturdays).

Quote “LIC80OPUS” upon making reservations to enjoy 1 complimentary signature dessert (limited for the first 80 bookings). You have the option of either the Charcoal Grilled Banana or the Grilled Honey Pineapple Dessert.

The fact that Opus Bar & Grill is situated in a 5-star hotel like Hilton Singapore may seem rather daunting to most, but contrary to what you may think, prices for premium steaks here are actually incredibly affordable!

Considering that the most affordable option of steak begins at only S$58++, that amount coupled with the unlimited amount of wines is a great deal in itself.

We began our epic meat feast with the 1.2kg Black Angus Porterhouse Steak (S$128++). A sizeable beauty like this can easily be shared among 2 to 3 diners. The steak is carefully grilled upon an open-flame charcoal grill for an ideal flame-licked crust.

For the uninitiated, a porterhouse steak is a great steak to get if you want a double whammy of both tenderness and true beefy flavour. A porterhouse steak (or T-bone steak) consists of a bone shaped like a letter ‘T’ that divides two different cuts: the strip and the tenderloin.

The strip generally has a better marbling which gives you more beefy flavours once cooked. The tenderloin, on the other hand, as its name suggests, is incredibly tender and cuts almost as easily as butter.

The steaks at Opus Bar & Grill begin with 18 to 36 days of dry-aging in a one-of-a-kind Himalayan salt-tiled cabinet. The in-house curation makes a tasteful difference in flavour and juiciness of the steak that true steak lovers will surely be able to appreciate.

On top of that, you can choose from a selection of flavoured salts, sauces and delectable side orders to go with the steak, although honestly, the grilled-to-perfection steak is more than capable to hold its own.

The flavoured salts include paprika, lava, and rosemary. The paprika was a hot favourite as it provided a heightened intensity of smoke which complemented the grilled porterhouse really well. The sauces include green peppercorn, bone marrow with red wine sauce, and a decadent béarnaise sauce.

And then, there is a new pork dish on the menu too.

With most grilled pork dishes, many would assume the end product to be dry and bland. But contrary to the popular notion, we were truly astounded by how the chefs here managed to nail it just right. The 300g DeRaza Ibérico Pork Rack (S$35++) was as moist and succulent as it was flavourful.

The pork was incredibly tender and it went exceptionally well with the béarnaise sauce. To create a flavour explosion in one mouthful, try having it with a small pinch of the paprika salt along with a generous dollop of the béarnaise sauce.

The 300g Australian Rack of Lamb (S$38++) was cooked to just the right doneness. The strip of fat that lines the top of the rack was rendered out completely, making it so irresistibly crispy and delicious; this is something that will drive lamb lovers crazy.

The inside was pink and juicy, retaining the subtle gaminess of lamb. That, coupled with the charred exterior made for a very intense flavour explosion. We recommend having this with the rosemary salt as the herb really lifts the flavour of the lamb tenfold.

The variety of sides to complement your steak dinner at Opus Bar & Grill is stunning. We had the truffle fries, grilled green asparagus, a salad consisting of fresh arugula, vine tomatoes and shaved parmesan and a smoked risotto with leek and pecorino.

All sides are affordably priced at only S$6++. It is also good to note that the aforementioned items are all gluten-free!

Every item tasted great but the one side that stood out the most was the truffle fries. Thick cuts of potato are deep fried till beautifully golden and crunchy and drizzled over with copious amounts of truffle oil—the perfect pairing to any good steak.

An epic meal like that would not be complete without great desserts. At Opus Bar & Grill, we highly recommend the house special Charcoal Grilled Banana served with smoked caramel and a coconut-calamansi flavoured ice-cream (S$12++) and the Grilled Honey Pineapple (S$12++).

At Opus Bar & Grill where mostly every item is grilled, you can expect no different when it comes to their desserts.

The grilled banana was beautifully grilled giving it a nice sheen and a stunning aroma. The grilled banana comes with a scoop of coconut and calamansi flavoured ice-cream. The sharp acidity of the ice-cream did well to cut through the bittersweet caramel flavour of the grilled banana making this a perfect dessert to wrap up such an epic meal.

This gorgeous pineapple treat is grilled and the exterior achieves just the right amount of caramelization, but still has its juice fully retained. The dessert is then garnished with delicious crumbles and a rum sauce.

Overall, the captivating ambiance and affordability make Opus Bar & Grill perfect for virtually any occasion—be it an anniversary dinner, family reunion or company’s celebratory dinner. A private dining room that can accommodate up to 20 seated guests is available too.

Our readers can quote “LIC80OPUS” to get a complimentary Charcoal Grilled Banana or Grilled Honey Pineapple worth S$12++ respectively with a minimum spend of S$80 in a nett bill.

We need not explain how easy that is, right? This amazing offer is limited to one redemption per table and is limited to the first 80 redemptions per night.

What are you waiting for? We will see you at Opus Bar & Grill because we are definitely returning for more good meats.

Opus Bar & Grill
www.singapore.hilton.com/opus
Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Road, Lobby Level
Tel: +65 6730 3390
Daily: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard Road

This post is brought to you by Hilton Singapore.

Violet Herbs is what we call an alternative dating spot if you want to do away with the crowd and pretentious vibes at posh establishments.

Conveniently located at Tanjong Pagar, this modern semi-fine dining restaurant is within walking distance from the train station. The restaurant occupies the entire three stories of the shophouse unit along Tras Street – with the first two floors for dining, and a rooftop herb garden where fresh produce are used for the cooking.

Helmed by Chef Edward Hoe, Violet Herbs is one of the most underrated restaurants in Singapore that offers splendid 3-course set lunches (S$33+/pax) and 4-course set dinners (S$58+/pax) at very decent prices that feature high quality and intricate plating.

The main courses are also nothing short of impressive. Mark Violet Herbs down – it should be your next romantic lunch/ dinner spot.

Chef Edward Hoe runs the show in Violet Herbs’ kitchen. He who was part of the pioneer team that spearheaded Restaurant Ember has 20 years of culinary experience, and at Violet Herbs, traces of familiarity are evident from the restaurant’s star dishes. Chef Edward was the head chef in The 2nd Floor-The American Club, as well as Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro.

SOUPS & APPETISERS

The menu boasts a good range of appetisers that include both hearty and light options. Lighter options include the Basil Pesto Salad (S$18) and one that we thoroughly enjoyed – Pistachio & Herb Crusted Scallops (S$18).

The scallops were wonderfully plump and we liked the textural distinction between the soft juicy scallop flesh and the crunchy outer layer of pistachio and herbs. The dish is complete with tasty butternut pumpkin puree, bisque gel, parma potato chip and chocolate soil. This dish deserves a star for its presentation too!

Guess what we love most about Violet Herbs’ appetisers? The variety of foie gras options from Roasted & Poached Foie Gras (S$24) and Truffle Foie Gras (S$26).

We are usually unimpressed with lobster bisques because they are more often than not fishy or artificially flavoured. But the Lobster Cappuccino & Brandy (S$16) at Violet Herbs is easily the best we’ve tasted in recent times.

The bisque was so intensely flavoured – the sheer sweetness of fresh lobster coupled with brandy is a feat in itself. With every scoop, we became more and more addicted. This is one stellar soup.

ALL THE MAINS TO LOVE

With so many interesting mains to choose from, it will be one of those I-can’t-decide-because-I-want-everything-from-the-menu moments. We started with Violet Herbs’ bestseller – the Marinated Red Miso Cod (S$39). It is an a la carte main, but can be a top-up option in the dinner menu.

The cod cooked to a glistening glory with a miso marinate was spot-on. With a side of roasted pumpkin puree, almond eggplant and some dehydrated parsnip chips, this stunning dish is a combination of healthy veggie goodness and fresh white fish presented in varying textures and colours.

Even if you are not the biggest fan of lamb, we still urge you to try the Colorado Lamb Rack (S$48). Of course, besides the fantastic medium-rare cook on the lamb, it was the simple marination itself that made it so tasty with every bite.

It also comes with mini pistachio foie gras roulades that you can choose to eat with the meat to cut the richness.

Duck Confit is something we have to try if we see it on a menu, and of course, we tried the one at Violet Herbs. The Sous Vide Duck Confit (S$36) has a crackling outer crust and the most tender duck meat inside.

The duck jus reduction that accompanied the duck was just right. We also liked how the duck confit is placed atop a bed of rustic vegetables of herb potatoes and sautéed baby spinach.

Feeling really hungry or looking for something hearty? The Sous Vide 48 Hours Wagyu Beef Cheek is for those who are after something more robust.

The beef is fork tender, has a sweet red wine glaze, and is jazzed up with Sardinian fregola sarda and zucchini spheres.

In the pasta menu, you can find dishes such as Homemade Butternut Squash Gnocchi (S$42) and Lobster Risotto & Fregola Sarda (S$44).

These aside, you should go for the Ebi Angel Hair Pasta (S$38) if it is your first trip to Violet Herbs. The pasta is cooked to a beautiful al dente, then tossed in lobster essence, rayu oil and bird eye chilli (or as we call it, chilli padi). Using only premium air-flown Japanese sakura ebi, the pinkish-red dried shrimps are sweet and crispy. That’s all we need for our pasta, really.

SWEET TREATS

Some desserts to expect here include Yam Strudel (S$12), Chef’s Special Tiramisu (S$16) and Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake (S$16).

However, our heart was stolen by the Frozen Nougat (S$14). The dessert comes with little bits of lychee sorbet all around that complements the nougat with varying sweetness.

Also, being huge fans of chocolate-anything mean we couldn’t miss the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant (S$16).

The surprise of this dessert lies in the fact that it comes with truffle oil – an unexpected ingredient that actually makes the dessert even more fragrant.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY SET MENUS

Violet Herbs has superb set menus for lunch that is priced at S$33 per person, and that includes a total of three courses.

To sample Chef Edward’s signature foie gras dishes, you have the option to upgrade your set menu appetiser to a foie gras (+S$7) of choice. It is little wonder Violet Herbs is such a popular lunch spot, especially for business luncheons. Such value for money; we can all do away with the lunch hour rush and noise everywhere else, and embrace the cosiness of Violet Herbs with an intimate lunch.

Dinner degustation menus begin from S$58 per person. Now, that is practically impossible if you want some fine dining. A typical main at fine dining establishments would usually start from S$40 already! But at Violet Herbs, the degustation menus begin from S$58 for a 4-course meal.

EVENTS AND PARTIES

If you are looking to host your events and/or plan your company gatherings here, you can also have a menu personalised for you. Private rooms are also available, else if all else fails, we say book the entire second level – which is the prettiest spot at Violet Herbs that is more than befitting for events of all sorts.

For more information and reservations, call +65 6221 3988.

Violet Herbs
81 Tras Street
Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area
Singapore 079020
Tel: +65 6221 3988
Mon to Sat: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post is brought to you by Violet Herbs.

Regular readers know that I am a big fan of the Prive Group by restaurateur Yuan Oeij. After trying their new Josper Grill menu recently, I am convinced that Prive Restaurant at Keppel Bay is one of the best restaurants in Singapore.

The Josper grill is favoured by many well-known chefs around the world. The system has a greater heat control, and the dual function of oven and grill significantly reduces the cooking time of the meat.

There are 8 items on Prive’s Josper Grill menu, with options like seafood platter, kurobuta pork, lamb rack, ribeye and tenderloin. Naturally, prices are slightly steeper. The rack of kurobuta pork is available for $52, while the 280g Ribeye Cap is $75. The normal ala carte menu, on the other hand, is much more affordable. Prices range from $13-24 for appetisers; $24-35 for main courses; and $10-16 for desserts. Prive Restaurant also offers a 3 course set lunch during weekdays at $35.

Between the three of us, we shared 3 appetisers, 4 main course and a dessert platter. For appetisers, we started with the Grilled Watermelon Stack ($15). The sweet and juicy grilled watermelon was great, but I’m not sure if I’d pay $15 for it. I’m not a big fan of salad, but we had a pretty decent Apple, walnut & Brie Salad ($13). For me, the highlight from the appetiser menu was the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($24). Yummy goose liver with caramelised banana strudel, baby spinach and raisin brioche.

After having three appetisers and a glass of wine, we proceeded with the main courses.

To be honest, I thought that the Capellini with Sakura Ebi tasted like bee hoon – an atas $24 bee hoon. Having said that, it was done just right, and the sakura ebi added an additional dimension to a tasty plate of bee hoon.

We also had the Double Rib Lamb Rack ($58) which you see in the photo above. It was actually quite good, but I was preoccupied with the kurobuta pork and ribeye.

I was delighted to see the Rack of Kurobuta Pork ($52) on Prive’s Josper Grill menu. I love pork. The 280g corn-fed U.S Snake River Farm Kurobuta Pork (the first picture of this post) was gorgeous. I’d gladly give up a steak for this rack of kurobuta pork anytime.

“Our steak is better than CUT Steakhouse”. Yuan told us at the start of dinner.

Having heard raved reviews about the steaks at CUT Marina Bay Sands (my foodie friends boldly proclaimed that they have the best steaks in Singapore), I was a little sceptical initially.

My partner and I were left speechless when we had our first bite of the steak. It was SO GOOD – definitely one of the best steaks I’ve had. And you know what? I wouldn’t exchange this steak for any kurobuta pork.

There are four steak options on the Josper Grill menu: the premium Black Angus Tenderloin ($58), 340g Centre-cut Ribeye ($58), 280g Ribeye Cap ($75) and the humongous 450g Thick Cut Ribeye Steak ($90).

The Dessert Platter ($32) is a great way to end the meal on a sweet note. It offers 6 mini version of the ala carte desserts. Clockwise from top left: Lychee Granite, Valrhona Chocolate Mille Feuille, Cinnamon Apple Strudel, Lemon Meringue Tart, Ice Cream Profiteroles, and Sticky Date Pudding.

While you are paying fine dining prices for the experience at Prive Restaurant, the food is hardly so. It is unpretentious and uncomplicated. Prive is definitely in my list of must-go restaurants in Singapore.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Prive Restaurant
2 Keppel Bay Vista
GF Marina at Keppel Bay
Tel: +65 6776 0777
Note: This was an invited media tasting.