Estuary is a new seafood restaurant & oyster bar by ex-radio DJ and restaurateur, Daniel Ong who is behind Dan’s Steak, Chef Polo Seah (the Ex-Group Executive Chef of Jigger and Pony Group), and Chef Gary Lian.

The new pescatarian restaurant has opened at Palais Renaissance in Orchard Road on 28 May 2022.

Estuary’s kitchen will be helmed by Chef Polo Seah, who is listed as the ex-Group Executive Chef of Jigger and Pony Group by Estuary and he was previously in charge of several popular restaurants under the Jigger and Pony Group including Humpback, Sugarhall, Live twice, Gibson & Caffe Fernet.

Chef Gary Lian, previously Ex-Chef de Cuisine for Sugarhall and Caffe Fernet, will be joining Chef Polo Seah in the kitchen.

Estuary specialises in seafood, oysters, grilled vegetables as well as a curation of wines, cocktails and local craft beers.

They have a fantastic Happy Hour promotion from 4.30pm – 7pm where you can enjoy live oysters at S$3 each and wines and beers at S$10. Estuary has 4-5 kinds of oysters available every day and some of the options include Coromandel (New Zealand), Coffin Bay (Australia), Geay La Friandise (France) and David Hervé Royale (France).

Other than seafood and oysters, Estuary delicates a section of the menu for its garden greens. They are working with local hydroponic farms to source for the freshest vegetables—grown in mineralised water instead of soil.

The Hispi Cabbage (S$15) didn’t look like much but it was truly outstanding. We never knew cabbage could taste like this and the accompanying rosemary cheese sauce was so good.

The Crispy Sebago Potato (S$16) featured layers with potatoes deep-fried to a beautiful shade of golden brown and paired with a super addictive anchovy aioli.

The Dungeness Crab Kataifi (S$18) was quite possibly our favourite item out of the many dishes that we tried. It came with huge chunks of crab meat stuffed in a pastry and served with Kano Miso sauce. It is definitely a must-order dish when you are dining at Estuary. Pro tip: ask for extra Kano Miso sauce to go along with the crab meat.

Another dish that you must not miss is the Tua Tua Clams (S$24)—huge and huicy clams served with roasted Jerusalem artichokes.

Estuary has a dry-aging cabinet on-site to dry-age Farmed Turbot, Murray Cod, Barramundi, Scottish Salmon and Hamachi.

We had the Scottish Salmon and Hamachi and both were absolutely delicious. Nothing too fancy, just simple and hearty dishes that were superbly cooked.

The Sarawak Bario Claypot Rice (S$35) was the highlight of our dinner. The claypot rice featured 4 types of aged fish including salmon, barradmundi, hamachi and tuna. And the Chao Tah rice was topped with uni and ikura. This was the bomb and easily one of the best claypor rice that we’ve ever had.

We ended off our dinner with Fresh Medjoul Date Pudding (S$14) with freshly roasted pecans and crème fraîche ice cream. If you love sticky date pudding, you will love Estuary’s rendition.

It goes without saying that Estuary is our new favourite seafood & oyster restaurant in Singapore. Come here for a great seafood meal without breaking the bank.

Estuary
390 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238871
Palais Renaissance B1-04/05
Tel: +65 9888 8888

A clever play on the word ‘chateaubriand’—which is a prime tender cut of wagyu—Shatoburian is the most talked-about Japanese yakiniku restaurant in town now. Famed for their extensive menu of prized Hida wagyu cuts, this contemporary Japanese BBQ restaurant is a heaven for wagyu aficionados.

The restaurant sits within Palais Renaissance and is already a regular hangout spot among celebrities, socialites, wagyu connoisseurs and pretty much anyone who wants a good yakiniku meal.

Shatoburian sits on the second level of Palais Renaissance. The elusive restaurant is decked in a predominantly-dark interior with wooden partitions, and it is a cosy, intimate space for any special occasion. You may choose to enjoy your meal at the counter or sit at the tables for your own privacy.

It is wonderful to know that Shatoburian is all about sustainability. Their cattle hail from the Gifu prefecture and the restaurant adopts the nose-to-tail method of importing, hence offering all types of cuts of wagyu on its menu. The culinary team are so confident in their meat quality and flavours that they go easy on the seasoning and artificial flavourings.

You may not know where to start, and we will tell you go to for the Signature Yakiniku Don which comes in three variations—Kurobuta Pork (S$85), Japanese Wagyu Beef (S$118) and Chef’s premium selection of Japanese wagyu beef (S$188).

The Japanese Wagyu Beef Yakiniku Donburi is presented with foie gras, uni, caviar, onsen egg and topped with shaved truffles. Luxurious and indulgent, this heavenly bowl of treasures will make your day, regardless of which variation you go for. This is, hands down, one of the best wagyu donburi in Singapore.

There is this claypot rice dish that is good for sharing, and it is the Truffle Mushroom Gohan (S$98). A mix of French and Japanese mushrooms are cooked to order and topped with shaved truffles—simple but very earthy flavours with a splendid aftertaste of the fragrant truffle.

On the yakiniku menu, you can choose from thin-slice, normal-slice as well as steak cuts.

Our ultimate favourite is definitely the Shato-suki (S$80)!

100g of Sirloin is BBQ-ed over big flames only until medium-rare, leaving the slices of heaven still soft and tender, before it is served in a Japanese raw egg.

Other cuts to love are the Misuji (Oyster blade, S$52), Rib Shin (S$70) and Pork Jowl (S$28), as well as Chateaubriand (S$150)—Shatoburian’s prized cut—which is 120g of the most tender and best cut of the tenderloin.

Most of the meats are available in Shio or Tare (Barbeque sauce) and the steaks are served with Himalayan salt and condiments.

It goes without saying that a meal at Shatoburian doesn’t come cheap. But is it worth splurging on? Definitely! This is the place to head to if you are willing to pay a premium for quality wagyu yakiniku.

Shatoburian
390 Orchard Rd, #02 – 08, Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6904 3308

Established in 1989, Jing Hua Xiao Chi started in a shophouse along Neil Road and has garnered a strong following over the years for their delicious dumplings and other authentic Chinese dishes.

Its newest outlet at Palais Renaissance is a casual chic Chinese restaurant that serves a concise and inexpensive menu, making it a good place for an intimate business lunch or a casual dinner date.

The must-order dish here is definitely the Little Juicy Steamed Pork Dumplings (S$5 for 4pcs, and S$8.80 for 8pcs) which are always served piping hot with a rich soup that bursts with flavours as you bite into them.

We have had many good red bean pancakes but the restaurants version – Crispy Red Bean Pancake (S$10.50), is a golden deep-friend masterpiece that was fragrant, crisp and just overall delightful. The pretty huge portion is also good to share between two people or in a group.

Another exciting must-try dish here is the Chinese Pizza (S$10.80), and it is aptly named so. This spin on a traditional Italian delicacy could not be more different than what it was named after. The ‘pizza’ is a flaky crust stuffed with generous fillings of meat and vegetables.

You can also dig into the best-selling Noodle with Minced Pork & Soya Bean Sauce (S$6.80). This bowl is portioned in a way that you still can have some sides here without over-stuffing yourself.

Jing Hua Xiao Chi
390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6733 8231
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Updated on 09 June 2016: Ginzawa is no longer in operation. 

When was the last time you had a really impressive Japanese meal that left you breathless?

We are in love with Japanese cuisine and it is no secret. Sashimi, sushi, yakiniku, soba, unagyu, ramen… you name it, we love it. Like how Pooh is always searching for honey, we are on an eternal quest to suss out the best places for Japanese cuisine, and adding a next to our list is Ginzawa (formerly known as Sushi Kuu) – a hidden gem in the heart of the city – at Palais Renaissance, one so elegant that you definitely need to check it out.

Ginzawa has also got one of the best chirashi-don – with 11 types of premium seafood – in town! Lunch set dons start from S$35, and they include the Kurobuta Zaku Don, Tempura & Sashimi Set, and Tokusen Bara Chirashi Don.

#1 SAKURA EBI MIZUNA SALAD

A light salad featuring crunchy cherry blossom shrimps (dried and fresh), Japanese water greens and dried beancurd from Japan with a dressing of mirin, dashi and soy sauce, this Sakura Ebi Mizuna Salad (S$22) will make a colourful start to your meal.

#2 SAKE KINUYA MAKI

Salmon wrapped in delicate slivers of pickled daikon and topped with seaweed and chrysanthemum petals, dressed with an egg yolk sauce – sounds and looks complicated, but the Sake Kunya Maki (S$12) is really very simply an elegant salmon appetizer served cold.

#3 WAGYU TATAKI

Now, this Wagyu Tataki (S$30) is a must-order from the menu. The wagyu beef slices are lighted seared with a very faint smoky taste, leaving a chewy texture that is well complimented with a tart ponzu sauce.

#4 TOKUSEN HOKKAI CHIRASHI DON

The star dish is, without a doubt, the Tokusen Hokkai Chirashi Don (S$50). If we could only choose one item on the menu, this is it. It is a work of art – eleven kinds of premium sashimi beautifully plated and served atop sweet, vinegared rice.

The fish variety may differ from day to day, depending on the catches of the moment, but you can expect most of these – otoro (fatty tuna), kinmedai (alfonsino), shima aji (striped jack), hirame (flounder), tai (sea bream), uni, ikura (salmon roe), botan ebi (botan shrimp), akami (red tuna), scallop (hotate), zuwai kani (wild Alaskan snow crab).

For those who do not want to splurge so much, Ginzawa also has a basic Chirashi-don option.

#5 TAI MOTO TAKI

Chef Donny totally nailed it with Tai Moto Taki (S$22). What is essentially just grilled snapper is brushed with his signature egg yolk sauce; like a touch of magic and a sprinkle of fairy dust, the caramelized egg yolk sauce elevated the fish dish to god level and it was SO. DAMN. GOOD. It comes with a squid ring stuffed with shishamo roe on the side.

#6 KUROBUTA TSUKE SOBA

This is by far one of the best soba dishes that we’ve had in Singapore. The Kurobuta Tsuke Soba (S$20) features icy cold buckwheat noodles served with thinly-sliced black pork and yuzu-perfumed dipping sauce. Not your usual predictable soba, and sure was so utterly delicious.

#7 TEMPURA MORIAWASE

One of the most value-for-money Tempura Moriawase (S$35 for deluxe) in town, Ginzawa’s rendition is surprisingly light and does not make you feel with its greasiness – if any.

In the deluxe version, you can expect premium items like the Uni Tempura (crispy pillows of seaweed stuffed with uni then flash-fried), Amaebi Hotate Kakiage (Deep-fried sweet prawn and scallops) and Anago Ippon Age (deep-fried sea eel).

#8 KUROBUTA ZAKU DON

There will always be times that call for fuss-free, one-dish meals. Comforting and remining us of home, the Kurobuta Zaku Don (S$35) is a pork-with-rice dish that we’d like to think of as our Chinese-style braised pork over rice. Also available only during lunch, the Kurobuta Zaku Don is flavourful, very hearty and all that you’d need to lift your spirits.

#9 WAGYU SAIKORO 

Need more beef? Go for the Wagyu Saikoro (S$48) to share. Grilled cubes of A5 Wagyu beef with crispy garlic flakes and stir-fried bean sprouts, we loved the creamy goodness of the premium meat and how the fragrance of the garlic complemented the beefy goodness so well.

#10 ABURI NIGIRI 

Any time is a good time for aburi sushi. Flame-seared sushi (5 pcs) that changes regularly based on Chef’s preference, this is one platter to look forward to when dining at Ginzawa. Fresh fish slices set atop a pillow of plump Japanese rice and torched to order, the Aburi Nigiri is every bit indulgent and delicious.

For the latest updates, go to www.ginzawa.com and like Ginzawa on Facebook.

Ginzawa
390 Orchard Road
Palais Renaissance #01-07
Tel: +65 6736 0100
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by Ginzawa.

We love a good meal at Palais Renaissance on days when we just want to get away from all the crazy crowd, and Palais Renaissance being so accessible from the main area makes it an ideal location for some quietness in the middle of the hubbubs of Orchard Road. The bonus? Free valet parking from 12pm – 4pm from Sunday till Thursday and 12pm – 11pm on Fri, Sat and Public Holidays. Car park charges are really reasonable, too.

But more than these, do you know why else we love Palais Renaissance? It may not have the longest list when it comes to F&B tenants, but what it has to offer is a unique experience at each of its tenant – nothing mainstream, nothing too predictable, and with surprisingly affordable price tags.

Yes, Palais Renaissance is not all about expensive shopping for the high net-worth. While it is a destination shopping mall, it also has some very impressive dining outlets to boast. And you need not pay an arm and a leg for a meal here.

We are giving away 5 X S$20 dining vouchers from P. Bistro, as well as 10 sets of Bara Chirashi Set Lunches from Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar. More details of the giveaway at the end of this post.

Here is our guide to Palais Renaissance where you can find 4 affordable dining destinations in the heart of Orchard Road.

JING HUA XIAO CHI

Jing Hua impresses us with their very humble beginnings. What used to be just a small eatery along Neil Road and Rochor Road has now made their third expansion to a modern and atmospheric restaurant that also sits at the basement of Palais Renaissance. Jing Hua Xiao Chi is a casual chic Chinese restaurant that serves a concise and inexpensive menu, making it a good place for an intimate business lunch or a casual dinner date.

On its all-day menu, you have to zoom straight in to the Jing Hua Signatures. The Chinese Pizza (S$10.80) is flaky, savoury pastry with generous fillings of meat and vegetables, and the Little Juicy Steamed Pork Dumplings (S$5 for 4pcs, and S$8.80 for 8pcs) are served piping hot with a rich soup that bursts with flavours as you bite into them.

The best-seller is the Noodle with Minced Pork & Soya Bean Sauce (S$6.80). The portion is just perfect for lunch, so you can spare yourself that post-lunch lethargy from overstuffing.

And we love their desserts. Crispy Red Bean Pancake for you? At S$10.50 per serving, this pan-fried golden goodness with fragrant red bean filling is good to share. We also dig the steamed version – Green Tea Red Bean Steamed Dumplings (S$4.50 for 4pcs). With a thin layer of green tea crystal skin, this bite-sized goodie is light in taste and easy on texture.

Jing Hua Xiao Chi also has an extensive drinks menu. Pick from the Chinese wines and spirits, beers, and elegant Chinese teas.

390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6733 8231
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

ISHINOMAKI GRILL & SAKE BAR

This Japanese restaurant is truly an undiscovered gem. Opening its door to public since September 2014, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar is a welcoming diner helmed by Chef Chi – a well-experienced chef who has been in the industry for 25 years and had a stint as executive chef at Pan Pacific. His keen passion on Japanese food has seen him traveling to different parts of Japan and building relationships with the best suppliers, so expect nothing less than the freshest catches when you dine at Ishinomaki.

Any day is a good day for a hearty Japanese lunch, and over at Ishinomaki, the set lunches are so affordable, we will soon become regulars. Tenju – a tempura rice box set – is only S$17, and the Bara Chirashi Set – beautifully sliced sashimi atop Japanese rice, served with chawan mushi and miso soup – is S$23. Unbeatable priced for so many slices of fish in a variety! Chef, you’ve got our hearts here. Other affordable set lunches include Grilled Mackerel with Salt (S$17) and Grilled Salmon in Teriyaki Sauce (S$18).

For dinner, go for the robatayaki. They use traditional grills and methods to bring out the best flavours of every ingredient. Minimum seasoning, no frills, just the essence that you are going to savour.

If you prefer to leave it in the good hands of the chefs, go for the super affordable 7-course Omakase dinner (S$50/pax). We guarantee you that there will be definitely more than enough food.

390 Orchard Road
#B1-02/02A/03 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6737 1065
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

P. BISTRO

P. Bistro started out in a shophouse along Owen Road and it has since opened a second outlet at Palais Renaissance. While the new outlet is a lot more upmarket and classier, the menu remains the same – healthy and well-cooked comfort bistro fare served at reasonable prices that will not burn a hole in your pocket.

P. Bistro Beef Burger (S$22) – with a juicy patty, melted cheese, pickles and tomatoes – is a substantial main that the gentlemen will love for both lunch and dinner. And our favourite is the P. Bistro Special Duck Leg Stew (S$28); think of it as a Duck Confit with an Asian twist – a whole duck leg submerged in a hearty stew of cherry tomatoes and mushrooms

P. Bistro at Palais Renaissance also has an all-day brunch menu, with the popular Classic Big Breakfast at only S$18 – comes with two eggs done in your choice, bacon, spicy Italian sausages, grilled tomato, salad and toast.

What will make us come back again and again for is the Nonya Dory (S$18). It may be strange to order a Peranakan dish in a modern Western bistro, but trust us on this, P. Bistro’s Nonya Dory – cooked on banana leaf with super addictive chilli – made a really memorable lunch for us.

Min Yee – P. Bistro’s pastry chef and co-owner – bakes the desserts and pastries personally. Try the Salted Caramel Cheesecake (S$7.80), Passionfruit Tart (S$4) and Chocolate Praline Tart (S$4).

390 Orchard Road
#B1-06 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6734 9268
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PS.CAFE

Everyone knows PS.Cafe, and it is almost synonymous with Palais Renaissance. This outlet is ever popular, and you can always count on these folks to whip up scrumptious dishes to put on the table. It also makes a perfect pit stop in between shopping, and a quaint afternoon with the girlfriends over some cakes and coffee sounds like a splendid idea, yes?

Every PS.Cafe has its own menu with their respective signatures. Whenever we dine at PS.Cafe, we are always lost. Too many choices to pick from, and deciding on what to eat is as hard as making life decisions. Over at Palais Renaissance, the bestseller is it’s PS. Crispy Onion Burger (S$29) that is good for both lunch and dinner.

The eggs dishes are evergreen – Eggs Benedict (S$26), Eggs Florentine (S$25) and Eggs Royale (S$32). Then, there is the Blueberry & Banana Pancakes (S$24) that is so photo-worthy. The health-conscious ones can order an Egg White Omelette (S$26), but we’d do the Brunch Burger (S$30) and PS. Big Breakfast (S$26) any time.

For something more substantial for dinner, there’s the Miso Cod (S$32) with eggplant and roasted pumpkin, and a section of pasta awaits your indulgence.

But when at PS.Cafe, what you must not miss for the world is its desserts. The choices will spoil you rotten, but we will save you from deciding. The outstanding ones are its Florida Key Lime Pie (S$13), Double Chocolate Blackout Cake (S$16) and Sticky Date Pudding (S$15).

390 Orchard Road
Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 9834 8232
Mon to Thu: 9.30am – 12 midnight
Fri & Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Orchard

PALAIS RENAISSANCE GIVEAWAY

1. Palais Renaissance is giving away 5 X S$20 dining vouchers from P. Bistro, as well as 10 sets of Bara Chirashi Set Lunches from Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which restaurant at Palais Renaissance you would like to dine at.
3. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
4. The contest runs from 14 Mar to 28 Mar 2015.
5. Winners will be notified by email.

GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Gabriel Ng, Zan Phua, Lydia Tan, Joleen Goh, Ng Qi Yan, Natika, Claricia, Yue Sheng, Kenneth Chan, Evaleen Tan, Lim Min, Wendy Tay, Jannefer, Eng Keat, and Dion.

For more information, go to www.palais.sg or contact Palais’s concierge number at +65 6737 6992.

This post is brought to you by Palais Renaissance.

Antoinette is a Parisian style tea salon, helmed by chef Pang Kok Keong, who is arguably one of the most talented pastry chefs in Singapore. His fourth outlet at Palais Renaissance, Le Jardin d’Antoinette, is modelled after Versailles’s expansive outdoor garden. It is the perfect place to go with your girlfriends to enjoy a quiet afternoon.

I’ve tried the whole collection at Antoinette’s, and below is a complete guide to their cakes.

Let me eat cake.

From front to back: Violette, Versailles, Charlotte.

Violette ($8.50)

Our cake party started with the Violette, which consists of violet buttercream, violet flower cake and homemade raspberry marmalade. Dense yet not too heavy, it’s a very cake-y cake. I love the smell of the violette extract which perfumes the cake sponge, akin to rose with a tinge of raspberry.

Versailles ($9.0)

We also had the Versailles, a simple flourless chocolate sponge with 58% dark chocolate. While the flavour was intense, we liked the fact that it was not too overwhelming.

Charlotte ($8.50)

Named after Chef Pang’s older daughter, Charlotte — as its name suggests — is a princess-y cake made up of finger sponge soaked with strawberry syrup, strawberry jelly, and a plain vanilla cake base.

Le Royale ($8.0)

Le Royale, one of the most popular cakes at Antoinette, is also something not to be missed. If you like chocolate and hazelnut, this is definitely a winner.

Saint Honore L’amour ($8.50)

Easily the prettiest cake on Antoinette’s dessert menu, Saint Honore L’amour is a choux pastry filled with rose petal cream, and accompanied by strawberry compote, fresh raspberry, and adorned with fresh rose petals. Light, smooth and easy on the palate.

Antoinette ($9.0)

The namesake creation, an earl grey tea chocolate cake, is one of my favourite desserts. Trust me on this, it is that good. If this is your first time trying their cakes, you cannot leave the French patisserie without having it.

Strawberry Baba ($8.0)

One of the few desserts that I do not enjoy is the Strawberry Baba – which comprise strawberry baba baba pastry, citrus rum syrup, vanilla crème chantilly – as I find it to be an acquired taste.

From bottom clockwise: Kyoto, Chloe, Framboisier.

Kyoto ($9.0)

A very Japanese-esque cake. I liked that the chestnut cremeux was very light, and it added a nice finish to the green tea mascarpone mousse,

Chloe ($9.0)

One of the newest additions to Antoinette’s repertoire, Chloe is the latest crowd pleaser. After trying the cake, it is easy to understand why. The combination of yuzu cremeux, white chocolate vanilla mousse, light sponge cake and almond sable was brilliant. The Chloe is definitely one of the must-try cakes at Antoinette.

Framboisier ($8.50)

Antoinette’s take on cheesecake. The graham cracker crust is usually at the base of the cheesecake, but in this instance, Chef Pang has opted to place the crumble cubes on top cream cheese vanilla mousse cake. All in all, it is a very pleasant rendition – you can’t go wrong with it.

Mont blanc ($8.50)

If you like chestnut, you should go for the Mont Blanc. For me, it is decent, but with so many other choices, I would probably not opt for this. That said, I am not a big fan of the chestnut dessert, so don’t take my word for it.

From front to back: Religieuse Café Caramel, Tarte exotique.

Religieuse Café Caramel ($8.00)

This is the profiterole version of chocolate éclair. Essentially, it is a fluffy and light choux pastry filled with coffee cream. A chocolate dome filled with caramel sits atop on the choux pastry, and it provides a good balance to the bitter coffee taste.

Tarte exotique ($8.50)

If I were to simply describe the tarte exotique, it would be: Mediterranean with a local twist. This tart has many interesting and contrasting flavours like almond tart, gula Melaka cremeux, finger sponge with gula melaka, coconut mousse, exotique coulis – which managed to come together very harmoniously.

Strawberry shortcake ($8.0)

Fans of Japanese strawberry shortcake will be happy to see it on Antoinette’s menu. That said, while I have included it in my list of the best strawberry shortcakes in Singapore, I think it is good, but not extraordinary.

Forbidden fruit ($9.0)

The forbidden fruit is unanimously our favourite pick of the lot. This is a reconstructed apple tart in the form of a cake. Built with a financier cake base, green apple mousse, maple cremeux, vanilla caramel apple slices and green apply jelly; it tastes as good (or even better) than it looks.

Antoinette
390 Orchard Road
#B1-08/09/10C Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6735 6392
Daily: 11am to 10pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.