Note: Graze is now closed.

One of the good things about living in Singapore is that there are so many restaurants around. Even though I eat out quite often, it is still impossible for me to try all of them.

The new Graze at 38 Martin Road (sister to the original Graze at Rochester Park) is a relatively new restaurant, and I’ve been wanting to go there since my visit to KHA next door.

Graze is actually quite close to my ideal restaurant. It is classy, elegant, sexy, romantic, and modern. It’s the kind of place where you can go for a business luncheon, a romantic date, a laid-back weekend brunch, and even a private party.

There are some restaurants that offer a huge variety of options, but they mostly end up serving mediocre food. I like the fact that Graze kept it simple; there are only a few dishes under each section of the menu.

We started with a salad and Sumac Seared Scallops ($19). They were enough to keep us occupied while waiting for the mains to come.

Graze is known for their grilled items. Go for the 240g Wagyu Rump Steak ($64), or even better, the 1kg Black 250 day grain-fed Angus Rib ($128) if you are feeling hungry. Otherwise, the other main courses like the signature Pan-Seared Barramundi ($34) and Oven-Baked Sea Bass ($32) are worth a try too.

I was actually eyeing the Wagyu Rump Steak, but ended up getting the Jumbo Tiger Prawns ($34) as my dining companion was craving for seafood. Luckily, it turned out to be quite good. The prawns were juicy and meaty, and the skinny frites were equally addictive.

“How are we supposed to finish this?” I thought to myself, as this humongous monster arrived on the table. We watched as the butter slowly melt on top of the 300g Victorian Berkshire Kurobuta Pork Chop ($45).

I lurveee the roast vine-ripened cherry tomatoes that came along as a side. They were extremely sweet, and when I bit into them, they shot a gallon of juice into my mouth. Kurobuta pork with vine-ripened tomatoes? I think I’m in love.

The two of us shared four desserts: Pina Colada ($14) – coconut parfait with crispy wafer; Apple Tarte Tatin ($13) – served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream; Black and White ($15) – Valrhona dark chocolate cream paired with vanilla bean ice cream; and Steamed Dark Chocolate Pudding ($15) – somewhat like a pudding version of Chocolate Lava Cake.

Among them, my favourite was definitely the Apple Tarte Tatin ($13). Every bite was better than the previous one, and before we knew it, we’d pretty much scraped the plate clean.

Graze at Martin Road (near Robertson Quay) is one of those places that I’d classify as semi fine dining: you pay fine dining prices to eat decent food in a slightly casual (and cosy) environment. As much as I like the ambience of the place, the price is not exactly affordable; I’ll most likely go back for dinner during a special occasion, but I definitely want to try their brunch on weekends.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Graze restaurant
38 Martin Road
Tel: +65 6509 1680

Lunch: Tue to Fri 12pm – 3pm
Dinner: Tue to Sat 6pm – 11pm
Brunch: Sat & Sun 10am – 4pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

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Updated on 23 Apr 2014: The restaurant is no longer in operations. 

I have a love-hate relationship with brunch. I really like the idea of sleeping in during weekends and waking up late for brunch. But sometimes, I can’t help but feel that we are short-changing ourselves by only eating brunch, instead of having breakfast AND lunch.

Luckily, there are certain things in life that can get you out of bed on a weekend morning, and one of them is attending your good friend’s birthday breakfast (though I think birthday brunch sounds nicer than breakfast).

Hummerstons restaurant at Robertson Walk features comfort food like burgers, pastas, truffle fries and breakfast. Even though I go to Robertson Quay quite often, I’ve never seen the restaurant before. It is the perfect place for a quiet dinner with your date.

On Hummerstons’s menu, there are favourites like the Poutine ($11), Hummerstons Burger ($25), Smoked Duck Quesadilla ($27) and Beef & Bacon Bolognese ($19); and sweets like Blackforest Gateau ($11), and Orange & Thyme Creme Brulee ($11).

For brunch on weekends, there are plenty of eggs dishes like The Hummerstons Breakfast ($22), Eggs Benedict ($16), and Steak & Eggs ($28).

The nine of us ordered almost everything on the brunch menu. The food arrived after a while, and I started with my Hummerstons Pancakes ($14) with maple syrup, whipped butter and fruit compote. The pancakes were dense and heavy, not exactly my type, but it was good enough for a lazy Sunday brunch.

My friends thoroughly enjoyed the Mushroom Garlic Confit ($23) which came with truffle roasted mushroom, but it was a little too dry for my liking.

Another interesting choice on the brunch menu was the Breakfast Tostada: grilled smoked pork and garlic sausage, served with asparagus, scrambled eggs and crispy corn torilla.

I also couldn’t take my eyes off the steak with Eggs ($28). I don’t know about you, but there’s something appealing about having a steak for brunch. It was like screaming “EAT ME”.

The other items that we had include: Eggs Gloria – toasted bread and eggs, spinach and mushrooms – nothing spectacular given the price tag; and The Hummerstons Breakfast ($22) – eggs, bacon, smoked pork and garlic sausage, mushroom, roasted tomato, toast and homefries – everything you need for breakfast.

And what’s brunch without Eggs Benedict ($16)?

My friend Jalean at I-S magazine named the Hummerstons’s Roasted Pumpkin Cheesecake ($10.9) as one of the fifty things to eat in Singapore before you die. After trying it, I have to agree that it’s very good, although not quite one of the must-eats in Singapore.

The Berry Bread and Butter Pudding ($10.5), on the other hand, was mediocre. We should have gone for the Flourless Chilli Chocolate Torte ($9) or the Orange & Thyme Creme Brulee ($11) instead!

I like Hummerstons restaurant at Robertson Quay. I think it has great potential; the food is competent, and reasonably priced.

Moreover, it is tucked in a quiet corner on the second level of Robertson Walk (directly facing TCC). Not many people know about it yet, at least that’s what I hope. Reservations are recommended, especially if you are going for brunch.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Hummerstons Restaurant
11 Unity Street
#02-14 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6737 8863
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 4pm (Lunch)
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am (Dinner)
Sat, Sun & PH: 10am – 4pm (Brunch)

For more recommendations, read my Guide to Robertson Quay Restaurants

I’ve walked past Sugisawa Japanese restaurant many times but somehow, I’ve never noticed it. On the outside, the Japanese restaurant at Robertson Quay looks very plain, which explains why I don’t remember seeing it before.

Ju suggested going there after reading raved reviews about the food. We had lunch there last week and we left the place very satisfied. I’d definitely recommend Sugisawa Japanese restaurant for good Japanese bento sets at affordable prices.

The menu has a good selection of Japanese food ranging from affordable bento sets ($15-22), good quality sushi ($15-25), and fresh sashimi ($13-40).

We shared the Sashimi moriawase ($25) which comprises an assortment of fresh sashimi. It was excellent value for the quality of the sashimi.

I was tempted by the Yakiniku bento ($15) and Ebi Fry bento ($16), but eventually I decided to stick with the Tonkatsu bento ($15).

The tonkatsu was fairly decent, not like those that you can get from tonkatsu speciality restaurants, but still good enough for me to satisfy my craving.

The Tempura bento ($18) that Ju had took our breath away when it arrived at the table. Not only do they look good, they taste great too!

Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant at Robertson Quay has very good value for money bento sets. Like other Japanese restaurants, the bento set is inclusive of rice and miso soup. But what makes Sugisawa different from the rest is that the portions are really generous and they even come with sashimi.

One thing to note, though. The service isn’t exactly friendly, and depending on how you see things, it can be quite intimidating. That said, Sugisawa is one of my new favourite Japanese restaurants. I’m not sure about you, but there’s just something about Japanese food that makes me happy.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant
30 Robertson Quay
#01-16 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6235 0212
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm; 6pm – 10pm

For more recommendations, read my list of best Japanese restaurants in Singapore

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While Robertson Quay may not get as much recognition as Clarke Quay or Boat Quay, there are many good restaurants, cafes and shops in the neighbourhood that are worth mentioning. Here is a guide to restaurants in Robertson Quay.

Aburiya

Craving for Japanese BBQ after reading my post on Gyu-Kaku restaurant? Aburiya at The Quayside is one of the Yakiniku places in Singapore that is worth checking out. Read: Wagyu beef heaven. What are you waiting for?

60 Robertson Quay
#01-03 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6735 4862

Bar Bar Black Sheep

Bar Bar Black Sheep (bbbs) is one of those places that you would find it hard to categorise. Is it an upmarket coffee shop? Or is it a cafe-bar with al fresco (read: no air conditioning) dining? It doesn’t really matter. Expatriates love the place.

If you have not been there before, the cafe-bar (or whatever you want to call it) houses three different stalls that serve Thai, Western and North Indian cuisine – helmed by independent chefs. And of course, there’s a bar where you can get some drinks like a nice cocktail or beer.

86 Robertson Quay
#01-04 Robertson Blue
Tel: +65 6836 9255

Bacchus Bistro & Bar

Another place that I find it hard to categorise is Bacchus Bistro & Bar. The menu is quite diversified and you can get things like Chicken Schnitzel, Pork Knuckle, Japanese Salmon Steak, UK Fish & Chips, Pasta and Pizza. Is it a German restaurant or a German wine cellar that offers fusion food?

86 Robertson Quay
#01-01 Robertson Blue
Tel: +65 6474 6628

Bella Pizza

Bella Pizza is the restaurant that most people mention when you ask them what their favourite Italian restaurant is. It serves one of the best pizzas in Singapore.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-14 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6734 0139

Bella Pasta

It probably doesn’t make sense that Bella Pasta is just a few units away from Bella Pizza. But no one’s complaining since we can have the best of both worlds.

Bella Pasta has a very different menu from Bella Pizza. Besides a wide range of pasta, it also serves meat, seafood and fish main courses. Definitely worth a try!

30 Robertson Quay
#01-09 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6836 5692

Boomarang Bistro & Bar

Boomarang Bistro is one of the few Australian restaurants in Singapore – it was set up by a true Aussie owner and his chef with the aim of introducing their interpretation of authentic Australian cuisine to Singapore. It has reasonable prices and the portions are huge. Most importantly, it is a kids-friendly restaurant.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-15 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6738 1077

Bon Gout

Even though I have been to Robertson Quay many times, Bon Gout has never been on my must-eat restaurants radar. I think it’s mainly because I was always distracted by my favourite brunch at Epicurious Cafe.

From what I’ve heard, Bon Gout is a small Japanese eatery which serves pretty decent Japanese food at affordable prices. I’m going to make a trip there next.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-01 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6732 5234

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts by Belgian celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant, is perhaps one of the few Belgian restaurants in Singapore. Looking for mussels and Belgian beer? You’ll get them at Brussels Sprouts.

80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-12 The Pier @ Robertson
Tel: +65 6887 4344

Cafe Epicurious

Epicurious Cafe – a restaurant by the Singapore River – is famous for their weekend brunch. It’s almost impossible to get a table without waiting if you reach after noon, so be sure to go early!

60 Robertson Quay
#01-02 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6734 7720

Cafe Sapunsa Thai Cuisine

Cafe Sapunsa Thai Cuisine is a little eatery at Robertson Quay that serves Thai food. The no-frills Thai Restaurant also has another outlet at Orchard Tower.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-04 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6884 5632

Cappadocia Cafe Restaurant

The beauty about Robertson Quay is you can find almost any cuisine here. Craving for Turkish food? Try Cappadocia Cafe at Robertson walk, the main dining area at the intersection of Unity street and Mohamed Sultan road.

11 Unity Street
#01-12 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6732 2411

da Mario Pizzeria

da Mario Pizzeria at Robertson Quay is definitely a place good for a small group dinner out, with the menu reasonably priced considering the standards of its food.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-05/06 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6235 7623

Em by the River

Em by the River is the perfect place to have a lazy brunch for those who sleep in during the weekends. It serves all day brunch (from 9am to 3pm daily). When night falls, it is the perfect place to sit by the Singapore river and have a glass of mojito while star-grazing.

1 Nanson Road
#01-05 The Gallery Hotel
Tel: +65 6836 9691

Hummerstons

Hummerstons is a restaurant located on level two of Robertson Walk. The menu features comfort food like burgers, pastas and truffle fries. This is the place to go if you want a quiet spot in Robertson Quay.

11 Unity Street
#02-14 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6737 8863

Ichibantei

It is not easy to survive in the food & beverage industry. The casualty rate in Robertson quay is particularly high, with restaurants opening and closing all the time. Ichibantei has been around for quite a long time, so they must be doing something right.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-04 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6733 3923

Kith Cafe

Let me paint the perfect Sunday morning picture. You are sitting on a stool outside Kith Cafe facing the Singapore river, while sipping a cup of coffee and reading ladyironchef on your iPad…

7 Rodyk Street
#01-33 Watermark @ Robertson Quay
Tel: +65 6341 9407

Les Bouchons Rive Gauche

Les Bouchons Rive Gauche is a casual French Bistro at Roberton Quay which has been around for some time and though I’ve always seen it walking back and forth Robertson Quay, it never really occurred to me to try it. Steak & frites, anyone?

41 Robertson Quay
#01-01 Singapore Tyler Print Institute
Tel: +65 6733 4414

Laurent’s Bernard Chocolatier

When it comes to chocolate desserts, Laurent Bernard Chocolatier is one of the best in the business. Formerly known as The Chocolate Factory, the newly renamed Laurent’s Café & Chocolate Bar has two branches at Robertson Quay and Portsdown road. Whenever I’m having dinner at one of the restaurants at The Pier @ Robertson, I always find it hard to resist dropping by Laurent Bernard for desserts.

80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-11 The Pier @ Robertson
Tel: +65 6235 9007

Limoncello Italian Pizza & Grill

Right at the end of Robertson Blue near Grand Copthorne hotel, Limoncello Italian Pizza & Grill is the perfect place for club goers to have a simple Italian dinner before heading to Zouk.

95 Robertson Quay
#01-19/20 Rivergate
Tel: +65 6634 5117

Medley Amaii

Unless I am mistaken, Medley Amaii is the only ice cream place in the Robertson Quay area. You know where to go for ice cream on a hot afternoon.

86 Robertson Quay
#01-03 Robertson Blue
Tel: +65 6838 0792

Menya Shinchan Japanese Noodle Restaurant

I wish I could say that I’ve been to all the restaurants in Robertson Quay, but it is impossible to spend so much on food all the time. I never even knew that Menya Shinchan Japanese Noodle Restaurant existed until my friend told me about them recently.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-05 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6732 0114

Queen’s Tandoor

Queen’s Tandoor is probably the only Indian restaurant in Robertson Walk, so this is the place to go if you are craving for Indian food.

11 Unity Street
#01-18/19 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6235 3003

Royal Tien Xiang Restaurant

At Royal Tien Xiang restaurant, you can go for either the ala carte steamboat buffet ($23.8++/lunch, $26.8++/dinner) which comes with 20+ items, or order seafood and Chinese dishes from the separate ala carte menu.

11 Unity Street
#01-30/31 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6836 2389

Ryoriya Sangokushi

Japanese culture has always been a big influence in Taiwan, so it’s not surprising to see a Japanese style Taiwanese restaurant – Ryoriya Sangokushi at Robertson Quay.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-03 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6238 8962

Red House Seafood Restaurant

There’s no need to go all the way to the seafood restaurants at East Coast Park just to satisfy your cravings. Red House Seafood Restaurant at The Quayside is one of the more established Chinese Seafood restaurants in Singapore, and they have very good chilli crabs! One thing to note though, they are very popular with tourists and the staff seemed to be more attentive to foreign customers.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-13 The Quayside
Tel: +65 6735 7666

Sapporo Ramen Miharu

There are no lack of food choices when you’re in Robertson Quay. But when it comes to a bowl of good ramen, no one does it better than Sapporo Ramen Miharu at The Gallery Hotel.

1 Nanson Road
#01-11 The Gallery Hotel
Tel: +65 6733 8464

Scandinavian Seafood Dining & Bar

86 Robertson Quay, #01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 3351

Shirokane Tori-Tama

Shirokane Tori-Tama is a yakitori specialist restaurant, and you know they don’t call someone a specialist for nothing.

11 Unity Street
#01-02 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6836 5680

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar is a Shochu speciality izakaya at The Gallery Hotel that is known for serving yummy charcoal-grill skewers.

If you are searching for a great after work spot for food and drinks with friends, check out Satsuma at Robertson Quay. It is certainly a place I can see myself frequently whenever I feel like having Japanese food.

1 Nanson Road
#01-10 / #02-10 The Gallery Hotel
Tel: +65 6235 3565

Stacked Dim Sum Bar

A bar that serves dim sum with alcoholic drinks? Now, this is interesting. It is no secret that I love dim sum, so I was really happy to hear about the new Stacked Dim Sum Bar at Robertson Quay, until I saw their menu.

Most of their selections are priced from $7-10 per basket and the price is much higher than the usual dim sum restaurants in five star hotels. Don’t get me wrong, I am willing to splurge on good dim sum, but somehow, the menu seems a little overpriced and the whole thing feels more like a novelty concept to me.

That said, I’m glad that there’s new option for dim sum during dinner.

60 Robertson Quay
#01-13 The Quayside
Tel: +65 9677 8281

Shunjuu Izakaya

Izakaya is a casual Japanese bar where you can enjoy food with drinks. It reminds me of Spanish Tapas Bars, and one of the best things about such dining concepts is that you get to try so many different food. Shunjuu Izakaya is the place to share some snacks and drinks with your friends after a long day of work.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-15 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6887 3577

Sugarica Sweet & Savoury

Another new cafe at Robertson Quay, Sugarica Sweet & Savoury is one of the few places in Singapore where you can get both savoury and sweet crepes.

7 Rodyk Street
#01-32 Watermark Robertson Quay
Tel: +65 91054407

Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant

Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant at Robertson Quay has very good value for money bento sets. Like other Japanese restaurants, the bento set is inclusive of rice and miso soup. But what makes Sugisawa different from the rest is that the portions are really generous and they even come with sashimi.

30 Robertson Quay
#01-16 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6235 0212

Toby’s Estate

Toby’s Estate, located by the river along Robertson Quay, is a renowned coffee chain from Australia. Definitely the place to go for your caffeine fix.

8 Rodyk Street
#01-03/04 Singapore
Tel: +65 6636 7629

The Merry Men

The Merry Men, one of the newer restaurants along Robertson Blue, is a pretty cool place to chill out with a group of friends. The menu is pretty straight forward with standard Western items like pastas, fish & chips, and truffle fries.

86 Robertson Quay
#01-02 Robertson Blue
Tel: +65 6735 9667

TCC The Connoisseur Concerto

Do I really need to elaborate on this? Try the chocolate lava cake, it’s one of the better ones that I’ve had. TCC The Connoisseur Concerto at The Pier Robertson opens till late night 2am on Friday, Saturday and eve of Public Holidays.

80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-02 The Pier @ Robertson
Tel: +65 6733 8707

Wine Connection Deli & Bistro

Wine Connection is probably one of the cheapest place in Singapore to have wine, so it’s not surprising that the place is always packed with customers enjoying a glass of wine with some cheese.

11 Unity Street
#01-06 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6238 6878

Yakiniku Yazawa

Yakiniku Yazawa is an upmarket yakiniku restaurant at Robertson Walk. To quote my friend: “this is the best yakiniku in Singapore, don’t waste your money elsewhere.”

11 Unity Street
#01-01 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6235 2941

If you find this guide to restaurants in Robertson Quay useful, please share it on facebook and twitter with your friends. Do leave me a comment and let me know which are your favourite restaurants in Robertson Quay.