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REVIEWS
197
June14
The Monarchy at ME@OUE
The Rooftop Level, 50 Collyer Quay, OUE
Bayfront6634 4555 | me-oue.com | the-monarchy.com
Upon stepping into the über-stylish ME@OUE, you
get the sense of being absorbed into the skyline. The
19th-floor setting offers a fresh perspective of the view
– you’re suspended between the action below and the
twinkling towers above.
I’m here to enjoy The Monarchy, a fashionable new
“pre-party” event that takes over the oh-so-trendy open-
air rooftop bar every Saturday. Aimed at Singapore’s
elite (how I got in is a mystery!), its themed events
are about kicking the night off with seriously wicked
cocktails and tunes from the world’s hottest DJs.
Start with some seriously impressive grub at ME@
OUE – you can either dine inside the chic, edgy
restaurant or order select dishes to the pumping terrace.
This is one of my favourite eateries in town,
particularly when I have guests. There are three chefs
running three separate kitchens – Japanese, French
and Chinese – so you can mix and match the menu.
Highlights? Get stuck into the air-flown Hokkaido
scallop sashimi ($18) or the French Orient clams
($24), baked in Mont d’Or cheese and burgundy
butter. In China’s corner, feast on red lobster ($45)
with Singapore-style chilli sauce.
While the wine line is endless, I opted to sample
a few (no, a few more than that) cocktails. Start off
with the sweet elderflower and
lychee-based Run DMC
($16) and move onto the
Japanese Slipper for
Cointreau and citrus.
Too nervous to hit
the dance floor with
Monarchy’s in-crowd?
The absinthe-heavy
Sazerac ($18) will sort
that out in a jiffy.
Rachael Wheeler
Portico
991B Alexandra Road, #01-10
6276 7337 | portico.sg
“Portico” might be an Italian word (for “porch”), but there’s
nothing remotely Italian about the food at this new opening
on the West Coast. Chef Leandros Stagogiannis’ British
accent and Greek surname gives away his origins, but
it’s his background at Singapore’s fine-dining restaurants
FiftyThree and St Pierre’s that shines through in a
confident, walk-on-the-wild side menu of original creations.
Both soups, the
wild mushroom, truffle oil and
toasted buckwheat
($9) and the
roasted tomato and
crispy
jamon iberico
($12) are richly flavoursome, as
are the
chilli-scented blue mussels
in a creamy sauce
($27). It’s tough to find, but let’s hope more restaurants
start using the quinoa grain, served here in a healthy
salad
with grapes, sugar snap peas and fresh raspberries
($14). Desserts are where Stagogiannis takes fascinating
risks:
caramelised pineapple with Chinese five spice
and coconut sorbet
($10) and
deconstructed tart
aux citron and onion ice cream
($14) alone are worth
the visit.
Although Portico is located in a bland office compound,
the large restaurant and covered porch have a verdant
green outlook and a relaxed, homey atmosphere. We’d
recommend nabbing a seat at the bar encircling the open
kitchen and settling in with a glass of Bordeaux house
white ($12) while watching the chef at work.
Katie Roberts
MUST-TRY DISH:
Tart aux citron and onion ice cream ($14)
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