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REVIEWS
199
June14
D’Bell
43 North Canal Road
6536 4046 | dbell.sg
Just a stone’s throw from Boat Quay, D’Bell offers diners
the choice of eating in the glitzy restaurant downstairs, or
having a cocktail in the lounge above, reached through
a hidden door.
D’Bell is aimed at a relaxed fine-dining crowd, offering
a lighter contemporary Indian cuisine (no ghee is used)
combined with some decidedly Western flavours – blue
cheese and smoked salmon are just two examples on
the menu.
Dishes of particular note were the
kofta kebab
($18),
the beef croquettes filled with cheddar cheese and prunes
and dusted with semolina, and the pleasantly spiced
Tawa Wali fish cubes
, glazed with coconut and curry leaf
paste ($22). Our favourite curries were the
mutton rogan
josh
($20) and
chicken tikka masala
($18). The meal
finished with a
mango kulfi
, an Indian ice cream, which
was delicious and, again, not overly heavy.
Amy Brook-Partridge
Manor Cocktail Room
8 Ann Siang Hill
9696 6695 | manorbar.com.sg
Even Ann Siang regulars unknowingly pass this hidden
gem. Tucked away above the ever-bustling Gem Bar,
Manor offers intimacy and mystery, a rarity for a trending
area. There are no signs, so keep your eyes peeled
for the elusive staircase in Zui Hong Lou dim sum bar.
The vibe:
Once by invitation only, the bar still feels
exclusive. Polished oak, sprawling Chesterfields and an
extensive whiskey selection evoke a gentleman’s club-
vibe that’s far removed from the deafening beats below.
Tipples:
Manor maintain a high standard on the classics
while also serving bespoke concoctions and popular
signatures such as the Breakfast ($20), vodka-based
with a hint of English marmalade, grapefruit and egg
white (complete with toast and cornflakes!); and Sweet
Dreams ($20), a vanilla-spiked Old Fashioned.
Taste:
Pair your poison with bar bites like the moreish
deep-fried bean-curd prawn rolls ($6) and the tangy
baby back ribs ($24).
Top tip:
Check out Manor’s new affair, Bar Shift, a
regular bartending soirée that invites well-known guest
mixologists to concoct three unique cocktails especially
for the evening. Stayed tuned for upcoming dates at
facebook.com/manorbarsg.
Leanda Rathmell
MUST-TRY DISH:
Kofta
kebab