208 278
WINE&DINE
208
April15
Open Door Policy
19 Yong Siak Street
6221 9307 | odpsingapore.com
WHEN:
Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm; the
Countdown Champagne Brunch is also available on Sundays
from 6 to 11pm.
WHAT’S POPPING:
Champagne Palmer Brut. Opt for the
Countdown Champagne Brunch, and the first glass is $20,
second is $15, and so on until $0, meaning the most you will
spend on champagne is $50, no matter howmuch you then drink.
Found in the middle of hipsterville Tiong Bahru, Open Door Policy
(ODP) recently extended its brunch menu. From the new dishes
on offer, we ordered the very substantial
roast wagyu rump,
ratte potatoes and poached eggs
($28), which comes on a
brioche bun with a chilli béarnaise sauce. James opted for one
of ODP’s regular items, the
ham and cheese croque madame
($26), served with fries, a fried egg and gherkin emulsion. In true
hipster style, both delicious dishes were presented on wooden
butcher-style blocks. For dessert, we had to try the new
sweet
buttermilk pancakes
($22) with a sour pastry crème, poached
strawberries and freeze-dried raspberries.
We opted for the “countdown champagne” option, but not
before trying one or two of the cocktails. I had a
whisky sour
($18) with a spicy chocolate truffle on top, while James tried the
gin-based
Red Snapper Bloody Mary
($18).
This was the kind of brunch we could come back to, perhaps
with a small group of friends. It has a cosy, rustic charm, a
fantastic champagne offer and hearty food.
Amy Brook-Partridge
La Barca Ristorante and
Wine Bar
90 Goodman Road, Goodman Arts Centre
6346 5813 | labarca-sg.com
WHEN:
Free-flow Prosecco ($45) is available with
the brunch menu from 11am to 2.30pm on Saturdays
and Sundays.
WHAT’S POPPING:
Guerrieri Rizzardi Prosecco – a
light and fruity sparkling wine that complements the
menu nicely.
Whether you choose to sit alfresco on the deck or
indoors in the cantina-style restaurant, Chef Michele
Sorrentino’s eatery encourages relaxed family dining
– think big Italian family dinners! The menu promises
a taste of Tuscany and delivers it with fresh ingredients
and homemade sauces.
We started with the
warm seafood salad with
lemon cream
($28) and the
spaghetti carbonara
($24), both of which were light and tasty, followed by
a crispy and moreish
fresh mushroom pizza
($24),
and
pork sausages, eggs and chips
($22), which
were meaty and filling. Finally, we were treated to the
traditional T-bone
Fiorentina steak
($15 per 100
grams) served with roasted potatoes and cannellini
beans with sage and chilli – a firm favourite with
regulars (and us)! While I was really too stuffed to do
the
tiramisu
and
apple tart
($18 each) justice, my
husband thought they were excellent.
Kids are made very welcome here, with a free
selection of pastas and pizzas, fruit juices and plastic
place settings and cups – plus indoor and outdoor
play options.
The verdict? La Barca is hidden away in the centre
of Goodman Arts Centre, but it’s worth finding for the
food and family-friendly welcome!
Katie Peace
BEST KICK-BACK-WITH-THE-HIPSTERS SPOT
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BRUNCH