Abalone, Peking duck and suckling pig oh-my! Ring in the Lunar New Year with your family and ‘lo hei’ at these stellar spots
Collecting hong baos, stuffing yourself with sore throat-inducing snacks and telling your aunty for the millionth time, “No, I’m not getting married any time soon” are some of the many things Chinese New Year (CNY) is for us. But more than that, it’s a chance to spend quality time with family and tuck into some sumptuous Chinese fare at your annual reunion dinner. Here are our top restaurant picks for CNY dining in 2016.
Avenue Joffre
Can’t decide between spicy Szechuan, comforting Cantonese, or hearty Jiangzu cuisine? At Avenue Joffre, you won’t have to. Hop over to Sentosa and you’ll get to treat your family to fine Chinese cuisine that includes classic dishes like Peking duck, stir-fried crab with glutinous rice, and the spicy Szechuan poached fish in chilli oil. The restaurant’s staff includes four master chefs in residence and regularly showcases guest chefs from China, so you won’t get bored of their menu any time soon.
Avenue Joffre, #02-137, 26 Sentosa Gateway, Resort World Sentosa, Singapore 098138. p. 6570 3213. Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10.30pm
Restaurant Majestic
Situated in the hip enclave of Tanjong Pagar, Restaurant Majestic (at the acclaimed New Majestic Hotel) offers diners a taste of chef-owner Yong Bing Ngen’s traditional Cantonese cuisine. The chef’s dinner degustation menu includes classics like steamed giant grouper fillet and stewed mee sua with oyster and crab roe. In addition to these standards, the menu showcases innovative dishes like pan-seared ribeye with sesame dressing and kimchi.
Restaurant Majestic, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089845. p. 6511 4718. Open Tue-Sun 11.45am-2.30pm, 6pm-10pm. Closed on Mon
Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant
Fancy a glass of wine as you chow down on dim sum, abalone and other reunion dinner treasures? Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant’s selection of over 300 wines will impress even the most discerning of connoisseurs. As the name would suggest, the restaurant’s specialty is fresh seafood, so you can expect dishes like steamed Soon Hock Fish, braised whole African abalone as well as a selection of barbecued cut seafood to nibble on before the main course.
Jade Palace Singapore, 583 Orchard Road, #B1-13 Forum the Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884. p. 6732 6628. Open daily 11am-3pm, 6pm-11pm
Crystal Jade Golden Palace
If traditional Chinese restaurants bring to mind kitschy décor and bad CNY music, a step into Crystal Jade Golden Palace will put your mind at ease. Sleek, modern and conveniently located in Paragon, this swish restaurant serves up crazy selection of dim sum (don’t miss out on the custard bun!) and its specialty, Peking duck.
Crystal Jade Golden Palace, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859. p. 6734 6866
Jade
While food is obviously the most important part of any dining experience, we’ve got to hand it to Jade at Fullerton Square for its beautifully furnished dining hall. But don’t let the tall ceilings and swanky gold and silver accents distract you from the menu though. Jade serves up a tasty selection of modern Chinese dishes including foie gras-flavoured roasted duck, pan-fried Chilean sea bass fillet and a selection of beancurd and vegetables dishes, cooked to your preference.
Jade, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178. p. 6877 8188. Open daily 11.30am-3pm, 6.30am-11pm
Hai Tien Lo
Ask any connoisseur of Cantonese cuisine for a recommendation and Hai Tien Lo is sure to be mentioned. This posh restaurant at the Pan Pacific has long been a standard for CNY reunion dinners (what we’re trying to say is you should probably book a table now!). Here, you’ll feast on classic Cantonese dishes like barbecued suckling pig and homemade beancurd with crabmeat. But if you’re all dim sum-ed out and want something a little less Chinese, you’re in luck. The restaurant also offers less-than-traditional dishes like poached Boston lobster with lemon butter sauce and pan-fried foie gras with smoked duck.
Hai Tien Lo, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595. p. 6336 8111. Open daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Feng Shui Inn
Another off-island option for Chinese New Year dining is Feng Shui Inn at Resorts World Sentosa. Cantonese cuisine is king here so you can look forward to loads of barbecue dishes like roast pork and Peking duck, as well as the obligatory smorgasbord of dim sum dishes. Like any of RWS’s dining options, Feng Shui Inn prides itself on impeccable service standards so you’ll never find your cup of Chinese tea empty!
Feng Shui Inn, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269. p. 6577 6688. Open daily 11am-1am
Peony Jade
Peony Jade has certainly proved its longevity; for over 14 years, the restaurant has consistently served quality Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine and has become a household name. Peony Jade does all the classics like suckling pig and roasted duck, but vegetarians aren’t forgotten here. Though most reunion dinners tend to be meat-heavy affairs, a selection of vegetarian dim sum makes sure no one at the table is left hungry.
Peony Jade, 3 River Valley Road, Singapore 197020. p. 6338 0305. Open daily 11am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm
Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine
Amidst the glitzy Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is where you’ll find this swanky, Chinese restaurant. While the textured wood, glass and steel furnishings suggest contemporary, the menu here is a tribute to tried and tested classics like stewed abalone, deep fried Soon Hock fish and roasted Peking duck. A great choice if your folks are traditionalists but you’d rather have your reunion dinner somewhere with a little more pizzazz.
Imperial Treasure, Fine Chinese Cuisine, 10 Bayfront Ave, #02-04, The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands. p. 6688 7788. Open daily 11.30am-10.30pm