This exciting new concept focuses on sharing plates with a Japanese twist
Singapore’s never short on fantastic dining destinations, but what makes a restaurant a truly unforgettable one? For starters, they’d have to check all of these boxes: great food, delicious cocktails, impressive service and, of course, a view to remember.
Swissôtel The Stamford has a winner tucked away on its 70th floor. The newly opened SKAI is a complete reboot of the former rooftop resto. This Japanese-inspired grill calls itself a “social dining destination” – strip away the restaurant-speak, it essentially means you can expect a selection of sharing plates serving up bite-sized portions on top of signature mains and spectacular specials. Executive Chef Paul Hallett holds the reins to this new set-up, but this time, he combines his love of butchery with fine dining, complete with refined Japanese influences.
It comes as no surprise that the restaurant offers a solid mix of prime beef cuts and surf and turf options featuring high quality produce and natural ingredients, as a reflection of Chef Paul’s philosophy on cultivating produce and amplifying the natural flavours of ingredients. Shared plates range from braised octopus with Hokkaido corn, piquillo peppers (which are sweeter and more flavourful than the typical bell pepper) to chopped Angus beef in fermented shiitake and confit egg yolk, and topped with caviar. It’s a fancier, East-meets-West take on steak tartare, but a crowd pleasing one for the conservative diner. Other notable items on our list? The uni saffron risotto (a menu special), Dingley Dell pork belly served with soft shell prawn, celeriac and miso eggplant, and frozen white grape, lemon foam and mint muscat sorbet. On the grill front, you’ll want to sample quality beef choices such as the A4 Miyazaki wagyu and dry aged ribeye from John Stone, Ireland.
When there’s a hot new table in town, you can be sure we’ll be the first to call dibs on a restaurant review. Our very own lifestyle writer, Nicole, shares her top three dishes:
Uni Saffron Risotto
“For someone who’s not a big fan of uni, I was pleasantly surprised by how the uni does not overpower the dish. The creamy and rich risotto is nicely balanced with the fresh, blanched cucumber. I also like the crunchy texture of the squid ink tuile, and the tangy aftertaste that brought the dish together.”
Steak Tasting Platter
“The cornerstone of the menu is Chef Paul Hallett’s artisanal steak tasting platter, grilled to perfection in a josper charcoal oven. My tasting platter came with a series of prime meats including the black angus porterhouse MB4 steak from Stanbroke and an American wagyu New York strip MB 8-9 from Snake River. My pick? The melt-in-your-mouth fantastic Japanese saga wagyu which is so good, you’ll forget it comes along with a choice of black truffle, smoked barbecue and Asian spice sauces.”
Caramelised Soy Bean Cheesecake
“The caramelised soy bean cheesecake by ace pastry chef, Chef Koo Jee, is the perfect end to this culinary ride. The cheesecake has a smooth texture and isn’t as rich as I imagined it to be. The bitterness of the miso fudge pairs well with the refreshing lemon sorbet and citrus jelly. Perfect for sharing.”
Don’t forget to swirl a cocktail against the panorama of City Hall. The restaurant shakes up a contemporary take on perennial favourites – order the Banana Kingston with Havana 7 rum and Martini Riserva Ambrato, or the Jackfruit Highball with jackfruit Glenfiddich 12 and cold brew coffee – guaranteed to inspire a selfie (or two).
SKAI, Level 70, Swissôtel The Stamford, 6837 3322.
This article is sponsored by Swissôtel The Stamford
