Yes, this is another newly opened food joint along Orchard Road, and yes, we’re already overladen with food choices in the town area. But as a space that dishes out tasty rice bowls and serves their very own craft beer, Grains & Hops is a new restaurant that’s worth looking out for.
It’s not entirely off-the-beaten track (it is on Orchard Road, after all), but it is tucked behind Shaw Centre on the tenth floor of YOTEL Singapore – a new hotel that has ‘cabins’ inspired by first class travel. We took the elevator up to ‘TEN’, and were greeted by a bright, airy space. So far, so good. The restaurant’s covered with windows to let the light stream in, which could make for a light-hearted catch-up meal with your friends. How about the food? Glancing through the menu, it looks like the food is affordably priced, with starters ranging from $10 to $13 and mains from $14 to $23.
You can start your meal with a few entrees, especially if you’re there with a larger group. The Coconut Curry Carrot Soup with Seasoned Rice Croutons gives a mild spicy kick, and the rice croutons pairs well with the creaminess to add a crunch factor. Sadly, there were only two or three rice croutons, which wasn’t enough for the soup. Another alternative would be the Marmite Chicken Pops, which is sinfully deep-fried but very tasty. The chicken was crisp on the outside. While the marmite sauce was spot on with its flavour, it was a bit oily and didn’t quite coat the chicken as much as we would’ve liked. Thankfully, it went well with the Grains & Hops’ brew.
The star of the restaurant would undoubtedly be the Sharing Platter, where customers get to customise their own meals. In building their own Sharing Platter, customers can choose from different meats, grains, and dips. Once again, another reason to come with more people – so you can try more dishes. We tried the Angus Beef, Roasted Pork, and Grilled Salmon skewers.
To be honest, there’s really quite a lot going on. How would you know which dips you prefer when there are eight different dips, including Marmite, Sambal Mayo, and Garlic Parmesan? Or which grains to pick when there’s Purple Sticky Rice, Multigrain Rice, Basmati Rice, and Garlic Quinoa? For those who aren’t inclined to perfecting or overthinking their Sharing Platter, you could just go for Grains & Hops’ signature rice bowls.
After all, who could say no to a Roasted Angus Beef Bowl ($22) when it comes with tender roasted beef skewers, homemade spicy garlic sauce, and purple sticky rice? There’s also a vegetarian option for those who prefer vegetables, with grilled button mushrooms, zucchini, and semi-dried tomato polenta skewers. This bowl comes with basmati rice and a side of house salad.
For the sweet tooth, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies will be perfect. Correction: it’s a plate for many dessert-lovers – this dessert is sized very generously and although the taste was good, the portion was way out of control. As a slab of chocolate butterscotch on top of chunky peanut butter rice krispies, this dish could have used more than a small dollop of vanilla ice-cream. More ice-cream would help cut through the sickeningly sweet combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
As for the Peach & Berries Rice Popsicle, the chef explained that he was inspired by a traditional Italian risotto. He blended the peach, berries, and rice grains all together before freezing the dessert. The rice absorbed the sweet freshness of the peach and berries, but the texture of the popsicle did seem a bit icy.
Of course, if you’re not here for the food, you can always come for the drinks. Their own Grains & Hops’ brew is infused with jasmine green tea, as a nod to our local tastebuds. We can’t fault it – it’s refreshing and pairs well with the food.
With Grains & Hops’ ‘Let the good times roll’ promotion, customers can enjoy up to 60% off their beverage orders just by rolling a die. The promotion runs from 12pm to 8pm daily, excluding the eve of public holidays and public holidays. Terms and Conditions apply.
Grains & Hops Restaurant and Bar is located at YOTEL Singapore (366 Orchard Road). Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 6.30am to 11pm; Friday to Saturday, 6.30am – 12 Midnight. Tel: 6866 8067.
Images:YOTEL Singapore, NYLON
Header Image: YOTEL Singapore
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