Feast like Royalty with Clarke Quay’s 9 Best Kept Secrets This June Holiday

Stretched along the iconic Singapore river is the popular night spot, Clarke Quay. Beyond the night clubs, rooftop bars, and live music lies a great deal of hidden gastronomic delights. If you’re looking to nosh to your heart’s content or are on the lookout for nibbles to pair with your drinks, here are 9 dining joints to visit this June.

VLV Singapore

VLV Singapore is housed in a heritage building along the Singapore riverfront. Within the century-old structure is a contemporary setting with colours of red, orange and gold that are reminiscent of the oriental era. Modern Chinese cuisine awaits and you have to go for their Dim Sum Extravaganza.

Be intrigued by the Fish, Celery & Mushrooms Dumpling ($6.80 for 3pc), which is wrapped with a black dumpling skin naturally coloured with squid ink. The fish filling is soft and fresh with the celery and mushroom adding a crunch. The Lobster Dumpling ($9.80 for 3pc) comes in a beautiful green and orange skin which is made from natural food colouring as well. Encased within the delicate and soft skin is a lobster filling which is slightly sweet and succulent. There is also chopped chestnut in the filling. Locals can opt for the familiar Singapore Chilli Crab Bun ($6.80 for 3pc) which holds shredded crab meat in s sweet and tangy sauce.

Dim sum lovers must not miss the Crispy Seafood Rice Roll ($8.80) – a seafood fritter wrapped in a rice noodle roll in XO sauce. VLV Singapore also puts a modern spin on the classic siew mai with the Crab Roe Kurobuta ‘Siew Mai’ ($5.80 for 4pc), which has a fragrant and light pork filling. Every Sunday, VLV dishes out a 4-hour long champagne dim sum brunch buffet which is perfect for families. Don’t miss it!

Catch Beer & Batter

Catch Beer & Batter is a cosy fish and chip joint that offers a variety of fish and seafood served in an assortment of batters. I particularly enjoyed basking in the cosy ambience. Patrons can also chill out with a beer, or two, in their alfresco dining area.

Get ready to dive into their newly launched Fusion Platter, which is an enormous seafood sharing platter ($38++). The platter is replete with oceanic delights such as crisp fried halibut, succulent king prawns coated in a tantalizing sambal sauce, fresh clams, fried calamari, juicy chicken sausages, cut potatoes, tomatoes and sweet corn on the cob. Catch! is certainly the place to go if you’re looking for awesome food and a great ambience.

Tang Music Box

Forget about your usual karaoke spots. Tang Music Box is definitely your next go-to place to sing along to the latest hits or croon to timeless classics. I was very drawn to the pantry concept at the entrance which sells a myriad of imported snacks, candies, as well as big bags of potato chips. The visual gratification continues when you are led into one of their karaoke rooms which features stunning wall murals depicting the streets of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tokyo.

Fancy some light bites to go along with your karaoke session? Tang Music Box serves Golden Fish & Chips ($17.90) which features a portion of fried fish coated in a delicious batter, fries, chilli sauce and mayonnaise. For a kid-friendly option, families can opt for the 2 Piece Chicken Sliders with Chips ($17.90) which is equally palatable. Tang Music Box also welcomes you to celebrate your private parties, functions or corporate events with their new party packages. Remember to look out for their daily promotions!

Da Miao Hotpot

Da Miao Hotpot offers an authentic Chengdu hotpot experience which guarantees a treat for all of your senses. Begin with a Damiao Traditional Yuan Yang Soup Pot ($20.00++), which comes in a metal base filled with 2 strongly-flavoured soup bases – Special Spicy Soup and Fresh Mushroom & Pig Bone Yuan Yang Soup Pot. Besides the usual hotpot ingredients, such as Enoki mushrooms, freshly-minced meat paste (from $18++) etc, Da Miao’s menu offers premium ingredients like Australian Prime Beef ($32.00++) and my favourite Fresh Shrimp Paste ($18.00++).

Venture into some of Chengdu’s exotic foods, including the crunchy Swine Trachea ($16.00++), and succulent Boston Butt ($13.00++) – a playful term for pork neck. You have got to dip all their ingredients into their flavourful condiments, especially the sesame oil which is presented in a curious little red can.

Interestingly, their sesame sauce is the only condiment stored in individual can packaging because it is most at risk of unhygienic food handling due to it being the most popular condiment. Whilst relishing in the sumptuous hotpot feast, you can also enjoy traditional Chengdu performances on a glamourous stage.

The Pump Room

The Pump Room, a bistro that incorporates elements of a microbrewery, bistro and bar promises a memorable drinking, dining and partying experience. I was excited to hear about their new menu which will be launched some time in the month of June. Fret not, crowd favourites will be retained in the new menu.

For a heartier option, go for the Australian Tomahawk Beef ($98 for 800 to 900 grams) that comes with thick cut French fries, salad and a choice of Red Wine Sauce, Tasmanian Bush Pepper Sauce or Diane Sauce. The beef is seasoned well with smoked sea salt and freshly crushed pepper. If you like something to go along with their craft beers on tap, I will recommend the Crispy Pork Knuckle ($38.00) that is paired with a bowl of sauerkraut and beer sauce. I was pleasantly surprised by The Pump Room’s selection of dessert. The moist Sticky Date Pudding ($12.00) drenched in caramel sauce is a must try!

Quayside Seafood

Quayside Seafood is a riverfront restaurant serving up a variety of Singapore’s unofficial national seafood dishes. Enjoy the cool river breeze under the stars in their spacious alfresco area.

You have to get the Sri Lankan crabs in the signature Popular Chilli Sauce or Black Pepper Sauce ($7.50++ per 100g). Digging into a mantou dipped in tangy chili crab gravy hit all the right spots for me. Another seafood contender is the highly acclaimed Indonesian Style Prawns in Claypot ($11.50++ per 100g). The light and aromatic broth possesses a hint of sweetness from the fresh and succulent prawns.

Another must-try is the Quayside Seafood’s Signature Fried Calamari with Fragrant Salt & Pepper ($30++ for small, $40++ for regular, $55++ for large). This appetizer has a super crispy batter that’s fried to a golden hue. If the weather gets too warm, grab a serving of refreshing coconut juice ($12++) to beat the heat.

Beer Xchange

With a host of entertainment options such as darts, pool and live band performances, Beer Xchange is exceptionally popular. For a bar, their standard of food is outstanding. I was impressed with their rendition of Truffle Mushroom Cream Pasta ($21++). The pasta was al-dente, with a strong truffle aftertaste that lingers in every bite.

I found myself pretty satiated after the Xchange Burger ($24++), which is a massive assembly of beef and pork patty, caramelized onions, tomatoes, cheese and mushrooms. Enliven your dining experience with the Teriyaki Beef Pizza ($24++), made from Australian Wagyu Beef, or the novel Nan-ru Pork Belly Strips ($15++), which sees pork belly deep fried in fermented bean curd. Complete your meal with the sweet Chocolate Lava ($14++) which is served with biscuit crumbs, a scoop of Movenpick vanilla ice cream, and fresh strawberries.

Shiraz

Shiraz is renowned for delivering a truly authentic Persian experience with added buzz. Shiraz has been offering a heady mix of delectable Persian cuisine since 2007. The Shandiz ($47++) is a Mashhady-style charbroiled lamb chops.

What really stood out, for me, was the Morasah Polo with Chicken ($38++), which sees a tender juicy chicken baked with saffron rice and an assortment of nuts and dried fruits. You will not leave Shiraz hungry because most of the mains come with a generous portion of fluffy basmati rice spiced with saffron.

If you stay past 8pm, you will be treated to an elegant belly dance that is best enjoyed while you sip on their Shiraz Special Cocktail ($17++).

Red Tail Bar by Zouk

Red Tail Bar by Zouk is the newest pre-game restaurant and bar concept recently launched by Zouk Singapore to complement their signature dance stages – Zouk, Capital and Phuture. You will be dazzled by red neon signs and a sexy and chic interior decked out in bold colors of red and black as you walk into the bar.

Red Tail Bar by Zouk also boast a pong table, a shots roulette chest and many more drinking games, intended for an all-round package of fun, after work hangout and pre-drink sessions to kick off the party nights. Kickstart the night with a combination of gingerly crafted cocktails inspired by iconic nightlife destinations. Float Like A Butterfly ($17++) is a combination of gin, cinnamon, lemon and artisanal tonic that was conferred an award as Asia’s Best Gin & Tonic at the East Imperial Gin Jubilee 2016. For a stronger flavour profile, opt for the Cold Brew Lover ($18++) which is a concoction of dark rum, orange bitters, honey water and homemade cold brew coffee. What is interesting about the Cold Brew Lover is that a polaroid film of you and your friends will be taken by the staff and attached to your drink.

Prepare for a full night of non-stop hits and dancing with Zouk’s Signature Sausage Mash ($10++) – a mix of fluffy garlic mash, housemade mushroom sauce and a chicken and cheese sausage. Red Tail Bar’s desire to impress is clear from its tipples right down to its nibbles. Be part of ‘The Drama Before The Party’ with a thumping playlist curated by Zouk’s resident DJs playing in the background. Here’s your cue to get the party started!

Football in The City @ Clarke Quay

Planning for a family outing this June holidays? In the lead up to the world’s premier summer football tournament, the 2017 International Champions Cup (ICC), Clarke Quay is proud to host Football in The City – a series of activities catering to all football fans.

One of the highlights is “Football in the City” family carnival happening on 25 June 2017 from 11am, where families can enjoy interactive activities such as Active SG Football Academy Clinics for kids, trickshot football course, photo booths and more. See you there!

This post was brought to you by Clarke Quay.