It takes guts to clear out a menu packed with fan favourites but that's exactly what the mavericks behind RVLT have done – staying ever so true to their "go big or go home" mantra. Gone are cult classics like the patty melt and red prawn fettuccine. Instead, head chef Sunny Leong has introduced some of the gastro-bar's most progressive dishes yet – all while sticking to RVLT's DNA as a fun and unpretentious gathering place for rebels with a drunken cause.
Kickstart the party by picking a bottle from the wall right by the entrance or let the friendly sommeliers be your guide. Just tell the wine uncles/proprietors Alvin Gho and Ian Lim your budget and how adventurous you're feeling and they'll come back with anything from juicy, smashable bottles from Commune of Buttons to complex wines that are full of character from Cosmic Cellar.
In the spirit of keeping things casual, get yourself a plate of the Chicken NcNuggets ($20) – an elevated take on the ones from the golden arches made with real chicken meat and soft bones for an extra crunch – and dunk them in house-fermented sriracha sauce for a punchy, garlicky kick. If you're in the mood for something a little more refined, try the skillfully crafted dashi crystal bread topped with wild spanner crab and caviar ($36). Dashi is shaped and dehydrated till shatteringly crisp and the translucent roll melts once it hits your tongue – a crackerjack experience you won't find anywhere else in Singapore.
As RVLT strives to be an inclusive space, vegetarians are kept in mind with the taro dumplings ($32) stuffed with duxelles in a velvety shiitake shoyu sauce topped with taro chips and black truffles. The bar also continues to push boundaries by offering dishes for those craving something more leftfield. The buckwheat pasta with monkfish liver sauce ($36) is one such creation – its intense seafood flavour is unapologetic and made funkier with the nuttiness of the firm noodles. Certain dishes might not be for everyone, but overall, the menu still offers something for everyone as RVLT brings the power of choice back to the people.