Regulars were up in arms when RVLT announced last December that it would be closing sometime in 2025. Over its eight years on Carpenter Street, the fun-loving, casual wine bar carved out a reputation for itself as a pioneer of the natural wine movement in Singapore. But with business never quite bouncing back to its pre-Covid heyday – and rent and costs on a steady incline – even beloved institutions have to call it a day sometimes. RVLT poured its last glass in July this year.
Thankfully, what died didn’t stay dead. Founders Alvin Gho and Ian Lim are quick to bounce back on their feet with a brand new concept, Revolution, tucked away in an unsuspecting industrial estate in Bukit Merah. The restaurant has swapped out the grungy aesthetics of its old digs for a more minimalistic, classy look, with clean lines and a softer colour palette. The new space is designed in collaboration with Danish design house Fritz Hansen just next door, so that explains it.
Despite the makeover, the spirit of RVLT lives on in its menu and wine programme. Executive Chef Sunny Leong continues to helm the kitchen, bringing back old faves like the homemade chicken nuggets ($20) – just as good, with a perfectly crisp shell and tender middle, studded with bits of chicken soft bone for an extra crunch, and paired with a slightly sweet tomato sriracha.
Other dishes that survive the lynch include the sourdough bread with seaweed butter ($8), steak tartare ($26) and wagyu beef patty melt with fries ($28). And if you miss the vino, shimmy up to the bar-counter for spot-on recommendations by Alvin and Ian, who’ll pour you anything from a juicy pinot noir from China to an unfussy glass of pet-nat.
If you work around the area, Revolution’s two-course set lunch ($28.80) is a solid deal, with Asian-inspired pastas taking centre stage. There are five to choose from, like salted egg carbonara spaghetti and black pepper wagyu steak bucatini. Our picks? The “hua diao” white clam linguine and mala pesto trofie. The linguine has a splash of Chinese rice wine, though in the gentlest, most delicate way. What really stands out is the buttery sauce and giant, slippery clams which add a briny sweetness to each bite.
Alvin tells us the mala pesto pasta is the most underrated of the lot, and we’re inclined to agree. It’s got that satisfying numbing kick, with a fine dusting of crushed almonds on top for added crunch. His personal favourite, however, is the chicken rendang ravioli, the only dish on the menu which uses fresh pasta. Each parcel is filled with a smooth chicken mousse and coated in a rich rendang sauce, with generous sprinkles of berempah (crispy, spiced crumbs) as the cherry on top.
Come late September to October, Revolution will be rolling out its dinner menu, featuring new dishes dreamed up by Chef Sunny. We shan’t spoil it, but let’s just say you can expect anything from a reinvention of his iconic crystal bread to delicate stroopwaffles made of chicken skin, and more funky, boundary-pushing creations. For now, Revolution is open for lunch and tea from 11am to 5pm daily, with dinner hours expected to run from 6pm to midnight from Thursdays to Saturdays.
Find out more about Revolution here.
Revolution is located at 211 Henderson Rd, Henderson Industrial Building, #01-05, Singapore 159552.
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