Located right smack along Braddell Road is a casual resto-bar that takes centre stage in The Refectory – an expansive multi-concept F&B space. First thing that caught our eye was the sparkling light fixtures towering over the bar.
“It definitely attracts the attention of passersbys, especially when drivers zoom by the establishment. But there was this one time, a guest drove by and made a U-turn because he thought we were a light showroom as he wanted to buy some lights,” says Ming Tan, the chirpy Brand Director of the joint.
But all jokes aside, light showroom it is not. Instead, this stylish 75-seater watering hole is more than meets the eye. Aside from a decent range of cocktails such as the signature smoky BRDL old-fashioned ($22) and ice-cold beers on tap, there’s also a slew of modern Asian dishes to feast and unwind over.
Nibble on tasty wasabi crab and tobiko mini cornettos ($15), smoky savoury bombs of char siew pulled pork tacos ($15) or signature charcuterie boards ($68) if you’re feeling peckish. But if you're looking to be fully satiated, go with the hearty mains. Crowd favourites are the fork-tender Wagyu cheek rendang ($36), a light but flavourful ginger soy roasted barramundi with preserved cabbage ($32), and the seabass & prawn otah ballotine ($24) packed with tons of laksa flavours.
Though it was a modest black beer-braised beef that stole our hearts. “You’ve got to order this if it is the only thing you're having,” exclaimed my dining companion. Proper melt-in-your-mouth beef chunks and deeply savoury jus with slivers of herb-spiked pastries that remind of buttery puff pastry, this is a bowl of comfort that could turn a bad day into a good one.
