What used to be a famed hawker with its humble outpost in Maxwell Food Centre, Lad & Dad had seen waves of demand since it first opened in 2015. With the fairly recent upgrade from ambitious hawker to an unpretentious gastropub in Tanjong Pagar Plaza, most of us aren’t strangers to the classic British pub grub that is still the mainstay on their lean but mean menu.
With a strict no-reservations policy, the new spot sees hungry fans waiting in line most evenings – just like how it was in the hawkers. Here’s a gauge as for us, it only took slightly under 45 minutes for us to get seated on a weekend dinner rush. But in case you miss it, Shamrock green dominates the colour palette of the shop front with a beautifully hand-painted signboard that comes adorned in black and gold. Alongside rustic interiors and wooden furniture, the no-frills al-fresco atmosphere where food and beer flow aplenty is perhaps the quintessence of Lad & Dad.
The popular signature that is the Fish and Chips ($19) sports a beer-battered crust that is thick yet light and airy without being overly cloying with mildly sweet and flaky Atlantic Haddock. Coupled with thick-cut chips and a creamy textural take on peas, all that’s left is to drizzle some malt vinegar over to harmonise the dish.
Beef stew ($26) saw thick chunks of fork-tender grass-fed beef and root vegetables swimming in a rich savoury sauce with deep undertones of beef and onions. It is paired with a side of buttery mash with occasional bits of potatoes to contrast. If this dish can do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke, it will do so here in monsoon Singapore.
It ain’t a pub without the grub after all! For those seeking proper nosh to accompany proper pints, you’re in luck. Try the Scotch Egg ($12), irresistibly soft meaty sausage wraps a whole picked egg with a firm yet creamy yolk and fried to a peppery crisp. Pigs in Blanket ($14) delivers big bold flavours of sweet and salty when wolfed down with every bite as thick maple candied smoked bacon wraps around juicy snappy English pork sausages.
Our favourites were the Oyster Nuggets ($16) and they are one not to be missed as the plump fleshy morsels are beer-battered and fried to perfection. Truly no-bollocks grub that goes down ever so easily with helpful swigs of freshly tapped Pilsners. Just between us lads, happy hour runs till 8pm daily with fresh pints going at a modest $12.
Time Out Singapore reviews anonymously and pays for all meals. Read our restaurant review policy here.
What the stars mean:
★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional
