Birthdays always feel a little more special when there’s a surprise on the menu! This year, my bestie decided to kick off my celebration early by treating me to a pre-birthday dinner at Synthesis . It’s our very first time actually stepping through the doors. I saw this TCM hall inspired restaurant and bar 's unique atmosphere and fusion flavors on social media and I’m so ready to see if it lives up to the hype. Ready to join us for a night of good food and even better company? Let’s dive in! Are we at TCM hall or ice cream store? Array of Chinese herbs Can I have a concoction? I need to cure my sweet tooth Tried their Seasonal flavour: Pu Er Tea with Longan Sorbet By the way, instead of ordering dessert at the table, we decided to grab some of their signature ice cream right outside the restaurant (spot in the photos above!). Taste test before getting one for yourself. I’m not sure if it’s the unique ingredients or just the perfect end to a great meal, but why ...
Supposed to be going elsewhere for our Christmas dinner but on the eve of our scheduled date night, we changed after taking into consideration that it might rain and only bar seating for us 3 ladies. Like no way! I want a table to sit comfortably and not at the bar. So last minute search for another venue and here we are at Lumo Bar & Grill.
Walking distance from my office (perks of working in the CBD area) and luckily, I beat the rain (phew...). A cosy and intimate restaurant with limited seating capacity (please make a reservation in advance like us) and dimly lit. I like that. Located at South Bridge Road (just opposite Legendary Bak Kut Teh), I think some may miss it because of their simple shop front, and the word LUMO on the window may not be catchy enough. So be alert and stop looking at your phone while walking. Haha...
Old Fashioned Cocktail
1st order of business, order a drink. I happened to see Old Fashioned and decided to just go for it. Why? My colleague makes this drink herself at home and I wonder what draws her to it so much. It is a mixture of Maker's Mark, Demerara, Whisky Barrel Aged bitters and Angostura, with an ice and orange slice. This has a smooth aftertaste and I'm impressed. Now I can go for Old Fashioned whenever I see it.
Cantabrian Octopus Sous-vide with russet potato, Iberico Chorizo and Spicy Aioli
Never have I ever eaten such a tender, thin slice of octopus. Not too chewy and also bite-sized, which I really enjoyed. Say yes to Sous-vide because that is the reason why you get such tenderness and texture from the octopus slices.
Mediterranean Sea Bream with young potato, fennel, and storm clam veloute
Tasty and meaty texture for these 2 slices of grilled seabream. It came a little bitter on the skin but soaking with the sauce (with a tiny size of potatoes and celery) balanced it up. My friends and I loved this dish.
Can. Primrose Pork Ribeye with charred scallion and whisky-raisin
We were asked about the done-ness of this Pork Ribeye (yes you heard that) so got it well done because this is unlike the usual steak. It turns out pretty good, with a little charr-ness on top, tender lean meat, and not too dry. The sweetness comes from the raisins and of course the sauce. My friends were complimenting on their presentation. Indeed nice and atas, with those few stalks of charred scallions on the side.
Burnt Cheesecake with Crumble and Lime Yoghurt Cream
Their Burnt Cheesecake was good. So creamy without feeling the jelak-ness because you have it covered with nice crumbles and lime yogurt cream.
Chocolate Banana Fondant with Dark Cocoa Sauce and Sea Salt
At first, I thought it was a Lava Cake but after cutting it up, not very lava but passed the taste test. A mixture of chocolatey, banana-ey, and salty taste for this dessert. There is tiny banana flesh inside. Overall, I think I still prefer their Burnt Cheesecake.
Overall, it was a good dining experience although the price was kind of a tad too high (Total bill $200+). But it feels like fine dining to me so no complaints, given that the ambiance was to my liking.
LUMO BAR & GRILL
50 South Bridge Road
#01-00 Singapore 058682
Disclaimer: All the above were paid by the writer and friends. Not a sponsored post. All reviews are based on the writer's and friends' preference and taste buds and do not represent anyone other than herself and friends.
