Have yet to start planning for your upcoming date night? Got a special milestone to celebrate? If you’re seeking a reliable dinner spot (with drinks), look no further than Keong Saik.
The historic and eclectic neighbourhood, abuzz with trendy F&B establishments, is now home to COL, a new modern European restaurant and bar that may just become your go-to for intimate celebrations with your partner, family, or friend group.
Helmed by Chef-Owner Colin Buchan, who has over a decade’s worth of experience working in the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay, multiple Michelin-starred establishments, and even David and Victoria Beckham’s residence as their private chef, COL is a space designed to bring people together over the “simple pleasures of good and drinks in a friendly, lively, and delectable atmosphere”.
Inspired by the restaurants and bars of London, COL’s interiors are a blend of modern comfort and industrial cool with vintage accents, with the main 50-seater dining area flanked by a gorgeous open kitchen and two bustling bars (yes to pre-dinner drinks).
You can expect to be greeted by a relaxed menu of reimagined classics featuring seasonal ingredients and flavours, smoky wood-fired meat and seafood, and handcrafted pastas.
Order a selection of starters to share, such as the Irish oysters (S$42 for 6) with calabrese peppers and preserved lemon mignonette, Nduja arancini (S$18) with a smoky muhammara dip, and grilled scallop (S$24) served with an umami-rich, oceanic seaweed butter and sweet and tangy grapefruit marmalade.
If you’re the sort who prefers to nibble on charcuterie over a glass of wine before the main event, order a specially curated charcuterie (S$36) plate of La Santo mortadella with pistachios, Coppa, Salami, and Guindilla peppers.
Hearty mains include hand-rolled tagliatelle (S$32), each portion made fresh to order, with Scottish mussels, piquant chilli butter and confit tomatoes (S$32), roasted snapper (S$36), and even a juicy aged beef burger (S$27) dressed in yellow mustard, pickled cucumbers, bacon, and raclette.
From the grill comes gorgeously marbled cuts of Sanchoku Wagyu Prime Rib (S$208) and Black Opal Wagyu Entrecôte (from S$98 for 300g), all of which are brushed with wagyu beef fat and fire-cooked over binchotan, yielding a beautiful sear and tender, juicy meat.
Not into beef? Other flame-kissed crowd-pleasers include the grilled whole prawns (S$38) with umami harissa butter and burnt lime, as well as miso-roasted cauliflower (S$20) and Ratte potatoes (S$18).
Putting a unique spin on the classic ice cream bar is the COLPOP (S$17), a raspberry rose parfait bar coated with Opalys white cocoa and raspberry ripple. Alternatively, go for the citrus curd mascarpone tart (S$14) topped with meringue and dusted with kaffir lime, because how could one say no to desserts at COL?
The inventive food menu is best paired with a wine list curated by Benjamin Hasko, one of two Master Sommeliers based in Singapore, as well as classic craft cocktails (S$24) with a COL twist, like the Nero Negroni, Coconut Highball, and Bobby Burns, the restaurant’s take on an espresso martini.
It’s time to take your tastebuds on a journey of delectable bold flavours and tasty tipples at COL. Who knows? You may feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of East London.
Reservations can be made here.
COL
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???? 1 Keong Saik Rd., #01-05 The Working Capitol Building, Singapore 089109
???? 5pm onwards (Tue to Sat), Closed on Sun & Mon
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I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨