Food truly brings people together, whether you’re sharing a bucket of fried chicken, or just enjoying a leisure meal at a fancy restaurant.
This new modern Asian grill restaurant in Duxton embodies communal dining with creative dishes made using the age-old tradition of woodfire grilling.
Tribal is the newest concept by F&B group Ebb & Flow, and it is located at the Mondrian Singapore Duxton. CBD folks, you can now have a luxurious lunch with Tribal’s two- or three-course lunch set menu from just S$48.
While the facade of Tribal is pretty dark with an unassuming entrance (we almost missed it), step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the traditional home of a tribe leader.
The entire space is decked in earth tones with lots of wood elements and rattan weaving, along with plush seats scattered around. Not gonna lie, there was a certain charm to the place with the warm lights creating an air of romance — perfect for a romantic date.
The menu boasts unique creations that are inspired by flavours from the Far East with a focus on wood-fire grilling and nostalgic Asian flavours.
Start your meal with some starters like the Scallops, Hamachi Crudo, Hamaguri Clams, Clarence River Prawns and more. My favourite were the Satsuma Tomatoes that came with pomelo, endives, sorrel, dashi, and wasabi.
So exactly how good were the tomatoes? Well, they were bursting with flavour and super juicy. I love how the pomelo pulps add a burst of bittersweet flavour into the mix, while the dashi jelly (yes you read that right), added a nice savoury touch. The dish also comes with a wasabi dressing which gives a nice spicy finish — definitely great for whetting your appetite before the mains.
For mains you can pick from the Roasted Kabocha, Prawn Tagliolini, Poussin Chicken, Iberico Pork Chop, and Black Cod.
If you love some good meat, you should definitely give the Iberico Pork Chop a go. The pork chop had the perfect fat-to-meat ratio, which made for a great bite. The fatty layer was melt in your mouth soft which elevated the flavours of the lean meat.
The pork is also glazed with a kampot pepper BBQ glaze which was sweet and smokyy. The charred bits were truly the icing on top of the cake for this dish.
Seafood lovers should definitely get the Prawn Tagliolini. The prawn broth was creamy and super umami, albeit a little on the saltier side for me. The prawns themselves were firm and bursting with the flavours of the broth.
For those who are looking for something that is lighter on the palette, the Black Cod would be the perfect dish for you. The fish is soft and tender with a perfectly crispy skin. The spicy and sweet soy sauce really elevated the sweetness of the fish, while the ginger flower emulsion and creamy potatoes made for a refreshing touch.
The meal also comes with sides and we strongly recommend the Sugar Loaf Cabbage — yes cabbage. As confusing as it sounds, this cabbage was by far the best I have ever tasted.
It is coated in a nice garlic butter which made it fragrant and buttery — the garlic lover in me just wished that there was a little more garlic. I think I will only be eating cabbages like this from now on.
For something a little more unique, go for the Sweet Peppers which features two grilled peppers — let’s just say these aren’t your regular bell peppers. I was a little intimidated to try this dish but everything changed when I took the first bite. The peppers were sweet and tasted more like a fruit, while the lemon juice added a nice tangy contrast.
No meal is complete without dessert, and for desserts we had the Charred Pineapple, the Bundt Cake, and my favourite, the Mango Bavarois.
As someone who isn’t a fan of coconut, I quite enjoyed the coconut, gula melaka and pandan combination in this dessert. Interestingly, the dessert also contained kaffir lime which gave it a very refreshing finish.
Tribal also has an extensive beverage menu featuring a collection of signature cocktails, red and white wines, orange wines, teas and more for you to wash down your meal and end the date on a high.
I don’t know about you but I’m definitely bringing my partner here for our next date. They also have an equally luxurious dinner menu for those looking for a romantic night out. But of course, you can always come with your besties too — we all could use a little pampering once in a while.
It’s also conveniently located in the CBD so if you have the chance to sneak out for a long lunch break, you know where to head to (don’t worry, we won’t snitch).
Do you have a date coming up? Impress them with a meal at this vibey restaurant!
Tribal Dining
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📍 83 Neil Road, Mondrian Singapore Duxton #01-07 Singapore089813
🕑 12pm—3pm, 6pm—11pm (Mon to Sat), Closed on Sun
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Photos by Marcus Leong
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