Is it still possible to enjoy an exquisite meal at wallet-friendly prices in this economy?
True Cost, a restaurant you’ve probably seen all over TikTok, may have just the answer.
Situated at the Sky Garden of Suntec City, this rooftop restaurant and wine bar boasts aesthetic glasshouse-esque interiors with plenty of natural lighting, rustic garden-themed decor and stunning city views.
Sure, it’s a lovely spot for dates, girls’ nights out and family dinners, but it’s the unique pricing concept that really makes True Cost stand out from the rest.
Basically, diners have to pay a cover charge ranging from S$5–S$15 depending on the time of day. In turn, they get access to a selection of restaurant-quality dishes at a fraction of their market price, hence the name “True Cost”.
You’ll have to fork out a cover charge of S$5 for lunch (12–3pm) and S$10 for dinner (5–9pm). But if you visit from 3pm to 5pm on weekdays or 9–10pm daily, you won’t need to pay the cover charge and can enter for free.
Sure enough, the average market price of every single dish is reflected on the menu. For instance, a Mushroom Risotto with burrata and truffle has a market price of S$32, but is sold at S$18 here. Same goes for the drinks — the market price for a bottle of Cava Brut (sparkling wine) from Spain is S$90, but you can get it here at half the price (S$45).
Sounds very value-for-money, don’t you think?
Furthermore, you may be surprised at just how extensive the menu is, both for food and drinks, with European, Mediterranean, and Japanese influences.
Even though the selection of wines were tempting, my dining partner and I opted for the Ram’s Jizz (S$9.50), a bright and tropical concoction of bourbon, aperol, pineapple, and passionfruit, as well as the classic Espresso Martini (S$9.95).
Tell me, how often do you come across cocktails priced under S$18 nowadays?
Once you’ve picked your poison, start off with something light, palate-cleansing, and naturally sweet from the Raw Bar, like the Hokkaido Scallop Sashimi (S$15) with truffle ponzu and shaved truffle.
Afterwards, take your pick from Cold or Hot Appetisers, ranging from Assorted Cheeses (S$16.50) and Cold Cuts Platter (S$18.50) to Roasted Bone Marrow (S$23) and even Crispy Eggplant (S$14.95).
We opted for one of the newer menu items, comprising luscious and creamy Burrata (S$18.95) on a bed of pomegranate-yuzu sauce, herb oil, and smoked grapes. Although pairing grapes with cheese is a no-brainer, smoking them takes the sweetness and intensity to a whole new level.
The BBQ Pork Ribs (S$18.50) was one main that caught my dining partner’s eye, and I’m glad we ordered it. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, coated in a sweet, sticky, and intensely flavourful BBQ sauce that glistened under the sunlight.
As for the sides, the kimchi cucumber was tangy and did all it could to whet the appetite, whereas the “cheesy corn” wasn’t exactly cheesy, as it was served with chilli crisp (kinda like Lao Gan Ma) and a creamy, mildly spicy dipping sauce. Still tasty, though.
We also tried the Grilled Barramundi (S$24.90), which was cooked to till flaky, tender perfection, with beautifully crisp skin I couldn’t stop picking up.
My only gripe was the tomato-based acqua pazza sauce was a tad muted, and could’ve benefited from more acidity and brightness.
Surprisingly, there are only three desserts on the menu, and so we ordered the Lava Cake (S$12.50), a chocolate cake that broke apart to reveal a molten matcha center, with coconut ice cream and a chocolate crumble on the side.
It was rich and decadent without being too sweet, with just the slightest hint of bitterness. I did, however, find the addition of herb oil — the same oil that was in both the burrata and scallop sashimi — odd and unnecessary.
All things considered, I did find the food worth the price, though it’ll definitely be best if you were to visit during the hours with no cover charge.
Fortunately, the restaurant is running a 1-for-1 promotion on their cover charge for a limited time only, which makes dining there extra value-for-money.
Ready to uncover the “true cost” of your meal? Reservations can be made here.
True Cost
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📍3 Temasek Blvd, #03-302/303 Suntec City, Singapore 038983
🕐 12pm–11pm (Daily)
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨