If you thought planning a Christmas dinner was tough, try picking a restaurant for a Lunar New Year reunion dinner. There are so many factors to consider, like dietary restrictions some of your relatives might have or a particular regional cuisine they might want (i.e. Teochew, Hainanese, etc.). Whether you’re in looking for crispy Peking duck or dim sum, here are 7 Chinese restaurants you might want to consider.
When it comes to lavish, banquet-style Cantonese restaurants, it doesn’t get more glam than Cassia at the ultra-chic Capella. Think ornamental lamps, gorgeous screens with floral motifs and beautiful windows. Pair that with delicate, contemporary plating, and you have a spot that’s as appropriate for a date as it is a family reunion. Chef Lee Hiu Ngai’s signatures like the M9 wagyu with black pepper sauce and the baked lobster aside, try the baked fortune chicken, the live drunken prawns and the double-boiled spare ribs soup. There’s an affordable dim sum menu on the weekends, too. G/F Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Easily among the best fine dining Chinese restaurants in town, the opulent and elegant Cherry Garden offers a wide selection of Cantonese cuisine presented with an artistic touch. Not too much has been shaken up here, but we can’t complain when the BBQ meat platter, wasabi prawns and double‑boiled soups are so good. The weekend dim sum brunches are also unmissable, featuring faultless food and service. 5/F Marina Square, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Ave. Make a reservation via Chope here.
A hot favorite among our secret panel, the ultra crispy, traditionally roasted Peking Duck prepared by Beijing chefs is second to none in this town. This elegantly decorated, fancy Chinese restaurant is also a sure bet for dim sum, as well as other delicately prepared mains like the steamed fish in black bean sauce. They’re particularly proud of their Yangzhou-style cold appetizers. Order a few of these to start what will surely be a memorable meal. #05-42/45 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd.
Few Chinese restaurants are hip, but this is definitely one of them. Fashionable diners come for chef-owner Yong Bing Ngen’s signature style of modern Chinese fare. The food is best exemplified in artfully-crafted dishes such as a combination of Peking duck skin, pan-seared foie gras and crispy wasabi prawn, which fit right in with the beautiful art pieces that grace the restaurant’s walls. Sadly, they plan to be closed for much of 2017, so do squeeze in a meal while you still can, or wait breathlessly to see what they do next. New Majestic Hotel, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
This fancy hotel Chinese restaurant has been around since the 80s, offering up that classic combination of Peking duck, an impeccable dim sum selection, the kind of ambience that would please your parents and pitch-perfect service. But that doesn’t mean Min Jiang is stuffy. It’s probably one of the most sun-drenched restaurants of its kind, and those poolside patio seats are a rare thrill for upscale banquets with the fam. G/F Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd.
The popular, freshly Michelin-starred Sichuan chain’s first Singapore outpost features creations by head chef Chen Kentaro, scion of the famous Iron Chef Chen Kenichi. The space is flamboyant, with high ceilings and plush furnishings set against a scenic view. Not sure what to have? For starters, try classics such as the mapo tofu, and dan dan mian or try new additions to their menu such as the wok-fried fish with shisito peppers. 35/F, Orchard Wing Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
One of Orchard’s oldest and most beloved fancy Cantonese restaurants has recently undergone a major overhaul, reopening with the super ornate decor theme of “home of the Chinese scholar” and some exciting new signatures by chef Brian Wong like the steamed shrimp dumpling with black truffle and cordyceps flower in the dim sum lunch menu, and spicy HK-style deep-fried spicy Iberico pork with garlic. If you haven’t been in a while, this is a great excuse to visit. 3/F Singapore Marriott Hotel, 320 Orchard Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
