Located on Robertston Quay, The Pier at Robertson is the latest lifestyle centre to hit our shores. Making good use of what used to be the black hole between Riverside View and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, the new condominium has become home to a range of lifestyle and food and beverage outlets all centering around an open courtyard right on the Singapore River.
Landlords City Developments Limited (CDL) say in the coming months we can expect to see even more tenants arriving to complete the gastronomic lifestyle precinct tone that has already been set by the current tenants. With a whisky bar, wine bar, French brasserie, Japanese restaurant, coffee house and fine chocolatier, The Pier has already set the benchmark to become a worthy destination for young professionals who want good food and drink in a chilled out atmosphere.
Brasserie Wolf, #01-13 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6835-7818.
The latest offering from the Esmirada Group of Restaurants is this large French brasserie-style eatery. Helmed by Executive Chef Philippe Nouzillat, Brasserie Wolf might look posh, but it aims to be a casual joint where people can eat, drink and make merry, just as they do at the brasseries in France. Nouzillat tries to make his food unpretentious and homely, and tasty menu items such as French onion soup ($10) and duck a l’orange ($36) certainly achieve this. And things are expanding here—expect in the coming months to see more alfresco seating, breakfast and brunch menus, and an extended wine list. Nouzillat aspires to create an atmosphere of interaction between patrons, where people have fun and relax. With the spacious walk in wine cellar and a full bar, this should be easy enough to achieve.
Tasting Notes, #01-05/06 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6238-8840.
This trendy wine bar with its long island bar and plenty of seats both inside and out also sells around 250 labels of new and old world wines in their retail shop. The selection of new world wines is larger than their old world range, but there are plans to increase the number of labels available. If you can’t find what you want in their large variety, Tasting Notes will actually source the wines for you. And if you’re peckish, they has come up with a novel way to choose the perfect wine for your meal. If you’re already comfy in the bar and don’t want to move, you can order food from the neighboring restaurants and have it brought to you. Or, buy a bottle from Tasting Notes and the corkage fee will be waved by the some of the nearby restaurants.
La Maison Du Whisky Singapore, #01-10 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-0059.
The family owned company La Maison Du Whisky first started in France in 1956 and this new Singaporean operation is their third store. Expect all types of whisky from Scottish to Irish, American and rice. In fact, they are exclusive carriers of the 1974 Laphroaig Vintage (there are only 50 of these left in France and 12 left in Singapore) and are also the exclusive holders of a 30-year-old Aberlour whisky. Apart from their retail enterprises, the house organizes whisky events, specifically tastings. For around $50, join a blind tasting where participants discuss tasting techniques, the nose of the whisky and the making process. Small private tasting sessions of not more than 15 people can also be organized.
The Chocolate Factory, #01-11 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6235-9007.
Chocaholics beware: As the elegant packaging of The Chocolate Factory’s produce indicates, Chocolatier Laurent Bernard is a stickler for quality. The cafe also serves up daily homemade simple French pastries, such as cheesecakes, chocolate cakes and tiramisu. But really, it’s the chocolate you should come here for. Trust us when we say these are some of the smoothest and most delicate chocolates in town. Bernard’s chocolates are handmade daily in a specially chilled room within the cafe using fresh produce and only kept on display for three to four days. Bernard’s philosophy is that like fine food, fine chocolates should have a short shelf life—he recommends his chocolates only be kept for a week after you buy them. Bookings are recommended if you want to dine at the cafe on weekends.
Robata Yoyogi, #01-04 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-8711.
Sister restaurant to Yoyogi across the road, Robata Yoyogi is the only restaurant in Singapore completely devoted to the Japanese tradition of Robataya dining—eating fresh grilled seasonal ingredients served to you on a giant paddle. And it’s been an instant success. The restaurant is packed at nights with Japanese sitting for hours at a time, ordering dishes at their pleasure. There is an array of different items on order from grilled file fish ($12.50) to kuro buta or pork belly ($6.50) and all the ingredients are imported from Japan. For a unique dining experience where one can sit comfortably for hours sipping sake and tasting cuisine, this is a novel option.
The Coffee Connoisseur, #01-01/02 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-8707.
And of course, a perfect way to finish off all this great food and drink is a strong coffee at this, the latest TCC outlet.
TIDBIT
Keep a look out for Brussels Sprouts, the latest culinary offering from entrepreneurial team Emmanuel Stroobant and Edina Hong of Saint Pierre due to open December 1.
