The hype: Popular after-work haunt Bistro 1855 has closed, and in its place now stands Fat Chap, opened by the same owners who are now dialing up the food focus.
The vibe: The feel you get from the place hasn’t changed much from the casual, walk-in establishment that was Fat Chap’s predecessor. Still, we’d say they’ve gotten an upgrade. Upon entering, a full-fledged bar now lines the right-side wall where the bottle shop space used to be. This means it is now more cozy too, with seats packed closer together than before.
The food: While Asian casual is its game, you’ll find a keen slant towards Indonesian cuisine here. Head Chef Selamat Susanto, originally from Medan, offers up plenty of his own renditions of Indonesian food suited to the local palate.
There’s a strong charcoal grill and robatayaki selection, and that’s where the stars of the menu are. Definitely go for the Grilled Whole Fish ($53), meant for sharing, where a locally-caught golden snapper is marinated with plenty of spices and served alongside sambal belacan and sambal matah. It’s a generous portion and those who love their spicy food will be requesting for more of chef’s sambals to go with the fish. For single-portion mains, the Oxtail Soup ($19) and the Asam Pedas ($19) are flavourful, traditional Indonesian dishes that are divine when enjoyed with rice.
From the robatayaki section, the simple-sounding Eggplant ($8) is a must. Topped with okra, scallion, shrimp, garlic and chilli, each bite into the locally-sourced fleshy vegetable is a satisfying chomp made even more piquant thanks to a lingering smokiness. Then there’s a good variety of skewers ($12-$18) to choose from – pork belly, beef, lamb, asparagus and more – that make for the perfect drink accompaniments. Also, don’t be put off by the Crispy Pig’s Ear ($12), an addictive spiced snack best paired with beer.
The drinks: With the guys from 1855 The Bottle Shop the same owners as Fat Chap, it’s surprising that the wine list here isn’t longer. But no matter, as it’s still a serviceable selection and other drinks (you’ll find four beers on tap, including Little Creatures Pale Ale at $16 a pint) especially those from the rather extensive cocktail menu makes up for it.
Fat Chap signatures (all $20) like the Scented Mile and Hugot are stiff yet sweet for easy drinking, but for a more complex concoction, choose one from their branded Macallan or Suntory lists. The deep and aromatic Mac & Curry ($24) is their take on an Old Fashioned, made using the Macallan 12 Double Cask, curry bitters and gula melaka, while gin lovers will enjoy the tangy and juicy Roku Sour ($22) – no prizes for guessing which gin they used in this one.
Why you’ll be back: If you’re working at Suntec City, it’s an easy after-work spot that still fills the same gap Bistro 1855 left behind – just fuss-free comfort foods had with plenty of libations. Happy Hours are from noon-8pm guys, we’ll see you there.
