The hype: Opened by a pair of second-gen cousins whose family owns the popular yong tau foo chain Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu, pertly-named Fu Er Dai is a Chinese fusion restaurant with a lot to prove. Instead of replicating dishes of what their fam is known for, the joint offers traditional eats updated with fresh trends in small bowls.
The vibe: Located at supper spot Serangoon Garden Way, space is ample within Fu Er Dai’s premises where simplicity is an obvious design choice. There are just two noticeable elements: a feature mural wall that boasts the history of the family heritage, as well as how Fu Er Dai came to be, and faux plants that adorn the plain white walls.
The food: The fare is an even mix of traditional dishes inspired by the established cookery of Bai Nian and Western food trends for a twist on the classics. Take for instance the signature Abalone Cheese Beehoon ($16), in which the cheese adds a fuller, creamier body to the seafood broth the same way cheese foam adds weight to milk teas.
Another store signature is the Pig Leg Rice ($8), that features braised pig trotters that make for a substantial meal. It can also be requested to come with a side of pig intestines for that extra flavour on your pearl rice.
And hailing directly from Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu’s kitchen is the original prawn paste that’s now also used in Fu Er Dai’s very own F Prawn ($11); a side menu dish of prawn fritters that does its due diligence at teasing the palette, while doubling as a fun, deep-fried accompaniment to some of the soup/gravy-based mains.
The drinks: Interestingly, the hot coffee ($3) on the menu is served smelling unusually fragrant, though brewed using the Gold Kili brand. If you’re feeling particularly brave, pick the vaguely-titled Red, Orange and Blue ($5) from the drinks menu for surprise flavours that come in bright colours.
Why you’ll be back: The restaurant serves as quite the trendy alternative for gatherings based on Chinese cuisines; we recommend heading over with a group of friends seeking to try unique flavours that play with old favourites.
