Bar Review: Cocktails Meet Ban Mian and Ngoh Hiang at Revamp Cocktail Bar in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore
PUBLISHED October 5th, 2020 07:30 pm | UPDATED October 13th, 2020 10:54 am
With travel off the cards for a long while yet, watering holes in Singapore used to overseas guest bartenders dropping in all the time are now looking inward for collaborations. And the most unique partnership in recent times has to be Tanjong Pagar’s Revamp Cocktail Bar hooking up local ban mian veteran China Whampoa Home Made Noodle (since 1989) – bringing us a one-of-a-kind dining experience in the CBD.
Known for its fresh seafood and silky noodles, China Whampoa Home Made Noodle currently has three stalls in Whampoa Drive, Geylang Lorong 12, and Bukit Merah, making this the brand’s first foray into downtown Singapore. In the true spirit of collaboration, they’ve launched a Revamp-exclusive – The Fire Breathing Dragon (S$29.90), which is perfect for when you want to have your alcohol and eat it too. Laden with fresh mini lobsters, scallops and homemade meatballs, this bowl of ban mian sets the palate ablaze with a shot of flaming brandy tipped in at the table.
If you love your noods spicy, the piquant hot and sour broth of the Tom Yum Mee Hoon Kueh (S$18.80) will satisfy, alongside a seafood bounty of fresh prawns, clams, and squid. Not used to paying more than $10 for ban mian? No worries – they actually start from S$6.80 at Revamp Cocktail Bar and you have more than one option, from the traditional ban mian with prawns, or swop the prawns out for fish maw and abalone clams. Whether you go dry or otherwise, be sure to sample their ikan bilis and soybean soup and the three different types of chili. The former is cooked low and slow, yielding a light yet flavourful stock.
There’s no rest for the thirsty here either. While there’s a long list of classic cocktails (S$16 each), our pick of the signatures include the Blue Vine Old-Fashioned (S$18), so called because it involves cognac and blueberry shrub stirred down with angostura and peach bitters. Other highlights include the Tanqueray Ten-based G&T Martini (S$18) – with a richer mouthfeel with the usual due to the grapefruit tonic reduction – and the boozy Rum Raisin Old Fashioned (S$18). The latter arrives at the table billowing bourbon oak smoke so you might want to get your phone out for it.
Amongst the lighter cocktails that you can easily get behind during the day, the tequila-based Pineapple Cilantro Sling (S$18) is fruity and slightly herbaceous while the Honey Umeshu Martini (S$18) is, despite the colour, not to sweet and a refreshing hit.
For drinking (or drunk) food, China Whampoa Home Made Noodle has also brought a better version of the fried junk we crave to Revamp – enter ngoh hiang. Like elsewhere, you get to order up your own platter. We highly recommend the Yam Ngoh Hiang Roll (S$2.50), Fried Liver Roll (S$2) and Fried Bean Curd Roll (S$2). The Sotong Youtiao (S$3) and Crispy Prawn Crackers (S$2.30) bring back childhood memories (for me, anyway) and you’ll find other nostalgic snacks like Sotong Ball (S$3.80 for three) and Chinese Sausage(S$3.50) available.
All images courtesy of our friends at SUPERADRIANME.
