Freshly sourced food awaits at 81 Duxton
PUBLISHED May 2nd, 2013 03:29 am | UPDATED April 14th, 2016 03:01 pm
Duxton Hill has become a favourite haunt for many of us, with some fabulous bars and restaurants strewn up the short stretch. That’s all well and good, but if you want to try a new place that whips up fantastic food with a side of impeccable service, then wander back down the hill and along to the up and coming Duxton Road. About half way along you’ll find 81 Duxton.
I’ve got to admit, I’ve walked past it several times and never actually been inside. At first I thought it might be a part of the Berjaya Hotel and was generally a little confused. Shame on me. Let me redeem myself by spelling out, quite literally, the reasons why you should give 81 a visit.
E – Every day kind of food. You don’t need to be in the mood to for a particular cuisine, it’s that kind of place where you can go along just ‘for a pick’ as I call it and sample their delicious Duxton Platter ($26) full of the best selected cold cuts and cheeses to pair with their delicious wines. What I especially like about this platter is that each item on it is equally as delicious as the next. Very well balanced and a sturdy recommendation from us.
I – Impeccable service. The management really know their stuff and will be able to give you some great advice on wine choice or even ways to eat particular dishes. We love a bit of knowledgeable advice.
G – Get the Gambas – Sometimes I find batter a little too oily for the freshness of a prawn. However the coating of the Cereal Prawns ($15) is a perfect balance making this dish a must try. Another real treat is the Salmon Smoked Steak ($21). Cooked in a secret way, the fish is meaty and supple. Paired with a fennel sauce which really matches the salmon’s natural flavor well.
H – Hand-Cut Fries ($10) in tempura flour. More like wedges, whatever you call them, that single chip was one of the most heavenly I’ve had. Crispy skin with a soft inside, a lot like a mini potato cake. What 81 Duxton does so well is put their own stance an otherwise rather standard dish making them memorable, which leads me on to my next point..
T – Tasty accompaniments. There are several of these little treasures throughout the menu which truly unearth and enhance the flavour of the produce. The winner for me is the homemade Coconut Kaya – a jam served with the Duxton Platter – which is just divine. Its texture is a little like pureed fish eggs and with all the flavours of a Peshwari naan.  Weird I know, but just amazing and not at all overpowering. I could spread that on my toast every day.
Y – You dine. Better for evening dining than lunch as it offers a broader variety of options and really is the kind of place you want to head to in the evening to soak up the atmosphere.
O – Ozaki Wagyu. The only restaurant outside of Japan to serve Ozaki Wagyu Beef (Sirloin $112, Ribeye $120, Tenderloin $128), right from the Ozaki farm. When I usually think of Wagyu, I think of thinly sliced beef, delicious and lacking in a bit of bulk. This isn’t the case here. The Wagyu is a much thicker steak with some oomph behind it. Super succulent, just marbled enough and perfectly tasty on its own. It’s more like beef cheek or something equivalently melt-in-your-mouth and tender, but with a slight pleasurable chewiness.
N – Neighbourhood. Positioned near some great bars, in the heart of the happening in case you feel like making a night of it and heading elsewhere to close the evening off after a belly full of really good grub.
E – Everything under one roof. Although 81 market themselves as being Japanese inspired, and is indeed Japanese owned, at a glance there isn’t really anything truly Japanese about the place. Instead it’s a mix of cultures and flavours, bridging the culinary gap between the Eastern and Western world, all with a sprinkle of Japanese air. Of course the Wagyu is a big give away..
D – Décor. A beautiful interior, quite fine dining-esque in terms of appearance, with some contrasting cute curbside seating and a tapas area, making this quiet and tasteful venue perfect for a date or a business dinner.
U – Unappreciated. Even though this little beauty has been open over 10 months now, it’s quite the undiscovered gem of Duxton. Give it some love and try some of their excellence.
X – X-tremley fresh! 81 Duxton works closely with local farmers and fishers, both locally in Singapore and in Japan in order to source the freshest and best ingredients. There isn’t too much information about this at the venue itself, but we found out all about it chatting away to the staff.
T- Tips. Little things you might not have known before, that you’ll probably integrate into your life. For example having honey on cheese to neutralise its strength. Some restaurants might just put it in front of you without actually explaining what the honey does and why it’s there, but the staff at 81 really explain the need for everything presented to you and if not, all you need to do is ask because they know their stuff!
O – Only natural beers are served here. A large proportion of the food is also homemade and natural. 81 has the focus on flavour that all restaurants should have. That focus really translates into the excellent dishes.
N – Not to be just passed by again!
For honestly good, freshly sourced food head to 81 Duxton.
Written by Superpat.
On this occasion the meal and photographs were compliments of 81 Duxton.
