PUBLISHED June 30th, 2014 05:06 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:31 pm
Hidden from view behind construction panels and minutes away from the treasure troves of eateries in glitzy Vivocity and fun-filled Sentosa, Outpost Bar & Bistro seems like a venture destined for doom. One neighbour has folded and welcoming its next victim, and Food Republic’s Beer Garden is an oasis at best, nary a soul in sight on a Wednesday night.
Sure, sitting adjacent to St James Power Station might provide Outpost with a decent catchment of weekend, pre-gaming revellers, but certainly there needs to be something else to entice the crowds?
And we’re surprised ourselves how quickly Outpost Bar & Bistro grew on us, especially as the crowd streamed in, past 7, maybe 8pm.This is not a gourmet destination out to re-write gastronomic history, nor a hipster bar stinking of bespoke cocktails and swanky bartenders. Outpost is honest, inexpensive and thrives on human energy.
Beside an out-of-place, moss-filled water fountain, we downed a potent mix curiously named Angel’s F*** You’ ($25), a 7-liquor concoction with a Scotch whisky edge, somewhat like a light pipagao tipple. It is named after one of the bar’s regulars, a testament to Outpost’s close ties with its customers. Save your double-takes for Amber’s Sweet Juicy Pussy and Blowjob cocktails too, and listen instead to the anecdotes, tales and stories behind them.
Whether lounging in rocking pavilions outdoors or perched on bar stools indoors, you can get your fill of live music every night from the likes of local players HubbaBubbas, AlphaBeat and 53A. Throw in some Spam Fries ($12) or Salt & Pepper Calamari ($13), and kicking back after a lousy week is irresistibly simple.
Speaking of food, Outpost does a good job of doing the classics right, even though they aren’t bucket list material. Carbonara Pasta ($17) is jelat and creamy, comfort food at its best, with fettucine dripping with cream and bacon cubes. Another buster of the Monday blues is the Outpost Trio of Mini Burgers ($18). Where bars these days make a mockery of ‘made from scratch’, Outpost eschews ‘ready-made’ and ‘frozen’ by grinding and making its own patties. The result is a lovely trio of a beef slider that’s charred and chunky, a pork burger that’s juicy and flavoursome, and a crab cake sandwich that rivals what you get in Maryland.
For something more substantial, Outpost does a mean Lamb Shank ($25) – a tender whole leg braised and smothered in a sweet, peppery sauce akin to a watered down rendang gravy. Truffle Sauteed Button Mushrooms ($15) are good, but hardly justify the price and the bloated promise of a eureka moment. But still, there’s a vignette to be told there. Go figure.
Hand-stretched pizzas, more finger bites and a couple of mains round up Outpost’s small food menu. There’re a few things that might irk you – iced water and home-made sauces are chargeable, the sound system could use some upgrading – but somehow, it’s easier to forgive and forget at Outpost. We reckon in a few more months, once a few kinks are knocked out and discerning city dwellers come to know of this little escape, this place is going to be pumping. It sure is an out-of-the-way outpost, but for every reason you don’t like it, there’re another two to come back again.
Written by Mr Nom Nom
On this occasion the meal and drinks were compliments of Outpost Bar & Bistro