The Stamford Brasserie: Hearty Bistro Fare at Swissôtel The Stamford’s New Casual Tri-Concept Restaurant

PUBLISHED May 11th, 2018 06:40 am

Revamping a hotel isn’t done in a day, and the folks at Swissôtel The Stamford started the process with their rooms last year. The last few months saw the extreme makeover of the property’s ground floor Introbar, which has since emerged as The Stamford Brasserie. Helmed by Chef De Cuisine Tryson Quek – who’s also the main man behind sister bar Anti:dote’s inventive offerings – the multi-concept venue offers up fresh, wholesome fare (that’s also available at their Grab & Go counter)and craft beer amidst a classy yet relaxed setting reminiscent of a classic French brasserie. The best part? The Stamford Brasserie is the pioneer dining outlet on the property to be entirely plastic straw-free, and the hotel’s 14 other establishments will follow suit soon!

Besides the interior design, accented with marble tabletops, intimate seats with wooden finishings, and mosaic tile accents on the concrete floor, the marriage of the traditional and the contemporary extends to the comforting bistro cuisine that comes out from the sleek open kitchen. Those looking for lighter but filling lunch options will do well with the Super Salad ($16), which is chock full of superfoods like kale, tri-coloured quinoa, bulgur (a Middle Eastern grain that is a good source of plant-based protein), radish, and avocado dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. We’d also highly recommend the Taproot Salad ($16) for those who prefer their salads to be less ‘green’. Topped with a generous handful of fresh berries, walnuts, and feta cheese with a berry vinaigrette dressing, this toothsome salt baked root vegetables salad is delicious.

A brasserie could hardly be called one without a hearty stew on the menu. In this case, Chef Tryson’s fragrant, and lightly spiced coconut milk based Fresh Catch Seafood Stew ($20) comes brimming with juicy clams, scallops, fish, and prawns. Enhanced with lemongrass and drops of leek and spring onion oil and served with garlic bread, this is soul food at its best. Another must-order for shrimp lovers is the Baked Prawn Toast ($13) – fresh, crunchy shrimp and melted cheese on bread with homemade sweet chili and Asian coleslaw on the side, there’s plenty about this dish to love.

Wholesome and vegetarian-friendly, the pillowy texture of the House-made Gnocchi ($19) is as enjoyable as the burnt porcini cream the potato dumplings sit in. That said, carb-loving diners looking for something meatier to indulge in should consider the humble Ham & Cheese Sandwich ($17) with slices of honey baked ham and melted mozzarella and cheddar between toasted bread. Don’t neglect those nicely roasted potatoes on the side either. Chef Tryson also has a way with pork; the Pulled Kurobuta Pork ($17) sandwich is flavoursome without being too heavy, and the meat of the BBQ Pork Ribs ($25) – braised in beer and red wine – fell off the bone without much effort from us. That homemade BBQ sauce is, to borrow a phrase, finger lickin’ good.

There might only be two desserts on the menu, but they cover the bases of fruity and refreshing, and rich and chocolatey. The acidity of the yuzu lemon curd of the Citrus Medley ($12) was just right, but I have a personal preference for the Chocolate Sensation ($12), for beneath the puff pastry and the warm chocolate foam lies a small amount of yogurt ice cream to give the dessert a lift that makes going back for the next mouthful all too easy.

Aside from the Grab & Go Counter to cater to the workaholics in the vicinity, The Stamford Brasserie is also a beer bar with a curated selection of 22 craft beers from countries like Singapore, Japan, Australia, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. If you’re looking draught beers, they also have Tiger, Kirin, Erdinger, Guinness, and Archipelago’s Singapore Blonde and Tok Kong IPA on tap.

The Stamford Brasserie is located at Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882, p. +65 6431 6156. Grab & Go Menu available 6.30am-8pm, Bistro Dining Menu available 12pm-10pm (last order 9.30pm), Bar Menu available Sun-Thu 12pm-12am (last order 11.30pm), Fri-Sat 12pm-1.30am (last order 1am). For the latest updates, follow The Stamford Brasserie on Facebook and Instagram. 

This article is sponsored by Swissôtel The Stamford.