[Closed] Roosevelt's Diner and Bar Review (Outram Park) - [Media Invite]
I have always walked past Roosevelt's Diner and Bar, located right outside exit H of Outram Park station, on the walk to the other cafes that are in the area. However, it does offer brunch(which I didn't know because it looked like a resto but actually exudes the comfy vibes of a cafe inside as well) and one you shouldn't overlook at that.
The menu is quite extensive and they serve up brunch items that are different. Yes the basic brunch features like poached eggs and big breakfast are there, but they bring it up a notch. You will get what I mean below.
The place is relatively quiet with sufficient space between tables, making it a conducive place for catch-ups.
The menu is quite extensive and they serve up brunch items that are different. Yes the basic brunch features like poached eggs and big breakfast are there, but they bring it up a notch. You will get what I mean below.
Menu
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They do milkshakes here, and really mean ones. We tried three - strawberry cheesecake, Oreo and salted caramel. All three were good in that they were thick enough and the flavours were all there. Of these, I preferred the strawberry cheesecake. The salted caramel was a bit too salty for me (though there were others who said it was too sweet) and the Oreo was just normal Oreo flavour. $12 each for a milkshake is steep, but share if you want to have any chance of stomach space for food after.
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| Oreo Milkshake, Salted Caramel Milkshake, Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake ($12) |
No. Of Forks: 3.5/5, 3/5, 4/5.
Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallops ($24)
Pan Seared Hokkaido scallops - these are seared on one side to give the colour and only one side so that the scallop would not be overcooked. Evidently, they pay a lot of attention to presentation detail here. The seaweed brown butter and Yuzu mustard ricotta gave it creaminess and a mix of flavours - just that when mixed, the flavours can't be distinctly discerned. The only bad thing is it will be finished in a mouthful - an indulgent mouthful. $24 for 3 pieces.
No. Of Forks: 4/5
Salads
Shiitake Sesame Salad ($18)
We started off with 2 salads - the Shiitake sesame salmon and charred corn quinoa salads. My preference was for the shiitake sesame salmon as the dressing was more refreshing. These salads are tasty enough - good if you want a light meal. Why would you want to do that here though? If I were you, I will pick their mains (see below).
No. Of Forks: 3.5/5
Charred Corn Quinoa Salad ($17)
Salads
Shiitake Sesame Salad ($18)
We started off with 2 salads - the Shiitake sesame salmon and charred corn quinoa salads. My preference was for the shiitake sesame salmon as the dressing was more refreshing. These salads are tasty enough - good if you want a light meal. Why would you want to do that here though? If I were you, I will pick their mains (see below).
No. Of Forks: 3.5/5
Charred Corn Quinoa Salad ($17)
No. Of Forks: 3.5/5
Beef Cheek On Potato Pancake ($22)
This is a tower of 3 potato pancakes stacked together surrounded by cayenne buttermilk at the base, topped with braised beef cheek and finally with a wobbly poached egg
The amount of effort that goes into this is quite remarkable - the long hour-braised beef cheek together with the potato pancakes that saw par-boiled potatoes, shredded, seared and refried to achieve the crispy exterior and rosti-like tender waxy shreds inside. I LOVED this. The entire combination was a mixture of savoury flavour and textures: crispy, soft, waxy and shreds, but what really hammered the deal flat were the fantastic potato pancakes. Tasted like the best of hashbrown and rosti combined. Added with the buttermilk sauce - I wiped it all out.
No. Of Forks: 5/5
Truffle Potato Foam with Croissant ($21)
Another item that impressed. It will be a tough choice for me when I visit to pick between this truffle potato foam with croissant or the potato pancakes above. This mini-casserole consists of bacon bits, free-range poached eggs in white truffle oil, topped with a baked cheesy layer and panko breadcrumbs. If I had to be picky, the croissant's internal texture could be better - the layers were a little soggy. This isn't an artisan bakery in any case and the croissant passed, so this isn't of much consequence to the big picture.
No. Of Forks: 4.5/5
The Big Breakfast ($28)
When they said big, they meant it. This can be split between two normal appetites and to make a filling meal, round it off with another side/milkshake/dessert. All the standards of an European breakfast - croissant, chipolata sausage, bacon, shiitake mushrooms, cherry tomaoes, scrambled eggs and spiced potatoes. This is a great choice if you like all the standards. In particular, the standout item of the plate for me were the spiced potatoes. The cayenne-dominant flavour of it and soft but not unpleasant mushy texture worked very well and again, I found myself going for more.
No. Of Forks: 4/5
Mozarrella Steak Sandwich ($16)
Sliced chuck steak sandwiched between wholemeal artisan bread. It comes with a side salad, and is well-made. The sauce made it a bit sweeter than the wholesome savoury I imagined, which might be why I didn't take as much to it. A good choice if you are craving for a sandwich, but otherwise the brunch items are much more outstanding. Have it hot, otherwise the beef becomes rubbery if it turns cold.
No. Of Forks: 4 /5
Churros Waffle ($12)
This was underwhelming because it was only faintly reminiscent of churros flavours, and only because of the cinnamon and sugar flavour within the batter. As it was faint, the chocolate sauce overpowered it when we poured it over the waffle. You may be better leaving the chocolate sauce as an optional dip if you want the churro flavour. I found myself preferring the vanilla bean ice cream over the waffle though it was good texture-wise, the waffle exterior is crisp and interior not dense.
No. Of Forks: 3/5
Prices are definitely slightly steeper for their mains here compared to cafes, but they do their items differently and at a high benchmark. I also want to comment on the amount of thought Ying and her team put into every dish in visual, flavour and texture appeal. Every dish has multiple layers contributing to the whole, along with at least one detail that makes it different. No one dish is single or double-elements-only. This was one tasting I enjoyed very much. Many thanks to Ying and her team for hosting, in particular Ying who explained every dish so carefully to us.
Roosevelt's Diner and Bar
31 New Bridge Road
#01-02 Dorsett Residences, S088764
Opens 11am-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm (11.30pm) Mon - Thurs (Fri); Sat 10am-11.30pm; Sun 10am-10.30pm
Tel: 6538-3518
Beef Cheek On Potato Pancake ($22)
This is a tower of 3 potato pancakes stacked together surrounded by cayenne buttermilk at the base, topped with braised beef cheek and finally with a wobbly poached egg
The amount of effort that goes into this is quite remarkable - the long hour-braised beef cheek together with the potato pancakes that saw par-boiled potatoes, shredded, seared and refried to achieve the crispy exterior and rosti-like tender waxy shreds inside. I LOVED this. The entire combination was a mixture of savoury flavour and textures: crispy, soft, waxy and shreds, but what really hammered the deal flat were the fantastic potato pancakes. Tasted like the best of hashbrown and rosti combined. Added with the buttermilk sauce - I wiped it all out.
No. Of Forks: 5/5
Truffle Potato Foam with Croissant ($21)
Another item that impressed. It will be a tough choice for me when I visit to pick between this truffle potato foam with croissant or the potato pancakes above. This mini-casserole consists of bacon bits, free-range poached eggs in white truffle oil, topped with a baked cheesy layer and panko breadcrumbs. If I had to be picky, the croissant's internal texture could be better - the layers were a little soggy. This isn't an artisan bakery in any case and the croissant passed, so this isn't of much consequence to the big picture.
No. Of Forks: 4.5/5
The Big Breakfast ($28)
When they said big, they meant it. This can be split between two normal appetites and to make a filling meal, round it off with another side/milkshake/dessert. All the standards of an European breakfast - croissant, chipolata sausage, bacon, shiitake mushrooms, cherry tomaoes, scrambled eggs and spiced potatoes. This is a great choice if you like all the standards. In particular, the standout item of the plate for me were the spiced potatoes. The cayenne-dominant flavour of it and soft but not unpleasant mushy texture worked very well and again, I found myself going for more.
No. Of Forks: 4/5
Mozarrella Steak Sandwich ($16)
Sliced chuck steak sandwiched between wholemeal artisan bread. It comes with a side salad, and is well-made. The sauce made it a bit sweeter than the wholesome savoury I imagined, which might be why I didn't take as much to it. A good choice if you are craving for a sandwich, but otherwise the brunch items are much more outstanding. Have it hot, otherwise the beef becomes rubbery if it turns cold.
No. Of Forks: 4 /5
Churros Waffle ($12)
This was underwhelming because it was only faintly reminiscent of churros flavours, and only because of the cinnamon and sugar flavour within the batter. As it was faint, the chocolate sauce overpowered it when we poured it over the waffle. You may be better leaving the chocolate sauce as an optional dip if you want the churro flavour. I found myself preferring the vanilla bean ice cream over the waffle though it was good texture-wise, the waffle exterior is crisp and interior not dense.
No. Of Forks: 3/5
Prices are definitely slightly steeper for their mains here compared to cafes, but they do their items differently and at a high benchmark. I also want to comment on the amount of thought Ying and her team put into every dish in visual, flavour and texture appeal. Every dish has multiple layers contributing to the whole, along with at least one detail that makes it different. No one dish is single or double-elements-only. This was one tasting I enjoyed very much. Many thanks to Ying and her team for hosting, in particular Ying who explained every dish so carefully to us.
Roosevelt's Diner and Bar
31 New Bridge Road
#01-02 Dorsett Residences, S088764
Opens 11am-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm (11.30pm) Mon - Thurs (Fri); Sat 10am-11.30pm; Sun 10am-10.30pm
Tel: 6538-3518
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