Restaurant Week Review: Salt Grill & Sky Bar @ Ion Orchard

It so turned out that friend S booked Gaia which I just had a few days before our dinner appointment (I mean, what are the chances?), so we changed to Luke Mangan's Salt Grill & Sky Bar instead, which served modern Australian cuisine (though I can't tell the difference between Australian and normal Western cuisine). 

Some of us may think that Ion Orchard is just 4 or 5 floors of shops, but there's actually a restaurant hidden all the way up at Level 55, accessible from a lift near Level 4 Concierge. There is a counter for Salt Grill there and the receptionist will direct you to the lift. Taking the lift itself, with its astronomical ceiling, is an experience in itself, especially if you go for dinner, and you step into the dark, romantically lit restaurant, with one of the best views of the Singapore skyline. 

Upon arrival, we were pleasantly greeted by the wait staff, who ushered us to our seats. Although we didn't get the window seats, the view was still pretty awesome from where we were. 

We were served with bread first, and interestingly, besides olive oil, they provided dakka/duqqa/dukkah as well, which is an Egyptian side dish consisting of a mixture of herbs and nuts.  

Entree: "glass" Sydney crab omelette, enoki mushroom and herb salad, miso mustard broth (U.P $34) 

You can rarely go wrong with egg, and the crab meat wrapped inside the omelette was sweet and juicy, and enhanced the flavour of the egg. 

Citrus cured salmon, avocado, apple, fennel, with salmon roe 

Then I wished we went for lunch instead of dinner because the lighting was so dim, the photos turned out lousy. We resorted to using a simple trick for the next few photos, which looked marginally better. 

Main: BBQ spiced beef tenderloin, mash, pumpkin puree, red wine jus 

Sad to say, I'm afraid the U.S. Angus Steak served at New Ubin Seafood was much better. 

Grilled barramundi, caramelized witlof, capsicum and sultana  

Dessert: Chocolate delice, salted caramel, honeycomb, and praline ice cream

Lemongrass panna cotta, char grilled pineapple, and ginger beer sorbet 

The ginger beer sorbet and lemongrass panna cotta were refreshing, and the praline ice cream from the other dessert was also very good. Although the place seems pretty atas, once you settle into your space, it's relaxing and comfortable, the wait staff are non-intrusive but readily available, and there's a healthy space between you and your neighbours. 

 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard, 

#55-01 & #56-01 

Singapore 238801

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday

Restaurant

Lunch: 11.00 – 14.00 (Last Order)

Dinner: 18.00 – 22.00 (Last Order)

Sky bar

18.00 – 23.30

(Drink last order at 23.00)

Brunch (Weekend)

11:00-14:00 (Last order)

Afternoon Tea: 14:00-18:00

Dress Code: Smart Casual

http://www.saltgrill.com/