Through its mastery of local flavours, Chatterbox has endured the test of time on Singapore’s food scene for over 5 decades. Its newest opening at the Sentosa Weave offers a laid-back, modern setting in which to enjoy time-tested Singaporean classics.
Established in 1971, in what was then the Mandarin Orchard (now the Hilton Orchard), Chatterbox was created to bring Singaporean flavours from the city’s streets into the comforts of a five-star luxury hotel. The emphasis here is on traditional recipes using premium ingredients.
With the original Orchard eatery still as busy as ever (reservations are strongly encouraged), the brand has expanded with its latest opening on Sentosa.
I visited with my two ravenous kids after a day out on Sentosa and was relieved to escape the heat and crowds by stepping into the bright, cool and modern space.
The “home of Mandarin Chicken Rice” delivered on its speciality dish – a true crowd-pleaser. The chicken is juicy and served boneless, with the accompanying rice bursting with flavour and “just-right” texture, according to the food critics-in-the-making accompanying me. This is chicken rice done right: bursting with flavour, succulent and tender.
We also got to try out other local classics – including the seafood hokkien mee (served with scallops, squid and prawns), stir-fried beef with ginger onions (tender and succulent, we devoured every last piece), the prawns in palm sauce (crunchy and sticky and very moorish), the crispy salted egg chicken wings (not for the uninitiated!) and the chicken and beef satay, which rivals the chicken rice for the “classics perfected” prize.
Our meal was wrapped up with a platter of homemade traditional kuehs, which lasted all of 30 seconds on our table before disappearing from sight – these are irresistibly yummy and have been living rent-free in my mind ever since.
Staying true to its roots, Chatterbox has managed to nail recipes that celebrate Singapore’s culinary traditions while catering to discerning palates amidst the island’s overwhelming food scene.
Whether you’re looking to initiate overseas guests to classic Singaporean fare in a cool, comfortable setting or beat the heat and crowds after a family day out on Sentosa, Chatterbox is sure to hit the spot. Reservations are encouraged.
a. 26 Sentosa Gateway, #02-207 Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore 098138
fb. www.facebook.com/chatterboxsingapore
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