Name of restaurant: House
Type of cuisine: Modern with European and Asian influences
After eight years of serving quirky, comfort food, House at Dempsey is finally giving its menu a facelift – one that boasts elegant fare with a dash of kitsch. We welcome the refreshing change that gives its current fare a polished finish without compromising on the feel-good factor.
Ambience: Modern with a touch of vintage furniture. The floor to ceiling glass windows also provide ample natural lighting for that housed in al fresco feel.
Must-tries: The Pearl Barley Salad, $15, makes for the perfect precursor to all the heavy-hitting mains that are to come. The salad sees a surprisingly refreshing twist of pearl barley and crunchy sugar snap peas drizzled with herby marjoram vinaigrette and nutty red quinoa. For non-barley fans like myself, don’t worry, as all you can taste is a hint of it, nothing too overpowering. It does its job as a starter by prepping the palate while cleansing it at the same time with a mix of textures.
Those into something more flavourful can tuck into the Asparagus, Serrano Ham and Crumbed Egg, $22. The cured, air-dried Spanish ham packs a robust punch that goes well with the simply-grilled asparagus spears. Although the ham may be slightly on the saltier side, the marriage with the crumbed egg – poached with a crispy crumb coating (but a tad too bland on its own)- is one that will sit well with many.
For mains, give the Braised Pork Shoulder Rigatoni, $28, a go. The tender pulled pork shreds are braised to perfection making it just the right melt-in-your-mouth consistency. The rigatoni is soft and warm, and doused in a rich tomato sauce that has a hint of spice – it’s comfort food in a bowl.
Of course, for all steak fans, don’t miss out on the Hangar Steak with Croquettes & Wild Mushrooms, $27. The croquettes were nicely breaded and crispy on the outside while soft and warm on the inside. The generous chunk of steak was done medium rare style (kept nice and pink) without being too tough. Topped with the mushroom sauce made from wild mushrooms, the distinct earthy taste went perfectly with the tender, juicy steak. The sprinkling of greens on top was the icing on the cake.
If you’re not completely stuffed after all that delicious goodness, remember to check out House’ signature fries that are available in tantalising options like Carrot Fennel, Pumpkin Hazelnut, Taro and Curry. Needless to say, they are the perfect addition to the meal or to go with the comprehensive list of cocktails.
Verdict:
A much-needed menu update for a favourite food haunt that doesn’t compromise on quality or comfort.
House is located at 8D Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249672. Tel: 6475 7787. Visit www.dempseyhouse.com for more details.