COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Settling into its new digs at student hangout PoMo, The Clan Restaurant stands out among the fast food joints and cheap eateries in the mall with its darkened windows and fine dining ambience. But don’t be intimidated by the posh interiors — although it may be slightly too swanky for its surroundings, once you step through the glass doors, you’ll be treated to lovely service that complements the ever-evolving modern European menu of sophisticated dishes.
Each quarter, the menu changes according to the seasons. We may be nearing the end of its summer edition, but there’s still time for you to relish the vibrant, refreshing dishes before autumn arrives. The Clan’s set lunches and dinners are what we recommend — at $29++ for a two-course lunch and $38++ for a three-course one, these may be pricier than other nearby establishments, but they’re definitely worth treating yourself to once in a while. For dinner, the six-course set goes for $78++, which is pretty darned value-for-money, considering what you get.
Start off with an amuse bouche trio of the chef’s special of the day, then dive into the appetisers. Cold appetisers come first — seafood lovers can choose from George’s Bay scallops or freshly shucked oysters served three ways, carnivores have the option of the roasted veal loin, and the pasta-obsessed should try the crayfish one with truffle oil (it’s a rare find in this carb-sparse menu).
Next up, the hot appetisers. You can’t really go wrong with foie gras, served here with fig purée and brioche, but take the adventurous route for once and order the Spanish pork or XL prawn with milk corn. There’s also the must-try dish of charred octopus — one whiff of the smoky, aromatic dish and we were sold, even before we sank our teeth into a fork-tender bite.
Now on to the soups. Try the truffle mushroom or chicken for something familiar and hearty, or get the lobster bisque or chilled gazpacho if you’d like a creamy bowl stuffed with seafood.
Finally, the mains. There’s a reason why the plate of wagyu beef short ribs is The Clan’s bestseller, and we understood why the moment the meat came sizzling on a hoba leaf. Enveloped in a smoky flavour, the succulent slices are so tender, they’ll leave you wanting more. We also enjoyed the Iberico pork pluma with smoked artichoke — think of it as a Western version of char siew, sous vide to perfection. Other options include Dorper lamb with pistachio and yellow curry, and the halibut with a hearty chorizo stew.
If you’re wondering how you’ll have any space left in your stomach by now, trust us, you will. The portion sizes are just right — enough to satiate your hunger pangs, while leaving room for more. Two sweet treats here ended our meal on a high: The sakura, a chocolate dome encasing doris plum ice cream, with hot chocolate to melt it all and drown the fruit salsa in a rich river; and the tart-yet-sweet matcha molten lava cake with yuzu curd and lemon sorbet.
The Clan Restaurant is at #02-01/08 PoMo, 1 Selegie Rd, 6222-2084. Daily lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 6pm-11.30pm.
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