Around this time last year, news hit that local celebrity chef Justin Quek was shuttering his Sky on 57 rooftop restaurant in Marina Bay Sands for good. But as it turns out, diners didn’t have to wait long for his return to the Marina Bay area.
Behold, his two new concepts at The Shoppes at MBS: Chinoiserie and JustIN — both recently opened this month.
The former is a fine dining spot that takes its place among all the other celeb chef restaurants in the mall, described as a blend of “Asian culinary culture with the spirit of French haute cuisine.”
Its menu features highlights like dim sum in a champagne emulsion, a five-spice puff pastry inspired by pain au miel, and a plate of scrambled eggs sprinkled with crab meat and caviar. The prix fixe lunch or dinner menus will set you back about $150 to $200, or you could go for the chef’s bespoke menu, from $268 (but note — that option will require a reservation).
The 70-seater restaurant has five private dining rooms (and reservation-only tables) with gueridon service — if you’ve got something to celebrate, then that’ll probably leave you and your company feeling pretty special.
As for JustIN, it leans towards the casual (read: more affordable) end of the spectrum, with 72 seats in the all-day eatery on the Marina Bay promenade. Think Singaporean classics with some sort of contemporary, atas twist, starting from century egg porridge ($8) for breakfast, followed by prawn noodles with pork belly ($16) for lunch, and sweet treats like durian crème brûlée ($12) or salted gula java ice cream on brioche bread ($8). However, this being MBS, expect to pay higher prices for local fare like laksa ($10) and goreng pisang in dessert form ($15).
Come evening time, the menu offers Quek’s signature foie gras xiao long bao ($25), alongside plates like black pepper crab (market price), sweet and sour pork ($28), fish head curry ($38), and wok-fried lobster Hokkien mee ($38) that weigh heavier on your stomach — and your wallet.
FIND IT:
Chinoiserie is at #B1-13/14/15 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave.
6688-7782. Daily noon-2pm, 6pm-10:30pm.
JustIN is at L1-83 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave.
6688-7722. Daily 8am-late.
