COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Manulife Centre along Bras Basah Road isn’t exactly known to be a haven for a decent dining experience (no, Food Republic doesn’t count), but that changes now with Ta-Da! The Bistro. Located conveniently within walking distance of institutions such as Singapore Management University and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the restaurant hopes to offer fine-dining gourmet delicacies at affordable prices.
But first, bar grubs. To accompany the happy hour drink promotions (the joint is near various colleges after all), Ta-Da! offers Triple J Wings ($12) with blue cheese dip, popcorn chicken ($12), and Basilic Chips ($10) — fluffy gnocchi-shaped fried potato pillows that are nearly impossible to stop popping into your mouth. Clean eaters aren’t left out either because they can nosh on customizable poké bowls with dozens of combinations.
Adding to the casual vibes and enhancing one’s hang-out sesh is the restaurant’s digital jukebox that allows patrons to choose any tune they’d like from Spotify to play on the sound system.
The gourmet aspect arrives in entrées such as the seaweed and caviar cold pasta ($16), the wagyu striploin ($24.90) with whipped potato, grilled onions and beef jus, and the pan-fried salmon with green sauce, salad, chicken jus and a delectable spiced poached tomato ($21.90).
If you’re wondering about the veracity of the epicurean element, just know that the mastermind in the kitchen of Ta-Da! has been trained in France and hails from the kitchen of Joël Robuchon himself.
Ta-Da! The Bistro is at 51 Bras Basah Rd, Manulife Center #01-03A. Mon-Sat 11am-11pm.
