Here’s Why Orchard Central Should Be Your Next Hangout Spot This Weekend

Whenever I’m in town (or at Orchard Road in particular) and am looking for places to dine at, I will never fail to consider Orchard Central as one of my choices as the number of food establishments there are endless, and they are all pretty well known! And even though OC is still undergoing renovations at this point of time, many restaurants are still bustling with crowds – you will definitely have to queue for seats during the weekends because they are always so fully packed.

Located in the heart of town, Orchard Central is easily accessible by Somerset MRT. For those of who are still fretting about what to have for lunch/dinner, you might want to check out these restaurants below when you are nearby!

1) BWB – Burgers. Wings. Bar.

Located on the rooftop garden of Orchard Central, BWB – Burgers. Wings. Bar. is an American-style restaurant that adopts the concept of a fight club theme, adorned with boxing gloves on the walls and bursts of yellows in the restaurant. The restaurant bar serves up countless of burger and wings concoctions – from the ever-popular classic American burger to the quirky but addictive Tyson Peanut Butter Burger that will be sure to whet your appetites.

Since BWB – Burgers. Wings. Bar. recently revamped their menu, we were introduced to some of their signature burgers and the coveted suicide Buffalo wings which I felt was a little too spicy for me though my dining partners agreed otherwise. Another fact that I really loved about the restaurant was that there were both indoor and outdoor seats available – the latter would be perfect if you are looking for somewhere to chill at night as it overlooks a rather scenic view. Haha and of course, if you are looking for a spot to take good food photos with optimal lighting!

If you are looking for the classic American Burger, then you should consider ordering up the BWB Classic Heavyweight (S$19.90). This unpretentious and delicious burger concoction was prepared with juicy Angus beef patty, coupled with other ingredients and condiments like smoked bacon, chili corn carne, sunnyside egg, french mustard, tomato, onions and Monterey Jack tucked between two sesame brioche buns – a medley of robust elements coming together.

And there comes the Tyson Peanut Butter Burger (S$21.90) for the adventurous diners. Personally, I am not a fan of Peanut Butter, but I must say that the creamy and nutty sauce did add a subtle distinction to the otherwise dull burger.

Other than burgers, the main draw of BWB – Burgers. Wings. Bar. also lies in their Buffalo Wings – with 3 levels of spiciness for you to choose from – not for the faint-hearted. We were served the Suicide-level wings which I felt was sufficiently packed with heat though my dining companions agreed otherwise. Haha, I guess it really depends on your threshold!

BWB – Burgers. Wings. Bar.
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, #11-03/04
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6634 0423

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BWBSingapore/

2. En Sakabar

For all you Japanese connoisseurs, En Sakabar will be no stranger to you. Being one of the newest tenants in Orchard Central, En Sakabar  is one of the concept restaurants by the EN Group which serves unpretentious Japanese food using only high quality and top grade ingredients.

The establishment at Orchard Central distinguishes itself from the rest by emerging as a Sake Bar and Restaurant, so that diners can enjoy comforting Japanese cuisines with a wide selection of sake – an ancient Japanese alcoholic beverage brewed from fermented rice.

The restaurant is furnished to resemble a Japanese cottage built with wooden columns and a collection of sake barrels decorating the interior space.

A glance at some of the Sakes served here! The prices of the Sakes here range from S$70 to S$300 a bottle. Once you have taken your pick of the Sakes, they will then be served to you together with a chilled sake cup!

Other than Sakes, diners can also take their pick from a wide selection of Japanese dishes that are priced rather reasonably.

I’m not sure about you, but I’m always game for a wholesome bowl of Chirashi Don. In fact, I even made it a bucket list to try out all the Chirashi Dons in Singapore. I loved everything about this EN Kaisen Chirashi Don (S$30) – from the generous slices and assortment of the sashimi served to the perfect plumpness of every pinkish Japanese rice grain.

The best part? It’s perfectly reasonable price tag. For just S$30, you get premium sashimi and seafood like sea urchin, salmon belly, tuna, tuna tartare, tobiko, ebiko, ikura, swordfish, prawns, a generous slice of unagi and prawn, etc.

We also tried the Zuwai Kani Miso Kourayaki (S$13) which consists of crabmeat, salmon roe and gut grilled in a shell – okay, thoughts of the crab innards aside; I thought this was really good.

And, not forgetting the Jumbo Hotato Yaki (S$8) with additional toppings of Foie Gras (+ S$5) which I completely slayed because one does not simply say no to Foie Gras. There were also copious amounts of Hotate roe which made Hotate Yaki so addictive!

And lastly, the glorious Jikasei Ankimo Tofu (S$10) which comprises of homemade monkfish liver tofu adorned with caviar, uni and ikura toppings. I can’t even emphasise on the exquisiteness of this dish, and it was like placing a piece of heaven in our mouths – so, so delicious.

En Sakabar
Orchard Central,
 181 Orchard Road, #01-16
Singapore 238896

Website:
http://www.endiningbars.com/

3. Dancing Crab

Prior to the food trail, I have already been to Dancing Crab and I was so stoked when I found out that it was going to be one of our food stops!

If you are one who have always dreamt of eating directly from the table with your bare hands, well, then Dancing Crab would certainly fit the bill.

This concept by the TungLok Group boasts a huge selection of yummy Louisiana seafood combos, lobster rolls and different variations of waffles – serving a mix of robust, country-style Cajun seafood and the distinctive richness of Creole cuisine!

The interior space is extremely spacious which will be perfect for large group gatherings and or even as a space to host your events!

Some of the dishes that we got to try that day!

For starters, we were served some of their homemade lemonade drinks which comprise of the classic lemonade, fizzy lemonade, lavender lemonade and the strawberry lemonade – all affordably priced at S$4++ a cup. Considering the amount of food that we had prior to this and the relentless heat from the weather, we just couldn’t wait to down these thirst quenchers.

 

If you are an avid Instagram user, I’m sure you would have come across countless images of these seafood boils, and also the reason why many patrons flock to Dancing Crab. These seafood boils are served with a choice of sauces, such as the Dancing Crab Signature Sauce (Mild, Spicy Or Extra Spicy), Spicy Miso Butter, Beurre Blanc and Zesty Garlic Butter. We went straight for the Combo Bag  #01 with the Dancing Crab Signature Sauce, and it was so well-executed and brimming with such robust flavors that left us wanting more.

The Combo Bag #01 (S$88++) also features a full Sri Lankan Crab, 300g of Prawns, 250g of Clams, Potatoes, Corn, Sausages which was sufficient for sharing among 2-3 pax. And yes, it’s best eaten with your bare hands and straight from the table for the ultimate experience. You won’t have to worry about messing up as disposable aprons will be provided, and you can also wash up at the basin in the restaurant!

For those who are still in the phase for lobster rolls, you can also order up their Lobster Roll (S$29.50++), sufficiently stuffed with generous plump chunks of lobster between toasted brioche buns and served with cajun fries! I haven’t had my fair share of lobster rolls (this is actually the first I’ve tasted), so I can’t comment much. But I must say the ones I tasted at Dancing Crab were rather decent!

Other than seafood selections, Dancing Crab has also dished out a couple of mains, and one of it includes the Duck Waffle served with a succulent duck leg and a gorgeous sunny side up.

Another non-seafood dish served was also the Chicken & Waffles (S$15++) which was one of the best I’ve had so far. Plus, the portion was so huge! I would highly recommend you to enjoy this together with its accompanying sauces!

Dancing Crab
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, #07-14/15
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509 1878
 
Website:
http://www.dancingcrab.com.sg/