Located just walking distance across the bridge from Keppel Bay, the calm and serene setting of Marina at Keppel Bay offers a great respite from the fast pace of life and the busyness of the city.
Tucked behind Privé cafe, sits its new neighbour Bayswater Kitchen. Upon walking into the restaurant, I really loved the French-panelled doors that let plenty of natural light in.
There was plenty of breezy alfresco seating by the water’s edge, and the indoor space was open, yet cozy – perfect for a girl’s afternoon luncheon, or a casual night out.
The restaurant was decked out in blue and white decor, complemented by wooden furnishings that made sure the place stayed true to its nautical, Mediterranean vibe.
Being a huge fan of Mediterranean food, I was already excited about the dishes as I browsed through their menu. Nuff said, I’ll let the food do all the talking.
First up were their freshly-shucked Pacific Oysters($6 each) from the Netherlands. I loved the tangy mignonette sauce that accompanied the dish, bringing out the clean and briny taste of the oysters.
Another snack that whetted our appetite was the Whipped Cod’s Roe($9), served with crispy flatbread. This was easily one of my favourites, the light, fluffy cod roe dip was flavourful and garlicky, sprinkled with a dash of black pepper.
This was an addictive match made in heaven with the flatbread, and I couldn’t stop snacking on it throughout the meal.
The Japanese Mackerel Tartare($19) tasted very fresh and was topped with fried batter bits that added to the texture of the dish. Being a fan of all kinds of raw fish, I loved how the mackerel had a meaty bite to it, and the addition of pickles balanced out the richness of the cream sauce.
You’d usually expect to see fish and chips on the menu as a main dish, but their Beer-Battered Cod ‘Fish and Chips'($19) was presented as a great starter. The fish was flaky and moist, encased in a light and crispy batter. It went well with the texture of the crushed green peas and their house-made tartar sauce.
One of the more memorable dishes during my meal was the succulent Chargrilled Octopus($19) served with smoked roe, gremolata and Berlotti beans. The octopus was easy to cut apart with a knife and was not overly chewy.
The best part of this dish was enjoying the smoky charred bits on the outside of the octopus, with hints of the zesty, herby gremolata adding on to the flavour.
The Lamb Cutlet($38) comes with two perfectly pink-on-the-inside pieces of the cutlet and house-made lamb sausages, resting on a bed of thick grilled eggplant and fresh tomato sauce.
As with most ovine meats that usually carry a gamey smell, this dish had no hint of it at all. The meat was moist and had a good fat-to-meat ratio. The eggplant carried itself well and mellowed out the overall sharpness of the tomato sauce.
This was the most unusual dish of them all, the Butter Roasted Cauliflower($10) topped with hazelnut pesto and sprinkled with parmesan. As hazelnuts are commonly used in desserts, I would have never imagined them being used in a savoury dish, let alone in a pesto sauce.
Taste-wise, it was one of my favourites, with the crunchy, tasty hazelnuts complementing the versatility of the roasted cauliflower. The butter really brought out the “Ferrero Rocher” scent of the hazelnuts. This is definitely not your typical veggie side dish.
Straight Cut Fries($9) were served “shaker-style” (a la ‘shaker fries’ at McD’s) with seaweed seasoning and Sriracha garlic dip. One bite and you’ll realise that this isn’t your regular run-of-the-mill fast food franchise fries, these potatoes were crunchy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Works wonderfully well with the spicy dip.
The star dish that stole both my taste buds and my heart during my visit to Bayswater Kitchen — The Fisherman’s Feast ($34 per person, min 2 pax) was an absolute treat from the moment it was placed on the table. This dish was generously served with wild-caught Boston lobster, green mussels, chargrilled prawns and fish, atop fresh handmade linguine in a buttery, seafood broth. Squeeze in the juice of the grilled lemon onto your seafood feast and you are ready to dig in.
The umami-packed broth was definitely the cornerstone that this dish was built upon, and I couldn’t stop myself from having second (maybe third!) helpings of the smooth linguine. The lobster meat tasted utterly rapturous when dipped in the rich broth, and I found myself tuning out for a minute to whatever my dining partner was saying at the table while savouring that piece of juicy lobster.
Easily the most memorable dish of my meal that afternoon, I was amazed at how they were able to capture the essence of a comforting home-cooked meal, along with choice ingredients, into a humble cast iron pan.
One special feature of this dish is that you can take home the shells to make your own lobster broth and recreate this moment back in your very own kitchen. Just tell the wait staff and they will gladly pack the shells for you, providing you with the broth recipe and their secret seasoning. Being an avid cook myself, I couldn’t pass on something as good as this!
Desserts were doled out and this Chocolate Bar($12) was sprinkled with hazelnut praline and topped with a scoop of banana ice cream. The bar itself reminded me of a dense dark chocolate mousse, and the banana ice cream delicately balanced and perfumed the richness of this dish.
Now, I could smell this dish as it was being served– the citrusy Whipped ‘Cheesecake'($12) arrived at our table, and we were greeted with the refreshing scent of Kaffir limes. This dessert was a great palate cleanser, that encompassed bold lime and passionfruit flavours, with a delightful crunch from the crumbled shortbread.
For lovers of Limoncello, this one’s for you.
The last and final dish, Yoghurt Panna Cotta($12) was topped with flavoursome, tart cherry sorbet and sliced almonds. My favourite of all the desserts, the yoghurt made the panna cotta lighter, but still as creamy, with the sliced almonds adding extra texture to the dish.
With our happy bellies bursting at the seams, Bayswater Kitchen definitely deserves a return visit. Despite the slightly off the grid location, this place is worth the travel and rewards your journey with delicious Mediterranean food and the feeling of a mini-getaway from the hustle and bustle.
This is a great place for small, intimate gatherings with friends and loved ones, and perfect for date nights as the alfresco deck is lighted up with fairy lights. There’s also a ping pong table in the private dining room that you can use to beat that post-meal food coma.
For those heading down, The Fisherman’s Feast, Butter Roasted Cauliflower and Whipped Cod’s Roe are must-tries, and if you have extra space for dessert, go for the Yoghurt Panna Cotta.
Expected Damage: $40 – $60 per pax
Bayswater Kitchen: 2 Keppel Bay Vista Singapore 098382 | Tel: 6776 0777 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 3pm (Lunch, Mon-Fri), 6pm – 10pm (Dinner, Mon-Fri), 6pm – 11pm (Sat) | Website