Komyuniti: Buttermilk Fried Chicken + S$18 Smoked Cocktails In This Casual Social Dining Along Orchard Rd

Imagine a place where cuisines and conversations collide, in a social space that fosters and encourages bonding over mouth-watering dishes. That’s what Komyuniti at Yotel is all about.

This restaurant is for more than just dining; it’s equipped with a bar, restaurant, alfresco terrace and a co-working space, allowing guests to network, socialise, relax, work — you name it.

Allow your ideas to flow, along with endless chatter, as you’ll be able to comfortably work and mingle till 11pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends.

Start your session with KOMpliment (S$18), a Yotel signature cocktail made with butterfly pea flower-infused gin, fresh lemon, violet liqueur, egg white, hibiscus perfume and orange bitters.

The first sip was a floral hit, followed by a short punch of sweetness, before ending on a mellow bitterness contributed by the lemon and orange bitters. The cocktail helped open up my palate for the courses to come.

Putting a crunchy touch to your usual poke, the Salmon Poké (S$13) here is served with a side of fried onion crackers. Tossed in house-made chilli sauce and soy, the salmon’s spiciness was pronounced and unmistakable.

However, it wasn’t strong enough to deter me from wolfing down every single crumb. This is one appetiser you won’t mind eating with your hands.

The La Negra Rita (S$18) is a storm-hued drink made with kaffir leaf-infused tequila blanco, charcoal syrup, orange liqueur, fresh lime, citrus foam, orange blossom water and black salt. If there were a drink to reflect a moody state, this would be it.

It was strong, with a slow, crawling warmth that spread at the back of my throat. The bitterness wasn’t muted in the least bit, but I suppose the charcoal syrup helped to ease the tang that I tasted at the beginning. Overall, this drink needed some time to be nursed, and not meant to be gulped down excitedly.

Komyuniti’s take on Beef Tartare (S$14) is a sized-down portion of aged beef rump with brown butter sauce and an Asian herb salad. I’m not typically a fan of beef tartare, but I could appreciate this for its fresh and succulent meat.

The beef is best enjoyed atop the crisp toast that it’s served with, for that extra crunchiness and textural enjoyment (if you know me, I’m all about that texture).

How about a sip of Curry Corn Soup (S$9) that’s topped with fried brussels sprouts leaves? It’s adorably served in three tiny portions of espresso cups, I suppose for ease of consumption.

The crisp edges of the brussels sprouts added complexity to the creamy corn soup, while the curry spices were a nice alternative seasoning to the usual sweet corn suspect.

A familiar favourite is Mama’s Tomato Soup (S$9). It has red bell peppers for a touch of heat and a sprinkle of basil for an aromatic and comforting starter. Between the two soups, the latter was my pick, presumably due to familiarity.

Fried chicken is easily a crowd favourite, and needless to say, I was mega excited to try their Buttermilk Fried Chicken (S$13). At Komyuniti, cornmeal is used to create that addictive crusty shell that holds the succulent chicken, and served with succotash and sweet potato mash.

The sweet potato mash was a nice alternative to regular mashed potato and did well to supplement the dish with an element of subtle sweet taste.

I was, however, sad to find that their Roasted Pork Belly (S$19) was a let-down. I had expectations of an utterly crackling top with a gelatinous and supple fatty middle, but the skin wasn’t crispy at all.

Instead, it was a mash of tender pork meat and limp pork skin. I wouldn’t know if this was a one-off mishap, but regardless, I will commend them on beautifully done apple puree.

The Slow Roasted Duck Breast (S$20) was much better, with its slightly pink centre. What I enjoyed most about this dish was the union between tart and buttery (with the braised red cabbage and carrot puree).

Everything melted in my mouth, and the duck breast was the most outstanding meat dish that evening, for sure.

Speaking of stand-out items, we were served another interesting cocktail post-mains — the Fat Roger (S$18). The bourbon is washed in pork fat and is topped up with cacao-herb liqueur, chocolate bitters, and finally served with smoked ham and dried cranberries.

To witness the making of this drink is one, but to taste it is another. We were advised to roll up the dried cranberries in the smoked ham and eat it in one bite before taking a liberal swig.

The combination left a mildly greasy feeling on the palate. Taste-wise, there was a spicy and powerful punch as it went down, finishing with a sweet-bitter profile.

It’s tough to find a decent apple cake around here, so I was so happy that the Apple Walnut Cake (S$10) justified my hankering for dessert. The cake was moist and was complemented by a milky toasted barley ice cream. Their dessert menu isn’t very extensive, so if you had to pick one, this would be my recommendation.

Hotel restaurants aren’t necessarily anyone’s first pick when it comes to dining out, but consider Komyuniti to be your next get-together spot. The venue is casual and laid-back, and your budget won’t be stretched to its limits.

The food is as casual as its ambience, which is probably one of its selling points as compared to other hotel restaurants. Coupled with its central location, it’ll soon to be a choice haunt for both young and old.

ChopeDeals: Save 10% at Komyuniti >

Expected Damage: S$25 – S$35 per pax