Opening to Open Door Policy's New Menu

My visits to Open Door Policy have always been pleasant; engaging staff with decent food, housed in a rather narrow space, exuding a pseudolistic but vibrant New York charm. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a new head chef – Daniele Sperindio, bringing along many new dishes that resonated true to Open Door Policy’s food mantra.

The new dishes are a collaborative effort between Chef Daniele and Chef Ryan Clift of Tippling Club, drawing a combined inspiration from their culinary journeys in UK, Australia and Italy. The Spicy Lamb Spring Rolls($20) may be the Prada of all Popiahs in terms of price, but one can be assured of its quality. The spicy lamb filling would hardly make a burn on your tongue, but the spring rolls come together nicely with small dollops of guacamole and yoghurt that served more of an artistic purpose.

An interesting main course on the menu is the Beetroot Risotto ($25), with a neon shade of pink fashioned from a Hello Kitty store. The beetroot risotto is cooked in sherry vinegar, and topped with cubes of feta goat cheese. While subtle, Chef Daniele has somehow made this dish simple and hearty in taste.

For something more luxurious, the ODP Bouillabaisse ($28) should be on your dining table – a myriad of seafood catch ranging from prawns and scallops to squids, simmered in a rich “eau-de-parfum” broth that encapsulates the essence of the sea. “Simmer” may be too generous a term as it only took a couple of spoonful before wishing Chef Daniele had injected some local Bak Kut Teh free-soup-refill culture into the menu revamp.

While I may be the type of person that gladly trades his dessert for another order of main course, I found myself taking a keen interest in Open Door Policy’s Chocolate Pistachio Soufflé ($18). Chef Daniele had well balanced the ratio of chocolate to pistachio, ensuring the presence of chocolate was felt, yet not to the extent of overpowering the subtle notes of the pistachio.

Open Door Policy ushers in a new head chef with a revamped menu that is sure to please regular patrons. Chef Daniele’s dishes reflect a contemporary facelift to Open Door Policy’s menu while paying close homage to the restaurant’s known culture and charm. Patients with stapled stomach may face some struggle with the bigger portions, but who wouldn’t be open to such a change?

Open Door Policy 19 Yong Siak Street Singapore 168650

Tel: +65 6221 9307

Opening Hours: Lunch: 12pm - 3pm Dinner: 6pm - 10pm Weekend Brunch: 11am - 3.30pm (Closed on Tuesdays)

Previous review on Open Door Policy