Heritage Meets Luxury and Seafood at 1919 Waterboat House
Officially opening 19 November 2015, 1919 Waterboat House is the new lifestyle destination that's perfect for both Chanel-toting, champagne-sipping ladies and modern day salarymen looking for a fine dining restaurant in the Central Business District area that won't break the bank.
Housed in a restored colonial heritage building, it's history meets luxury at contemporary French, seafood-focused fine dining establishment 1919 Restaurant on the second level, which pairs some dramatic decorative pieces with an old-world charm—the first floor sits Starbucks, whilst an exclusive alfresco bar, The Rooftop, on the upper level offers panoramic vistas of the stunning Marina Bay horizon.
I didn't manage to sample a lot at the media preview, but everything we did try was delicious and return-worthy. 1919 Restaurant also offers up an extremely reasonable set lunch—$32 for two courses and $39 for three—with set dinners starting at $58.
Definite highlights include the masterfully executed Saint-Jacques ($22 a la carte, available for set dinner) of succulent Hokkaido scallops, lightly roasted for a hint of charred smokiness, teamed buttered lentils, sugar peas and braised leek in a dulcet scallop emulsion, and the Ciopinno ($25 as appetizer, $38 main course, available for set dinner)—a brilliantly rich, tomato-based San Francisco-style fishermen's stew brimming with the sweetness of seafood like fresh crab, clams, shrimp, scallop, squid, mussels and pacific fish.
Seafood lovers can go for the 1919 Sharing Platter ($58) that includes half a dozen freshly shucked oysters, cocktail prawns, Hokkaido snow crab, maine lobster, scallop ceviche and salmon tartare, or enjoy that goodness crystalized in the form of the indulgent Homad ($48 a la carte) where a paella butter-poached blue lobster tail perches atop a medley of seafood and lobster emulsion.
Another item to note is the Bar D' Atlantique ($32 a la carte, available for set lunch and dinner)—Pira Charcoal Oven-grilled Atlantic sea bass, best enjoyed with the accompanying dollop of lip-smacking forest mushroom essence that brings a pungent yet delightful earthiness to the dish.
End the meal on a sweet note with Pomme ($16, available for set dinner), 1919 Restaurant’s take on a deconstructed apple crumble—light and crunchy crumble with spiced Granny Smith apple slices and dehydrated apple chips for texture, then topped with a homemade cinnamon ice cream that thankfully isn't too sweet.
Address: #03-01 The Waterboathouse, 3 Fullerton Road, Singapore 049215 Tel: +65 6538 9038 Operating hours: Closed Sundays. Mon-Fri 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-11pm. Sat 6pm-11pm.