The Esplanade has always been renowned for bringing in world-class acts at its amazing concert hall and theatre. They’ve got an exciting year ahead too, with a slew of shows at the 2017 Huayi Chinese Festival of the Arts right after Chinese New Year and Dream Academy’s Detention Katong from 17 Feb. But one thing that’s always bugged us is how there’s a severe lack of food options for either a pre or post show meal, and the fact that most of its shops remain sleepy in the daytime.
Things have changed though, with the newly launched Esplanade Annexe, a haven for any food lover. Whether your preferred cuisine is hipster or halal, local or exotic, the Annexe seems to have it all! We were introduced to some of the newest kids on the block, and we have good reviews for all of them. Check them out below:
Alter Ego
Alter Ego is the sister brand of A Poke Theory, and serves up Poke and more. We had a taste of their Southern fried chicken sandwich and seafood gumbo, served with a healthy side of fries and coleslaw.
We loved the gumbo on its own, and knowing how the guys behind A Poke Theory only use the freshest of ingredients, it’s no wonder the flavours were so rich and aromatic. Alter Ego also offers up some interesting drinks, such as Yeastie Boys South Pacific Porter (similar to a stout), Sharkinator White IPA, which went really well with the fried chicken sandwich, and mead from London brand Gosnell, essentially a sweet, honey flavoured, light alcohol for easy drinking.
Alter Ego
Esplanade Annexe #01-13D
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 2am
Sat: 10am – 2am
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Noosh Halal Noodle Bar and Grill
Noosh is the food place the Malay community has been waiting for, bringing in original halal recipes with a distinct nod to Malay cuisine, and is an ideal place to sit, chill and relax before a show.
We were impressed by their Smoked Duck Lemak Chili Padi Pasta, cooked al dente. The crowning glory of the dish is its sauce, which epitomizes the word ‘lemak’. It’s similar to a carbonara, except with an extremely creamy and coconut-flavoured sauce. In addition, the smoked duck, a dish rarely seen in Malay cuisine, added a new dimension to the flavour and the duck fat helped bring the myriad tastes together into one big tasty moment.
Also be sure to check out their other items on offer – the samosas, beef brisket noodles and curry crayfish noodles. What you need to do is to use their range of chili sauces, These pack a punch, so use sparingly! Although these adds a super shiok factor!
We ended off our tasting session with a dessert – Ondeh Ondeh Cake, a perfect way to round off the meal with its coconut shavings and crispy gula melaka balls.
Noosh Noodle Bar And Grill
Esplanade Annexe #01-13B
Hours:
Tue – Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri: 3pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Mondays
Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle and Bistro
Wah Kee is one of the bigger restaurants of the bunch, seating a grand total of 60 people. Famed for their gigantic prawns (we’re not kidding, prawns weigh up to 350g each), you can choose how big you like your prawns and pay accordingly (starting from the very affordable $6).
We tried their $20 Signature Prawn Noodle Soup, which came with three large prawns, and were blown away by the distinct flavours that the noodles encapsulated. It’s a very modern experience to enjoy hawker fare in the Esplanade, with iPads set up to place orders, while maintaining their historically amazing 65-year old recipe for sambal chilli and special spicy sauces.
Want in on a secret? You can’t get their Mee Kia noodles, made daily in-house, anywhere else but Wah Kee, because the owner is good friends with the owner of the noodle stall, and exclusively sells them to Wah Kee.
We also tried their Clam Soup, which uses only fresh clams. There’s limited stock available, so if you want to try it, make sure you get there early! It’s not on the menu at the moment, but will officially launch from next week.
Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle and Bistro
Esplanade Annexe #01-13C
Hours:
Sun – Thu
11am – 2.30pm (Last order: 2pm)
5pm – 10.30pm (Last order: 10pm)
Fri, Sat & Eve of PH
11am – 2.30pm (Last order: 2pm)
5pm – 11.30pm (Last order: 11pm)
Suzette
Suzette specializes in unique desserts. As one of the few cafes inside the Esplanade, this is definitely one stop you can make for a much needed coffee break if you need it. And for those with a sweet tooth?
Check out their White Chocolate Durian Tart ($12), appropriately shaped similar to the king of fruits and by extension, the Esplanade itself. Suzette also prides themselves on their waffles and original ice creams. We tried two flavours – Earl Grey and Bailey’s, which were wonderfully creamy and went well with their crispy waffles.
Suzette
Esplanade Annexe #01-13E
Hours:
Tue: 12pm – 7pm
Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm
Brunch available from Tue – Sun: 12pm – 5pm
Supply & Demand
Supply & Demand was the last stop of our food journey at the Esplanade Annexe and served mostly bar food. They’re located in a great spot, with a great view of Marina Bay, and had the great food to match. We were quite full by the time we got here, but the food really looked too good to turn down!
We had their garlic truffle fries served with parmesan cheese and salted egg drumlets, the latter of which impressed us with how they were generously and evenly coated with the salted egg sauce, and the chicken itself fried to perfection.
If you’ve got a big appetite, order a serving of their Morning After Pizza, a thin crust, crispy pizza topped with mushrooms, cheese and a sunny side up egg, kind of like a breakfast pizza to kickstart your day and fill you with energy.
Supply & Demand
Esplanade #01-13
Hours:
Mon & Tue: 6pm – 10.30pm
Wed & Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 3am
Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
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With such an exciting new lineup of tantalising food options, you’ll be flocking down to the Esplanade beyond just before a show. You could practically spend a whole day there just indulging in all the gastronomic delights it has to offer, and we’re personally really happy that there’s some serious new life breathed into our favourite pair of durians. So the next time you find yourself in the area, consider popping down to the Esplanade for some seriously good grub to pair with a seriously good show.
