Chopsuey Cafe

Chopsuey Cafe
10 Dempsey Road #01-23

38 Martin Road

http://www.pscafe.com/chopsuey-cafe-at-dempsey-hill/

Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets (SGD $17)

Gourmet Anglo-Chinese Cuisine In A Colonial Setting

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 9
Value for Money: 5
Spent about SGD $50 per person.

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Founded in January 2013 and operated under the PS. Cafe group, Chopsuey Cafe serves up modern gourmet interpretations of Anglo-Chinese cuisine, in an elegantly restored colonial bungalow. Anglo-Chinese cuisine is rare in Singapore, being more common amongst the Chinese populations in Western countries including the United States Of America, England, or Australia. This group of American Chinese / British English Chinese / Australian Chinese is an example of the earliest styles of fusion food, delightfully executed at Chopsuey Cafe.

Ambience at Chopsuey Cafe benefits greatly from its restored colonial bungalow setting, which lends an elegant, sophisticated, old-world charm. Casual and comfortable, with ample natural lighting, rattan wooden chairs around marble topped tables, and retro ceiling fans above. Exquisite flower arrangements lend a vibrant burst of colour against the whitewashed walls, while an open bar stocked with all manner of bottles catches the eye. There is a sense of luxurious, sophisticated class here, well suited to unhurried, lingering meals.

Service at Chopsuey Cafe if excellent, befitting its fine dining status. Staff are professional, from the manner in which they welcome guests, to their good product knowledge of not just dishes, but overall promotions for the brand. Little touches show, such as asking politely if guests are done before proceeding to efficiently clear empty / dirty plates. They attend quickly to requests, and check for feedback on the dining experience. Service recovery is performed well. Slight annoyance though, they apparently don't allow photographs with an actual camera, though mobile photography is allowed, a rule which I find strange.

Food at Chopsuey Cafe is gourmet style Anglo-Chinese, and a fine example of good fusion food. Dishes are well executed and completely delicious; stir-fried dishes have wok hei / breath of the wok; textures are correct, flavours are bold and pleasing. Really impressed with the cooking skill here! Communal dining is a must, as portions are designed to be shared with at least 3 - 4 people. The main barrier to dining at Chopsuey Cafe then, is the high prices. Expensive, as befits a fine dining restaurant, budget about SGD $50 per person for a decent meal here.

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Chopsuey Cafe Signage

Chopsuey Cafe Exterior

Chopsuey Cafe Interior

Bar

Bottles On The Wall

Waiting Area

Floral Arrangement

Menu Introduction

Menu Drinks

Menu Desserts

Menu Food

Condiments

Loved the Mud Crab Fried Rice (SGD $22), with its vibrant, nutritious mix of white, brown, and red rice, chunks of egg, and deshelled fresh crab. What was outstanding is the skill of wok hei / breath of the wok here, each grain has that smoky savoury flavour, contrasted by the sweetness of the crab and egg, making this dish incredibly tasty. Really surprised us that it was so good. Highly recommended!

Mud Crab Fried Rice (SGD $22)

Mud Crab Fried Rice

Mud Crab Fried Rice

The Smoked Fish Fried Rice (SGD $24) features a trio of white, red, and brown rice, stir-fried with eggs. But the star is the smoky savoury salty fish buried within. Made by smoking halibut fish in oolong tea leaves, the dish takes on an earthy smoky aroma, the type of flavour that makes you crave more. Highly recommended!

Smoked Fish Fried Rice (SGD $24)

Smoked Fish Fried Rice

Smoked Fish Fried Rice

The Yam Truffle Balls (SGD $12) dim sum are beautifully crafted, with a nicely golden exterior that is crisp and slightly flaky. The interior is warm and moist, featuring a yam taro shell which is soft and smooth, rich in flavour. This envelops a filling of savoury earthy minced pork meat and tender shiitake mushrooms, perfumed with truffle oil. Big flavour, yet retains that comforting feel. Good!

Yam Truffle Balls (SGD $12)

Yam Truffle Balls

Yam Truffle Balls

The Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets (SGD $17) are an example of street food made gourmet. Steamed soft fluffy Chinese buns / bao, stuffed with shredded cucumber and carrots for crunch, along with savoury salty yet tender moist, shredded duck confit and pulled roasted duck meat. Topped with a warm sweet bean sauce, each bite is 'POW!'... a burst of flavour. Good!

Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets (SGD $17)

Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets

Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets

The Prawn Toasties (SGD $16) was incorrectly served to us, but staff performed service recovery and didn't charge us for it. A meaty, savoury sweet home made prawn paste, hand pounded, on top of crisp artisanal white meal bread, studded with black and white sesame seeds. Satisfiying comfort food, done well.

Prawn Toasties (SGD $16)

Prawn Toasties

Prawn Toasties

Prawn Toasties

A simple Steamed Jasmine White Rice (SGD $3), fragrant and soft. Among the most expensive bowls of white rice I've ever eaten, totally not value for money. Skip this.

Steamed Jasmine White Rice (SGD $3)

Loved the hearty Sweet Corn & Fresh Crab Egg Drop Soup (SGD $18). The bowl holds a generous portion of the sweet savoury soup / broth, which has a rich, thick texture. Garnished with sweet juicy corn kernels, silky eggs, soft beancurd tofu, citrusy Mandarin orange zest, and a good amount of fresh, sweet deshelled crab meat. A dash of vinegar lends added flavour. Perfect Anglo-Chinese comfort dish. Highly recommended!

Sweet Corn & Fresh Crab Egg Drop Soup (SGD $18)

Sweet Corn & Fresh Crab Egg Drop Soup

Sweet Corn & Fresh Crab Egg Drop Soup

Surprised by the Pork & Prawn Wanton Soup (SGD $12), it's among the better versions I've eaten! The soup / broth is herbal and sweet, having a deep, robust flavour, with little spring onions lending some crunch. The wanton dumplings are stuffed nicely with fresh sweet savoury minced pork that bursts with flavour, and a small slice of shrimp / prawn that has a lovely fresh sweet taste. A minor complaint; the wanton dumpling skin wrap is a little too fragile, breaking off easily. Also, rather expensive for just 2 wanton dumplings. But otherwise, the taste is very good.

Pork & Prawn Wanton Soup (SGD $12)

Pork & Prawn Wanton Soup

Pork & Prawn Wanton Soup

Pork & Prawn Wanton Soup

A well executed Chop Suey (SGD $16) here, with a medley of 10 different fresh vegetables, stir-fried along with garlic and a light oyster sauce. Crunchy sweet, the dish features string beans, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, onions, yellow squash, kai-lan / Chinese kale / Chinese broccoli, brussel sprouts, holy basil, snow peas, and edamame soy beans. Named for the classic Anglo-Chinese dish which lends the place its name. Love how simple, and how good, this is. Price is expensive though. Highly recommended!

Chop Suey (SGD $16)

Chop Suey

Chop Suey

The Honey Ginger Chicken (SGD $24) here is very good. Wok crisped strips of tender and moist boneless chicken chunks marinated in ginger, tossed with honey, ginger root, curry leaves, and dressed with sesame seeds. Each bite gets you a hit of the sharp spicy ginger, which fades immediately to the sweet savoury taste of the honey and chicken. Price is expensive though. Highly recommended!

Honey Ginger Chicken (SGD $24)

Honey Ginger Chicken

Honey Ginger Chicken

The Crispy Orange Beef (SGD $24) is also known as Rusty Nails. Aptly named, for the wok crisped strips of grain-fed beef short rib take on a firm, crunchy texture, and a deep rusty brown colour. Good meaty savoury salty flavour, which is contrasted by the zesty sweet Mandarin orange sauce glaze. It coats the beef short rib strips in a sticky caramelised layer that gleams in the light. Served over fresh string beans and Mandarin orange zest. Good!

Crispy Orange Beef (SGD $24)

Crispy Orange Beef

Crispy Orange Beef

The General Tso’s Quail Legs (SGD $24) is a take on the Anglo-Chinese dish of General Tso's Chicken, named for Zuo Zongtang, a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader. They've replaced chicken meat with quail legs, which makes it less messy to eat, more easy and convenient for customers. The classic receipe remains the same, the quail legs are coated in a cornstarch and egg batter, deep-fried to a golden brown, yet the meat remains tender, moist, and savoury sweet within. A rich, sour sweet sharp sauce coats the dish, made from light soy sauce, rice wine, rice wine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, dried red chili, and garlic. Garnished with smoky broccoli florets, halved brussel sprouts, and strips of carrots. Overall, tasty dish.

General Tso’s Quail Legs (SGD $24)

General Tso’s Quail Legs

General Tso’s Quail Legs

The large portion of Ginger Tea Brulee (SGD $14) has a nice, crisp, caramelised sugar crust which cracks delicately, revealing the sweet herbal floral spicy, vanilla and ginger infused custard within. Properly wobbly and smooth, with rich flavour, I commend the execution of this dessert. However, it's not value for money, being quite expensive.

Ginger Tea Brulee (SGD $14)

Ginger Tea Brulee

Ginger Tea Brulee

The Lychee Granita (SGD $15) features lychee syrup infused crushed ice, topped with fruity boba / pearls of mango and lychee, calamansi juice, and smooth passionfruit puree. Love the nice balance of sweetness in this dessert, particularly the juicy boba / pearls which burst delightfully in the mouth. Fragrant and floral, the taste is commendable, though I find the overall dessert to be priced quite expensively.

Lychee Granita (SGD $15)

Lychee Granita

Lychee Granita

The Shooter Yin Yeung (SGD $15) tastes like an alcoholic version of milk tea. This blend of Patrón XO Cafe liqueur (itself a blend of tequila and coffee), oolong tea leaves infused vodka, Baileys Irish Cream liqueur, has a creamy smooth texture, with notes of coffee, milk, toffee, chocolate, and tea. Good!

Shooter Yin Yeung (SGD $15)

Shooter Yin Yeung

The Cocktail Ginger Orchid (SGD $18) is a fruity, tropical blend of fresh pineapple juice, mint leaves, ginger syrup, Teacher's Highland Cream whisky, home made ginger beer, lemon juice, and honey. The result is a cool, refreshing beverage, sweet and fruity with notes of sharpness and fizz. Garnished with orchid flowers, making it so pretty. Perfect for a warm day!

Cocktail Ginger Orchid (SGD $18)

Cocktail Ginger Orchid

In classic Anglo-Chinese tradition, the dining experience ends with a round of complimentary Fortune Cookies. Some of the fortune cookies here are really odd though, containing advice instead, and some actually contain negative omens... not so fun. The actual cookies themselves are crisp and buttery though, so you can still eat them.