Gurame Indonesian Restaurant
11 Changi Coast Walk
http://www.gurame.com.sg/
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| Gurame Goreng (SGD $30) |
Delicious Indonesian Cuisine, With A View
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $28 per person.
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Founded in November 2010 and suited along Changi Coast Walk, within the National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC), Gurame Indonesian Restaurant is a casual restaurant serving tasty and delicious home-style Indonesian cuisine. Not to be confused with another similarly named restaurant also in the East of Singapore, Gurame Indonesian Restaurant offers a more scenic atmosphere, and prices are relatively wallet-friendly. This visit was a celebration lunch for several career promotions.
Ambience at Gurame Indonesian Restaurant is a highlight. The place is simply furnished with sturdy wooden furniture and white floor tiles, with warm lighting at night, and ample natural sunlight during the day. But the best is to sit at the al-fresco area, sheltered from the elements, yet offering a scenic, fantastic view of the sea. With a cool breeze blowing, and palm trees swaying in the wind, it's almost like you're on a quiet, tranquil island.
Service at Gurame Indonesian Restaurant is quick and functional, very process efficient, but more thought could be put in for a more pleasant dining experience. Staff are friendly and courteous, quickly seating guests, and are able to manage large groups well. They display good product knowledge on the small menu. I note they're quick to clear away empty / dirty tables when diners leave, however, I wish they would offer a change of plates during the meal.
Food at Gurame Indonesian Restaurant is home style Indonesian cuisine, with classic Malay favourites. Dishes are rustic in presentation, bold in taste, and hearty and large in portion. Best for group / communal dining, at least 3 or more people. Love the complex combination of spices in dishes, and the well executed grilled items. Prices are relatively affordable for a restaurant, comparable to a cafe in fact. Good value for money, budget about SGD $28 per person for a meal here.
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Signage |
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Exterior |
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Interior |
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| Seating Outdoors |
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| Seating Indoors |
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Menu Ala-Carte |
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Menu Ala-Carte |
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| Gurame Indonesian Restaurant Menu Set |
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| View |
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| View |
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| View |
The Iced Lemon Tea (SGD $4 per jug) is served in a jug, and is good for up to 5 diners. Straightforward, rather sweet and zesty in flavour.
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| Iced Lemon Tea (SGD $4 per jug) |
The Emping & Sambal (SGD $3) is served at the start of the meal, and opens the palate. I like that the belinjo nut crackers have a crisp, crunchy texture, with an earthy bitter flavour. Pair it with the spicy sambal belachan dipping sauce for greater flavour.
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| Emping & Sambal (SGD $3) |
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| Emping & Sambal |
A generous portion of White Rice (SGD $1.50), with a sticky, fluffy texture. Rather expensive as compared to elsewhere though.
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| White Rice (SGD $1.50) |
The Sayur Lodeh (SGD $7) has a rich, tasty gravy, filled with cabbage, young jackfruit, radish, long beans, and dried shrimp. The coconut milk gravy takes on the vegetal sweet flavour of the vegetables and fruits, as well as the savoury shrimp flavour, gaining a robust body. Stewed till the ingredients are nicely tender, yet not limp, still holding form. Good!
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| Sayur Lodeh (SGD $7) |
The Sambal Kang Kong Udang (SGD $8) has a nice, crunchy texture, with a light vegetal sweet flavour, contrasted by the spicy gravy that has a quick burst of fiery heat. The fresh deshelled prawns / shrimp have a light chew, with a sweet savoury flavour. I like that they're generous with the portion too.
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| Sambal Kang Kong Udang (SGD $8) |
The Soto Ayam (SGD $7) here differs from the Singaporean Malay version, more closely resembling the Indonesian home style version instead. The major difference is the absence of rice cakes / ketupat or yellow egg noodles, instead, glass vermicelli noodles are used. It's still garnished with shredded chicken, bean sprouts, and egg, along with diced tomatoes, shallots, and spring onions. However, the broth is opaque instead of clear, with a more delicate savoury sweet salty flavour, a combination of coconut milk and chicken stock.
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| Soto Ayam (SGD $7) |
The Cumi Sambal (SGD $15) is basically squid rings in sweet and spicy chili sauce, along with onions. The squid is fresh with a bouncy texture, and a light sweet flavour, though the much stronger sauce overlays this. Nice, when paired with white rice.
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| Cumi Sambal (SGD $15) |
The Gulai Kepala Ikan (SGD $24) features a white snapper fish head, with a generous amount of tender, flaky, sweet savoury fish meat, served in a warm claypot of mildly spicy curry. With a base of coconut milk, the curry is fragrant and delicate in taste. Alright as a dish, compared to the more robust flavours of the other dishes here, this was rather underwhelming.
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| Gulai Kepala Ikan (SGD $24) |
The Udang Bakar (SGD $30 for 10 pieces) features large, fresh, meaty tiger prawns, marinated in sticky sweet kecap manis sauce, then barbecued / grilled gently. Served with a butterfly cut to make eating easier, the prawns come out from the shells easily, and have a moist texture, with a bold sweet savoury flavour. Hints of smoky on the palate too. Nice.
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| Udang Bakar (SGD $30 for 10 pieces) |
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| Udang Bakar |
The house signature dish, the Gurame Goreng (SGD $30) features a medium sized, air-flown gourami fish. This freshwater fish is flash fried to a perfect golden brown, with an extremely crisp, crunchy texture to the skin, yet the fish meat within remains moist, tender, and flaky, with a delicate sweet savoury flavour. This classic, traditional Indonesian dish can be served with either sweet sticky kecap manis or a spicy chili dipping sauce on the side. Highly recommended!
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| Gurame Goreng (SGD $30) |
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| Gurame Goreng |
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| Gurame Goreng |
The unique Ayam Kalasan (SGD $18) features a whole spring chicken, marinated in a sweet sticky glaze of honey, and lightly flash fried. The chicken meat is moist but could be more tender, as it requires some effort to pull from the bone. Flavour is boldly sweet savoury, not overwhelming, having a nice balanced ratio. Alright.
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| Ayam Kalasan (SGD $18) |
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| Ayam Kalasan |
What I like about the house signature beef Rendang Sapi (SGD $12), is the fork tender cuts of beef. Texture is so moist and soft, pulling apart easily. The gravy is rich and robust, deeply meaty savoury with hints of salty sweet. Aptly enough, this is a best seller here.
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| Rendang Sapi (SGD $12) |
The unique Tahu Kipas (SGD $12 for 10 pieces) features fluffy tofu beancurd skins, stuffed with diced prawns, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and spring onions. Lovely sweet savoury earthy flavours, very bright and enticing. Texture is juicy chewy tender, completely delicious. Good!
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| Tahu Kipas (SGD $12 for 10 pieces) |
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| Tahu Kipas |
The Es Chendol (SGD $5) was intensely sweet, despite the large amount of shaved ice. The creamy, milky, chilled coconut milk and coconut cream broth has soft earthy kidney beans, slippery chewy pandan / screwpine leaf infused jelly noodles, and lacings of floral sweet gula melaka / palm sugar. Mix well before eating.
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| Es Chendol (SGD $5) |
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CONVERSATION