51 Soho Tasting Session

51 Soho Tasting Session
51 Telok Ayer Street #01-01

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 11pm


https://www.facebook.com/51soho/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Purple Taste, msginginly, and Her Pen And Fork.

Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast (SGD $12)

Hearty, Affordable, Comforting Modern European Plates & Asian Skewers

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 9
Value for Money: 7
Budget about SGD $30 per person.


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Established in January 2019 by the same group behind Birds Of A Feather and Halcyon & Crane, 51 Soho is their 'comfort food' concept, eschewing the luxurious modern fusion cuisine of Halcyon & Crane, and a world apart from the casual modern Asian flavours of Birds Of A Feather. Named for their location (which sounds like a luxury condominium), 51 Soho stands on its own as a relaxing casual gastrobar for wholesome, hearty, comforting, and affordable plates.

51 Soho Signage

51 Soho Exterior

51 Soho Interior

Ambience at 51 Soho is casual and relaxing. There's more outdoor than indoor seating, and a variety of furnishings to choose from; such as comfortable cushioned lounge chairs or functional but wide wooden seats. The outdoors benefit from ample natural light during the day and cool breezes at night, while the indoors are warmly and intimately lit. The well-stocked bar, which stretches nearly the full wall length, is well-stocked and eye-catching. Small touches of colour, decorative elements, and gleaming metallic finishings complete the sophisticated look. Great for relaxing!

Seating Outdoors

Seating Indoors

Lights

Furnishings

Furnishings

Service at 51 Soho is friendly and attentive. Staff accord each table personalised attention, offering recommendations and introducing each dish as it was served, a good demonstration of menu knowledge. They proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal, and also offer a change of cutlery. Standards here nearly attain that of fine dining restaurants, and I can see why their excellent engagement draws regular customers to return. The welcoming atmosphere is so enticing, and they really make diners feel comfortable.

Bar

Bar

Food at 51 Soho is themed around familiar comforting flavours, with a focus on Modern European cuisine (think French and Italian), with a selection of Asian skewers (think Chinese). The same quality evident in their other brands shows through here as well, dishes are bold in flavour yet comforting, featuring tastes that most people would crave for. Portions are large and hearty, and best shared, though Chef Eugene See shared than many customers whallop everything on their own... Prices are affordable, being cheaper than elsewhere for the quality. Budget about SGD $30 per person for a meal here.

Meal Flat Lay

Padre Azul Super Premium Tequila Blanco Bottle

Skewer Warmer

For August 2019, they are offering 2 promotions - Fresh oysters priced at SGD $2++ per oyster, and a voucher for a free grains stew or pasta with every SGD $60 spent.

August 2019 Promotion Standee

August 2019 Promotion Voucher

The Cocktail Prosperity Cup (SGD $88 for 9 cups) features a blend of Chinese rice wine, rock melon, chocolate, and barley grains. It has a rich creamy milky texture, with bold fruity grainy sweet flavour. The boozy taste is very light, and the beverage is fairly refreshing. But the 'wow' is in the presentation; served in mini rice wine jars, covered with a wooden-like ceramic lid. Accompanied by a thin, crisp, chewy glutinous rice paper, printed to look like real-world money! Had fun tearing the 'money' in half. =)

Cocktail Prosperity Cup (SGD $88 for 9 cups)

Cocktail Prosperity Cup

Cocktail Prosperity Cup

The house signature Cocktail 51 Soho (SGD $88 for 9 cups) features a blend of plum wine infused with rose water, served in a tall jar with a cup holding a skewered lychee on the side. You're meant to pour the beverage over the lychee, which infuses the liquid, resulting in a robust fruity sweet floral flavour. Eat the lychee last, after finishing the drink!

Cocktail 51 Soho (SGD $88 for 9 cups)

Cocktail 51 Soho

Cocktail 51 Soho

The Cocktail Dancing In The Moonlight (SGD $88 for 12 cups) features a blend of Chinese rice wine, cucumber juice, snow fungus, goji berries / wolfberries, and bamboo (stated on the menu, though I'm not sure how bamboo is used here), served in a Chinese tea cup. Staff say it's meant to be drunk like a shot, but I thought the portion was far too large to down it in a single go. This has a rich fruity sweet boozy flavour, with a light chew from the ingredients, and is bright and refreshing. This is one of those drinks where the alcohol creeps up on you unknowingly.

Cocktail Dancing In The Moonlight (SGD $88 for 12 cups)

Cocktail Dancing In The Moonlight

Cocktail Dancing In The Moonlight

The Skewers Chuan-Chuan feature Chinese style skewers, spice marinated then charcoal grilled, kept warm over a skewer warmer at your table. We tried several. The Skewers Fried Mantou (SGD $2) has a lovely light crisp crunch, with good bready smoky sweet flavour. The Skewers Chicken Skin (SGD $1.50) has a hard firm crunch, crackling apart easily, with good savoury salty flavour. The Skewers Pork Belly (SGD $3.50) has a juicy tender bite, with bold savoury salty spice flavour. The Skewers Pork Rectum (SGD $3.50), while challenging if you think too hard about it, has a light crunch with earthy savoury spice flavour.

Skewers Chuan-Chuan

Skewers Chuan-Chuan

Skewers Fried Mantou (SGD $2)

Skewers Chicken Skin (SGD $1.50)

Skewers Pork Belly (SGD $3.50)

Skewers Pork Rectum (SGD $3.50)

Skewers Chuan-Chuan

Served in its own plate (instead of on skewers), the Spiced Enoki Golden Mushroom (SGD $5) feature spice marinated enoki / golden mushrooms, with a juicy crunchy chew to texture, and bold vegetal earthy sweet spice flavour. Rather oily though.

Spiced Enoki Golden Mushroom (SGD $5)

Spiced Enoki Golden Mushroom

Spiced Enoki Golden Mushroom

Served with a slice of lemon, the Fresh Oysters (SGD $2++ per piece promotion) are juicy and succulent, slippery and easy to eat, with bold sweet salty briny ocean flavour. These French oysters are a varietal of Fine De Claire, and are fresh and lovely.

Fresh Oysters (SGD $2++ per piece promotion)

Fresh Oysters

Fresh Oysters

The Grilled Romaine Lettuce & Vegetables (SGD $14) has a mix of lovely crunchy juicy crispy soft textures, from the creative combination of ingredients including sweet pea, asparagus, romaine lettuce, fried silverfish, soy marinated semi-boiled egg, and red radish. Completed with micro-greens and a creamy sesame goma dressing, this has bright vegetal sweet savoury salty smoky nutty flavours. Very appetizing.

Grilled Romaine Lettuce & Vegetables (SGD $14)

Grilled Romaine Lettuce & Vegetables

Grilled Romaine Lettuce & Vegetables

The Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast (SGD $12) is a decadent, luxurious dish. A large halved beef bone, filled with creamy gelatinous marrow which is meaty savoury oily in taste, is garnished with pickled shallots, capers, red radish, cherry tomatoes, barley leaves, and edible flowers. Served with crisp porous toasted sunflower seed bread (or other breads of the day), which was our favourite side for its rich earthy bready nutty sweet flavour.

Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast (SGD $12)

Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast

Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast

Beef Bone Marrow, Pickled Shallots, Capers, Herbs, Toast

A comforting stew, the Classic French Chicken Cassoulet (SGD $24 for 2 pax) was our favourite dish. A large chicken leg (quarter chicken) is stewed in white wine, along with white beans, savoy cabbage, morel mushrooms, baby carrots, pork sausages, and pork skin. Served with crisp toasted garlic foccacia bread, this has delicious sweet savoury vegetal earthy herbal flavours. Warm and soulful, really good.

Classic French Chicken Cassoulet (SGD $24 for 2 pax)

Classic French Chicken Cassoulet

Classic French Chicken Cassoulet

Classic French Chicken Cassoulet

No salt is used in the Italian Carbonara (SGD $17), because the ingredients flavour it naturally. Rich and creamy, the chewy linguine pasta noodles are tossed with an egg mixture (1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk), mortadella ham, pork salami, and cream. Garnished with parmigiano reggiano cheese, this has a robust cheesy savoury salty sweet flavour. Heavy on the palate, the cheese is rather overpowering, would have liked if they toned down the portion, so that you can properly taste the other ingredients.

Italian Carbonara (SGD $17)

Italian Carbonara

Italian Carbonara

A wholesome, healthy bowl, the Chicken & Mushroom Grains Stew (SGD $18) features a mix of black rice, oat groat, and barley grains, stewed in white wine and chicken stock. Garnished with baby carrots, wild button mushrooms, goji berries / wolfberries, curly endive / frisée, kale, pig skin, boneless chicken chunks, and a semi-boiled egg. Complex combination of tender soft crunchy crispy chewy textures, with soulful vegetal sweet savoury eggy grainy boozy flavours. Delicate and light, almost feels like a congee.

Chicken & Mushroom Grains Stew (SGD $18)

Chicken & Mushroom Grains Stew

Chicken & Mushroom Grains Stew

The Strawberry & Balsamico (SGD $10) has straightforward, classic dessert flavours of fruity sweet sour chocolatey milky tastes. It features fresh juicy strawberries stewed in rich balsamic vinegar, plated with grainy roasted white chocolate soil (looks like dark chocolate), a creamy smooth scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a milky salted cheese blanket covered in grainy chocolate cookie crumble. Will appeal to those who like comforting desserts.

Strawberry & Balsamico (SGD $10)

Strawberry & Balsamico

Strawberry & Balsamico

The Apple, Cucumber, Yoghurt (SGD $10) is a creative modern dessert that amazes with its unique combination of textures and flavours. It features juicy Choya umeshu (plum liqueur) marinated green apple slices, juicy pickled cucumber slices, icey cucumber granita, grainy peanut crumble, and a wobbly soft Greek yoghurt panna cotta pudding. This has bright vegetal fruity sweet sour milky flavours, and is so refreshing. Playful too, as you experiment with different combinations of the ingredients in each bite. Loved it.

Apple, Cucumber, Yoghurt (SGD $10)

Apple, Cucumber, Yoghurt

Apple, Cucumber, Yoghurt

Apple, Cucumber, Yoghurt

With relaxing ambience, attentive service, and delicious yet affordable food, 51 Soho makes for a great place to dine, whether you're seeking a healthy and hearty lunch, or just want to relax with a couple of drinks after work. I'll return to 51 Soho for more!


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