Meats N Malts

Meats N Malts - Closed
30 Tai Seng Street
#01-07 BreadTalk International Headquarters (IHQ)

https://www.meatsnmalts.com/

Tom Yum Fish Poppers (SGD $10.90)

Chill Place For Drinks & Bar Bites

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 6
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $25 per person.


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Opening its doors in January 2017, Meats N Malts is a relaxing bar in the industrial estate of Tai Seng that serves Modern Singaporean and American fusion bar bites, with a decent range of drinks that make it a good place for after-work hangouts. There's a unique attraction to Meats N Malts, being one of the few bars in this area, it's easy to see why its laid-back atmosphere appeals.

Ambience at Meats N Malts is laid-back, casual, and relaxing. On cool evenings, the mostly outdoor al-fresco seating offers a nice perch for people watching and chatting. The sturdy wooden furnishings are decently comfortable. The high ceiling overhead offers a measure of protection against rain, but mid-day afternoons can get really warm. There's also little indoor seating.

Service at Meats N Malts is functional and transactional. Staff are quick to greet and seat guests, but there's not much display of product knowledge. The menu is sufficiently clear though, and orders are quickly fulfilled. I note staff will proactively offer to clear finished plates, and they clean up efficiently when diners leave. Unless the beer promoters are around, there's little customer engagement.

Food at Meats N Malts is a fusion combination of American, Italian, and Modern Singaporean cuisines. Don't expect gourmet dining here, the Western style dishes are passable at best in both taste and quality. The ample bar bites and decent range of drinks means this place is great for after-work chilling with friends or colleagues. Portions are sized either for individuals, or communal sharing. Prices are comparable to most bars, budget about SGD $25 per person.


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Meats N Malts Signage

Meats N Malts Facade

Menu

Menu

Menu

The Holy Coconut Milkshake (SGD $10) is a beach holiday in a glass. I like the thick, creamy, yet still refreshingly drinkable texture of the coconut milkshake, with its bright floral earthy sweet milky flavours. The dessicated coconut garnish lends a slight chew, and a toasty smoky flavour. Good!

Holy Coconut Milkshake (SGD $10)

Holy Coconut Milkshake

The Yummy Yuzu Soda Cooler (SGD $6) is a refreshing cooler with a base of Sprite soda infused with yuzu, giving this a fruity sweet sour zesty tangy flavour. Garnished with a slice of lemon for citrus, and soft gelatinous cubes of nata de coco / coconut jelly, which lend bold earthy sweet flavour. Worth ordering!

Yummy Yuzu Soda Cooler (SGD $6)

Yummy Yuzu Soda Cooler

The Beer Heineken (SGD $11 / $13) is a popular Dutch brand of pale lager beer, brewed by the company of the same name. It has a light straw golden colour, with aromas and tastes of hops, barley malt, wheat, and steel. The body is thin, lively, and watery, with a delicate grainy sweet bitter flavour, with almost no aftertaste, and a dry finish. Inoffensive and drinkable, this is an entry-level, beginner's brew.

Beer Heineken (SGD $11 / $13)

The Beer Guinness Draught (SGD $9.90 / $11.90) is a dark Irish dry stout, named after Arthur Guinness, and is brewed by Diageo PLC in Dublin, Ireland. Among the most famous beers worldwide, this has a deep, dark black brown colour, with a creamy white foam head. The aroma and taste is similar, consisting of smoked malts, roasted coffee beans, faint caramel, and barley. The body is rich, velvety smooth, almost creamy, with a bitter sweet grainy flavour.

Beer Guinness Draught (SGD $9.90 / $11.90)

Love the medium cut Truffle Fries (SGD $8.90), which have a soft bite to texture. A dusting of paprika, salt, and parmesan cheese, along with a sprinkle of truffle oil, lend cheesy earthy spice salty flavour to the natural sweet savoury notes of the potato fries. The version here is a lot lighter on taste than other versions elsewhere; if you prefer light truffle oil notes, then this could work for you.

Truffle Fries (SGD $8.90)

Truffle Fries

The Breaded Onion Rings (SGD $8.90) feature large soft chewy white onion rings, coated in a soft breadcrumb batter, which results in a delicate bready sweet earthy flavour. While it's not too oily, I would have liked this to be more salty and crisp though. Served with a thick tomato ketchup dipping sauce which was overly sweet. Could be improved.

Breaded Onion Rings (SGD $8.90)

Breaded Onion Rings

The half-dozen portion of Chicken Satay (SGD $7.90) is great for couple sharing. The moist and tender chunks of marinated chicken satay meat slide easily off the skewers, and carry a robust meaty savoury salty spice flavour. Served with juicy cucumbers, soft white onions, and a rich thick peanut gravy on the side. Worth ordering!

Chicken Satay (SGD $7.90)

Chicken Satay

The Buffalo Wings (SGD $10.90) are decent enough. The chicken meat is tender and moist, with muted sweet savoury flavour, but the wings and drumlets are rather small in size. The thick marinade of buffalo sauce is more savoury than sweet, with a light spicy kick, though I wish it was more spicy sweet savoury instead. Could be improved.

Buffalo Wings (SGD $10.90)

Buffalo Wings

The aptly named Korean Wings (SGD $10.90) do have classic Korean flavours, albeit in a semi-fusion style. The chicken meat is tender and moist, with muted sweet savoury flavour, but the wings and drumlets are rather small in size. The thick marinade of ganjang / garlic soy sauce, and yangnyeom / sweet and spicy sauce, lends a confused but tasty blend of sweet, salty, savoury, and spicy to the chicken meat. Garnished with crunchy sesame seeds which lend a nutty aroma. Worth ordering!

Korean Wings (SGD $10.90)

Korean Wings

Loved the Tom Yum Fish Poppers (SGD $10.90), which I feel is easily the best dish here. This bar bite consists of nuggets of john dory fish, enveloped with tom yum paste, then coated in a crisp crumb batter and deep-fried. The batter crunches lightly to reveal the moist, flaky fish within, then you get the bold savoury salty herbal sweet spice hit of the tom yum paste, with a sharp lingering burn. Served with a sticky sweet spicy Thai chili dipping sauce on the side. Highly recommended!

Tom Yum Fish Poppers (SGD $10.90)

Tom Yum Fish Poppers

Tom Yum Fish Poppers

Tom Yum Fish Poppers

The best thing about the Har Cheong Gai Poppers (SGD $11.90) is the accompanying chili dipping sauce, a sharp fiery concoction that numbs and burns at the same time. Super shiok, the kick lingers for awhile. The har cheong gai / prawn paste chicken pops have a good crunch to texture, with tender chicken meat that holds light savoury salty flavour, perhaps too light on taste. Borders between moist and dry. Worth ordering!

Har Cheong Gai Poppers (SGD $11.90)

Har Cheong Gai Poppers

The Barbecue Pork Ribs (SGD $19.90) feature a half-slab of baby back pork ribs, with tender pork meat that comes easily off the bone, but seems to have been previously frozen as it's light on natural taste. Fortunately, flavour comes from the heavy use of the thick barbecue sauce, which has sweet savoury tangy sour notes, making this passably decent. Served with medium cut, Cajun style potato fries sprinkled with paprika that has good starchy spice flavour, a fresh crisp crunchy mesclun salad (chard, mizuna, curly endive / frisée) with good vegetal bitter sweet herbal flavour. Worth ordering!

Barbecue Pork Ribs (SGD $19.90)

Barbecue Pork Ribs

Barbecue Pork Ribs

The XXL Country Fried Chicken With Curry Powder (SGD $13.90) is a filling plate. However, quality is underwhelming, with the large piece of country-battered, fried chicken cutlet being boneless but thin and dry in texture, with a thick batter and lots of fat. Taste is derived from the generous sprinkling of curry powder, lending a savoury spice flavour to the chicken. Served with medium cut, Cajun style potato fries sprinkled with paprika that has good starchy spice flavour, a fresh crisp crunchy mesclun salad (chard, mizuna, curly endive / frisée) with good vegetal bitter sweet herbal flavour, and an overly salty mushroom gravy on the side. Could be improved.

XXL Country Fried Chicken With Curry Powder (SGD $13.90)

XXL Country Fried Chicken With Curry Powder

XXL Country Fried Chicken With Curry Powder

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