Cavemen Restaurant & Bar

Cavemen Restaurant & Bar
1 Jalan Dusun #01-08

https://cavemen.com.sg/

Truffle Shoestring Fries (SGD $12)

Gourmet Steaks Done Right

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $80 per person.


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Established in February 2018 by Yvonne Nattashia Ng, Cavemen Restaurant & Bar is a neighbourhood gourmet butcher-delicatessen-restaurant that specialises in prime beef cuts and fine wine. With their 'farm to fork' concept and well executed quality ingredients, Cavemen Restaurant & Bar promises to satisfy that meaty desire.

Ambience at Cavemen Restaurant & Bar is modern intimate. The small space is neatly packed with comfortable seats, high tables, and an open bar, lending an intimate feel. With outdoor al-fresco, indoor seating, and bar counter seats, there's a range of options for chilling. Warm lights cast a soft glow, creating shadows that play across the space.

Adjacent to the restaurant & bar is the gourmet delicatessen / deli and butchery. Here, you can pick out cuts of beef, sausages, or cheese, helpfully aided by the knowledgeable butcher-on-duty. These are then grilled to order by the kitchen. There's also a good range of beverages, from tea to New World wines.

Service at Cavemen Restaurant & Bar achieves fine dining standards. Staff are professional, accomodating requests where possible and offering alternatives, but polite yet firm when turning down requests. They demonstrate decent product knowledge, able to offer recommendations, and introducing dishes when serving. I note they clean up efficiently when diners leave.

Food at Cavemen Restaurant & Bar is American and British English style cuisine, focusing on gourmet meat (aged beef and steaks in particular), sharing plates, and wine. Their 'farm to fork' concept means they use fresh, good quality ingredients, and prepare dishes with care. Portions are medium to large for individuals. Prices are high because of the quality, budget about SGD $80 per person.


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Cavemen Restaurant & Bar Signage

Cavemen Restaurant & Bar Exterior

Cavemen Restaurant & Bar Interior

Open Bar

Seating Outdoors

Seating Indoors

Butchery

Gourmet Store

Named for the cute koala bear mug it's served in, the Cocktail Drunken Koala Bear (SGD $16) features a blend of Pimm's No. 1 cup fruit liqueur, watermelon syrup, Japanese cucumber slices, orange juice, lemon juice, ginger beer, and mint leaves. With a light fizzy body, this has enticing fruity sweet zesty sour tangy herbal flavours. Very refreshing.

Cocktail Drunken Koala Bear (SGD $16)

Cocktail Drunken Koala Bear

The unique Cocktail Imperial Triple (SGD $15) is served in a Chinese brazier mug, and features a blend of chrysanthemum infused gin, home made wolfberry / goji berry puree, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white mist, and peach bitters. With a thick creamy body, this has floral herbal bitter sweet sour zesty tangy flavours. Great for the adventurous palate, though the portion size is small.

Cocktail Imperial Triple (SGD $15)

Cocktail Imperial Triple

Served in a cute stunned-looking owl mug, the Mocktail Hellooo Pomelooo (SGD $12) features a non-alcoholic blend of pomelo grapefruit, home made honey yuzu, lemon juice, mint leaves, and Fever-Tree tonic water. With a light syrupy fizzy body, this has bright fruity zesty tangy sour sweet herbal flavours. Lively!

Mocktail Hellooo Pomelooo (SGD $12)

Mocktail Hellooo Pomelooo

The Wine Vincent Girardin Saint Romain Vieilles Vignes 2017 (SGD $24) is a white wine made from 100% Chardonnay green grapes, by the Vincent Girardin winery in Meursault commune, Côte-D'Or department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. It has a clear green gold colour, with aromas of lemon zest, jasmine flowers, green apple, and morning dew. The body is dry, racy, and fresh, with tastes of grapefruit, honeysuckle flowers, flint, and hazelnuts. Has a bright fruity earthy sweet floral flavour, with a long finish.

Wine Vincent Girardin Saint Romain Vieilles Vignes 2017 (SGD $24)

The Wine Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella 2016 (SGD $24) is a red wine made from 70% Corvina Veronese red grapes, 25% Rondinella red grapes, and 5% Corvinone red grapes, by the Tommasi estate winery in Pescantina commune, Verona province, Veneto region of Italy. It has a deep violet purple colour, with aromas of black cherry, almonds, strawberry, and bramble. The body is smooth, velvety, and rounded, with tastes of blackberry, oak, cherry, and raspberry. Has a complex fruity sweet spice flavour, with an elegant finish.

Wine Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella 2016 (SGD $24)

The Beer Brewerkz Golden Ale (SGD $13.80) is an American blonde ale brewed by Brewerkz in Singapore. It has a rich ingot golden colour, with aromas and tastes of hops, biscuit, grapefruit, and vanilla. The body is light, crisp, and balanced, with a floral citrus grainy sweet bitter flavour. Refreshing and easy to drink.

Beer Brewerkz Golden Ale (SGD $13.80)

Beer Brewerkz Golden Ale

The Truffle Shoestring Fries (SGD $12) are delicious. These long, thin cut potato fries have a slightly crisp exterior, with a fluffy interior. Lightly salted, garnished with generous shavings of parmigiano-reggiano / parmesan cheese and truffle oil, this is addictive with earthy salty savoury cheesy flavours. Good!

Truffle Shoestring Fries (SGD $12)

The deep-fried White Bait (SGD $14) fish are light and crisp, crunching softly. I like that it's not too greasy. Seasoned with lime juice, curry leaves, salt, and chili powder, the white bait fish carry addictive savoury salty spicy flavours. Highly recommended!

White Bait (SGD $14)

White Bait

The Cheese Platter (SGD $35.10) varies in price, depending on which type of cheese you select from the delicatessen / deli. We selected a semi-soft gouda truffle with mild earthy savoury cheesy flavours, a creamy camembert with dull milky savoury cheesy flavours, and a firm tomme de savoie with grassy nutty flavours. The trio of cheeses was served with juicy dried apricots which lent fruity sweet flavour, and crisp water crackers with grainy flavour, for pairing. Of the 3 cheeses, I liked the gouda truffle the most.

Cheese Platter (SGD $35.10)

Cheese Platter

The Prosciutto Parma Ham & Rock Melon (SGD $16.10) features a generous portion of wispy dry-cured prosciutto / parma ham, with bold savoury salty meaty flavours. Accompanied by juicy fruity sweet rock melon slices. Great sharing plate.

Prosciutto Parma Ham & Rock Melon (SGD $16.10)

Prosciutto Parma Ham & Rock Melon

The Baby Squid With Chili & Poached Egg (SGD $14) was an unusual combination of fusion flavours, with the chewy bouncy baby squid tossed with light soy sauce, chili, and topped with a poached egg. The contrast of salty savoury sweet eggy spicy notes are rather clashing, and seems confused. Could be improved.

Baby Squid With Chili & Poached Egg (SGD $14)

Baby Squid With Chili & Poached Egg

There are several options of Sides For Steak. The Cream Spinach (SGD $6) was my favourite, with softly crunchy leaves of spinach leaves coated in cream, resulting in a milky vegetal sweet flavour. The Sautéed Brussels Sprouts (SGD $6) had a firm crunchy texture, with deep smoky savoury salty flavours from being tossed with bits of garlic and pork bacon. The Mashed Potato (SGD $6) starts out with a thin light consistency, but when you pull it out from the dish, it changes to a creamy smooth consistency instead. Some cheese has been folded in, resulting in a savoury starchy cheesy sweet flavour. The Roasted Carrots (SGD $6) have a firm tender texture, with beautiful smoky vegetal sweet flavour. Good!

Sides For Steak

Cream Spinach (SGD $6)

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts (SGD $6)

Mashed Potato (SGD $6)

Roasted Carrots (SGD $6)

The Beef Steak Australian Angus Grain-Fed Ribeye (SGD $44.90) is large but tender, juicy, and meaty, with a slight chew to texture. Bold meaty savoury flavours, with a hint of grainy sweet. Got this Australian Angus ribeye steak medium rare, I'm impressed with the quality of this beef. Served with a veal au jus, which I thought was forgettable. Highly recommended!

Beef Steak Australian Angus Grain-Fed Ribeye (SGD $44.90)

Beef Steak Australian Angus Grain-Fed Ribeye

Beef Steak Australian Angus Grain-Fed Ribeye

The Beef Steak USDA Prime Ribeye Aged 45 Days (SGD $60.65) is medium sized, and the aging of the USDA prime ribeye steak results in a robust meaty chew, being more dense with less meat juice. The deep savoury meaty flavours of the beef steak shine through. Garnish with a little salt for greater depth of taste. Good!

Beef Steak USDA Prime Ribeye Aged 45 Days (SGD $60.65)

Beef Steak USDA Prime Ribeye Aged 45 Days

Beef Steak USDA Prime Ribeye Aged 45 Days

The Beef Steak New Zealand Black Angus Riverlands Ribeye (SGD $36.67) is medium sized, with a tender, juicy chew to texture. This New Zealand Black Angus ribeye steak was done to a beautiful medium rare, and holds good meaty savoury salty flavour. A straightforward, quality cut of beef, and affordable for the price. Highly recommended!

Beef Steak New Zealand Black Angus Riverlands Ribeye (SGD $36.67)

Beef Steak New Zealand Black Angus Riverlands Ribeye

Beef Steak New Zealand Black Angus Riverlands Ribeye

The Pan-Seared Salmon (SGD $29) was beautifully done, with the medium thick salmon fish fillet having a crispy skin and tender moist flaky meat. Has a delicate sweet savoury salty smoky flavour. Plated over creamy smooth mashed potato with starchy cheesy salty sweet flavour. Served with crunchy stalks of vegetal bitter sweet smoky grilled asparagus, and juicy grilled cherry tomatoes with bright vegetal sweet flavour. So delicious. Highly recommended!

Pan-Seared Salmon (SGD $29)

Pan-Seared Salmon

Pan-Seared Salmon

Enjoyed the Lemongrass Chicken (SGD $20), which features a large, juicy, succulent chicken breast fillet, grilled till it takes on a smoky savoury sweet flavour. Garnished with cucumber noodles which crunch lightly to release a vegetal sweet flavour. But the star is the bright lemongrass sauce, perfuming everything with its bold herbal sweet spice notes. Good!

Lemongrass Chicken (SGD $20)

Lemongrass Chicken

Lemongrass Chicken

Was disappointed with the Sausages - Smoked Chicken Cheese, Bockwurst, Chorizo (SGD $19.37), because compared to everything else here, these weren't up to the same high standard or quality. They're well-cooked, but lack the bold smoky meaty notes you'd expect. Even the flavours of herbs and spices are rather muted. Could be improved.

Sausages - Smoked Chicken Cheese, Bockwurst, Chorizo (SGD $19.37)

Sausages - Smoked Chicken Cheese, Bockwurst, Chorizo

Sausages - Smoked Chicken Cheese, Bockwurst, Chorizo

The Chocolate Tart (SGD $16) is delicious and decadent, featuring smooth creamy cacao berry chocolate set within a crumbly pastry tart shell. Garnished with fleur de sel sea salt, caramelised bananas, and whipped cream, plated with juicy blueberries and strawberries. This dessert has robust chocolatey bitter sweet salty fruity flavours. Yum. Good!

Chocolate Tart (SGD $16)

Chocolate Tart

Quite taken with the Pecan Pie (SGD $16). While not exactly like the classic American dessert, this features a small buttery crumbly pastry tart shell, filled with crunchy pecan nuts in a sticky cane syrup. With bright floral nutty sweet flavours, this confectionery is served with fresh juicy seasonal berries (strawberries, blueberries) and a scoop of seasonal ice cream, which during our visit, was plain yoghurt ice cream. Good!

Pecan Pie (SGD $16)

Pecan Pie

The Chocolate Lava Cake (SGD $14) really did 'lava' so to speak. Served warm, the soft moist chocolate cake easily gave way, releasing a flood of rich thick molten chocolate within, carrying deep chocolatey bitter sweet flavour. Served with fresh juicy seasonal berries (strawberries, blueberries) and a scoop of seasonal ice cream, which during our visit, was plain yoghurt ice cream. Good!

Chocolate Lava Cake (SGD $14)

Chocolate Lava Cake

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Disclaimer: All our visits here were before COVID-19, and thus, before the circuit breaker in Singapore was implemented.







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