Po Restaurant
320 Havelock Road
Level 1, The Warehouse Hotel
https://www.po.com.sg/
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| SG Chee Cheong Fun By Ben Yeo |
Refined & Intimate Mod-Sin Dining
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $40 per person.
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As the in-house restaurant of The Warehouse Hotel, Po Restaurant, named for its signature dish of Popiah as well as "Po Po (paternal grandmother)", Po Restaurant opened alongside it in January 2017. Operated by The Lo & Behold Group, a hospitality group reowned for creating timeless and thought-provoking experiences for their guests, the menu at Po Restaurant was developed by Chef Willin Low, and thus, features impeccable Mod-Sin dishes.
Ambience at Po Restaurant exudes a quiet sophistication and timeless elegance. Low warm lights, softly glowing from the large round lamps, cast shadows upon the curved rattan wooden chairs, plush cushioned booths, and marble topped tables. The place is cozy and intimate, seating up to 52 diners. Fine tableware contrasts the raw rattan panels on the walls, callbacks to their heritage yet designed for luxury.
Service at Po Restaurant is professional and attentive, with staff according each table personalised attention. They move purposefully and perform tasks efficiently, swiftly fulfilling requests. Staff proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal, and clean up quickly when diners leave. They take the effort to check on diners during the meal, offering condiments and seeking feedback. In particular, several tables commended waitress Grace, who was graceful and made diners feel appreciated!
Food at Po Restaurant is Modern Singaporean cuisine. Chef Willin Low has designed a menu that features classic Singaporean hawker favourites, elevated with premium ingredients but retaining the familiar comforting taste of home. Practically every component of each dish is painstakingly made from scratch. Portions are medium to large for individuals, and can be shared. Prices are reflective of a typical restaurant, budget about SGD $40 per person.
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| Po Restaurant Entrance |
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| Po Restaurant Dining Area |
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| Seating |
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| Seating |
A straightforward machine-brewed Latte (SGD $7), nothing to shout about.
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| Latte (SGD $7) |
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| Latte |
Fresh squeezed Orange Juice (SGD $11), thick with fruity zesty sour sweet flavour from the oranges. Worth ordering!
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| Orange Juice (SGD $11) |
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| Orange Juice |
A sultry, spice-driven cocktail reflecting Singapore’s roots as the epicenter of trade in the late 19th century, the Cocktail Open Sesame (SGD $24) features a blend of sesame seed infused scotch whisky, pandan / screwpine leaf infused montenegro, and red vermouth, served over ice in a wine glass and garnished with a sesame seed rice cracker. The drink carries bold nutty earthy floral bitter sweet boozy flavour, complimented by the smoky grainy savoury sweet notes of the rice cracker. Excellent combination, though my only quibble is having to devour the entire cracker quickly lest it softens. Good!
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| Cocktail Open Sesame (SGD $24) |
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| Cocktail Open Sesame |
A complex, full-bodied cocktail that celebrates the dark underbelly of forbidden godown distilleries of the early 20th century, the Cocktail B. B. King (SGD $26) features a blend of banana infused whisky, smoked maple syrup, and barbecue bitters, served in a generous whisky bottle and poured over ice. The drink carries potent fruity boozy sweet savoury smoky flavour, you taste the distinct notes of banana and barbecue and whisky and smoke. Loved this strong tipple, a fantastic brew that I would order again. Highly recommended!
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| Cocktail B. B. King (SGD $26) |
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| Cocktail B. B. King |
Pegged as being among the top 10 unique iconic cocktails of Singapore, reflecting the historic spice trade and contemporary urban vibe of the city, the Cocktail Singapore Sazerac (SGD $26) features a zazarack blend of raisin infused bourbon, pandan bitters, rye, cognac, absinthe, and spiced demerara syrup, served in an old fashioned glass with a base of pandan / screwpine leaves, garnished with orange zest. The drink carries an intoxicating fruity spice earthy floral sweet bitter herbal boozy flavour, and has a strong kick. Loved it, will order again. Highly recommended!
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| Cocktail Singapore Sazerac (SGD $26) |
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| Cocktail Singapore Sazerac |
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| Cocktail Singapore Sazerac |
The Croissant (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) has a crisp flaky exterior that shatters gently to reveal the airy pourous soft interior. The croissant is nicely bready sweet savoury in flavour, not as buttery rich as elsewhere but good enough. Worth ordering!
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| Croissant (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) |
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| Croissant |
The Cinnamon Roll (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) has a firm crunchy texture to the pastry roll, spread with smooth cinnamon sugar paste and studded with chewy raisins. Each bite of the cinnamon roll has a bold fruity sweet spice flavour, yum. Good!
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| Cinnamon Roll (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) |
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| Cinnamon Roll |
Love that they have Indonesian Prawn Crackers (SGD $9) as a bar snack here. The light crispy prawn crackers pair so well with drinks, their grainy sweet savoury salty flavour addictively enticing, making you reach for more. Served with thick kecap manis / sweet soy sauce with floral sweet salty flavour, and chunky sambal belachan with fiery spicy zesty sour sweet flavour. Good!
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| Indonesian Prawn Crackers (SGD $9) |
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| Indonesian Prawn Crackers |
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| Sambal Belachan, Kecap Manis Dip |
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| Indonesian Prawn Crackers |
The SG Chee Cheong Fun By Ben Yeo (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) feature handmade rice rolls, soft and bouncy and succulent with grainy sweet flavour. Dressed with light soy sauce, peanut sauce, sesame sweet sauce, fragrant sesame oil, and sambal chili, lending a umami salty savoury sweet nutty spicy flavour, so good. Highly recommended!
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| SG Chee Cheong Fun By Ben Yeo (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) |
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| SG Chee Cheong Fun |
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| Sambal Belachan, Fried Garlic Chips |
The Colonial Chicken Curry With Roti Prata (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) was delightful and filling. The Roti Prata was large, crisp outside and chewy inside, tending towards a doughy texture, with buttery savoury sweet bready flavour. The Colonial Chicken Curry had a rich curry gravy with tender simmered potatoes, robust with savoury spice flavour and a fiery kick that lingers on. The bone-in chicken chunks were tender, picking up the savoury spice flavours of the curry, complementing the natural fresh sweet savoury flavour of the chicken meat. Good!
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| Colonial Chicken Curry With Roti Prata (SGD $Hotel Breakfast Package Only) |
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| Roti Prata |
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| Colonial Chicken Curry |
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| Colonial Chicken Curry With Roti Prata |
During dinner, staff served this Achar (SGD $Complimentary). The crunchy juicy mix of rough chopped pineapple and Japanese cucumber are tossed in a zesty tangy sour spicy fruity sweet sauce, tingling the palate. A little too sharp spicy for my liking. Could be improved.
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| Achar (SGD $Complimentary) |
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| Achar |
Felt the Eihire (SGD $18), or grilled stingray fin, wasn't that great. The texture was not really crispy, and not really chewy, occupying an odd middle ground. Granted the smoky sweet savoury flavour was alright, as was the creamy lime infused mayonnaise with zesty tangy sour milky sweet flavour. Just decent overall. Could be improved.
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| Eihire (SGD $18) |
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| Eihire |
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| Eihire |
Loved the Otah (SGD $18) here. The homemade otah features a blend of mackerel fish, prawn paste, jumbo deshelled crab meat, and coconut milk, along with a mix of curated heritage spices including lemongrass, turmeric, and chili. Softly steamed, the large slab of otah is tender and moist, with a soft bite that releases the strong savoury herbal spicy earthy sweet flavours within. Good kick that lingers from the chili. I enjoyed this immensely. Highly recommended!
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| Otah (SGD $18) |
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| Otah |
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| Otah |
The Seafood Congee (SGD $26) is a comforting Chinese Cantonese classic, featuring a thick gloopy rice porridge congee infused with angelica root, garnished with bouncy fresh Hokkaido scallops, tender littleneck clams, and chewy conpoy. The seafood is fresh, and lends beautiful sweet savoury meaty flavour to the grainy sweet salty notes of the congee. Yum. Very filling, this is best shared. Good!
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| Seafood Congee (SGD $26) |
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| Seafood Congee |
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| Seafood Congee |
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| Seafood Congee |
I get the creative idea behind the Ice Cream Popiah (SGD $16), though it's unwieldy to eat when rolled with the chewy thin wheat pancake crepes, which complements with its grainy sweet flavour. The garnish of coriander with its vegetal bitter herbal flavour doesn't pair well with this dessert, although the garnish of peanut candy lends a welcome nutty sweet crunch. The trio of locally-made ice cream flavours are delicious enough on their own, from the yam / taro ice cream with earthy sweet flavour, to the unique pineapple ice cream with fruity sweet notes, and the peanut ice cream with nutty savoury sweet flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Ice Cream Popiah (SGD $16) |
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| Ice Cream Popiah |
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| Ice Cream Popiah |
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Update Oct-2022: Return visit to Po Restaurant just a couple of months later, bringing a group of friends. Love how excellent Po Restaurant is, will surely return again!
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| Us |
The Cocktail Moonshine (SGD $26) features a blend of tequila, mezcal, cointreau orange-flavoured triple sec liqueur, lime juice, fresh coriander, and a whole red chili, served in an old fashioned glass poured over crushed ice. The drink carries bright boozy fruity herbal sweet bitter zesty sour flavour, though the red chili is more for visual vibrancy than taste. Worth ordering!
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| Cocktail Moonshine (SGD $26) |
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| Cocktail Moonshine |
The Cocktail Rose Chan (SGD $26) features a blend of gin, vodka, mint, strawberry, and lime juice, served over an ice cube in a wine glass decorated with a swirl of rose petals. The drink carries enticing fruity zesty tangy sour sweet herbal boozy flavour, an alluring and dainty tipple. Good!
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| Cocktail Rose Chan (SGD $26) |
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| Cocktail Rose Chan |
The Cocktail Lady Luck (SGD $24) features a blend of vodka, lemon juice, roselle infused gin, honeybush, pineapple shrub, ginger, coconut, and lemon oleo saccharum, poured over crushed ice and served in a beautiful mug shaped like a lady's upper-body. The drink carries elegant tropical fruity floral earthy sweet tangy zesty sour boozy flavour, complex and sophisticated. Good!
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| Cocktail Lady Luck (SGD $24) |
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| Cocktail Lady Luck |
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| Cocktail Lady Luck |
The Mocktail Spritzerlati (SGD $17) is a non-alcoholic beverage, featuring a blend of Melati distilled botanicals, citrus syrup, and soda water, visually resembling a sangria. Has a fruity herbal sweet flavour, rather refreshing. Worth ordering!
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| Mocktail Spritzerlati (SGD $17) |
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| Mocktail Spritzerlati |
The Wine The Winery Of Good Hope Chenin Blanc (SGD $22) is a white wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc green grapes, by the The Winery Of Good Hope in Stellenbosch, Western Cape province, South Africa. It has a pale straw yellow colour, with aromas of white bread, apricot, pear, and flint. The body is light, dry, and gentle, with tastes of chamomile flowers, peach, lemon, and honey. Has a fruity floral sour sweet flavour, with crisp acidity and a round finish.
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| Wine The Winery Of Good Hope Chenin Blanc (SGD $22) |
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| Wine The Winery Of Good Hope Chenin Blanc |
The Wine Cusumano Nero D'Avola (SGD $24) is a red wine made from 100% Nero D'Avola black grapes, by the Cusumano winery group in Macerata, Marche region, Italy. It has a deep violet purple colour, with aromas of raspberry, leather, black pepper, and mulberry. The body is smooth, bold, and dry, with tastes of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, and smoke. Has a fruity earthy herbal sweet flavour, with gentle tannins and a short finish.
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| Wine Cusumano Nero D'Avola (SGD $24) |
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| Wine Cusumano Nero D'Avola |
The Belinjo Crackers (SGD $9) are served as a bar snack here, and they were so good. Each bite has a crispy satisfying crunch to texture, and pleasant bitter earthy grainy savoury sweet flavour. Served with thick kecap manis / sweet soy sauce with floral sweet salty flavour, and chunky sambal belachan with fiery spicy zesty sour sweet flavour. Good!
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| Belinjo Crackers (SGD $9) |
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| Belinjo Crackers |
The Soft-Shell Crab (SGD $22) has a lovely crisp crunch to texture, and pleasant savoury briny salty sweet flavour. Served with a creamy lime mayonnaise dip, with refreshing zesty tangy sour milky sweet notes that complement. Worth ordering!
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| Soft-Shell Crab (SGD $22) |
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| Soft-Shell Crab |
The Kurobuta Char Siew (SGD $20) features 24-hours sous vide kurobuta pork collar, marinated and barbecued with a char siew glaze. Nice succulent tender moist chew to texture, then you get the meaty sweet savoury flavours, yum. Addictive, we polished this off. Highly recommended!
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| Kurobuta Char Siew (SGD $20) |
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| Kurobuta Char Siew |
The house signature dish is the Popiah Classic Set (SGD $32), faithfully made according to family recipes. The hand-cut filling of pork loin, bamboo shoots, shrimp, carrots, jicama, and peas are stewed for up to 4 hours. You pack the filling together with lettuce, bean sprouts, shredded egg, dried flat fish, coriander, crushed peanuts, garlic, and red chili, on the wheat crepes, drizzle with a light sweet sauce. Has a big juicy crisp crunch, with bright vegetal grainy earthy sweet eggy spice salty savoury flavour. Also, it's more filling than it looks. Highly recommended!
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| Popiah Classic Set (SGD $32) |
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| Wheat Wraps |
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| Garnishes |
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| Vegetables |
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| Stewed Fillings |
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| Ingredients Ready To Wrap |
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| Popiah |
The Paper Spring Chicken (SGD $68) is a sharing dish for up to 6 people, and requires advance ordering as it has a 45-minutes preparation time. This has a whole chicken, stuffed with glutinous rice, conpoy, dried shrimp, dried pork sausage, shiitake mushroom, shaoxing rice wine, and sesame oil marinade, then oven baked. Unwrapped tableside, the chicken is incredibly fragrant, tender, and juicy, with the stuffing having infused the dish with bold smoky meaty grainy earthy sweet savoury salty nutty flavour. The gravy, with light herbal boozy sweet salty notes, is addictively yummy. Highly recommended!
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| Unwrapping |
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| Paper Spring Chicken (SGD $68) |
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| Paper Spring Chicken |
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| Paper Spring Chicken |
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| Paper Spring Chicken |
The Giant River Prawns Konbu Mee (SGD $38) is their rendition of a local Singaporean Hokkien Mee. The base features stir-fried cylinderical yellow wheat noodles, thin rice vermicelli noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, and pork lardons. Infused with crustacean stock to create a thick gravy, resulting in a smoky sweet savoury salty eggy flavour, with a gooey smooth soft chew to texture. On top, 2 giant river prawns with shell-on, juicy and bouncy and succulent, with bright sweet savoury shrimpy flavour. Best shared, this is a luxurious and satisfying plate. Highly recommended!
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| Giant River Prawns Konbu Mee (SGD $38) |
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| Giant River Prawns Konbu Mee |
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| Giant River Prawns Konbu Mee |
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CONVERSATION