Ellenborough Market Café

Apart from classics found in Straits Chinese or Peranakan homes, there’s an array of other Asian and Western fare at Ellenborough, all served in a heritage-rich setting. Locals usually go for the buffet lunch or dinner, which serves authentic dishes such as babi pongteh, chap chye and ayam buah keluak. In the last dish, chicken is cooked in a mild curry, with the bitter black nut paste served on the side, rather than mixed with the gravy, to cater to different tastes. The rotating menu offers an international repertoire, with everything from comforting pork rib herbal soup and creamy butter crab to tandoori chicken and Thai-style steamed grouper. There are also salad stations, as well as a selection of sashimi, soba and fresh seafood on ice. Drop by the live cooking station for la mian soup noodle, or make your own kong bak pau—steamed buns with braised pork belly—and kueh pie tee, where a crisp pastry shell is filled with shredded turnip, prawn and egg. Desserts run the gamut from kueh and dessert soups to New York cheesecake.

Tatler Tip(s)

• Choose from three different zones to suit the mood of your meal: the expansive main dining hall has a bustling atmosphere perfect for families and larger groups; the mezzanine level has a more cosy, intimate feel ideal for couples and smaller parties; and the third area, is closest to the buffet stations, has a homely Peranakan feel (complete with showcases of intricate chinaware) and opens out to the Singapore River.
• Only available for dinner at the hot food station, look for the stir-fried slipper lobster in black bean sauce, which pairs perfectly with steamed rice.
• Depending on the ongoing food promotion, you may also find yourself enjoying foie gras; the reservations staff can give more information.