FINE FARE - In the Mood for Food

dining adventures of a food fantatic and dessert devotee in Singapore


Coriander Leaf, Clarke Quay

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
- Virginia Woolf

Grilled Eggplants with Walnut Spread & Pomegranate Salad ($8)

Coriander Leaf is the culinary dream of Samia Ahad, who envisioned an intimate space where food-related activities could be centred, with guests as active participants in the culinary experience. Positioned as an Asian Food Hub, this fine-dining bistro/cooking school/chef's table/private dining room showcases South Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and East Asian cuisine.

At the bistro, "dining well" is an underlying philosophy, and this is further emphasised by the evident pride in food quality, preparation and presentation. Diners are invited to embark on a journey of taste with the eclectic menu that incorporates dishes from different parts of Asia.

While Coriander Leaf is strongly fusion in the presentation of its food and menu, it does not see itself as a "fusion place". Instead, focus is placed on giving new interpretations to traditional Asian dishes, such as preparing Asian food using Western techniques, and adding an innovative twist to familiar sauces and condiments.

Must Try!
- Ginger-Butter Prawn . cherry tomato & mint relish . coriander rice ($26)
Succulent prawns, sweet cherry tomatoes, and an absolutely divine creamy and tasty sauce. The coriander rice is fragrant and buttery, with each mouthful leaving you wanting more. To get the most out of the excellent ginger-butter sauce, order an additional side of Coriander's soft, fluffy butter naan to go with it. This is just sooooo good...

Maybe?
- Black Angus Beef . crispy mushroom risotto . wasabi pepper sauce ($33)
The beef is tender and juicy, and the risotto is full of flavour. The downside? You only get 2 parts beef and 2 parts cripsy risotto --- kid's size. Portions are depressingly small for the price you pay. Try only if you're a fan of savoury dishes.
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Save Your Calories...


- Frontier Chicken - stir fried with coriander seeds & chili flakes . yoghurt cream . mizuna . butter naan ($24)
The butter naan is fantastic. Better than what you'll get at most Indian restaurants in Singapore. However the chicken is simply too salty. Its natural taste is completely overwhelmed by the sauce.

Recommended for:
Anyone who enjoys modern South Asian and Middle Eastern cusine.

Ambience:
Not the most romantic place, but quaint enough for dinner with friends. Unfortunately, the noise level can escalate when the Bistro is packed, especially with large groups of diners and wine involved. This makes it hard to have proper conversations over the meal, so diners who enjoy dining in a peaceful environment might want to avoid visiting on friday and saturday nights. Alternatively, you can arrange to have an earlier dinner, between 6 - 7 pm, before the crowd comes in.
Note on restaurant acoustics:
According to acoustics expert
Alan Saunders, noise level is related to how acoustically hard the surfaces in the restaurant are. This could be why Coriander Leaf suffers from such a high noise level. Every surface in the Bistro is hard, from the wooden tables to the glass windows, and stainless steel open-concept kitchen.

Coriander Leaf
3A River Valley Road
#02-12 Clarke Quay
Tel: 6732 3354

1 Responses to “Coriander Leaf, Clarke Quay”

  1. # Blogger shaz

    hey there. I enjoy reading your reviews. Great work. I added your blog as a link on mine. Hope you dun mind. fellow foodie blogger.  

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