Popular for its Peranakan and Straits Chinese offerings, here are just some of the tantalising delights you'll be able to enjoy.

After four months of renovation, the Grande Dame of Peranakan cuisine re-opens its doors with a refreshed new look and spread of new dishes and all-time favourites.

What’s not to love about the refreshed Ellenborough Market Café? After undergoing four months of renovation, it completely changed its look to a more heritage-meets-contemporary concept. Now, it looks more like a lavish but cosy home divided into three different zones. The first part is the main dining hall that welcomes you with its high ceiling, koi pond, turquoise and white colour palette, as well as diamond-cut glass wall features.

 

Tatler Asia
The revamped Ellenborough Market Cafe boasts a heritage-meets-contemporary design concept
Above The revamped Ellenborough Market Cafe boasts a heritage-meets-contemporary design concept
Tatler Asia
The restaurant's design flows seamlessly to the dining area, which looks more like a Peranakan home with a Hampton twist.
Above The restaurant's design flows seamlessly to the dining area, which looks more like a Peranakan home with a Hampton twist.

Continue to explore the spacious restaurant, which seats about 250 diners, and you’ll be mesmerised with the restored stained-glass skylight at the mezzanine level, as well as the dining area that looks like a cross between a Hampton and Peranakan home. All these design changes set you in the mood for what lies ahead—its sumptuous spread of Straits Chinese and Peranakan cuisine.

Tatler Asia
Tatler Asia
Popular for its Peranakan and Straits Chinese offerings, here are just some of the tantalising delights you'll be able to enjoy.
Above Popular for its Peranakan and Straits Chinese offerings, here are just some of the tantalising delights you'll be able to enjoy.

Ellenborough Market Café is best known for its Peranakan offerings, and it doesn’t disappoint with its galore of choices by executive chef Louis Tay and his team. Their freshly cooked offerings—ranging from all-time favourites to equally delightful new creations—are all displayed on the buffet table, tempting you to dig in.

A great way to start the meal is with the bakwan kepiting, made with a light and delicate soup that complements the pork and crab meatballs. When this has piqued your palate, continue with other classics such as the ayam buah keluak, a palatable treat with its generous chicken chunks bathed in a rich and piquant sauce, as well as the stir-fried slipper lobster and Lion’s Head la mian. There’s also a section dedicated to local favourites, and all yours for the taking are their umami-packed Nonya laksa, wok-fried Hokkien mee and seafood hor fun.

Tatler Asia
Ellenborough Market Cafe also has a carvery station which changes up its daily specials—from roast beef to leg of lamb.
Above Ellenborough Market Cafe also has a carvery station which changes up its daily specials—from roast beef to leg of lamb.

While it’s so easy to fill up on these, remember that there are new experiences to look forward to. There’s a carving station offering daily specials like roast beef and leg of lamb. With a la mian station manned by a master chef, you won’t just get your piping hot soup, you’ll also get to watch the master as he twists, stretches and folds the dough into thin noodle strands.

You know what they say about desserts: Save the best for last, and it holds true for the restaurant which gives equal importance to its dessert spread. Even with limited stomach space, you won’t be able to resist its colourful kueh lapis, kueh dadar prepared à la minute or the famous durian pengat that makes you crave for more with every bite. There are actually more tantalising delights to enjoy at Ellenborough Market Café, so you can just plan a trip there to see and taste them for yourself.

Ellenborough Market Café
20 Merchant Road, Swissôtel Merchant Court, S(058281)
Call 6239 1847 / 1848
Visit http://www.swissotel.com/hotels/singapore-merchant-court

Topics