Episode Restaurant serves a delicious chapter of Asian and Western cuisine

With its maze of independent fashion boutiques and obscure hipster shops, Publika is perhaps one of the last places most would think of to go for Chinese food. That is where most are wrong.

On the first floor of the mall, Chinese food aficionados will delight in Episode Restaurant that takes up a cosy corner in the centre atrium, boasting an Oriental red façade that makes it hard to miss. Warm golden light shines through, completing the regal air of every promising Chinese restaurant.

On that note, do not be confused when upon stepping inside, you are greeted with tables set to a more European style. Episode serves both a Chinese and Western menu so there is something for your dining companion in the event he or she isn’t in the mood for Chinese.

How does that combination work out? We are pleased to report Episode makes it work with two different kitchen teams working together seamlessly.

Chinese: Crispy garlic golden pomfret

From the Chinese menu, a must-order is definitely this crispy garlic golden pomfret. The fish is deep-fried to the perfect point of being light and crispy on the skin, while the flesh remains fluffy and tender underneath. The winner is the special fragrant sweet sauce it is drizzled in before being topped with a generous sprinkling of fried garlic. The garlic adds a nice crunch to the fish while the sauce layers the flavours with sweet, sour and slightly spicy nuances.

Chinese: Stir-fried Australian King prawns

Another staple Chinese dish Episode does right is its stir-fried Australian King prawns, done to the perfect al-dente texture so the prawns are springy with a good bite under the shell. Think Nyonya assam prawns brought up several notches with a homemade baba sauce that the chef concocted himself using more than 10 different spices. Again, it is another explosion of sweet, spicy and tangy flavours dancing in your mouth with each bite.

Western: Pan-seared cod with scallops and prawns

The Western menu presents less intense flavours that are nonetheless robust and wholesome. This seafood platter of cod, scallop and prawns, for instance, serves up the best fresh sweetness of the sea and the creamy textures of seafood well done. A nice surprise is the pumpkin cake in the middle that lends the overall dish a delightful nutty dimension.

Western: Chargrilled tenderloin

Meat-eaters will enjoy the steaks here as well. One interesting point to note is that all of Episode’s beef is chargrilled with charcoal of mangrove trees that are at least 30 years old. The wooden logs are then baked for more than 20 days, resulting in charcoal that produces close to no smoke upon being lighted. This gives you meat that is slow-charred to the perfect medium-rareness without being coated with the overwhelming ashened smokiness of your typical charcoal.

An extensive dual menu coupled with a fun bar that serves coffee by the press and freshly-squeezed juices, Episode makes it too easy to decide on where to go for dinner the next time the family is torn between cuisines.

For more information or reservation enquiries, log on to the official Facebook page here.