1 / 1
Chic new steakhouse from Hong Kong woos executives in the Central Business District at the Raffles City Complex.
Tomahawk, porterhouse, ribeye and sirloin are just some of the beefy reasons you'll be heading to Wooloomooloo Steakhouse on the third floor of Swissotel the Stamford. Taking over the 6,300 sq ft former premises of Patara Fine Thai restaurant, the Aussie-inspired grill house is Wooloomooloo Group's first international foray, after establishing four successful outlets in Hong Kong.
We tucked into refreshing starters that include tuna and spanner crab tartare, jumbo prawn cocktail, and classic Caeser salad - these are ideal complements if you intend to feast on a hearty steak. The tartare in particular stood out with its sashimi-grade seafood that was lightly accented by avocado cubes, orange slices and crème fraiche.
The main event, of course, is the handpicked cuts of steak, each carefully broiled in a US Southbend broiler at up to 700 degrees Celcius to attain medium-rare doneness. If you are a meat aficionado, do not hesitate to order the bone-in Black Angus tomahawk - this 70-day grain-fed, wet-aged beauty weighs up to 1.3kg and can be shared by two. Luscious marbling ensures a juicy mouthful as you carve off slivers of prime meat off the rib bone. At $125, the price is not a deterrent. If you prefer your steak more meaty and aged, the USDA prime ribeye at $74 for 12 ounces (about 340g) is a safe choice. What really impressed us is that the cuts here are served with complimentary sauces that do justice to the quality of the meat -peppercorn, mushroom, au jus and red wine Madeira.
Is there room for dessert? Persevere, and be rewarded with a quintessential pavlova with passionfruit - there's nothing heavy in the crisp, sweet meringue nest crowned by tangy berries. Fans of apple crumble won't grumble at the version served here - again, a light touch is given to slices of Granny Smith apples, and accompanied by homemade quality vanilla ice cream and custard sauce.
Australian aboriginal-style murals, stacks of cherry wood logs and leather upholstered seats ensure that the restaurant fully resembles its sister outlets in HK. Wine lovers are amply catered for with a comprehensive list of 150 labels, with a whopping 17 wines by the glass; along with the option to own one of 48 personal wine lockers with an annual purchase of $2,500 worth of wines.
Wooloomooloo Steakhouse is located at Level 3 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 2 Stamford Road, 6338 0261, www.wooloo-mooloo.com
