PinkyPiggu: Street 50 @ Bay Hotel

March 07, 2013

Street 50 @ Bay Hotel

Street 50 got its name because it's located at 50 Telok Blangah Road, right opposite Vivocity. And no, the restaurant and bar doesn't serve local street food, but a wide variety of global flavors ranging from Italian, French and American to Vietnamese, Indonesian and Singaporean. Understandably so, as it is situated within Bay Hotel. With such a diversified menu, there will be something to suit every traveler or staycationer.

Street 50 also offers a very affordable 3-course set lunch ($18++ or $25++), which will probably appeal to the working crowd in the area looking for a good value lunch deal or quiet environment for some business discussion.

The Hazelnut Escargot (Half Dozen $14 / One Dozen 22), flambéd with brandy at the table, will make a showy start to any meal. Each little morsel is wonderfully aromatic and buttery, the result of being slow baked with hazelnut butter. Served intact in their shells, it's a bit of a struggle with the snail tongs and fork for me, but I kind of delight in the process of pulling the escargot out of its shells as gingerly as I could. Ahem, this is a personal challenge for clumsy me.

With a love for pasta and an insatiable craving for anything tom yam flavored recently, I waited in anticipation for the Tom Yam Flair ($18) to be served. Though generous with the seafood medley of crayfish, mussels, squids and scallops, this dish is sadly a letdown with neither the sourness or spiciness of an authentic tom yam experience. Have these two essential elements been purposely tone downed to cater to a wider audience? The spaghetti is also a tad overcooked and the overly rich sauce left a rather jerlat feeling after a few mouthful.

The Lamb Rendang ($24) fared a lot better! A whole lamb shank is served in a very robust rendang gravy which goes perfectly with the jasmine rice served on the side. Slow braised till fork tender and topped with some peas, carrots and broccoli, this a simply a delish dish which will make anyone forget about their diet plans!

What lies beneath this baked shell? ....

It's the Duck Pot Pie ($22)! Duck has never been the easiest of poultry to cook, and the meat here came across as a tad dry and chewy. A longer braising time might do it good. Still, this duck pot pie makes a hearty one-dish meal with the chunks and chunks of duck meat, very warm comforting wine sauce and buttery puff pastry.

The signature dessert at Street 50 is the Durian Pengat ($8) which is described as 'luscious durian pulp cocooned in crepe'. No, I do not like durians at all, and yes, I'm Singaporean, maybe a bit too pinky to be true-blue lol. With the aversion to durians, I had this Deep Fried Banana Fritters with Vanilla Ice-Cream ($8) for dessert instead. Not a bad choice, but I should have been more adventurous and try the durian pengat which has received positive reviews.