"Let's go for dinner at The Clan", so I was brought to this cozy dining establishment one evening. Apparently, The Clan Restaurant was chosen because it's somewhere which I've not been to before, and my friend thought I would like the place. He couldn't be more right. Elegant ambience, delectable food, excellent service, our lovely dinner marked a very memorable start to another blissful season in life.
The Clan Restaurant is nestled in a hundred over years old building within the conservation area of Bukit Pasoh (Chinatown), with nearby The Lokal and Majestic Restaurant as its neighbours. I guess its name has got to do with the The Gan Clan Association that is also located in the same premises.
Spanning two levels, the restaurant houses an open-concept kitchen on the first which brought forth a sense of bustling warmness, while the upper room where we were ushered to was decidedly more serene and intimate.
Tip: If you're planning to have a romantic dinner here, a table on the second level would be comparatively more ideal, unless the restaurant is hosting big groups that evening. It's always good to ask beforehand when making your reservation.
The Clan's cuisine is described as "Modern European with Asian Touches", featuring a combination of chef's starter, cold dish, side dish, soup, main and dessert to be enjoyed as a set meal. The concept is such that several options are available for each course, so we get to chose what we fancy.
If your dining companion is one who doesn't mind sharing food, my advice is to order different items like what we did. One price, double the experience. Moreover, 一人一半, 感情不散 lol! Definitely not advisable for business meals though, and please don't start raining dining etiquette rules onto me. Just relax and enjoy.
A 5-course Lunch goes for $49.80++, and 6-course Dinner is at $69.80++.
Very worth our moolahs and calories I would say, considering both the quantity and quality of food that was served up.
We were started off with a glass of Lemon Sorbet each, which refreshed our palates for the meal that followed.
Next up, Chef's Starter. Most places would called it amuse bouche which is more often than not, a petite one-pop-in-the-mouth wonderment, so I was quite surprised when presented with a platter of Seared Scallop with Truffle Foam, Foie Gras Chawanmushi and Prawn Sushi.
The trio were all delicious, but our unanimous favourite was the scallop. Freshness and succulence in each bite with just a subtle scent of truffle to enhance the flavor. Uber nice!
None of the cold dishes such as Beef Carpaccio or Foie Gras Terrine appealed to us unfortunately, so we decided to forgo it and had 4 side dishes (instead of the usual 2). Glad that The Clan is flexible in allowing its patrons to do so.
The taste and contrasting textures of the Herb-crusted Mushroom Escargot was pleasing, Tempura Espuma Soft Crab was crispy and well-complemented with a zesty Homemade Citrus Sauce, Potato Gratin and Marinated Crabmeat with Aged Balsamico & Pumpkin Sauce wasn't too bad and Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit with Pork Cracker & Passionfruit Sauce satisfied the pork lover in us.
The Prime Beef Short Ribs was still too rare for our liking despite leaving it for some time to cook on the sizzling lava stone, and the hoba leaf on which it rested imparted a strong fragrance which overpowered any beefy flavors the meat might have. The dish did not resonate with us and we couldn't go beyond a slice each.
We decided to leave the beef aside (sorry chef if I broke your heart, I do have friends who tried this dish and liked it, so it's just us), but our server was quick to notice the desertion, asked for our feedback and immediately offered us a replacement dish. I thought it was very decisive of her, all F&B staff should be empowered this way.
The Duck Confit was a great substitute with its crispy skin and tender meat, the sweetness of plum mustard sauce paired it brilliantly, and the accompanying truffle mashed potato was faultless to taste. BBQ Iberico Pork Ribs dressed with sautéed fresh vegetables and cinnamon pumpkin puree was a choice we knew we had to make the moment we saw it on the menu, and it didn't disappointed with its savoury-sweet tenderness.
All too soon it was time for dessert with a wobbly smooth Green Tea Panna Cotta with mixed berry compote, as well as some light fluffy Homemade Cheesecake, concluding the exceedingly pleasant and substantial meal on a sweet note.
The affordability of a quality meal at Clan Restaurant probably explains its popularity. Reservations are encouraged.
The Clan Restaurant (Updated July 2015: Relocated)
Address: 18/20 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089832
Contact: +65 6222 2084
Website: http://www.theclanrestaurant.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Clan-Restaurant/814798585225666
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm / Dinner 6pm-11pm
Updated July 2015: Relocated to No.1 Selegie Road, PoMo #02-01, Singapore 188306, Tel: +65 6222 2084
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