We’ve only ever seen dive bars in Western movies, but we experienced it in Singapore at Parliament! Contrary to its name, Parliament is within walking distance from Maxwell MRT and brings a slice of American dive bar culture to Singapore.
Funky Retro Interior
The bar is up a flight of fun red-themed stairs decorated with stickers and streamers.
The interior is even more fun! It’s packed with retro decor reminiscent of the states: everything from red party cups, road plates and even the American flag (two, actually).
There’s even a disco ball on the ceiling that adds the perfect touch to the space. The playlist is also curated, rotating between 1970s rock, jazz and more.
Parliament Menu
Their drink menu offers a rotating menu of housemixed signature cocktails from only $20!
Some previous offerings include Strawberry Fields with gin, elderflower liqueur and sparkling oolong tea and Crimson & Clover, a bourbon and merlot mix with apple.
They also have classic cocktails at $16, like Daiquiri, Negroni and Palomas.
Food-wise, Parliament has a revamped menu featuring in-house marinated fried chicken sandwiches!
There are three flavours: Original Southern Fried Chicken Burger ($23), Buffalo Fried Chicken Burger ($25) and General Tso’s Fried Chicken Burger ($24). The chicken and sauces are all housemade and marinated!
They also have fried chicken wing baskets of 5, either in General Tso’s ($17) and Original ($16) flavours.
Chicken-free options include a Three Cheese Grilled Cheese ($12) with red cheddar, elemental and monterey jack cheese.
There are also sides like Chicken Poppers ($15) with Garlic Chilli Dip and Fries ($12).
Cocktails
We tried two signature drinks: Strawberry Fields and Pineapple Warp. Strawberry Fields had a pleasant strawberry fragrance and sweetness, plus an enjoyable tea aftertaste.
For something creamy, the Pineapple Warp is a good option. It was topped with a coconut-kaffir lime cream which complemented the tangy pineapple base.
Both cocktails were easy to drink without a strong alcohol taste!
Fried Chicken Burgers
The burgers were impressive. Each one was sizable, with tall fluffy buns, thick chicken patties and plenty of sauce.
Of the three, we enjoyed the Original Southern the most!
The chicken was juicy and well-marinated; we liked the smoky and spicy chipotle aioli and crunchy veggies.
The Buffalo version also stood out to us! Their housemade blue cheese sauce wasn’t overbearing or too funky, providing a nice contrast to the spicy sauce.
The General Tso’s version had a unique taste. It had a soy sauce base with a savoury, umami flavour but leaned on the sweet side.
Buffalo & Blue Cheese Chicken Wings
The Buffalo wings were also sizable, coated in a good amount of sauce.
Their chicken was tender with a thin batter, carrying their spicy and tangy housemade sauce. It had a pleasant kick without being too hot.
Once again, the blue cheese dip was the star, complementing the wings.
General Tso’s Poppers
These fried chicken pieces were great for sharing! The General Tso’s sauce made these addictive, and we could taste the umami from the sauce.
American-Themed Bar In Maxwell
Parliament provided a laid-back and fun spot perfect for gatherings and a satisfying fried chicken burger! The prices are also reasonable and worth a spot on the list of bars to visit.
Check out more eats in Maxwell and Tanjong Pagar:
Parliament
18 Teck Lim Road, Level 2
Singapore 088390
Closed Sunday and Monday
Tue-Sat: 5pm – 2am
This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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