Not many restaurants can say that the fish served on your table was freshly caught at dusk and transported to the restaurant, before it’s grilled over charcoal. Smolder is one of the few that can, alongside the restaurants, Ah Hua Kelong & Scaled, opened by them as well.
From Kelong To Table
The seafood is harvested from one of the last three kelongs (traditional fish farms) in Singapore at dusk before it is delivered to the restaurant by sunrise.
This includes seafood like barramundi, pearl grouper, and golden pomfret alongside wildly caught green-lipped mussels and even crabs!
Over here, the restaurant serves up food that will remind you of coastal backyard BBQs, which means you won’t get over-the-top seasonings. Instead, everything is seasoned minimally to let the seafood shine.
Smolder Singapore Menu
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The menu is split into 5 sections, ranging from sides, mains, small & big plates and desserts. For sides, you’ll find a mix of various seafoods such as Calamari ($15) and Stuffed Squid ($15).
I was wondering what the difference is between Small Plates and Sides, but it seems like the items under the Small Plates menu are more suitable for pairing with your Big Plates and Mains. It consists of items like Broccolini ($16), Grilled Corn Salad ($8) and Grilled Vegetable Salad ($12).
For mains, you’ll find dishes like a Grouper Piccata Pasta ($26), a Grilled Snapper Escovitch ($30) and even Braised Short Ribs ($40). As for Big Plates, they feature the grilled seafood from the kelong, such as a Whole Seabass ($58), Whole Snapper ($68) and Whole Pearl Grouper ($85).
What We Tried
One my favourite items from their sides menu was the Zucchini & Parmesan Fritters ($10). While it was slightly salty, I did find it to be flavourful and dangerously moreish. The Octopus and Potato Salad ($16), on the other hand, didn’t stand out to me.
A must-try here is the Mussels ($15), made with green-lipped mussels cooked in a white wine and herb broth. The sauce was so delicious, I wished it could be made into a pasta!
I tried the highlight here, the Whole Seabass ($58), that is grilled over a charcoal fire. It might look straightforward on the outside, but the meat was plump, and there was a nice subtle sweetness to the fish. While it is minimally seasoned, it was not bland. Spice lovers can pair it with the sambal on the side, which was really fiery!
I was also not expecting one of my favourite dishes to be their unassuming Olive Oil Cake ($12). It came with a really nice slight crisp on the outside, which contrasted amazing with the fluffiness of the cake. It’s a very no-frills cake that just makes you want to go back for another bite.
New Restaurant at Outram Road
With so many new openings in Singapore, Smolder will likely come to mind when I’m searching for a seafood-focused venue. Their fantastic drinks also make it an ideal spot for gatherings with friends and a fun night out!
Smolder
271 Outram Road, Singapore 169062
Tues-Thurs, 5pm-11pm (Last Order 10pm)
Fri-Sun, 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-1am (Last Order for Food 2pm & 10pm, drinks 12am)
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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