MiddleClass

Kee’s Restaurant Review: Modern Asian Brunch In A 1936 Remittance House

TLDR: Kee’s, also known as Kee’s Restaurant & Bar, is a modern Asian restaurant that has launched a daytime menu at the 21 Carpenter hotel, 21 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059984. Standouts include the Filet-O-Kees ($32) and the Bur Bur Cha Cha French Toast ($18). Brunch plates range from $16 to $32, lunch mains from $30 to $42, and desserts start from $14.

Kee’s Restaurant & Bar is part of 21 Carpenter, a boutique heritage hotel in Clarke Quay. It launched day and night menus on 12 September 2026, with the former led by Executive Chef Sujatha Asokan, known as Chef Su.

The menu gives brunch favourites a local twist, from a curry shakshuka to a kaya-stuffed French toast inspired by bubur cha cha. Brunch is served daily from 8am to 3pm, and the coffee is made with a custom blend Kee’s created with Singapore roaster Glyph.

What Is Kee’s?

Kee’s is named after Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, the 1936 remittance house where early immigrants sent money and letters home. Chef Su’s menu draws on the Chinese and Indian cooking she grew up with, working local ingredients like kaya, coin prata and gula melaka into brunch staples.

The space felt warm and cosy, with wood-panelled walls, brown leather booths and soft, warm lighting. Big, colourful paintings line the walls, with a bar in the middle of the restaurant.

Keep an eye out for elements of the building’s history too, like excerpts from original remittance letters and 1930s wood reused from the old building.

Where Is Kee’s?

Kee’s is at street level 21 Carpenter, at 21 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059984.The nearest MRT is Clarke Quay (NE5), about a 4-minute walk away.

Kee’s Restaurant Menu

Kee’s daytime menu covers pastries and coffee, brunch plates and heartier lunch dishes, all given a local or Asian twist. Brunch is served daily from 8am to 3pm, while lunch dishes like the Filet-O-Kees and Cham-Misu are available from 12pm to 5.30pm.

On weekdays, there is also a set lunch from 12pm to 2pm at $42++ for two courses or $48++ for three, with a choice of appetiser, main and dessert. All prices are subject to service charge and GST.

This is a preview of the menu:

SectionDishWhat Is ItPrice
BakeryGuava Strawberry DanishPastry from a local partner bakery$10
BrunchKee’s Avocado ToastGrilled sourdough, smashed avocado, local pickles, whipped beetroot and chickpeas, scrambled eggs$25
Kee’s Big BreakfastChar siew glazed bacon, house-spiced pork sausage, soy-pickled tomatoes, mushrooms, sourdough, scrambled eggs$32
AppetisersBurrata ‘Kerabu’Burrata with heirloom tomato, fish sauce, green mango, poppadom and chilli oil$22
Kiam Chye Baby Gem SaladSalted mustard greens, soft-boiled egg, shiso, manchego, crispy whitebait$20
MainsCereal Prawn Dry Tossed UdonCrusted tiger prawn, corn flakes, chilli, ginger flower, confit garlic$30
Seafood LaksaTiger prawn, Hokkaido scallops, bean sprouts, burnt lime$32
DessertsCham-MisuTiramisu with teh peng, kopi mascarpone, Kahlua and Horlicks$16
DrinksPandan Matcha CloudMatcha with pandan and milk$8
Kee’s Iced TeaMandarin sticky rice pu’er, red date and honey$9

Check out Kee’s full menu here.

What We Ate

Filet-O-Kees ($32)

The Filet-O-Kees was easily our favourite. 

The batter was crispy and the fish had a unique smoky flavor. The side of curry leaf tartar had  a unique flavor that made  the dish stand out, giving an earthy and aromatic kick that went well with the smokiness of the cod. 

If you get one dish, make it this one. 

Heritage Chicken Curry Shakshuka ($25)

 The curry was fragrant and never felt overly greasy, packed with big pieces of tender chicken. The spice served as a kick rather than real heat, so this suits those who can’t take spice too.

The airy coin prata paired with the curry was a great combination. For a prata dish, it made for a light and appetising meal.

One tip: This dish takes 20 to 25 minutes to prepare, so order it first.

Crossroads Benedict ($28)

The Crossroads Benedict was well balanced. You can taste the saltiness of the Chinese olive in the compote, giving a unique Asian-style umami that works in the dish’s favour nicely.

Unlike the usual slices of cold salmon, this version uses thicker chunks of confit salmon.  They were soft and smoky, and the poached eggs tied everything together with its creamy yolk.

The Desserts We Tried

Bubur Cha Cha French Toast ($18)

This stands out as one of the most memorable desserts we’ve tried. The French toast was soft but still crispy on the outside, and the housemade kaya filling made it both sweet and savoury.

The ube ice cream was sweet and creamy, pairing well with the toast.

We recommend visiting between 12pm and 3pm, when the brunch and lunch menus overlap!

Drinks We Tried

Kee’s Piccolo ($8)

Served warm, this was a well-executed gula melaka latte. It was lightly smokey but not too sweet, making it a comforting drink. 

Shi-Berry Sparkling ($9)

The Shi-Berry Sparkling was good. We had never tasted honey in a soda before, but it worked well. It was fresh, fruity from the strawberry, with a subtle foresty note, and surprisingly not too sweet. 

Is Kee’s Worth A Visit?

Yes, Kee’s is worth the visit.  Kee’s impressed us across the board, from the food to the ambience  The Filet-O-Kees and Bubur Cha Cha French Toast are the must-tries, while the Heritage Chicken Curry Shakshuka and Crossroads Benedict stood out for being light and well balanced.

Definitely pay this place a visit for brunch with friends and family, rest assured, we’ll be returning for seconds! 

Kee’s: Key Information

DetailInformation
NameKee’s Restaurant & Bar
Address21 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059984
CuisineModern Asian
Opening hoursDaily, 8am to 10pm (brunch 8am to 3pm; lunch dishes 12pm to 5.30pm; weekday set lunch 12pm to 2pm)
Price rangeBrunch $16 to $32; lunch mains $30 to $42; desserts from $14 (prices subject to service charge and GST)
Set lunch$42++ (2-course) or $48++ (3-course), weekdays
Nearest MRTClarke Quay (NE5), about 4 minutes on foot
ReservationsSevenRooms or +65 6373 6985
Instagram@kees.sg

FAQ

What is Kee’s?

Kee’s is a modern Asian restaurant and bar at the 21 Carpenter hotel, serving brunch, lunch and dinner in a restored 1936 remittance house.

Where is Kee’s?

Kee’s is at 21 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059984. The nearest MRT is Clarke Quay.

What are Kee’s opening hours?

Kee’s is open daily from 8am to 10pm. Brunch runs from 8am to 3pm, and lunch dishes are available from 12pm to 5.30pm.

How much does brunch at Kee’s cost?

Brunch plates cost $16 to $32 before service charge and GST. The weekday set lunch costs $42++ for two courses or $48++ for three.

Does Kee’s take reservations?

Yes. You can book through SevenRooms or call +65 6373 6985.

What should I order at Kee’s?

The Filet-O-Kees (32)andBuburChaChaFrenchToast(18) were our top picks. For drinks, the Shi-Berry Sparkling ($9) stood out most.

This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.

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