Will you pay $19.90 for bak chor mee pasta? I have to try the dish, but I'm honestly not too convinced. Nasi lemak lunch sets at the Mod Sin (aka modern Singaporean) bistro Wok and Barrel are, however, reasonably at $7.90 to $9.90, considering that you get to dine in air-conditioned comfort and the outlet's location at the hip Duxton area.
There was nothing to fault with the fragrant, well-cooked coconut rice nor the robust beef rendang, but the food here was honestly just decent and not showstopping. Two types of chilli are served here- a sweet and mild sambal tumis which I liked, as well as sambal belacan which I avoided due to my inability to handle spicy food. The five-spice confit pork was flavorful and literally fork-tender, but but D wasn't too convinced with its incorporation into a sandwich ($10.90)- inspired by the pulled pork sandwich ubiquitous in the States.
Even if you're doubtful of forking out ten bucks for refined hawker food, be sure to visit Wok and Barrel for their desserts. Inspired by British sticky date pudding, pulut hitam cake is dished up in a pool of glorious gula melaka butterscotch with a scoop of coconut ice cream on the side ($8.90). My, I was determined to mop up every drop of the coconutty caramel! Although the ice cream was far too icy, it made a refreshing accompaniment to the rich dessert.
The red bean ice cream in the shendol delight ($8.9) was equally icy, but we were happy with the wobbly coconut panna cotta, drenched in heavenly palm sugar syrup.
Another fusion dessert would be the banana crack parfait ($7.90), a spin-off on tiramisu with mascarpone layered between a chocolate cookie crumble base and bananas in gula melaka butterscotch. No comments since I only had a tiny spoonful of it!
Wok and Barrel
13 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089597
Opening hours: 11.30am-10pm (Tues-Sat), 11.30am-4pm (Sun)
Tel: +65 6220 0595
13 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089597
Opening hours: 11.30am-10pm (Tues-Sat), 11.30am-4pm (Sun)
Tel: +65 6220 0595