Taking over Equinox on the 70^th floor of Swissotel is home to new restaurant and bar, SKAI. Refurnished to give diners a more relaxed environment as compared to its previous fine-dining interior, the restaurant is airy, modern and classy and you still get a bird’s eye view of the Marina Bay area. Helmed by Executive Chef Paul Hallett, the menu at SKAI comprises a mix of modern Asian with a focus on contemporary grill. The menu is quite straightforward though the steak menu had us lost so we had some help before we decided on the cut

Evening view of the Marina Bay

Love the bread!

Braised Octopus $22

Hokkaido Corn, Piquillo Pepper, Pesto

Starting with the octopus as starter, we actually didn’t plan to order this but the friend had a soft spot for octopus. Well, I was glad we did. The aroma of the grill, the texture of the octopus and the complement of the sauce was spot on. It was really delicious. I would order this anytime

Crispy Rye Noodles (V) $35

Truffle, Wild Mushrooms, Onsen Egg

I thought this sounded and looked interesting so we gave this a try. Feels like our familiar fried ee mee but tasted quite different, the noodles when soaked in the broth gave a deep earthy flavour. The mushroom broth had hints of herbs, which was really nice though people not used to this might find it a little too strong. Overall I thought this dish comes together

Uni Saffron Risotto $38

Cucumber, Cured Egg Yolk, Citrus

Drawn by the aesthetic presentation, the risotto was a safe choice but pretty forgettable

Dingley Dell Pork Belly $56

Soft Shell Prawn, Celeriac, Miso Eggplant

The pork belly was well executed, the meat soft and the fats melting in your mouth. An interesting take on Surf and Turf, with choice of deep fried prawn. Feels like a fusion of both Asian and European cuisine

Ranger Valley, Black Onyx, Australia, MB3 $85

300g New York Strip

Paired with Black Truffle Sauce; Choice of side: Hand Cut Chips

Not much to pick on the steak – thought it was quite decent generally. Love the piping hot wedges and the black truffle sauce that goes along with it!

Found something else that caught our attention too – the intricate details of the steak knife!

We were a little adventurous with desserts and decided to go with 3!

Caramelized Soy Bean Cheesecake $22

Miso Fudge, Citrus Jelly, Lemon Sorbet

First up, being one of their signature – the cheesecake. The Chef came to our table and torched it for us. The cheesecake tasted quite different in terms of texure, yet light on palate. I like how it goes with the miso fudge and lemon sorbet so you get a play of flavours

Matcha Souffle Pancake $20

Orange Marmalade, Mandarin Granite, Coconut

The pancake was a little heavier than your usual soufflé but the taste of matcha is quite strong. I would say the dessert is not bad if you ask me but probably would order something else to try the next time

Yuzu White Chocolate $22

Yuzu Custard & Curd, Lychee Compote

A little artwork on this piece, split into yuzu and lychee on each side. You get the citrus of the yuzu and the sweetness of the lychee though I think I’m more impressed with the presentation itself

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience at SKAI. I thought the food was decent, service attentive and the view impressive even for someone who was born here. I wonder how foreigners feel then. Even if it is not dining here for a special occasion, it feels quite relaxed to be dining here for a casual meet-up, or for a business engagement. Definitely a place I don’t mind returning

SKAI @ Swissotel The Stamford

2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882