We scour the island’s restaurant scene to bring you the new and the noteworthy – it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! Here, Anthia Chng heads to modern Cantonese restaurant-bar Mitzo to discover its newly refreshed menu.
First impressions:
Located on the fourth floor of Grand Park Orchard, this progressive Canto spot hosts up to 82 people in its dining area and 18 in the bar section. The interiors are grand yet modern: think neutral furnishings with bright yet tasteful décor all around. If you find yourself arriving earlier than you’d like, head to the spiffy bar for some aperitifs to whet the appetite – we recommend the Bartender’s Choice ($15), a bespoke mocktail for those who prefer starting with something non-alcoholic.
Bite on this:
Begin with the braised fish maw with seafood in golden carrot broth, which came with generous chunks of fresh lobster meat. A warm, comforting start to the meal, the rich and silky soup was well complemented by the firm bite of the fish pieces. Next up was roasted coffee pork neck served with crispy beancurd skin and Chinese pancake ($14), a fun twist on the ever-popular Peking duck. Sweet and tender pork slices are wrapped in soft pancake and paired with a surprising crunch from the hidden pieces of paper-thin beancurd. Heaven in one bite, and hands-down our highlight of the meal!
Seafood lovers, heads up: there are tons of lobster, prawn, scallop and fish options on the menu. One of the chef’s specialties is the stir-fried lobster claw wrapped with shrimps and seasonal greens in petai bean sauce ($32), a simple yet satisfying item. If you’re out to indulge, don’t miss the poached rice with live lobster meat in superior broth ($22); it definitely has a strong lobster taste – not that I’m complaining, as a huge crustacean fan.
Psst… Apart from the soups, most à la carte items are meant for sharing between two to three people. Heading here on date night? Three or four dishes should suffice for a table of two.
Wash it down:
Mitzo is definitely serious about its drinks. The carefully curated cocktail list features an impressive line-up of 20 tipples, split into three categories: Asian Inspirations, Classic Updated and Mitzo Creations. I wasn’t up for something adventurous, so I settled on a safe pick: Berry Rose Sangria ($22). Made with Sailor Jerry rum (a spiced rum), dry orange curaçao, goji berry syrup, fresh mix berries, fresh thyme and Merlot red wine, this full-bodied tipple is a refreshing, fruity and floral twist to the popular Spanish sundowner. A must-try if you want something different from a regular glass of red!
For something on the lighter end, opt for the Empress Sours ($20), a reinvented version of the classic whiskey sour. What’s in it? A perfect balance of chrysanthemum tea-infused Beefeater gin, lychee liqueur, lemon juice, ginger syrup, lavender bitter and egg white; it was sweet and fragrant with just the right touch of tangy.
Last but not least:
Visiting on a weekend? This mod-Canto spot also serves up a pretty wicked weekend brunch with free flow cocktails, champagnes, wines and beers. Grub on artisanal dim sum like steamed bamboo clam with minced garlic and spicy chilli lobster with buns. Crowd favourites including siew mai and barbecued pork are available, too. I’m bookmarking this one for my birthday celebration later in the year!
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
6603 8855 | mitzo.sg
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