At Sunset Way, a serene neighbourhood in Clementi, a cluster of restaurants quietly opened recently. And already, the area has been compared to the likes of Holland Village. That alone got me curious enough to go check it out.
What sets Sunset Way apart from other dining enclaves such as Rochester Park and Dempsey Road is the fact that it is tucked within a residential area, surrounded by HDB flats! I don’t think there is any other place quite like it in Singapore.
The restaurants are lined up along the ground level of a HDB block, each one having its own alfresco dining area like this:
Very, very nice. Sort of like pseudo posh dining in a casual neighbourhood setting with lush greenery. In fact, we even spotted a couple who rode there and parked their bicycles by their table!
From the 9 restaurants at Sunset Way, we picked the steakhouse Grill-Out. It turned out to be a great choice – good food, awesome service.
Of course, what’s pseudo posh dining without some cheap wine to go along? By cheap, I mean S$6.80 per glass of house pour. Boy, that’s even cheaper than their cheapest beer! Free salad was served too. Nice!
S$18++
Rating:
For a non steak eater like myself, I went for the grilled yellowtail cheek with wasabi sauce. The fish was pretty good, but it was the wasabi sauce clinched the deal for me. Although at 18 bucks, I found it a tad pricey for the portion. If you order this dish, do be prepared to wait at least 15 minutes.
S$30++
Rating:
My friend had the beef steak. Men just love beef, don’t they? I’m not a red meat eater but on sampling of the steak (done rare. Does anyone here go for extra rare?), I found it to be nice and tender. They serve a mean steak here. Ironically, the restaurant has murals of happy cows on its walls.
Jon, our friendly waiter recommended the fried milk for dessert. What is that, you ask? We wondered the same thing too and got curious enough to order it. I thought it might resemble fried ice cream. But as it turns out, it wasn’t quite the same thing.
S$6++
Rating:
The two slabs of dessert are fried on the outside, gooey on the inside, and served with vanilla syrup and a strawberry on top. Ingredients? Milk (obviously), cornflour and cumin. Kevin, another friendly waiter of ours helpfully brought us a cumin seed to let us get a whiff of it. It is a longish Indian seed with a smell that is strangely addictive. I sniffed it for the longest time!
Anyhow, the fried milk sure is one quirky dessert. It’s good enough to get a taste, but I wouldn’t recommend a second helping. The name is cool though. My rocker friend remarked that he might name his band “Fried Milk” in future.
Sunset Way
106 Clementi Street 12 #01-38E
Singapore 120106
Tel: +65 6774 1028
Service:
Closed on Mondays
This maiden dining experience at Sunset Way had been a very relaxing one, made only better by the excellent service at grill-out! Notice that I have given them a 5-star rating, a rarity in Singapore. The waitstaff were extremely attentive, dedicated and friendly throughout. For example, we had a two-seater table so my friend had to set his bag on the floor. Jon noted this and brought over an extra chair!
Even whilst paying our bill, the waitress took care to patiently read out each and every item on the bill to ensure we were paying for exactly what we had ordered. The only other time in recent memory that I had experienced such good service was in Japan. At that point I had wondered if service standards in Singapore could ever match. Now it looks like there is hope yet!
My only wish is that when business becomes brisk, the standards wouldn’t drop. Often, that tends to be the case.
It would be wonderful if there were more Western restaurants at Sunset Way. The atmosphere here seems more suited for Western cuisine, yet 4 out of the 9 restaurants are Asian (2 Chinese, 1 Thai, 1 Japanese). There is also a nice pub here, which is likely to be my next stop when I return!
(The song, Sunset Grill, by Don Henley is the inspiration for the title of this blog post.)
Sep 19, 2007
15
a bit pricey leh…
Sep 19, 2007
43
I totally love this concept and wish they start doing this for the other HDB estates! Think about it, there are so many affluent and hip young families and couples staying in HDB flats. Its always nice to have some good places nearby to chill and eat without having to travel all the way to town. I heard there’s a German restaurant there as well – Peaberry & Pretzel.
I read your earlier posts on the HDB rejuvenations in Yishun and Queenstown and I think this concept seem to be severely lacking. Its a nice mix to have the usual kopitiams and some really cool alfresco restaurants around the area. Maybe I should highlight this during their roadshows?
Sep 19, 2007
2
Typing this from my mobile phone. Thanks for the review, i was there a few weeks ago and my experience at the Oriental Cafe was so less than desirable with bad service and food that i hope nobody needs to go thru what i went through. More on track, we originally wanted to try the grill but there were so full. But after this review, i’d love to give it a whirl
Sep 19, 2007
3472
hucks: For a HDB estate, I found the prices expensive too. But the ambience is worth the price.
Joyz: Wow girl, you are really up to date with my posts, always being able to link the new posts with the old. I totally agree that there should be more al fresco dining in HDB estates. Besides the convenience, it would also up the hip factor of these neighbourhoods!
Looking forward to the day when I can enjoy this right within my (aged) estate.
Brian: Thanks for the warning! I’m confident that Grill-Out would not disappoint you.
Sep 19, 2007
182
This looks like a good place to check out. Thanks for sharing. I don’t live near Sunset Way, but I am quite familiar with it, because I used to have to travel past Sunset Way on my way home from NUS.
Sep 20, 2007
1
woo… looks nice. Next time when I go to Singapore, I need you help as tour guide for food. If you come to Penang, let me know I will bring out to the best food here :)
Sep 20, 2007
3472
py: Do check it out. I’m sure you would find something you like out of the 9 restaurants.
Steven Goh: Thanks for the offer! I’d be sure to remember that should I visit Penang in future.
Sep 20, 2007
43
now you know who’s the adrent fan, yah? *wink*
btw I sent you an email… not sure if you received it; its on the choc lava cake and the link to its step by step video on how to make it. So if you master that and put in top notch ingredients, you’ll get to eat the choc lava cake just as you like it!
Sep 20, 2007
3
woah u’re really a makan queen!
maybe you should start your own tv show?
hehe..it would be interesting!
Sep 20, 2007
2
hi there, i read your entry on the buffet spread at traders hotel and i’ve decided to take acouple of friends there for dinner tonight.
Just wondering, will it be very crowded on a thursday evening? should i make reservations?
Sep 20, 2007
3472
Joyz: No worries. I have reposted your comment here. Thanks for the tips!
Knox: I could call it the Makan Queen channel or something.
nick: The place is not too crowded so I doubt you would need reservations.
Sep 20, 2007
3
nick: as you might already know, Veron is just a customer there, she doesn’t work there..hehe..
By the way Veron, maybe someday i could cook you a meal and you can review my cooking for me? lol ( as if i know how to cook)
Sep 21, 2007
3472
Haha thanks Knox. I see that many people have started using this blog as a communication channel with the restaurant. This, despite the fact that I always include the contact details in each food review!
Anyway, I’m game to enjoy your food if you would be so kind. Of course, I’d be generous in my review too. Haha!
Sep 21, 2007
182
Sunset Way was mentioned in the Chinese newspapers, Lian He Zao Bao, today.
Oct 7, 2007
1
Great recommendation, my friend and I enjoyed our dinner there. Loved the white sliced bread they served enough to have two helpings!
Oct 7, 2007
3472
Awesome!!!
Gotta try those sliced bread again at my next visit! Hehe :)
Dec 7, 2007
1
hihi… i am new..erm..how is the food at sunset way?
Dec 23, 2007
20
I went Sunset Way with a friend two weeks ago. In the end, I decided to try Grill Out coz it looked real tasty. I ordered a Salmon steak while my friend tried out on Pork steak. I could say that was the most expensive salmon I have ever tasted!
I gave Grill Out thumbs-up for its inviting atmosphere & good service. I remembered it was the boss who served me the salmon! He was in all smiles. Psst..it’d better to go at night! Really romantic..
It costs us $85 in total..phew..
Cheers ~
Dec 24, 2007
3472
Thanks for sharing your dining experience with all of us! I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Heh the place is pretty romantic, and rather unexpectedly so given its heartland setting. I sure hope you had the (cheap) wine!
Believe it or not, your comment is totally making me miss Sunset Way!
Jun 24, 2008
1
I have been at the restaurant twice and i really loved the good food and wine. Esp. the waiters ar friendly and go out all the way to recommend the right choice of beef and wine lists.