The Marmalade Pantry @ Oasia Hotel Novena

I've heard of lobster roll and a hamburger. But never a lobster burger. Put the two together into an equation with drizzles of miso mayo and tobiko, it is simply pure decadence. 

Mound atop a bed of shoestring fries, this heart-stopping Miso Lobster ($34) is one of the new exciting dishes on the revamped menu of Marmalade Pantry. It's latest outlet tucked beside the reception area of Oasis hotel in Novena exudes a totally different vibe from the Ion Orchard outlet as one can enjoy some intimate space instead of being watched by the shoppers.

Photo courtesy of The Marmalade Pantry

Unlike the lofty Lobster Burger, the Lobster Barley Risotto ($32) displayed a kind of rustic countryside charm as barley was used instead of the usual Italian short grains. These underrated cereal grains soaked up the flavorful stock amazingly well to form a delicious chewy pud that retained a nice firmness. Mixed with garlic flower, butternuts, carrots and onions, it was a delightful and easy dish to eat with just a spoon, even though the lobsters were a little too salty.

Meanwhile, there is nothing to debate about the Salmon ($28), a truly ingenious yet successful innovation that ditched away the old boring mash potato and replaced it with glossy sweet potato noodles. The yuzu dressing was not as bright as I would prefer, but the pan-seared fish was nailed flawlessly to the perfect doneness beneath the lightly browned skin. 

If traditional English desserts or Southern layer cakes are your calling, the selection of sweets here will be right up your alley. Incredibly rich and moist with deep molasses flavor, the Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding ($14) found itself in the wonderful company of the smooth vanilla ice cream. 

But for the sweetest deal, I highly recommend the Dessert Platter ($28), a value-for-money combination that showcases the signature repertoire of sweets including Eton Mess, the Pear Bread Pudding in crispy phyllo shell, an exceptionally moist Chocolate Pudding and a sweet-citrusy Lemon Creme Brûlée Tart. Everything is scaled down in kind consideration of your waistlines but no one can stop if you are eyeing any item at their full regular size. 

Besides the all-day dining options, there are also hearty weekend brunches including Smoked Salmon Hash, Pancakes and Chorizos Frittatas. For once, I struggled desperately to resist the buttery aroma of the French Toast ($18) as I attempted to capture a shot of its beauty. 

Served with tremendously crispy caramelized bacon, the fluffy golden bread already tasted very good on its own without the sugar touches from the smoky apple compote. 

No Marmalade experience is complete without their cupcakes. In fact, that's the first thing I bought to try from Marmalade Toast at Takashimaya years ago and I could still recall the name. It was ELVIS, named after the legendary Rock and Roll singer who loved peanut butter as much as I did.

This time, I had the Smores ($4.90), a ganache-filled chocolate cake surrounded by a graham crust. If one huge cupcake is not enough, diners can consider having the Marmalade Afternoon Tea which includes two cupcakes, sandwiches and excellent scones, along with 2 pots of Gryphon Tea. Trust me, the Buttermilk Scones ($20 for 10pcs) are so heavenly that you may just want to consider taking away to enjoy at home!

 

On the overall, kitchen and bar service could be speedier and less shaky. However, it is clear that the focus of this contemporary bistro is on the food which are genuinely enjoyable. With fresh bites and warm flavors, you'll easily see a large grin beaming across my face after a meal here.

SG50 PROMOTION : All August babies can enjoy a FREE main dish with every paying adult who orders from the "Meat and Fish" or "Pasta and Risotto" section. Higher priced item will be charged  

Marmalade Pantry  

Oasia Hotel Novena

8 Sinaran Drive #01-02/04

Singapore 307470

Tel:  +65 6664 0348

Buffet Breakfast: 6:30 am to  10:30 am

All-day Dining: 10:30 am to 10:30 pm
Weekends/PH Brunch: 10.30am-6pm 
Afternoon Tea: Daily 3pm-6pm

enquiry.novena@themarmaladepantry.com.sg

Website: www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg

Facebook :  @MarmaladePantry

Instagram: @themarmaladepantry