Singapore’s great steak race

Singapore Business Review brings you the latest and hottest destinations to satisfy your cravings - BJ’s American Diner and Grill , Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, and Zafferano Bar & Lounge.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse brings Hong Kong style to Singapore

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, an Australian-inspired premium steakhouse from Hong Kong, had just opened its first Singaporean branch on level three of Raffles City Shopping Centre. The spacious  140-seater dining room is home to delectable steak dishes prepared by Head Chef Gerard Lewis.

House specialties include the Tuna and Spanner Crab Tartare with avocado cube base, orange slices, diced shallots and coriander. Other choices for starters are the Jumbo Prawn, Broiled Sea Scallops  wrapped in Applewood, Smoked Bacon, Classic Steak  Tartare, and Australian Wagyu Beef Tenderloin.

Wooloomooloo’s main menu specials, ranging from $89 to $129, include the Australian Black Angus Tomahawk, Australian Black Angus Wagyu Tomahawk, Australian Black Angus Porterhouse, and the 150-day grain-fed, wet aged Rib-Eye Steak and Sirloin Steak. 

The signature dish, Beef Wellington ($66), is an 8-ounce piece of broiled Australian fillet mignon, paired with Parma ham, mushroom duxelle and 40g of  foie gras, encased in a pastry.  

BJ’s American Diner and Grill dishes up Americana to go

The Botak Boss is back, and this time he is trying his hand at an all-star American diner, but still in the heartlands and still with the reasonable prices. Of course, we are talking about Bernie Jones, the man behind the brand Botak Jones that got us all excited by the prospect of burgers at the local hawker centre.

His new diner is like something you would expect to find on route 66, full of folksy charm, surfboards on the wall, and an open kitchen with a short order chef who is on his way to Hollywood. 

So it is fitting that BJ’s American Diner is located on Balestier Road, the Route 66 of Singapore, connecting all sorts of areas and people as it winds its way from the gentrified and glitzy neighbourhood of Thomson, through the lighting shops of Balestier, and on to the KTV Zone near Moulmein, Bernie started over with his wife as his partner and put up Botak Jones, an authentic American food stall in Tuas.

The second outlet was opened in a coffee shop in housing estate Ang Mo Kio. In two years, five more branches were put up. One and a half years later, Botak Jones’ 11th outlet was opened.

“In July of 2011, a small group of investors became interested in the company and bought over the majority stake. Shortly after they let me buy over the only outlet that was started as a full serve restaurant. Agreements were signed and we changed the name to BJ’s American Diner and Grill,” says Bernie.

BJ’s menu is all-American—heavy on the burgers, steaks, chops and such. For their ribeyes, the restaurant serves New Zealand prime steer and American USDA Certified Black Angus prime.

Burgers are ground from the rump section of the steer as it has very little sinew and veins. Another house specialty is the “wild caught” Alaskan Sockeye salmon fillets, which have no chemicals or colorings unlike the very common farmed salmon.

The menu also offers US pork loin, and Alaskan red king crab legs among others. BJ’s is located at 312 Balestier Road, open to serve everyone from 11:30 to 11:00 every Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11:30 to 12:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00 on Sundays.  

Zafferano Bar & Lounge sets new heights in Singapore

Located at the top floor of the Ocean Financial Centre in Collyer Quay, Zafferano Bar & Lounge is set against the Singapore city view, providing a 270-degree view of the island. The Italian bar and lounge offers contemporary takes on traditional Italian cuisine, complemented by Head Chef Roberto De Franco’s dishes.

The menu is divided into seven featured varieties of cuisine - Cucina di Mamma (Mum’s Kitchen), Terra (Earth), Verde (Greens), Mare (Ocean), Griglia (Grilled Meats), Delicate (Delicatessen favourites) and Dolci (Sweets). A range of 40 wines by the glass are also offered, from a collection of over 200 Italian and premium labels.

Culinary offerings at Zafferano vary throughout the day, with a semi-buffet lunch, afternoon tea and dinner service served every weekday, while Prosecco is available during Sunday Brunch. There are also two dining areas convertible to one large space for 20 to 30 guests.