The Wine & Gourmet Friends — Asian Tapas Wine Bistro

There’s a sweet story behind new wine bistro The Wine & Gourmet Friends. It’s set up by a group of friends – restaurateurs, wine experts and chef – who came together to start this business founded on the belief that good friendships flourish over good food and wine. Cheers to that, we say! Well priced wine is a big draw here from $6 per glass! Hello! Call the gang quick! But actually, it is the people at the heart of The Wine & Gourmet Friends that will make the lasting impression. If William Seah is around to talk you through the wines and give you tasting notes – it really is a highlight! The kitchen is helmed by Chef Wilson Ang who cooks up Asian and Western dishes such as the deliciously crispy fried Pork & Seafood Bites (Hei Zou) $12, Foie Gras Lotus Leaf Rice ($18), and Roast Pork Belly ($24) with house-made Achar (one of the owner’s grandma’s recipes). More Western mains include the Lamb Trio featuring grilled lamb kofta, lamb rendang and a rosemary grilled lamb rack on quinoa ($30). Definitely try the free-range Rosedale Ruby Pure Australian Beef Ribeye ($12/100g) and the Black Pepper Crab Noodle with soft-shelled crab is another moreish Asian dish. For dessert try the “Goreng Pisang” – a beautifully plated dessert showcasing bananas prepared three-ways: there’s banana cake, cleverly made shatteringly thin banana leather and of course fried banana with a generous scoop of heavenly choc ice cream. Decor is pretty minimalist; an open kitchen and some TV screens highlighting specials with the extremely affordable wine cellar as a back drop.