The streak of new rooftop restaurants in Singapore continues, with latest entrant The Black Pearl setting up shop on the seventh-floor summit of Odeon 333.
We know what you’re thinking — no, this isn’t some tawdry Pirates of the Caribbean-themed eatery. Quite the opposite, actually, with its sleek interiors underpinned by astrological motifs. Swirling circles criss-cross on the ceiling to form astrolabe designs throughout the restaurant. Deeper inside are three private rooms and the chef’s table, an area decked out in vibrant reds and golds.
But moving on to the food — The Black Pearl’s kitchen is helmed by Hong Kong-born executive chef Dee Chan, with a menu inspired by the cuisine of Greater Canton (an area spanning Hong Kong, Macau and parts of Guangdong), as well as Qing dynasty imperial feasts. Besides an a la carte menu, there’s also a five-course “Experience” menu priced at $198++ per person. (Update: We've been told the Experience menu has been put on hold for the time being.)
Standouts on the current Experience menu, which changes quarterly, include an intensely savoury steamed egg custard made with prawn heads, topped with chives, edible flowers and grilled crab.
We also like the trio of starters, which are assembled before us at the chef’s table. Of note here is the char siew-filled doughnut with rosemary-smoked mayonnaise; the dough is light, and the bits of pork within are ever-so-slightly sweet with that characteristic smokiness.
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Though the Experience menu is all well and good, we find ourselves turning to the wait staff around us, carrying plates of everything from fried rice to dim sum. Bulging bellies be darned, we turn to the a la carte menu.
Presented as golf ball-sized pearls, the “Black Pearl signature” pork knuckle jelly ($26++) takes after the restaurant’s name and the Chinese classic black vinegar pork trotters. Sweet, sour and savoury with a gelatinous texture and shreds of pork throughout, this is certainly not a dish to be forgotten.
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Also good is the Iberico char siew ($38++), a slab of shellacked, melt-in-your-mouth, not-so-sweet goodness. Slightly different from the little cubes we had in the earlier starters, this version of Chinese barbecued pork is tinged with a deeper smokiness.
With its compact yet varied menu, The Black Pearl is a great place to bring a family of picky eaters. There’s something for just about everyone, from roasted meats and seafood to soups and dumplings. We say it’s worth a shot.
