Get me outta here!

October 26, 2014

Fern & Kiwi @Clarke Quay

The menu prices are not ordinary. It costs $35 to $45 for a main dish, and appetizers are well above $10. It's for tourists, set in a touristy area, so, wallets, be well-prepared. The service is great, staff prompt and friendly. Just don't sit on the second level, near the kitchen, if you want to enjoy your expensive dinner like a fine dining place. You'll hear the grumpy chef lecturing the servers, or shouting out your orders in a very unglamorous way.

(Image Unavailable. Sorry, too hungry to snap a picture!)
Southern Ocean Chowder ($19.50)
Green lipped mussles, sea run salmon and scallops, in a light creamy fish broth with potato chunks

Canterbury Plains Rack of Lamb ($39.50)
Coasted with trio of peppercorns and grilled garlic served on mashed potatoes and sauteed haricot beans

Oven Baked Cod ($39.50)
Served with roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus in a Fern & Kiwi special sauce

Pure South New Zealand Beef Ribeye ($41.50)
225grams of grass fed sirloin

Pure South New Zealand Beef Sirloin ($41.50)
225grams of grass fed sirloin

Cauliflower gratin with Upper Moutere cheese ($10.50)

Haricot Beans and feta cheese with almond flakes ($10.50)

We started off with an appetiser, Southern Ocean Chowder ($19.50). Green lipped mussels, sea run salmon and scallops, in a light creamy fish broth with potato chunks, this soup looks pretty when served with the oil floating nicely on top. However, we had to add quite a bit of salt and pepper to season it... It is a really big bowl, easily serving up to 2 persons. There's all sorts of ingredients from the main dishes that you'll see inside the soup- cod fish, salmon, potatoes...

A group of 4, we ordered steaks, Pure South New Zealand Beef Sirloin ($41.50) and Pure South New Zealand Beef Ribeye ($41.50), both veiny (grass-fed... ...), not juicy and marinated. Overall, nothing impressive, especially with the normal salad by the side.

The Oven Baked Cod ($39.50) and Canterbury Plains Rack of Lamb ($39.50) fared better than the steaks, and had more interesting side dishes ,like grilled asparagus and sauteed haricot beans.

The Cauliflower gratin with Upper Moutere cheese ($10.50) was not as cheesy as we had expeceted, but the light, fragrant natural taste of Cauliflowers brought out the taste. The Haricot Beans and feta cheese with almond flakes ($10.50) is average as well, but we thought our zhi-char stall could've done better, as they tasted quite similar...

Overall, don't visit this place if you're a Singaporean. At a $45+ per head just for main dishes, go Paulaners or elsewhere like the Central or Liang Court if you are okay with walking, for there are much more (and better) options available.

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Verdict:
Food: 2/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Total Score: 1/5
[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:
Fern & Kiwi
Address: 3C River Valley Road, #01-02/03 The Cannery, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179024
Menu: http://www.fernandkiwi.com/download/menu-main.pdf