Fancy something more adventurous, like a new cuisine in the Marina Bay area? Not many of you would have tried Scottish cuisine in Singapore. In fact, the only other eatery serving Scottish food I’ve heard of is The Highlander. With the newly opened UsQuBa Scottish Restaurant & Bar in One Fullerton, you might just want to consider it as another fine dining option besides the usual western or Chinese fare along that stretch. Helmed by executive chef Guven Uyanik, UsQuBa presents New Scottish cuisine using French cooking techniques with an Asian touch.
The restaurant emits a casually swanky kind of vibe, with carpeted floors, plump orange sofas and mahogany tables. There is even a more private dining area at the back that has a better view overlooking the river and MBS. What really caught my attention though was their long bar which features a curated selection of whisky, artisanal gins and craft beers.
After a round of cocktails and focaccia with cherry tomatoes and topped with shaved truffle, we were ready to start with a few starters on the menu. It seemed impossible to pick a favourite out of the three – they were equally as competent as the others.
For a refreshing start, go for the Orkney Islands Scallop Ceviche ($25) with compressed cucumber and apple, horseradish snow and sea urchin. The sweetness and juiciness of the scallops prove how fresh they are.
The Seared Foie Gras ($21) is made a tad interesting since it’s paired with spiced persimmon, pickled apple and a slice of waffle. Some of us were unsure about the purpose of the waffle though. Nonetheless the foie gras was seared perfectly.
The Lobster Ravioli Soup was divine, especially with that lobster broth that we polished off in no time.
Another round of cocktails – we tried one of their signatures this time, B.O.B the G.O.A.T ($30), consisting of Arbikie Highland Estate Kirsty’s gin, Fever Tree Indian tonic water, black pepper and blueberries. This is a must try for the gin and tonic lovers out there.
Moving on to the mains, we had the Duet of Aberdeen Angus Beef ($56) – grilled tenderloin, braised short ribs, plum jus. The braised short ribs at the side stole the limelight of this dish, what with its tenderness, causing the ribs to melt in your mouth. We were expecting more from the grilled tenderloin which we felt was a little tough.
It was my first time tasting pigeon and it probably says a lot when I say that I loved the Baked Pigeon ($32 for half, $46 for whole) with calamari, peas and squid ink sauce. We agreed this was our favourite among the main courses we had. Underneath that golden brown skin was meat that was very moist, tender and silky tasting. It also turned out to be very smooth on the palate.
The UsQuBa Fish and Chips ($32) – Sous vide cod, mushy peas and mint, pommes maxim.
Another favourite of the bunch of us is the Butter Poached Lobster ($58) with peaches, beetroot, fennel salad and lobster jus.
Desserts were alright, although we wished that more Scottish influences could be infused into them. The Tastings of Strawberry ($15) comprises pistachio cream sandwiched between pistachio biscuits, strawberry sorbet and strawberry juice. Meanwhile, the Chocolate Delice ($15) was a more memorable dessert for me, what with the scoop of coffee flavoured Bailey’s ice cream which paired so well with the small but rich slice of chocolate cake. Pair it with one of their dessert wines if you would like!
Not a drinks expert, but I can tell that the bar here alone could be another reason for many to visit. Or for me to revisit…
Special thanks to UsQuba and Jill for the invite.
One Fullerton
1 Fullerton Road, #02-03B/04
Singapore 049213
Opens 11.30am – 2.30pm daily for lunch, 6pm – 10.30pm daily for dinner
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 