A while back, I had the opportunity to discover Origin Grill and their new seasonal menu. Located in the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel at Orchard Road, the restaurant shares the same premises and name as the popular Origin Bar which comes alive in the evening. The vast expanses of the hotel lobby were bustling on a Sunday afternoon with both locals and foreigners alike and I was soaking in the vibes.
At the restaurant, I received very attentive and warm service from the service crew who knew the menu well and provided true recommendations. For a start, we had the Mushroom Soup ($14) topped with toasted hazelnuts, BBQ mushrooms and chives. It was a smooth emulsion that could be easily slurped up at a go.
The appetisers which arrived next, were as huge as main courses that I panicked a little. Wrapped in layers of pancetta, the Hudson Valley Duck Terrine ($34) was made with slow cooked duck leg and terrine from the Hudson Valley duck and was served with pickled onions, apricots, pear and apple chutney, warm brioche. I recommend stacking the terrine atop a layer of brioche and chutney and have it in a bite. Wished there were more slices of brioche!
Yet another appetiser we had was the Charred Octopus ($30), which featured the Abrolhos octopus caught off the coast of Western Australia. We were surprised how the octopus leg was plump and thick yet remained very tender. Swipe it with the aubergine caviar and tomato jam along the plate for an extra tasty finish.
Then came the main course which I was highly anticipating, as Origin Grill is known for offering notable bespoke beef cuts. I went for the recommended Yukimuro Striploin ($175) which is the most popular steak on the menu. This was my first time learning about the technique of yukimuro, where the beef is snow-aged for 30 days in a snow-covered room in Niigata. One of the richest and fattiest cuts of steak I’ve had, this is not for the faint-hearted.
The other main course that was recommended to us was the Lumina Lamb Rack ($62), served with honey glazed carrots, salsa verde, pistachio crumbs, rosemary jus. There was no gaminess.
We had 2 beautifully plated desserts to end. An Asian take on the Ile Flotante, the Floating Island ($18) featured mangoes from Thailand and a meringue with passion fruit crème anglaise and compote. The Milky Origin ($18), as its name suggests, is a vanilla milk pudding dessert with crispy milk foam, fromage blanc mousse, almond paper and manuka honey. We preferred the Floating Island!
Be it for date nights or a relaxing family meal, the food and experience at Origin Grill was suitable for any occasion and I personally have been recommending it to friends as well.
12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (Closed on Mon)
Lobby Level, Tower Wing, Shangri-la Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Rd, 258350
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 