Food Review: The Peranakan @ Claymore Connect, Singapore

Who would have known that at this more ‘ulu’ part of Orchard road, Claymore Connect (a lesser-known mall) would house an interesting eatery, The Peranakan. The moment we entered the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by a friendly server who showed us to our table. What caught my eyes was the table card displayed on each table clearly stating “No MSG”. You will be fascinated by the different elements of the restaurant, from the lighting to the cutlery to their decorations, as they showcase the rich Peranakan history.

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We started off with the Tok Panjang set, this has two different sizes named after the two very famous Peranakans; Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Wee Kim Wee. We had the LKY size which included an array of 10 different dishes from their menu.

Personally, Nasi Ulam was one of the highlights of the Tok Panjang. We were not only entertained by Executive Sous Chef Shirley Tay, who sang us the Peranakan song that accompanies Nasi Ulam, but the freshness of the finely cut herbs, spices and raw long beans really teased our taste buds. The flavour was well blended and nothing was too overpowering. Another dish worth mentioning is their Beef Rendang, it was extremely tender and melted in my mouth.

Next, they served us their Peranakan High Tea. The star of the show was the Mee Siam (which was SOOOO good) as they only serve it in their High Tea set. The noodles absorbed the flavours from the sauce and it was extremely tasty. Their Pulut Enti Kelapa (Glutinous rice with Sweet Coconut topping) really reminded me of my childhood. The rice was very fragrant and with the shredded coconut… It was just WOW. This is something you really do not want to miss!

We were almost stuffed to the brim after we finished the Peranakan High Tea, but the eating must CONTINUE!! Who could possibly resist the Gila Durian, an 8-course set that’s power packed with durian! Each and every creation is served in beautiful crystal-ware and served course by course – just like fine dining. They also have an intermezzo to ease you from all the durian goodness.

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Overall, I was pretty impressed with their food and it was an extremely wonderful experience. With their belief of no MSG in their food, the flavours were nicely blended together and the dishes were seasoned perfectly. Some may find their food a tad bit bland, but for me it hit just the right spot. I would definitely come back for more!

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