THE DEMPSEY COOKHOUSE & BAR
17D Dempsey Road, S(249676) T 1800-304-5588
If ever a restaurant embodied casual chic, The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar, with its gorgeous high ceilings, sculptural statement “lanterns” and pockets of green, would be it. Opened by celebrity chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten in 2017, it is still favoured by the well-heeled and remains a popular spot for leisurely lunches and dinner get-togethers.
A good number of Vongerichten’s signatures are on the menu, including modern creations that play with Asian flavours, alongside crowd-pleasers such as pastas and pizzas (among which is a black truffle and Italian fontina cheese pizza, no less).
At lunch, we thoroughly enjoy the crispy salmon sushi – raw salmon draped over a crispy fried bite-sized portion of rice – perfectly seasoned with just the right touch of chipotle mayonnaise and soya glaze. The simple but delicious combination of Sri Lankan crab toast with lemon aioli and avocado also stands out – a light squeeze of lemon really brightens up the whole dish, so do work that lemon wedge.
The spice-crusted snapper is well executed; the fish is succulent, with a crispy crust that lends texture to the dish. The sweet and sour broth that accompanies it, though not exactly sour, is splendid with deep, comforting flavours that tempt us to mop up every drop with more bread.
And, of course, there is dessert. The signature warm chocolate fondant with its alluring rich molten chocolate lava centre is a must-try if you’ve not had it before. Alternatively, we recommend the sundae – three generous scoops of salted caramel and peanut butter ice cream, served with crunchy caramelised popcorn, peanuts and hot fudge.
Cheerful and pleasant service coupled with superb food and drinks such as the refreshing ginger margarita, or a chilled glass of crisp New Zealand sauvignon blanc, make for an extremely pleasant meal. We are definitely looking forward to our next visit.