Chinese private dining reinvented

For 13 years, Xi Yan served up innovative Chinese cuisine at its Craig Road shophouse, an intimate space that could only fit in six tables. After its closure in February, it has resurfaced with a bigger venue in the heritage-rich Maxwell Chamber Suites. While the old cosy dining atmosphere is missing, Xi Yan Maxwell more than makes up for it with an expanded menu of over 70 à la carte dishes, a casual bar serving Chinese-inspired cocktails and a flexible private dining room option that can take in 14 to 50 guests for events and small weddings.

The dishes retain creative chef and founder Jacky Yu’s inventive streak without losing its emphasis on taste. Grilled iberico pork collar is so tender it can be enjoyed alone or doused in honey and Thai dipping sauce ($15). Whole crab, shredded crab meat and bee hoon are stir-fried and tossed with dried shrimps and lemongrass ($98). For dessert, choose the ying yang tang yuan ($5). The soft and chewy glutinous rice dumplings, stuffed with a savoury blend of salted egg yolk, winter melon candy, sesame, peanut and a smidgen of butter, are bathed in a ginger soup.

Ask for a specialty cocktail (from $18) if you are here for dinner and you’ll be served a vanilla accented mojito with Black Tears spice rum. Langjiu, a baijiu producer, is the star spirit here, infused with latte as a perk-me-up or in a bespoke concoction. #01-15/16/17, 28 Maxwell Road, Maxwell Chambers Suite. Tel: 6220 3546