At the Bar:
A new and noteworthy spot for a tipple
36 Carpenter Street, #01-01 6222 3623 | neonpigeonsg.com
What’s New:
The entire bar! Last November, Neon Pigeon opened up in its new location on Carpenter Street. I’d been lucky enough to check out the previous location, but this new spot is also super cool. There’s an awesome atmosphere – from the music to the funky art displays – and the staff are friendly and want to ensure you have the best time; plus, the drinks are delicious and the food is divine. I can personally vouch for all of this, as I’ve been there three times in the last month – yes, really! At this point, I’m practically a Neon Pigeon addict.
The Chosen One:
Oddly enough, I hadn’t tried the cocktail menu before my most recent visit. I’d always stuck to the house sake, which is great – and who doesn’t love yelling (or whispering in the current climate) “kampai!”?
This time, my group tried the Boshi-Maker ($20), Ichi-Go Lightly ($22) and Kosupure ($23), all of which were crowd pleasers and showed us a bit of everything. We really enjoyed Ichi-Go Lightly, a creamy, strawberry gin-based drink sprinkled with seaweed – delicious! Our favourite, however, was Kosupure; it comes in an iconic bird glass – a must-have for the ’gram – and is made with Midori (melon liqueur) and Applejack, with carbon dioxide added for bubbles.
Bite On This:
The dishes are available in small or large portions, so you can happily make your way through the entire menu in a group. You have to order the Tokyo Hummus (from $10), made with edamame and served with curry chips. I’ve had it three times now, and I still internally squeal when they put it in front of me. Other appetiser hits (or “Birdfeed”, as it’s described on the menu) are the housemade Chukka Wakame (from $11), which is a watermelon seaweed salad, and the Japanese Cucumber (from $8) tossed in garlic, sesame and yuzu vinegar – yum!
Next up on our list of favourites were the grilled duck breast (from $19) and the New Zealand cod katsu (from $19), which my friends raved about. I’m vegetarian and there were plenty of great options for me on the menu, so your veggie friends will definitely feel welcome here! The charcoal-grilled asparagus (from $15), brussels sprouts (from $14 – you can get them with or without mirin-glazed bacon) and sweet corn rice (from $16) with tempura seaweed and egg yolk were my highlights.
Last but not least, for dessert there are two options to choose from: yuzu brûlée ($12) – Yakult sorbet, miso granola, sesame meringue – and the Bonsai 3.0 ($13), made with honeycomb, matcha and dark chocolate mousse.
– Michaela Bisset