Club Street Social is known for being a great place to relax, soak up Singapore’s nightlife, and…have an excellent lunch? No really, how did we overlook the fact that this popular bar transforms from classy, glamorous joint at night to vintage cafe in the day. To remedy this error, we joined the crowds from Chinatown and Telok Ayer, and hopped on down to give their delicious and healthy lunch fare a go. (Spoiler: We liked it.)
Appetiser: Beetroot and Burrata Salad
Even if you’re not a huge fan of salads, you have to try the Beetroot & Burrata Salad. All its elements are deliberately chosen to complement each other, making this much better than the usual bowl of assorted veggies, toppings, and a drizzle of dressing.
Chunks of beetroot, sweet slices of orange, and fragrant hazelnuts sit atop a bed of fluffy quinoa. The entire bowl is topped with a generous knob of creamy burrata cheese and given an addictive finish of nutty, browned butter, making it just sinful enough to be immensely satisfying. We had to force ourselves to stop eating to save space for other dishes (but I couldn’t stop nibbling on the burrata cheese!). Plus, don’t get us started on its visual appeal.
Quinoa dyed beetroot pink, eye-catching orange slices, milky-white cheese, and a tinge of vibrant green coriander makes this a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The whole salad is a gorgeous mix of colours, flavours, and textures that combine to make each bite even better than the last.
Sharing Snacks: Saffron Risotto Balls
Fried to golden-brown perfection, the Saffron Risotto Balls are a decadent and tempting treat. When you bite into them, the initial satisfying crunch melts into a pillow-soft mouthful of rich, saffron-infused rice.
But our favourite bit was the surprise in the middle: a core of stretchy, melty, delicious cheese. These nibbles are served with Club Street Social’s very own smoky tomato sauce; its charred, tangy flavours enhance the sweet and slightly pungent saffron.
Sandwich: Chicken Panini
For those bemoaning the lack of grab-and-go or eat-at-my-desk options, don’t speak too soon! We ordered the Chicken Panini and it was hands down our favourite dish of the day. Slices of sous vide chicken breast, sweet Roma tomatoes, earthy coriander pesto are sandwiched between slices of crunchy, light, toasted ciabatta, creating a marvellously comforting panini that showcases the beauty of simplicity.
You can tell that the panini is carefully prepared to bring out the best in the each and every ingredient. Thanks to the sous vide cooking, the chicken breast is tender and moist. The fresh tomatoes are sweet and balanced by the mellow taste of the coriander pesto. We’re ashamed to say that we spent too much time taking photos and didn’t get around to eating the panini until much later, but amazingly the bread didn’t get soggy at all and still retained a hearty bite without being overly chewy.
Overall, the Chicken Panini is everything a sandwich should be. It’s simple and comforting, with fresh ingredients which all go perfectly together to give you mouthfuls of pure bliss.
Main Course: Farro Risotto
The first thing we noticed about this dish was its unique presentation: rice coated in a vibrant green sauce and garnished with a sprinkle of fried spinach. If you’re a fan of goat’s cheese, you’ll go crazy for the Farro Risotto, which is topped with generous slices of seared goat’s cheese that’s just barely starting to melt. Made with farro instead of the usual Arborio rice, the risotto has a pleasant bite, somewhat like brown rice, that sets it apart from its softer cousins. Its beautiful green sauce is made from spinach; though it’s a little plain on its own, the goat’s cheese really lifts the sauce and brings out the veggie’s light fragrance.
Grab a lunch set!
Your appetite might love the sound of lunch at the fabulously chic Club Street, but we understand if your bank account is a tad hesitant. Never fear; you’ll be able to solve the age-old dilemma of wallet vs stomach with Club Street Social’s lunch set. Order any main you like, and top up just $5 to add on a soup or salad of the day, plus a dessert and cup of coffee or tea.
