Privé: A room without a view, but the menu, created by Tony Bilson, is excellent
For some reason best known to its interior designers, Singapore's new Privé restaurant, which boasts a prime waterfront location, chooses to completely block its sea views with either cherrywood paneling or gloomy, thick grey curtains. But that's about the only thing amiss in this modish 88-seat restaurant, situated on shipyard turned posh marina Keppel Island.
The brainchild of F&B maestro Michel Lu — who also owns the fashionable downtown establishments Hacienda, Cicada and Superfamous — Privé features the culinary flair of top Australian chef Tony Bilson. Hailed as the godfather of modern Australian cuisine, Bilson is the restaurant's consulting chef and has created dishes such as sautéed frog legs with smoked eel mousseline, slow-cooked confit of Tasmanian ocean trout, roasted bone marrow risotto with veal jus, and foie gras-stuffed chicken breast. He's also in town every two months to give master classes and create special menus.
Privé's wine list is decent enough, but beverage-wise it's the impressive and lengthy selection of single-malt whiskeys that really stands out. Of course, you'll probably want to enjoy your postprandial Scotch at the bar next door, so that you can take in the sea view in all its glory. Don't feel bad about it though — Lu owns the bar, too. For more information, visit www.prive.com.sg.