Chapter 1 Wine Bar & Restaurant - Library of Wines, Stash of Good Food and a Touch of Cool Elegance

I found a cool new restaurant, Chapter 1, while walking around Outram area and appreciating the  architecture of quaint heritage buildings. This place caught my attention with its cool black modern signboard affixed just below an oriental style roof flanked by thick foliage. This East meets West element is done very well, enticing me to take a peek at what's beyond the entrance. And wow, a nice courtyard that is perfect for party and mingling, an idyllic porch and a classy interior.

Since I also like what's on the menu, I shelve aside my original dining plans and have a nice lunch here. And I made the right choice since the food, the wine and the service here are awesome.

There is a very value for money set lunch of $38, but since I want to try the ala carte menu items instead. So here I go:

Grilled Pork Secreto is so succulent with a nice layer of fat for the buttery richness. This richness is zested up by the lovely pungent aroma of the herbs in Chimichurri Butter. The accompanying Lyonnaise Potatoes is grilled to perfection where the smoky flavour enhance the taste of the potato. They are so delicious. This is one of those few times where I'm absolutely like the potatoes. The accompanying grilled onion is oh-so-sweet that I finish every strand of it. Highly recommend.

The Sauteéd Mushrooms, which is the side dish I had chosen, is soft and flavourful.

Nice super crispy warm bread that comes with generous amount of butter. Recommend to enjoy each bite of the bread with a big cube of butter.

Joselito Iberico Ham, with its beautiful marbling of omega-rich fats, is lightly salted and firm in texture. When chewing on it, the complex flavours of the cured meat and fats released once again cement in my mind that this ham is one of the best hams. Parma Ham doesn't even come close. Unlike most hams with strong taste, this Iberico Ham holds subtle flavours that please the palates.

Sea Bream Crudo with Espelette Chilli, Orange Ponzu Dressing is like sashimi prepared European style, and I love it. The raw fish is very fresh and its taste is perked up by the simulating flavours of the zesty ponzu and nuanced kick of the chilli. And I like the perfectly cut orange slices lol. They tastes good when dapped with a bit of the flavourful oil the sea bream is soaked in.

The Chestnut Tart is a nice sweet treat that can be shared between two persons. Still, I manage to finish it by myself because it is good. I like the earthy aroma of the chestnut cream that complements the milkiness of the whipped cream underneath. The tart base gives a good variation in texture and taste to the dessert.

Domaine Rene Leclerc, Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2017 is smooth and develops a sweet taste when paired with the food. I like this so much.

Not lots of restaurants have courtyards, so I really like the courtyard of this restaurant, which gives a feeling like I'm in a mini castle or an exclusive party. Sitting at the porch and watching the world pass by across the courtyard and through the entrance is quite an experience. The interior is elegant, simple and modern with an open kitchen. And there is a long row of temperature controlled wine cabinet at the inner part of restaurant housing lots of different wines. I like sitting at the place where there are windows above me, for the different experience of sitting under windows yet still enjoying the comfort of air-conditioning and safety of the enclosure.

The service is outstanding, being very attentive, polite and thoughtful. This is a place I will think of when I want to enjoy great wine with great food.

Thoughts: Awesome Food, Wine, Service and Ambience

77 Neil Road

Nearest MRT: Outram Park or Maxwell