Review: 808 Eating House In Joo Chiat Reinvents Fine Dining With Fun And Bold Eats
808 Eating House is the new kid on the block in the buzzing dining enclave of Joo Chiat. Helmed by young Singaporean Chef Eugene Chee, the casual and inviting modern pushcart service restaurant, promises tasty, familiar, yet novel interpretations inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine and regional produce.
Chef Eugene is a talented chef who honed his skills working at Michelin Three-starred Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn, San Francisco, with French Chef Dominque Crenn, as well as Magic Square in Singapore. Here at his very own casual eatery, he reinvents the traditional fine dining atmosphere into a livelier setting, fuelled by inventive dishes prepared with finesse, and thoughtfully-sourced local or regional quality ingredients.
Relaxed and Cosy Ambience
Diners can expect a wide selection of snacks and appetisers, and hearty mains, served right from the open kitchen. You might even catch whiffs of bold and punchy flavours while watching the kitchen crew in action.
“We wanted to create a space where people can come together, have a great time, and enjoy delicious food,” shared Chef Eugene, Head Chef of 808 Eating House, “I am sharing the kind of food that I like to eat!”
Creative Fusion Dishes
On your first visit, you might be wondering to order from the extensive menu. Well, if you are popping by for lunch. be sure to check out their Lunch Menu, which is refreshed every month. From the regular menu, we especially loved the Duck Fat Financiers ($10)- one of Chef Eugene’s signature items. In essence, they are bite-size ‘buttery’ cakes infused with rendered duck fat and tempered with orange zest. Spread a generous blob of the creamy and flavourful chicken liver mousse and you are all set for a good start to your meal.
We are also fans of XL Sweet Clams ($24), served in hua-tiao broth and egg floss. This comforting dish reminded us of Teochew fish soup, with an added buttery flavour boost.
Craving for more snacks? Check out the Pickled Quail Eggs ($6) and Chef Eugene’s unique take on Crispy Baby Squid ($16) and Seasonal Oysters ($8 per piece).
For mains, we had the Buah Keluak Pork Belly ($26) – braised pork belly in buah keluak and soy sauce enriched with homemade coconut serundeng and accompanied by achar pickles. The pork belly was tender and melted in our mouths, while the achar pickles were crunchy and refreshing.
Next,. we had Barramundi ($28), which was perfectly seared, served with lightly-spiced garam masala pumpkin puree and pumpkin relish, in a flavourful shellfish broth.
Sweet Delights and Beverages
Ice Cream Sandwich ($12) combined sweet and savoury in a black sesame parfait sandwiched between two wafer biscuits, topped with coconut caramel, an earthy mushroom crumble and mint.
Peanut In A Cup ($5) is a bowl of concentrated peanut milk. We swirled the glass to mix the syrup at the base into the peanut milk. It was a fun experience, reminded us of our school days of experimenting with chemicals in a flask.
808 Eating House also offers a wide range of beverages, from locally sourced craft beers to natural wines. If you are craving for a glass of cocktail or mocktail, do ask the staff for recommendations.
Final Thoughts
808 Eating House is a great place to hang out with a group of friends over a variety of small and big plates for sharing. Look forward to quality South East Asian dishes accentuated by Chef Eugene’s creativity and culinary prowess, as you relax and unwind at the cosy eating house.
808 Eating House
Location: 153 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427431
Opening hours: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm (Tue - Sun). Closed on Mon.
Reservation: Chope
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*This was an invited media tasting.
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