The Scholar, NUSS Guild House
I used to frequent the NUSS Guild House back when I was in law school. Back in my day, law school was located next to the Guild House. So, while most of my schoolmates were holed up in the frigid law library, I'd sneak away to the Guild House's study for more privacy. And a slightly less stressful ambience. A major perk of the Guild House was the well-appointed gym, usually devoid of users during weekday afternoons, save for the occasional tutor or two. It'd been a very awkward occasion when I'd skipped class to hit up the gym and bumped into my tutors.
It's been a decade since I've graduated, and the Guild House has been completely overhauled. It looks vastly different and probably, twice as big as before. The in-house F&B options are still the same though, like The Scholar. I was surprised to find the Chinese fine-ish dining restaurant operating at an almost full capacity on Chap Goh Meh.
The Prosperity Salmon Yusheng ($58 for medium) was a little stingy on the salmon, but we liked the refreshing crunch of the purple cabbage.
The Sichuan Spicy & Sour Soup ($24 for medium) was decent, with plenty of ingredients, moderately spiced and piquant.
The Poached Spinach with Assorted Eggs ($21 for medium) was commendable; oodles of eggs, delicate stock, and the greens had bite.
The Stewed Tai Ao Bee Hoon ($21 for medium) was subtle, but flavourful, with fresh scallop and shrimp dice for posterity.
The Barbecued Meat Combination Platter ($42 for half), with roasted duck, honey glazed pork and soya sauce chicken was a mixed bag.
The char siew was superb, soft and moist and sweet; the roasted duck was tasty and moist; but the chicken could benefit from a longer marinating bath.
The Roasted Pork ($21 for medium) was homestyled, but excellent. Crackling skin, and juicy meat.
The Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was surprisingly refined, thin chewy skin and fresh springy prawns.
The Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was fresh enough, but pedestrian.
The filling in the Char Siew Bao ($4.20 for 3 pcs) was lacking in the distinctive rich honeyed tones.
The Steamed Chicken Claws ($5) tasted like feet, that even the chilli-ed black bean sauce couldn't mask.
A lot more fat may have saved the lackluster and bland Pork Ribs with Plum Sauce ($5.20).
The disappointing Fried Carrot Cake ($4.80) was dry; and the dried shrimp and sausages weren't rehydrated properly
The Deep Fried Prawn in Almond Flakes ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was more packaging than substance.
Bundled in a lotus leaf, the Steamed Glutinous Rice ($6.50) with sea whelk and chicken was moist and rustic.
The Steamed Bun with Custard Cream ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was pretty good, fluffy bun, creamy sweetish molten filling.
The Scholar
NUSS Guild House
9 Kent Ridge Drive
Tel: 6779 1811
Open weekdays from 12noon to 3pm for lunch; 6pm to 10pm for dinner;
weekends from 11.30am to 3pm for lunch; 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner
It's been a decade since I've graduated, and the Guild House has been completely overhauled. It looks vastly different and probably, twice as big as before. The in-house F&B options are still the same though, like The Scholar. I was surprised to find the Chinese fine-ish dining restaurant operating at an almost full capacity on Chap Goh Meh.
The Prosperity Salmon Yusheng ($58 for medium) was a little stingy on the salmon, but we liked the refreshing crunch of the purple cabbage.
The Sichuan Spicy & Sour Soup ($24 for medium) was decent, with plenty of ingredients, moderately spiced and piquant.
The Poached Spinach with Assorted Eggs ($21 for medium) was commendable; oodles of eggs, delicate stock, and the greens had bite.
The Stewed Tai Ao Bee Hoon ($21 for medium) was subtle, but flavourful, with fresh scallop and shrimp dice for posterity.
The Barbecued Meat Combination Platter ($42 for half), with roasted duck, honey glazed pork and soya sauce chicken was a mixed bag.
The char siew was superb, soft and moist and sweet; the roasted duck was tasty and moist; but the chicken could benefit from a longer marinating bath.
The Roasted Pork ($21 for medium) was homestyled, but excellent. Crackling skin, and juicy meat.
The Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was surprisingly refined, thin chewy skin and fresh springy prawns.
The Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was fresh enough, but pedestrian.
The filling in the Char Siew Bao ($4.20 for 3 pcs) was lacking in the distinctive rich honeyed tones.
The Steamed Chicken Claws ($5) tasted like feet, that even the chilli-ed black bean sauce couldn't mask.
A lot more fat may have saved the lackluster and bland Pork Ribs with Plum Sauce ($5.20).
The disappointing Fried Carrot Cake ($4.80) was dry; and the dried shrimp and sausages weren't rehydrated properly
The Deep Fried Prawn in Almond Flakes ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was more packaging than substance.
Bundled in a lotus leaf, the Steamed Glutinous Rice ($6.50) with sea whelk and chicken was moist and rustic.
The Steamed Bun with Custard Cream ($5.20 for 3 pcs) was pretty good, fluffy bun, creamy sweetish molten filling.
The Scholar
NUSS Guild House
9 Kent Ridge Drive
Tel: 6779 1811
Open weekdays from 12noon to 3pm for lunch; 6pm to 10pm for dinner;
weekends from 11.30am to 3pm for lunch; 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner
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