Kimme
We'd gushed to the lovely waitress at Meta how we loved their food, but bemoaned the lack of an ala carte menu...So she recommended their sister restaurant, Kimme, a bistro-styled restaurant headed up by yet another Korean-born chef.
Unlike Meta's exclusively degustation menus, Kimme's menu is primarily ala carte: which is split into the sweet and savoury - the latter served in small and big plates. The food here is similar to Meta: European techniques awash with Asian influences and grounded in Korean flavours.
We really wanted to like Kimme, mostly because we love Meta so damn much...But, while dinner was perfectly enjoyable, we thought that Kimme fell short of the extraordinary that is Meta. There wasn't a marked grouse nor could we pick a particular flaw, but it was missing that "je ne sais quoi", that magic-something that distinguishes between the competent and the transcendent.
The sumptuousness of the Wagyu Bulgogi Tataki ($26) was contrasted with the refreshing mint of the shiso and fresh daikon, while the sweet accent of the bulgogi marinade was picked up by the subtle spice of the roasted bell pepper and caramelised onions.
Plump and succulent, the grilled Hokkaido Scallops ($30) were complemented by grilled endive, leeks, and parsnip, but was overwhelmed by the robust flavour of the century eggs.
A riff on haemul pajeon, the Korean Seafood Pancake ($25) was outstanding. It was crisp and juicy and absolutely delicious. The pickled daikon, dusted with green tea powder, and the vinaigrette dip, loaded with spring onions, lent piquancy. A must-try.
The Barramundi ($36) was a hit-and-miss. The fish was perfectly seared, and the prawns scrumptious, but the bouillabaisse was cloyingly sweet, in spite of the fennel and crisp onions.
The fork-tender Korean-Style Pork Rib ($34) was served with broccolini, wild rice, and purple cabbage for a textural contrast.
The Guksu ($30), the Korean answer to Chinese la mian, was generous with spanner crab meat, laced with seaweed and topped with chives. This was heartwarmingly homestyled: the Hubs said it tastes exactly like how his Gram's used to make, yet it was polished and refined.
Kimme
47 Amoy Street
Tel: 6514 1588
Open weekdays from 11am to 2.30pm for lunch; 6pm to 11pm for dinner;
Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm for dinner only;
Closed on Sundays
Website: kimmerestaurant.com
Unlike Meta's exclusively degustation menus, Kimme's menu is primarily ala carte: which is split into the sweet and savoury - the latter served in small and big plates. The food here is similar to Meta: European techniques awash with Asian influences and grounded in Korean flavours.
We really wanted to like Kimme, mostly because we love Meta so damn much...But, while dinner was perfectly enjoyable, we thought that Kimme fell short of the extraordinary that is Meta. There wasn't a marked grouse nor could we pick a particular flaw, but it was missing that "je ne sais quoi", that magic-something that distinguishes between the competent and the transcendent.
The sumptuousness of the Wagyu Bulgogi Tataki ($26) was contrasted with the refreshing mint of the shiso and fresh daikon, while the sweet accent of the bulgogi marinade was picked up by the subtle spice of the roasted bell pepper and caramelised onions.
Plump and succulent, the grilled Hokkaido Scallops ($30) were complemented by grilled endive, leeks, and parsnip, but was overwhelmed by the robust flavour of the century eggs.
A riff on haemul pajeon, the Korean Seafood Pancake ($25) was outstanding. It was crisp and juicy and absolutely delicious. The pickled daikon, dusted with green tea powder, and the vinaigrette dip, loaded with spring onions, lent piquancy. A must-try.
The Barramundi ($36) was a hit-and-miss. The fish was perfectly seared, and the prawns scrumptious, but the bouillabaisse was cloyingly sweet, in spite of the fennel and crisp onions.
The fork-tender Korean-Style Pork Rib ($34) was served with broccolini, wild rice, and purple cabbage for a textural contrast.
The Guksu ($30), the Korean answer to Chinese la mian, was generous with spanner crab meat, laced with seaweed and topped with chives. This was heartwarmingly homestyled: the Hubs said it tastes exactly like how his Gram's used to make, yet it was polished and refined.
Kimme
47 Amoy Street
Tel: 6514 1588
Open weekdays from 11am to 2.30pm for lunch; 6pm to 11pm for dinner;
Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm for dinner only;
Closed on Sundays
Website: kimmerestaurant.com
Comments