Food Review: Lumo Cocktail Bar & Restaurant Along South Bridge Road | Scandinavian Inspired Dining Space minutes walk from Clarke Quay

Posted on March 30, 2020 by theRantingPanda in Food

The Place I look forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Meet Lumo, a relatively new cocktail bar and restaurant located at the corner of Carpenter Street and South Bridge Road. The name means light in the universal Esperanto language, where the Scandinavian inspired space of Lumo is split into the bar and open kitchen dining sections.

The dining vibe at the front combines a bar and restaurant setting where it is more casual.

Walk towards the back of the restaurant and it is the open kitchen concept, which feels like a min private dining section as it is rather cosy.

The Food The cuisine at Lumo is Modern European, and you can expect dishes prepared with a spectrum of traditional and modern techniques. For a start, the bar menu is pretty interesting as it takes inspiration from “Breakfast” in terms of the concoction of the drinks. And trust Lumo’s Head Bartender’s Josiah Chee to recommend you a drink off the menu too,

I went for the Palm Tree Tonic (S$20), a concoction of Widges London Dry Gin, Coconut Cold Brew, East Imperial Burma Tonic. The coconut cold brew here is fun as it incorporates coffee, so my first instinct of the taste is that it resembles a toned down version of long black. The flavour profile evolves as the ice melts, lending the flavour a little more like a mild coffee tonic as the evening goes along.

On to food, my meal started with the addictive Shoestring Fries with Mentaiko Mayonnaise and Bonito Flakes (S$12). This generous bucket is an awesome bar snack to share along with the cocktails. The kitchen at Lumo is headed by Chef Martin Wong, whom previously led the kitchen at the now-defunct Mythz & Myths at the same location and had previously worked at Michelin restaurant L’Aterlier de Joel Robuchon.

Another starter I had was the Tomatillos & Momotaro Tomatoes (S$16) served with whipped spiced buttermilk. This tempura-style snack uses tomatillos from Mexico and tomatoes from Japan, which is an interesting contrast of tomatoes from different regions done in a Japanese tempura way.

One of my favourite small plates, the Aged Chicken Mid-wings Aigre Doux (S$17) is a must try. The chicken wings here are aged for 3 days, glazed with housemade BBQ sauce and it is very flavourful.

Another small plate I will recommend is the Potato Hash, Duck Prosciutto, Homemade Sour Cream (S$15). I like the crispy bits of the triple cooked potatoes from the US, which makes it easier to digest as compared to the usual roast potatoes.

Go for the Bone Marrow with Veal Jus, Yellow Frisee and Tuile (S$18) if bone marrow is a dish you fancy. This version is very well-seasoned and the delicious bone marrow goes perfectly with the crisp and thin tuile.

On to meats, I enjoyed the Westholme Wagyu Intercostal (S$32), pickled kohlrabi, shallot confit, veal jus. The beef here is first sous vide then grilled to medium rare, where the beef is very succulent and well-marbled.

Alternatively, I was also torn between the beef and the Sakura Pork Chop, Whisky Raisin (S$34). The pork here is a mixed breed of Kurobuta and Duroc, and is first sous vide then grilled. The flavour is amazing, and I appreciate that there is a good mix of lean and fatty cuts on the plate. Expect a very tender and flavourful pork.

For some vegetables to balance the meal, I like both the Wood-fire Burnt Leek, Anchovy Butter, Sunflower Seeds (S$14) and the Roasted Cauliflower Steak, Togarashi Aioli, Lemon Zest (S$15).

For desserts, go for the Coco Maria, Hazelnut Mousse, Feuilletine (S$16), served with apple mint celery sorbet. This will be a hit for hazelnut fans, and I especially like the roasted hazelnut at the centre of the hazelnut feuilletine. The spherical layers of the hazelnut feuilletine also consists of hazelnut praline ganache and chocolate mousse.

The other dessert I had was the Classic Apple pie, Vanilla gelato, Rum Raisins (S$16). The apple pie filling consists of Granny Smith apple, cinnamon, rum-infused raisin, butter, and brown sugar.

Rants The dining space of Lumo is relatively small, and I do find the communal table in front of the bar a tad too narrow.

Will I Return Again? This is a fun and interesting restaurant and bar concept. The drinks are fun, while the moderately priced dishes complement the drinks well. Find your light and be enlightened at Lumo.

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.

Make your reservations instantly at Lumo here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5