The Place Located at Outram in Dorsett Residences, Pipes by Hattendo opened a year ago and is Hattendo’s first Cafe Bar & Roasting Gallery in the world. The Hattendo brand hails from Hiroshima, Japan, and this Outram operates as Hattendo Cafe in the day serving a fusion menu and cream buns. In the evening, the 30-seater space transforms to an izakaya concept.

The Food I checked out the restaurant for dinner, and started with some Hiroshima oysters. The oysters come in four flavours – Natural, Ikura Infused, Extra Texture with Lime Caviar and Extreme Bind of Okinawa Umibudo. There are also Baked flavours like Mentaiko, Butter Garlic, Parmigiana and Hokkaido Cheese!

I had the Umibudo (S$8), Australia Lime Caviar (S$7), Mentaiko (S$8) and Hokkaido Cheese (S$8), and it is a good mix of savoury flavours and natural flavours which bring out the fresh flavours of the oysters better.

Next up was the Moriawase Platter: Chu Toro, Salmon, Scallop (S$38), a generous serving of sashimi for the price. The Hon-Maguro Chu Toro is from Kuro Maguro, a Kaisendon restaurant specialising in maguro (bluefin tuna).

One of my favourite dish is the Gyu Katsu Sandos (S$24), where the bread here almost steals the limelight from the beef. The sando here is made with Nama Syokupan which loosely translates to “fresh and natural milk bread”. Delicious and pretty good value, as there are 4 slices.

A dish good to share is the Salt Baked Fish (S$58, 1kg), a huge serving of the fish. This technique of cooking the fish in salt crust is called Shiogama-Yaki and it is popularly used by Japanese chefs. By baking the fish in this thick layer of salt, maximum flavour is retained and the fish typically comes out moist and well-seasoned.

Simply crack open the salt crust with a wooden hammer to reveal the White Snapper, which is cooked to a moist texture. The crust itself which wraps the fish is quite salty, so avoid eating it.

I also had the Salt Grilled Tiger Prawns (S$28, 8pcs), huge and fresh prawns good to share.

For desserts, I have the signature Custard Cream Bun (S$2.70) and the seasonal Hiroshima Lemon Bun (S$3).

The restaurant also carries quite a wide range of Sake for drinkers, especially Sake from Hiroshima.

Rants Less of an izakaya vibe from the interior of the space, which feels and looks more like a cafe.

Will I Return Again? This is a casual, laid-back alternative to the typical boisterous izakaya ambience. The dishes are quite value for money, particularly the ones for sharing like the Salt Baked Fish and the Salt Grilled Tiger Prawns.

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

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

Pipes by Hattendo
331 New Bridge Road
#01-02 Dorsett Residences
(Beside Outram Park MRT Exit H)
Singapore 088764
Tel: +65 8113 6096 

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 11am to 4:30pm; 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Sunday: 11am to 7pm
Closed on Mondays

Ranted by The Ranter