The Place Located at East Coast Road in the heart of Katong, I checked out the newly opened The Social Outcast which is located right opposite the heritage Starbucks building. This is a relocation for The Social Outcast which was previously at The Grandstand, though it is an entirely different concept from its previous location. 

The entrance of The Social Outcast looks nothing like a restaurant as it doubles up as a retail space where you can grab sauces and homemade kombucha. The restaurant is helmed by Chef-Owner Mint and is an Omakase Experiential Dining concept, 100% Muslim-Owned, and with no expectations of what to expect, I was excited to start my meal. 

The dining area is deliberately kept out of sight to create a speakeasy vibe, and the entrance is shorter than usual (trust me, most of us will need to bend our heads to get through it), inspired by a traditional Japanese custom where everyone has to bow as they enter the tea house. It also has a greater meaning, as it also symbolises that everyone is equal in the dining hall. 

It is an intimate setting with only 12 counter seats and a few small dining tables. The counter seats are the real deal as it is part of the interactive dining experience with the chefs in the open kitchen. 

The Food A no menu style sets the tone at The Social Outcast, where you get a view of the chefs at work in the open kitchen. There is an Omakase menu, as well as a Wagyu Experiential Dining menu which is only available on weekends.  

I had the Wagyu Experiential Dining which is available every Saturday and Sunday at 8pm at S$128++ per diner. The first thing that greeted me was the nicely arranged beef cuts on a wooden platter, with each part of the beef clearly displayed. 

The source of the Wagyu beef varies from time to time, but you can trust that it is Japanese Wagyu beef. 

Some of the cuts to expect on this menu include the Brisket, Tongue, Top Round, Rump, Chunk Roll, Shank, Knuckle, Gooseneck Round, and Short Plate. Each cut will be grilled piece by piece, and in accordance with your pace, which I thought is great especially if you want to take a little break in between the cuts.

I must say the flavour of the beef profile surprised me in a good way. Each cut boasts a distinct flavour, well-seasoned and grilled just right by the chef. It is a rich and well-marbled flavour profile in essence, and the meal goes from the leaner to the fatter cuts. 

The more memorable cuts for me are the Top Round, Tongue and Short Plate, with the latter being the fattiest and most tender of the lot. 

Thin slices of butter toast are also served by the side as you can have your beef in a sando-style if you fancy. The toast is also refillable. There are also delicious condiments to go along with the beef such as kimchi and marinated egg yolk sauce. 

If you still have appetite for more food, there is a short ala carte menu where you can get Moluccas Beef Ribs (S$38), a tender slow cooked New Zealand beef. 

Dessert options include the likes of Chef’s Salty Tears (S$12), salted caramel lava cake with vanilla ice cream and smoked salt. 

For drinks, there is a good mix of kombuchas to choose from, apart from tea selections. 

Rants For the uninitiated, it is not obvious what the store front or restaurant is trying to sell, as I would not be able to tell exactly what the concept is all about without dropping in to find out more.

Will I Return Again? I enjoyed my dining experience at The Social Outcast, and my word of advice is to head here without any expectations as it does operate quite differently as most restaurants, from the moment you stepped in, to the way the menu is being designed and presented. At least for what I had, the wagyu omakase menu would not disappoint.

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

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 45

The Social Outcast 
89 East Coast Road 
#01-01 
Singapore 428790 
Tel: +65 8923 8924 

Opening Hours 
Wednesday to Friday: 12pm, 1:30pm, 6pm, 8pm 
Saturday to Sunday: 12pm, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm  
Closed on Monday & Tuesday

5 Courses Lunch Omakase Experiential Dining: S$118++ / Diner for 12pm & 1:30pm 
7 / 10 Courses Dinner Omakase Experiential Dining: S$138++ / S$218++ / Diner for 4pm, 6pm & 8pm  

Available on Saturday & Sunday at 8pm only: 
Wagyu Experiential Dining: S$128++ / Diner 
Alaskan King Crab Experiential Dining (Suitable for 1 – 2 diners): S$188++ Set 

Ranted by The Ranter