The Place Indocafe Peranakan Dining has been around for years and chances are that you would have probably noticed it along Scotts Road where the restaurant is housed in an iconic colonial-style black and white bungalow house. 

Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2019, Indocafe Peranakan Dining reopened on 24 October with a brand new look and new menu, adding new dishes and adjusting their classic favourites. 

I like the new revamped space which spots a more contemporary look as compared to my last visit few years ago. That said, it still retains the Peranakan element in its interior where you can spot artworks of Peranakan influences on the wall such as the Kebaya, and a series of Blackwood Furniture. 

The Food In terms of the menu, you can go ala carte, or opt for their Signature Tasting Menu at S$98++ per person. 

My meal started with a complimentary welcome snack of Belingo Crackers served with Sambal Belacan, Gula Melaka & Acar. 

For appetisers, I had a Trio Platter – Kueh Pie Tee, Ngoh Hiang, Otah Otah from the Signature Tasting Menu. These items are also available on the ala carte menu. I love the Ngoh Hiang which is packed with delicious minced meat. It is a pity that the Kueh Pie Tee shell is a little small. 

One of my favourite dishes of the meal is the Itek Tim (S$14), a delicious bowl of soup with Duck Leg, Pickled Mustard Greens, Preserved Plum and a secret ingredient- Brandy.

You would not really taste a strong brandy here, but the flavour of the soup is so wholesome, made perfect by the tender duck leg meat. 

For mains, I had the Indocafe Wagyu Beef Rendang (S$38) which features Premium Wagyu Beef Cheek cooked with Spices, Shrimp Paste, Chili and Coconut Milk. It is not spicy for me, and you can expect a tender beef taste here. 

Equally tender as the beef is the Babi Pongteh (S$28) which uses Spanish Iberico Pork Belly along with Fermented Soya Bean Paste Potatoes and Aromatic Spices. 

I also recommend having the Ikan Sambal Bunga Kantan (S$39) where I had the delicious and fresh deep-fried Patagonian Toothfish along with Sambal and Ginger Flower. 

For carbs, there is the Dry Laksa (S$26) which is frankly not that dry but rather moist. You still get that nice lemak flavour, and it comes with huge Argentinean Red Prawns, Tau Pok, Fish Cake, Hard Boiled Egg and Bean Sprouts. 

For dessert, I had the Signature Kueh Salat (S$15) which is decent, though I thought that the Pandan flavour could be more intense and aromatic. 

Rants While the new concept of the restaurant is supposed to be a modern take on traditional Peranakan flavours, I do feel that the execution of the dishes is on the safe side on the whole without much surprises.

Will I Return Again? Overall, this is a quiet spot near Orchard Road for a pleasant Peranakan meal. Peranakan meals are usually meant for bigger groups, so it is also great that there is also the Signature Tasting menu to suit solo diner or couples where the portions are reduced to try a good variety of dishes. 

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

Make your reservations instantly at Indocafe Peranakan Dining here.

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

Indocafe Peranakan Dining 
35 Scotts Road 
Singapore 228227 
Tel: +65 9430 7307 

Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Sunday: 12pm to 3pm; 6pm to 10:30pm 
Closed on Monday  

Ranted by The Ranter