The Place Located within the same space as Indocafe Peranakan Dining in a colonial bungalow at Scotts Road, Chef Chan’s Private Dine is a relatively new restaurant in a restaurant concept. There are only two tables in two private rooms which can accommodate up to 16 guests, though the restaurant is still working out on the flexibility of guests being seated at the main dining hall of Indocafe Peranakan Dining as well. 

A little story on the brand – Chef Chan Chen Hei used to be renowned name in the culinary scene and even though the concept is named Chef Chan’s Private Dine, it is helmed by Chef Chan’s protégé, Chef Wong Hong Loong, who was under the wing of Chef Chan for more than two decades. It is a Cantonese cuisine concept, where Chef Wong continues to present classic favourites that he learnt from Chef Chan, as well as new dishes conceived by himself. 

The ambience of the two private rooms designated for Chef Chan’s Private Dine takes on a simple classic Chinese interior with traditional partitions and sideboards laden with Chinese figurines, carvings, art-deco porcelain vases and ancient calligraphy hanging scrolls. 

The Food There is only one set menu for lunch (6-courses for S$98++ per person) and dinner, though of course you can always request for chef to customise your menu if need be. 

I had the Inner Menu By Loong Shifu (S$188++ per person) for dinner and here is what to expect: 

Amuse Bouche 
My meal starters with a duo of Abalone with Caviar and Maitake Mushroom “Kung Fu’ Soup. 

Golden Morsels 
Next up is a trio of small bites. I love the Foie Gras with Shrimp Paste even though the Foie Gras element is quite faint; Marinated Quail Leg with Five Spices and the juicy Iberico Pork with Chives Dumplings. 

Wellness Chicken Soup 
A soup I wouldn’t mind multiple servings. This clear chicken soup is the result of brewing with ginseng for over 12 hours. Served in a teapot, it is a rich and nourishing soup which boasts a pleasant, sweet taste. 

Steamed Spotted Grouper With Homemade Tofu and Egg White 
Firstly, the fish is extremely fresh, and it has a nice firm texture. The flesh of the spotted grouper is further silked with steamed egg white where the addition of tofu also makes this dish a power protein course. 

Poached Australian Cabbage With Double Boiled Chicken Broth 
This is the dish which truly surprised me. Not your usual cabbage dish in a Chinese restaurant, it is a theatrical display where chicken broth is poured over cabbage, mildly cooking it until it blossoms. It was pretty amazing to watch the cabbage unfold literally.

The best part is that the taste lives up to expectations as the cabbage is just perfect with that luscious chicken broth. 

Loong Shifu’ Signature Crispy Sakura Chicken 
This dish is a tribute to the iconic Chef Chan’s crispy roasted chicken. I usually do not pay much attention to roast chicken since it is a dish so commonly served in many Chinese restaurants (and banquets) but version, and pardon my lack of description, amazing. The chicken skin is perfectly thin and crisp, and the most heartening part is also that the chicken meat is very tender and moist, even for the chicken breast. One of the best Cantonese-style roast chicken I have had. 

Wok-Fried Koay Teow With Seasonal Fresh Crab Roe Gravy 
Another stellar dish of the night is also this carb dish which sounds like another pedestrian fried koay teow dish.

I love the ‘wok hei’ on the koay teow noodles but the best bit is also the drizzle of that rich crab roe gravy. There are also crispy bits of fried koay teow to add to the crunchy texture. So good! 

Dessert 
To end the meal, I had the Chilled Supreme Bird’s Nest with Rock Sugar and a serving of Little Sweets which feature small bites of mochi and ‘nian gao’. The fried ‘nian gao’ is definitely something I would like to have another bite of. 

Rants While Chef Chan is a renowned chef in the earlier days, not many diners might know of his culinary achievements, and it is also an interesting (or confusing ) fact that the eponymous concept is helmed not by Chef Chan himself but by his disciple Chef Wong.

Will I Return Again? Putting aside the name of the concept, I had a great meal at Chef Chan’s Private Dine where some of the dishes like the cabbage, roast chicken, chicken soup and fried koay teow are excellent. Chef Wong’s culinary skills are amazing, and his food is definitely something I look forward to having again.

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: 4/5

Chef Chan’s Private Dine 
35 Scotts Road 
Singapore 228227 (within Indocafe Peranakan Dining) 
Tel: +65 6737 0895 

Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Sunday: 12pm to 2.30pm; 6pm to 9.30pm 
Closed on Monday 

Ranted by The Ranter