The Place Located at Claymore Drive, I checked out AO Restaurant (pronounced ‘ah-oh’), a new casual restaurant where Japanese craft is applied to flavours from around the world. AO is by Cloud Restaurant Group, which is also behind the viral bakery Cloudmills, and is led by Culinary Director Araki Takeshi, formerly of Esora. 

Diners enter AO through Cloudmills on Claymore Road, before moving into a dining room by Grafted Studio. The space of AO is relaxed and casual, with natural wood and stone, an open kitchen and dog-friendly alfresco seating. 

The Food The menu applies Japanese techniques across culinary cultures and gives familiar dishes new forms. It is an ala carte menu where you get to choose from starters, sharing dishes, mains and desserts. Prices are fairly reasonable with most dishes in the 20s and 30s range.

For a start, I had the Wild Northern Amebi Carpaccio (S$26) which is a refreshing and fresh mix of sweet prawn with ikura and scallop. 

Moving on to a French centric dish of Challans Duck Rillettes & Foie Gras Terrine (S$20), the surprise element here is the foie gras which comes in the form of a shaved and cold texture on the duck rillettes.   

An easy dish to share is the Grilled Chicken Wings with Black Truffle Mochi Rice (S$22) where the tender wings are coated with black truffle and stuffed with mochi rice. 

The Sukiyaki Wagyu Maki Roll (S$28) is an inventive take on sukiyaki, and it brings the traditional Japanese cuisine into a maki form. Think torch-seared wagyu maki with simmered wagyu, smoked pickled daikon, egg yolk sauce and garlic chips. It is a generous serving from the price point, and suffice to say, a satisfying rendition of a beef roll. 

For carbs, the “Sakura-dai” Sea Bream Ramen ($28) strikes me first with its foamy texture. Beyond the form is a creamy sea bream broth along with swordfish chashu, black garlic oil, yuzu and crispy sakura ebi. Unlike pork broth ramen which I am accustomed to, this sea bream broth is soothing to drink, and it does not get cloying for me.

In place of pork chashu is also a swordfish chashu and I am inclined to think of this dish as a Japanese version of fish soup ramen.  

For desserts, expect the likes of Burnt Bleu Cheesecake with Wildflower Honey (S$20) where the slightly molten cheesecake spots a heavy bleu cheese profile; or you can go for something simpler like the Tofu Ice Cream – Three Ways (S$16) – Mango Warabimochi, Red Bean Strawberry, and Kaya Gula Melaka. 

Rants I noticed some tables are relatively close to one another if that is an issue. There is also no private dining room.

Will I Return Again? The approachable price for AO is what I believe will keep this concept going. The dishes take on a modern twist, which should appeal to the younger crowd as well. An easy spot to consider in town for repeated visits.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 4/5
 
AO Restaurant 
1 Claymore Drive 
#01-01 
Singapore 229594 
Tel: +65 8092 6532 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 11am to 10pm 

Ranted by The Ranter