Dozo
For theatrical fusion, with Japanese bits
If you were ever privileged to have been to Los Angeles in the '80s when fusion food was all the rage, Dozo would be a throwback to that experience. Everything from the unusual plating, quirky pasta-like snacks, to dishes with an overabundance of foam in every dish is a throwback to that long-abandoned era. Dozo still attempts to bring that visual thrill to the masses, which might not be a bad thing as theatricality is a bit of a lost art in the local dining scene. Crowd favourites such as the soft-shell crab, crab bisque and warm lava chocolate cake sit pretty here, though you are reminded that it still is a Japanese eatery with a bit of salmon sashimi and Kurobuta pork cheek thrown in for good measure. The best part is that all of this can be had at a value-for-money price of only $59.80 for a lavish seven-course spread, palate cleansers included.
Dozo | Address: #02-02/03, Valley Point Shopping Centre, 491 River Valley Road | Tel: 68386966 | Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-2.30pm; 5.30-10.30pm
Ma Maison
Rustic Japanese-European fusion suitable for families
Don’t let its French name fool you, Ma Maison Restaurant is a trusted specialist in the Japanese fusion scene in Singapore, so much that it’s spun off into six outlets (including a café and a tonkatsu-only restaurant). The kitschy branch at The Central – our favourite – is best known for its tender hamburger steaks (a Japanese favourite), generously served with brown sauce and topped with a sunny-side-up egg ($16.50). Other noteworthy dishes include their beef stroganoff paired with butter-infused
omu (omelette) rice ($14.90), cuttlefish ink spaghetti ($15.90), and scallop carpaccio ($9.80). Ma Maison’s (“My Home’s”) rustic inn-like decor with wood-carved finishes and bill that comes as a key, does have you feeling like you could retreat for a nap post meal. Try not to - this isn’t really an inn, though we’d like it to be.
Ma Maison Restaurant | Address: #03-96 Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street and various other locations | Tel: 63278122 | Opening hours: 11.30am-3pm, 6-10pm
