Silk at SICC

By Changmoh • Monday, 23 July 2012 • Food & Drink, Restaurant Reviews

I hate restaurants that are disproportionally difficult to get in to. Firstly, it never means you can’t get a table, but just that you are going to have to make a considerable effort to. And woe betide them if – when you do get there – you feel that effort hasn’t been replicated by the chef. But nevermind all of that. I have now progressed to the next level. My new favourite place to eat is restaurants I am not allowed in.

Silk at the Island Club is one such example. If you are in your thirties, the form seems to be that your parents should buy you SICC membership. I am still waiting (and must remember to extol its virtues to my mother on her next visit out here this August). I wouldn’t say no to transferable, lucrative Singapore Island Country Club membership, not just to enjoy its acres of open rolling countryside and amazing amount of swimming pools but because I want to eat at Silk at least once a week.

The restaurant is high end – just look at the deliciously over-the-top chandelier in case you are not sure – serving highly authentic Chinese food that is great value (as with all clubs, the food is very reasonable; and as I’m not a member it doesn’t go on my tab, making it even more reasonable!) with excellent dim sum for lunch and proper banquet style food in the evening. Dishes include peking duck, beautifully fresh fish, suckling pig and so the list goes on…

Another very important thing about Silk is that there are minimal angmoh here. On happy occasions, I have been the only one. If you are having proper Chinese food, I do feel strongly that this is how it should be.

In order to feed my addiction, I have struck a deal with 2 sets of friends who have, after heavy persuasion, agreed to split the bill if we go together and allow me give them cash (very non-U to do in a club, I know). If I let them pay the full bill, not only can I no longer ask to go here, but dinner on me at my old favourite Min Jiang at Goodwood or Rochester costs nearly twice as much and isn’t nearly as good.

One last thing that I love it for is the view. A sight for sore eyes if you need a visual break from soaring skylines, but only available at lunchtime (come at dinner at you miss it – it’s too dark).