I happened to chance upon the Market Grill one evening as I was searching for a good place to go to dinner on a Friday night. Telok Ayer Street is full of great places to eat. We had just walked past a place that was really noisy (even though the food is known to be really good).
The Ambience, Service and the Staff
The Market Grill has the feel of a classy, upmarket American Diner that takes great pride in the quality of the food that it serves.
We had casually walked in at peak dinner time. There were a few tables that were empty but had been reserved. The rest of the tables in the restaurant were full. The staff offered to seat us at the tables outside, and then flipped us onto a table indoors as soon as it was vacated (which was in less than 10 minutes).
They were very helpful with the menu and looked after us really well.
The Food
This is a restaurant that takes great pride in their food.
We ordered a watermelon salad, the pork chop and the crème brûlée.
Our food came out within 15 minutes of our order. The pork chop was very large, and was cooked to perfection. It was tender and juicy, while being thoroughly cooked. It is served with an apple purée that provides a perfect balance to the light seasoning and tenderness of the meat.
The watermelon salad is served with smoked cheese curd and candied pumpkin seeds and is a perfect starter.
To finish, the crème brûlée was perfect. The vanilla was clearly evident, and balanced out by the strawberry and blueberries, and the crunchy caramelised sugar topping of the dessert.
On another visit with a friend, we ordered a side of fries, the Barramundi, the Chicken Burger, the crème brûlée and the Valrhona slutty brownie. The fish is charred and seared to perfection to accentuate its delicate flesh. The Chicken Burger is thoroughly satisying! The crème brûlée maintained its standards and the brownie was divine – moist in the middle without being too sweet, and accentuated with the ice-cream, strawberries and brown sugar.
The Price Point
During my first visit, for two adults, we paid just under $70 which is a very reasonable price for this part of town. During the other visit, for two mains, a side, and two desserts, we paid around $110 and used Chope vouchers to offset $10 off the bill. Again – very reasonable for this calibre of restaurant and quality of food.
The Final Verdict
The Market Grill warrants future visits. It’s the sort of place that you would meet up with friends and colleagues from work, or share a meal with family. It’s also the sort of place that you’d like to bring your significant other out to – not too fancy, but with really good food and a lovely ambience.
Address: 208 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068642
Phone: +65 6221 3323
Website: https://themarketgrill.com.sg/
