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A ‘beach side’ experience at Roberston Quay? My disbelief turned to sweet surprise as I walk into Summerlong. It has a beautifully curated holiday ambience with comfy beach seating, colourful lights, staff in floral beach shirts, complete with a hammock!. And of course, an impressive food and bar menu to choose from. Bringing together eastern and western Mediterranean cuisines from an open kitchen in a relaxed and fun way is what Summerlong attempts and gets very right.
Mezze Platter with Classic & Eggplant Hummus, Smoked Olives, Corn Fritters, Flat Bread and Vegetable SticksWe began our meal with the Mezze Platter (S$28) – Classic & Eggplant Hummus, Smoked Olives, Corn Fritters, Flat Bread and Vegetable Sticks. The Classic Hummus is classic indeed, light and creamy with semi dried tomatoes and a generous serving of olive oil; while the Eggplant Hummus is a blend of smoked and sautéed eggplant with mint, turmeric and cumin. Despite not being an eggplant lover, I didn’t mind this dish at all, and found myself dipping the flatbread a lot more into the Eggplant Hummus than the Classic Hummus. Enjoy Also part of the platter are Corn Fritters – light and flaky and cooked to perfection, these fritters pump up the calorie meter of an otherwise healthy platter. The health conscious me would have preferred them with less oil; however, my taste buds didn’t complain.
The Burrata comes plated atop Beetroot Relish and Parsley, served alongside FlatbreadThe Buratta (S$26) is a well plated dish, a melange of colours and flavours. The word Buratta literally means ‘buttered’ in Italian and the dish itself is a combination of Italian Cheese and Cream with solid Mozzarella outside and a soft creamy core. It is served atop a Beetroot Relish, sprinkled with parsley, and served alongside Flat Bread. *A word of caution though – Burrata at Summerlong contains animal rennet, and wouldn’t be suitable for vegans and strict vegetarians.
Also Read: 4 Best Greek Restaurants for Vegetarian & Vegan Gastronomes
Also Read: Shabestan – The True Taste of Persian: Vegetarian Dining Review
Kale Tabbouleh – Barley, avocado, radish, pomegranate and feta, on a bed of kaleNestled on a bed of kale, the Kale Tabbouleh (S$15) is a salad of barley, avocado, radish, pomegranate and feta, mixed together and mildly seasoned. Kale makes for a great base and I enjoyed the freshness of the dish complemented well by the minimal seasoning and dressing. *Kale Tabouleh at Summerlong can be customised for the vegan diner.
Grilled Eggplant – Charred eggplant with caramelised onions, saffron potatoes and chickpeas gremolata with Tzatziki on a bed of Saffron RiceI must admit that our evening at Summerlong softened my dislike for the ‘purple devil’, the eggplant! The next dish we tried was Grilled Eggplant (S$24), a dish where the bitterness of the charred eggplant was neutralised by the caramelised onions and the saffron rice. Crispy Saffron Potatoes, Chickpeas Gremolata and dollops of Tzatziki complete the dish and I enjoyed the burst of flavours in each bite. *The dish can be veganised upon request by omitting Tzatziki.
Caramelised Figs – Buckwheat Crumble, Honey and Yoghurt Ice-cream topped with figsThe portions at Summerlong are rather large, so we were obviously bursting at the seams. But as you all probably know by now, I’m not one to give up dessert. First up, Caramelised Figs (S$12) – a healthier and light dessert of Buckwheat Crumble, Honey, and Yoghurt Ice-cream topped with figs – a previously unexplored combination for me. The ice-cream and the buckwheat crumble were my favourite part of the dessert, and I didn’t quite fancy the figs.
Sticky Date Pudding with Vanilla Crema, Lemon Butterscotch and Hazelnut PralineThe Sticky Date Pudding (S$13) with Vanilla Crema, Lemon Butterscotch and Hazelnut Praline was our next pick. Very indulgent, the butterscotch and the vanilla crème added an amazing finish to the sticky pudding. It is the perfect treat to end the meal.
Of course, no beach experience is complete without a colourful bar menu. Summerlong serves an array of exciting cocktails, mocktails and beers that are hugely popular given the almost always sunny Singapore. On weekends, they throw their doors open for brunch including live counters and an exclusive dessert section.
Verdict
Summerlong is a precious little world tucked away from the buzzing CBD area. The vibrant ambience with attentive service and an impressive menu makes the experience very memorable and holiday like. Though the menu may seem limited for the vegetarian/vegan diners, Chef Justin is always happy to customise and whip up a meal for your preferences. In all, a great place to catch up with friends, colleagues or family for a meal and some fun times. Just the place to head to to catch your breath of fresh Mediterranean air right here in Singapore.
Summerlong: 60 Robertson Quay #01-04, Singapore 238252. P: +65 6235 1225. Website
Also Read:
4 Best Greek Restaurants for Vegetarian & Vegan Gastronomes
Shabestan Singapore – The True Taste of Persian: Vegetarian Dining Review
Preethi & Ganesh are our favourite writer-photographer duo. While Preethi is juggling two hats being mom to a naughty and adorable three-nager, and working as a HR Marketer; Ganesh is a Technology Sales Professional by week and a sports enthusiastic and passionate photographer over the weekend. While Preethi is a foodie, music lover, ardent toastmaster and a travel buff; Ganesh enjoys running (6 full marathons and counting) and plays cricket for a Singapore League team. Luckily for us, they share a common love for all things food (as long as its vegetarian) and enjoy working together on articles – his captures add the spice to her words.
