Friday, 29 June 2012

Lounge / Bar Review : CMPB, Dempsey, Singapore

I love Dempsey Hill. Apart from varied dining options its quaint art galleries, furniture shops and hilly topography give this place an uber Bohemian feel. It is not without reason this enclave has become a sophisticated hotspot and you will be a disappointed person if your reservations are not in place for almost all restaurants here on Friday and Saturday nights. Amongst the mix of specialty Mexican, Thai, French, seafood restaurants you'll find here, is a place called Contemporary Melting Pot and Bar (or CMPB as it is popularly known).

I've been here a couple of times before but only for a drink. I had liked the outdoor setting and their live band. So when opportunity arose, we picked CMPB for a proper meal. We did not have reservations for the Saturday evening but since we arrived really early (6:30 pm), the staff gave us a lovely table outdoors. CMPB has soft lighting with lanterns which lend it a festive look unlike the indoor area which is a bit too dark for my liking. A big plus for alfresco dining here is the numerous fans they have which keep humidity in check.

We ordered a portion of the famous CMPB truffle fries and beer battered fish bites priced at SGD 15 each. The truffle fries is a large portion and it would take four adult diners to finish it if you intend having main course. The deep fried fish bites were very soft and the portion size is just right. For our main course, we ordered Chicken Arabbiata (SGD18) and black pepper crab olio (SGD26). The pastas are overtly spicy due to very liberal use of black pepper. Have to mention the crab olio had generous portions of crab meat and that by itself will fill you after the truffle fries and fish bites.

CMPB offers an eclectic mix of drinks ranging from standard soft and hard liquor to exotic cocktails like Sake Mojito to innovative mocktails like CM-PB Therapy (refreshing mix of green apple, rock melon and water melon). Mocktails at SGD 12 are expensive considering cocktails are priced at SGD 14-16. Even a glass of imported Spanish Cava looks reasonably priced at SGD 18 if you consider the price of juices and mocktails here. Did I forget to mention desserts? We tried the apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. Nothing exceptional but not too bad either.

Overall, I would recommend CMPB. The ~SGD 160 tab for two is justified once in a while to have a relaxed outing in Singapore. The efficient service you get here from attentive waiters is a rarity in this island state. Add to that an exceptionally talented band which starts playing at 9:30 pm. The lead singer does a remarkable job of both strumming the guitar and beautifully singing such complex songs as 'Wishful Thinking' and 'The Only Exception.' By the time we left the place was packed with a steady stream of people trooping in more for drinks than the food. Probably this is what I'd do too on my next visit. The food won't attract you but the music, drinks and ambience will. Check it out.

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