Cuisine: Chinese fusion
Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-42-44, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, S 018956
Nearest MRT: Bayfront Station (Circle line/ Downtown line)

Dining at Mott 32 is a sexy, luxurious affair. The experience kicks off even before you step into the space – just its name alone inspires confidence. The name “Mott 32” pays homage to 32 Mott Street in New York, where the city’s first Chinese convenience store opened in 1851. After all, the restaurant has outposts in Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Seoul, and Vancouver, and is renowned for its progressive Chinese cuisine. My friends decided to book this place for me to celebrate my birthday. Thankfully, we were able to dine at this restaurant, as subsequently one week later, the new covid restrictions did not allow for any dining in.

The restaurant is opulently decorated with oriental lanterns and fancy carpet. It looks dark in the interior but during the day the natural light streams in through the windows. Flashes of green and botanical motifs pay homage to Singapore’s rep as a city in a garden. Peacock chairs, apothecary drawers, and overhanging Chinese lanterns nod to the restaurant’s oriental roots, while industrial finishings and mod furniture like plush mint sofas give the dimly lit dining room a contemporary touch.

The Crispy Air dried Beef ($18) is like eating protein chips. This starter of paper-thin US beef slivers is first air-dried for two days, then deep-fried, then stir-fried, then coated in a intense, sweet-and-spicy marinade of oyster sauce, sesame oil and Sichuan pepper. The result: shatteringly crisp wafers packed with sweetness, umami, and a lovely zing. The mala taste is strong but not spicy to the extent that it leaves a numbing taste on your tongue. This makes a good snack and does not fill you up.

The Barbecue Pluma Iberico Pork ($48) is our favourite dish. It is glazed with Yellow Mountain Honey and uses premium ingredients to recreate a Chinese classic. There are limited servings of the pork each day, so see if you’re lucky to order it. Each cut of pork comes from top-grade Iberian pigs that are raised on a diet of acorns, grass and herbs, giving the meat a soft and succulent quality that is further emphasised by the traditional roasting methods employed by our barbecue chefs.

Next, we had the Hot and Spicy Shanghainese Soup Dumplings ($10). These dainty dumplings are so petite that you can pop into your mouth. Unlike their counterparts at Dai Tai Fung or Paradise Dynasty, these dumplings have a spicy taste. Lifting them up using the mini bamboo handles, the skin of the dumpling held really well and the slice of radish below ensured that it does not break easily.

Another signature item on the menu is the Apple Wood Roasted 42 Days Peking Duck ($108). We had to place an advanced order for the Peking duck so that the restaurant will know how many ducks to prepare. As with typical Chinese restaurants, the Peking duck is versatile, the crispy skin can be eaten, while the meat can also be used to make other dishes.

For the crispy duck skin, it was served with a brown sugar dip. Every bite of it had a loud crisp that we enjoyed. THe skilful chef had sliced the duck skin so thinly that there was no fat on it, which would have otherwise affected the crispiness.

Under the fresh seafood dishes, we were also mindblown by the Signature Smoked Black Cod ($56). It came in a glass container with smoke inside, and the waiter asked if we wanted to take videos of it. After lifting the cover, he swirled it over the dish to ensure that the smokiness engulfed the cod fish. The sauce for the fish was a clever combination of sweet and salty, while the fish still retained its freshness. The little slivers of cod were crisp and caramelised on the exterior while remaining tender on the inside. This was the first time that I ate smoked cod and it was incredible.

Since the 3 of us also needed some carbs, next we had the Scallops, Prawns, Crispy Rice in Fish Soup ($42). Those who are more willing to splurge can go for the Lobster Fried Rice ($80). This crispy rice in soup is also known as Pao fan, which is gaining a trend in Singapore coffee shops nowadays. The rice grains have been fried such that they ‘jump’ when the soup is poured over the rice. The stock was rich and tasty, and we drank spoonfuls of the broth without stopping. The ingredients used in this dish are also of premium grade, which explains the steep price tag.

As for the second half of the duck, we added on the Peking Style Spicy Crispy Duck Rack ($18) which made use of spices to stir fry the duck. The waitress advised us against using the duck meat for noodles or fried rice because we would have too much carbs. After stir frying the duck, the meat was still tender and tasty and it was a change of taste for this second course add on.

Last but not least, we ended off the meal with some sweet desserts. We tried the sweetened guava soup, sago, pomelo ($9) as mango sago with pomelo was too mainstream. Upon hearing that me and my friend wanted to share this bowl of dessert, the waiter said he will split it into 2 portions for us. Very good service indeed.

The staff also surprised me with a mango glutinous rice roll upon hearing that it was my birthday that week. The chef even piped the words “Happy Birthday” on the plate and managed to stick a small candle. This was the second dessert that was quite unexpected. Most of the desserts at Mott 32 are classic Chinese desserts, but if you are craving for some Western action, they only have cake, pannacotta or soy ice cream with strawberries. I would also like to comment on the wide selection of Chinese teas available. The method of brewing the tea was very special, because instead of steeping the tea leaves in a pot of hot water, the staff actually used a small teacup for the tea leaves, and each time poured a serving of hot water over it, then poured this brewed tea into our drinking cup. I would recommend trying the Premium Chinese tea ($10 per person for unlimited servings). We had the Ginseng Oolong, Wuyi Da Hong Pao and the Supreme Phoenix, all of these had a unique and distinct flavour.

Dining in Mott 32 has exceeded every expectations. My friend was impressed with the food and it was his second time here, he has decided to hold an intimate wedding celebration at this place. From the dimly lit interior to paintings of a lion on the wall, it feels like we have been transported to upscale Chinatown in New York. Most of the dishes feature an interesting twist to the tze char dishes that we are used to, but seasoned or prepared with a dash of Western flavours, providing an epicurean delight for all.