The Black & White

By Poon Shumin • UrbanWire
• email reporter • email story • printer friendly

Does having an entire fine dining restaurant with a personal waiter attending to your every need sound like something only Donald Trump can enjoy? Well, UrbanWire brings you good news, and surprise, surprise, you won't need Trump's credit card to enjoy it.

Black & White is a fine dining restaurant with a difference: It's located in a 3-room HDB flat in Hougang. Opened on Valentine's Day by 2 SHATEC students, chef Peter Chew, 18, and Isaac Tan, 20, the restaurant's executive director, the concept was inspired by one of their friends at a dinner party.

The Lounge
Once in the restaurant, I was ushered immediately to the swanky lounge area (formerly the living room of the flat), where I was served chilled water and mixed nuts. Jazz music played softly in the background and the only source of illumination was from the glow of soft candlelights. The lounge area is a place for guests to soak in the ambience and unwind by chatting with their friends before dinner.

The Experience
At 8pm, I was invited into the dining room. Surrounded by classy décor ranging from poignant black and white posters to rows of spices and a selection of wine, it was hard to believe that I was truly in public housing. Amid the dim lighting and switch to classical refrains, I was about to experience dining like a socialite.

The Almond Mandarin Salad
A delightful concoction with just the right amount of zest to perk up my taste buds, the Almond Mandarin Salad was the perfect starter. Consisting of almond halves and mini slices of Mandarin oranges showered generously over crisp lettuce leaves, it left a refreshing aftertaste. If you're a fan of greens, it'll leave you wanting more.

Beef Stew
Served piping hot with visible chunks of beef and vegetables, this was one hearty stew. Catching a whiff when it was set down in front of me, I almost couldn't wait to attack it with gusto. Thankfully, I remembered I was in a classy place and managed to restrain myself. Although there were too many carrot and celery chunks for my liking, the tender beef and flavourful taste of the stew made this a memorable dish.

Lemon Fish in Foil
The main course, sadly, fell short of my expectations. The dory fish was dry and it lacked the zesty citrus flavour one would expect from the lemon. The mashed potatoes that were sandwiched between the fish were also dry and powdery, reminding you of instant mashed potatoes.

Banana Flambé
Thankfully, this next dish somewhat redeemed the previous one. The banana flambé was certainly the highlight of the evening. With only less than 10 fine dining restaurants in Singapore offering the flambé because of the required preparation skills, I knew I was in for both a visual and culinary treat. I watched in open-mouthed amazement (no doubt forgetting my manners) as the pan of bananas, sprinkled with Hennessy, literally burst into flames with the waiter's professional expertise. He then deftly spooned the piping hot bananas into a plate along with 2 glorious scoops of vanilla ice cream, delivering the hot-cold fusion of heaven.

Chocolate Eclairs
The 5th and final course of the evening was the chocolate éclairs. Unlike the éclairs that one may usually have, this one was a combination of chocolate cream and chocolate wafers. Though too sweet for my liking, this would probably appeal to major chocolate fans and those who crave sugar highs.

You won't need to close your bank account to dine at Black & White. Salads, soups and desserts cost a mere $3.90 each, main courses are only $9.90 each and flambés go for just $4.50 each. A 5-course meal would cost you only $22, while a 3-course meal is priced at $16.

Black & White is unique because of its private and home dining concept. And it makes you feel special too - when you make a reservation, the entire restaurant is booked the entire night, just for you and your group (consisting of 2 or more people). What's surprising about Black & White, since it is located in a HDB block, is that not a sound can be heard from the neighbours.

With its target market being teenagers and young adults, the restaurant places an emphasis on making its guests feel comfortable. "If they want to laugh loudly and joke with the waiter, go right ahead. But if they prefer to be more formal, we will also adapt according to whatever the guest wants," said Isaac.

Overall, the ambience and professional and courteous service that Black & White offered was superb. The black and white theme was chic and apt, while the ambience that was carefully created to elevate the dining experience was also extremely enjoyable. The food was reasonable but the desserts deserve special mention, as they were definitely pleasurable.

Rating: 3.5/5

Photos by Isaac Low

Black and White Dining

Block 835, Hougang Central
#14-550

Tel: 9877 4705

Opening hours:
Open daily from 7.30pm till late

Getting There:
Buses: 72, 87, 89
Nearest MRT Station: Hougang