Li T.
Yelp
I have a friend who once told me that she would always have a couple of servings of the bread from a French restaurant that she used to frequent because the bread was heavenly good, not to mention the memorable multi-course dinner.
I think the same logic/concept applies to Artemis which offers complimentary bread, ranging from sourdough to some exotic Spanish bread, all served warm from the the bread basket. What made it hard to stop nibbling is the Dukkah spice and olive oil dip. I could detect some dominating aroma of Cumin, even though dukkah is a Arabic dry-roasted mixture of assorted spice, herbs and nuts.
In fact, the use of spice and herbs is commonly seen across the dishes on its Mediterranean-centric menu which is simultaneously influenced by the flavors of coastal Spain, Southern France, Italy and Greece. Unlike most grill restaurants that focus on meats, Artemis Grill also offers large range of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. One example is the Beetroot Tortellini ($20/30), a gorgeous plate of ring-shaped pasta filled with ricotta and feta. The intensely tangy flavors were neutralized by the sweetness of carrot purée mixed with apple juice and cinnamon.
With a commitment to quality and sustainability, Artemis Grill works with artisan suppliers to bring the finest seasonal organic produce, free-range and hormone-free meat to the table. Even the seafood are sustainably sourced. The Alaska King Crab salad ($28) is a summery combination of chunky shellfish, avocados that is graced with the brightly sweet grilled pimento peppers. Yes, I could not believe that red peppers can be SO sweet.
Served on a generous bed of greens and sweet corns, the Maine Lobster Tail($90) was redolent with the tantalizing char-grill aroma despite the absence of butter in the dish. It's springy and tasty with the drizzles of savoury corn jus, but a pity that the sweetness was partially masked by the bitter charred marks.
My favourite dish that evening, Spicy Iberico Pork Presa ($40) tasted like anything but pork. While it might bear resemblance to slices of roasted beef, the texture is slightly firm or even tad fibrous. Yet this shoulder cut is extremely flavorful, especially near the brown rims of the meat. The sweet plump tomato relish and padrano peppers complemented the subtle heat from the hearty dose of harissa chilli, making this
Vegetable lovers will be delighted to know that there are plenty of interesting dishes to choose from on the "Sides". This is quite unlike most grill restaurants where sides are limited and predictable. The Crispy Heirloom of Cauliflower ($14) is a treasure trove of yellow and purple cauliflowers, some which are done in tempura style and drizzled with spicy aloli. I was missing the lemon zest here but this is salty enough to make you feel peckish.
Besides the cheese and sweet wine, there are only about 5 desserts to choose from. Hence, I played the game of elimination and picked the Chocolate Trio, which is a fine play of chocolates in different textures, paired with a robust mocha gelato.
After having such a decadent chocolate dessert, I was awakened from the sweet slumbers by the extremely tart Apricot and Lavender Souffle ($20). The levels of sourish notes punched above the rest and even the nutty Walnut Creme Anglaise could not tame its wildness. That's when the sweet vanilla ice cream came as a timely company to the moist, creamy tower that exuded a character of its own.
In fact, it is not just the cuisine that speaks for the place. Perched on the 40th floor of Capitagreen, Artemis offers the best vantage point for a breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline by day or by night. Together with the delicious cuisine that are carefully thought out on flavors and presentation, this place is one of the best dining spots I've ever visited in my life and I will definitely be back here for special occasions.
