20 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089834
Last month, The Boyfriend and I decided to spend our Friday night on what I like to call a “Food Safari”. Too spoilt for choice – and also a little greedy – why opt to spend the whole evening at one restaurant when you can have a different course at a different table down the street? Have Japanese for entrée, an Argentine steak for main and Tiramisu as smooth as any Roman for dessert. It’s like a round-theworld-trip for your tastebuds. And you can work off a little of those calories, ambling through the streets of Singapore.
Which is what led me to discover Humpback, a breezily-cool oyster bar on Bukit Pasoh Road, a hop, skip and a jump from the office. With a view of pretty shop houses across the street, we picked a seat at the high stools outside the restaurant to enjoy the balmy evening. Pretty fairy lights were strung overhead, cheery staff brought us menus and we settled in for our first course of the evening. What was even better? They had an oyster happy hour from 5-8pm. And what isn’t very happy about that?
Humpback take their oysters very seriously, having them flown in from Seattle, Washington or New Zealand a couple of times a week, so you know you’re on to a good thing. We decided to try the four varieties they had on offer ($3ea.) – including a ‘fat bastard’ because I laugh at profanity – and perused the cocktail menu whilst the waitress set to shuck-ing. The basil and cucumber gin ‘n’ tonic was refreshing, the elderflower spritz put a spring in our step and the white negroni packed a punch (all $14). There was also a selection of dry white, rosé and an Australian sparkling wine (all $13) and American Blonde was on draft ($13 a pint).
The oysters, ranging from salt and briny little guys, to voluptuous creamy sweet ones, were all delicious so I can’t recommend a favourite – but ask the staff for their opinion as they are oyster-mad. From which order you should sample them in, to which accompaniment to use and even how to eat them (it’s an urban myth that you’re supposed to let them slide down without a bite), this is a great little bar. If you’re an oyster virgin, this is an unassuming spot to give them a try; if you’re an old-hat, then grab a table and dive in.
There’s a full restaurant menu on offer too, from buttery lobster rolls, to wagyu skirt (mains from $17). But like Alice in Wonderland’s Walrus and the Carpenter, we just gobbled up all the oysters, before rolling down Keong Saik Road for course two.
By Charley Larcombe
