I was gleefully reminded of the joys of the long lunch when my boss took our team out for a celebratory lunch last month. The time out from the usual grind was made all the more special because the venue of choice was The Tippling Club by Chef Ryan Clift. 

If that name sounds familiar to my fellow Aussies, Ryan Clift is a former head chef at one of Melbourne's finest restaurants, Shannon Bennett's Vue de Monde, and he opened The Tippling Club in 2008 to rave reviews.

The Tippling Club offers a set lunch menu, and is surprisingly good value with two courses at SGD43++ and three courses at SGD58++. 

Our lunch began with a trio of amuse-bouches: curried mouse topped with cripsy rice puffs, followed by an intriguing looking dish of charred capsicum (equipped with awesome chopstick tweezers) and a basil oil concoction. 

As a starter, I ordered the Smoked Ox Tongue with baked baby beets and horseradish dressing - the waitress sold it to me when she told me it was the restaurant's most popular starter and they only had two portions left. 

Upon lifting the lid to my dish, I was engulfed by woody smoke fumes which dissipated to reveal an intricate and well-presented dish.

My initial thought was that the portion size could have been more generous, particularly when compared with the starters served to my dining companions.

Tomato and Parmesan Tart

Steak Tartare

However, I could not fault the taste of the dish. The smoked ox tongue was delicately sliced, full of smokey flavour, and beautifully complemented with the sweetness of the beetroot.

For my main, I opted for the Roast Norwegian salmon. The fish was just cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, and the crispy skin added crunch to an otherwise creamy dish.


It looked as though my dining companions were equally enamored with their main course picks.

Poulet Tallyrand

Green Pea Risotto

After two delicious courses, I could not wait to try dessert. I opted for the Twix Souffle, with salted caramel and vanilla bean mini magnum.

The chocolate souffle was absolutely divine. The texture of the souffle was smooth, light and airy and, unlike other souffles I have had, this did not lack flavour. I would have been satisfied with the chocolate souffle alone, but the dish also included an adorable mini magnum. The Tippling Club's version of this iconic ice-cream contained a surprise swirl of rich salted caramel.


To round off an amazing meal, a trio of petit-fours for the table were served. By this stage, I was well and truly full, but could not resist trying one of each.


The food here was adventurous and impeccably executed. Service was attentive but not obtrusive. At its new CBD address on Tanjong Pagar Road, The Tippling Club is the perfect location for your next corporate dining venture (or your next indulgent long lunch!).

xx Amanda

1. The Tippling Club has an extensive vegetarian menu, which is unique at this end of the market. While most fine dining establishments will happily accommodate dietary requirements, one usually has to call in advance. In contrast, The Tippling Club offers a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu (which made the vegetarian in our group extremely pleased!). 
2. The prix fixe lunch offering is a great way to try out a fancy restaurant, as the prices are usually more budget-friendly without compromising on the high quality food experience. The Tippling Club's dinner tasting menu will set you back SGD160++ (or SGD260++ with wine pairing), so why not do lunch instead?