Expat Choice | Dempsey's MOONBOW Home Dining Modern European Asian Influenced Cuisines

Experience MOONBOW restaurant with exquisite menus for takeaways from European plates to dessert selections, along with the stylish Royal Mid Day High Tea. Chef Heman Tan’s inspiration of the MOONBOW menu allows you to dine and truly savour the dishes at home.

Try out the takeaway menus that are helmed by Ironman Chef Heman Tan at MOONBOW! Available for self pick-up or delivery from 11.30 am to 8.30 pm daily (last order at 8.15 pm). Check out the Menu Here and place an order via their delivery partners, such as GrabFood and Foodpanda apps.

Moonbow

The ever-evolving dining enclave of Dempsey Hill is set abuzz with the entry of MOONBOW, a beautiful new restaurant that specialises in modern European cuisine with an Asian accent.

Conceptualised by its co-owners Dylan Soh and Chef Heman Tan, diners can expect every step of the MOONBOW experience to be a picture-perfect moment, from the enthralling interior awashed in pastel and champagne hues, to the delectable dishes served on vibrant ceramic tableware designed by the artistically-inclined chef. MOONBOW takes its name from the rare, natural phenomena, also known as a lunar rainbow.

As moonbows are often regarded as a symbol of hope during difficult times, it is a fitting name for the restaurant, which was Chef Heman’s beacon of light amidst the past year's challenges.

Moon bow

“MOONBOW was conceptualised during and despite the difficult circuit breaker period. Just as we were brainstorming names for the restaurant, a ray of light appeared next to the moon that very same evening. Inspired by it, we decided on the name MOONBOW. We hope MOONBOW will delight our guests with a unique and unforgettable dining experience,” Chef Heman shares with Expat Choice, who is also known as Iron Man Chef for his active participation in triathlons.

The adventure begins as guests are ushered into the spacious dining area with a high ceiling where they are greeted with soft pastel hues of champagne and blush that are juxtaposed with accents of gold. Put together by the co-owners, the interiors come together to create a sense of timeless elegance.

A striking centrepiece, a feature wall showcases a 4.3m tall tree meticulously pieced together from separate, naturally dried branches collected in a private garden. Each branch is adorned with magnolia flowers, tastefully matching the dining space interspersed with blooms of orchids.

Moonbow

A glass wall separates the main dining area from the kitchen, where guests can witness Chef Heman and his team in action while savouring the delicious creations. The 4,500 sq ft venue also houses a private dining room which seats eight people, perfect for intimate meals with friends and family.

Past the handsome forest green bar with its matching marble countertop is a small doorway that leads to the patio. Overlooking an expansive field, the patio evokes a sense of calm and beckons guests to slow down and take a breather. Here, pastel tones give way to rustic rattan and wooden touches, and when night falls, the overhanging lanterns come to life, enveloping the space in a soft ambient glow.

Moonbow

With over 38 years of culinary experience, Chef Heman seamlessly merges his love for Asian ingredients and Western cooking techniques. The menu reflects heartwarming snippets of his culinary journey along with contemporary interpretations of dishes that he enjoys cooking for his family.

Savour an array of starters such as the Garden of Escargot ($23++) with fresh micro cress, truffle gelato, lychee pearl, mushroom oil, and mashed edamame. Best eaten by combining the different elements of the dish together in a single bite, Chef Heman was inspired to create this dish after observing snails in the park during a particular rainy day.

Moonbow

Alternatively, try the delicate Moonbow Oyster Bay ($10++ per piece), featuring Fine de Claire oysters served with oyster leaves, yuzu gel, cucumber pearl, and yuzu granita. Refreshed, elevated takes on treasured home recipes include the Black Berry 4-Grain Healthy Rice. Comprising a blend of four different grains - black berry rice, red rice, barley and pearl rice - the dish was first created for his diabetic mother.

At MOONBOW, the 4-grain rice is mixed with olive leaves and Chinese lap cheong sausage for added bite, and paired with either roasted pork jowl “Ton Toro'' ($38++) or “Impossible” meat patties ($28++). A dish that will evoke emotional memories is the Black Silkie Poulet ($38++) where Black Silkie Chicken leg is char grilled and served with garlicky crumb, bearnaise sauce, wolfberry mash, black garlic purée, heirloom tomatoes, and chives.

The creation was inspired by his wife who craved for sesame chicken during her confinement. Chef Heman could only find black chicken during one visit to the wet market but the dish turned out well. Since then, Chef Heman has been experimenting with different techniques to cook black chicken.

Other highlights include the Fermented Red Yeast Wine ($38++) which comprises fermented red glutinous rice wine and oyster mushroom, served with Filet de Barramundi, and the Tomahawk de Swine ($68++), a specialty unique to MOONBOW as it is the only restaurant in Singapore to use an untrimmed tomahawk chop from a 9- to 10-month young pig.

Aged for four days, the succulent cut is served with roasted garlic, caramelised lime, pineapple compote and a homemade BBQ glaze. An accomplished ceramicist, Chef Heman channels his creative energy into enhancing diners’ experience with custom-made ceramic plates. A reflection of his optimistic outlook on life, the colourful tableware pairs beautifully with the dishes and is an integral element of the MOONBOW experience.

a. Block 10 Dempsey Rd, #01-21 Singapore, Singapore 247700

w. www.moonbow.sg/

e. reservation@moonbow.sg

s. www.facebook.com/moonbow.sg/

t. +65 9010 2717

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 11.30am – 3.00pm (Last order at 2.30pm) 6pm – 10.30pm (Last order at 9.30pm) Saturday & Sunday: 10.00am – 3.00pm (Last order at 2.30pm) 6pm – 10.30pm (Last order at 9.30pm)

Menus:

2-Course Weekday Set Lunch: $38++

3-Course Weekday Set Lunch: $48++

4-Course Weekday Set Dinner: $89++ when in restaurant dining resumes

5-Course Weekday Set Dinner: $99++ when in restaurant dining resumes

À la Carte Menu is also available

*Private Room is available with a minimum spending of $1,200

Comments

Sylvia Fernandes

13 Aug 2021 , Fri

386 comments

ELITE

RATED 8 / 8

If you are feeling like a touch of European cuisine then look no further than Moonbow. Whether takeaway or dine in, there are exquisite spaces to enjoy and relax, indoor and outdoor.

Chef Heman the creative spark behind the scene, lightens his menu stylishly with a touch of Asian on these delicious European dishes. The fusion mesh is so well done, it felt natural without trying too hard.

As a foodie, when restaurants scream out simplicity mixed with just the right combination of foods that’s what I home in to. With 2 and 3-course sets available at $38 and $48 respectively, I would urge every foodie in town looking for excellent fare to dive straight in.

Pick a choice each from the small and big plates offering plus a dessert. For that price you can’t go wrong. I assure you, there will be a desire to go back again as that is how I felt when I came to the end of my meal.

Being out on the restaurant circuit often I like to try signature dishes and unique ones too. At Moonbow I went for the Heart of Palm, a sous-vide grilled shoot from the palm tree.

Dressed with a 3-year Balsamico pipette, I liked the choice of squeezing as much or as little on the honey mustard Mesclun salad. A must try for its difference and starter potential, to build up flavours for the rest of the meal.

The cauliflower bloom was one also worth a mention. A smorgasbord of various cauliflower styles – warm florets, dehydrated, puree and made into cous cous, this was dressed with a garlic sauce. Both extremely commendable starters to fire up those taste buds!

At Moonbow so many items on the big plates menu that appealed. Tough choices to make agghhh! I awanted them all.

If you are a meat eater the Angus beef short ribs melted in my mouth. Not surprising as this braised dish boasted top quality 100-day grain fed beef which was smoked. For Wagyu lovers there is also a steak served with foie gras port wine jus.

I decided to try the Barramundi instead. Cooked in fermented red glutinous rice wine and served with oyster mushrooms this was the stunner of big plates. As I said I love different and unique. All flavours pulled together to produce a superbly flavoursome dish.

Another unique dish that sounded totally unique and which I saved for my next visit was the 4-grain healthy rice – black, red, pearl and barley cooked with olive leaves and Chinese Lap Cheong preserved sausage.

For non-meat diners Chef Heman at Moonbow serves an Impossible meat ball shakshouka with egg, tomato coulis and Heirloom Tomatoes.

I am not sure about you. For me being a visually driven person, I enjoy dining even more when food is presented well in a wonderful setting that matches furniture, crockery, cutlery and in this case at Moonbow, the floor tiles!

Chef Heman the creative behind all of this, explained these delightful and beautifully curated fusion treats to us. Having published six books and passionate about pottery too which he designs himself, these make for exquisite presentations. It all lent for a great dining experience.

To end this 3-course set lunch there was apple crumble and chocolate fudge cake on offer. At a good restaurant like Moonbow you can be assured these were amazing too.

If set meals somehow don’t appeal, there are European sharing plates too. My recommendation is the pork Tomahawk chop which is large enough for two to share.

With a cut of prime rib attached to the loin this is a highly prized cut served with roast garlic, pineapple compote and BBQ glaze. This meat was so multi-dimensional, layered with flavor and oh so tender.

I had thoughts of taking away this beauty but all was relinquished as we dug into it chunk by chunk till the end. Haha so much for aspirations!

Other delicacies on the European sharing plates a la carte menu mostly for 2-3 pax, were salmon fish & chips, BBQ Iberico prime ribs and the Sea Master Treasure “Tingkat Box”.

I didn’t venture close to any of these. All for next time I thought to myself and I know you’d be saying the same. Moonbow @ Dempsey with the all-so-familiar English setting matched my expectations in every way.

What’s outstanding at Moonbow is the choice of spaces – indoor so chic with black and white tiles - perfect spot for a tete-a-tete. Or outdoor for nature lovers looking out to a wide expanse of open greenery.

There’s something here for everyone!