I’ve always been a fan of a good lifestyle concept – those restaurants that combine a great atmosphere, superb food & beverages as well as the chance to pick up some delicious treats from a specially curated selection of gourmet goods. Jones the Grocer was one of the first of these concepts in Singapore and while that brand is no longer here, their fabulous flagship space in Dempsey has been reborn as The Dempsey Project.
The Dempsey Project greets you with a relaxing large, open space, adorned with tropical plants, wooden communal tables and plenty of wicker chairs outside for an alfresco bite - an oasis on Dempsey Hill if you will. The shelves are laden with gourmet goods, wines and cheeses from the finest epicurean producers – so a little shop on the side after one’s meal or coffee break is more than a tempting thought.
We visited The Dempsey Project on a Saturday morning where they also offer their own take on Singapore’s famous champagne brunch. Offering one of the finest champagnes around, Billecart Salmon, at only $99++ a bottle, you won’t find better value on the island for such a delicious drop.
The menu here is vibrant, eclectic and in their own words boundary-less – a place where you can enjoy cuisines from the most classic of Western dishes to the subtle spices of middle eastern and Indian delights as well as fresh Mediterranean fare. The fabulous female owners and head chef have taken their favourite dishes from their travels around the world and curated them into a wholesome, diverse menu that offers something for everyone – from the carnivores to the vegans, there is even a large gluten free selection.
Being a perfect spot for groups, we were able to sample a range of dishes – many designed with sharing in mind. Our appetiser was a visually impressive (and very Instagram worthy) large round Mezze platter, that bought an enormous childlike grin to my half Lebanese husband’s face – comprising kashke bademjan (eggplant dip), toum (Lebanese garlic dip), muhammara (roasted red capsicum dip), tzatziki, hummus, cauliflower salad, Fattoush batata harra (Lebanese potatoes), olives, turnip toorshi (pickled turnip), Benji chilly torshi (pickled vegetables), homemade seed crackers and pita bread – it was one of the most impressive mezze platters our group has ever enjoyed.
From the Western side, we all adored the Truffle Mushroom Omelette served with field mushrooms, sheep's feta, baby spinach, black truffle oil and grana Padano. And we were more than impressed by the healthy banana pancakes on offer – made from gluten free whole oats and served with fresh berries, banana, maple syrup and coconut yoghurt.
Moving onto some Indian street food and the Dahi Papdi Chaat was simply divine with its subtle spices, perfect blend of crunchy and smooth textures and a burst of sweet tanginess from the pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves. The Lamb Galouti Kebab Is minced for over eight hours and forms an almost pate like texture which is served on baby paratha along with pickled onion and coriander chutney.
With a large range of desserts (including dairy and gluten free options), it may well be hard to choose so again sharing could be the best decision here. For us it was the gluten free Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Sticky Date Pudding which got our palates salivating – a couple of classic sweet notes to end our flavourful journey around the globe.
The Dempsey Project is at heart a passion project, bought to you by people who love and live for their food. It truly offers something for everyone and is an easy choice when you have diverse mouths to feed. With a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere it’s perfect for a lazy weekend lunch with friends or family or a casual evening’s dinner. And even better, the champagne (or prosecco if you prefer) is superbly priced for those times you deserve a more decadent weekend brunch.
The Dempsey Project also has handpicked small-batch, artisanal produce from all over the world to buy off-the-shelf. This is an ideal all-day relaxed, casual dining concept open 7 days a week from 8am - 9pm and you can also shop online here
Join the Bubbly Brunch Saturday & Sunday 8am-3pm. Billecart - Salmon Brut SG$99 per Bottle
a. 9 Dempsey Road Singapore, Singapore 247697
e. contact@thedempseyproject.com
w. http://www.thedempseyproject.com/
Rebecca Assice is the Founder and Director of Virtual Room in Asia Pacific. The future of entertainment is now here with Virtual Room – the world’s best team-based virtual reality experience located right in the heart of Chinatown, Singapore. Expat Choice readers enjoy a 15% discount when you book Virtual Room experiences with code EXPATCHOICE15 and receive a 15% automatic discount when booked online at HERE
