Showcasing the best seafood of the season, the produce is respectfully sourced from all around the world. Discover the provenance of their inventive dishes and indulge in plates that are both elegant and moreish. Complete your meal with a playful and diverse wine list of over 60 labels, designed to be accessible to perfectly pair with their dishes for the one of best seafood experiences in Singapore.
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Recently revamped and refreshed, Humpback offers you the chance to unwind after work with a glass of bubbly and freshly shucked oysters.
Bukit Pasoh and its aerial roads seem to be the hub of all the action these days. Humpback, a longstanding stalwart that occupies a 1930s conservation shophouse on this buzzy road, has recently undergone a renovation. The new space is modern with Nordic vibes, aptly reflecting skills in the kitchen with Chef Alynna Tan’s experience working in Stockholm. An earthy colour palette is accentuated with pendant lamps to craft an elegant atmosphere.
An oyster bar on the left commands attention as soon as you enter. Oysters on ice, being freshly shucked upon order. Humpback takes its ‘seafood’ bar positioning seriously. The menu reads well, divided into snacks, small and large plates. Except for a Kurabota Pork Chop, the menu is entirely seafood focussed with offerings that include a red prawns, sea scallops, clams, crab and a variety of fish.
We dropped in for an early dinner on a Thursday evening and found the place filling up with the post-work crowd around 7 pm. The oyster menu attracts a lot of followers, with seasonal oysters sourced from the Pacific Northwest priced at $8 per piece. Of the three varieties on offer, all coming in from a sixth-generation family oyster farm in Washington State, USA, I liked the Summerstone best with a briny upfront and sweet finish. The oysters were all served on the half shell on ice with Humpback’s signature mignonette that hints of chardonnay vinegar and citrus. If oysters and champagne are your thing, you’ll love the oyster happy hours that run all day on Monday and until 6:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday. Sparkling wines from Champagne and other lesser-known regions such as Lombard are classically paired with oysters on request.
Though oysters take centre stage at Humpback, for me it was the breads that shined as bright. I loved the Buckwheat Bread baked in-house and served with Yuzu Butter. They say, “ A bread without a nice, crispy crust isn't bread that's worth your time,” and this one sure was. The House-cured Hamachi Pastrami was another winner where thinly sliced yellowtail belly was cured and smoked before being served with crunchy sourdough baguette crisps. The hamachi told a tale of coriander, juniper and black pepper and was the perfect accompaniment to my glass of an elegant and crisp Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2021 from Marlborough. A word for the modestly named Mussel Toast with Spicy Nduja. This was arguably the best dish on the menu. A buttery bite of the brioche was enough to send me to gastronomic heaven.
While the snacks and bites nailed it, the small plates had some hits and misses. The Red Prawn tartare disappointed, hidden under a mountain of tosazu jelly and pomelo, and the blue crab seemed unseasoned and utterly lost beneath shaved white asparagus. Ingredients like white asparagus, though trendy, often need to be uplifted with contrasting flavours to highlight their uniqueness. The winner for me in the small plates section was the Purple Clams with Toasted Koji and Green Asparagus. Sourced from the same family-run Washington farm, the clams were fresh and served in a tangy coconut-based curry. The dish was akin to an amiable person who doesn’t offend anyone with their ever-pleasing personality.
For mains, we tried the Marble Goby which flaked under the fork and was cooked perfectly. However, it was the broccolini and the black garlic paste on the plate that stole the show and added depth to the dish. We ended our very extensive seafood feast with a delightful Toasted Castella Cake. Perfect for those who, like me, don’t have much of a sweet tooth, a spoonful of the thick and spongy toast with a savoury soy caramel was well rounded off with some creme fraiche ice cream. If I had known this was coming, I may have skipped the mains entirely.
Humpback is great for after-work drinks when you want to go out with your colleagues. Some bubbly, stacks of oysters on ice, and a dessert to cap it off. Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?
took some friends who hadn't been there previously, they all loved it, especially the cabbage! Fresh oysters and awesome dishes from the skilled and passionate kitchen team, coupled with a cool bar, make this one of my favourite singapore locations. Check out the wonderfully relaxed Sunday brunch too!
