Chicken & Waffles is definitely one of the best food inventions out there as it solves every brunch lovers’ dilemma of having to settle for either something savoury or sweet. It’s a classic American diner dish that started to gain some traction here in the shores of Singapore in the past few years when Clinton St Baking Company & The Beast popularized it. With the growing popularity of this brunch favourite, fans of Chicken & Waffles can now rejoice with the opening of The Bird Southern Table & Bar in Singapore.
The Restaurant
Hailing from the US, The Bird is the first international outpost of the award-winning Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. However, the Singapore outlet operates under a different moniker – The Bird (instead of Yardbird). Well, simply to avoid confusion with the famous Hong Kong Yakitori joint that has the same name & similar looking logo that somehow bears an uncanny resemblance. But no, they are not affiliated to the Yakitori joint in any way.
Located in Marina Bay Sands, The Bird is located near Bread Street Kitchen and Li Ho. It boasts two levels of expansive dining spaces that can sit up to 190 guests. We opted for the alfresco seating on the upper level that faces the waterfront promenade, which offers an amazing view of the Marina Bay cityscape
The Food
As this was an invited food tasting, a curated menu of dishes were served.
To start, we had two classic Southern appetizers that we were really looking forward to try as these dishes are such a rare find here in SG.
Devilled Eggs – dill, chive, smoked trout roe
The Devilled Eggs (S$14) boasted a generous serving of yolk which came in a creamy, smooth consistency topped with crunchy smoked trout roe. It left a nice hint of tartness on the palette which wasn’t too overwhelming. This was one of our favourite dishes that night. We popped these babies in our mouth and finished them in less than 30 seconds flat. I could have eaten a dozen of them!
Fried Green Tomato BLT – house smoked pork belly, frisee, pimento cheese, smoky tomato jam, lemon vinaigrette
This was accompanied with the Fried Green Tomato BLT (S$18 for 3 pieces). A twist to the typical BLT sandwich – the crispy green tomato forms the base and is topped with the house smoked pork belly & tomato jam. The pork belly was nicely smoked and not overly fatty.
Of course, the highlight of the night was the signature Chicken ‘N’ Watermelon ‘N’ Waffles (S$45) that comes from a 100-year-old family recipe. The portion is huge and can be comfortably shared between 2-3 people.
Chicken ‘n’ Watermelon ‘n’ Waffles – honey hot sauce, chilled spiced watermelon, vermont sharp cheddar cheese waffle, bourbon maple syrup
The chicken was no doubt great but don’t expect your typical fried chicken with a crispy outer layer. It came in a light breading on the outside (which wasn’t too greasy) & a juicy flavourful texture on the inside. We smothered our chicken with the Bourbon Maple Syrup & hot sauce, which sealed the savoury & sweet combination perfectly. The cheddar waffles were however too dry for our liking. We preferred the spiced watermelon which was delightfully refreshing and complemented the dish well. However, it comes with a rather unique taste to it – slightly minty & spicy which might be polarizing for some.
Macaroni & Cheese – torchio pasta, five artisanal cheeses, crispy herb crust
Butter Lettuce & Grilled Mango Salad – char-grilled mango, smoked pecans, tomato, onions, benne seed dressing
Accompanying the star dish, we also had Macaroni & Cheese (S$14) prepared with five artisanal cheeses and a crispy herbed crust. It was dense, rich but became too heavy after the 3rd bite. Thankfully the Butter Lettuce & Grilled Mango Salad (S$18) helped balanced the meal out. We loved the combination of the benne seed vinaigrette, mango & smoked pecan.
Banana Pudding – rum soaked banana cake, chantilly cream, fresh bananas vanilla wafers
Cafè Crème Brûlée – almond orange biscotti, orange gremolata
To end off, we had the Café Crème Brûlée (S$16) & Banana Pudding (S$14). The Crème Brûlée was hands down our favourite – fragrant silky coffee custard, nicely contrasted with a thin layer of caramelized burnt sugar. After a heavy meal, this light dessert went easy on our tummies to close the meal. The Banana pudding with rum soaked cake & Chantilly cream was good as well. It reminded me of a more sophisticated version of the famous Tokyo Banana cake. However, we were too full to thoroughly enjoy this ‘heavy’ dessert.
The Verdict
Overall, we had a very comforting & hearty meal. Given the lack of Southern styled restaurants here, this is definitely your go-to place if you are in the mood of some good ol’ Southern dishes. We would probably make a visit again to try the famous Buttermilk biscuits & unique alcohol mixes. Service was average. We thought it could be better. During our visit, the staff were not clear & confident when they were introducing the dishes. Well most probably since the place is still in its teething period.
Finally, given the rather expensive price tag & huge portions, we highly recommend that you come in bigger groups for a more worthwhile dining experience.
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The Bird Southern Table & Bar
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands,
B1-07, Galleria Level of The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands (Main Dining Area) &
L1-82, Bay Level (Alfresco Dining)
Singapore 018956
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:00am – 4:00pm, Dinner 4:00pm – 2:00am (Mon – Sun)
Weekend Brunch: 10:00am – 4:00pm (Sat – Sun)
For reservations, please call +65 6688 9959 or email
TheBirdReservations@MarinaBaySands.com