Firebird by Suetomi
We spent the evening at Firebird by Suetomi, the new omakase yakitori in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore to review their menu.
Singapore seems to have attracted a wave of yakitori omakase restaurants opening up with the latest attraction perched at the Mondrian in Tanjong Pagar.
Firebird is a high-end tori omakase restaurant linked to the infamous restaurant by the same name in Japan. The original establishment is known for unmatched quality and long waiting lists.
The Singapore branch is helmed by chef Makoto Suetomi who has a long history of launching grills in Japan.
On this Wednesday night, I was accompanied by a friend to try the omakase. Upon entering the vibe of the place is beautiful with a long counter shaped around a huge fire grill. I would say this is no ordinary yakitori grill as the wood fire is bursting with flames, unlike any other place I have seen.
After ordering a bottle of wine (BYO not allowed), we began the Yakitori course.
Yakitori course $188++ per guest
- Clear chicken soup
- Chicken thigh
- Water spinach
- Sweet corn puree with jelly
- Chicken neck
- Seasonal vegetable and egg chawanmushi
- Grilled shiitake mushroom in sauce
- Chicken breast with miso paste
- Toasted bread with chicken pate
- Grilled chicken thigh with mustard and spring onions
- Grilled chicken wings
- Chicken Heart (add on)
- Chicken claypot rice bowl
- Jelly with orange
- Smoked sorbet
Firebird by Suetomi omakase course
Firebird by Suetomi set menu
Each course came out in quick succession, piping hot from the grill in front of us that had flames of over a few feet high. At one point, a flaming wooden charcoal combusted from the fire, flew out, and was inches away from hitting me. I alerted the staff, but it's probably something they need to fix and likely a defect in the design/proximity of the counter to the fire.
Despite this, the skewers were all great. The food was not quite enough until we got to the nabe at the end. The fresh Japanese rice is then tasted in a variety of ways (plain, with egg, with condiments), ensuring the customer gets full in the end. If unable to finish, the chef makes the remaining gohan into onigiris for your trip home. A very nice touch.
Dining took about 90 minutes. We paired the course with a Spanish tempranillo from their wine menu.
Gaijin's review
- Food quality: Succulent, french-style farmed organic chicken, some seasonal ingredients
- Ambience: Counter seating, dark, modern, attentive service
- Value: Fair
- Overall rating: ★★★★☆ (4.0/5)
- Price: $$$
Firebird by Suetomi is a good new entrant in the fine dining scene for Singapore. The pricing is roughly on point for what you get and slightly cheaper than the recently opened Tori Kami which is just down the road.
The food was really nice but in retrospect it was lacking that 'wow' dish that really stood out and makes you want to go back for more. I think after being at several other yakitori omakases recently I was expecting some more seasonal Japanese vegetables or tofu to mix up the course. After all, the chicken served at these yakitoris is generally from the regional area (french-inspired farm), so wanting some more emphasis on grilled Japanese fresh produce at this price level is a fair ask.
That being said, the pricing is decent (in Singapore terms at least). As a side note - I think it would be worthwhile for the restaurant to explore a 1 for 1 corkage on wine or sake as their menu is good but not huge. Some patrons would rather bring a certain wine to match the course rather than pick from a limited menu.
We enjoyed Firebird by Suetomi and thought that each dish was beautifully presented, the atmosphere was on point and the staff were very attentive. It's probably not a 'regular' visit for us but nonetheless was a great experience. Highly recommended if you are wanting to impress someone with great vibes and quality yakitori.
Firebird by Suetomi
a: 83 Neil Road, Duxton Hl, #01-05 Mondrian Singapore, Singapore 089813
w: https://www.firebirdbysuetomi.sg/
