Casual dining restaurant, Ai Mien Bar, offers 16 types of noodle dishes and assortment of "Chinese tapas" to tease the tastebuds.
Decked up to channel creative vibes, the neutral beige and brown walls are eye candy for artistic types who like to indulge in that occasional bit of Chinese calligraphy and modern Chinese art. It's also an oasis for working crowds to drop in for a spot of their favourite noodle dishes before heading back to the office.
Opened on November 18, the dishes are created by master chef Cheung Wing Keung, a Hong Kong native who spent 10 years working in Japan. He injects interest into his signature dishes with ingredients that are of Japanese origins to recreate Chinese noodle dishes with a twist. But if you're not looking to just chill out, indulge in a sip of their designer drinks that marry Western liquors like Cognac and gin to Chinese ingredients like wolfberries, chrysanthemum and ginseng, accompanied with 18 kinds of Chinese-style tapas such as the Deep-Fried Toast with Prawn Paste and Fish Roe ($5.80) (available from 3 - 11pm).
Contact details
Ai Mien Bar
01-08 Capital Tower
168 Robinson Road
Tel: +65 6592 5296
www.aimienbar.com.sg
Opening hours
8am to 11pm, Mondays to Fridays
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Happy hour: 5pm to 9pm
Cuisine
The noodles take pride of place here, with the chef offering at least three signature noodle dishes on the menu.
Portions
Order a plate of noodles on your own and a few more side dishes to share with companions if you're hungrier.
Setting
A modern Chinese aesthetic permeates the 4,200 sq ft restaurant, with bits of art such as masks, statues and Chinese instruments strewn about.
Must-tries • Ai Mien Regional Creation ($18.80). A dish with comprising four mini portions of noodles that represent the taste profiles and noodle styles of China's northest (Blanched wheat noodles with sliced beef in pork ribs soup), south (Blanched egg noodles with wanton in XO sauce), east (Chilled spinach noodles with shredded chicken & prawns) and west (Braised handmade noodles with minced pork in Sze Chuan spice sauce).
• Chilled Mien ($18.80), accompanied by mounds of shredded chicken, shredded vegetables, shredded egg, prawns and scallops, tossed with a tangy peanut sauce
• Fresh Milk and Coconut Soft Cake ($3.80), a light, yet flavourful custard pudding covered with desiccated coconut and sesame seeds
Price factor
About $25 per person
Things you didn't know
Although not part of the restaurant's signature dishes, its congee dishes are a must-try.
Verdict The noodle dishes offer a nice alternative to your usual ramen and wanton noodles. It's an affordable chill-out restaurant that allows you to enjoy restaurant quality noodles, without the high price of one.
