#788 Avenue: palates across the board

#788 Avenue Grill presents some new takes on the menus we’re just so used to

There was a good amount of time when the famed N Grill was evolving into something very new and people waited with bated breath to see what would take its place; finally the space debuted #788 Avenue, a bar and grill which offers attractive sit-down dinners and opportunities to dance the night away. But its food, encompassing Indian dishes and European delights, has a mixture of nods and no’s.

At lunch hour on a weekday, the place is buzzing reasonably well. The dark ambience or reds and black invite patrons to be cosily imprisoned in cushioned armchairs. There aren’t a lot of big tables in the inside seating, probably aiming for a more intimate experience. But the al-fresco seating has more of a brunch feel, so feel free to make that your temporary home on cooler days out and when you want to get snaps done perfectly.

Dig in

#788 has an impressive range of drinks in a sizeable menu, ranging from the basic mocktails to the make-it-rain Dom Perignons. While mixology could be improved in terms of the mocktails, the alcoholic range seems nuanced with interesting pairings of gins and other liqueurs.

Appetisers recommended include stir fried chicken done in a Taipei style. From the streets of Taiwan, this is a good nibble if you like your snacks on the sweeter side, given the reduced rice wine typically used. The crisp soy chilli fish is tender and sweet, a little on the softer side in terms of fillet choice but still palatable.

For the main course, I had a go at the Jamaican Jerk Chicken served on a bed of herb rice and with seasonal vegetables. The sauce drizzled over the generous cuts of chicken was indulgent —perhaps a little over-seasoned. The chicken was done just right, succulent and flavourful just as the Coromantee Africans who developed the recipe hoped.

For vegetarians, don’t worry about missing out, the Vegetable Golden Cups are a popular and somewhat boujie dish which frequents plates of all diets. #788’s main course menu also boasts a variety of pastas and pizzas, which are popular with a lot of patrons coming in as groups. Particularly popular are the biryanis which I observed were frequently ordered by tables around me.

Mind you, those who are familiar with N Grill’s chefing team and miss them, will see some similarities as the prior restaurant’s sous chef is currently undertaking operations in #788’s kitchen with some new tweaks.

Dessert, knowing my sweet tooth, was a winner; an indulgent Bailey’s ice cream pancake topped with toasted almonds was an ideal rounder-off for my meal and cooled me off before I had to step out into the heat again.