Popular Chinese restaurant Riverside Grilled Fish 江边城外 with 54 outlets in China, has set up its first overseas outpost in Singapore at Raffles City basement (taking over Watami).
We have seen some famous ‘Made In China’ restaurants arrive in Singapore. Hai Di Lao appears to successful, while some of the rest (9Goubuli, Avenue Joffre, Faigo Hotpot) are still finding a footing.
Generally, lots of money ‘thrown’ in ID and furniture, but some restaurants do not carry out even the most basic of marketing. Then question why still so empty. Anyway, there are also some cultural differences in terms of dining habits, which may not suit potentially well in the local market.
Riverside Grilled Fish was founded in 2005 by two friends who chanced upon the traditional method of grilling fish and topping it off with Ma La sauces while travelling in Wushan Town, Chong Qing.
They opened their first shop in Beijing, and snaking long queues became a common sight.
As for the Singapore branch, the interior is HUGE, with a pseudo traditional inn meets oriental restaurant design. Something like Singapore’s Dian Xiao Er.
”服务员，菜单有没有英文版的?” Asking, if there is an English version of the menu. Not that I cannot read, but how about the rest of the ‘jia kan tan’ Singaporeans?
So FYI, the names of the dishes are in English, but the entire description is in Chinese. Remember I talked about adapting to local cultures. But the service was very earnest and waitress was patient enough to explain about their specialities.
Here’s how it works: Diners can choose to pair their selected fish –Red Tilapia ($35.00), Sea Bass ($35.00), Black Pomfret ($38.00) or Garoupa ($42.00) with any of the 8 accompanying sauces of their choice.
There is also an option of choosing from 18 different types of side dishes including sausages, pork belly, tofu sheets and flat vermicelli to be cooked with their whole grilled fish, all at an additional cost of $2.50 -$4.50 per side dish.
The sauces include the Signature Fragrant Spicy Sauce (spicy and sweet), Black Bean Sauce (non-spicy), Unique (sweet, sour, and mala TOGETHER), and Ma La (intense spicy).
I had a Garoupa in the signature sauce, because the waitress said that was the best for first-timers.
Spicy? YES. Intense? YES.
You may call this ‘fish fishing in a river of spicy oil’. The oil, the saltiness, the fieriness, the presentation reminded me of my meals in Sichuan – just whack.
Okay, this wasn’t HOT to the extent that I would tear, but I did finish the entire tumbler of water all on my own.
The fish was chunky and fresh, the sauce tasted authentic enough. Though I must encourage you to come with a bigger group to share-share.
Any more of the Ma La sauce might have given you the spicy runs (yikes) the next morning, or a headache, depending on your tolerance level.
Since @Shauneeie asked me to write in Chinese, which I will try… 来自中国北京的江边城外，着重卖巫山烤全鱼，在内地红得火热。
第一次来到新加坡，我是有些期待。果然名不虚传。
新鲜烤石斑配上香辣酱，加上了干辣椒、葱沫、芝麻和花生等材料。肉质鲜甜，浆料火力全开，不经常吃辣的人可能舌头发狂，隔天“五福临门”。
人生或味觉需要多一些刺激的人，不许再处在城外了。
Riverside Grilled Fish 江边城外
Raffles City Shopping Centre, #B1-06/07 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6352 2035
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm
Other Related Entries
Hai Di Lao 海底捞火锅 (313@Somerset)
Dian Xiao Er (Serangoon NEX)
9Goubuli (Marina Bay Sands)
Faigo Hotpot (Clarke Quay)
Joyden Treasures (Leisure Park Kallang)
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