House @ Dempsey

And that's how the story goes.



Nick asked Sandy on a Fri-date and with the fish/seafood theme in mind, he came up with...

DEMPSEY HOUSE!

And if you didn't already know, the perfect way to start the long weekend ahead is a Fridate (and a lovely dinner).

So off we went to House and ordered...

The Legendary Truffle Fries

Squid Ink Paella

Red Snapper

We decided to share, because food always tastes better when shared and ordered a side and two mains. Complete with a jug of Hoe Garden.

Nick did some research online and found some good reviews about the fish dishes @ House. We tossed a coin between the Fish & Chips and Red Snapper and from the pictures, it's pretty obvious which dish won.

Suckered by the word "legendary", we ordered the truffle fries since S loves truffle and N loves to be suckered by grand-sounding words such as 'legendary'. However, when you have a name as big as legendary, you'd better make sure it is damn good. The fries were fresh from the fryer and drenched in truffle oil, which could have been more aromatic. We could taste abit of the truffle but I would have to say that it is a little disappointing. However, the crispiness of the fries made up for the lack of truffle goodness.The verdict: 6/10

Between the red snapper and squid ink paella, the latter won hands down (according to S's taste buds). While N agreed that it was good, she absolutely LOVED the dish. The risotto has a claypot characteristic to it, especially the crispy bits that were a little burnt and stuck to the pan. Squid ink was generously coated over every grain, which has a chewy consistency. The seafood was tender. fresh and  well cooked, coupled with tiny strips of cheese for that added richness baked over the risotto. The verdict? 8.5/10 - from both foodies.

Let's not forget the red snapper, which did not pale in comparison. Under the succulent, tender fish laid a bed of green soba in a gravy, which has an interesting fusion tangy-ness. The sausages thrown into the broth added a nice savoury, meaty flavour into the sauce while the fish and clams struck a good balance. S found the soba a little too soggy after soaking up the gravy and the potato cubes were just cooked, which could have been softer. However, the red snapper was the saving grace. And the gravy. The fish was cooked to perfection which made this dish a 8 out of 10, according to N. S would only give it a 6, just 'cos she is biased.

All in all, the dinner was perfect -  good food, good company, cosy ambience and quirky interiors. - what more could we ask for, really?

We would have tried the $2.50 tau sa pau if we weren't that full. But we'll save that for another time.

Cheers!
Have a wonderful long weekend and Selemat Hari Raya, our dear friends!

Signing off with all the love in the world (for food),
Us.