More Than a Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Dempsey

Tree Lizard at Dempsey is very much like your rich friend’s home – a casual looking nook surrounded by tons of lush greenery. Besides a large garden out front complete with a sizable playground, you’ll find a pool table near the entrance, a wine cellar a few steps in and enough dining space to hold a party for 150.

According to manager Werner, his restaurant is typically packed with families on the weekend, while couples and groups of friends flock in on weekdays. We'd imagine parents parking themselves at the al fresco seats, whilst keeping an eye on the little ones at play. Alternatively, the "air conditioning and board games" combination is also available. Note: If the weather permits, Tree Lizard pumps up a bouncy castle on Saturdays and Sundays.

After retaining signature dishes, their recently revamped menu is a concise two-pager of Western fare with a few unique twists here and there. Here's what I tried and thought: I wouldn’t spend $10.80 on a fruit or caesar salad, but instead get my money's worth on more substantial starters like the Tempura Soft Shell Crab ($11.80) or a better option, the Braised Brisket and Tendon ($12.80, pictured). Essentially a variation of the Chinese “burger” – kong ba pau, the latter comprises a trio of steamed buns and a soup bowl of fork-tender slow braised meat in a rich and flavourful sauce.

By the fourth dish, it becomes clear that the chef pours his attention to details onto the plate in the form of the accompanying sauces. The tempura soft shell crab served earlier had a spicy citrus mayo dip that helped to add a punch of much-needed flavour. Likewise, on the plate of Herb Crusted Seabass Fillet ($24.80) was a unique yuan-yang teriyaki sauce, which had a slightly gelatinous consistency.

If you’re thinking about skipping desserts, here’s our advice: Don’t. Stay for the Homemade Apple Tart ($6.80). Hot from the oven, the crisp puff pastry complements the layers of caramelised apple slices, complete with that quintessential scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. With that generous sprinkle of sifted powdered sugar over the top, this wintry-looking dessert was without a doubt, my favourite dish here – one that will beckon my return the next time I'm in Dempsey. Tree Lizard, 25 Dempsey Road #B1-01, Singapore 249670

Written by Peh Yi Wen Images: Peh Yi Wen