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Tucked up and hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city is a quaint restaurant North of Singapore. Overlooking the Straits of Johor is the Beaulieu House. “Beaulieu” (pronounced ‘buh-loou’) is French for “Beautiful”.
House Origins
The house itself was built around 1910s as a holiday seaside residence of a prominent Jewish family. During the 1940s to 1960s it became the residence of naval officers in Singapore. In November 1978, the Parks and Recreation Department (now known as the National Parks Board) announced plans to develop a new public park at the end of Sembawang Road, overlooking the Straits of Johor where the house was located. Sembawang Park later opened in 1979, and encompassed Beaulieu House within its grounds. Since 1981, Beaulieu House has been operating as a restaurant.
The House Now
Being in the house felt like I was transported back in time when I was young with my grandparents. The floor was shiny, with big windows to let the air in, and an amazing view of the surroundings. It seems that we were going inside a museum rather than a restaurant. The place has an aura of wisdom and prominence, just like my grandparents’ house back in the day.
Our group reservation was for dinner on a Friday night. Contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t a full house. I arrived early that day, so I decided to enjoy the view for a while and observe the diners. I noticed that though the place was never full, it was also never empty. There’s a constant stream of people going in and out, to which is amazing, considering its location.Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more.
Overlooking the Straits of Johor is the Beaulieu House. “Beaulieu” (pronounced ‘buh-loou’) is French for “Beautiful.”
The Beaulieu House is at the end of Sembawang Park, which is accessible by a single bus route or private transportation. It’s not a place that can be stumbled upon. It’s a place that you either know and purposely visited or you didn’t know it existed (I was part of the latter). The Grab fare from Yishun MRT was approximately $12.00. To get there by public transport, alight at Sembawang MRT Station, then take the bus 882 to Sembawang Park parking lot. From there it’s a 2 minute walk.
The Food
When we arrived, we were treated well partly because we were the only guests at the time (see photos). The menu featured Western, Chinese and local Singapore delights. Our group consisted of 5 adults and 8 kids, ranging from 3 to 14 years of age. We made sure that what we ordered would appeal to all the members of our group- especially since we had to consider that we had to order for the kids as well. That lead to our more conservative choices.
Here’s a list of what we ordered: - Hot and Sour Soup (Small, good enough for our our group of 12) $14 - Wok Fried Tomato Fried Rice with Sirloin Beef (Medium 5-6 persons) $22 - Yang Chow Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage (Medium 5-6 persons) $22 - Sambal Kangkong $12 - Homemade Beancurd with Shiijimei Mushrooms (Small) $14 - Pork Satay (10 sticks) $13 - Beef Satay (10 sticks) $13 - Crispy Chicken Drumlets with Mongolian Sauce (Small, good enough for a group of 10-12) $12 - Molten Chocolate Lava Cake $13 each - Lime Juice $3/glass - Orange Juice $5/glass - Canned Soft Drinks $3/can
The Yang Chow Fried Rice was a hit especially to the kids, as well as the satay. The peanut sauce was really good. the flavour wasn’t too rich and it wasnt too creamy and it wasn’t spicy. The beancurd and lava cake made a big impression on me. At first glance, the beancurd does not look appetizing. It was an odd green colour, not one you would expect to be the colour of a beancurd. However, once we tasted it, it was surprisingly flavourful. Whatever it lacks on presentation, certainly made up to its amazing taste. The opposite goes to the lava cake. It tasted quite ordinary - as good as any chocolate dessert out there. It’s the lava effect that amazed me. I had this great smile as I watched chocolate ooze from the soft cake.
The Price
Having few customers, it was logical to charge more to compensate. The higher price supposedly justified by the quality of their food, unique heritage, and the quiet, secluded location. However, I am not sold. I feel that I am not getting the most value for my money. I’m getting some value, but not as much value as I feel it was worth.
The verdict
Price Range: approx $20 to $30 per person - Food Taste: 4/5 - Ambiance: 5/5 - Accessibility: 2/5
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