The Fengshui Master must have done an excellent job for Grand Hyatt Singapore that it’s always so difficult to get a table at Straits Kitchen during weekend. And if it was not because of that, I wouldn’t have discovered that its sister

restaurant, Mezz9, serves one of the best value white pepper crab in Singapore. Before I continue, please be reminded that a reservation is still required at Mezza9. Don’t try your luck.

Anyway, it was a Saturday night that my friend and I went to Mezz9 for dinner. We’ve been to the restaurant many times and every time, we went home more impressed with the food.  When we were there, Mezza9 was having a Thai Street Food promotion. Although we just returned from Bangkok less than a week ago, we decided to order Chef Sittichok’s Thai Tasting Platter ($45). The platter consists of 2 individual portions of Char-grilled Baby Octopus Skewers with Thai Chili sauce, Crispy Fried Spencer Gulf Prawns with Coconut, Char-grilled Pork Belly with Honey Herb Marinade, Traditional Crispy Thai Fishcake, and Thai Red Curry Sour Sausages.

Chef Sittichok’s Thai Tasting Platter

The platter is great as an appetiser for two persons. Out of the five different street food, the Thai fishcakes, grilled octopus and fried prawns left the deepest impression.  The fishcake is very authentic and it’s as good, if not, better than those served in Thailand. It’s very flavourful and tender.  I’m not a seafood fan but the grilled octopus is so tasty that I wouldn’t mind having more.  And accordingly to my friend, the prawns are very fresh and succulent.

Sri Lankan Crab – White Pepper and Black Pepper

My friend, who is a seafood expert, was overwhelmed by the Mezz9’s Sri Lankan Crab done in white pepper style. The dish is full of meaty pieces of the crustacean and it is very scrumptious. Even though I’m allergic to crustacean, I did give the gravy a try.  It is peppery but it’s not the kind where it’s scorching spicy.  The peppery taste is smooth. At $65, the dish is really good value for money especially when the portion is rather generous.

On a separate day, I brought my friends to Mezza9 to try the Sri Lankan Crab – Black Pepper style. The black pepper crab is good but the white pepper crab is the better among the two. The black pepper crab is less spicy as compared to those you get from most seafood restaurants, hence, this is a good start for overseas guests before they progress to the hotter version.

Chicken, Salted Fish, Egg Fried Rice

The fried rice is soft yet full of flavour.  I like the faint salted fish taste.  It adds flavour to the rice without overpowering it. The chicken pieces are tender unlike those served in some zi-char stores where the chicken pieces can be rather dry. At $12 per plate, the serving is sufficient for two persons.

The best part of dining at Grand Hyatt is that discount is extended to Club at the Hyatt Card members. For a party of two, the food bill is slashed by 50%! Hence, if you dine out quite frequently, I would strongly recommend that you get the Club at the Hyatt card. You will definitely benefit from the dining privileges and recoup the membership fees in no time.

Mezza9 at Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road, Singapore