Xin Cuisine, the Cantonese restaurant at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, reopened in June 2019 after a few months of renovation. The restaurant’s kitchen underwent some refurbishment while the dining hall remained the same. Xin Cuisine has been around for some time now and is generally considered one of the more established Cantonese restaurants in Singapore. Along with its range of ala carte dishes, they also serve dimsum during lunch time – the latter which I’ve tried previously.
On the occasion of the reopening, I was invited by the hotel to check out Xin Cuisine. It has been some time since I’ve been to Xin Cuisine and I still have fond memories of their dimsum and roast duck so I went over for dinner during the long holiday weekend.
Post-renovation, Xin Cuisine’s menu remains largely the same. My old favorites, such as the Xin’s Signature Home-Style Roast Duck with Tea Leaves (S$32 for half) are still very much part of the menu. The duck was juicy just as I remembered, with the succulent flesh carrying an aroma that required no sauce – although the plum sauce that comes with it is also quite addictive. Contrary to the name however, there isn’t really any pronounced tea leaves flavor in the duck – not that it would necessarily taste better with it.
A personal surprise for me was the Poached Local Spinach with Wolfberries in Supreme Stock (S$20 for small). With one bite, all thoughts of unpalatable vegetables went out the door as the dish carried a sweetness that left me seeking to munch more of those green stalks. The accompanying soup here is also noteworthy – warm and nourishing, and aided by the tangy flavor of the wolfberry.
Practically all Chinese restaurants in Singapore serve their own version of the prawn ball, often coated with salted egg or wasabi. Xin Cuisine’s Deep-fried Prawn Coated with Yuzu Mayonnaise (S$ 10 per person) was the first time I had it with a distinct citrusy flavor. Truth be told, I prefer my prawns on the savory side but the refreshing nature of the yuzu mayo provided for an interesting contrast.
Perhaps my best discovery of the evening was the Poached Rice with Seafood in Superior Broth served with Crispy Rice ($14 per person). This is a nice comfort food to have with its delicious, healthful soup and generous servings of seafood. I particularly loved the contrast between the conventional rice as well as the rice crispies. A number of Chinese restaurants serve their own version of the poached rice with varying types of seafood. I find Xin Cuisine’s version to be more on the affordable side which adds another reason to visit.
Xin Cuisine doesn’t disappoint and my latest visit here just reminded me what a gem this Chinese restaurant is. The dining establishment has since joined a number of apps so diners can get better deals. Aside from the 50% off for 2 diners with select AMEX cards, they are also on Eatigo now and app users can get as much as 50% off depending on the time they dine.
Xin Cuisine
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Hotel
Leave a Reply