Open Door Policy

New place down at Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, sister restaurant of the Forty Hands cafe across the road. This area is shaping up to be a quaint little neighbourhood, with cafes and bookshops and bric-a-brac-wannabe shops. Sadly, ODP is like 40-hands, interesting but not Wow-ing. The decor is unique with a mix of old-school (ala Col Bar) furniture with modern furnishings (reminds me a lot of the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego). The food is an interesting mesh of genres/varieties, with a limited menu. Starters, Meat, Fish, Vegetables and Dessert (with just about 5 items per section). I would say this was more a modern European bistro kinda food. The Halloumi cheese with anchovies was good, just a tad too oily; would have preferred it if they cut down on the oil after searing the cheese, though was a great fit with the salty tang of the achovies. The duck leg confit served on lentils was average at best. The meat was not cured enough and the skin not crispy enough. However, the meat was soft and tender. The addition of bacon on top was a mis-step in my opinion (not every thing taste better with bacon...the pork fat adulterated the taste of the duck). Dessert was a disaster!!! The pistachio and chocolate souffle with creme anglaise was too artificial in taste and texture was too sloppy; the lime panna cotta was too "skinny", it had absolutely no taste, and what with the sago?? (suggest adding gula melaka or the mollasse sugar from the coffee); the "award-winning ice cream" was homemade vanilla ice-cream with chocolate brownie and peanut butter crunch...let's just say the nicest thing was the peanut butter crunch. Coffee (the ODP blend) was average too.

Verdict: Too ex for the quality of food. May go again after they have established themselves a bit more just to see if they have improved.

Open Door Policy
19 Yong Siak Street (opposite Fourty Hands)
Singapore 168650

tel: 6221 9307; email: enquiries@odpsingapore.com

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12 - 4pm (last order 3.30pm)
Dinner: 6.30pm - 11pm (last order 10.30pm)
Closed on Tuesdays; Wednesday only open for dinner