Ocean by Cat Cora Revisited after a month
As mentioned in the earlier review, I was going to revisit Ocean after a month to see if service and experience has improved and I was pleasantly surprised.
They DID AWAY with the Buttons! What a relief! The buttons were the worst part of my entire first experience, and when I arrived at Ocean, I was actually dreading to see them, but they were gone. Friendly staff greeted me instead, and I must say, it was an amazing difference that was very welcoming.
Instead of showing you the food first, you must take a look at the amazing view that will keep you company throughout your entire meal. This is the very best part of the entire experience at Ocean. Pure bliss, almost meditative if the restaurant wasn't filled with so many guests. The children who were at Ocean that day were enraptured by the glass panels filled with so much life, and many of them were sitting at the panels, mesmerized. I would sit there too, if I wasn't so hungry.
They DID AWAY with the Buttons! What a relief! The buttons were the worst part of my entire first experience, and when I arrived at Ocean, I was actually dreading to see them, but they were gone. Friendly staff greeted me instead, and I must say, it was an amazing difference that was very welcoming.
Instead of showing you the food first, you must take a look at the amazing view that will keep you company throughout your entire meal. This is the very best part of the entire experience at Ocean. Pure bliss, almost meditative if the restaurant wasn't filled with so many guests. The children who were at Ocean that day were enraptured by the glass panels filled with so much life, and many of them were sitting at the panels, mesmerized. I would sit there too, if I wasn't so hungry.
How was the food then? OYSTERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR LUNCH! I was almost tempted to head home, as I was looking forward to having the amazingly fresh oysters paired with a lovely light Yuzu, but I decided to try the set menus which were available for lunch. Portions were tiny but tasty, and don't expect to get full on the lunch set, not even for the 3 course menu. However, that could be a good thing, for most people don't eat too much for lunch anyways. So thumbs up for the food quality and taste!
I ordered a 2 course and a 3 course set lunch, as remembering the large ala carte portions the last time I came, I thought it would be better to order just one dessert so we can do justice to it. The 2 course is $42++ and the 3 course $55++. I wondered why it was $13 more for the 3 course with dessert though, as the ala carte were $14 and $15 only, and in a much larger portion. ( You "save" $1 or $2 with the set, but get a smaller portion, so you don't actually save - ordering ala carte may be better for the hungry people out there. )
Here's a quick photo comparison...order ala carte for this dish, it is more worthwhile.
Here's a quick photo comparison...order ala carte for this dish, it is more worthwhile.
Starters
Talking about taste, the Sous Vide 48°C King Salmon with Sustainable Caviar & Prosecco Pear Crushed Almond, Vine Tomato Jelly & Garden Cress is still a clear winner, and the black pearls of the sea erupts so elegantly in your mouth, lending such a beautiful salty flavour to the smoked salmon that you will forgive the tiny portion it comes in.
Photo comparison of Ala Carte and Set Lunch Portions
 Sous Vide 48°C King Salmon with Sustainable Caviar & Prosecco Pear Crushed Almond, Vine Tomato Jelly & Garden Cress $26 This is what I got the first time ordering ala carte. The portion is much larger, and the pear was whole. I would suggest to order ala carte instead of the set lunch if you like feeling full after a meal. Portion wise, this was alot more satisfying, even as an starter. |  Sous Vide 48°C King Salmon with Sustainable Caviar & Prosecco Pear Crushed Almond, Vine Tomato Jelly & Garden Cress $26 This is what I got today, you can see that it is alot smaller, even the pear was halved. Less Caviar, less salmon too. This set lunch portion is definitely leaves you wanting more. The main course portion isn't very much bigger either, so even with the 3 course meal with a dessert, you are still hungering for more. |
The other starter I ordered was the Venus Clam chowder. Portion-wise, it was a full soup portion, and the presentation was lovely. First you get to see all the clams and ingredients, then a teapot appears and soup is poured out of it like magic. I've taken all three photos, so you will get the full magical experience. The soup was a tad bit too salty though, and frankly, I've had better clam chowder with more clams at this price.
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Main Courses
 Coq Au Vin Asia $38 This is the really tasty chicken that reminds me a little of chinese chicken in a claypot. I think it could be the spring onion that did it. Everytime I see spring onion, I think of chinese food. Very flavourful, think of claypot chicken and you would get a mouthful of this chicken in your head. |  The main course sat looking rather unflattering in the middle of brown sauce, and the buttered rice that came along with it didn't look fantastic either. HOWEVER, this was really yummy and we couldn't get enough of it. The chicken was unbelievably tender, and the roast shitake in the sauce was not overpowering. It lent a little earthiness to this amazing chicken that reminds you of chinese cooking, and it went very well with the very western buttered rice. The rice, though buttered, with still tasty with singular grains looking very happy with themselves. |
Pan Seared Red Drum $45
Again, I had a problem with their portions. This red drum was at the very most 100g, the carbohydrate on the plate was a smear and the corn was a couple of nibblets.
However, when you start eating, you can't help but be impressed that the corn was plucked out from the cob ( you get a few that a clumped together ), the asparagus was very fragrant and sweet and the Nori mashed potato tasted like they overmashed it slightly, but that meant that the mashed potato was definitely not from a powder. You feel impressed by the effort that went into the making of the sides, and thankfully, unlike the description, the corn wasn't charred. The red drum ( the fish ) had a lovely crisp skin and a butter sauce with a spoon of XO ( like it came from the jar of XO sauce ) laid gently on top. The XO sauce didn't quite do anything for the fish, and the fish wasn't particularly memorable, but it wasn't bad either. a tad bit dry, the fish can be given a miss.
Again, I had a problem with their portions. This red drum was at the very most 100g, the carbohydrate on the plate was a smear and the corn was a couple of nibblets.
However, when you start eating, you can't help but be impressed that the corn was plucked out from the cob ( you get a few that a clumped together ), the asparagus was very fragrant and sweet and the Nori mashed potato tasted like they overmashed it slightly, but that meant that the mashed potato was definitely not from a powder. You feel impressed by the effort that went into the making of the sides, and thankfully, unlike the description, the corn wasn't charred. The red drum ( the fish ) had a lovely crisp skin and a butter sauce with a spoon of XO ( like it came from the jar of XO sauce ) laid gently on top. The XO sauce didn't quite do anything for the fish, and the fish wasn't particularly memorable, but it wasn't bad either. a tad bit dry, the fish can be given a miss.
Red Berries Tiramisu $15++
Saving Ocean, the lovely end of the meal. I ordered the red berries "Tiramisu" and it was fantastic. The dark chocolate shards gave the Tiramisu the contrast it needed, and the white outer layer is actually flakes of white chocolate. I enjoyed this dessert so much that I only remembered to show what was inside after I've almost polished off the entire plate. This is a winner! Perhaps I would just order this together with a coffee and enjoy the view with a book. That would make a perfect afternoon!
Saving Ocean, the lovely end of the meal. I ordered the red berries "Tiramisu" and it was fantastic. The dark chocolate shards gave the Tiramisu the contrast it needed, and the white outer layer is actually flakes of white chocolate. I enjoyed this dessert so much that I only remembered to show what was inside after I've almost polished off the entire plate. This is a winner! Perhaps I would just order this together with a coffee and enjoy the view with a book. That would make a perfect afternoon!
Perhaps it was my choice of main course, perhaps I should have listened to the waiter. The waiter had strongly suggested that I took either the beef or the lamb, but my guest doesn't eat either, so I was left with Chicken and Fish.
Would I go back to Ocean again if I didn't have a voucher? I doubt it, as food and portion wise, it wasn't really impressive. Would I come back again if I had another voucher? Yes for sure, but I would only order ala carte from now on, and I would only come for Dinner, as the choices for lunch are very limited, and I really really really like the oysters at Ocean.
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