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The Singapore Law Gazette

Feeling on Top of the World at LeVeL33

Occupying the top floor of Marina Bay Financial Tower 1, LeVeL33 offers unparalleled views of the beautiful Marina Bay and overlooks some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer, Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands, which explained why the entire restaurant was full, with crowds as diverse as couples on a date, to tourists who were there to enjoy the spectacular views, to the CBD working crowd having business meetings or drinks with co-workers and friends.

The recently renovated and revamped restaurant boasts a classy and contemporary ambience with three distinct spaces to provide different experiences to guests: LeVeL33 Dining Room, LeVeL33 Social, and the Terrace. Guests will be treated to a distinctive, delightful and progressive ContemBrewery cuisine – a contemporary beer-centric menu that incorporates beer brewing elements with the food – at LeVeL33.

The LeVeL33 Dining Room provides a more formal and refined dining experience for guests. The furnishings are plush and comfortable and guests are able to experience a nine-course degustation menu that cleverly integrates beer-brewing elements with each course served. Each course is innovative and melds both Asian and Western influences.

LeVeL33 Terrace and Social, on the other hand, were buzzing with energy on a Wednesday evening. At the Terrace which is a sheltered outdoor space, guests can relax in a casual atmosphere whilst taking in the breath-taking panoramic views and enjoying the evening breeze. Or they can choose to relax indoors at LeVeL33 Social.

Live oyster station

Platter of fresh oysters

My date and I were delighted to visit LeVeL33 on a Wednesday evening. While having a tour of the newly revamped restaurant, we walked past the live oyster station featuring oysters from all over the world. The very generous and attentive staff offered us a platter of fresh oysters and we were treated to the subtleness of French oysters, the sweet creaminess of Canadian oysters, the juicy brininess of Irish oysters and the soft minerally taste of local oysters. We really loved the fresh oysters and we were told that LeVeL33’s Oyster Happy Hour is from 4 to 6pm, and from 10pm onwards, the oysters may be paired with prosecco, champagne and LeVeL33’s special Brut Beer.

We were impressed at the chic and modern design of the revamped restaurant and how the space was designed around an actual working brewery. In fact, LeVeL33 is the tallest urban microbrewery in the world. The floating taps which dispense beer for the guests at the bar counter were specially custom-made and the fermentation tanks behind the bar counter remind guests of the heart of the restaurant – locally brewed fresh beers, brewed according to traditional recipes and perfected by resident brew master, Gabriel Garcia.

‘Oscietra’ caviar chawanmushi

Kingfish Sashimi

My date and I enjoyed a delightful five-course degustation menu at the LeVeL33 Dining Room crafted by executive chef ArChan Chan. Chef Chan gave a quick introduction to the food that we were having that evening and I really admired her personal touch. We started with the “Oscietra” caviar chawanmushi steamed with house made wheat beer dashi. The taste of the smooth egg custard was boosted by the savoury dashi and decadent caviar. Next, we savoured our first entrée of a lager-cured kingfish sashimi served with pickled cucumber, nori, spent grain sand, marinated tapioca sago and tapioca sago chips and doused in fresh cucumber juice. The soft smoothness of the kingfish juxtaposed with the chewy tapioca sago and crunchy tapioca sago chips were in perfect harmony together, producing a flavour and texture symphony in my mouth. This dish left a lasting impression on us. The next entrée was thinly shaved squid noodles served in seafood consommé with blanched coins of asparagus, lager-picked enoki, wakame and peas. The savoury umami seafood consommé was made with a blend of fish bones, scallop, squid, lala clams and chicken stock and was a fantastic accompaniment to the flavour and texture of the squid noodles. This was definitely one of our favourite dishes on the degustation menu.

Squid Noodles

For our mains, I had the aged duck breast while my date had the wagyu beef tri-tip. The French duck breast was brined in five per cent brine and dried. The meat was then marinated in koji paste, rosemary, thyme, garlic and pepper for a week and thereafter, the duck breast was seared on a plancha on low heat until the skin was crisp. It was served with a reduced orange juice glaze that was seasoned with LeVeL33’s IPA. The sweetness of the glaze enhanced the full meatiness of the duck breast and I was thoroughly enthralled with this main. My date was also pleased with the wagyu beef tri-tip which was served with burnt eggplant puree, grilled garlic shoots and a veal jus seasoned with LeVeL33’s housebrewed stout. The beef was juicy and fatty on the inside and the grilled exterior gave the meat a charred texture.

Spent grain chocolate tart

We were treated to three different delectable desserts. First, we had the sheep milk yoghurt served with a dragonfruit and beetroot granite and fresh pomelo pulp. It was light, refreshing, milky and citrusy all at the same time and was a great palate cleanser after the heavier mains. Next, we were served a spent grain chocolate tart paired with stout ganache and strawberry jam. We loved the rich cocoa taste of the tart and the sweetness of the strawberry jam. Finally, we ended our dinner with petit fours which consisted of a lager beer puff, wheat beer biscuit, spent grain brownie with IPA syrup and stout truffle. It definitely concluded our degustation dinner with a buttery sweet ending!

What was unique about the degustation menu was that we were served carefully hand-picked beers brewed fresh at the brewery which complemented our meal perfectly. We tried the LeVeL33 wheat beer, blond lager, IPA, stout and house porter beer. Each of them was exquisite and delicious. Our favourites were the wheat beer which had a fruity flavour and the blond lager which was light and refreshing. The IPA had a mild bittersweet flavour and the house porter was complex with a touch of bitterness. The stout also stood out for its creamy, rich roasted flavour.

Gin and Tonic

We experienced top-notch service at the LeVeL33 Dining Room. The servers were gracious and knowledgeable. The service was efficient, professional yet personable without being obtrusive. We were recommended the gin and tonic made with the LeVeL33 Hopped Dry Gin by Brass Lion to end our lovely evening. The drink was refreshing and piquant – the Citra, a particular type of hop, gave the gin a citrusy and complex flavour.

We look forward to visiting LeVeL33 again in the future!

LeVel33
8 Marina Boulevard
#33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower
Singapore 018981
Tel: +65 68343133

Sidley Austin LLP
Member, Social and Welfare Committee
The Law Society of Singapore