宴 Yan Restaurant at National Gallery Singapore

Yan Restaurant at National Gallery Singapore is a Cantonese restaurant by the Park Hotel Group. Helmed by Hong Kong-born chef Chan Kung Lai, who was from the Park Palace Restaurant, Yan offers good Cantonese cuisine that is artfully presented. A meal at Yan can be a gratifying feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

Chinese Restaurant Yan at National Art Gallery

Yan Chinese Restaurant at National Art Gallery

Located on the 5th level of the re-modeled City Hall Building which is now a wing of the new National Gallery Singapore, the walk to Yan restaurant can also be an opportunity to admire the beautiful architecture of the National Gallery Singapore. Yan has an elegant modern space. The style of decor is contemporary Chinese. The place is bright and it is easy to feel comfortable and at home at Yan. Brightly coloured space dividers that resembled silk weaving add hues and interest to a neat genteel setting.

Yan offers traditional Cantonese cuisine and their menu is quite comprehensive. Signature dishes include Yan’s Peking Duck, Crispy Roast Suckling Pig and Double-boiled chicken soup served in a young coconut. There is a dim sum menu, a set menu as well as an a la carte menu. Here are a few random pages from their menus.

We ordered a dim sum combination platter ($18), sautéed beef tenderloin cubes ($14), vermicelli in pumpkin sauce ($12) and steamed fresh milk with live prawns and crab meat ($24). Chinese tea was $2 per person.

The dim sum platter was presented on a plate that looked like a warped palette. You could sit there and admire the lovely presentation for some length of time. Each of the 6 dim sum items were quite good taste wise.

The sautéed beef tenderloin cubes were also delightfully presented with asparagus. The beef was cooked with white pepper and tasted very much like a good tender pepper steak. The dish was delicious but the portion was really small.

The vermicelli was braised with fresh crabmeat, bean sprouts and golden pumpkin sauce. It was a light tasty dish with a nice mix of textures. Overall, we like the innovative combination of ingredients for an otherwise simple soup noodle dish.

The steamed fresh milk with live prawns and crab meat dish looked the least interesting but was the most delicious dish. It looked like a thick soup with shredded crab meat, prawns, mushrooms and vegetables. However, the steamed fresh milk had a good custard like consistency and was smooth and soft. The combination of tastes and textures produced a delectable and enjoyable dish.

Chinese food at Singapore National Art Gallery

We enjoyed our lunch at Yan. Good food was beautifully plated. The staff were friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was elegant but causal. There was a friendly comfortable vibe. Above Yan restaurant is a rooftop bar and lounge, called Smoke & Mirrors, which commands a great view of the Padang and the Marina Bay skyline. Besides drinks, it also serves Chinese bar food prepared by Yan. There are therefore many reasons to visit the new National Gallery Singapore. For us, to dine and wine at Yan & Smoke & Mirrors will be a very good reason.