Crystal Jade Prestige at Marina Bay Link Mall occupies the second-floor premises vacated by Paradise Pavilion. Opened earlier this year at Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC), Crystal Jade Prestige offers contemporary refined Chinese cuisine. Familiar Cantonese dishes, Peking duck and dim sum are in the menu.
The “prestige” in the name Crystal Jade Prestige conjures up image of an exquisite restaurant with sophisticated elegant setting. Our mental image of a prestigious luxurious restaurant was immediately challenged when we found the ground level entrance to Crystal Jade Prestige at MBFC. There was no grand entrance. We found a sign above a small glass door which led to a narrow service lift. The lift took us to the second level where we were greeted by a receptionist dressed in beautiful traditional Chinese dress. From the narrow reception area we were shown to the main dining hall. It was indeed quite elegantly decorated in contemporary style with colourful abstract art pieces adorning the walls. Its full height windows allow a good view of the impressive Marina Bay skyline. The restaurant is quite small and the tables arranged close together.
We were there during the weekend and the restaurant was almost full when we got there just before noon. In fact, as we were leaving the restaurant after our lunch, there was a queue of people waiting to get in.
As the place was small and crowded it was also noisy. Notwithstanding the din, it was difficult not to overhear the conversation at the next table because gaps between tables were very small.
Crystal Jade Prestige has quite an extensive main menu. There is also dim sum menu. Currently there is also a special weekend brunch menu where you get a 10 course brunch for $48; or $88 if you like a free flow of champagne as well. A few pictures of random pages of their menus are below.
We ordered 3 items from the dim sum menu – spring rolls ($5.80), baked BBQ pork pastry ($5.80) and steamed glutinous rice in lotus leaf ($6). We also ordered the pan fried black bean curd with truffle sauce ($8.80) and the black sesame with coconut milk dessert ($6.50) from the main menu. Tea was charged at $3.80 per person and the appetizer was ($4). GST and service charge would be added on top of all that.
The bamboo pith and vegetables spring rolls were good. The deep fried skin was thin and crispy and the filling was tasty. The steamed glutinous rice in lotus leaf was also well done. The rice had a nice consistency – soft but not mushy. The filling of dried scallops, marinated chicken and salted egg yolk was well balanced and flavourful.
The baked BBQ pork pastry (char siew soh) was of the expected “Crystal Jade standard” – well made with the light flaky pastry which was not too oily.
The dish of the day was the pan fried black bean curd in truffle sauce. It was nicely plated – a square of squid ink bean curd coated in breadcrumbs was topped with deep fried mushrooms and drizzled generously with truffle sauce. The mix of textures was interesting. It was aromatic and flavourful.
The sesame with coconut milk dessert looked rather insipid and the taste was quite average.
On the whole the food at Crystal Jade Prestige was good and befitting of a refined dining experience in a modern prestigious Chinese restaurant. Its nicely decorated chic space with a good view of the Marina Bay area would make it a good destination for a business lunch or a family celebration. It should also be a nice place for a dinner date – but we would not recommend it because the close table spacing and the noise level may make the ambience most unromantic. Off course, you can always book the entire restaurant for just you and your date – it is not that big a restaurant afterall!
Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 3
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs
Crystal Jade Prestige
#02-01, Marina Bay Link Mall
8A Marina Boulevard
Singapore 018984
Tel: +65 65099493
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11.30am – 3.00pm; 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.00am – 3.30pm; 6.00pm -10.30pm
Nearby Station: Downtown
The Ordinary Patrons
a Singapore food blog by ordinary people looking for places to eat