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Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
MICHELIN
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Ratings and reviews
4.0
Travellers' Choice 2024
MICHELIN
View more on MICHELIN GuideRATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Asian, Fusion, Singaporean, Vegetarian friendly
“Amazing Peranakan Fusion Experience, Excellent Service!!”
“... kueh pie tee was elevated with crab meat, but i still find the original w...”
“As for the food, the highlight was the corn and mizuna salad, delicious and r...”
“... if I have to choose, the chicken and crab broth soup and the fried fish.”
MICHELIN Guide's Point of View
The high ceiling makes the dining room feel open and spacious, while bamboo lampshades and rattan chair add a sense of serenity. Influenced by his moth...
Read more on MICHELIN GuideOne MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
Is this a Chinese restaurant?
Details
About
The restaurant serves up refined Peranakan cuisine that preserves the essence and complexities of traditional food, with astute twists that lift the often rich dishes to a different level. Helmed by chef Malcolm Lee, Candlenut is committed to continually create inspired and elevated Peranakan dishes using the freshest seasonal produce available.
CUISINES
Asian, Fusion, Singaporean, Nonya/Malaysian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.0
690 reviews
Excellent
331
Very good
206
Average
100
Poor
30
Terrible
23
John N
Sydney973 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Most of the dishes were finely wrought & excellently achieved,refined versions of familiar regional cooking.
But being bought my (over-priced) $15 Torres sav blanc wine by the glass direct from “somewhere” already poured into a glass (!) Michelin service it certainly was not!
In fact table service throughout the whole dinner was way below par..& charging $3 for a minuscule blob of belacan condiment along with $5.40 (?) for 3 serves of plain rice represents price gouging opportunism.
Only 6 out of &I 10 points I’m afraid .
Overpriced attempted refinement. Management can surely do better to justify both their status & their prices.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chong A
Singapore937 contributions
Mar 2020 • couples
You can imagine , they take an old barrack and transform it to a up market restaurant but the deco is cheap. The restaurant is promoted as Peranakan but it more fusion and lack authenticity. The herbs and spices don’t feature and the food lack fragrant. The server tried to introduce each item but his command of the language is mediocre. Poor job.
The placed is frequented by tourists and youngsters. Generally these group of people lack experience with cooking and knowledge of Peranakan food. Conclusion: it is a tourist trap and con job for the youngsters who spent previous money on expensive but food of poorer quality than hawker food. However if they like the mood And are willing to part with their hard earned money so be it! The only item I found outstanding was the lamb neck satay.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
schmidtmg
Switzerland1146 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
Candlenut is located in a gastronomic complex in Dempsey Road and best reached by taxi - there is no MRT station nearby. It is the only Peranakan restaurant with a Michelin star, so you better book well in advance (which we did). Dinner was very nojyable and very good - the only other comparably good Peranakan cuisine dinner I can recall was at Kebaya in Penang. My daughter and I had the Satay Kurobuta and wingbean salad as starters and the swimmer crab curry and beef rendany as well as Sambal Sotong as mains. All very good, especially the swimmer crab curry. All mains were also genenously spiced. I had two local craft beers and my daughter a coconut drink.... service is friendly and attentive.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ML-SG
Singapore1178 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
Overall: 2.5/5
Overall tasty, yet overpriced and the wine pairing for dinner is disappointed.
Location: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Taste: 3/5 ( set dinner dishes too small and all get cold too fast than we can taste it, need a small candle stove to meet the original taste)
Environment: 3/5 ( I consider it same grade as wilehoney)
Price: 2 set dinner with 1 wine pairing@SGD380 all inclusive. ( my Reasonable estimated price to be around SGD280)
Wine pairing for dinner: 1/5
Date: 9 Feb 2020 dinner
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruben
Hamburg5 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
We had ordered the tasting menu in expectation of a great experience. However, to start with, all courses were served extremely quickly after another so that one did not get the feeling of enjoyment but rather to be in a hurry. Then, all the dishes of the main courses were not served fully hot, that in the end of the tasting experience the dishes and the rice was cold (and we were not eating slowly...). About taste one could always argue, but having one Michelin-star we would have expected some more finesse and excitement, considering the price of 128S$.
After informing the service about the afore mentioned experiences, there was no real apologies or acknowledgement in terms of offering a coffee or tea at least. We were just presented the check in full amount... Sorry, one should have another form of complaint management in place in this category of restaurants.
Best regards
Ruben
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris J "Mohawk" Reed
Sentosa Island1169 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
we booked this with high hopes especially as they rang to check our dietary requirements. I'm vegetarian and my wife doesn't take red meat which they were told, we also told them we'd like the tasting menu when they rang.
so it was a bit of a surprise that on arrival the following happened:
1) I asked if we could sit outside which was completely empty bar 2 tables, no they said even though there was no one there and the place was empty (the option to choose wasn't available when booking)
2) we had to check in which is fine but to be told we had to leave the restaurant because StarHub doesn't work inside is quite ridiculous - get it fixed if you know it's a problem
3) despite being empty then they showed us to the worst table in the restaurant at the back next to the kitchen entrance and serving part
4) the atmosphere was terrible, not conducive to any kind of dining
5) we explained that, as per the phone call, we'd like the tasting menu for both of us. they said that they could only do it for the fish eater and even then they couldn't replace the red meat/pork in the tasting menu which was not very friendly or helpful.
I said how am i to match my wife's dishes if I have vegetarian ala carte and my wife has the tasting menu...they said "the chef and kitchen team don't have the resources to create a vegetarian tasting menu". you mean you don't have any vegetables I said sarcastically? they repeated that the chef couldn't do more than a couple of vegetarian dishes.....
that was the final straw, we got up and left as they really didn't listen, couldn't care and really don't deserve your business, they are not customer focused at all
if Jeremy at JAG can create a different menu for every single person every night who comes in that is 8 courses based on the seasonal ingredients why can't another restaurant in Singapore using the same resources?
don't go here if you're vegetarian or you want good service they clearly don't want any custom
Written 24 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JamesLee0031
Tiong Bahru70 contributions
Jul 2020 • family
Food was decent but service was a real let down.
1. Server served rice bowls with thumb in bowls, likely touching rice. Did the same for all 5 bowls.
2. Uninterested attitude from 4 out of 5 staffs that we interacted with.
3. Wanted to order more soup, single personal bowl servings, but was told it’ll take at least 30mins with emphasis that they are serving a FULL HOUSE tonight. So I skipped that and thought nothing much of it until that attitude right after our dinner.
4. Was ok with all above until the bill being shoved to us mid way thru our table conversation, right after dessert on the pretense that one of use asked for the bill, real cheap move. “Eh... someone asked for the bill?!”
5. Staff clearing the table emphasising that he had to prepare for the next seating already.
6. Our reservation time 1845 which we kept accurately to and we had no intention of exceeding our 2hr dining allocation time for party of 5. But being rushed off right after the 90mins mark seriously left a bad taste. Attached my receipts to show time stamps.
7. Wasn’t expecting such service at all for a Michelin star restaurant charging such expensive price. Sorely disappointed. This communal dining experience had turned into a mass canteen dining experience in some cheap tour package.
I’ve definitely had much better experiences elsewhere for places without Michelin stars.
Written 17 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Briandeancox
Ely26 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We were here for a few days and this restaurant was recommended by local Singaporean work colleagues who live in the country. Such is its popularity, the only booking I could get was for 2.30pm on Sunday lunchtime. We arrived a few minutes early and the restaurant was only a third full and most of those tables were vacated within the next half an hour. We finished our meal before 4.00pm by which time the staff was sweeping the floor and keen for us to leave. We felt rushed and did not experience the atmosphere and pleasure that we had expected from this Michelin starred establishment.
We ordered the tasting menu and had very high hopes for the food. Items were bunched together and brought out at the same time which was fine, but again did not generate the atmosphere we had anticipated from a tasting menu. Everything was nicely presented, but not as hot as it could/should have been. Drinks prices were very high. The service was ok if a little obsequious. Basically, it wasn't great fun!
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lotus_kun
Singapore48 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Candlenut Restaurant is the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant belonging to the up-market COMO group of restaurants. Prices are on the expensive side. The set lunch menu was impressive with 4 types of starters , 3 mains, 1 dessert. An add on was just a cup of coffee. The bill for 3 was SGD 213.
1) Three of the starters out of 4 were miniscule . The small bowl of salad appropriate for 1, shared by 3 was good but the 3 pieces of Kuey Pie Tee and another3 piece item, both about the size of a 10 cent coin for each piece were so small that I could hardly savour the taste.
2) The mains, A chicken curry, a pork dish and 1 plate of prawns in sambal sauce , shared by 3, served in smallish dishes were acceptable and tasted good.
3) We were served 1 very small portion of sambal belachan to go with the food. As we were 3 we requested for extra 2 portions. Peranakan food must be served with Belachan.
At payment, my friend made a check of the bill and found that we were charged extra SGD 3 for each portion of sambal belachan ordered. She made a fuss about this as this condiment is usually offered free of charge in restaurants . If this was a chargeable item we should have been informed of the cost when we requested for the extra portions. The sum of SGD 9 was eventually taken off the bill. Diners should be informed up-front, about any extra charges for items usually given free in restaurants . We wondered how many have paid unknowingly without checking.
Written 29 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher B
11 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
Everything was excellently prepared but attention foodies, the Buah Keluak Rice was a food unique in all the world and worth the taxi/Grab ride for that alone. Massively complicated to prepare but if you are lucky enough to be served by Felix he will tell you all of the secrets and processes, like an honored Storyteller. The beef rendang was as intense and rich and magically flavored as the rice was heavenly light. It is expensive.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UniqueGlobeTrotter
Melbourne273 contributions
Jul 2022 • family
I visited Candlenut with my family and young child and found it worthy of its Michelin star.
To start, the customer service was fantastic. The staff were attentive and friendly, especially since we had a young child.
They provided a high chair which I wasn’t expecting at this venue.
The food itself was tasty and had unique flavours which I was expecting of Nonya food.
In addition, the venue had a good array of alcoholic and non alcoholic food.
The price however is on the steep side, so if you are like myself and wanted to have the tasting menu, then it does get pricey.
It is recommended to book a table in advance especially if coming from overseas.
Parking is available on site, however it is possible to get to Candlenut via bus.
Definitely worth coming, but do give yourself at least 2 hours if you’re planning to have the tasting menu
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dyhx
6618 contributions
Nov 2020 • friends
Enjoyable meal, not a fan of Peranakan cuisine usually but a few of the dishes were surprisingly enjoyable.
We took the Tasting Lunch menu where the appetisers and dessert were individually portioned while the mains were served family style.
They also kindly obliged our request and switched the lamb satay to pork since none of us eat lamb. And that was one of my favourite dish of the day. The Fried Mantou with Itek Sioh (braised duck) was lovely too. The Sambal Sotong was my favourite amongst the mains despite being a little too spicy for me.
Was also pleasantly surprised with the complimentary birthday 'cake' that came in the form of Kueh Kosui.
Beautiful plating, classy yet still cosy ambience and excellent service.
Was initially told that we had to return the table at 2pm but weren't chased out eventually.
Written 15 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Troy N
Singapore217 contributions
Jul 2020 • couples
3.5* if I had the option. Good but not very good.
Satay and rendang both tasty. Although I've had better rendang in SGP. Chicken curry was good enough but not amazing, nor was the fish dish we had.
Service was friendly and attentive, which tipped me to 4* rather than 3.
Maybe the tasting menu would light it up a bit more, but too much fish on there. A veggie tasting menu would be a great addition.
Not in a rush to go back.
Written 20 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suchi
Singapore66 contributions
Feb 2021 • family
Let me start with saying, we had our apprehension on peranakan food but this restaurant far exceeded our expectation both in quality and service. We had the tasting menu which was a good choice as we had the opportunity to try several dishes. The starters in appropriate bit size pieces were mind blowing and truly michelin star. The soup and each of the main courses had very distinct mild beautiful flavors (not too strong, spicy or sour - just nice) and cooked to a soft perfection.
Dessert was served well but could be improved but maybe its because I am not a fan of jelly on ice.
Written 13 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dav
7 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
Update - due to a caring team and excellent customer service, we have updated the overall rating, we appreciate it.
We had a pretty weak experience at Candlenut with the least satisfying part being that it was very overpriced and very poor value. We ordered the tasting menu. We sat outside and the service was slow and while our waitress was very nice she had to go get an extra menu and read off the menu to describe the dishes. The chairs outside had low backs and were uncomfortable. The music sounded like hotel lobby smooth jazz and got repetitive and unenjoyable by the end of the meal. We liked the small bite sized starters but all the entrees of the tasting menu were brought out at the same time and were kind of lukewarm, it seemed like they may have been made a while ahead of time. We thought the beef short rib kapitan curry and the Babi assam were just okay, tasted kind of similar, and the flavors did not pop - really none of the entrees tasted great. The cassava kueh dessert was excellent but tiny. The bubur ketan hitam black glutinous rice sorbet dessert dish tasted like watered down oatmeal and was a major miss. We paid $376 for two tasting menus and one drink each and we would have rather gone to a hawker center where we could have paid 10 times less. Perhaps it was an off night but if you are like us and only have a few nights in Singapore unfortunately we would definitely not recommend eating here based off our dinner experience.
Written 18 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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