Up To Mischief
The latest food-and-beverage outlet at the Esplanade Mall is also the latest celebrity-owned restaurant in Singapore.
Local actresses Cynthia Koh and Michelle Chong have partnered with former radio DJ Daniel Ong and the people behind Tab, Rookery and Suprette to open Mischief, serving American street food and alcohol.
Americana is not a new concept but the famous faces are an attraction - the restaurant is good for star-spotting.
I recommend going on a Sunday afternoon - the only afternoon when it's open - because it's perfect for a lazy few hours with a bottle of beer by your side (or wine, if you're so inclined, and Mischief has an extensive list of alcohol) and just taking it slow.
The menu, as my lunch partner observed, is very masculine. It is full of meat to go with beer.
But the portions for the starters are quite demure. The prices look friendly on paper but when the dishes were served, they were smaller than I expected.
It seems that Mischief makes up for the scanty portions with the mains -they appeared plus-sized to me.
WHAT: Mischief
WHERE: #01-02 Esplanade Mall
WHEN: 5pm to 1am Mondays to Thursdays, 5pm to 3am Fridays and Saturdays, 11am to 11pm Sundays
CALL: 6532-0481
TNP PHOTOS: YEOH WEE TECK
MEANT FOR TWO
The Tailgate Grill ($53) for two has pork sausages, pork ribs, jerk chicken, ribeyes, potatoes and lemon lime slaw. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and the slaw was exceptional. I just wish it was a bigger portion.
HEARTY AMERICAN
When I think american food, I think of a cheeseburger. The one at mischief, called good ol' cheeseburger ($22), is hardly extraordinary but it is tasty and fills up the stomach. The patty is hearty and juicy, served with a side of well-fried fries.
.
TINY BALLS
The Great Balls of Fire ($14) are meatballs - a tad dry but full-flavoured - with an amazing marinara sauce. The portion is tiny, the individual meatballs ever tinier. But ultimately, the flavour wins.
SALTY WINGS
Mischief Wings ($15) come with a choice of garlic soy sesame glaze, Cola BBQ Sauce or Mischief Hot Sauce. The garlic soy sesame wings were a tad salty, so perhaps we should have taken the server's advice and gone with the hot sauce.
TAKE A BIG BITE
Big Dog Soft Taco ($8) is a taco for one. Choose a filling of Korean BBQ beef, jerk chicken or fried fish. We chose beef. With the way the ingredients complemented each other, you might be tempted to order another.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now