Nicola Ashe

Food
Chef Kevin Joseph aims to incorporate fresh local ingredients with global appeal, while catering to a clientele that expects refined elegance. Once you’ve settled into your pillowy seat, nibble on a selection from the hors-d'oeuvre trolley while perusing the evening’s menu – this is a dining experience designed to ensure that you enjoy classic Grill Room touches, along with Gueridon service, where servers prepare some menu items tableside.

These could include charcoal-grilled chateaubriand with flamed mushrooms and a rich béarnaise sauce, or a seafood platter featuring a decadent array of shellfish, line fish, calamari and mussels. The highlight is a beautifully simple dish of prawns served with lemon-infused jasmine rice, burnt lime and a spicy habanero-and-coriander sauce, drizzled lavishly with butter.

An array of fish dishes highlights the proximity to the coast and showcases the versatility of this protein – the Earl Grey smoked salmon is infinitely delicate, served with an unctuous truffle risotto, crisp bacon, parmesan tuille and a creamy white wine sauce.

The Oyster Box is renowned for its fine curries and the Journey to India menu features a delicious butter chicken, Natal lamb and Singaporean fish curry served with basmati rice and traditional roti and sambals.

Chicken, duck, game, beef and lamb all feature on the menu too, with delicious accompaniments like minted pea puree, roasted peach-and-honey jus, truffle cream or honey butter – a real triumph of flavours.

If you have space after all that, don’t skip the dessert menu – crêpes Suzette will be flambéed for you tableside with much aplomb, and the vanilla bean and raspberry mousse – which comes with guava gel and sorbet, sugared rose petals and toasted almond dust – is a beautiful end to a wonderful meal.

Drinks
An extensive wine menu is available, as well as an experienced sommelier. This is the place to go if you want a vast array of delicious meal accompaniments. You’re even spoiled for choice with a selection of port, cognac and dessert wine for after your meal.

Service
Tableside silver service from a well-managed team of efficient servers. Your every whim can be catered for.

Ambience
Set inside the grand Oyster Box Hotel, the Grill Room is set smartly as a grand dining room.

Best for…
An extra special occasion or business celebration.

(2018)

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.