Foundry Table: New Mediterranean-European concept in Bugis has lunch sets from S$15

There’s a lot of talk about hidden gems and what constitutes one, and really, the definition is highly subjective since everyone has differing exposure to experiences and places.

But we think this unassuming Mediterranean-European restaurant at Oakwood Bencoolen is one of those, thanks to its S$15 lunch sets right in the heart of town.

Launched by Manna Concepts — the group behind White Tiffin, Manna Pot Catering, and Cafe Manna — The Foundry Table is a labour of love by husband-and-wife team Alson Tan, 31, and Bettina Tan, 32, both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, Singapore.

Bettina’s mother Linda Quek founded Manna Pot Catering, while her sister Belicia Tan, 34, serves as Manna Concepts’ chief commercial officer.

Opened earlier this year, The Foundry Table is quite different from the group’s previous, predominantly Asian concepts.

Bettina and Alson had developed a love for Mediterranean and Italian cuisines, during their time in kitchens across San Francisco, drawn to their ingredient-driven, soulful approach. 

When the couple returned to Singapore, they wanted to bring that style of cooking to local diners through The Foundry Table. 

Still, the family doesn’t see the restaurant as straying from Manna Concepts’ roots. Instead, they see The Foundry Table as an extension of the group’s philosophy to “create dishes that delight the palate and bring people together”.

A quick look at Foundry Table’s space 

Given its Mediterranean-European inspiration, you’d expect a warm, rustic dining room. Instead, The Foundry Table is surprisingly understated, tucked inside the lobby of Oakwood Bencoolen hotel.

In fact, it’s easy to walk past without noticing it.

It’s practical — after all, the restaurant is also the hotel’s breakfast venue — but Belicia tells us that besides its regular dining area, there’s also a more private speakeasy area behind the curtains, beside the bar counter.

Guests can request to be seated at the speakeasy, and order from the regular menu, though this is subject to availability since the space may be booked out for private events. (Exclusive use of the speakeasy, which can accommodate up to 40 guests, starts from S$2,000.)

Value-for-money set lunches starting at S$15

But we think the biggest reason to visit The Foundry Table is its weekday lunch sets, which start from S$15 for a two-course set, and S$18 for a three-course one. Both already look like a bargain on paper, even before the food arrives.

The two-course allows you to choose an appetiser and main, while the three-course comes with an additional dessert of panna cotta or cake of the day. Both sets also come with a free iced tea.

For appetitsers, there’s the heirloom tomato salad, truffle mushroom soup, and lentil stew. 

Available mains include beer-battered fish & chips and linguine puttanesca (a pasta dish with anchovy, olive, and capers), but if you top up just S$5, you can enjoy a decadent braised beef cheek or a crab and tomato pasta. 

We opted for the premium mains, which still come in at just S$20 or S$23, respectively, after the top-up — excellent value considering the quality.

The braised beef cheek is deeply savoury, fork-tender, and tastes like a dish you’d easily pay close to double for elsewhere. (It’s S$36 on its regular menu.)

The crab and tomato pasta, priced at S$32 usually, is lighter than expected — I was anticipating a richer red sauce — but was still satisfying, with plenty of sweet crab meat.

If you happen to be dining with a bigger party and are still feeling peckish, Foundry Table’s signature item, the mezze board (S$36) might just be what you need.

Comprising pita, focaccia, crudites, and falafel, among other sides, with a variety of dips including hummus, tzatziki, and baba ganoush, the board is great for sharing and grazing over drinks. 

If none of the lunch set mains catch your fancy, there are also hearty items such as the tender grilled octopus leg (S$28), with romesco and schug (a milder take on the Middle Eastern hot sauce), and the grilled cod (S$42), with garlic, tomato, white wine, and greens.

The grilled cod (S$42) is among the menu’s pricier dishes, but also one of its strongest. The skin is beautifully crisp, while the flesh remains firm and flaky. Fish isn’t something I’d usually order, but this is one I’d happily return for.

If I’m being entirely honest, aesthetics play a big part in my dining experience, and while The Foundry Table didn’t wow me with its interiors, it won me over where it mattered most: Thoughtful, well-executed dishes at genuinely good value.

It’s one of those places that’s easy to overlook amid the other flashier options nearby, but it’s worth seeking out,— especially if you’re around Bugis or City Hall. 

I know I’ll be back, perhaps this time with a glass of vino alongside lunch (at just a S$6 top-up) to, and hopefully a seat in the speakeasy, too. 

This was a hosted tasting.

For more places to dine around the area, check out fine-dining spot Asin by chef Ace Tan, or Funan Mall, which houses many concepts across various cuisines.