Origin Grill: S$28 steak at the luxurious Shangri-La grillhouse
Steak and grill houses are one of the most popular spots to go for any special occasion. What says “I’m ballin” better than a slab of steak?
That said, the numbers on the menus can often look quite frightening — how often will you shell out S$200 for a steak?
Well, here’s a compromise: Origin Grill at Shangri-La Singapore has a refreshed menu and it has a mighty affordable steak option at S$28.
Origin Grill is a renowned grillhouse known for its sumptuous medley of grilled meats and seafood, and is located in Shangri-La Singapore.
S$28 for a steak there sounds like a great deal, right?
The man behind it is chef de cuisine Simon Bell, who has worked in other prestigious establishments such as Marina Bay Sands, and also headed up stalwart Mediterranean restaurant Fat Prince.
That means you can expect plenty of strong flavours, a respect for ingredients, and great grilling!
Surprising affordability on new menu
Before going into Origin Grill’s new menu proper, we have to first wax lyrical about the complimentary sourdough loaf.
Who says no to free bread — especially of this quality?
As far as sourdough goes, this freshly baked rye bread sports the most immaculate crunch on its exterior, and has a delightful moist chewiness inside.
Spread some of the truffle mushroom or sea salt butter, and you’ll be sent straight to cloud nine.
For appetisers, we thought Origin Grill’s foie gras (S$36) toast was a highlight, too.
Perched on crispy brioche toast, then paired with balsamic vinegar and orange marmalade, this is a surprisingly elegant flavour bomb.
Compared to the gratuitously fatty, and melt-in-mouth foie gras renditions that we usually prefer, this was a lot more balanced with a silky, light texture to the fatty goose liver — but it was still mighty flavourful, and not at all jelak (overly rich).
Another one that really won our hearts over was the sriracha fried prawns (S$19) — Origin Grill is known for its grilled items, but this was superb, too.
Take it as a distant cousin of the wasabi mayo-coated crispy prawns that can be found in many Chinese restaurants.
Firstly, the prawns are immensely fresh, replying with a delectable bounce and snap to each bite, giving a nice textural contrast to the crunchy batter. The sriracha mayo is also so addictive!
But most people would come to Origin Grill for bigger, flashier proteins such as steak, and that’s where the flank steak (S$28 for 200g) comes into play.
Being flank steak, the beef is of a leaner cut, giving it a nice tenderness and juiciness. You can see that it sports the most picturesque medium-rare pink too!
It’s served with hand-cut steak fries, and pairs with condiments such as roasted garlic and a brightly acidic aged port wine jus, for those who enjoy their steak with a bit more pizzazz.
For the price, though, don’t expect mind-blowing steak — it’s of a different quality compared to more opulent — and pricey — cuts on the menu.
Nonetheless, it more than holds its own against similar lean cuts from other popular casual steakhouses in that price range.
If you want some top-drawer beef to satiate your carnivorous instinct, Origin Grill’s menu also offers options such as ribeye (MB4+, S$78 for 300g), and Miyazaki Japanese A5 wagyu striploin (S$58 per 100g).
Beyond the usual grillhouse offerings, we also see Simon’s Mediterranean-cuisine expertise coming through on this new Origin Grill menu.
One rather cool main item is the chicken and chorizo skewers (S$28), which comes with three huge skewers lined end to end with chicken, chorizo, and peppers.
Well-seasoned and succulent chicken, umami chorizo, and juice-leaking peppers make this an easy dish to devour, despite its size.
If you’re someone who cannot end a meal without dessert — we were so stuffed towards the end, though — don’t leave without cutting into the chocolate lava cake (S$14).
Origin Grill’s take on this ubiquitous dessert might be one of the best we’ve had so far: The silky molten 62% Valrhona chocolate is pure bliss, especially when accentuated by the nutty fragrance of the hazelnut gelato.
Honestly, we expected the quality at Origin Grill, but not the affordability.
It’s not cheap cheap, but for a grillhouse in Shangri-La Singapore, where premium offerings — and prices — are to be expected, it’s pretty worthwhile!
This was a hosted tasting.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the ultimate Golden Mile Food Centre food guide, plus the new sweet BBQ McSpicy burgers!
Tue 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
Wed 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
Thu 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sun 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm
- Orchard Boulevard
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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