Aura occupied a unit on the fifth as the restaurant while directly above its restaurant, on the 6th is the sky lounge. I thought it could be a great place for brunch with my mom on a Sunday. I tried making a reservation via the website twice but failed as it requires 24 hours lead time to reply. As such, on my second failed attempt, I decided to take the risk and walk-in early. Indeed, either go early, as early as 12 pm when it opens or make sure a reservation is made when after 1 pm.
Both the restaurant and the sky lounge offer different dinning experience with unsimilar ambience. The feel of the restaurant is more slanted towards the fine dinning arena while the sky lounge offers an elegant, relaxed but yet casual dinning atmosphere. A reservation with tables next to the glass at the sky lounge would be a perfect dinning experience.
Sky Lounge
On weekdays, at the sky lounge, it offers Salad Buffet of roasted vegetables, salads and homemade breads.
When weekends arrived, an Ala Carte Menu is offered instead. With as much as 12 selections, ranging from eggs, salad, sandwiches to pasta and sweets.
Restaurant
Over at the Aura Restaurant, on weekends, the Brunch Menu were available. On weekdays, the Brunch Menu is replace with either 3-course Set Lunch Menu or 4-course Set Dinner Menu. The Ala Carte Menu is available daily.
After browsing through, I thought the Brunch Menu was a good way to try out as many food at Aura as possible. It is priced at $48 per person for food only. If diners prefer to have free flow of Prosecco and Bellini, it is priced at $98 per person.
Swiftly the complimentary Focaccia bread was served once order was completed.
As at this point of time, the restaurant was at only 20% filled, very soon, our 2 pasta as appetizers were served. Mom and I couldn’t decide which to try first. Anyway, we decided to start with Stracci with Duck Ragu which we were mesmerized by its taste immediately.
Next, was the Trofie with Truffle Pesto and Prawns. This isn’t for my mom at all. She tried and never turned to it for more. I was neutral though not exactly enjoying it. This surely isn’t for everyone due to the strong aroma from both the truffle and pesto resulting in some kind of acquired pungent flavour. Nonetheless, we felt the Stracci and Troffie (pasta) were well made; smooth and soft to the chew.
Next, the Parma Ham with Musk Melon and Stracciatella & Tomato Bruschetta (on the left of the photo below) and Salt & Paprika Calamari and Crab Crostini were all served at the same time.
Nothing extremely outstanding about these 4 appetisers. But certainly a mention of the soft to the chew calamari is worth highlighting.
Over to the Mains, 3 choices were available with Sirloin with Asparagus and Red Wine Sauce and Hokkaido Scallops with Porcini and Beetroot as our order. The third which we didn’t choose was Black Cod with Tomato and Herb Crust.
Luckily, I agreed to Medium Rare for the Sirloin with Asparagus and Red Wine Sauce, otherwise, it would prove a challenge for my jaw. My mom doesn’t usually prefer beef actually wanted more after her first small piece.
Hokkaido Scallops with Porcini and Beetroot has good pairing of ingredients. As long as seafood is fresh, it can’t go too wrong.
Since on the menu was 2 desserts; the Bailey’s & Hazelnut Feuillantine and Chestnut Pannacotta with Mandarin Coulis. It made good sense for us to order one each to try. I started with the former. Hazelnut flavour was strong while bailey was far too weak to savour. Moving to the latter, we were surprised by how the citrusy zest of orange could be in perfect harmony with the nuttiness chestnut. I was blown away by this dessert. This may be so as I have no expectation for any Chestnut dessert since I have no good previous experience with them at all.
Coffee and Tea were part of the Brunch Menu. Aura provided some hazelnut for diners to munch while enjoying the coffee and tea. It was thoughtful of them. I have my usual Cappucino while mom has tea. I like the low acidity, full body and nutty cuppa.
NAHMJ Verdict
Aura Restaurant has a classy dinning environment though it gets noisy when the restaurant was at 80% capacity. The service staff that attended our table was warm, chatty and certainly professional; introducing us the menu and making recommendation to us to help the decision process. Coming to food, we felt they were fresh. Most of which leaned towards our preference except for the more adventurous Triofe with Truffle Pesto and Prawns.
NAHMJ would recommend the Sirloin with Asparagus and Red Wine Sauce with doneness Medium Rare and Chestnut Pannacotta with Mandarin Coulis.
Aura
1 St Andrews Road, 05-03 AND 06-02 National Gallery Singapore, Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 6866 1977
Website: http://www.aura.sg/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/aura.nationalgallery
Menu: http://www.aura.sg/aura#vbid-39112-rug5zbvbfa
Opening Hours
Restaurant
Lunch – Daily 1200 to 1500
Dinner – Daily 1830 to 2230
Sky Lounge
Daily 1130 to 010
Getting There
By MRT:
- East West or North South line – City Hall station
By Bus:
- alight at National Gallery Singapore along Parliament Place 195, 961
- alight opp The Treasury along North Bridge Road 51, 61, 63, 80, 124, 145, 166, 174 , 174e, 197, 851, 961
- alight at Victoria Concert Hall along Fullerton Road 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 167
- alight opp Singapore Cricket Club along Connaught Road 75. 100, 107, 130, 131, 167
Rating: 7.5/10
