Shashlik Restaurant

I finally get to go to Shashlik Restaurant after hearing so much about it. Tucked away on the 6th floor of Far East Shopping Centre, Shashlik is an institution. An icon which manage to survive to this day. It is quite amazing how the restaurant which supposedly serves Russian food is still around (it has been around for over 40 years or more), especially when so many restaurants have come and go in the last 40 years.

Helmed by Hainanese chefs who learnt how to cook western dishes from other white chefs, they decided to set up their own restaurant. Well known for its borscht soup, steak, shashlik beef, escargots and baked alaska, it has its followers as it is perpetually full. Reservations are recommended for all times.
We shared the borscht soup topped with sour cream which was so yummilicious! The last time I tried borscht soup was way back in the early 90s at the Russian restaurant in Serangoon Gardens and that was so awful I never tried borscht soup anymore, until now. Definitely no regret about ordering this. The sour cream added a new dimension to the soup which was filled with chunks of vegetables and pieces of beef in a tomato based soup. Too bad I already finished the bun else I would dip it in the soup too. The bun reminded me of those you get on SIA but way much softer and was served warm :p
The table decor. The place was oldish, most people described it as being stuck in the 70s. It was basic but filled with a sense of history and charm.
We also shared 1/2 dozen oyster mornay. This was not that great. The oysters were cooked and baked till the sauce browned. Would have tried the escargots if I knew that was the specialty. All I knew was the soup and steak :p
We asked the waitress for recommendations and she recommended the Shashlik beef which was beef fillet served on a skewer. The other option was the steak with mushroom sauce which we decided to get. The steak was medium rare and it was awesome! I have never tasted such nice steak before. Each bite was tender and was not rubbery or tough at all. Plus for a medium rare steak, it was not bloody. I usually ordered medium well as I didn't like the bloody juice. The meat was pink in the centre but no bloody juice or none that I could see and there was no bloody taste at all. The sides were ok but the highlight was the steak.

I read the other reviews and it seemed like it is also well known for its bad or non-existant service. Hmmm....we went there on a Wednesday night and the service was adequate. While they do not chit chat with you, they certainly do top up the water without us having to ask. And they readily and willingly recommend dishes when asked. In fact, I thought the service was pretty ok. It was not a full house but it was about 80% full. Even then, we were not made to feel like we have to vacate asap once we finished out mains. We didn't get to try the Baked Alaska as they do not serve it on Wednesday and Friday. Bummer. Then again, it will ordering for the sake of ordering. We are not that big a fan of it but it is hard to find Baked Alaska now.

Location:
Shashlik Restaurant

#06-19 Far East Shopping Centre

545 Orchard Road

+65 6732 6401

Daily noon-3pm, 6.30-10.30pm