A Review of Kotuwa, Singapore: New Home At New Bahru
- Ava Lyn
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Kotuwa
46 Kim Yam Road, #01-03
Singapore 239351
Another one of Chef Rishi Naleendra - this time it is all out Sri Lankan. We first went to Kotuwa when it was at the Wanderlust Hotel at Dickson Road. The chaos to get a parking and finally get to the restaurant was something I felt like was part of the entire experience. We had been there maybe another 3 or 4 times after. Now we revisit Kotuwa after it has moved to its new home in New Bahru as part of Citi Prestige Haute Dining.
Kotuwa at Dickson Road was true to its roots. Amazingly flavoured food, way too spicy for the average Singaporean. But every Sri Lankan I had met had told me it was the closest you can get to authentic upscale Sri Lankan food. And it did taste like that too.
New Bahru Kotuwa I would say is the more gentrified version. The food is tuned down to fit the palates of it's guests. We didn't have to even ask for anything to be less spicy. For some reason, we thought it lost a little of its charm. Back at Dickson Road, you'd be jugging down cocktails as your pile on the sides on your hoppers and then realising your cocktails had spice in it too. The fiery food and the intensely flavoured sides that made Kotuwa so charming and special has become somewhat of a diluted sensory experience. If you are after an authentic Sri Lankan meal, you'd have to look elsewhere. But before you exit the page and say maybe another restaurant then, New Bahru Kotuwa has its merits, a place of gather, an exposure to a cuisine we wouldn't otherwise and just amazing vibes overall.
As part of Citi Prestige Haute Dining, we had:
Crab Cutlet - Sri Lankan Style Croquette with Spiced Crab Meat Brandade
Mutton Rolls - Panko Crumbed Spiced Mutton Rolls
Crab Curry
Devilled Lingus - Stir Fried Sri Lankan Pork Sausage with Dried Chilli
Kaju Curry - Cashew Nut and Green Peas Cooked in an Aromatic Coconut Gravy
Wattaka Kalu Pol - Butternut Squash Cooked in Blackened Coconut Gravy
Side #1 Dahl - Red Lentils Tempered with Black Mustard
Side #2 Salade - Tomato, Cucumber and Bitter Gourd Salad with Fermented Green Chilli Dressing
Side #3 Pol Sambol - Fresh Shredded Coconut with Chilli and Lime
Side #4 Seeni Sambol - Spiced Caramelised Onion with Tamarind
Side #5 Wambatu Moju - Sri Lankan Spiced Eggplant Pickled in Coconut Vinegar
White Rice and Hoppers
Watalappam Tart - Coconut Custard with Jaggery, Candied Orange and Spices
Booking
At the time of writing, there is still availability of tables a week out. So if you have flexibility in your schedule, it does not seem too difficult to find a slot. However, we still highly recommend making your bookings as soon as you have your itinerary confirmed to prevent disappointments.
Accessibility
Located at New Bahru, the easiest way is probably to grab or take the free shuttles from Somerset or Fort Canning. For more information, visit the New Bahru Website for information:
The Damage
Total Damage for the night was 189 SGD (tax inclusive) which was exceptional value, remembering that we are dining as part of the Citi Prestige Haute Dining. As full paying guests, expect this meal to set you back 155 SGD ++ per pax for the menu above.
Would we recommend?
Maybe. The team is fun, the place is vibrant, the food is different and overall, we enjoyed it. On saying that, we know what Kotuwa used to be and a big part of us missed that. So hopefully as Kotuwa grows and embraces its new position in New Bahru, it finds the delicate balance between presenting Sri Lankan unabashedly yet catering to its customer's needs. Hopefully the next time we visit, we are surprised!