Yi By Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel Singapore

Yi by Jereme Leung

Raffles Hotel

328 N Bridge Rd,

#03-02 Raffles Arcade,

Singapore 188719

Yi by Jereme Leung is one of those restaurants that quietly commands respect. Found within Raffles Hotel Singapore, it merges refinement, authenticity and some beautifully executed chinese food.

Step inside and you are greeted with an intricate latticework of art. Every time we visit, the lady at the front of house always asks if we want a group photo before our meal. She reminds us how beautiful the backdrop is and she is right, we have amazing photos everytime we visit. As you walk into the restaurant, the dining hall is a balance of modern and classic Chinese touches with faint nolstalgic old chinese songs playing in the background.

Before I start talking about the food, I just want to start by saying that service here is outstanding - professional but never stiff. The team moves effortlessly between Mandarin and English, anticipating needs before you request for it. It's clear that they are here to make your visit effortless.

We made a very last minute reservation on the day of, with our visiting guest from overseas. We had walked past Raffles Hotel the day before and our guest had made a remark about the architecture of Raffles Hotel and that's how we ended up at Yi by Jereme Leung.

Our menu for today:

• Homemade pickles

• Barbecued Black Pork and Iberico Pork Char Siew with Pickled Bentong Ginger

• Crispy Fish Skin with Curry Leaves and Salted Egg Yolk

• Golden Roasted Duck with Signature Yunnan Rose Petal Sauce and Fermented Bean Sauce and Pancakes

• House Specialty Egg Custard Bun

• Steamed Siew Mai with Fish Maw and Tangerine Peel

• Crispy Mango and Prawn Rolls

The meal starts off with a small plate of Yi's house made pickled vegetables - bright, tangy and refreshingly appetising. These little bites set a lively tone and every time we visit, we look forward to these starters.

What followed was a duo of char siew, one prepared in classic Cantonese Style, sticky, sweet and perfectly balanced and the other Malaysian-style, deeper in caramelisation with a slightly smoky finish, topped with Bentong Ginger. Both showcased how Chef Leung modernises without diluting our much loved Char Siew dish.

Another highlight on the table was the freshly fried fish skin with curry leaves and salted egg yolk. It is served in a little parmesan wheel looking bowl still warm. It had the perfect crunch and most delightful creamy sauce.

Our dim sums are up next. Each dim sum had its own stand out. The flavours, the execution were all fantastic. We had previously visited and had several other dim sum options and we are happy to say that across the menu, the dim sum dishes were all great.

The half Peking duck is served next, crisp skinned and juicy and served with very different sauces from a traditional peking duck. There were 2 sauces served, one was the signature Yunnan Rose Petal Sauce and the second was a Fermented Bean Sauce. The condiments were also slightly special, apart from the usual cucumber and spring onion, the restaurant serves rock melon as well. Yes, rock melon! it must be a first for us but it was a very delightful mix. We enjoyed experimenting with the different sauces and condiment mix.

Booking

We were able to visit with a same day reservation. The restaurant was not completely full on the Saturday that we visited, which made the experience calm and unhurried.

Accessibility

Located right next to City Hall MRT, Yi by Jereme Leung is easily accessible. It is the perfect spot to get your dim sum fix before exploring the courtyards and the gorgeous architecture of Raffles Hotel.

The Damage

We were sent a reminder by Mastercard Concierge about a 15 % off promotion currently running for World Elite card members. When the question of the 15 % discount arose at the restaurant, the staff couldn't immediately confirm the program but chose to honour it anyway - a small gesture that spoke volumes about integrity and hospitality. The final bill for three came to $186 SGD with the discount, which is remarkable value and the goodwill gesture only added to the experience.

Would We Recommend?

Absolutely! Yi by Jereme Leung pairs artful cooking with finesse. There is some modern touches but the food still feels comforting and tastes exquisite. More importantly, the staff is extremely hospitable. For anyone seeking a polished yet soulful dim sum experience, Yi by Jereme Leung should be on your list.