Curry Favor: For the Love of Curry

Reviewed by : Deyana.

With its first outlet in the elegant Stamford House, Curry Favor has now tapped into Singaporeans' second home - shopping centres. A second outlet has just opened in Novena Square, catering to busy businessmen, civil servants and of course, shoppers. Specializing in Japanese curry, the restaurant aims to flatter with the authenticity of the curry. Popular for their reasonable set lunches, deep-fried appetizers and needless to say, the curry, Curry Favor seems to be tapping into a niche market of lovers of Japanese curry.

The only thing that differentiates the Novena Curry Favor from the first outlet is its location. Set in a bustling shopping centre, this restaurant's vibe is more commercial and a little colder. Other than this, the interior of the restaurant is almost identical to the one at Stamford House - elegant brown tables, plain floors and chic red walls that look like they have been splashed with paint accidentally-purposely. The vibe here is distinctively cosmopolitan - it feels like a Japanese restaurant located not in Japan, but in a large city like New York. Jazz music plays in the background, steering the atmosphere of Curry Favor in an even more anglicized direction.

Curry Favor's menu has expanded since its launch some years ago. Unfortunately, though, quantity sometimes compromises quality. The extensive range of appetizers and side orders include the Beef Yaki (Tenderloin) ($12.90), thick cubes of beef that are soft and sweet but a little dry. The Stuffed Mushroom (Prawn & Scallop) ($12.90), a ball of deep fried flour, is filled with shitake mushrooms and bits of prawns and scallop. Unfortunately, it is bland because of the lack of salt, and does not contain quite enough seafood for that price.

The Special Pork Curry ($18.90) is much better option. The pork belly meat of this curry is soaked in rice and then left to ferment, enriching the meat with a tremendous amount of flavour. Soft and substantial, the pork is stewed in thick, sweet curry filled with carrots and potatoes. The dish is also accompanied by a lot of Japanese rice and a side of ginger. Because of the tediousness of preparation, the kitchen cooks only limited amounts of the Special Pork Curry, and is 'by-request-only' dish.

After trying the excellent pork curry, the Seafood Curry ($23.90) turns out somewhat of a disappointment. Comprising prawns and scallops, the curry here is more dilute compared to the pork version, and contains less flavour. Also, there are too many prawns and too few scallops; the worst part is, the prawns are small and not fresh. Hard and not quite sweet the way prawns should be, the abundance of prawns in this dish is not an enticing prospect.

If you are a vegetarian, Curry Favor also offers interesting dining options. Try the Mushroom Curry Udon ($18.90), a very tasty dish filled with different types of mushrooms. The straw, button and other mushrooms in the dish combine well with the curry. Moreover, the udon here is thinner than the usual offering, and does not break off easily despite being soaked in curry. Although a little salty, this curry variation is delectable and the portion is extremely generous.

Japanese desserts are always fascinating, and the ones at Curry Favor are no exception. Sample the Mochi Ice Cream ($3.50), which comes in a variety of flavours, including sesame. Served quaintly in a rice bowl, the scoop of sesame ice cream is surrounded by cherries, oranges and rice dumplings. The very strong, slightly bitter sesame taste of the ice cream goes well with the sweet dumpling. However, the ice cream by itself is a little overwhelming.

Service here is good. The black-clad waitresses blend in with the ambience of the restaurant and are always eager to serve you. Water is topped up regularly, and food arrives promptly.

The standard in the Novena outlet seems slightly below the original in Stamford House. However, if you like Japanese curry, even the Novena outlet is able to satiate your craving better than most Japanese restaurants, since curry is the specialty here.

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