Pollen @ Gardens By The Bay

The multi-million dollars Gardens by the Bay opened its doors in the middle of this year, and this latest tourist magnet has already attracted visitors from all around the world, including a Thai Princess, a British future King and his wife in recent months. The Garden also attracted someone unusual - Jason Atherton, who is well known as the protegee of Gordon Ramsay in Britain.



After opening the successful tapas bar Esquina, we are here to try out his full fledge restaurant Pollen. Reservations was difficult they are always full on weekends. So reserve early.



Pollen is housed in the Flower Done. There is 2 parts to the restaurant. One is the lower deck where the proper restaurant is. To enter, you will have to come in from the main entrance of Pollen from outside the dome, facing Marina Bay Sands. Alternatively, the other entrance is from within the Flower Dome (which you have to pay to enter).



The bread basket. We are unsure what happened, but the service was very very slow. The staffs were apologetic and explained that a few staff simply didn't come to work on a Sunday morning. Dishes came very slowly, and there was even a mix up of the desserts.



We ordered 2 Lunch sets (S$55 per person) and a ala-carte to share.



To be frank, there is nothing "garden" about the restaurant. The whole place looks just like an ordinary restaurant, except for that small green space near the entrance. We think the upper deck (where a small Pollen cafe is) is a much better place.



The sour dough was really tasty. Love the texture and aroma. Olives were good too



Firs from the set lunch was the Slow cooked egg, chorizo, patatas brava. The food was good, and the combination of creamy slow cooked eggs with chorizo was excellent.



For the ala carte appetizer - Scallop carpaccio, cucumber, apple, horseradish snow (S$26). Pretty clean taste there. Although this is Jason Atherton's signature dish, I think there's nothing to shout about.



Petuna ocean trout, beer pickled onions, oyster mayonnaise, smoked aubergine. It's good but I prefer RWS Osia Scott Webster's version



For our mains, we had the Roasted pork belly, broad beans, slow cooked squid, chorizos. Love that pork skin crisp which is hiding behind the roast pork.



Wild mushroom and barley risotto, black trompettes and smoked almonds. Nice texture



(From left) Just Peachy (S$13) - white peach purée, fresh lemon juice, iced breakfast tea and fresh mint. 3 Piece Sweet (S$12) - watermelon juice, crushed cucumber, almond and rosewater syrup



We had a mixup on the dessert. In the end, waited for a long time before our desserts were served. Beetroot sorbet, hibiscus compressed apple, salted milk chocolate



Coconut mousse, rhubarb broth, goat cheese ice cream. This is a very beautiful dessert, and I think is one of their signature dessert.



A parting shot in the flower dome (admission fees to the flower dome applies). Hopefully, Pollen is able to resolve the issue with their service staffs. Some are really clueless to what is happening, like the orders and timing of the dishes. If they can improve on their service, I think they will be among the top few in Singapore.


Pollen
18 Marina Gardens Drive,
#01-09
Flower Dome,
Gardens By The Bay