Mandarin Court @ Meritus Orchard Hotel

Mandarin Court has replaced Pine Court at Meritus Orchard. Of late, revisits to a couple of places are made on the basis that the chef changes could mean something different and hopefully better.



Meritus Orchard's view is contestable as picturesque. Orchard's view is quite lacking, actually.



Pages of yum.



Pretty table prints.



Chrysanthenum tea, as easy as it is brewing a pot of tea, Mandarin Court's was moderately sweet and fragrant.



Braised peanuts - yum!

Roast Pork ($18)

Thick cubes of roast pork – one glance and I thought it was made for failure with the thick layer of fat. One bite to determine its fate and boy, all pre-conceived notions out of the window. A thin crisp pork cackling meets a fat lady – fat and meat so complementary, the pig died for a good cause. A dip of mustard simply gave this dish the ultimate homerun. Well marinated, well executed…well done!

Fluffy Barbecued Pork Bun ($7.60)

Fluffy pau and savoury filling with the right balance of sweet and salty. Best of all, I wished for seconds.

Oven Baked Fluffy Char Siew Pastry ($5.70)

Unlike char siew pau, this was not served piping hot and the pastry was pasty and lacking in flavour.

Mini Glutinous Rice Parcel in Lotus Leaf ($5.70)

Tea leaf fragrance permits every bite of this dimsum must have. Diced chicken and salted egg are the common ingredients and they pretty much nailed it.

Crystal Shrimp Dumpling, Har Gao ($7.60)

Plump prawns meets translucent skin – juicy and fresh!

Pork and Shrimp Dumpling, Siew Mai ($7.60)

Meaty little one with lots to rave about. Loved the roe scattered on top. Delish much!

Yam Croquette with Seafood ($7.60)

Usually not a fan for its over greasiness and this was just right – crisp, light and the right proportion of yam and meat.

Mini Cod Dumpling ($5.70)

A first for me and cod actually makes a good stuffing for dumplings despite its seemingly flimsier texture than seafood and pork.

Custard Bun ($12)

This had to be the priciest custard bun ever attempted, for its size in particular. Shaped no bigger than a fist, this took longer than required.



Chewy pau skin with an incredible molten egg yolk custard filling – rich and absolutely lava-esque. One of the best? You bet. I would allow the cholesterol levels to rocket just for this.

Service is expectedly attentive and I am wowed. Ever since the mediocre dimsum buffet of Pine Court, revisits have been laid off. A renewed interest in Mandarin Court and its gotten its name back on top.

Mandarin Court
Meritus Orchard