Opened fairly recently in November 2007, Port Bar & Grill looks set to take on the very fickle Singaporean tastebud, offering an extensive selection of both Continental and Asian delights. Located on Duxton Road in the Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area, a district famed for its notorious history, the restaurant seeks to provide patrons of nearby watering holes prime bites in a comfortable and laidback environment.

• The Vibe
  Housed in a refurbished shophouse, an illusion of space is created with dark timber beams running across the high ceiling. The monotony of the dining area is broken with a small and simple show kitchen dividing the space into two sections. The décor, despite the lack of a theme, is tasteful and emphasizes more on comfort than style.

• The Food
  A unique aspect of the menu here at Port Bar & Grill is that they offer Continental favourites all day till 10pm and whip up Asian delights from 6pm till 4am, perfect for the pub-crawler or the stressed out professional pulling an all-nighter. The restaurant certainly seems to be the perfect choice should one be clueless about what to have for dinner.

  The SD team started off the meal with their Cream of Mushroom Soup ($9.80) and Garden Green Salad ($6.80). Made with mushrooms, garlic, onions and herbs in a savoury chicken stock, the soup was a perfect start with its chunky and creamy texture. Its smoky flavour was quite addictive but it was a little pricey indeed. The salad was a mix of fresh greens topped with cherry tomatoes, onions, black olives and dressed with refreshing vinaigrette. The sliced onion was a nice touch as it added a sweet crunch to the salad. It could use another mix of greens though, more leafy alternatives on top of the universal lettuce.

  For the main course, the Grilled Yorkshire Pork Rack ($20.80) came highly recommended. Boasting Australian 100% grain-fed pork, the thick portion of meat did look a little dry and tough, but it was tender and moist to the bite. The meat goes well with the appetizing sherry prune sauce, though I could not distinguish the sherry or the prune. The novel sweet potato mash was a little dry, as the root vegetable normally is, and uncomfortably sweet as part of a main course. The pan-tossed vegetables were a visual delight, with the bright yellow of summer squash and the striking green of the leafy vegetables and sliced zucchini. These were, however, chosen more for presentation than for their taste or texture, which did not appeal to me at all. While the pork rack was good, the Grilled Rack of Lamb ($17.80) with red wine sauce is a definite must-try. Served medium-rare, the generous portion of lamb was tender and juicy, with flavours sealed in by the grilling process. Pan-tossed vegetables and mashed potatoes were served together with the lamb, with the delectable mash being slightly chunky and peppery.

  End your meal with some of their Brownie ($4.80); served with dried fruits, grapes and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. The pairing of flavours is faultless, but the brownie could be better if served warm as it was a little hard.

  If you are craving for tastes closer to home, Port's Asian supper menu should do just the trick. Try the Soy Sauce Steamed Fish ($25.80) and the Butter Prawns ($17.80), both bound to satisfy your craving. While the former was a little ordinary, with a lackluster sauce that could have been tangier, the addition of charred garlic added fragrance to the dish. Personally, I preferred the prawns to the fish as it did seem more value-for-money with the portion served and the size of the prawns. Large and fresh, they were crunchy and sweet, complemented well by the savoury butter trimmings. Laced with spicy chilli padi and curry leaves, the overall dish was quite enjoyable, especially for those who like it spicy.

• The Service
  While service did come across a little hostile initially, we soon warmed up to the hospitality of the chef and the staff who attended to our every need.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Port Bar & Grill
Even though the restaurant is probably not one you would go out of your way to visit, its convenient location and late hours make it the perfect stop for people out drinking in the vicinity. There are indeed gems within the menu, such as the Rack of Lamb and Butter Prawns, which justify at least a visit, especially if you are in the area.