Considering the number of fine wine bottles sitting in the pigeon holes at The Cellar Door, it would be unadvisable to “barge right in” to the restaurant. An equivalent would be to settle down upon their arm-chairs and simply dine alfresco with a glass of wine. With direct imports from New Zealand 's top vineyards, Australian cuisine is taken up a notch when accompanied with a glass of smooth wine.

• The Vibe
  Decked out in an array of wooden shelves, bar-top and dining furniture in hues of rustic brown, The Cellar Door is reminiscence of old English cottage-style dining. Take your pick from an assortment of arm chairs, plaid upholstery or alfresco-style garden chairs – each setting creates a different dining experience ranging from casual and relaxing, to warm and comforting. Oil paintings are juxtaposed with large chalkboards, conjuring a laid-back atmosphere without any form of pretence.

• The Food
  It isn't just about good food at The Cellar Door; a glass of wine must be matched with its main course to enhance the palate and soothe it in velvety liquid. Entrées include a Salad of Oven Dried Tomatoes with Grilled Zucchini, Goat's Cheese and Balsamic Dressing ($14) as well as Smoked Salmon Mille Feuille with Rocket and Herbed Sour Cream ($15). The tomatoes are as fresh as hand-picked from the garden with a juicy and sweet taste in them. The goat's cheese added a slightly sour and jarring note to the fresh tomatoes and probably requires an acquired taste to fully appreciate it. The smoked salmon is a good alternative – tantalizing and deliciously salty. Thin slices of smoked salmon blended well with its light and crispy puff and this combination, balanced by a herbal infusion of sour cream, simply whets the appetite for more. The starters also bring with them a glass of Sauvignon Blanc ($12), a brew sweet, tangy yet refreshing from its blend of fruits.

  The main courses were a delight. Black Cod baked and served with Fennel, Red Radish, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Herb Dressing on New Potatoes ($28) speaks for itself. Warm, sweet and velvety smooth fish meat has a texture firm enough to chew on yet soft enough to flake off and melt at the back of one's throat. The use of olive oil and herb dressing simply enhances the fresh taste of cod fish, which has no fishy taste to it. On the other hand, meat lovers will swoon over the Venison Tenderloin, Roasted Rare on Kumare Wedges and Dressed with Rich Red Wine. Barely cooked, venison meat is tender in texture such that it is an ultimate delight to chew upon. This air-flown meat from New Zealand readily absorbs the rich and luxurious red wine sauce, which heightens one's taste buds. Delight in something stronger? The Syrah red wine brings out the meaty tones of both venison and wine to settle one's stomach in a very satisfying manner.

  The dessert – Rhubarb and Pear Crumble with Maple Yogurt ($9) took an interesting turn. Sweet maple yoghurt poured into a bowl of crumble foretold of a sweet dessert but on the contrary, the sour blend of fruits and sweet maple syrup left a sour tinge within creamy texture. Both sweet and sour, this dessert is an interesting contradiction of tastes and texture. To finish off the meal, an aromatic glass of Chardonnay dessert wine ($12) will be ultimate indulgence to the palate.

• The Service
  Friendly and youthful service staff will do their best to make patrons feel right at home, be it serving a cup of espresso or an excellent glass of wine, so you are assured of efficient service. This small restaurant allows food and beverages to be served fairly quickly so one does not have to worry about too long a waiting time.

The SD Food Advisor's take on The Cellar Door
The stretch of restaurants along Bukit Timah Road is as promising as they look. The Cellar Door is of no exception, with fine wine and healthy delicious food as well as a relaxed casual setting. Breakfast, brunch and luncheon menu looked as promising as the dinner menu, so it does seem to be a good choice to pay Bukit Timah a visit at any time of the day. Situated a few doors down the passage way is the Cellar Door deli for takeaways to dine in the privacy of your own home. Either way, one can dine in pleasure with fine Antipodean delights.