5 Best Places for Reunion Dinner

One of the most hustling and bustling periods of the year, where almost every Singaporean Chinese family excitedly puts up the paper scrolls with auspicious greetings around their home, buy their favourite Pineapple Tarts, and, of course, anxiously make phone calls to ensure that they get their reservations at their favourite restaurant for the family’s Reunion Dinner.

Getting that reservation made can sometimes be one of the most difficult things to get done, just because the popular and traditional restaurants are always fully booked around 2 to 3 weeks before the week of the dinners.  The even more popular ones like Li Bai at Sheraton?  Even 3 months before, and you might not even be able to get your booking confirmed!

In this post, let us share with you 5 of our favourite places to go for Chinese dinners (and obviously, with the best credit card promotions!), and we are sure one of them is bound to suit your budget and or taste buds.  After reading this, there need not be more doubting — quick, call the restaurant of your choice to ensure that you get your table!

1. Empress

Located at the recently refurbished Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), Empress should definitely be at the top of your list when thinking of somewhere to go for your Reunion Dinner.  It’s contemporary setting coupled with the beautiful backdrop of the Singapore River at night is bound to be a conversation starter.  Definitely, it’s one of the pricier options on the list at a minimum of $108++ per person for it’s 8 course Prosperity Set Dinner, but it’s definitely value-for-money.  We mean, come on, it starts off with a smoked salmon and silver bait Yu Sheng, preceded by a South African 8-headed abalone, followed by seared Angus beef tenderloin cubes or Kung Pao king prawns, and Lobster E-fu Noodles. What more can you ask for?

Even our mouths are almost watering just thinking about how scrumptious the meal is!  Make your reservations quickly! Empress is notorious for selling out faster than you can say “新年快乐，万事如意，心想事成!”

For more information, please visit http://empress.com.sg 

Details
9 January 2017 onwards
$108++ per pax for the Prosperity Set Dinner (8 course), minimum 6 pax
$128++ for the Abundance Set Dinner (6 course), minimum 2 pax

Address

1 Empress Place, 
#01-03 Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore 179555

Tel: 6776 0777

2. Peony Jade

The Peony Jade at Clarke Quay offers both traditional Szechuan and Cantonese cuisines in the beautiful and traditional restaurant.

Similar to Empress, the 8-course Year-to-year Smooth Sailing “Lou Hei" Set Menu starts off with the Yu Sheng with smoked salmon, Chinese black truffle, crispy silver bait, and champagne jelly.  After the Yu Sheng, the menu offers a choice between double-boiled sharks’ fin soup with fish maw and crabmeat, or boiled consommé with cordyceps, red dates and conpoy.  Thereafter, you are served Chilean sea bass, the restaurant’s signature roasted crispy chicken with Szechuan hot sesame sauce, sautéed king prawns, Kurobata pork ribs, E-fu noodles, before ending off on a sweet note with either the chilled cream of mango, or nian gao with sweet potato.

For more information, please visit https://peonyjade.com.

Credit Card Promotions 

Standard Chartered Bank - 1 dines free with every 3 paying adults for the a la carte buffet.  Plus 15% off a la carte takeaway items, goodies and cookies.

DBS, POSB and UOB - 10% off goodies and cookies

For updates on promotions, download the mobile app Before You Pay from Apple App Store or Google Play Store

Address

Block 3A Clarke Quay, #02-02, Singapore 179020

Tel: 6276 9138


3. Yan 

Located at the recently refurbished National Gallery, Yan serves artfully presented Cantonese classics bound to delight the palates of everyone in your family, young and old.  With 8 set menus to choose from, there’s bound to be something that will tickle your fancy.  Sure, the food is great, ambience is beautiful and absolutely enchanting, and the service incredible, but the only thing that might make the place a little bit of a no-go is the higher pricing for the menus, with the cheapest set menu at $118++ per pax, and the most expensive at $188++ per pax.

But we have to admit, even the $118++ menu, or the 花开富贵宴 sounds like an absolute feast!  It starts off with the traditional Lo Hei, followed by the fish maw broth with dried scallops, crispy roasted chicken, braised abalone with dried oyster and sea moss, and more!  We almost believe that you're getting a bargain out of the price!

For more information, please visit http://www.yan.com.sg

Credit Card Promotions 
Citibank - 15% off Harvest Peng Cai and 10% off CNY Cosy Reunion set menus (up to 6 pax) from Sundays to Thursdays for reservations made before 18th January.

Details
From $118++ per pax menu, 花开富贵宴 (8 course), minimum 4-6 pax;
To $268++ per pax menu, 大吉大利宴 (9 course), minimum 8-10 pax  

Address
1 St. Andrew's Road, #05-02 National Gallery, Singapore 178957

Tel: 6384 5585

4. Yan Ting 

Probably one of the most luxurious options available, and catered perhaps more towards a smaller group, Yan Ting at the St. Regis Singapore is definitely one of the most beautiful restaurants, that serve probably some of the best Chinese food around town.  Obviously, everyone knows that the St. Regis is associated with the highest form of luxury and opulence, and the price tag that comes along with this dining experience definitely tells me that.

It offers both an a la carte menu, as well as a set menu, with the cheapest of the latter at $118++ per pax, and the most expensive at $388++ per pax (per table of 10 pax).  You certainly can't doubt the quality of the food at Yan Ting, and you can be sure you’re definitely paying for top-notch quality when you dine there.

For more information, please visit http://www.yantingrestaurant.com/en/cny2017

Credit Card Promotions
Citibank - 20& off CNY takeaways 
Maybank - 15% off food and beverages
Standard Chartered Bank – 15% off CNY takeaways 

Download Before You Pay  from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to find other great promotions from 20 different banks and institutions.

Details 
From $118++ per pax for the Bountiful 6-course menu for minimum 2 pax;
To $3888++ for the Luxurious 8 course menu for 10 pax. 

Address
29 Tanglin Road, The St. Regis Singapore Level 1U, Singapore 247911  
Tel: 6506 6887


5. Zi Yean Restaurant

For an more affordable option, consider Tze Char restaurants, such as the likes of Zi Yean Restaurant.  Choose from five set menus that start from S$238 for four people.  Signature dishes include Empire Treasure Chicken stuffed with chestnuts and salted egg yolk and boiled with herbs, stir-fried white and brown rice with Chinese sausages and prawns, and hashima cooked in a pumpkin and carrot broth.

But if you do want to have your dinner here at Zi Yean, note that they sell their tables out super fast as well! As of now, they are already more than 50% booked for the eve of Chinese New Year!

For more information, please visit http://www.ziyean.com.sg/web/menu-restaurant.html

Details 

From $238 for a 7 course menu for 4 pax;

To $888 for a 9 course menu for 10 pax

Address

Block 56 Lengkok Bahru, #01-443, Singapore 150056

Tel: 6474 0911

Get access to about 200 Chinese New Year Promotions when you download the mobile app Before You Pay from Apple App Store or Google Play Store where the best deals from all your bank cards can be found for any dining, shopping, leisure, beauty & health, anytime, anywhere!