Culinary Mastermind Sean Connolly Redefines The New York Steakhouse Dining Experience At Cygnet

CONTENT: Michelle Ng

Cygnet describes themselves as fire dining on their website, harking juicy fresh cuts fresh off the flames as a neo-classic bar and grill. Helmed by Chef Sean Connolly, the restaurant is located on the first floor of QT Singapore in the heart of the city and is inspired by electrifying energy of a Manhattan steakhouse.

Chef Connolly’s decades of culinary experience comes to his life in his dishes, which are an exciting journey on the senses, yet not too over the top so that the food and the ingredients speak for themselves. While Connolly prides himself on tradition instead of trendy, he manages to find the perfect balance between comfort and creativity to keep us hooked onto the next dish.

Every meal has to kick off with the Devilled Eggs, which is served in the most adorable cygnet leg that pay homage to the restaurant’s namesake. The eggs are topped with caviar, a subtle yet indulgent touch that is a burst of flavour. Another must-try is none other than the Table side steak tartare – you can tell a lot about a restaurant’s menu from their steak tartare because it’s simple to make but hard to perfect. And the steak tartare is mixed right next to your table to show that there’s no special ingredient, only quality steak and a light hand to mix everything together!

If you enjoy seafood, they also serve up huge and juicy Ocean Shelf Oysters, which are fresh and creamy with a touch of mignonette and lemon. The Ricotta gnocchi somehow managed to delight us, with a cheesy gnocchi paired with what the men describes as an orgy of mushrooms. The earthy mix of mushrooms and garnish carefully balances out the seemingly rich dish, and did not at any point felt too much.

Gather your friends and families if you want to order the T-bone steak, a humongous hunk of meat char-grilled and cut up next to your table. The Stone Axe steak is a mixed Wagyu x Angus cross breed, and has two different cuts for you to enjoy – a marbled, fattier cut that oozes juice upon every bite, or the leaner meat that pairs well with a black pepper sauce. For sides, select from a selection of equally rich yet whetting options like Smoked Mash, Honeycomb mac and cheese, heirloom tomatoes and creamed spinach.

While the bites are the highlight of our time at Cygnet, order a cocktail to complement your meal. Aside from the usual classic cocktails like the Manhattan, the bar also has specialty cocktails that also show off the creative energy of the restaurant. The Naked and Amazing is a smoky Mezcal cocktail with melon rose, or go for Just Kids, a sweet cocktail inspired by the apple crumble dessert.

Not forgetting about dessert, make sure to keep space for their freshly baked Madeleines, that are bake upon order and come in lemony bites that disappeared within five minutes of arriving on the table. The New York Cheesecake is a creamy cheesecake with raspberry sauces to end the meal on a sweet note, while the Strawberry romanoff will end the night on a sweet and boozy note.

Cygnet by Sean Connolly is located at QT Singapore, 35 Robinson Road, Singapore 068898