Dining with a view
Do you know there is a fine dining restaurant located on the 55 and 56th floor of ION Orchard?
That would be Salt Grill & Sky Bar, a modern Australian all-day restaurant by celebrity chef-restaurateur Luke Mangan. The restaurant first opened in October 2010 and just undergone a month-long renovation recently.
Salt Grill & Sky Bar
The restaurant has an awesome aerial view of the Orchard Road shopping belt. To get to Salt, proceed to level 4 of ION Orchard and look for the concierge desk. At the rear of the desk you will see a sign for Salt grill & Sky bar. Speak to the receptionist and they will direct you to Salt’s dedicated lift for a ride to the sky.
After the renovation, Salt now presents a refreshed look featuring an added exclusive dining area and a brand new bar, together with a new spring menu unveiled by Executive Chef Mathew Leighton.
Inside the restaurant
Newly-minted as the Executive Chef and just 27 year-old, Chef Leighton has been a longstanding part of celebrity chef Luke Mangan’s culinary brigade, despite his youth. The youngest Executive Chef within the group, Mathew’s last stint prior to joining Salt grill & Sky bar was as Executive Chef at Salt tapas & bar in Singapore.
Garnering valuable experience and consistently honing his craft in both Australia and Singapore, the Sydney native enjoys incorporating multiple cultural influences into his creations. “Modern Australian cuisine is an intersection of influences from cuisines around the world. This international culinary culture informs and inspires much of my cooking,” he shares. In the kitchen, he favours the freshness, seasonality and provenance of the produce and enjoys experimenting with innovative cooking techniques that best bring out the flavours of the ingredients.
Here are some highlights of what’s available on the new menu (note that these are in sampling portions):
Welcome champagne
Bread selection with Luke Mangan olive oil and dukkah (Macadamia, Cashew, Sesame, Cumin, Coriander and Salt)
Amuse bouche – Coconut broth with Sydney spice (Kaffir lime leaves, Lemon myrtle, Turmeric, Ginger, Galangal, Chilli, Garlic and Salt)
Sashimi of kingfish, ginger, eschalot & goats feta – S$33++
Baby vegetables, goats curd, ginger bread crumbs, dried black olives – $31++
‘Glass’ Sydney crab omelette, enoki mushroom & herb salad, miso mustard broth – $33++
Tea smoked quail, almond cream, prunes, grains, grilled shallot, sorrel – $31++
Fresh meat
Sirloin Rangers Valley, New South Wales, 300 days grain fed, Moroccan spice, sauté spinach, eggplant puree, red wine sauce – $74++
Sauce for the steak
Luke’s liquorice parfait, lime – $18++
Grasshopper | Creme de menthe, creme de cacao white, milk, $18++ and Chocolatini | Vodka, white chocolate sauce, green apple syrup, creme de cacao white, $15 ++ (Price for the day), $18 ++ (Regular Price)
I like modern Australian cuisine. During my last few trips to Sydney, I really enjoyed the food there. It is hard to describe what constitutes modern Australian, but it appears a bit of east-meets-west, fusion, with a slant on the western side. There is a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and natural flavours which I really like.
Chef Leighton’s creations were able to bring out these qualities and I had a really great meal at Salt. Not to mention, the breathtaking view and classy ambient.
The windows are peppered with interesting quotes like this
Another quote – stay optimistic!
For its new look, Salt grill and Sky bar worked with award-winning interior design company designphase dba. Perched on the 56th floor is a new private dining area that offers an intimate alcove for utmost privacy for diners seeking greater exclusivity, with unobstructed views overlooking Orchard Road and even stretching out to Marina Bay Sands and the CBD skyline.
The new private dining area
View of Orchard from Salt
View from another position
The main dining room also boasts a swanky new bar on a mezzanine floor that serves up tipples unique to Salt Grill and Sky Bar, complementing the warm tones and mood-enhancing light sculptures that have been introduced to the restaurant’s new interiors.
The new bar
Apart from their a la carte menu, Salt also offers Lunch Set Menus for the working crowd and a Degustation Menu for more discerning diners:
Lunch Set Menus, available on weekdays from 11am to 2pm
Perfect for corporate diners seeking to impress clients, the lunch set menus at Salt grill & Sky bar provide a convenient, fuss-free option. Ranging from $45++ to $80++ per person, diners can enjoy toothsome creations from the regular Lunch Set Menu, or go for gold with the Executive Lunch Set Menu. These menus allow much flexibility with the choice to make it a two- or three-course meal from an array of entrées, main courses and desserts. Both set menus are updated with new dishes each month, ensuring an exciting taste experience each time.
Degustation Menu, available daily for lunch and dinner
Tailored exclusively for diners who want to take their dining experience to a whole new level, the 4-course Supreme degustation menu ($98++ per person) is exclusively available for dinner only at the new private dining area. For an added touch of luxe, go for the 6-course Premium Menu ($150++ per person), with a vegetarian option also available for order. With a backdrop overlooking the iconic Marina Bay Sands, diners can enjoy an uninterrupted romantic date while the restaurant takes care of the rest.
Coffee at the end of the meal
Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #55-01 & #56-01 ION Orchard, 238801
Phone: +65-6592-5118
Operation Hours:
A La Carte
11:00 – 14:00 (Daily)
18:00 – 22:00 (Sun – Thurs)
18:00 – 22:30 (Fri & Sat)
Executive Set Lunch: 11:00 – 14:00 (Weekdays)
Brunch: 11:00 – 14:00 (Sat, Sun & PH)
Afternoon Tea: 14:00 – 18:00 (Daily)
Degustation: 11:00 – 14:00 (Daily)
18:00 – 21:30 (Daily)