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I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before on the blog but I have a Singapore restaurant bucket list (that keeps growing longer every month) to make sure I always have a good venue for the next catch-up that I plan with my friends or for a special family meal. Every time I cross off a restaurant, I seem to add two more on it so my restaurant bucket list is a never-ending one 😄

The Dempsey Project had been on my list for quite some time and I'm glad I was able to check it out finally.

The Dempsey Project (TDP) is nestled in the charming heritage barracks of the Dempsey Hills where once nutmeg plantations stood tall. I love going to this part of Singapore and some of my favourite hangout spots are here.

I had scheduled a meet-up with a friend on a weekday afternoon so I was looking forward to stimulating conversation combined with an appetizing lunch.

My first impression when I reached TDP was the relaxed vibe. With a tucked away location, a colonial color palette and interior decor comprised of natural earthy elements, the place instantly beckons you come in, relax and have a good time.

I liked the generous layout, the bright and airy space, the tall ceiling, light fixtures and the communal dining vibe. The ambience of TDP is enhanced by the wicker chairs in the verandah, pops of green from the indoor plants, the rustic wooden tables, mustard chairs and textured concrete flooring.

What caught my eye were the artisanal and hand-picked foods from around the world including locally crafted condiments, exotic jams, single-origin spices, gift-worthy truffles, specialty coffee and fine wines among others.

I didn't buy anything even though I was sorely tempted to because I had to get back to work immediately after lunch. But I have my sights set on a few of the chocolate bars and a cheese board so I'm pretty sure I will be going back (probably with hubby in tow) to pick those up 😀

The bakery section has a range of delectable baked goods from buttery croissants to warm loaves to fluffy scones.

For cheese lovers there is an exhaustive selection of gourmet, award-winning cheeses from different parts of the world as well as vegan cheese selections from homegrown producer, Nut Culture at the Walk-In Cheese Room & Deli. For pairing with the cheese, crackers from Britain’s leading cheesemonger Paxton & Whitfield along with jams and chutneys from Tracklements are available.

TDP offers a menu that spans breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, aperitivo & dinner. There is a 'Day Menu' with International dishes and a selection for every palate. There is a 'Sunset & Beyond Menu' where diners can choose from gourmet plates, feast platters and more.

The menu has an eclectic range of dishes created in collaboration with trailblazing homegrown chef Jeremy Nguee. Local chef Janice Wong brings delicious new ice-cream flavours (Softhaus) and nutritionist Riyana Rupani who is the creator of the ‘Clean-in-15’ program brings healthy recipes. The menu at TDP is inclusive and caters to all dietary preferences including gluten-free, vegetarian, low carb and vegan, dishes without compromising on flavour and nutrition.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how diverse and cosmopolitan the menu was with dishes ranging from the unexpected Ayurvedic khichdi wellness bowl, flavour-packed za'atar poached eggs, heritage classics such as street-style dahi papdi chaat, innovations such as red curry tempeh quesadilla and crowd-pleasers such as chicken schnitzel and fish & chips.

The staff member who served us was very friendly and took our orders promptly.

When we first came in, since we were early, there were not many people but then as lunch hour eased in, more and more people started trickling in and the restaurant was soon filled up. I could tell that this was a popular place with both locals and expats.

These are the beverages and dishes we ordered,

Iced Mocha

Cold, sweet and chocolatey was what my friend felt like having and this drink checked all the boxes.

Thai Virgin

A concoction of apple, kaffir lime and lemongrass. I found this drink delicious, cold & refreshing. Perfect for a hot day (which it perpetually is in Singapore).

Cauliflower Wings

I just knew that this was going to be good when it was set in front of me. Cauliflower is such an unassuming vegetable but if treated right, it can shine and how! The cauliflower wings at TDP were crispy without being oily, packed with flavour with a moreish tart-sweet-spicy glaze. To me, this is what good vegan food is all about.

Highly recommended.

Tofu & Mushroom Gyoza

This dish came with four shiny dumplings. The dumplings had nice shape and texture. When paired with the house sauce, the flavour was there. I really liked the warming hints of ginger.

Mediterranean Mezze Platter

I believed I have earned the right to critique a mezze platter with some authority because I rustle up these platters so frequently at home.

TDP's rendition came with falafel, fattoush, batata harra, ful medames, tahini, muhammara, tzatziki, pita bread and manakeesh.

I really loved the soft and fluffy pita bread. Dunking the bread into the well-made, balanced and creamy dips was fantastic. I like how the dips brought something different to the platter - the creamy hummus, tart and mildly spiced tzatziki, spicy-sweet muhammara and flavour packed fava bean dip (which surprisingly, I hadn't had before). I also thought the falafel were great. They were the perfect size and texture, crispy without soaking up excess oil and had a great depth of flavour from the herbs and spices. The roast potatoes were good but thr fattoush was just about okay.

Overall, recommended.

Saffron Orange Cake

This dessert was all about the color and aroma. A warm, moist and soft cake with delightful hints of saffron and crunch from pistachios. The cake was topped with poached citrus segments that were sweet and gave some additional texture.

This dessert is gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free. How on earth did they make it? I have no idea but would definitely like to know 😀

We enjoyed a wonderful leisurely lunch. It was great catching up and the food being good just made things better. I would like to go back to for the breakfast and to check out the bakery offerings as well as maybe try the sticky toffee pudding 😁

TDP also does home delivery with comforting favourites delivered direct to your doorstep. From signature feast platter to hearty mains such as pasta, healthy eats from Riyana’s clean food corner and freshly baked cakes and pastries to satisfy sweet cravings. If you plan on going for a picnic outdoors, you can curate your perfect picnic basket with freshly baked breads, Iberian meats and Lebanese dips or opt for TDP's carefully crafted platters with French, Italian, Lebanese and vegan cheese selections.

The Dempsey Project: Diverse dishes, inclusive menu & gourmet groceries

The Dempsey Project has a lot of things working in its favour. For starters, the location on Dempsey Hill is lovely. The space is large and inviting. If you didn't have any intention of buying groceries, let me tell you that the attractive display of gourmet groceries from around the world will surely tempt you! This is a sought-after restaurant so I highly recommend making a reservation well in advance. The menu is interesting with cultural influences for many parts of the world and has something for even the most discerning diner. We found the service to be very efficient and pleasant. All the dishes we sampled were fresh, wholesome, delicious and the portion-size was generous. When you dine at TDP, you can tell that the people behind it are passionate about food and source quality ingredients to prepare the food. This restaurant is slightly on the pricey side so the expected damage to your wallet would range from $55-70 per pax.

I highly recommend this restaurant for couples, families, business lunches and small to large groups.

My rating for this restaurant is,