Winestone – Savour the Taste of Passion and Modern European Cuisine

Winestone is a modern European restaurant, late-night bar and wine retail store, serving affordable wines and authentic European cuisine. Dishes served take on their inspiration from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the delicious tastes of France, the hearty-homely meals of Italy and the gastronomic wonders of Spain. Strategically located near Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, the restaurant caters to locals and expatriates from its neighbourhood, as well as international guests from around the world.

The name of the restaurant reflects the idea of the outlet, a new distinguishing concept with two elements: the wine selection created out of the experience and the knowledge of its wine ambassadors and signature meals served on stone boards.

The design and craftsmanship of old Singapore are woven into fabric at Winestone. Bamboo chicks (curtains), popular during the colonial period for keeping out the hot sun, have been replicated throughout the restaurant, adding a hint of nostalgia. The presence of floral patterned ventilation blocks can also be seen throughout the restaurant, offering natural light setting and a local experience.

We were treated to a variety of modern European cuisine, starting with the Mixed Platter ($28) which includes Jamon Iberico de Cebo, Prosciutto de Parma, Spanish Chorizo, Parmesan Reggiano, Brie de Meaux, Tomme de Savoie Fermiere, olives, Focaccia bread, sun-dried tomatoes and Quince paste. If you’re a fan of cheese and charcuterie, this will be an ideal platter to kick-start your feast. While some cheese was light on the palette, the others were creamy and heavy. There’s one with a slightly pungent smell, but my dining companions knew how to appreciate it.

We had mains from the ocean such as the Cataplana and the Seabass & Dolma Prawns. The former contains squids, mussels, clams, prawns, capsicums, and tomatoes simmered in a flavourful concoction of tomatoes, onions, wine, various herbs, peppers, and other secret ingredients. My dining companions and I enjoyed the sauce so much that we mixed the pasta with this sauce after finishing the seafood. This is just a suggestion, but perhaps, the chefs at Winestone can consider curating a pasta dish using the Cataplana sauce. We’ll gladly be your first customers.

The latter, on the other hand, consists fresh seabass prepared with peas and nut brown butter and wine-leaves-wrapped minced prawn with basmati rice. The flavour wasn’t as rich as compared to the Cataplana, but the nutty taste was a great contrast.

We also tried other mains like the Ragout and the Verde (Gluten-Free). I personally prefer the Ragout to the Verde. It’s hard to go wrong when you have a dish of Tagliatelle with homemade ground beef sauce and grated parmesan. It’s my kind of comfort food. The Verde uses gluten-free pasta, served with tomato confit, asparagus and charred broccoli. I guess this dish will appeal to those of you who are health-conscious.

There are pizzas, burgers, and other modern European fare available too. The portion of pasta is quite generous and it’ll be good to dine with a big group in order to try more food, and of course, share the mixed platter. The concept of Winestone revolves around the key words: simple, attractive, authentic and affordable. So, don’t forget to pair your food with quality wines at affordable prices. Take-home wine is also made available at Winestone Retail, located within the restaurant, with a separate entrance to the driveway.

Winestone
Address: #01-09, Mercure Singapore on Stevens, 28 Stevens Road, Singapore 257878
Contact: 6491 6100
Opening Hours:
Lunch (Mon-Sat) 12pm to 2.30pm
Dinner (Mon-Sat) 6pm to 10pm
Bar Bites (Fri & Sat) 10pm to 12midnight
Website: https://www.novotel-singapore-stevens.com/restaurants-bars/winestone/

Note that this is an invited tasting.