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Restaurants
Singapore
Dempsey
Candlenut
Candlenut Reviews

Candlenut

Photo of restaurant Candlenut in Dempsey, Singapore
Candlenut is not bookable via Quandoo. To make a reservation, contact the restaurant using the details below.

Reviews of Candlenut (283)

Read what people think about Candlenut. All restaurant reviews are written by verified Quandoo diners. Learn more about Candlenut before you go by getting tips and ratings from other restaurant-goers. With real-life reviews, you can see what other diners loved about Candlenut and book a table with confidence!

5.2/6

283 reviews

5.2/6

283 reviews

Food:Outstanding
Atmosphere:Pleasant
Service:Great
Value for money:Good value
Waiting time:Exceptionally Good
Noise levels:Pleasant
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"Good"
4/6
Maria E.7 years ago · 20 reviews

Had set tasting menu only for dinner which was not too bad. Good yummy food & nice place but staff was a bit lacking. Not quite good service. Will be though, want to try their ala carte for lunch maybe.

"Excellent"
6/6
Kum Hong S.7 years ago · 1 review

I've been a fan of Candlenut for a long time, and this lunch was the same -- I hosted a group of visitors (from US and UK) here, and they loved the food. They did find the "choking" squid tasty but a little too spicy, which to me was a good thing since it speaks to the authenticity of the cooking!

"Very good"
5/6
Daphne Y.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Thoroughly enjoyed the meal with consistent taste and quality. Staff was attentive. Restaurant can be spruced up for refined look but otherwise very pleasant atmosphere and service.

"Very good"
5/6
Simon W.7 years ago · 1 review

Nice ambience, Good service, and the Rendang was superb! Enjoyed ourselves.

"Excellent"
6/6
Cecillia W.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Awesome food and an absolute choice for peranakan tastes! Will definitely come back again due to the super hospitality by the staff at candlenut! Good!

"Excellent"
6/6
Donna B.7 years ago · 1 review

Peranakan cuisine was a new experience for us and we highly recommend this restaurant. Our waiter, Felix, and other staff members were so friendly and most helpful in explaining not only the cuisine but also the culture. The small plates were the perfect way to sample this interesting cuisine and everything was superb.

"Good"
4/6
Anna T.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Cosy ... Nice chilli , although i would gave preferred not to pay for it .... Seems authentic to a non paranakan. It Wud be nice if the menu is alacarte

"Excellent"
6/6
Fad H.7 years ago · 36 reviews

Dined here several times. Food is always excellent. I will continue coming back especially for lunch meetings considering its accessibility and good food. Thumbs up!

"Excellent"
6/6
Don B.7 years ago · 1 review

This is a fantastic restaurant providing a tasting menu of Nonya cuisine. It provided one of the best dining experiences we have had anywhere in the world. Yes a big call but one we are making. Chef Malcolm Lee has a beautiful skill of balancing flavours as he presents modern takes on what appears to be the traditional cooking of his childhood. At $60 (plus the dreaded Singaporean added taxes) this is also exceptional value. Our set menu comprised 4 small entrees, 6 more substantial mains and one desert from a choice of 5. Just outstanding. Go there!

"Excellent"
6/6
Fad H.7 years ago · 36 reviews

Food was awesome as always. Really nice Peranakan décor too. A pity they are moving to Dempsey though. It would make it a bit more difficult to dine here more regularly.

"Good"
4/6
MEENA M.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Our second visit at this Peranakan restaurant. I have to admit the choices of our earlier set dinner menu worked better than the second. It is the luck of the draw what is offered for the evening.

"Excellent"
6/6
Alan Z.7 years ago · 1 review

Very nice ingredients, very nice settings and very nice flavor! It s my second time there and I will go the the third for sure!

"Good"
4/6
Irina F.7 years ago · 1 review

I have already visited this restaurant 3-4 times. Every time was excellent! Service, food and ext. But after yesterday dinner all my family had a some stomach problem. I am not sure if I gonna back there again((

"Very good"
5/6
Andrew T.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Wonderful experience. The staff were attentive and polite. They also have some idea of the food that were served. Desserts were unique and delectable. I will definitely return for new menu.

"Good"
4/6
Isabel L.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Food are good & tasty. The portion is just nice for table of 5.

"Good"
4/6
Diana D.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Definitely worth going, with an open mind and appreciation for what the chef is trying to do. I loved the creativity of the dishes, the concept of fixed menu. You get many dishes, generous portions for the main courses, so even if a couple may not be your favorite, overall most likely you will have a great experience.

"Excellent"
6/6
Ranajay D.7 years ago · 1 review

Dinner at Candlenut was amazing! The food was great and there were several dishes served. Their menu changes every night so during my visit, the lamb satay was my favourite! Great food, great ambiance and great service!

"Excellent"
6/6
Hoon K.7 years ago · 3 reviews

The service is great although I was surprised at having to pay 60cents for warm water! The food is delicious and the desserts beautifully presented. The chef used a selection of herbs that worked really well with the diverse dishes.

"Very good"
5/6
Brandon L.7 years ago · 43 reviews

Delightful ambiance, service staff were attentive and prompt. I didn't quite like the prawn dish prepared, but the wonderful desserts more than made up for it!

"Very good"
5/6
Maike B.7 years ago · 1 review

The first time I tried Buah Keluak and I absolutely loved it. Tender chicken and great flavour. Our favourite were the Sambal Petai Prawns, delicious! Veggie and Kueh Pie Tee were nice as well. The Chendol Cream for dessert was way too sweet for our taste. Overall a very nice place for lunch.

"Excellent"
6/6
Ethel L.7 years ago · 1 review

Fantastic place and awesome service. Food is really good too! Highly recommended. Recently changed dinner menu from ala carte to set menu, I really like the selection as I get to try many other dishes that I normally would not order. Would not hesitate to go again!

"Excellent"
6/6
Tony Y.7 years ago · 1 review

Very good, delicious, unique and Best quality Peranakan food my friends have ever tasted in thier entire lives. The quantity may be small but high in quality. The deserts are also very unique

"Excellent"
6/6
Louise H.7 years ago · 11 reviews

If I could give Candlenut more than 5 stars I would. The dinner I had here is one of my favourite dinners ever and I cannot wait to go back. The restaurant is modern and spacious. It was close to full when we arrived but didn't feel too crowded or noisy. There is an interesting selection of bottled beers and a small, but very reasonably priced, wine list. Dinner is a tasting menu which some people dislike but I personally love, especially when it is a cuisine with which I am unfamiliar. And what a meal it was! The first course was 4 starters, each just a mouthful or two. There was eel, charred octopus, crab cake and beef satay. Each was delicious but the table was unanimous in that the crab cake was the standout winner. The second course was made up of 5 dishes: soup with mackerel, crab and pork, mushroom kerabu, pork cheek stew, red snapper & baby squid. What a feast! Every dish was exquisite and full of flavour. We all loved the mushroom kerabu. I think the pork cheek was my favourite but I would happily eat them all again, and again! Dessert was a choice from 5 options. I went for the buah keluak ice cream which was delicious. My companions went for kueh salat and the kueh bingkah. Each was very well received. All in all this was an amazing meal and I cannot wait to go back. Excellent value for money as well, 60++ per person, and we couldn't even eat all of the food.

"Very good"
5/6
Medha L.7 years ago · 9 reviews

Candlenut is one of my favourite local restaurants, with amazing flavours. One suggestion is perhaps tiered set dinners can also be considered in the future.

"Good"
4/6
Quandoo Diner7 years ago · 0 reviews

The set meal experience was rather good but for the price charged......the starters portion was quite small. the food service was too quick and you will finish the dinner in less than one hour. A bit of a mismatch between the "sophisticated"set meal menu and having the food serve at the pace of a Zi char restaurant.

"Good"
4/6
Deborah T.7 years ago · 3 reviews

I loved the inventiveness of the ahma-kase menu and the unfussy dining experience. The service staff were trying hard which I appreciated but they can still improve on smoothness & confidence of delivery to do justice to the dishes as they are presented.

"Very good"
5/6
Fad H.7 years ago · 36 reviews

Service staff is courteous, friendly and attentive. Food and drinks are value for money. Good food as I've expected. Easily my second or third visit. Location is very accessible.

"Excellent"
6/6
Natalie Y.7 years ago · 1 review

At Candlenut, you will find fantastic food and incredibly thoughtful and attentive service! I thoroughly appreciate the service of the staff who assisted us with a birthday celebration. The dining experience with Candlenut was superb and we will definitely be spreading the word about this place!

"Very good"
5/6
Lilian C.7 years ago · 117 reviews

Candlenut should reconsider policy of not serving tap water which was implemented a few months back. Though the food and service is decent, I probably won't re patronize restaurants that serve only bottled water as this is simply not acceptable in a country like singapore .

"Excellent"
6/6
Christopher C.7 years ago · 2 reviews

the menu changes gradually but on this visit we had many new dishes, all marvelous! kudos to the kitchen for also offering guests some variation if they have dietary preferences, allergies or just dislikes

"Very good"
5/6
MH T.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Food was good but since there is no a la carte menu, there is no guarantee that the food next time would be as agreeable.

"Excellent"
6/6
Robin S.7 years ago · 1 review

Our meal was excellent. Lots of different dishes, flavours and textures. Though I didn't try the squid! The staff were excellent too, attentive and helpful when describing the food. An all round fine establishment and highly recommended.

"Very good"
5/6
Woon Kwong W.7 years ago · 1 review

Service was attentive yet discreet. Food was great, with interesting takes on familiar dishes. Having smaller dishes but more courses worked really well as it allowed us to try a range of food that two people would not be able to in a traditional Peranakan restaurant.

"Very good"
5/6
Qinlei T.7 years ago · 4 reviews

Service was attentive and food was great as usual :) my friends and I had a good time!

"Excellent"
6/6
Glenda H.7 years ago · 1 review

Came here for the buah keluak ice-cream. A experience to lust for. A perfect blend of buah keluak with Valhrona chocolate. A surprise sprinkle of chilli specks that is soothed by salted caramel, chocolate crumble and warm choc milk.

"Excellent"
6/6
Aaralyn T.7 years ago · 1 review

Loved the interesting menu that is refreshed daily, great service and most of all excellent food at a reasonable price. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommended

"Very good"
5/6
Yvonne T.7 years ago · 1 review

Overall excellent food. Fantastic presentation and taste. The tasting menu was well planned with varied dishes. Highlights for us were the black ink squid, pork and coconut shrimps.

"Very good"
5/6
Peiyan Y.7 years ago · 2 reviews

Staffs were attentive and considerate to our dietary preferences. Server made a point to explain each dish. It was a delightful experience to dine at Candlenut!

"Very good"
5/6
Terry N.7 years ago · 7 reviews

Quality of foods have decreased. More refined and complex taste yet losing the home feeling. I really hope the ala carte menu resumes. Cos that was amazing. Service and atmosphere are very nice, though.

"Excellent"
6/6
Michele Y.7 years ago · 39 reviews

This is my third visit. The set dinner in my previous two visits obviously gave better value. Items which we like in this visit were the wing beans, sambal sotong and the coconut jelly dessert. Overall, quality was good.

"Very good"
5/6
Aubry E.7 years ago · 1 review

I really enjoyed Candlenut. Great local food with soulfull and heart. Nice service too. And great value for money. I warmly recommend it to you !

"Very good"
5/6
Lee E.7 years ago · 1 review

Food and ambience was amazing. The only down side that day was a lack of staff which I was informed prior to being seated. I will definitely be returning there soon.

"Very good"
5/6
Yaling L.7 years ago · 1 review

Good food and service. However, was given a table near the door initially. It felt too warm and stuffy so we requested for a change of tables.

"Excellent"
6/6
Jonathan Y.7 years ago · 1 review

Superb execution and ingredients. Flavors out of this world. Malcolm the chef proprietor knows what he's doing. He move to Dempsey later in 2016 should only move things upwards and onwards. Save space for their creative twists on traditional desserts packed with intense flavors.

"Excellent"
6/6
Jonathan C.7 years ago · 1 review

The food was really awesome! Loved every single dish which was served. Really like the slight fusion concept. Would definitely be visiting this place again!

"Very good"
5/6
Mandy K.7 years ago · 6 reviews

Food was great. Service could be improved with the explanation of the dishes.

"Excellent"
6/6
Samuel T.7 years ago · 1 review

Such a fantastic place. Love the food and they accommodated our requests (no spicy) without issue. Good for the price. Quite unique. Will return for sure.

"Excellent"
6/6
Louise H.7 years ago · 11 reviews

Second time here in a week! The food is absolutely amazing. You cannot go wrong with this restaurant and I could eat here every night!

"Excellent"
6/6
Christopher C.7 years ago · 2 reviews

excellent as always, innovative take on peranakan cuisine with good balance, delicious sauces and curries. intelligent wine selection, good beers and polite service - will return

"Good"
4/6
Xi Bing S.7 years ago · 1 review

Set menu and no tap water - you must order still or sparkling. Quality peranakan food but the interior decor and ambience is a bit dated.