Wine, Dine & Unwind
Dec 01, 2007
By Geoffrey Eu
It may be the new kid on the block, but it looks like it's ready to stay awhile.
A trendy steakhouse in sleepy Tiong Bahru may not be the most outrageous culinary concept in the world - but it comes close. And that's not all - if you haven't heard of the One-Concepts group, chances are you might be visiting, uh, one of their outlets sometime soon. In addition to the recently opened Tbone, which takes up two shop lots just down the road from Tiong Bahru market, One-Concepts is planning a virtual onslaught of outlets in the near future.
Next up is Riverone bar and restaurant by Robertson Quay, followed next year by Unopuro, an Italian trattoria-style place, and Soi One, both also along the river. There will also be sister restaurants, cafes and bars in Bali and a catering company, One Private Dining. The entire brand exercise will be capped off by the arrival of a 60-metre luxury schooner that is being built in Kalimantan.
The man behind One-Concepts is Adrian Hobbs, a Bali- and Hong Kong-based concert promoter who has big plans to grab a slice of the burgeoning lifestyle market, or as he calls it, the luxury market. 'I've been doing entertainment for years and I've also had a passion for food,' says Hobbs. 'When I looked at places like St James (Power Station) and Ministry of Sound, I decided to get into the lifestyle business, but I wanted to take it one step further and get into the luxury business.'
Hobbs has kept a low profile here since 2004, when he was involved in a dispute involving a cancelled Jose Carreras concert at The Padang. He looks to be making a comeback of sorts in a related field. 'Tiong Bahru is the last location in Singapore that is Central Downtown,' he says. 'I wanted a British-style steakhouse that could serve the locals and the expat community as well. Tbone is very casual - we're trying to do a total fresh food style, very much like what you would get in Australia.'
He adds: 'It's a two- or three-year market sentiment play - I just felt that this is the right time and I didn't want to miss the boat.'
The menu at Tbone runs the gamut from a 520g T-bone wagyu steak ($110) and a more moderate Black Angus tenderloin ($45) to burger, fish & chip and steak & cheese pie options. There's also a beef rendang dish, courtesy of the Indonesian-born chef who came here by way of New Zealand. Tbone may be the new kid on the block, but it looks like it's ready to stay awhile.
Next up is Riverone bar and restaurant by Robertson Quay, followed next year by Unopuro, an Italian trattoria-style place, and Soi One, both also along the river. There will also be sister restaurants, cafes and bars in Bali and a catering company, One Private Dining. The entire brand exercise will be capped off by the arrival of a 60-metre luxury schooner that is being built in Kalimantan.
The man behind One-Concepts is Adrian Hobbs, a Bali- and Hong Kong-based concert promoter who has big plans to grab a slice of the burgeoning lifestyle market, or as he calls it, the luxury market. 'I've been doing entertainment for years and I've also had a passion for food,' says Hobbs. 'When I looked at places like St James (Power Station) and Ministry of Sound, I decided to get into the lifestyle business, but I wanted to take it one step further and get into the luxury business.'
Hobbs has kept a low profile here since 2004, when he was involved in a dispute involving a cancelled Jose Carreras concert at The Padang. He looks to be making a comeback of sorts in a related field. 'Tiong Bahru is the last location in Singapore that is Central Downtown,' he says. 'I wanted a British-style steakhouse that could serve the locals and the expat community as well. Tbone is very casual - we're trying to do a total fresh food style, very much like what you would get in Australia.'
He adds: 'It's a two- or three-year market sentiment play - I just felt that this is the right time and I didn't want to miss the boat.'
The menu at Tbone runs the gamut from a 520g T-bone wagyu steak ($110) and a more moderate Black Angus tenderloin ($45) to burger, fish & chip and steak & cheese pie options. There's also a beef rendang dish, courtesy of the Indonesian-born chef who came here by way of New Zealand. Tbone may be the new kid on the block, but it looks like it's ready to stay awhile.
TBone Steakhouse Cafe
42 Eng Hoon Street
(S)169785
Tel: 6220-2927
Copyright ©2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
2 comments:
I've never tried the food at TBone yet but I just love the way Adrian named his steakhouse.
It demostrated his creative word play.
TBone could mean Tiong Bahru One or just T-Bone.
Whatever you call it, I'm damn hungry now.
very good service from staff!!!
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