Located at the head of Orchard Road, TAB opened its doors in August this year. There is something interesting going on in there almost every night. The best part is that you can have good old comfort food and cocktail drinks that spell creativity to go along with it.

Fellow food bloggers Daniel and Phoebe, and their partners, amongst many others were also invited to this casual tasting session. Just in case you are wondering about the bluish lightning at TAB… That’s because we were standing in front of TAB’s very own live concert stage! Yup, imagine having your dinner at a live concert!

This gastropub located at Orchard Hotel is a mid-sized concert venue that has a floor area of 9000+ square feet. TAB is bigger than your typical music bar and can accommodate a capacity of 600 standing. Given a live music and dining scene, this is really impressive. TAB is dedicated to live, original music and showcases both local artistes like Daphne Khoo and international artistes like Ernie Halter nightly (except on Monday).

Photo taken by Chewy Charles

Alternatively, if you are here on a casual date, TAB’s lounge area on the second floor promises a more intimate setting when the lights are dimmed. You can definitely get the conversation going with the music in the background.

Photo taken by Chewy Charles

TAB has a very extensive drink menu and its out-of-this-world cocktails are guaranteed to blow you away. Wait till you get your hands on drinks inspired by desserts like the lemon meringue pie and black forest cake! Almost anything is possible at TAB.

To kick things off, four different pub grubs were served. The Fried Whitebait ($13) is lightly seasoned and deep fried. They are bite-sized and we could not stop popping these into our mouths because they are just so addictive! Underneath the layer of crisp batter lies something juicy and squishy. Dip it in the accompanying citrus mayo for an added kick.

Your usual onion rings are gonna step aside once you have had your hands on TAB’s Fried Calamari ($12). These spice-coated squid rings are deep fried to a beautiful shade of golden brown and they are succulent on the inside. Extremely tasty! It is also served with citrus mayo.

We were close to rubbing our hands in anticipation when the plate of Cinnamon-Sugar Cheese Tortilla ($10) was presented on the table. Baked with cheese, it was sheer pleasure biting through that firm and chewy piece of tortilla. It was aromatic given the sugar and cinnamon sprinkled all over. I say, indulge while you can because you are gonna crave for it anyway.

I suppose the Buffalo Wings ($12) were meant to be crispy upon serving but since they were coated with fiery cayenne pepper sauce, everything turned out to be a little soggy instead. The sauce had a hint of spiciness which made the wings all the more delectable. Great for sharing!

Mains

As the name suggests, the TAB Burger ($16) is TAB’s very own burger. Do not expect a huge and clumsy looking burger as the people over at TAB think that it is a hassle if their diners have to slice the burgers up. We loved everything about it, from the juicy beef patty to the lightly toasted bun.

Currently, TAB does not serve pizzas but the closest thing that could probably pass of as a pizza, in terms of taste would be the Chicken Parmigiana ($18). The breaded chicken breast is oven-baked with a topping of marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Strong in flavors, be prepared to wash it down with a glass of water. The chicken parmigiana is served with mashed potato and sauteed vegetables. Very filling and satisfying, this will appease a hungry man.

Dory fillet battered in Negra Modela beer, the Fish & Chips ($16) was nicely done. Lightly crisp and not overly deep fried, the slight bitter hint of beer in the crusty layers certainly did not go unnoticed. The homemade fries were a big draw and the curry mayo dip sweetened things up a little. Chewy Charles and I agreed that it tasted somewhat similar to McDonald’s curry sauce, except that the one at TAB is not as watery.

The Seafood Marinara Pasta ($20) featured a good mix of mussels, scallops, prawns also chunks of sliced fish. The consistency of the marinara sauce was thick and mildly spicy.

TAB does not do desserts at the moment but the cocktails should make you feel contented all the same. Light, smooth and refreshing, the concoction of gin, fresh cucumber and elderflower is described as reminiscent of a long summer day, spent under a garden marquee. Now that’s Fan-TAB-ulous ($15).

Hansel & Gretel ($18) is inspired by the Black forest fairy tale featuring two lost kids with a sweet tooth. This union of fruits, jam, cream and vodka resulted in something sweet, accompanied by a slight burning sensation which lingered at the back of my tongue. This drink won the hearts of many around our table.

A lovely blend of Bourbon, mangoes and rose makes up the First Wives’ Club ($18). We were deceived by its bright and cheerful orangey appearance. Just when we were expecting something sweet and fruity, the strong alcoholic taste was a bit difficult to wash down. There was a very slight hint of mango and the aftertaste of rose lingered in our mouths.

Inspired by the cult film ‘City of God’, the Caipirinha De Maracuja ($18) is essentially a Brazilian drink with a twist on the classic caipirinha with fresh limes and golden-ripe passionfruit. Although refreshing, it was too bitter for me and I did not manage to finish this.

Charlie Brown ($18) is what all of us have been waiting for! Just like the Peanut’s comic character, peanut butter in this case is described as the perennial underdog and loser. However it finally gets a fitting tribute! The taste of peanut butter and vanilla was full bodied. Spiked with vodka, Charlie Brown is a smooth and creamy drink. Peanut butter lovers will go nuts over this one. Pun unintended.

TAB closes its kitchen at 11pm on all days but on Fridays and Saturdays, serving of the mains stops at 11pm but the small plates will still be served until 12.30am.

Happy Hour at TAB is from 5pm – 8pm, or 9pm for DBS card holders. DBS card holders also enjoy 10% off their F&B bill, 1-for-1 on selected Martini’s and a free main dish with every three main dishes ordered.

You can also enjoy these great drink promotions at TAB:
– Full-Pint Kronenbourg Draught Lager Beer, 2 for $20
nett: Tue and Sun
– Order a Bucket, Get a side: Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat
– Housepour Bottle Deal @ 2 for $288 nett
– Russian Standard Bottle Deal @ $168 nett
– Singleton Single Malt 12-yrs @ $168 nett
– Ketel One Vodka @ 1 for $168 or 2 for $288.00 nett
– Yamazaki 12yrs @ 1 for $188 or 2 for $328.00 nett
– Any 3 Bottled Beers for $28 nett after Happy Hour

My partner and I had a very good time at TAB. Thank you, Kimberly and Vivian from Fulford Public Relations for the invitation and TAB’s director, Adrian for hosting the session.

TAB
442 Orchard Road
#02-29 Orchard Hotel
Tel: 6493 6952

Opening Hours:
Tue to Thu
5pm – 1am
Fri to Sat
5pm – 3am
Sun
5pm – 1am
(Closed on Mondays)