The Store is a gastrobar with some surprises in store

The Store is an unpretentious gastrobar located along Neil Road with a fun cocktail programme and some solid seafood dishes.

A name as generic as The Store, for all intents and purposes, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. But you might just be pleasantly surprised once you get over the name and step past its unassuming entrance.

The Store is one of the newest hangouts to open along Neil Road, in what is becoming a revival of a once-bustling dining stretch. Decked out more like someone’s living room instead of some fancy bar, it’s an instantly likeable, cosy and convivial little spot.

Co-owners Hirman Asnadi and Joanne Kok admit the name’s a little bit of a misnomer. “Originally we wanted the front of the venue to be a retail space, but that didn’t work out,” Kok tells us. Instead they converted the area into more comfortable seating perfect for lounging with cocktails.

And good cocktails they were, too.

Asnadi used to front Tito’s Vodka as head of brand development and training in these parts, so he knows what he’s doing. Our Smoky Paloma was the perfect opener, a tequila- and mezcal-based highball that was absolutely refreshing coming in on a warm and humid evening.

Also good was the Coffee Kombucha Espresso Martini. This version adds a touch of tangy kombucha to lighten up the usually rich and sweet dessert cocktail.

We also enjoyed the Notanegroni. This take on the classic Italian aperitivo replaces the usual vermouth with umeshu, and then spiked with umami bitters for a decidedly Japanese twist. The other Japanese-inspired number – the Irish Kyoto Collins – though was a spicy shock to the system with its heavy handed use of wasabi. You may like it if you’re the sort to dunk your sashimi in plenty of wasabi-laced soy.

Food at The Store was a pleasant surprise. Sure, there isn’t a particular focus; dishes seem to be inspired by cuisines the world over.

There’s a perfectly serviceable Shakshouka, that dish of baked eggs in a spiced tomato sauce from the Maghreb. Also competent – if not exactly inspired – are the well-executed Onglet Steak and Lamb Rack, which are worth the order if you’re a carnivore.

But it’s The Store’s seafood game that truly impresses. The White Wine Mussels featured plump green lip bivalves that came in an absolutely moreish broth rendered from white wine, butter and tomatoes. Then there’s the Paper Baked Sea Bass, which in our opinion is possibly the best item on the menu. This is fall-apart tender sea bass luxuriating in a lemon dill sauce that explodes with fresh ocean flavours with each bite.

Sounds good? You should drop in to see what else is in store.

The Store

Address 11 Neil Rd, Singapore 088809 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 4pm to 12mn Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays and Mondays
Tel (65) 8731 1883
Web thestoresg.com
Facebook TheStoreSGP
Instagram @thestore.sg