No Trips To Bintan Yet, But There’s A New Seafood BBQ Buffet Joint At Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal To Check Out

Despite its name, Offshore Bar & Grill isn’t on a kelong a la Smith Marine Floating Restaurant. It’s situated in Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal itself – on land. Nonetheless, it’s pretty darn close to the sea with a green mesh fence (crowned with barbed wire) partially obscuring your view of the Singapore Strait. “Don’t mind the fence on the border; it’s for national security purposes. Soz,” states the eatery’s website.

Those on date night – or with furry friends in tow – might want to opt for al fresco seating illuminated by the glow of kitschy fairy lights snaking along railings, and up the trunks of palm trees.

For $69, you get a buffet-style smorgasbord of fresh seafood, meats and veggies to grill. Think slipper lobsters, stingray fillets and mussels, plus protein options from Balinese Beef (marinated with Indonesian sambal balado) to Honey Glazed Chicken and Char Siu Pork Belly. Additionally, every diner gets half a lobster (live, from Southern Australia or Boston depending on availability) baked with mentaiko sauce.

Skewers, like barbecue beef and roasted sesame sauce chicken, are part of the deal as well, along with veggies. A small selection of pre-cooked dishes including a meat, vegetable and two rice or noodle dishes (rotating daily), as well as fresh fruit, are also available. All these can be paired with any of the restaurant’s myriad condiments and marinades, including homemade sambal and chilli lime. In line with Covid-19 measures, food will be doled out by staff at the buffet line; diners have to bring the grub back to the tables themselves for cooking.

Speaking of cooking, diners have an option between grilling the meats and seafood over a charcoal grill (integrated into the table), or boiled in a hotpot over that same grill – just note that you have to pick one or the other. Menu items change seasonally, so you might want to check in with staff before heading down to see if anything’s out of stock.

Top up an extra $49 per table for an additional a la carte (read: non-buffet) bundle of seafood freshly scooped from the onsite aquarium by restaurant staff, though we’re told diners can fish the seafood out for themselves once pandemic restrictions ease. The seafood, delivered raw to cook any way you like, includes a whole lobster, a whole fish (seabass for now), clams, prawns and crawfish.

Endless rounds of beer, spirits and wine to go with your seafood by the sea. Labels include Black Cab stout, Smirnoff vodka or Terrazas Altos reds and whites to cap off the evening.

Offshore Bar & Grill is at #01-02, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, 50 Tanah Merah Ferry Rd, S498833. Tel: 6970-9185. Buffet available daily from 5pm – 10.30pm. More info via Facebook and Instagram.

Photos: Offshore Bar & Grill

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