Majestic Bay (冠華) Seafood Restaurant @ Gardens by the Bay - Alvinology

Majestic Bay (冠華) Seafood Restaurant @ Gardens by the Bay

Two weeks ago, I visited and dined at Majestic Bay (冠華) Seafood Restaurant at Gardens by the Bay twice in the same week.

On my first visit, I tried their items from their Chinese New Year menu for a Lo Hei session:

Chinese black truffle, salmon Yu Sheng
Chinese black truffle, salmon Yu Sheng
The salmon and black truffles
The salmon and black truffle
The Yu Sheng is ready for tossing
The Yu Sheng is ready for tossing
Huat ah!
Huat ah!
Peking Duck - I love this!
Peking Duck – I love this!
Close-up of the interior
Close-up of the interior
Soup of the Day
Soup of the Day
The ingredient inside the soup is served separately
The ingredient inside the soup is served separately
Steamed live prawns with minced garlic
Steamed live prawns with minced garlic
The remaining duck meat from the first Peking duck dish is made into this dish
The remaining duck meat from the first Peking duck dish is made into this dish – Sautéed shredded duck with bean sprouts
Poached Chinese cabbage with wolfberries and tofu sheet
Poached Chinese cabbage with wolfberries and tofu sheet
Fried rice with assorted seafood
Fried rice with assorted seafood
Chilled mango cream with mini glutinous rice dumpling
Chilled mango cream with mini glutinous rice dumpling

The restaurant is helmed by award-winning Chef Yong Bing Ngen and is the Majestic Group‘s first seafood themed restaurant. Chef Yong is previously responsible for the success of Majestic Restaurant and Jing. Opening a seafood restaurant is a first for Chef Yong who is known for his contemporary Chinese cuisine.

The restaurant is located below the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay and can seat 110 pax for family, group and corporate dining. It offers an impressive waterfront view of Marina Bay and the interior is done up like a ship deck to fit the “water” theme.

On the second visit, I got down to trying some of their signature seafood dishes:

海鲜双拼-龙虾蟹肉荔枝球/ 奶柠软壳蟹 Duo seafood combo - Crispy lychee, lobster, crab meat, mushrooms, soft shell crabs, lemon butter milk sauce ($28 for 4 pax)
海鲜双拼-龙虾蟹肉荔枝球/ 奶柠软壳蟹 Duo seafood combo – Crispy lychee, lobster, crab meat, mushrooms, soft shell crabs, lemon butter milk sauce ($28 for 4 pax)
Close-up of the crispy lychee, lobster, crab meat, mushrooms balls
Close-up of the crispy lychee, lobster, crab meat, mushrooms balls
Close-up of the soft shell crabs, lemon butter milk sauce
Close-up of the soft shell crabs, lemon butter milk sauce
蟹肉烩太阳鱼胶羹 Braised, Ocean Sunfish maw, crab meat, luffa, thicken yellow soup
蟹肉烩太阳鱼胶羹 Braised, Ocean Sunfish maw, crab meat, luffa, thicken yellow soup (only available for Chinese New Year)
金银蒜蒸生虾 Steamed, live prawns, minced garlic (Market price)
金银蒜蒸生虾 Steamed, live prawns, minced garlic (Market price)
麻辣吊烧鸡 Roast chicken, chilli sesame dressing ($18 for half, $32 for whole)
麻辣吊烧鸡 Roast chicken, chilli sesame dressing ($18 for half, $32 for whole)
波士顿龙虾焖米粉 Stewed, Boston lobster, mee hoon (Market price)
波士顿龙虾焖米粉 Stewed, Boston lobster, mee hoon (Market price)
Close-up on the lobster meat
Close-up on the lobster meat
甜品诱惑 Sweet’s temptation ($20 for 4 pax) – this includes the Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Yam Paste Stuffing, Shredded Coconut; Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Fresh Cream Stuffing; Steamed Custard Bun, Salted Egg Yolk; Bay’s Chinese Pancake, Red Bean Paste
甜品诱惑 Sweet’s temptation ($20 for 4 pax) – this includes the Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Yam Paste Stuffing, Shredded Coconut; Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Fresh Cream Stuffing; Steamed Custard Bun, Salted Egg Yolk; Bay’s Chinese Pancake, Red Bean Paste

One of the restaurant’s specialty worth mentioning in particular is the Bay’s Signature “Kopi” Crab 冠华咖啡焗肉蟹 (market price):

冠华咖啡焗肉蟹Live crabs, Bay’s signature “Kopi” sauce (Market price)
冠华咖啡焗肉蟹Live crabs, Bay’s signature “Kopi” sauce (Market price)
You can actaully see the flame on the crab shell while it is being flambeed - can you see the blue hue under the pinchers?
You can actaully see the flame on the crab shell while it is being flambeed – can you see the blue hue under the pinchers?

Cooked with a special sauce made from a blend of 3 different coffee bean varieties, this special creation took Chef Yong over 3 months to “brew”. Apple jam and a small portion of marmalade and orange juice are used in the Kopi Crab sauce, giving it a fruity taste.

The shell is really beautiful to look at with a glossy finish
The shell is really beautiful to look at with a glossy finish

The crab is then flambéed at the table with a mixture of rice wine and coffee liqueur, and coffee beans are added to the alcohol mixture just before serving for an extra burst of fragrance and caramelisation.

I find the sticky texture and caramel taste on the crab shell very intriguing. These are not the usual stuff you will association with a seafood dish. It’s like eating caramel popcorn which enjoying your crab, a rather fascinating experience.

Overall, dining at Majestic Bay was a pleasant experience with a good view of Marina Bay and pretty good food. Price is a little steep, but you pay for quality and the restaurant is located in the Marina Bay precinct where everything is expensive (in fact, I believe Majestic Bay is priced pretty reasonably compared to many other restaurants in the area).

If you are interested to visit Majestic Bay, visit their website to find out more.

18 Marina Gardens Drive
#01-10 Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
Tel: 6604-6604
Operating Hours: Daily, 12:00 – 14:30 and 18:00 – 21:30

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