Fivebar - a canteen-style izakaya without waitstaff - Alvinology

Fivebar – a canteen-style izakaya without waitstaff

Remember Hans at Great Eastern Centre? It’s been taken over by a izakaya called Fivebar and a canteen called FIVE Square, which might have caught your eye when you walked past, with its fantastic light fixtures and warm woody interiors. But next time, don’t just pass by – make it a dining destination with friends and family.

With five stalls offering different cuisines, a bar ($5 specials all day, everyday) and live music, you can be sure that you’ll find something you’ll like.

Lots of beers on tap at Fivebar.
Lots of beers on tap at Fivebar.
Five stalls at Fivebar.
Five stalls at Fivebar.

FIVE Square, which houses Cin.qo Tapas (Spanish), Omnivore (salads and grilled meats), Gogibox (Korean), Teppei Syokudo (Japanese) and Grub Noodle (Chinese) uses a digital service solution to take orders. There are no waiters; one simply orders and pays for their food at the e-kiosks installed at each stall. When your food is ready, you’ll receive an SMS alert. Barhoppers at Fivebar can order food from FIVE Square as well, and eat it in the premises of the bar while listening to live music.

Fivebar is a great place to get together with friends. There're plenty of seats and tables, you can see each others' faces and your conversation will never be interrupted by the waitstaff. :)
Fivebar is a great place to get together with friends. There’re plenty of seats and tables, you can see each others’ faces and your conversation will never be interrupted by the waitstaff. 🙂

The e-kiosks were easy to use and some of them even allowed for customisation of orders. You can pay for your meal by NETS or credit card. This method of ordering and payment brought to mind the digital service solutions widely used in the city areas of Japan – it really saves a lot of manpower and streamlines the workflow tremendously.

Put in your order at an e-kiosk at Fivebar.
Put in your order at an e-kiosk at Fivebar.
Ordering using the E-kiosks is simple and straightforward.
Ordering using the E-kiosks is simple and straightforward.
Proceed with payment and wait for the SMS alert to let you know that your food is ready.
Proceed with payment.
Key in your mobile number to get an SMS alert.
Key in your mobile number to get an SMS alert.

And the food is tasty and reasonably priced, too! Here are some of the dishes we tasted that night:

Seafood paella ($15) from Cin.qo Tapas.
Seafood paella ($9.50/$12) from Cin.qo Tapas.
Teriyaki Pizza ($15) from Cin.qo Tapas.
Teriyaki Pizza ($15) from Cin.qo Tapas.
Teppei Syokudo's Kaisendon ($16) - this was very fresh tasting and yummy.
Teppei Syokudo’s Kaisendon ($16) – this was very fresh tasting and yummy.
Kimchi fried rice ($7.50) from Gogibox.
Kimchi fried rice with spicy chicken ($8.50) from Gogibox.
Beef tacos ($7.50) from Gogibox.
Beef tacos ($6.80) from Gogibox.
Beef noodle ($8.90) from Grub Noodle - noodles were cooked al dente and portions were substantial.
Beef noodle ($8.90) from Grub Noodle – noodles were cooked al dente and portions were substantial.
Pork Noodle ($9.90) from Grub Noodle.
Pork Noodle ($9.90) from Grub Noodle.
Sample Platter ($24.90) from Omnivore.
Sample Platter ($24.90) from Omnivore.

Our food took about 10 to 15 minutes to be prepared and we happily occupied ourselves chit chatting and taking pictures whilst waiting.

Would love to come again!
Would love to come again!

Fivebar

Address: 1 Pickering Street, Great Eastern Centre

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