[Review] Salut Private Dining by Chef Karl Dobler and Restaurateur Jessica Lim

For those who prefer the utmost privacy when indulging in fine dining, the proliferation of home private dining setups in recent years must have been a boon. Salut Private Dining, is one such setup to enter the competition recently.

To ride on the burgeoning private dining scene in Singapore, Salut Private Dining combines two business concepts – the private chef for hire and the private dining club. For the former, Salut is able to provide a professional outfit with the full works – personalised menus, experienced wait staff, expert wine pairing, fine cutleries, tableware and wine goblets, and customised décor to serve highly discerning clients who wish to curate extraordinary dining experiences at home or in an external venue, such as the office. For the latter, diners can choose to enjoy the exclusivity and privacy of dining in a private dining room located in a condominium that serves as Salut’s home base. A key highlight is that you can bring your own wines and spirits with no corkage charges.

A collaborative endeavour between veteran Austrian Chef Karl Dobler and seasoned restaurateur Jessica Lim, Salut is a passion project by the two semi-retired F&B veterans who are bonded by their common appreciation of fine food and drinks as well as tip-top hospitality. We were invited for a private dinner tasting and enjoyed our interactions with them. They are both excellent dinner hosts who were friendly and happy to share about their backgrounds and how they ended up starting Salut Private Dining together.

Chef Karl Dobler’s culinary journey spans over four decades, with illustrious tenures in Michelin-starred restaurants and upscale hotels across Europe and Australia. He came to Singapore in 2004 where he helmed Flutes Restaurant, and then Restaurant Salut Private Dining in Dempsey. In 2023, he teamed up with Jessica, known for her successful F&B ventures including Salut Restaurant and Le Binchotan, to launch Salut Private Dining.

At Salut Private Dining, guests are treated to a meticulously curated menu featuring Chef Karl’s signature dishes, each crafted from the finest seasonal ingredients. These were the items we sampled during our dinner tasting at Salut’s home base:

What sets Salut Private Dining apart is the unique opportunity to dine in Chef Karl’s own home kitchen. Despite the challenges of a non-commercial setup, Chef Karl’s culinary wizardry shines through, delivering dishes of fine dining caliber. Guests are invited to linger as long as they please, savoring each moment of the unparalleled dining experience.

The standout dishes for the night were the scallop starter and Chef Karl’s signature crispy roasted suckling pig. The former is in season and evokes a light, freshness while the latter delivers a delightful crunch that also preserves the juiciness of the pork, collectively presenting the best flavours from both the land and the sea.

The service was impeccable and we were serenaded by the vocals of Clement Chow, the singer of “Count on Me, Singapore”, a personal friend of Jessica. This is about as good a dinner service you can get at a fine dining restaurant and

Booking and Availability

The overwhelming response to Salut Private Dining is a testament to its allure, with reservations fully booked for the next three months. Most of the customers are via word-of-mouth referrals or long-time regulars of Chef Karl and Jessica’s earlier F&B ventures.

Venue-wise, the private dining room, nestled in the upscale locale of Grange Heights, offers an intimate setting for up to 20 guests, while larger gatherings of up to 100 can be accommodated with Chef Karl’s private chef services.

The spacious Salut Private Dining private dining room accommodates up to 20 persons and is located at Grange Heights, 15 St. Thomas Walk, Singapore 238145. The private dining room requires a minimum party of 6 persons, with a reservation of 2 weeks to 1 month in advance as the venue is highly sought after.

For private chef for hire, Salut Private Dining can cater for up to 100 persons. Typically, a 5-course menu starts at S$198 net per pax, with no service charge or GST.

For those eager to indulge in this exclusive culinary journey, check out the official website or contact Salut Private Dining at +65 9831 3067.