Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
Coastal Settlement Restaurant Review: another visit to Changi
Coastal Settlement Review: One big call out for me was that the service had improved drastically at Coastal Settlement. Now, was that because we walked in and had to sit inside, was it a more seasoned server, or perhaps they had listened to feedback and sorted the issues? Who knows? But, suffice to say today was 1000% improvement.
We also went for new things on the menu, as you will see, and a damned fine selection they were too. So even our food experience was lifted on this trip. Great work Coastal Settlement
The Coastal Settlement Menu
Wifey’s absolute favourite snack, so she was a very happy camper. And delicious they were. Sweet Potato Fries with garlic, house seasoning, paprika, sriracha mayonnaise, and Parmesan shavings.
@ $16
This is up there with some of the finest beer food to work its way through my beard and into my stomach. These are stellar. Amazing crisp and crunchy, but ever-so juicy pork ribs. I would revisit Coastal Settlement just for these. Top drawer.
Crispy Pork Ribs, marinated pork rib, mustard dressing, pickled chilli, coriander.
@ $22
I always judge a restaurant on its stable offerings, because you can simply compare. Creme Brulee, the ‘house’ burger, and mushroom soup… So, a test for Coastal Settlement, and they passed with flying colours. This is a beauty!!!
Wild Mushroom Soup, shiitake, button mushroom, portobello, porcini, cream, thyme, truffle oil, chive, artisanal toast.
@ $16
This also leads me nicely to their burger. What a beast this is. Jude Jude and I were on sharing duty so we had half of those incredible ribs, and half the burger each. This was a cracker. Seasoned well, almost like chuck Wagyu steak in the pattie. All round just so very good.
Wagyu Cheese Burger, wagyu beef (180g), lettuce, maple glazed bacon, smoked ketchup Dijonnaise, melted cheese.
@ $23
Vespa anyone? Loads at Coastal Settlement Restaurant
Because we were sat inside we were able to see so much more of the plethora of nick nacks on display including this beautiful array of Vespas (from my era of the 1960’s) and other uber cool retro stuff
Coastal Settlement is a classic case of location, location, location?
Read on. This came as a referral from one of #1’s mates. I found out afterwards that a number of mates have also been but all thought that it was closed now. Clearly not. It’s a little bit like Colbar with the old-school decor, retro design and Nik-Naks.
It’s hard to book so we ended up trying our hand with a walk-in and we were lucky. We got given a beautifully shady table, sat down and immediately relaxed. It’s so cool (as in temperature) and you sit in this garden of rainforest trees and butterflies. It really is stunning. The indoors is crazy with so much retro gear on display it is uber-cool.
The Coastal Settlement: walkthrough
The seating was amazing, although no cushions on those metal seats were an arse-ache after a while. Jungle scenery is also incredible. Wagyu is on the menu, so like that too. This could be good. This could be really good. But, and there is a BIG but… Read on.
How nice is this seating area? In a shady little glen to ourselves. It is boiling hot sunny out, but here shaded in the jungly bits it is just awesome. But, there will be lines across my arse-cheeks from that chair for a week or so…
A really stunning patio area outside. Almost French/Paris avenues – check the street lights…
We even had a couple next to us bring the jungle even closer. It was like eating at Jurong Bird Park. On two little leashes, they had brought their pets. Speaking parrots. Yep, they could say; “Bye, bye”. Pretty useless when you’re saying hello to them, but anyway.
Inside Coastal Settlement
The Coastal Settlement: Worst service ever
It was like they had never run a restaurant before. On the table, you have a little clicker to order or pay the bill. Clearly allocated to the wrong tables. Also not one of the server staff knew the menu or the table numbers it seemed. It goes like this;
Countless times of plates of food being brought to us; “Did you order the…?”
“No, we did not!”
And then it would happen again and again and again and again… the same process over and over again.
Then randomly someone would come with a bill halfway through your food; “Can I ask you to confirm what you have ordered so far…”
Then you’d order something and nothing would show, so you’d press the ‘call-button’ and someone would show up with a dish of food to ask if you had ordered it, or ask you to verify another bill not actually bring your food order.
We watched this comedy of errors happening over and over to every single table. Shockingly bad. Cringe bad in fact. They would literally come from the kitchen with a plate of food and walk around each table asking if it was theirs until someone said yes. EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Then 5-minutes later the exact same process with a series of bills, despite the fact that no one had asked for their bills. This happened 4-5 times to us.
On the dessert frontage, it was a classic. We pinged the call button. No response for 10 minutes. Click again and also click for the bill. Surely that will spurn them into action? Nope. I had to grab a girl that came to ask us if we had ordered some random dish (yep it happened again) and I asked if we could order dessert and get a menu. We ordered 3 varying gelatos. 10, 20, 30 minutes pass and nothing. I again hit the call and pay the bill buttons and people come and guess what the answer was, almost 20-30 minutes after ordering; “Sorry Sir we don’t have any gelato today.”
You have to be kidding me.
That really summed up just how bad service is at this place. It was a shame to ruin the experience.
At that point I just wanted to exit from the place, enough is enough!!!
I was feeling embarrassed for them and that is not good as a paying customer.
And so to the food at Coastal Settlement @ Changi
I am probably going to be a little more critical here than normal due to the above service experience, which really has jaded the whole thing sadly. It’s an OK experience.
It’s not a WOW. More seasoning is needed on everything. I also challenge their Wagyu. What was served was a nice steak for sure, but is it really Wagyu? If it is a cheaper Australian Wagyu, call it out and name the farm.
I saw this on the menu and thought oooh sounds interesting – TCS Wagyu Cubes $24. We ended up giving most of this to Strawberry Blonde to kick in her baby giraffe and eat the green stuff. Basically, this is exactly the same as what is sitting on top of the so-called Wagyu & Mushroom Pizza – just minus the flatbread and they’ve added green.
#1 plums for the Wagyu Beef Hor Fun $34. #1’s feedback; “Very nice. Not as good as others I have had, but a solid dish nonetheless. Sauce filled the mouth with loads of different flavours. It went well with the tender Wagyu slices, crunchy veg, chewy noodles and the droplets of truffle oil on top. So many flavours and textures together. No complaints from me for the dish.”
So, I asked wifey for her review of the Grouper Fish Congee & Egg $24. She replied; “Tasted like fish.” Wow, that’s going to make you flock there right? Then she became a little more “adult” in her review and shared the following; “I loved it because they have stepped up a level to a normal congee, much healthier with the addition of spinach, and the egg was a great twist. The fish was super-fresh too.”
The Beef Rendang $23 was cooked so soft it melted in the mouth, very flavourful and worth the price however you had to order the coconut rice separately at $5 when it really should have been included at that price.
Coastal Settlement Menu
Coastal Settlement Conclusion
Would we go back? I reckon we would for the feel of the place and the stunning surroundings. Wifey was the one happiest with her food today.
So Coastal Settlement I do hope you guys read this. Massive potential but boy oh boy you need to resolve the service, it was shockingly bad. For me to feel embarrassed for you due to the table by table walking by the staff trying to find the home for a plate of food or ask if we’d ordered something every 5-10 minutes is just wrong!!!
You need to fix it guys, especially in our rather challenging Covid world. People order with their feet, as in they will go elsewhere. The ambience and the surrounding thorough were ace and we really did ENJOY!!!
We left here for a walk along the Changi Boardwalk and ended up dining at one of our favourite Sea Grill @ Changi Beach. A few new items on the menu for Xmas that were of absolute quality and the service was exceptional.
The Coastal Settlement Opening Time
- Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 11pm
- Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 8.30am – 11pm
- Last order for lunch at 3pm
- Last order for dinner at 9:30pm
The Coastal Settlement Address
Address: 200 Netheravon Rd, Singapore 508529
