The Masses: 8th Anniversary Communal Menu, The Best One Yet!
Founded in 2017 by Chef Dylan Ong, The Masses began as an intimate 36-seater tucked away along Beach Road. Fast forward to 2024, and the restaurant now calls Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski its new home—an elegant setting where Chef Dylan continues to push boundaries with his bold and creative Franco-Asian cuisine. It’s a place I consistently turn to when I want to impress, and it never fails to deliver.
To mark its 8th Anniversary, The Masses is offering a special Anniversary Communal Menu priced at $79.90++ per person (minimum 3 diners), available until 15 May 2025. And trust me—the three-person minimum makes perfect sense once you see the sheer abundance and variety in this generous 9-course experience.
The meal opens on a high note with the Amélie Oyster, delicately dressed with calamansi foam and coconut purée. The oyster itself is plump, briny, and naturally sweet, with the citrusy tang of calamansi providing a sharp yet refreshing contrast. The coconut purée lends a subtle creaminess, creating a perfectly balanced bite that awakens the palate.Next up is one of my personal favourites – the Smoked Hamachi. The fish is gently smoked over hay, infusing it with an earthy aroma that doesn’t overpower its delicate texture. It’s paired with Japanese cucumber, pepper, black mint, and vibrant citrus segments, then dressed in a light soy and extra virgin olive oil vinaigrette. The dish is beautifully plated and even better tasted; a symphony of smoky, zesty, and herbaceous notes.A quintessential East-meets-West creation from Chef Dylan, the Foie Gras & Pork Bao delivers on both indulgence and ingenuity. A crisp, golden deep-fried house-made bao encases a luxurious filling of silky foie gras and marinated minced pork, striking a perfect balance between richness and umami. The dish is brightened with a drizzle of sherry soy vinaigrette, which cuts through the fattiness with a gentle tang. It’s a decadent bite-sized powerhouse that captures the playful fusion spirit of The Masses.Among the small plates, the Burrata truly stands out – not just for its lush creaminess, but for its unexpected yet harmonious pairing of ingredients. The cheese is lightly seasoned with sea salt and cracked black pepper, then surrounded by a vibrant ensemble of kumquat (sweet and bright!), tomato, mirabelle plum, orange marmalade, and a generous dusting of bottarga. While the combination may sound eclectic, each component plays a role in amplifying the burrata’s richness. It’s a dish that burrata lovers (like myself) will absolutely crave again.A long-time staple on The Masses’ menu, this dish continues to impress with its balance of elegance and comfort. Braised purple cabbage is served in a luscious dashi beurre blanc, its umami depth complementing the sweetness of the Hokkaido scallop perched on top. Ikura adds a salty pop, while the crispy pork skin brings crunch and contrast. It’s the first of the heartier plates – a warm, savoury medley that sets the stage for what’s to come.This one stole my heart: the Bouillabaisse, hands down my favourite dish of the night. A soul-warming seafood medley featuring roasted seabass, kawaebi (river shrimp), mussels, clams, and charred octopus, all swimming in an intensely flavourful lobster bisque. What elevates it further? The addition of mafaldine pasta – those ruffled, ribbon-like noodles that soak up every drop of that rich, saffron-hued broth. It’s deeply satisfying and impeccably executed. I’m already hoping Chef Dylan will consider making this a permanent menu item…please?By the time the heartier mains arrived, we were admittedly quite full – but there’s simply no saying no to one of The Masses’ signature dishes. The confit duck leg was fall-off-the-bone tender, its richness elevated by a bed of smoky, stir-fried “wok hey” kway teow tossed with mushrooms and coated in a tangy-sweet plum vinaigrette. Adding even more depth was a house-cured egg yolk, gently melting into the noodles, and slices of decadent duck liver sausage. While I don’t usually go for duck, I found myself reaching for seconds of the noodles – umami-packed and undeniably addictive. My dining companions, more familiar with duck, were especially taken by how well-executed and succulent the leg was.The next course leaned more towards my personal preferences: a beautifully cooked whole lemon sole, finished tableside in an “Asian Grenobloise”-inspired sauce. The classic French browned butter base was livened up with citrus zest, capers, salted vegetables, and paired with crispy Idaho potatoes for textural contrast. The result was light yet deeply flavourful, with each element balancing richness and acidity in perfect harmony.The meal concluded on a delightful note with a housemade strawberry tart, layered with tangy-sweet rhubarb jam, and crowned with a scoop of strawberry milk ice cream and sprigs of summer savoury herbs. The tartness of the fruit, the buttery pastry, and the creamy, just-sweet-enough ice cream came together in a wonderfully composed dessert. Special mention goes to the ice cream—it struck the ideal balance of flavour and creaminess without being cloying. A perfect end to a well-paced, thoughtful meal. To sweeten the celebration, The Masses is offering a 10% discount on all dine-in bills with a minimum spend of $80, valid until 15 May 2025. So round up your makan kakis and head down—this anniversary menu is a treat worth sharing.
Happy 8th Birthday, The Masses – here’s to many more!
Budget: $79.90++ per person
The Masses
Phone
+65 6518 4988
Address
15 STAMFORD ROAD, @, #01-84 CAPITOL SINGAPORE, THE ARCADE, 178905
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