A Pomfret at Black Society

I'm not the biggest fan of dim sum or the full-on Chinese menu. I certainly don't want to have every weekend or even for lunch. But the cuisine is pretty much dependable and regular. I can't never argue with siew mai — that's like a default item at tea-breaks at events and conferences. When Black Society at 9 Penang Road welcomes dogs and they have a super sheltered outdoor patio that stands up to thunderstorms, I would totally go. 

The restaurant's menu is varied and wide. It also offers one-person portion lunches, and for now, also a dim sum buffet at happy hour prices between 2.30pm to 5.30pm on weekdays. There's pretty nothing much to complain about. 

We've had some of its dim sum thingies, and the lighter meals. I'm not a big fan of dim sum since I only eat specific things, but there're always dishes I can have, which means it will suit different tastebuds. The husband wanted a 'suan cai' fish soup (酸菜鱼汤) at lunch, and the restaurant does an elegant version without killing you with Sichuan peppercorns. I oddly felt like a plate of full-on carbs in the form of fried Teochew kway teow with chives and loads of chye poh. And a side of braised chicken feet.

There was dinner at Black Society another night when it stormed out and we needed a sheltered spot. The table had a water-cress and pork rib soup (the soup of the day), and a lobster bisque with xiaolongbao. They also had prawn congee and beef hor fun in black bean sauce. There were vegetables of kai lan and bittergourd in plum juice. Dunno why this restaurant still trots out so much sharks' fin on their menu. Do people really care for it still nowadays?

I wanted fish, and very little carbs. I gave all my stomach space to the fish. The server kindly filleted it for us, and she did it well. At $128++  for the 1-kg pomfret steamed in Chinese wine and garlic sauce on a bed of beehoon, it was expectedly nicely steamed and fished in the soup. It turned out super tasty. 

The husband was pleased to spot a bottle of cabernet sauvignon 'Dirty Boots' 2021 from Snake+Herring. Had to have it. Totally complemented dinner. We like the offerings from this winery. I almost had a second bottle, but I didn't. I ought to be prudent about alcohol.