After 10 years, Potato Head Singapore bids goodbye to its iconic venue at 36 Keong Saik Road. In an announcement last month, the brand mentioned that it will focus operations on its Desa outlet in Bali, while Tong Ah building in Singapore welcomes a new concept: 1939.
Those familiar with Potato Head will know Studio 1939 as the speakeasy-style cocktail studio located on level three of the building. 1939 will similarly be split into four areas: The Front Porch on level one, The Restaurant on level two, the cocktail bar Studio 1939 on level three, and The Rooftop on level 4.
Stepping into the building, pretty much everything remains the same look-wise, hence 1939’s tagline “Same iconic venue, new name”. We heave a sigh of relief when we see the familiar winding checkered staircase decorated with vintage knick-knacks and the same vibrant hand-painted murals by Australian artist David Bromley. The interiors remain just as charming, fantastical and otherworldly as we remember it.
So what’s different? Significant effort was put into curating an updated food menu and cocktail list that intentionally incorporates more local flavours, while retaining the appeal of the previous menu. That said, we asked, and the team confirmed that the famous Potato Head Three Buns burgers – such as the popular Fun Boy Three ($25) – will remain available.
Fresh on the food line-up is the 1939 har cheong gai ($18), a Singaporean classic reinvented as a bar snack. The crispy mid-joints are meant to be dunked in an accompanying gingery and garlicky chilli sauce reminiscent of chicken rice chilli. Also new to the menu is This Little Piggy ($17), which are fork-tender twice-cooked pork belly skewers with watermelon relish and a smokey mayo dip.
We also graze on the Cobb salad ($18) which comes with generous chunks of creamy blue D’Auvergne cheese that are lighter on the palate compared to most blue cheeses. The Ocean’s Fry Fish N Chips ($26) and fish tacos (from $11) both feature locally caught sea bass that’s beer-battered till golden brown and crunchy.
But the standout for us is 1939’s new chilli crab burger ($28). The spicy deep-fried crab patty maintains a crisp exterior and gives way to a bouncy yet airy middle. For folks who don’t take beef, the crab burger is an alternative that can give the joint's famed beef burgers a run for its money. For dessert, we love the apple pie ($16) because it doesn’t try to be too much. A flakey, buttery crust wraps around a filling of tender spiced apples, finished with a drizzle of butterscotch sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
In the drinks department, 1939 reimagines its cocktail menu into three venue-specific sections: The Restaurant, Studio 1939, and The Rooftop. In a bid to offer more familiar options to guests who prefer the standard tipple without any embellishments, a series of six classic cocktails are now available under The Restaurant section. These include the old-fashioned, negroni, espresso martini, whiskey sour and more ($25 each).
Things get a little more exciting in the two other sections. For one, you’ll notice a ‘BPM’ label next to every drink – a fun way of denoting ABV or alcohol strength, while paying homage to 1939’s music-centered culture. Side note: stop by on weekends to join in one of 1939’s weekly DJ sessions.
We start with Toxic ($25) from the Studio 1939 section, a punchy laksa-inspired cocktail. Laksa-leaf-infused vodka takes centre stage, with coconut cream, chilli padi and fresh citrus as calefares. Be warned though: the laksa leaf definitely shouts louder than the vodka. For something milder, the Smooth Operator goes down easily and pairs well with food. This gin-based tipple blends Tanqueray London Dry gin with oolong, lychee and peach. Or go for Higher Love, where tequila, pink guava and hibiscus meet Assam powder for a faint kick to an overall refreshingly sweet drink.
For something boozier, opt for the Eye of the Tiger, which sits at 1358BPM – the highest on the menu. This spirit-forward concoction combines Monkey Shoulder whiskey with citrusy fruits like grapefruit and calamansi for a nice balance. And if you prefer to enjoy your cocktails in a more laidback, alfresco setting, shimmy up to The Rooftop for a line-up of more tropical-inspired drinks, including two rum-based options.
Find out more about 1939 here.
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