Dempsey House

Etched amidst greenery and with the original barracks layout in place, Dempsey House has a quirky vibe all around and is definitely not your average restaurant. My date and I were ushered in promptly and seated indoors, amidst cute, uncoordinated furniture and pretty trinkets hanging from the ceiling.  

To start us off, we ordered the soup of the day ($8) which was pumpkin and fries ($6) as a side dish. Both sounded normal enough but the fries were extraordinary. Served in a mess tin and looking exactly like the kind of fries you would get at McDonald’s, I was a tad bit disappointed initially until I took my first bite. Cooked in white truffle oil, there was a very subtle but certainly different taste to the fries. My date and I couldn’t stop popping them in and it wasn’t long before the fries were gone. The pumpkin soup however, left much to be desired. I would have liked it if the soup was creamier and richer as the overall taste was rather bland and noncommittal. Although the soup portion was generous, the drudgery of the taste by the time we were midway made it a little hard to swallow.  

Our entrees were executed much better, fortunately. My date had the Jerky Pork Tenderloin ($22) which was juicy, tender and deliciously presented on a bed of peppers and vegetables, enticing us with every bite. I had the Mushroom Risotto ($22), which was just great, with its generous dose of mushrooms and cheesy coating. It was both a treat for the tastebuds as well as a visual feast with its colourful display of greens and fungi. Although the cheese smell was at times slightly overwhelming, the dish was pretty good overall. I was completely stuffed by the time I was done with the risotto but still, we managed to sneak in some dessert. We decided on the Chocolate Almond Cake ($12), which turned out to be quite a potent choice cause it was no light dessert. Reeling from already full tummies, I found the slice of cake a little too sweet and rich for my liking. They have a quite a variety of cakes and tarts on their menu though so you won’t be lacking for choice. 

Service in this place is great, with friendly and sensitive wait staff constantly topping up our water and responding to our requests quickly. Coupled with the quirky surroundings (think an outdoor greenhouse setting for dinner) and good food, I will be back.