About Wildfire Kitchen + Bar
True to its name, the brick walls of Wildfire Kitchen + Bar appear as a shock of red against a backdrop of a deep, verdant green. Recently opened in January, this new kid on the block proffers an extensive variety of craft beers and specialty burgers.
When it comes to the tried-and-tested combination of burgers and beers, there is little margin for error. But Wildfire’s owner, Michel Lu, has loftier aspirations. Envisioning that his burgers might rival that of the legendary Tokyo-based gourmet burger joint, Blacow, Lu promises to use only premium-grade Wagyu and grain-fed beef in his restaurant.
Fiery ambitions aside, my companion and I wondered if this eatery might turn out to be just another forgettable burger joint. We spent an evening at the Evans Road establishment putting their burgers and beer to the test.
The Burgers
Enamored by how out-of-this-world Blacow’s buns tasted, Lu had his team perform some nifty reverse engineering. The result are these golden-glazed discs of perfection – pillowy yet crisp around the edges, this is one burger bun you won’t want to pass on.
With the buns already eliciting such praise from us, we had even higher hopes for the patty. Sure enough, they didn’t disappoint. Each patty was thick, juicy and bursting with flavour – something you get only when using premium, intricately marbled beef.
Each burger comes with a small helping of fries.
Chili Con Carne – S$19
Only moderately spicy, this more palate-friendly interpretation may not satisfy the die-hard chili enthusiast. But as someone who can’t take the heat, this was okay in my books. I also liked how the chili con carne was generously filled with beans.
Ultimate Bacon Burger – S$19
Anything with bacon is a sure-fire crowd pleaser. This bacon cheeseburger is no exception. Wildfire’s innovative bacon ensures that every bite is jampacked with bacon-y goodness.
The Works – S$23
This was my favourite of the lot. Packed with flavour due to its wealth of ingredients (this one even has rosti inside!) and sauces – guacamole and their signature sauce, this burger had it all. Your only gripe would be how to go about eating it – there’s no way you’ll be able to capture all of that goodness in just one bite.
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Hanger Steak – S$36
Succulent with no taste of blood, this steak was cooked to medium rare perfection.
Spicy Chicken Midjoints – S$13
With its nicely balanced flavour (read: not too sour), these sriracha-glazed bite-size pieces were warmly received at our table. Also, bonus points for not having to work our way around pesky bones.
The Beer
Hitachino Nest Beer: Red Rice Ale – S$
The Red Rice Ale poured a hazy, blood orange. It was extremely drinkable due to its low carbonation and floral notes.
OWA Kuro – S$
If you’re looking specifically for a stout, it’s best you give this a miss, because OWA’s Kuro doesn’t taste remotely like one. No complaints on my part, though – I enjoyed savouring the hints of coffee in this malty number.
Wildfire is having an opening promotion – all bottled and draught craft beers are $9 all day till May 2015.
Verdict
What differentiates Wildfire from the pack is their promise to make the avant-garde affordable. You’ll be happy to know that they don’t have service charge. So rest assured – you won’t have to break the bank to enjoy a burger satisfying in the sense of both taste and proportion here.
Getting There
Despite being nestled amidst the leafy solitude of the Bukit Timah area, Wildfire is within walking distance from Botanic Gardens MRT station.
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens
Address: 26 Evans Road, 259367 Singapore
Open from 11am to 11pm daily.
This post is brought to you by Wildfire Kitchen + Bar.
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