Halcyon & Crane – Cafe Style Cuisine With Sichuanese Flavours

Halcyon & Crane perched on the third level of The Paragon sport an interior that relaxes and comforts, a menu that entices and cares, a takeaway section that facilitates and eases, and an ambience that invites and recharges. As an all-day dining, café and bar at the heart of Orchard Road, Halcyon & Crane is a unique and different experience all to itself. It offers cafe style cuisine with unique Sichuanese flavours.

Halcyon & Crane – Origins & Interiors

Halcyon & Crane is named after two birds of legend. In Greek mythology, the halcyon, or kingfisher, is associated with a time of calm, serenity and happiness. In Chinese cultural tradition, the crane is a symbol of longevity, peace and good fortune. Its Interiors is inspired by Chengdu, the city in China’s southern Sichuan province where its owners hail from.

Halcyon & Crane – The palate takes flight

Halcyon & Crane does a fresh, healthful take on modern European cuisine with a Sichuan influence. Round the clock, the menu brings you café-style food and drinks that are well-curated and beautifully presented. Start the day right with the breakfast menu with bites such as the Ham & Cheesy Egg Crepe ($19) – a shout-out to Shanghai pancake wraps with Sichuan-style sausage — and the King’s Chicken Hash Benedict ($21), a moreish dish of English muffins topped with gong bao chicken, sous-vide egg and Cheddar cheese. If you prefer a healthful start to the day, great choices are Pistachio & Apple Birches Muesli ($17), and Fresh Berries & Honey Granola ($17).

After 11.30am, the all-day dining menu takes centre stage with selections for the health- conscious and those looking for more substantial bites. European and Sichuan flavours come together in salads, hearty soups and noodles. Go for the Smoked Tuna Tataki Salad ($21) which is tossed with a tantalising dressing of spicy red oil vinaigrette and citrus.

The Specialty Beef & Tomato Braised Rice ($28) is doused in a rich broth concocted with Angus brisket, spices and herbs over 16 hours, given a more wholesome touch with a mix of kamut, buckwheat and barley grains. A must-try is the Chicken & Mushroom Capellini ($23), a nourishing soup of chicken and bamboo mushrooms with quality vermicelli noodles imported from Sichuan.

Nursing a bigger appetite? Go for the Instagram-worthy dish Beetroot & Seafood Risotto ($32) made with Japanese pearl rice and given a touch of spice from pickled chilli.

Or, try the Baby Chicken Roulade ($32), a meticulously crafted dish of spring chicken marinated with honey fish sauce, five-spice powder and Sichuan pepper.

Looking for something to share with friends instead? Then gather over small plates like Mushroom & Pork Scallion Pancakes ($14); Chengdu Baked Egg Pancakes($14); or side dishes such as a black fungus & lotus salad; and braised daikon with quail egg, crispy broad bean and pork floss. Or enjoy a languid afternoon with luscious all-day desserts such as Avocado Cheesecake ($16), Coffee Cake ($14), Tiramisu in A Glass ($15), and Berries Trifle & Cheese ($15). The coffee programme made popular at Birds of A Feather continues to delight at Halcyon & Crane, with quality roasted grounds.

Alongside a selection of teas and tisanes, diners can also enjoy a list of creative and reinvigorating smoothies and shakes, like the Cereal Killer ($13) blend of barley, oats, corn and pumpkin or the Purple Power ($13), with sweet purple tapioca and grains. No time for a break? Busier folk will find the takeaway section a life-saver with conveniently packed salads, pastas and juices – a bit of Halcyon & Crane on the go.

Halcyon & Crane

Address: 290 Orchard Road, The Paragon #03-09, Singapore 238859 | Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm Daily | Tel:(65) 9721 5121 | Facebook:halcyoncrane | Instagram: @halcyoncrane