HIPPOPOTAMUS AT MARINA SQUARE – THE LINK BETWEEN HIPPO & STEAK?

Hi there

I have always wanted to try out Hippopotamus at Marina Square, and I finally decided to go there to celebrate with my husband and son over some grilled steak. 🙂

From the pictures on the menu, it does looks mouth watering and both my husband and I were rubbing our hands waiting to see if something good is in store for us. 🙂

Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill is famous in Paris for their well known steaks at affordable prices, something like Aston to us may be? So let’s just see if the French can grill better steak than the Americans. 🙂

Once we were seated, we were greeted by the very cheerful crew literally, the staff was very eager to introduce some of the popular dishes and also recommend some of the best seller. We were given potato chips while waiting for our meal and my son was happily enjoying this little treat. 🙂

While waiting I started to check out the decor, and to be honest, it is really really red, I know red is suppose to entice appetite and that’s why Macdonald’s has it, and this place is literally screaming the temptation part (in a good way)

Hippopotamus mainly focus in grilled items, grilled steak, many many kinds, some I also do not know which part of the cow it comes from, haha..

Their burgers look rather odd looking, not the usual burgers you can see at burger joints, but nevertheless, it still “looks” juicy.

I went there during Father’s Day, so they do have their Father’s Day promotions, like Buy 2 mains get 1 free for daddy dearest. They also have various combos which you can mix and match your appetizer, mains & desserts too. We eventually ordered to Hippo Trio which comes with a Starter + Main + Dessert.

My colleague has recommended me to try their French Onion Soup, so I made it a point to try it at this lunch.

To me first thing first, onion soup must be quinessential full of very robust onion flavor, and definitely not any water down salty version of some cheap old onions. Second it got to top with a very nice thick piece of bread topped with generous amount of melted cheese to soak up the savory soup.

Over at Hippopotamus, the soup part was okay, not bad, at least it is not water down, but I find if it is thicker, it will be even better. The gooey cheese on melted bread hits the spot as it is served piping hot, you can literally wait for a good 5 mins before you can take a bite of it, and that is why I like it. If only the gooey cheese can be a tad more generous, as half way through the soup, I am already left with less than a quarter piece…

Side salad that comes with our combos come in a very simple set up, some onions, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and lettuce. All ingredients are fresh and the feta cheese with olives always perk up this simple yet delicious salad.

Now my order of hanger’s steak, whenever you order a steak, the waiter will always recommend you to go for which level. At first I went for medium well, but he kindly advised me that this goes best with medium or better medium rare which I am not very use to, so I stick with medium instead.

You can get to choose the sauce to go with it (Barbeque / Bearniase / Stewed Shallot / Pepper / Roquefort cheese). We tried Bearnaise which has a tangy garlicy mayo flavour.

Each steak comes with 3 sides, (from a choice of potato gratin, baked potato, green beans, basmati rice, fries & ratatouille) and I choosed potato gratin, french fries (for my son) & ratatouille which is mixed vegetables tomato stew.

Steak wise, it comes in a decent portion (200g)  and with the fries, it is probably going to be quite a big meal. Steak was tender but not as tasty as I expect it will be though, definitely need the sauce to perk up that flavor.

Among all the sides, my favourite is still the potatoes. The fries although is not the skinny version, nevertheless they are still crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.

Another take of potatoes, potato gratin, comes in a piping hot saucer with bubbling crispy golden brown cheese top, beneath are thin slices of potatoes in creamy gratin sauce. I give it 2 thumbs up when serve with some tabasco sauce.

Hippo Pepper Burger DS (Double Stack) , don’t ask me why my husband choose his sides of basmati rice and baked potato, this is just carbo overload hahaa… The basmati rice infused a slight buttery taste and the potato is the regular ones, nothing much to shout about.

However although the burger looks kind of boring, (naked with just two slabs of burger steak and pepper sauce with boring buns). It turn out to be super juicy! Very flavourful too, never judge the burger by how boring it looks. 🙂 I personally will like if it is stacked with some salad greens, but just the burger steak alone is good.

On the day we went there, we thought there wasn’t much people, only until we pay, then we found out there are extended seatings at the back and it was full too, so I think this place is still quite popular. 🙂

Oh and they have a kid’s menu too. 🙂

KIDS MENU – $9.90

• Main Course – Breaded Fish / Chicken Nuggets / US Beef Patty
• Choice of Dessert – Single scoop of ice cream / Mini Creme Brulee / Mini crepe with chocolate sauce
• Choice of Beverage – Soda / Fruit juice

 

Since our combo comes with dessert, we opted for Creme Brulee and also Ben&Jerry Ice cream. 🙂 Creme Brulee comes in although small portion, half way through it I already find it so hard to finish up, so I think one portion is actually good for 2 person to share.

However, the Ben & Jerry ice cream comes in generous portion, you can’t go wrong with this ice cream. 🙂

If you want to check out their menu, here is the low down of it. 🙂

STARTERS

• Hot goat cheese salad – $9.90
• Shrimp potat twists – 2pcs $4.90 / 4pcs $8.90 / 6pcs $12.90
• Mini Skewers – 2 sticks $4.90 / 4 sticks $8.90 / 6 sticks $12.90
• Spring rolls – 2pcs $4.90 / 4pcs $8.90 / 6 pcs $12.90
• Chicken wings – $9.90
• Squid sticks – $8.90
• Combo $14.90
• Hippo Dips with Corn Chips – $14.90
• Cretan salad – $7.90
• Beef Carpaccio – $6.90
• Beef Carpaccio with goat cheese – $8.90
• Tomato tartare with avocado – $9.90
• Tomato tartare with tuna – $10.90
• Tomato tartare with feta cheese – $10.90
• Boe marrow – $10.90
• Escargots – $11.90
• Foie gras – $12.90
• French Onion Soup – $8.90

MAIN COURSES

• Asian Platter – $13.90
• Combo platter – $15.90
• BBQ ribs – $19.90
• Lamb chops – $18.90
• Grilled chicken – $14.90
• Grilled chicken with spices – $16.90
• Mixed grill with lamb, beef, chicken – $20.90
• Barramundi fillet – $18.90
• Chef’s salad – $12.90
• Garden Cretan salad – $12.90
• Caesar salad with chicken – $12.90

BURGERS

• Hippo cheese burger – $14.90 / Double Steak Version – $19.90
• Hippo classic burger – $14.90 / Double Steak Version – $19.90
• Hippo Pepper burger  – $14.90 / Double Steak Version – $19.90
• Hippo bacon burger – $14.90 / Double Steak Version – $19.90
• Hippo blue cheese burger – $15.90 / Double Steak Version – $20.90

BEEF

• Beef Carpaccio
• Beef Carpaccio with goat cheese – $17.90
• Tartare – $17.90
• Tartare grilled – $17.90
• Hanger steak (200g) – $18.90
• Skirt steak (180g) – $16.90
• T-Bone (340g) – $25.90
• Tendeloin <<Chateaubriand>> (180g) – $28.90
• Rump steak – $16.90
• Classic ribeye – $24.90
• Sirloin (190g) – $22.90
• Sirloin (480g) – $49.90
• Beef Patty with fried egg (150g) – $15.90
• Beef skewer – $21.90

PREMIUM QUALITY BEEF

• Rump steak (180g) – $27.90
• Ribeye Steak (300g) – $36.90
• Top sirloin (180g) – $27.90
• Sirloin Steak (250g) – $32.90
• Prime Rib (600g) – $64.90

SPECIAL MENU

• Hippo Lunch – Main course + Beverages – $15.90
• Hippo Smart – Starter + Main Course or Main Course & Dessert – $19.50
• Hippo Trio – Starter + Main Course + Dessert – $29.90
• Hippo Treat – Starter + Main Course + Dessert & Bolsson – $38.50

DESSERTS

• Gourmet profiteroles – $14.90
• Very brownies – $14.90
• Only Caramel
• 2 Scoops Ben & Jerry – $8.90
• 4 Scoops Ben & Jerry – $15.90
• Fruit Bowl
• Hippo Hot fudge
• Lemon meringue pie
• Combo dessert
• Churros
• Creme brulee

BEVERAGES

• Juice / Coca-Cola / Coca Cola Light / Coca Cola Zero / Orangins / Schweppes Tonic / Sprite / Lipton Ice Tea – $3.90
• Vittel – $2.90
• Ice Moutain – $1.90
• Perrier Sparkling – $3.90
• Heineken / Tiger / Baron’s / Hoegaarden – $6.90
• Espresso $3.90 / Decaf Coffee $4.90 / Cappuccino $4.90 / Cafe Latte $4.90 / Tea $3.90

So far after trying them, I am still sticking to the Americans haha… but if I were to drop by Marina Square and crave for steak, will definitely go back to dine there. So what’s the link between Hippo & Steak, I am still scratching my head over this. haha…

RESTAURANT REVIEWS : HIPPOPOTAMUS AT MARINA SQUARE

Locations : 6 Raffles Boulevard, #01-204/205 Marina Square Singapore 039594

Tel: 63385352

Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (daily)

Happy Dining!

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Cheers,

Dawn