The Ship Restaurant & Bar

by | Nov 30, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Overview

The Ship Restaurant & Bar is a Singapore dining institution that has weathered the test of time since 1977. Originally located on Robinson Road, this establishment moved to Shaw Centre over four decades ago and continues to serve generations of families seeking reliable Western cuisine at reasonable prices in the heart of Orchard Road.

Ambience & Atmosphere

Interior Design

After undergoing a revamp approximately ten years ago, The Ship presents a cheerful and inviting dining space. The maritime theme is woven throughout the restaurant with ship-inspired decorative elements that pay homage to its nautical name. The space manages to feel both nostalgic and refreshed, striking a balance between tradition and contemporary comfort.

Dining Environment

  • Setting: Air-conditioned, sit-down restaurant with table service
  • Seating: Can accommodate families and groups; full bookings common on weekends
  • Vibe: Casual, family-friendly atmosphere
  • Noise Level: Moderate, suitable for conversation
  • Overall Feel: Unpretentious and welcoming, reminiscent of classic family restaurants

The ambience earns a solid 3/5 rating – comfortable and appropriate for its positioning as an affordable family dining venue.

Location & Accessibility

Address: Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, #02-17, Singapore 228208

Nearest MRT: Orchard Station (NS22/TE14)

Operating Hours:

  • Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Friday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM

Contact: +65 6235 2235

The location is prime – situated in the bustling Orchard-Scotts shopping district, making it accessible for shoppers, office workers, and tourists.

Menu Overview

The Ship offers various set meal promotions throughout the week, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious diners seeking Western fare in an otherwise expensive area.

Sunday Set Lunch

The Sunday Set Lunch is a particular draw, offering exceptional value:

Local Set – Special Sliced Fish Noodles: $13.90

  • Includes: Main dish, beverage, dessert

BBQ Chicken Chop Set: $14.90

  • Includes: Soup of the day, main dish, beverage, dessert

These prices are remarkably competitive for the Orchard Road area, where a single slice of cake at a trendy café can cost nearly as much.

Dishes Reviewed

1. BBQ Chicken Chop Set ($14.90)

Components

  • Soup of the day (Mexican chicken soup on visit)
  • Tall fluffy dinner roll with individual butter portion
  • BBQ grilled chicken chop with grilled pineapple ring
  • French fries
  • Fresh garden salad with shredded carrots and capsicum
  • Beverage
  • Dessert (butter cake)

Dish Analysis

Soup: The Mexican chicken variety was well-balanced – neither overly spicy nor bland. Served piping hot, it provided a warming start to the meal. The accompanying dinner roll was notably fluffy and fresh.

Main Course: The portion was substantial and generous. The chicken chop displayed good cooking technique – moist interior with proper grilling marks. The meat was tender throughout, avoiding the common pitfall of dried-out chicken breast.

The grilled pineapple ring added a touch of sweetness that complemented the savory BBQ flavors. The accompaniments were straightforward but fresh – crispy chips and a simple garden salad with good vegetable-to-lettuce ratio.

Overall Impression: This is comfort food at its finest – the kind of meal that reminds you of home cooking. It’s not attempting culinary innovation, and that’s precisely its strength. The execution is reliable, portions are generous, and the flavors are crowd-pleasing.

2. Sliced Fish Noodles Set ($13.90)

Components

  • Sliced fish noodle soup
  • Choice of noodles
  • Beverage
  • Dessert (butter cake)

Dish Analysis

Broth: Light and clean-tasting, the soup base showed restraint. It wasn’t trying to be intensely flavored but rather provided a gentle, comforting foundation for the dish.

Noodles: Displayed decent springiness and proper texture – not mushy or overcooked. The quality was comparable to good hawker standards.

Fish: Fresh slices cooked to proper doneness – neither rubbery from overcooking nor falling apart from being too delicate. The fish maintained its structure while remaining tender.

Portion: Generous enough to satisfy without being overwhelming.

Overall Impression: This dish bridges hawker and restaurant dining – taking a hawker-inspired classic and presenting it in an air-conditioned, table-service setting. It’s executed competently without any bells and whistles, delivering exactly what one would expect from this style of dish.

3. Dessert – Butter Cake

A small slice of traditional butter cake concludes both sets. The portion is modest – deliberately old-fashioned in size – but the quality holds up. The cake is moist with good butter flavor, simple and satisfying. It’s not trying to be a showstopper, just a pleasant conclusion to the meal.

Recipe Recreation: BBQ Chicken Chop

While The Ship keeps their exact recipes proprietary, here’s how to recreate a similar dish at home:

Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the Chicken:

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts (200-250g each)
  • 2 slices fresh pineapple
  • 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

For Accompaniments:

  • 300g potatoes, cut into chips
  • Oil for frying
  • Mixed salad greens
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1/2 red capsicum, sliced
  • Simple vinaigrette or Thousand Island dressing

Cooking Instructions

Marinating the Chicken (2-4 hours ahead)

  1. In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and vegetable oil
  2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper
  3. Place chicken in marinade, ensuring all surfaces are coated
  4. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours (or minimum 30 minutes if short on time)

Preparing the Chips

  1. Cut potatoes into 1cm thick chips
  2. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch
  3. Drain and pat completely dry with paper towels
  4. Heat oil to 160°C and fry chips for 5-6 minutes until soft
  5. Remove and drain
  6. Increase oil temperature to 180°C
  7. Fry chips again for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy
  8. Season with salt immediately

Grilling the Chicken

  1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat
  2. Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off
  3. Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes on first side
  4. Flip and grill for another 6-7 minutes
  5. Chicken is done when internal temperature reaches 74°C
  6. In the last 2 minutes, place pineapple slices on grill
  7. Brush pineapple with remaining marinade
  8. Grill until you see nice char marks (about 1 minute per side)
  9. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving

Preparing the Salad

  1. Wash and dry salad greens
  2. Shred carrot using a grater
  3. Slice capsicum thinly
  4. Toss together gently
  5. Dress lightly just before serving

Plating

  1. Place grilled chicken chop in center of plate
  2. Top with grilled pineapple ring
  3. Arrange chips on one side
  4. Place salad on the other side
  5. Serve immediately while hot

Cooking Tips

  • Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying chips; work in batches
  • Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking chicken
  • Let chicken come to room temperature before grilling for even cooking
  • Reserve some marinade (that hasn’t touched raw chicken) for basting
  • The double-fry method for chips ensures crispy exterior and fluffy interior

Service Quality

The service at The Ship is efficient and professional. During the review visit, despite the restaurant being fully booked, the manager accommodated walk-in diners with a reasonable time constraint (1 hour 15 minutes). This shows flexibility and customer-oriented thinking.

The staff is attentive without being overbearing, and service is prompt. Food arrived in reasonable timeframes, and the overall experience was smooth.

Service Rating: 3/5 – Solid, reliable service that meets expectations

Value Proposition

This is where The Ship truly shines. In the expensive Orchard-Scotts area, finding set lunches with table service starting under $15 is genuinely difficult. The restaurant offers:

  • Generous portions
  • Multiple courses (soup, main, dessert for chicken chop set)
  • Beverage included
  • Air-conditioned comfort
  • Proper table service
  • Prime location

Value Rating: 4/5 – Excellent value for money in this location

Food Quality

The food doesn’t aim for culinary innovation or gourmet status. Instead, it focuses on:

  • Consistency
  • Familiar flavors
  • Proper execution of basics
  • Generous portions
  • Comfort food appeal

Food Rating: 3/5 – Competent, satisfying, reliable

Delivery Options

Based on the restaurant’s traditional dine-in model and the information available, The Ship primarily operates as a sit-down restaurant. For current delivery options, customers should:

  1. Check Major Platforms: Look on GrabFood, Foodpanda, or Deliveroo to see if The Ship has partnered with these services
  2. Call Direct: Contact +65 6235 2235 to inquire about takeaway or delivery arrangements
  3. Visit Website: Check their official website for updated service options

Note: Many traditional restaurants have adapted to include delivery during and after the pandemic, so availability may have changed.

Who Should Visit The Ship?

Ideal For:

  • Families seeking affordable Western food
  • Office workers on lunch break
  • Shoppers in the Orchard area looking for value
  • Diners who appreciate consistency over experimentation
  • Those seeking comfort food in air-conditioned setting
  • Budget-conscious diners who still want table service

May Not Suit:

  • Diners seeking cutting-edge culinary innovation
  • Those looking for fine dining experience
  • People who prioritize Instagram-worthy presentations
  • Gourmets seeking complex flavor profiles

The Verdict

The Ship Restaurant & Bar succeeds precisely because it knows what it is and doesn’t try to be something else. In a dining scene increasingly focused on trends, fusion, and innovation, The Ship offers something equally valuable: reliability.

It’s the restaurant equivalent of a comfortable pair of shoes – not flashy, but you know exactly what you’re getting, and it never lets you down. The food is prepared competently, portions remain generous, prices stay reasonable, and service is efficient. This formula has sustained the restaurant for nearly five decades.

For families who remember visiting as children and now bring their own kids, for office workers seeking a reliable lunch spot, and for anyone who values straightforward Western food at fair prices in a premium location, The Ship continues to deliver.

Final Ratings Summary

CategoryRatingNotesFood3/5Competent, satisfying, consistentService3/5Efficient and professionalValue4/5Excellent for the locationAtmosphere3/5Comfortable, family-friendlyOverall3/5Solid, reliable choice

Practical Information Summary

  • Best Time to Visit: Weekday lunches for shorter waits; book ahead for Sunday lunch
  • Average Spend: $15-25 per person for set meals
  • Booking: Recommended for weekends; call +65 6235 2235
  • Payment: Check with restaurant for current accepted methods
  • Parking: Shaw Centre parking available
  • Dress Code: Casual

Final Thoughts

The Ship Restaurant & Bar represents a vanishing breed of establishment – one that prioritizes consistency, value, and reliability over trends and gimmicks. In an era where restaurants often struggle to last beyond a few years, The Ship’s 48-year tenure speaks volumes.

It may not win culinary awards or generate social media buzz, but it fills tables day after day with satisfied customers who know exactly what they’re getting. Sometimes, that’s precisely what people want: a meal that’s dependable, affordable, and comforting. The Ship delivers on all three counts, making it a worthwhile destination for anyone seeking straightforward Western fare in Singapore’s premium shopping district.