This is the first revisit in almost 10 years, although in between we had been to the origin of the place as well as ordered delivery to our home. But nothing compares to dining in the restaurant.
Dinner Menu
Lawry’s is famous for its prime ribs worldwide. But few knew that before Lawry’s, it was Tam O’Shanter, a beloved steakhouse in Los Angeles. The Tam is still owned by descendants of Lawrence Frank and Walter Van de Kamp, the brothers-in-law who first partnered on a potato chip stand in downtown Los Angeles before opening the Tam in 1922 and going on to found Lawry’s Prime Rib in 1938.
The ideas that made Lawry’s so unique sprang from the late founder, Mr. Lawrence Frank and Mr. Walter Van de Kamp’s belief that customers deserve top quality food and exemplary service.
Hence no expense was spared to make the carts magnificent. Lawrence L. Frank designed the famous “Silver Carts” so that the beef could be carved at tableside. The first cart was built in 1938 and it cost nearly as much as a Cadillac (US$30,000).
The place is steeped with traditional – once you placed order, warm dinner rolls were served wrapped in a thick napkin.
The Famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad
Crisp Romaine, Iceberg Lettuce, Baby Spinach, shredded Beets, chopped Eggs and Croutons, tossed with our Exclusive Lawry’s Vintage Dressing in a salad bowl spun on a bed of ice
You start dinner with the traditional spinning bowl salad of ice berg lettuce, cherry tomatoes (one each per person), croutons and house thousand island and optional cheese in this part of the world. The salad comes with every order of main course.
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
No trip to a steakhouse is complete without ordering their shrimp cocktail, and Lawry’s is special because of the classic cocktail sauce and the size of the shrimp served.
Traditional Lump Crab Cake
Crab cakes are a classic steakhouse appetiser that is loved by many people. The taste of crab cakes can vary depending on the recipe and the quality of the ingredients used. The best are ones made with the blue swimmer crab, and these are exactly that. Lightly breaded and let the crab meat does all the heavy lifting.
Signature Roasted USDA Prime Rib of Beef
Every standing rib roast at Lawry’s The Prime Rib is USDA prime quality, aged for at least 21 days and slowly roasted on beds of rock salt for natural tenderness, carved and served from our “Silver Carts” with Yorkshire Pudding.
All prime ribs are served US Idaho mashed potatoes – American favourite – whole potatoes, cooked, then whipped with milk and butter until smooth and creamy, and topped with a brown gravy.
English Cut 200G
The “English Cut” is three thin slices deftly carved for those with difficulties chewing through their meat. And then there’s the “Singapore Cut”, which is two slices instead and only available for lunch.
Lawry’s Cut 285G
I went for my usual Lawry’s Cut, which is 285g of meat, served medium rare. For the big eaters, you have the ultimate American portion – “Diamond Jim Brady” Cut which is more than 1.5x extra meat at 450g; when you dine in Lawry’s in the US, this is the regular cut.
Whipped Cream Horseradish
Their famous recipe of grated fresh horseradish and seasoned whipped horseradish cream. Lawry’s horseradish was freshly prepared in house, and they were perfect compliments to the prime rib. I prefer the fresh one as it packs more kick, but Princess loves the whipped one as it is more mellow.
Yorkshire Pudding
Every order of the prime ribs comes with Yorkshire pudding freshly baked in small skillets until puffy and golden brown. Drown they in the au jus I always do, and it soaks itself up with all that greasy goodness, a cardiac arrest in the making.
Silver Side Trio
Single portion of the sides is too much for two persons, and Princess wanted to have the sweet corn while I wanted the peas. And then there’s their signature creamed spinach seasoned with spices, bacon and onion. Luckily they offered a trio sampler portion, so we got to try all three.
Lawry’s always give the birthday girl (or boy) a small birthday cake, and the waitresses will come around and sing for you their bluesy rendition of happy birthday “~~~and many more~~~~~”. And they will take a Polaroid for you (I have collected many of these over the years), which has been upgraded to a Size 4R photo printed from a deskjet. You will hear that multiple time during dinner because having a prime rib is also a happy occasion, and Lawry’s isn’t cheap.
You know they have other items in the menu, like the regular cut steaks prepared on the grill to your preferred doneness, and other meats like lamb and pork chops. But I have never tried any of them. My family had tried over the years, and we all fall back to the prime ribs.
Very impressive wine cellar, and it seems that the regulars kept some of their bottles there as well.
The Prime Rib is still one of the best in town, but they do not have any side dishes or dessert that can come near in terms of taste or quality of its prime ribs. Service was impeccable this time, and always. Amex dining mades this lunch totally worthwhile.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore
333A Orchard Road #04-01/31 Mandarin Gallery Singapore 238897
Tel : +65 6836 3333 | 9277 7792
Visited Feb 2024
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