This Hidden Restaurant Bar In Orchard Lets You Dispense Your Own Wine From $2.50

Vin Geek in Pacific Plaza

Update: Vin Geek is now permanently closed but you can shop their wines online.

Wine lovers, there’s a new kid in town. Restaurant bar Vin Geek just opened its doors last month near the main entrance of Pacific Plaza, a seven-minute walk from Orchard MRT Station.

Upon entering, you’ll spot a well-stocked range of gourmet food products, neatly arranged on the shelves to your right. A small glass counter showcases a variety of cheeses curated from a cheesemonger in the UK, and a huge lineup of wines is displayed for your perusal.

The main star of the show is the DIY wine dispenser, which lets you enjoy a tasting portion (30ml), half glass (90ml), or full glass (180ml) of your chosen vino. Prices start from as low as $2.50+ for the tasting portion of a rosé,  but do note that you only get a couple of sips for this size.  On the brighter side, this means you can have fun sampling the wines on offer, without breaking the bank or reaching your alcohol limit!

There’s a good selection of whites, reds, and rosés to choose from; you get a whopping total of 24 bottles to explore, though the offerings rotate from time to time.

Ordering is simple: choose a wine, scan the QR code, and cart out. Then, place your glass right below the dispenser and watch the magic happen.

My drink of choice was the Frescobali Alie Rosé, affordably priced at $14+ for a full glass. This went excellent with most of the dishes we tried, especially the house-made Crab Cake ($22+).

Image credit: @helloanthia 

The wild-caught crab meat patty was deep-fried to a golden brown on the outside, and bursting with shreds of umami crab meat within. Paired with a sweet and tangy chilli sauce, along with crunchy shredded veggies, this starter was a highlight of our meal.

The dainty Jamon Ham Croquettes ($18+) were excellent as well, with their crisp breaded shell and creamy mozzarella centre.

Then, load up on your carbs with a plate of Carbonara ($30+). Featuring crispy guanciale bits, the pasta sauce is thickened with eggs instead of cream, so carbonara purists won’t be offended by this iteration. It’s simple yet satisfying, though we wished it was a tad saltier.

For those visiting with friends, share the Ribeye ($48+). This 200g slab of Wagyu, which was well-seasoned with flakey sea salt, came perfectly seared to medium-rare.

End your meal on a sweet note with the creamy Chocolate Tart ($16+), served with a scoop of raspberry ice cream on the side.

For more food in Orchard, head over to Bakery M at Wisma Atria for unique UFO tarts, mochi bread and more. Otherwise, head to Baker X at Somerset for bakes by home-based businesses!

Address: 9 Scotts Road, #01-04/05/06/07, Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6334 1622
Website
Vin Geek is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos by Anthia Chng and Lau Hui Hui.
This was a media tasting at Vin Geek.