The Drunken Poet: Irish pub food review

The Drunken Poet

The Drunken Poet is an Irish Pub located along Orchard road, in Orchard towers.

The entrance is a sidedoor right next to 7-11.

As this restaurant participates in the Entertainer app by HSBC, those who have this app may dine here and get 1-for-1 mains. So I decided to bring a friend along to share the deal.

For a detailed explanation on what is the Entertainer app, check out my guide here!

Usually, the cost of the Entertainer app ranges from SGD 70 to SGD 95, depending on your plan.

However, if you own a participating credit card from HSBC, you can download the Entertainer with HSBC app for free!

Ambience: Irish Pub

On a weekday at 3pm, we both arrived, and it was relatively quiet.

The seats right by the window face directly onto Orchard Road. It’s a great place for people-watching – from the outside the glass looks dark, so the folks outside aren’t likely to see very much inside.

It was in mid December 2019 when I visited. The festive decoration does give a slight hint of Christmas. However, the Drunken Poet maintains all the feels of an English or Irish Pub – long bar counter, football games on TV at all hours. 

Even though it was empty when we visited, the waitress mentioned that on evenings with big football matches, the place can get pretty crowded.

Food and Drinks Menu

Being primary a pub, the food served was all western grub. Typical bar-type bites such as fries, nachos, and pizza were available. The place also claims to serve Irish shepherd’s pie – but being in Singapore and all – its authenticity is something I can’t verify. 

Of course, there is an extensive alcohol and drinks menu.

For full menu, check out the Drunken Poet’s website.

Our Food: Starters and Mains

For starters we had buffalo wings. Served with pickles, it was slightly sweet and very tangy, a good mix of spicy and sourness. The chicken was well-fried; not tender but slightly crispy. 

I did like this dish – the sauce was addictive – but then again, i tend to like sour and spicy foods. 

In the menu, there are actually FOUR different flavours for the chicken wings, and this Buffalo wings was just one of them.

The other three flavours are: Singapore soy, Fiery, and a Rotational Special (flavour of the day equivalent).

Next time, i want to come and try the Fiery wings.

For our mains, my friend had the Fish and Chips 

I do love a well-battered fried fish, and this dish didn’t disappoint. Crispy on the outside, and mildly fishy on the inside, the fish and tartar sauce both went well together. 

Myself, I ordered the Poet’s burger.

In the menu, this item was described as having a “juicy beef patty, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, topped with house relish and crispy onions, served with house fries.“

The patty was alright – it was okay, kind of juicy, but not the best I’ve had. However, the sweetness of tomato and crunch of fried onions added an extra ‘oomph’ to the dish and does make up for the okay-patty. (For a good burger, I very much prefer P.S. Cafe).  

Usually i like my patty medium-rare but at this pub, the waitress didn’t bother asking whether I wanted the patty medium or well done, so I guess that this is just their standard way of preparation (more towards the well-done side). 

One thing this place does nicely – the fries. For both dishes, the fries were served piping hot, as if they were freshly fried. We ate them all and i found myself silently wishing that there was more. 

Entertainer app with HSBC: 1-for-1 mains

Thanks to the Entertainer app with HSBC, i could order a one-for-one main. 

For detailed instructions on how to use the Entertainer app, Sethlui has done an extensive writeup on it here. 

Usually, the cost of the Entertainer app ranges from SGD 70 to SGD 95, depending on your plan.

However, if you own a participating credit card from HSBC, you can download the Entertainer with HSBC app for free! 

Damage done: 

• Buffalo Wings – $15
• Fish and Chips – $24
• Poets Burger – $22

Entertainer app discount – Poets Burger was not charged – minus $22

 Subtotal $39

Total after GST: $41.73

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