In a nightlife marketplace saturated with similar offerings, TAB stands out as a venue for intimate live-music focusing on original music. It has played host to foreign talent on the cusp of the big time such as UK’s ROX.

The 5-month-old concert style restaurant is also drawing crowds for another reason, and we don’t mean the in-your-face neon yellow TAB sign suspended above the entrance that you can’t fail to notice coming down Orchard Road.

Spanning over 3 levels, the entrance to TAB heightens your sense of anticipation as you have to ride the escalator up one floor just to get to the main floor.

While pub grub conjures to the mind greasy, unimaginative, unappetising fare, this certainly can’t be said of the offerings served here. When UrbanWire arrived at TAB, we were greeted with a refreshing cocktail, the Fan-tab-ulous [S$18], made up of gin, fresh cucumber, the rarely seen elderflower, and has a soothingly light melon honeydew flavour. This is the first of many original concoctions by TAB, which includes best sellers Charlie Brown [$18] and Hansel & Gretel [S$18].

And it’s not giving cutesy names for the sake of them either. Hansel & Gretel blossomed from the fairytale story, where the siblings made their way around the forest, led by their sweet tooth. How this comes to the fore is incorporating a Black forest cake into a drink made with fruits, jam, cream and vodka. TAB’s one-of-a-kind concoctions, priced at $18, are a whole new experience. You’ll have to try it yourself to know!

For appetizers, the cinnamon-sugar tortillas priced at $10 are rather addictive and it sure gets your stomach craving for more The small rolls of cheese-baked tortillas have a light mozzarella taste with sprinkles of sugar and cinnamon. Buffalo wings[$12], fried calamari [$12] and the less common fried whitebait [$13] make other great snacks as you sit back to watch the live performances.

As for mains, the chicken parmigiana[$18], fish and chips[$16] and TAB burger [$16] came out tops on the taste buds as compared to the pasta. The chicken parmigiana, which can be found at many Western restaurant menus, is a must try! Topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, the succulent breaded chicken breast seems to just melt in your mouth.

The TAB burger is just about the size of a palm with a thick patty in between, not too overwhelming but just enough to leave you with room for some ice-cold beer. On top of the ample patty, you get cheddar cheese, cornichons (better known as gherkins), caramelized onions and paired with tasty tapioca, rather than potato, fries, which packs one satisfying meal.

You might say that you could get better food in some restaurants. True. But where else will you find this accompanied with great live entertainment?

TAB goes the distance in ensuring up-and-coming and newly famous artistes get the limelight in performing their original music live on stage. This means going to the expense of flying in international artistes such as Chris Cope, Oak & Gorski, Ernie Halter and Chad Blondel to grace their stage.

They have also hosted recent concerts for Ryan Cabrera, The Album Leaf, An Horse and ROX. Local artistes are not to be left out either, with the likes of Vanessa Fernandez, 53A, Inch Chua, Sixx, Michaela Therese and Singapore Idol contestant Daphne Khoo taking the stage.
They say that If music be the food of love, play on. We say: If good music and food are what you love, get yourself to TAB.

Address: 442 Orchard Road, #02-29 Orchard Hotel
Telephone No.: 6493 6952
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday – 5pm to 1am, Friday to Saturday – 5pm to 3am
Rating: ★★★✩✩