I love how dining keeps evolving. Not just in the kitchen, but as concepts too. From ornate dining halls with tablecloths to casual bistros to watch the world go by, there is no one formula to make a dining concept work. As long as the two big pillars of flavour and service stand strong.

Just when I was getting disillusioned with the fine dining scene of Singapore, with at least one lunch a week in a ‘highly rated’ restaurant, never repeating a place, yet always walking away a little underwhelmed. This is it, I told myself, when I walked out of 1 Michelin starred Araya two days ago. If my reservation at Proud Potato Peeler does not deliver, I vow to not eat in a single ‘fine’ restaurant (pp above $50) for 6 months until my birthday. I’ll go hunting in the lanes, in the alleys instead, I vowed.

And then I ate at Proud Potato Peeler. And everything changed.

What began as private dining post-Covid, has evolved into a full-fledged by-reservations-only dining space on the rooftop of the new lifestyle hub, Kada Maxwell. Proud Potato Peeler has been on my radar for the longest time, but the private dining concept made it difficult to access. Thankfully, they expanded into this incredible space, bringing to Singapore the crux of what food means to people in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey, where the chef comes from – a warm sense of community, lip smacking food (the kind you want to mop up with a piece of their incredible sourdough bread made with a 12-year old sourdough starter hand-carried from Greece), and every meal being a celebration, rather than a staid affair.

I dined alone, as I often do, with only a book for company. But, I couldn’t have found a better venue. The rooftop has been created as a mix of various spaces, much like how one would decorate their own home terrace, with strings of lights, beach chairs, rattan furniture and incredible views. It is the perfect place to sit awhile and read your book as you sip a beverage, or simply enjoy the views and breeze that Singapore blesses us with every evening.

For dinner, I moved indoors, into a space designed again like somebody’s home. Warm and cosy, you feel welcome as soon as you step foot into the room, and are shown to your table which has your name written on it in chalk, old-school style.

So, are you ready, asked Chef Alberto Simillides. I hope you brought your appetite. I’m a small eater, I pleaded…can you please do small portions for me? No can do, he smiled. We’re Greek…we don’t believe in little bits of food. It’s alright, whatever you can’t finish, you can take back home.

And bring back a box full of food I did!

The meal was spread over 7 courses, with 4 appetisers (not counting the incredible sourdough bread served with a delicious spicy feta that I do wish I had brought back home too), 2 mains and a dessert to round it off. Each dish was crafted with love and skill. This wasn’t the work of amateurs, but neither was it the work of chefs who have stuck to the mould and never looked beyond perfecting French techniques. This was a song and dance about feeding people delicious dishes, combining flavours that represent the chef’s childhood, but also juxtaposing them with elements from Singapore like chilli oil that no self-respecting Greek nonna would put on the plate. The food was incredible. Absolutely hit it out of the park and blew my mind away. And even more so, the service. From the moment I stepped onto the rooftop, Gigi took me under her wing and made sure I had a great time. The perfect corner of the terrace to sip a sundowner (with the sun not in my eyes), recommendations that hit the spot, and checking in on me every once in a while without making it too intrusive. The perfect hostess, if there ever was one.

Last night was monumental for me. Because Proud Potato Peeler changed my mind about Singapore slipping into culinary complacency. With concepts like this running a full house, despite the hefty price tag of $178 pp, there’s still hope for food hunters seeking exceptional dining experiences.

This is the kind of place that should be whispered about in cocktail parties, not written about in magazine articles. There’s a certain hidden-secret quality to it that I absolutely adore. And that lends it authenticity and permission to focus solely on the diner, not on accolades or rising up in the culinary PR landscape.

Perfect for a team dinner (where the company foots the bill) or a languid celebratory dinner with friends or your partner, Proud Potato Peeler has reason to be proud.

And so, my vow is broken—but for all the right reasons. Proud Potato Peeler reminded me why I fell in love with dining in the first place. Not just for the food (though that was spectacular) or the service (which was impeccable), but for the sheer joy of discovering a place that makes you feel something. That elusive combination of warmth, generosity, and genuine passion for feeding people well. It’s a reminder that great dining isn’t about pomp and grandeur—it’s about heart. And here, on a rooftop in Singapore, that heart beats strong.