Christopher Rowe

Above Left:From our table in Clarke Quay, the New Years Fireworks at Marina Bay Sands – Michelle took this! I taught her well!
Above Right:The wonderful girls of Hooters, I must admit, the service we received was brilliant! Put your preconceived notions aside and check it out!

For new years we booked a riverside table in Clarke Quay. Along the river on both sides the Quay is made up of many restaurants and bars all serving specialty foods, mostly seafood. After the trouble we had last time trying to find a place to dine with a menu that suited both of us, the solution was obvious; Hooters.

Despite certain preconceptions Hooters may bring to mind (not that I had a problem with any of them) the girls did provide fantastic service and most importantly the menu was varied and both Michelle and I had no problem selecting from the menu.

Our table was situated alongside the water boasting a fantastic view of Clark Quay, the tips of both the Singapore flyer and Marina Bay Sands.

Our table booking was for 7:30 and since we made excellent time getting here in the cab we thought a pre-hooter drink was in order. Just round the corner was the most unique bar either of us had encountered, even more trendy than the ice bars, this bar was simply called ‘The Clinic’

The Clinic specialized in high end cocktails but with a twist; depending on your order the cocktail was either served in a series of surgical syringes, drip bags with stand of course or in a first aid case containing an assortment of containers. The seating also featured wheel chairs along with the standard bar and table seating, with the waitresses dressed as nurses. It was a clinic like non other and like non other, one you’d be happy to return to, that is if you didn’t mind paying over $50 per drink!

Despite the strong Australian dollar there are two items in Singapore that seem somewhat extortionately priced; M&M merchandise and alcohol (and the white Hooter tank tops to name a third). Thus being the Singapore veterans we both are a rather sizable budget was prepared purely for New Years drinks (hence not flinching at the Clinics prices). This was yet another reason for selecting Hooters since their happy hour rates bought beer down to a little over $10 per bottle with the promise of the third one free should you buy two at once. Needless to say in no time at all we had our own ice bucket full of beer.

The restaurant filled slowly at first, with a surprisingly high number of family bookings, fortunately for us, these families came, dined and then left. As we began to near the final hour of 2010 a few of the Hooter girls came round offering shots a while after that with cans of snow for sale. From where we Sat you could see management beginning to stash a fair few cans of snow for their own staff – war seemed inevitable.

The count down reached zero and in perfect synchronization Clark Quay came to life with celebration, the distant sky towards Marina Bay lit up with fireworks. Just as promptly as the fireworks themselves, the Hooter girls raced around with can after can of spray, shrouding the whole restaurant in snow. Across from us a boy stuck celebrating New Years with his parents and their adult friends pulled out a bag of his own arsenal, much to his parents surprise their son bought almost 20 cans of snow spray, in small quantities throughout the night, so we all joined in giving the girls a run for their money.

The night was fantastic fun, a truly unique way to bring in the new year. With the experiences had we’ve both agreed New Years in another country needs to be done again, perhaps in 2013.

Below: New Year celebration as the clock hits zero!