“Eclectic food” –  that is the buzzword proclaimed on the sites and in description of the latest concept restaurant by Chef Johari Edrus, aka Chef Jo/Papa Jo, a former MasterChef Malaysia juror.

Personally, this “eclectic” word got me skeptical and raised more than a few eyebrows with a few friends of mine.
Most snorted, others rolled their eyes and asked me to be the guinea pig while a few laughed and surmised it as another expensive outlet relying on the chef’s name to pull in the crowd.
Oh yes, my makan gang can be unforgiving.

Personally I wouldn’t visited if it wasn’t for two friends; Iskandar (owner of Dua by Skohns) who praised it to the skies after his birthday dinner and another chef friend who assured me that Papa Jo knows what he is doing.
I’ll quote him right here – “Papa Jo can cook, he’s not another ‘show chef’.”

Assured and with some expectations set, we went in search of Symphony by Jo in the current still-dying DC Mall.
The last I was here was in Dec 2016 where I enjoyed value Thai meals at Tigerlily Thai Restaurant and now, 10 months later, the mall remained pretty dead despite more F & B outlets opening up. Birch is another hip spot that is pulling in the crowd with its pretty decor and Instagrammable cakes but more on that in another post.

Getting to the restaurant itself was akin to a treasure hunt. Do yourself a favour and call ahead or head to the information counter for directions.

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