A friend recommended this to me for our annual xmas girls gathering - i was quite apprehensive at first but it turned out well in the end :]

Its quite a hard find - situated BEYOND the multi story carpark where all the other eateries are located so pls hitch a ride inside (i parked along the road, beside the housing estates)

The interior is sort of DIVIDED into a cafe portion whereas the 'back' half is the cosier restaurant part.

The garlic bread and potato salad is on the house - very good bread, fluffy and very yummy.

The soups are quite pricey ($9.50) considering they're not drastically huge portions but at least the quality is there. We had the mushroom soup & the australian rockbottom? seafood soup. The latter has a minestrone base and is quite spicy - i like :] Prawns,mussels all fresh.

I actually wanted to try the CRAB BISQUE after reading the raving reviews about it but "they ran out of CRAB" means it must be THAT GOOD LAH ?! haha so i'll be trying that on my next visit.

For STARTERS, we ordered the MUSHROOM PORTOBELLO SALAD - my girlfriends liked it but im not a big fan of mushrooms and this didnt change my mind so i shall not be subjective here :p

Also, for that night only we ordered their house special - PRAWNS,MUSHROOM,BACON with melted cheese served on a CLAM !! The portion was quite small for $16.90 !! but very very nice - all the ingredients blended very well together.

The two disappointments were the a. long waiting time between our starters & our main course and when my friend's GERMAN SAUSAGE ARRIVED - it came together with my other gfs QUESADILLA? It looked like something prepared in a hurry for a teatime fix. So she wished that there was more TEXTURE to her GERMAN SAUSAGE but the quesadilla was 'quite nice'.

Having said that, the best dish of the night had to be the DEER STEAK (medium well) - its on the sweet side (not sure whether its the sauce im tasting or the blood) but i finished every inch of it. For $26.90, it was very worth it.

Lastly, kudos to one of the waiters who found my envelope with $$$ inside and went to the toilet to find us to return it to me !! My goodness haha. He thought i was being generous with my offerings since its xmas; sadly no it wasnt a tip but anyhow that was great service :]

Overall, it was a pleasant dinner (minus the sausage and long waiting time) but i'll def be back with the bf to have my crab bisque & more STEAK !

Its a must visit for SOUP & MEAT lovers (like me!)

I write this review with a tinge of bias because i have known Kel (chef owner) and his establisment for many years now. However, my candid opinions of this place is by no means an exaggeration.

Situated in the quiet (now less so because of the newly moved-in Cold Storage) area of Sunset Way at the Clementi Arcade, Bather's is the unpretentious bistro that serves good food at reasonable prices.

Chef / Owner Kelvin Cheong is the face of Bather's. If Kel is not slaving over the stove, he will be seen mingling with diners. A chef more humble and ethusiastic is a rare find.

Do not expect first class service or finely polished silverware. This bistro-style restaurant values itself for its food that is cooked with love and respect. If you want to impress your partner with an elegant, candlelit dinner; go to town and pay three times more.

Bather's is good for its soups (i especially like his seafood/lobster Bisque), fish dishes like the Chilean seabass (cod) and my family loves his roast lamb. His menu changes without notice so call up to find out what's good to avoid disappointment. Advanced orders (for regulars) for special dishes can also be made. Kelvin has also prepared delicious takeaway meals for me consisting of roast meats, pasta and oven-grilled vegetables. If given a free-hand Kelvin can conjure up meals that are interesting and adventurous.

A new addition to his repertoire is his Saturday set lunch where you get free flow of soup and bread with a choice of main course and dessert. The set lunch is ok but for about $20/- is certainly value for money.

Loved the place when I was invited to conduct a wine tasting session in December 2005, since then, Bather's been one of my considerations when I want a fulfilling and hearty meal.

Located in Clementi Arcade in Sunset way, its beside the Daily Scoop ice cream shop, a shop where they make ice cream in front of you !!
The shop decor is very much homely and country side, with paper as table cloth, a french way of a cafe.

Food is excellent, I especially loved their crab bisque, corden bleu and aglio olio, get in small talk with the chef+ owner Kelvin, or the chef de cuisine Johnny, they will recommend you the dishes and customise your menu, so basically you dont have to ponder what you need to choose for dinner, something which irritates me greatly.

I must say that they serve the best monkfish, a fish that requires the right amount of seasoning and cooking method to bring out the taste of the fish.

I given the rating for ambience and service as 7, cos ambience is subjective and their staff changes quite constantly, so dont expect top notch five star product knowledge server.

Go there and you'll understand why I kept returning..

As a resident of the area, I can say that Bather's is the area's chillout hole. Good food, a selective wine list and a dedicated chef who enjoys his work and you have a recipe for success. If you want respite from the maddening crowds, you'll have doctors/dentists, professors, businessmen, legalfolks for company as you tuck in. Talk to your server, especially those working during vacations, and you'll find the progeny of above mentioned diners.

Chef Kelvin cooks dinner most of the time and his brother handles the lunch crowd. I personally prefer Kelvin's cooking and temperament (because that lends greater consistency to the food). Those in the know call in advance to order the Wagyu steak (which will set you back at least $100 but is well worth it) or a whole lamb shank/rack for parties. The aglio olio and mushroom, in all permutations, have been a crowd favourite from the start. Quesadillas are also worth mentioning. The food's best when the chef's full of energy, so avoid coming in after 9.30pm especially on weekends when the staff has gone through multiple covers. Residents of the area sometimes book the whole restaurant for birthdays, and if you happen to be a guest at these celebrations, you'll get to experience Kelvin's custom made menu's. If you feel adventurous, ask him if he's experimenting on something new and give it a taste.

If you're up for networking, look out for the customers most cosy with the chef and his head waiter. There are regulars who come in up to five times a week for a drink and some dinner, and will usually be sharing their day's work with the staff.

I took my date here and the food was quite good. The lobster bisque was swimming with tasty lobster bits, and my pepper steak was super juicy. She had stuffed salmon, which I also tasted and it was very good.

The server kept a close eye on our progress but didn't interrupt our conversation or try to move us along.

Definitely a cozy spot for a romantic evening for two.