Restaurants around Padang expect full houses during National Day ...

SINGAPORE: Dining outlets around the Padang have seen an increase in the number of patrons in the lead-up to National Day, and are expecting even higher footfall as Singapore celebrates its 58th birthday on Wednesday (Aug 9).

Food and beverage (F&B) operators in the area said they are ramping up manpower and refreshing their menus as they get ready to welcome more customers.

Some eateries said they are expecting up to 50 per cent more revenue on the public holiday, despite road closures for the parade.

In July, businesses there recorded up to 20 to 30 per cent more revenue compared to regular months due to the parade previews.

Aside from the Padang, huge crowds are expected to descend upon the Merlion Park, the Esplanade Park, and the surrounding Marina Bay area on National Day to catch glimpses of the fireworks and aerial displays.

Authorities will set up barricades in those areas to block movement and ensure smoother crowd flow.

Food outlets in the affected areas said they are adapting and making their own arrangements for business to run smoothly.

Bistro Aseana, an eatery located in the heart of the action near the Merlion statue, is more than tripling its seating capacity from 40 to 150, by taking advantage of the enclosed spaces from the barricades.

To cope with the extra customers, the bistro is engaging additional part-timers to increase its manpower by 40 per cent on that day.

“It's very important that we are part of the celebrations. Everyone here is in a celebratory mood, and hence we have to create diverse packages for them to enjoy the experience,” said Mr Eric Chan, the diner’s managing director.

Another restaurant along the waterfront is also bracing itself for the crunch from a full house.

Brewerkz One Fullerton said it has set a reservation system of two dining slots during the evening of the parade, which will help it better manage the number of diners. It has also increased its staffing by 30 per cent.

“(However, the challenge is) the surge of customers and how the kitchen is supposed to handle all the orders at the same time to maximise customer satisfaction,” said the brewery and restaurant chain’s group executive chef Seow Tzi Qin.

At the nearby Esplanade, The Malayan Council restaurant said it will not add more seats to its premises even though it is fully booked on Wednesday.

“We are looking at a very busy period for the upcoming National Day,” said the restaurant’s general manager Aziz Elias.

“As much as we want business, we have to also manage people’s expectations. In a restaurant which is too crowded, (diners) will not enjoy (themselves) … so for us it’s really about the customer’s experience.”

The business said it will double its manpower and set a dining duration of 1.5 hours to maximise its reservation slots and ensure timely service.

In the weeks leading to Aug 9, the restaurant’s revenue increased by about 20 per cent as more patrons flocked to its premises to dine and catch the fireworks from the preview shows.

To celebrate the festivities, the restaurant has concocted a mocktail in tribute to the nation – the Singapura Sangria, which uses a mix of recipes from the four main ethnic groups in Singapore.

“Because we are located in a tourist spot, this is also something we will highly recommend to our (overseas) guests, as this is a drink that is very closely knitted to the local taste,” said Mr Aziz.