The prime society is reserved for only the elite, but The Prime Society is just reserved. The restaurant is packed every night; reservations are a must. Its name, “The Prime Society”, is meant to be satirical. Serving excellent meat in the elite Dempsey Road , the restaurant has it all under its belt – great location, food and ambience; truly for the prime society.

• The Vibe
  Without reservation, the best part of The Prime Society is its décor. The restaurant used to be a colonial barrack and some of its old interior still remains, such as the extremely high ceiling supported by unpainted brick pillars. Wooden swivel doors, old flooring, French tiles – everything you would expect of a bungalow in colonial time is there. Yet, The Prime Society is not completely obsolete. Its colonial elements are fused with industrial-chic elements such as an open-bar and open-kitchen concept. The Prime Society's grill is an exhibit by itself – custom-made, metallic and well, industrial. Surprisingly, the fusion of colonialism and industry is a successful one that makes the restaurant look hip and old-world at the same time.

• The Food
  The Prime Society's specialties are extremely carnivorous, extremely primal – meat, meat and more meat. Start slow, with the Spiced Chorizo ($18) - a platter of sausages. The thick, juicy and slightly spicy sausages are accompanied by refreshing salad. If you are still ready for more sausages after this, sample the new Bratswurst ($18) veal sausages, with slightly sweet sauce and mashed sweet potato.

  Appealing as the sausages are, don't overstuff yourself with them. The Fillet Mignon ($36/$42) is a definite must-try. The thick slice of beef is soft and juicy, as is the Sirloin ($32/$36), which is more buttery and has a less overwhelming taste of beef. The sides that accompany these dishes are to die for – deep-fried French fries and mushrooms grilled to perfection. Choose between the rich, thick béarnaise sauce or the delectable blue cheese butter sauce to add even more flavour to your meat.

  Sausages, sirloin and fillet – the list is not exhaustive as yet. There are other parts of the cow to be savoured, such as the Flamed Grilled Beef Ribs ($23 for half rack, $36 for full rack). Unfortunately, after the juicy steaks, the beef ribs are a little dry and bland in comparison. At least the meat is tender and very fresh, which is the least one can ask from a prime society.

  If you prefer other types of meat, try the Flame Grilled Pork Ribs ($23 for half rack, $36 for full rack), which is juicier than the beef. However, it suffers the same fate of being bland; not quite salty enough, not quite tasty enough. Eating it with the sauces, particularly the Bourbon BBQ or Thai Chilli Lime sauces, somewhat manages to distract you from the meat's lack of taste. Alternatively, try the roasted chicken, with a tangy marinate and well-cooked skin. The meat, however, was a little overcooked.

  To recover from the meaty indulgence, go for some greens! The Baby Spinach, Parmesan & Plum Tomatoes, White Balsamic ($7), is fresh and excellently cooked with cherry tomatoes. There is a mixture of bitter, spicy and cheesy sensations in the spinach, which will ease your stomach.

  With a classy, expansive bar like The Prime Society's, you can't pass up the opportunity to try a few drinks. The Dempsey Breezer ($8.50), a non-alcoholic lychee drink, is concocted with grapefruit and citrus fruits – sweet, sour and refreshing. There is also a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic Bloody Mary's, with the Asian Bloody Mary ($15) being the specialty. Another of The Prime Society's signature drinks is the Prime Iced Tea ($8.50), a fresh and well-brewed drink. For the alcoholic version of this drink, try the Primed (past tense!) Iced Tea ($19), which contains generous doses of brandy, gin, vodka, cointreau and rum. A soberingly alcoholic concoction!

• The Service
  The service is prompt and efficient, but a little unfriendly. Still, the place is large and always crowded, which makes bustle inevitable.

The SD Food Advisor's Take on The Prime Society
The food is good, and the price reasonable when compared to larger and more posh steakhouses in town. I liked the ambience best – the design is creative, unique and aesthetically pleasing. There is also a very relaxed, laidback feel to this restaurant. The Prime Society is spacious, giving you room to breathe while you enjoy yourself with meat!