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Here are the best new restaurant and bar openings in Singapore in November 2022…

New restaurants are popping up all over town! Had your fill of kid-friendly cafes, vegetarian restaurants, and dim sum restaurants, and looking to dine somewhere new? Look out for Ms Maria & Mr Singh the new restaurant by chef Gaggan, the new restaurant COL on Keong Saik, Barood sister bar to Revolver with Indian bar bites, élan a new French restaurant by Les Amis Group and more! Keep your finger on the pulse of the hottest new restaurants with this list!
           Read More: Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Singapore for Plant-based Dining

Best New Bars & New Restaurants in Singapore: November 2022

élan: new restaurant by Les Amis Group

élan restaurant Singapore is Les Amis Group’s latest concept located in… Shaw Centre (but of course, that’s where many of their concepts live including 3 Michelin star Les Amis restaurant and casual dining Bistro Du Vin!) élan restaurant serves approachable modern French cuisine with Asian touches – think Eel Tartelette ($38), Foie Gras Bon Bon ($38) Roasted saddle and rack of Pyrenées Lamb ($68), Yamaguchi A4 Wagyu Striploin ($75) and blue lobster ($110). élan’s set lunch is $70++.
élan Restaurant, Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road #01-13, Singapore 228088

COL: new restaurant East London vibes: EDITOR’s PICK!

Keong Saik gets a new restaurant,  COL. Helmed by Executive Chef Colin Buchan (previously Pollen and 1880) COL is all about buzzy East London vibes, simple white walls with photography, wooden furniture, vintage cutlery and stellar food! The starters are really stand out – try the Nduja arancini with smoky muhammara dip ($18), Kristal caviar and taramasalata on corn crisps ($52), Burrata with sweet Muscade Pumpkin ($28) and one of the best Beef Tartare I’ve ever had (no raw egg but instead cured egg yolk grated over a smoky chipotle beef with crunch from gherkins ($28). Mains include Iberico Pork Loin topped with a shaving of lardo ($48) and Aged Beef Burger ($27). Loosen your belts for dessert ($18) – here are only two. on the menu and both are delish – COLPOP, an icecream stick of raspberry rose coated with white cocoa and raspberry ripple, and a meringue-topped curd mascarpone tart dusted with kaffir lime. Only open a few weeks but this new restaurant was booked out when we went (and hence very noisy). Pssst! Don’t miss the Spicy Margaritas!

Red House Seafood Esplanade

Red House Seafood is a family-run business known for its Singapore Nanyang-style seafood. There’s now a bright and airy new outlet at Esplanade so you can pop in pre or post-theatre and tuck into their delicious Signature Chilli Crab and Lobster in Signature Creamy Custard Sauce or try the BBQ section unique to the Esplanade outlet with Chicken Satay and Thai Style BBQ Squid with Jelly Fish. We love that all imported seafood here is fully traceable (no live tanks on display so as to keep seafood better cared for). Don’t miss the delicate sweet Wild Pepper Alaskan King Crab (steamed then stewed in white pepper stock before being wok-tossed in butter, hua tiao wine and fish sauce) and the famous Spicy Seafood Combination Curry. The new restaurant is highlighted by Nanyang-style design elements and artwork with a private room for big groups as well as alfresco dining.

Ms Maria & Mr Singh: new restaurant by Gaggan

Ms Maria & Mr Singh the newest restaurant by chef Gaggan Anand and a local hospitality group may only have opened on 24 October 2022 but you probably can’t get a booking until late December! This casual offshoot of Gaggan retains some of the original hits from the Bangkok branch though this menu is more concise with 30 or so dishes featuring tapas and small plates starting from $12 that marries Indian flavours with some Mexican presentation (tacos, quesadillas and tamales). Now’s your chance to try some of the greatest Gaggan hits for a fraction of the price! Don’t miss the iconic Papdi Chat ($18), a yogurt explosion of flavours inspired by the popular Indian street food as well as Cold Curry Ceviche ($20) a raw dish that blends curry flavours with raw seafood. Munch on Spicy Crunchy Okra ($12), Pork Vindaloo Tacos ($17 for 2pcs) of pulled pork in a Goan-style masala with pineapple salsa, before moving on to mains of Gaggan’s Crab Curry ($32) – a signature dish of Chef Gaggan since 2016, and the Chicken Tikka Masala ($14). Overall a fun place to check out some of the much-talked-about Gaggan dishes without hurting your wallet. We also loved the fun decor (lead image) inspired by Jaipur and Oaxaca- colourful tiles, a vibrant bar and rattan light fixtures. Read our interview with Chef Gaggan Ananad on being a Dad, licking plates and encouraging his daughter to be a rebel here!

Seroja: cuisine is an ode to the Malay Archipelago

New restaurant Seroja is helmed by Meta’s former head chef, Kevin Wong and lovingly showcases the rich diversity of cultures and culinary traditions of the Malay Archipelago. The lunch set Kuntum Menu ($218++ per person) features dishes such as Spiced Chicken in green curry, BBQ Eel, Trader’s Rice featuring BBQ Beef Percik, Steam Sia Rice and a Chayote Jeruk & Batang Kali Salad to name just a few of the dishes on this Malay feast. The dinner Nusantara Menu is $268++ per person.

New restaurant Sol & Ora: Mediterranean vibes

New restaurant Sol & Ora (by 1-Group) is perched on the rooftop of The Outpost Hotel on Sentosa and aims to conjure Mediterranean vibes. The menu spans house-made pastas and risotto, seafood dishes inspired by the French Riviera, Spanish tapas and Greek-style Josper grilled meats. Sol & Ora offers breakfast, brunch, high tea, lunch, dinner, and of course cocktails.

Summer Hill relocates to Orchard Road

French restaurant Summer Hill used to be a hidden gem in Sunset Way but it has now relocated to the 2nd floor of Claymore Connect on Orchard Road. The new location is a bright cosy brasserie-style space with wooden furniture, lots of plants and natural light plus a refreshed menu featuring comforting French classics. New dishes include the Fried Bangalow Pork Chops with violette mustard ($49), the must-try Sole à la Grenobloise with NZ sole, brown butter, lemon, capers and parsley ($48) – a beautiful rendition of this French classic and one of the best I’ve had all year! The dishes that Summer Hill fans know and love remain – think Classic Roast Chicken with a housemade demi-glace ($34 for half), and Mussels Normandy ($32) made with live Bouchot mussels cooked in white wine and for those hankering after their famous buttermilk fried chicken – try French Fried Chicken Winglets ($9) or go for brunch where French Fried Chicken is served as a main. They do a corkage free Monday and a neat set lunch too!

Barood: sultry new bar serving Indian tapas

Barood (which translates to gunpowder) is the new ‘modern izakaya’ upstairs from sister restaurant Revolver (famed for its modern take on Indian cuisine centring around an open-fire grill). As you enter Barood you’ll first note the well-stocked bar squeezed into the corner, then the decks, then the long narrow room inspired by Moorish influences of 1960 Paris with its sultry sumptuous tones of red and its plush seats. Expect Indian contemporary tapas – a melange of flavours all heavily spiced. Think Goat Biryani Arancini ($26), Balls of Barood ($22) – chicken meatballs glazed with spicy Manchurian sauce, Lobster Taco, that if you were to try to share would be difficult (because there’s only one and it’s quite tasty) and my favourite – Mini Duck Pancakes ($22) two tiny crisp orbs of paniyaram topped with deliciously spiced pulled duck and tomato chutney. Portion sizes are small and delicate aside from the Malabar Sloppy Joe (which I recommend – a sandwich of pulled pork and spiced shallots – you’ll need to use your hands and yes, it gets messy). Cocktail wise sip on Tropical Skin ($24) made with clarified Plantation Original Dark or the Sweet Assassin ($24), made from Altos Reposado.

Kakushin: Japanese omakase new restaurant

A new Japanese Omakase restaurant, Kakushin opens at Scotts Square on Orchard Road. Helmed by Chef Chan (from acclaimed Japanese restaurants including Tatsu Sushi at Chijmes and Akashi), Kakushin aims to offer the best of Japanese in-season produce and cuisine. The Autumn menu includes luxurious Snow Crab with Uni Chawanmushi, the Chargrilled A5 Kagoshima Wagyu with Truffle Balsamic Sauce and a selection of Nigiri Sushi, just to name a few dishes. Prices start from $228 for Lunch Omakase (7-course) and $328 for Dinner Omakase (8-course). An ala-carte menu is also available for lunch and dinner.

Farrer Horse: new restaurant-bar

Farrer Horse is a regal restaurant bar in The Sultan Hotel that serves playful Asian dishes and equestrian-inspired cocktails. Its concept is built around the grandeur that defined Farrer Park Racecourse, Singapore’s first horse-racing venue in the 1840s, which shared the same space as The Sultan Hotel. Think plush velvet and leather sofas, cane chairs, and a grandiose bar highlighted in gold while the walls are adorned with illustrations of horses. The new restaurant on the first floor of this Kampong Glam shophouse serves Asian dishes such as DIY-style Nyonya Pie Tee with a filling of braised turnip, carrots and juicy prawns, Otah Ravioli, a re-imagination of the famous Burmese Salad Laphet and Chicken Kaffir Lime Curry served with traditional lace crepes. Sip on six novel, horse-themed cocktails ($22++) named after famous racehorses.

Small Tables: new restaurant with Ipoh cuisine

Small Tables is a modern Ipoh-style cafe-restaurant on Orchard road offering Ipoh cuisine. This place has all the IG-feels – emerald green seats, brass lamps, and lots of natural light for taking pics! There is both indoor and outdoor seating at this new casual restaurant so you can people-watch as you sip on your Ipoh white coffee ($7.50) served with a custard-filled taiyaki on the side. Menu highlights include Malaysian dishes such as the Ipoh Curry Mee ($20) served dry or with soup, and chock-full of ingredients like poached chicken, caramelised char siu, crispy siu yoke, braised pig ears, pig skin, poached prawns, bean sprouts, and mint leaves. Other dishes to try: Ipoh Shredded Chicken Hor Fun ($16), Hakka Noodles and Cheese & Big Prawns ($24) – we hear this dish is enough for at least 2 pax. While on the pricier side, reviews have been solid.
Small Tables, 9 Scotts Road, #01-09/10/11/12 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210

Miracle Coffee: pop-up cafe by JJ Lin

Singaporean singer JJ Lin has launched his famous café, Miracle Coffee, in Singapore in the form of a 90-day pop-up (from 30 September to 29 December). Miracle Coffee will be at the ArtScience Museum’s outdoor Rain Oculus and thereafter in 2023, the flagship cafe will be located in the museum’s lobby. Miracle Coffee is best known for its hand-dripped aromatic brews featuring single-origin espresso beans sourced from speciality coffee producers around the world, including Panama, Kenya and Ethiopia. Set against the Museum’s lily pond, the limited-time Miracle Coffee kiosk will be offering its signature range of famous coffees, pour-overs and cold brews, plus a Singapore-exclusive beverage, Kaya Cloud.

Ka-EN Grill & Sushi Bar

Ka-EN Grill & Sushi Bar has opened within Capitol Singapore, specialising in Japanese grills, sushi and sakes. Come for the ‘Aburi 12 kinds Kaisen Chirashi Don’ ($45), which comes with a generous variety of sashimi including bluefin fatty tuna, yellowfin tuna, amberjack, Japanese scallop, squid, sea grapes, sea urchin and caviar. Or order the platter Nigiri Sushi ($50, pictured) featuring 10 kinds of beautifully plated nigiri sushi, the kid-friendly Gyoza ($8) or the DIY Sumi Yaki Premium Wagyu Sushi Set ($29). The Signature Grilled Meat Platter ($55) is great for sharing and comes with grilled A4/5 Premium Wagyu, Iberico pork, chicken and assorted vegetables. As a sake bar, Ka-EN has a good selection of more than 30 sake labels from various prefectures – expect sake on tap from November! We will be back for the great value lunch sets (from $19 for a main, appetiser, salad and soup).

Beast Restaurant: new restaurant in Duxton

Duxton’s got a new modern steakhouse! This new restaurant in Singapore boasts a cosy ambience that is perfect for date night or an intimate gathering with friends. It’s all about great quality beef here, cooked on the specially designed Binchotan grill over a mix of charcoal, Oakwood and Lychee wood. Highlights include the Sanchoku Wagyu Picanha ($68), Grilled Pigeon ($58) and Portoro Australian Grain-fed Ribe Eye ($64). But first, start with appetisers of freshly chucked Live Pacific Oysters, Smoked Tuna Tataki served with foie gras terrine and the must order of Cauliflower & Kale.

Ce Soir: new fine dining restaurant

Ce Soir is a floral-inspired French dining restaurant by the group behind Le Jardin and pet-friendly Café de Nicole’s Flower. Set in an old black and white colonial bungalow within the Portsdown area, this new restaurant is decorated with botanical elements as well as dried and preserved flowers. Ce Soir, helmed by Chef Koh Han Jie, former Junior Sous Chef of two-Michelin starred Les Amis, offers fine dining French cuisine with Asian touches. There are two menus available: the four-course Lustre ($98) and the nine-course Iridescent ($198).

Well Collective: new cafe

The peeps who brought us Botany Café have opened a new concept, Well Collective, along Punggol. This Japanese-inspired café is still in soft launch so dishes may change, but initial offerings take inspiration from Japanese elements. The daytime menu offers house-made deli bakes and brunch dishes while at night, it turns into a contemporary Izakaya. Dishes range from Japanese Chicken Curry Sando ($19) and Truffled Beef Bowls ($25) to Well Daily Acai Bowl ($17), Avocado Toast and the Well Daily Big Breakfast of sourdough, eggs-of-your-choice, chicken or lamb sausage, tomato relish, and sauteed mushrooms. The space also has an alfresco pet-friendly area.

The Nursery Cafe & Bar: new restaurant with IG vibes

It’s being touted as one of the most IG-worthy cafes of the moment. The Nursery Café & Bar (tucked away within commercial property Ark @ Gambas) is a gorgeous new, garden-themed restaurant with a nursery retail section next door. The decor is all rattan furniture and green plants. We love the dual personality trend happening at the moment – this spot goes from café by day to bar by night. The daytime menu features Classic Bacon & Egg Waffles, Very Berry Waffles with Gelato, a selection of pizzas, Granola Bowls and desserts, while the evening menu concentrates on bar bites – though this new spot is just in its soft launch phase so bear with them!

Drunken Farmer @ Martin Road: new restaurant

Drunken Farmer opens its third restaurant at Martin Road! Common Man Coffee Roasters gets a split personality (such a clever use of space!) and while it remains the same cafe we love by day, by night it turns into Drunken Farmer with movie shorts projected onto the walls, low lighting and an overall funkier vibe. The menu offers an extensive list of curated natural wines to go with the gut-pleasing sourdough pizzas. Our faves are the simpler pizzas: the Margherita ($18) with its sourdough pizza base cooked till crisp (and a little on the charred side), and rich tomato sauce topped with creamy stracciatella. Other must-tries: Chicken Kaarage ($18) crispy chicken fried thighs served with tangy kimchi mayo and Prawns Sticks ($20) plus a host of salads, pizzas and desserts. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 6pm to 11pm.

Bakalaki has moved!

BAKALAKI Greek Taverna, known for its authentic Greek fare of Tzatziki, Keftede (meatballs), traditional-style Greek Salad, Moussaka and Grilled Meats has moved! It’s now on Martin Rd (taking over the space previously occupied by Jyspy AND PS Cafe – so yes, it’s huge, but it’s often completely buzzing, so you’ll still need a booking!
BAKALAKI Greek Taverna, 38A Martin Road, Singapore 239072

The Butcher’s Wife: new menu

The Butcher’s Wife launches a new Brazilian-inspired menu and we are totally here for it! This restaurant is a fave with those avoiding gluten but it’s become one to watch for those who eat everything, thanks to the gut-friendly dishes created by Head Chef Brazilian Mariana Campos D’Almeida. Start with vegan-friendly crispy Croquetas ($14), made with soy milk, brined jackfruit, and served with a fermented cashew chilli sauce; then, move on to mains of Lamb Picanha ($38) with pistachio yoghurt and fresh orange salsa with sides of Chargrilled Cabbage ($18) with red dragon fruit barbeque sauce, and The Portobello ($20), a grilled portobello mushroom with ricotta, sweet potato puree, chermoula sauce and a tangy bite from pickled shimeji mushrooms. Something special to try: Acaraje ($25), a twist on the Brazilian street food sandwich, with a bun made from fermented black-eyed peas, filled with grilled prawns and a green mango herb salsa. Ask to see the Natural Wine menu too.

Past editions of new restaurants in Singapore:

Restaurant Born: new restaurant within heritage Jinrikisha Station

Restaurant Born is a new fine dining restaurant at Jinrikisha Station, a heritage building that was formerly a rickshaw depot in 1903. The interiors are impressive – a 36-seater dining room with high glass ceilings filled with natural light and adorned with artwork by Dutch artist Peter Gentenaar. At the helm is Malaysian-born chef Zor Tan (from Andre Chiang’s Restaurant Andre). The contemporary menu is a combination of sophisticated French gastronomy and Chinese ingredients and flavours. Expect an indulgent and elaborate nine-course meal priced at $368++ with dishes like Jerusalem artichoke with lily bulbs and caviar, smoked eel with barramundi fish maw, and Alaskan king crab with glutinous rice.

Shikar: New Indian restaurant

Shikar is a new restaurant offering fine dining Indian cuisine inspired by the grand old feasts of Indian Royals. Shikar offers fire-roasted dishes and other traditional Indian cuisine reinterpreted to reflect global techniques and influences – think Tandoor Roasted Chicken with smoked tomato-saffron-cream sauce ($49), Australian Lamb Biryani ($57), Josper Grilled Wild Caught Tiger Prawns (market price), Naan with goats cheese and pickled chillies ($13) and gourmet desserts like Pistachio Rose Kulfi ($21).
Shikar, Maxwell Reserve Singapore, Autograph Collection, 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857  

Oumi: Modern Japanese Nose-to-Tail Cuisine: EDITOR’S PICK!

Oumi by 1-Group affords the same amazing views as Kaarla, tucked in the corner of the 51st floor of CapitaSpring. Oumi serves modern Japanese ‘Kappo’ cuisine which takes inspiration from the best of seasonal ingredients. Sit at the counter – you’ll have your back to those city views but the chefs put on a good show in the open kitchen and with the affable Chef Lamley Chua prepping your food you are in for a real treat! Get ready to be blown away by the impressive nine-course omakase dining experience ($288++) featuring dishes like five types of sashimi, Bincho-grilled Kagoshima A5 Tenderloin Chateaubriand, and a Foie Gras Monaka (a reinvention of the traditional Japanese rice cracker snack filled with a spicy foie gras ganache and topped with pickles and edible flowers from the 1-Arden Food Forest). Some of the dishes you’ll also find on the a la carte menu such as the Tempura Crepe ($25 for two) – a crispy crepe cracker made with gruyere cheese, topped with avocado and roe, deep-fried sakura ebi, and balsamic-teriyaki sauce. If you have a super special occasion coming up or if you’re tasked to organise a business meal – Oumi is a good contender. There’s also a more affordable four-course lunch set at $65.
Oumi, 88 Market St, #51-02, CapitaSpring 048948

Ocean Restaurant: Underwater fine dining restaurant reopens

Talk about novel experiences, the Ocean Restaurant fine dining underwater restaurant has reopened in Resorts World Sentosa with a new look and a two Michelin-starred Celebrity Chef Patron, Olivier Bellin, of L’Auberge des Glazicks in France. Step into the underwater world and be greeted with views of the majestic manta rays and marine animals in S.E.A. Aquarium’s Open Ocean Habitat. Chef Bellin’s new menu centres around responsibly sourced seafood, local produce and house-grown herbs. Ocean Restaurant’s four-course lunch menu is $148++ per person and the six-course dinner is $248++.

New restaurant Sushi-GO with robot servers

Sushi-GO opens at AMK Hub with a network of mini AI robots on tracks to bring you your sushi! The new conveyor sushi restaurant has a futuristic theme to reflect the mini robots. The little guys named “GO-Bots” have emoji-like expressions (all the better to wink at you) to delight little diners. Expect Sushi-GO’s signature menu of over 150 varieties of sushi starting from $1.80 made fresh on order and delivered straight to your table via GO-Bots. New items include Salmon Dragon Roll ($8.90), Una Tama Don ($8.90) topped with unagi, plus there are the usual dishes of maki, handrolls, sashimi, as well as ramen, soft shell crab tempura, and karaage. In celebration of the AMK Hub opening, the outlet will be running a two-day promo on 30 and 31 July, with unlimited $1 sushi all day long, valid on 30 nigiri items (U.P $1.80-$3.00). While stocks last!

Cultivate Cafe: new cafe with healthy dishes

Cultivate Cafe is a plant-based, gluten-free vegan cafe set within the gorgeous library of the Maxwell Reserve Hotel. Head here for nutritious lunches made with organic ingredients sourced locally and globally from small and family farms. The menu encompasses superfood bowls like the Vegan Earth Bowl ($28) of shredded red cabbage, carrot, radish, edamame, broccolini, avocado and soba noodles with Goma cream dressing; Gluten-free Sandwiches ($22-24), and mains like Pad Thai Rice Noodle with Baked Tofu ($32), Smoked Onion and Asparagus Risotto ($40) and a range of Organic Salads.

Read More:Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants

Pangium: New restaurant in the Botanics

Award-winning Chef Malcolm Lee (of Candlenut fame) opens his second restaurant in Singapore with the COMO Group. Pangium is housed within The Orangery at the Gallop Extension of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and only offers a tasting menu of Contemporary Straits heritage cuisine. Lunch is priced at $198++ with dinner at $258++.

Nobu Restaurant Singapore

There is still a buzz about Nobu restaurant which opened in Singapore last month to much fanfare with people tripping over themselves to secure a coveted table. Nobu restaurant by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, is known for its creative cuisine that uses traditional Japanese cooking with Peruvian flavours. The menu features Nobu’s signature dishes like the famed Black Cod Miso ($68), Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño ($39), Tuna Tacos ($13) and world-class sushi, as well as special dishes inspired by local flavours. 

Lumbre: new Spanish restaurant

Lumbre

LUCE: new Italian within InterContinental Singapore

LUCE by Davide Giacomelli is a new Italian restaurant at InterContinental Singapore. There are a handful of starters to choose from ranging from Bruschetta ($19) with parma ham, to Octopus Peperonta ($36), two risottos including Acquerello lobster risotto ($46) with half a Boston lobster served, and homemade pasta including tagliolini with broccoli and clams (unusually served out of their shells so lacking the visual appeal). Mains range from Atlantic cod with puttanesca sauce ($46) to Dry aged Beef Rib-eye ($59). LUCE also offers a set lunch menu with a choice of either 2-course ($34) or 3-course ($40).

Plain Vanilla: new cafe in East Coast

Easties you’re in luck! New cafe Plain Vanilla has just opened in trendy Katong along East Coast Road. There’s indoor dining and even an alfresco backyard! You can expect the famous Plain Vanilla cupcakes in flavours like Red Velvet, Earl Grey Lavender, Salted Caramel as well as a breakfast of Eggs Benedict ($22), Smashed Avocado Toast ($22) and Allpress coffee plus lunch options later in the day. Opens daily from 7:30am to 7pm.
Plain Vanilla, 199 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428902

The Coconut Club: EDITOR’S PICK!

The Coconut Club has moved from its lodgings at Ann Siang Hill to a triple-storey shophouse on Beach Road. Nasi Lemak is the name of the game here but there are new breakfast items like Charcoal-Grilled Kaya Toast ($7.80) with sous vide eggs plus new communal sharing dishes. Plump for the famous Ayam Goreng Berempah Set ($18.80) and tuck into pretty spectacular spiced fried organic GG French poulet (leg or breast), coconut rice, a fried egg, house-made sambal, ikan bilis and peanuts. Nasi lemak sets are available all-day on the first floor. You can head to the second floor for Nasi Lemak during lunch or choose from a communal-style nasi lemak menu for dinner with dishes like freeflow coconut rice ($3.50 per pax), Ayam Goreng Berempah for $28, Wingbean Salad with shredded chicken and prawns, fall-off-the-bone Percik Kambing ($38) lamb short ribs and Sambal Sotong ($26), with condiments charged at an extra $5. Totally worth it!
The Coconut Club, 269 Beach Road, Singapore 199546

New restaurant Poisson: Upmarket seafood EDITOR’S PICK!

Poisson on trendy Bukit Pasoh is a new restaurant set in a restored heritage shophouse. As you might expect from the name (‘poisson’ is ‘fish’ in French), fish features heavily at Poisson with dishes made from premium seafood ethically harvested and sourced from abroad as well as local, sustainably certified fish farms. Don’t miss the Blue Ebi ($52), beautiful raw blue prawns cured in spring onion infused oil topped with Bafun uni and Kaluga Queen Hybrid Caviar while more affordable starters include Cured Salmon Trout ($26) with baby beetroot, fennel and ricotta. Gotta love the squid dish named The Game ($24) after the hit Netflix show, Squid Game – the dish keeps the stakes high with deliciously grilled baby squid marinated in garlic served with a sweet onion and tomato puree with a lick of spice. We will be back for the awesome-sounding Saturday Brunch – a 10-course feast at $148++ with 2 hours of free-flow Brut Delamotte Champagne.

Kaarla Restaurant and Bar: EDITOR’S PICK!

1-Group opens 2 new restaurants at the rooftop of CapitaSpring: 1-Arden’s signature restaurant, Kaarla Restaurant and Bar serving Coastal Australian cuisine, and right next door sharing the same space is Oumi, Modern Japanese Kappo Dining. The world’s highest rooftop farm (open to the public to view) 1-Arden Food Forest makes the third opening of the group – all of which are interlinked. 1-Arden Food Forest farms many of the herbs and plants used in the kitchens at Kaarla and Oumi. We popped into Kaarla for lunch and were blown away by the views from the 51st floor, exciting ingredients and delicious cuisine. Aussie Chef Paul Fietchner oversees the cooking – mostly done on a custom-built wood-fired grill and oven. Highlights include the sourdough Damper ($8) with macadamia spread, lardo and lemon balm, Sydney rock oysters ($8 each) with a house-fermented fig leaf and oyster plant vinegar, lick-the-plate good King Island Beef OP Rib ($210/kg), house salt-cured Kangaroo, Sprouted Black Barley, Finger Lime ($32) and the epic Kaarla Closed Loop Salad ($28) of roof top leaves and flowers, tiger nut curd, and pickled daikon – it’s been a long time since I was so pleasantly surprised by a salad! At lunch, there’s a set menu at $52 for 2 courses and $67 for 3 courses.

Osteria Mozza

Osteria Mozza is making a comeback! This time without a certain someone and instead helmed by American Chef Nancy Silverton, famous for popularising sourdough and artisan bread in the US. Those who have missed Osteria Mozza’s amazing pizzas will be excited to see a menu of winning classics from the one-Michelin-starred restaurant in LA. Osteria Mozza opens on 31 May 2022 at the new Hilton Singapore Orchard.

The Kongsee: new cocktail bar

The Kongsee is a cocktail bar with actual vibes! Located in a heritage shophouse (of course!) along Gemmill Lane, it’s the brainchild of Chef Partner Willin Low who is famous for his Mod-Sin cuisine. Must-try dishes at this fun modern pink-hued izakaya include the Mini Roxy Crab Laksa, with wild-caught crabs, charcoal-grilled Iberico Satay with sweet Sarawak pineapple salsa and Krapow Prata Pizza – a melting pot of flavours borrowing from Thailand (minced basil chicken), India (prata base) and Italy – its cheesiness is reminiscent of pizza. Cocktails are fun – try The Kongsee, with homemade rose cordial and Tanglin Orchid Gin or the Bojio Martini adorned with an origami plane.

Forma, new restaurant by Cicheti: EDITOR’S PICK!

Forma,

Jypsy moves to One Fullerton

Jypsy has moved from Martin Rd to One Fullerton! Expect a stunning, sweeping vista of Marina Bay as you chow down on contemporary Japanese cuisine like the signature Salmon Tacos, Nest of Fries and Wagyu Beef Dripping Ric. There will also be some new curations at this flagship new restaurant such as Ceviche Snapper Al Limone Spaghettini, Jypsy Fish & Chips, Robata Lamb Ribs and more.

SoCal Italian restaurant California Republic: EDITOR’S PICK!

California Republic has just opened on Amoy Street. This new restaurant is by the same peeps behind Firangi Superstar, Neon Pigeon, and Fat Prince so you know the décor will be sweet and the food – Californian Italian fare – spot on. It’s all low lit vibes, dark tones, and cosy booth seating styled after California living in the summer of 1960. Look out for handmade pasta from Cappellacci ($29) the cutest little parcels of pasta filled with celeriac and mascarpone, served with umami mushrooms and Parmigiano cheese, to the Smoked Bucattini ($34) handmade tube-like pasta, tossed in a pork ragu with sofrito and bone marrow. For mains there’s a seafood stew, Lazy Man’s Cioppino and Pork and veal meatballs ($28) plated on crushed tomato sauce with a sourdough slice to mop up the goodness. And as the menu aims to be as inclusive as poss, there are plant-based dishes like braised young jackfruit masquerading as artichokes ($18), and a very interesting cocktail menu that takes alcohol-free options as seriously as the hard stuff!

WAKUDA Singapore: new restaurant at MBS

WAKUDA Singapore by celebrated two-Michelin-starred Chef Tetsuya Wakuda has opened at Marina Bay Sands! Chef Tetsuya and his team will steer this new modern Japanese restaurant through familiar Japanese favourites with a modern ‘WAKUDA-style’, ranging from appetisers, sashimi, sushi and tempura, to yakimono (grilled items), rice bowls and cold soba. For those looking for that extra special experience, hang tight for WAKUDA’s refined omakase and private sushi room experience to come.

Path Restaurant: New Mod Asian – EDITOR’S PICK!

There’s a sleek new restaurant in MBFC Tower 3 and it’s likely packed out for lunch with all the office folk taking a breather with delicious modern Asian food neatly offered in set lunches (from $39++ for 2 courses). Quieter at dinner (when more a la carte dishes are on offer), Path is definitely a new restaurant to add to your ‘must try’ list! Chef Marvas Ng is at the helm with a background in French fine dining so there are lots of clever twists in the cooking and presentation of the dishes. Must order dishes include beautifully presented Wakamatsu Strait Yellowtail ($36) sashimi with pickled Chinese artichoke, French Organic Cauliflower ($24) boiled in stock then deep-fried and finished with house-blended Furikake and mayonnaise and the Signature Butter-Roasted Herb-Brined French Poulet ($72) with Hong Kong Scallion Salsa and Daikon Sword Lettuce Roll. The whole chicken is brined with herbs and salt, then blanched, air-dried and then roasted in an unforgivable amount of butter and presented to the table before slicing. Eat the meat with refreshing daikon rolls drizzled in an onion vinaigrette. Save room for another must-order, the ‘supplement dish’ Signature Wild Forest Mushrooms Donabe ($38). It’s clay pot rice, made with premium Japanese rice, flecked with oat groats and sweet bites of waxed meat and porcini mushrooms. Just order it, you won’t regret it!

Sol & Luna

Looking for a new haunt with sky-high views? Sol & Luna on the 17th floor, of CapitaSpring affords lovely CBD sunset views. This bright and breezy bistro does brunch, afternoon tea, lunch sets from $35 per person for a two-course meal, evening tapas and dinner with flavours from Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. Think Fried Soft-Shell Prawns ($16) with aioli, Heirloom Tomato Salad ($22), Wood-Fired Sardines wrapped with Parma Ham ($19), mains of umami-rich Truffle Risotto ($25), and deliciously flaky Baked Veal Shank Pie ($28). Local veg and produce are used where possible and there’s even an Edible Garden City farm growing on the roof of CapitaSpring that the 1-Group intend to use for many of its kitchens including at Sol & Luna.

Native Restaurant

Amoy street keeps getting cooler, reinventing its look with new faces. Native Restaurant is one of the latest to join the offerings – although while the intimate narrow restaurant has only been open a month, you may know Vijay Mudaliar’s Native cocktail bar upstairs (it’s on the World’s Best Bars list). New Native Restaurant follows the same ethos as the renowned Native bar, with a focus on zero waste. Head Chef Y MJ Teoh (who trained at Pollen and Nouri), has put together a menu of nostalgic Asian dishes with lots of plant offerings. Native’s Miang Kham ($18) is a unique take on the traditional Thai starter of wild pepper leaves with its addition of pineapple shoyu (a by-product from a Native cocktail), tempeh crisps, ginger flower, lemongrass, tempeh crisps and toasted coconut. Other delights: Really Cold Somen ($16) noodles with white kimchi, charred shishito, and shiso in a refreshingly icy broth, Butterflied Snapper ($45) with chimichurri made from Asian herbs and desserts like Sticky Jackfruit & Sugee Cake. The attention to local ingredients and upcycling byproducts from the bar and kitchen is unique!

White Marble: EDITOR’S PICK!

White Marble is a Mediterranean grill restaurant by Chef Otto Weibel. Located in the Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, the restaurant has a slight corporate minimalistic vibe. Yet the food exceeds expectations with flavours from the Mediterranean including Greece, Morocco and the Middle East. There’s a focus on seafood and vegetables (where sister restaurant Black Marble centres around meat). Look out for the prettily plated Mezze Plate ($34 for two) featuring Tabbouleh with quinoa, bright and tasty Fattouche, smoky Eggplant Moutabbal, creamy Hummus, a Chicken Skewer and Pita. From the grill: tender Chargrilled Octopus ($36), Fish of the Day or something more hearty like the wonderful statement dish Chicken Tagine ($60 for two) served in a traditional Moroccan tagine with preserved lemons, dates, olives and capers – one of the best tagines we have had in a while!

USD Cafe – Upside Down Café

Looking for a quirky new café to take the kids to? USD Cafe is the first upside down cafe in Singapore full of fun photo opportunities thanks to all the café furnishings arranged upside down! Everything from the paintings on the walls to the tables and chairs are hanging upside down from the ceiling (so you’ll need to rotate your photos 180 degrees after taking pics to create that upside-down gravity-defying illusion!) Don’t worry though, there are proper tables and chairs to sit on while you sip on speciality Ipoh white coffee ($7.50) and dine on Avocado Sour Cream Toast ($12) and Portuguese Egg Tarts ($3.50).

Roberta’s Pizza

Brooklyn cult pizza house, Roberta’s Pizza opens its first international outlet at Marina Bay Sands. Head to this 44-seat restaurant for Neapolitan-inspired 12 inch pizzas made in an Italian wood-burning oven. The full pizza and salad menu of the original Roberta’s restaurant will be offered including the Famous Original ($26), and Cheesus Christ ($28) with taleggio, parmigiano, black pepper and cream. Look out for the Bee Sting pizza ($28) topped with mozzarella and salami then drizzled with honey. No reservations!

Willow

By the time you read this, it may be too late to book a counter seat at new kappo-style restaurant Willow. We hear that the 10 seater chef’s counter experience where you get up close to the binchotan and plating action, is already fully booked till May (you may still be able to bag a table instead). Helmed by Chef Nicholas Tam (Esora, Robuchon and Zen) Willow is one of the newest restaurants on Hong Kong Street. The daily changing menu is pan Asian with lunch starting at $148++, and dinner from $198++. Your menu might include multiple fine dining snacks like uni on homemade toast, followed by A4 Japanese Wagyu Zabuton and Ochazuke rice porridge, or charcoal-grilled Iberico Presa.

Gary’s Restaurant: new restaurant in Rochester

Gary’s Restaurant, founded by Singaporean chef Gary Wu, has opened its doors in a two-storey black-and-white colonial bungalow in Rochester Park. The cuisine is upscale Italian with Japanese influences – from Hokkaido Scallop Crudo with Ginger Ponzu Dressing ($20) to perfectly cooked Squid Ink Pasta with Bamboo Clams ($28), and comforting Lobster Risotto ($38). The menu spans meat and seafood from whole Salt Crusted Wild Caught Seabass with Confit Potato and Grilled Seasonal Vegetables, to Lamb Rack with Mushroom, Baby Corn, Asparagus and Polenta Purée. They also do a good value set lunch from three courses at $38 which includes free coffee or tea.

OMMA Korean Charcoal BBQ

OMMA is Singapore’s first wood-fire Korean Charcoal BBQ and impressively it is pretty smokeless too so you won’t leave your meal smelling like you’ve been camping! Get a Beef OMMA Set ($95 for 2-3 pax) with Ribs, Beef Brisket, and Beef Striploin. Grill your meats to your liking on the grill and dip in the ssamjang sauce. There’s also a Pork Set ($60) or chicken set, Army Stew ($38), a huge amount of a la carte dishes or something pretty affordable – the Beef OMMA Value Set ($76, valid from Mondays to Thursday) which also comes Beef Rib, a choice of Soup, Steamed Egg and a freeflow of banchan – Korean side dishes and pickles.

Baker X: Home bakers like Egg Sugar Butter at new cafe

Have you heard of Baker X? An initiative, by Far East Organization, Baker X is a physical baking studio and café in Orchard Central where home-based bakers can take up residency to showcase their goodies! Bakers work in a fully equipped baking studio and café, a physical space provided to them at no cost, over a period of 2 to 6 weeks to bake and sell. The cafe also houses social enterprise Foreword Coffee Roasters, which opens daily. Currently in residence from 3 -15 May is Egg Sugar Butter (@eggsugarbutter), offering a variety of cakes and pastries crafted with French pastry techniques and Japanese sensibilities for light textures and unique flavours. Highlights include Japanese-style fresh cream cakes, fresh fruit shortcakes, roll cakes, as well as refreshing fruit tarts.

Slake

Slake has moved from Opera Estate to the city-centre at The Riverwalk. Expect modern Singaporean and Southeast Asian dishes reinvented with unique twists. Think Chye Poh Fries ($12) with aged black vinegar mayo, Battered Mala Pig Ears ($14), Charcoal Grilled Stuffed Squid, Seafood Laksa Linguine and the Charcoal Seafood platter (pictured) with a choice of Live Mud Crab or Live Lobster, coated in either Black Pepper, Chilli, or Nonya sauce. If you’re wondering why seafood features heavily, it may have something to do with the fact that  Slake is part of the JUMBO group!

Les Bouchons new Steak Frites restaurant at Rochester

Steak lovers will know Les Bouchons for their value-for-money Steak Frites. The good news is that you can now get your dose of meaty French cuisine west-side in the lush Rochester Park area. Set in a black-and-white bungalow Les Bouchons at Rochester Commons boasts an alfresco seating area and a pétanque court – we can see ourselves having a petite game of French boules with an ice-cold pastis here! As well as the signature steaks you can get French dishes exclusive to this outlet like Terrine de Foie Gras “Maison” (Foie Gras Terrine) and French Ceps Soup with Truffle Oil, excellent Plats and À Partager, and other French classics! A small kids menu of Mini Beef Burger, French Fries and Fresh Fruit Juice ($12) and Chicken Nuggets, French Fries and Fresh Fruit Juice ($12) is also available.

Rosemead: New Californian restaurant – EDITOR’S PICK!

Rosemead is the talk of the town right now. This new modern Californian restaurant by Executive Chef David Tang and the award-winning Jigger & Pony Group is housed in a 1920s heritage building along Cecil Street (where The Black Swan used to be). Rosemead boasts an open-hearth kitchen and a roaring fire for roasting meats. Expect upmarket dishes with beautiful presentation: Grassfed Wagyu Tartare ($52), Mangrove Crab Tartine ($33), Slow-Cooked Kagoshima Short Rib ($85) and Whole Roast Chicken ($80) with winter black truffles. They’ve just launched a new lunch menu and we highly recommend this light-filled airy spot for a sophisticated mid-day chow of Chicken salad with pickled ginger dressing, Tuna crudo and if it’s Friday, maybe one of the cocktails that Jigger & Pony are famous for!

NOX – Dine in the Dark is back!

NOX – Dine in the Dark closed for a while but it is back at a new location on Club Street. For those who don’t know, NOX offers a daring dining concept where you eat in a pitch-black dining room (yup, no candles, no phone lights, nada!). You’ll be guided by visually impaired hosts, and there will be 12 dishes spanning three courses ($88 per pax), with an optional add-on for wine, mocktails or cocktail pairings conceptualised by Sam Wong of Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall. You won’t know what you are eating beforehand but there’s a full debrief after your dinner. Who is feeling adventurous to try this?

Caviar: New restaurant dedicated to sturgeon roe

Lovers of caviar, there’s a restaurant where you can eat sturgeon roe on practically every dish of the multi-course set menus (yes even the desserts and petit fours). Caviar is a fine dining intimate restaurant (it only seats 28) in the basement of Palais Renaissance. Sit up at the dining counter where tins of Kaluga Queen Crossbreed, Giaveri Oscietra and Polanco Siberian caviar are perched on ice, as the chefs, led by 28-year-old Head Chef Karleen Kasim prep the dishes. There’s a seven-course Spring Menu ($288++) for dinner, a four-course Executive Lunch menu ($128++) and an all-day Sunday Brunch Menu ($198++). Amuse-bouche from the Spring menu comprises three offerings including Corn Manchego Croquette topped with Giaveri White Sturgeon. A delicate starter follows of swordfish with abalone, kohlrabi and Arctic Char Roe while mains include Welsh Dorper Lamb with Goat’s Curd, Truffle Jus and Jerusalem Artichoke chips.

Rempapa: Chef D’Silva’s new restaurant – EDITOR’s PICK!

Chef Damian D’Silva (MasterChef Singapore judge and local hero Chef) has a new restaurant called Rempapa – the name comes from ‘rempah’, Malay for ‘spice paste’ and ‘papa’ given Chef Damian is the grandaddy of heritage cuisine. This all-day dining restaurant is fresh and brightly lit inside (with more ambient vibes alfresco) and offers elevated one-dish heritage hawker dishes, as well as family-style sharing plates that bring together flavours from Chinese, Peranakan, Eurasian, Indian and Malay kitchens. Dubbed ‘Singapore new heritage cuisine’, highlights include Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with String Hoppers ($16) delicate lacy string hoppers to mop up a very saucy curry paired wonderfully with a sweet tangy Tomato Chutney, Stir-fried Chee Cheong Fun ($13), Nasi Lemak with Fish / Chicken ($17) with quadruple steamed coconut rice, Lamb Leg Rendang and the Kedondong Salad with ginger flower. Rempapa is just across from Paya Lebar Quarters, at Park Palace Residences.

KOAL: new restaurant Les Amis Group – EDITOR’s PICK!

If it’s affordable, good quality meat and seafood dishes you are after, head on over to new grill KOAL within the Shaw centre. The vibes are all dark woods and red LED lights at this new restaurant by Les Amis Group. On the menu, a range of open-flame grilled meats and seafood in Asian and Western flavours. If you’re someone who needs to pace themself, I’ll warn you now, save room for the amazing Freshly Fried Donuts filled with either Raspberry Coulis & Cheesecake Mousse or Nutella & Banana Mousse for dessert. You won’t regret it! Now back to the savoury dishes: highlights include the fresh Salmon Sashimi with Coriander Green Chili Dressing ($12), the tender Grassfed Rib Eye ($25), and Crispy Pork Riblets with Mala Honey ($16). Mop up the sauces with a dinner exclusive, KOAL’s Bread Rolls with Bacon and Grilled Spring Onions, Sour Cream and Chive Butter ($8). We hear KOAL does a mean set lunch too – think Rice Bowls like the Iberico Collar ($26), Grilled Chicken Leg ($22) and Salmon Fillet ($30) over Japanese Rice with an Onsen Egg and a choice of a Starter and Dessert.

Claudine Restaurant by Odette Chef

Julien Royer (Chef-Owner of 3 Michelin-starred Odette) together with The Lo & Behold Group opens their new concept in Dempsey – Claudine Restaurant, in the super location of defunct The White Rabbit set in a 1930s-era conservation building. Claudine promises a relaxed style of dining with à la carte French classics like Onion Soup, Crispy Pork Trotters, Charcuterie Boards, and the classic Vol-Au-Vent ($58) of puff pastry filled with veal sweetbread, cockscomb, chicken quenelle and morel covered in a velvety mushroom creamy sauce. Order a sharing plate to eat family style – Kampot Pepper Steak Flambe with bone marrow and frites ($158) – or the Claudine Bouillabaise ($158) of John Dory, scallops, razor clams, mussels and other seafood. Royer will be based mostly out of his flagship venue, Odette, but he will be working closely with the Claudine team.

Aether House: New French bistro

New French-inspired bistro and wine bar Aether House sits daintily on the ground floor of SO/ Sofitel. Look forward to petits plats (small plates) like Baked Escargot ($18), Marinated Artichoke ($14), Octopus Carpaccio ($24), and Foie Gras Sourdough Toast ($32) to go with your choice of wine by the glass.

Binary: dual Western /Asian approach

Binary is a new gastro bar with a unique binary approach to its cuisine. Each dish has a star ingredient that can be cooked with Asian or Western flavours. Take the Octopus dish ($18) – you can have it with Pesto alla Genovese or doused in “lao gan ma” chilli (+$10) – the latter was so good! If you fancy shellfish the Tiger Prawns can come as the Spanish classic tapas gambas al ajillo, or as prawn fritters with togarashi mayonnaise. Mains ($38 each) include Iberico Pluma in Argentine chimichurri or Korean gochujang. Situated on the ground floor of Palais Renaissance mall, Binary affords a decent position to sip on a Spice It Up cocktail ($24) on the Orchard Rd alfresco terrace while watching the world go by.

So France Orchard: New French Restaurant Orchard Towers

So France opens a second French bistro at Orchard Towers. As with the Duo Galleria So France, this new spot comprises an alfresco area, an indoor restaurant and a grocery store selling French gourmet goodies. These guys do an affordable set lunch – 2 courses $28 / 3 courses $32 – with a choice of starter or soup for an appetiser, a fish or meat for main course and dessert. So France also does good sharing platters of charcuterie, salads (Quinoa salad, Steak salad) and their version of a Croque Monsieur.

GelatiAmo: New gelato café

Craving some of the cold stuff? GelatiAmo is a new gelato café by Chef Loris of Ristorante Pietrasanta. Located in the same mall in one-north, GelatiAmo serves up authentic gelato (no premixes, colouring, or preservatives here) and doughnuts. Ice cream flavours range from a nutty Pistachio to Salted Butterscotch, Earl Grey and even a refreshing Strawberry Cream Cheese or the intriguing Mascarpone Aged Balsamic (from $4.20 for a single scoop). Have your gelato in a waffle cone, cup or alongside a cinnamon-coated doughnut ($6.50).

Kilo reopens in Duxton

Kilo has reopened at Duxton! We are so happy to have this spot back for great vibes and delicious Latin American bites of ceviche, padron peppers, crispy calamari and squid aioli, grilled meats and seafood. They now also do a neat two-course set lunch at $32 featuring dishes like ceviche and grilled seabass (add on $5 for coffee and a sweet).

Marguerite

Chef-Owner Michael Wilson has joined forces with Unlisted Collection to give us Marguerite – a low-lit fine dining restaurant perched on the outer shell of the Flower Dome with views out to the water. Dress up and book ahead! This refined spot looks promising if Michael Wilson’s other venture the casual cafe Mylo’s is anything to go by. Expect a 7-course tasting menu of contemporary cuisine featuring Foie gras cornetto to start; Smoked eel with oyster leaf, horseradish ice cream, and amur caviar; Ōra King Salmon; and Black Angus beef with chanterelle mushroom jus among other courses. The Chef’s Menu is $228++ with the optional add-on of a Wine pairing $198++ Open for dinner only for now. Call ahead and you’ll be picked up by the complimentary buggy service (for prior reservations only).

Burnt Ends, Dempsey

Chef-Owner Dave Pynt’s one-Michelin starred Burnt Ends (it’s also #5 on the 2021 San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List) has moved to Dempsey. Burnt Ends restaurant is heaps bigger than before and also has a bakery on site.

Alegria

You’ll find Alegria off buzzing Keong Saik Rd. This new restaurant and bar specialises in Latin Asian cuisine reinvented with Asian influences. We love the moody interiors and the graffiti art on one wall, the Latin beats playing (hurrah for music back in restaurants!) Explore the fun cocktails and then tuck into the inventive food. The Nacho ($16) is a huge masa chip made in-house topped with prawns, cheese and tarragon leaves, served with a Salsa Rioja dip. Always a win, the Elote ($15) sees charred corn with Cottija and crackling chicharon; Ceviche ($22) is reinvented with tuna, scallop, and mango in refreshing coconut lime, ponzu, served with wasabi tobiko. The menu spans Tacos each carrying distinctive flavours of different cuisines from Korea to the Philippines, to mains like the tender Pulpo ($40) of sous vide then grilled octopus. However desserts were the standouts: Taho At Queso ($18), a very pretty beancurd cheesecake and the Churros ($14), made fresh in-house – amazingly light and fluffy inside – some of the best we have tried in Singapore – served with an exceedingly good homemade Dulce de Leche.

Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse: EDITOR’s PICK!

Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse (taking over from the defunct Little Creatures space) is a new local craft brewery by Lion Brewery Co. Part microbrewery part restaurant – this spot makes a fun place to gather for craft beer-lovers (think Raspberry Beer-et (ABV 4.6%), a Berliner Weisse with bright raspberry flavours or the quirky purple-hued Violet No-Regard (ABV 5.8%, Purple Ale) using local butterfly-pea flower. Open-flame cooking is the name of the game here – think Grilled Black Tiger Prawns ($20) and Spicy Pork Belly Satay ($16) to start. Their Crusted Calamari ($14) and Scotch Egg ($10) make great beer bites – the latter sees Nduja, sausage and impossible meat hugging a boiled egg that’s been crispy fried and served with housemade sriracha mayo – literally lip-smacking! There’s a huge range of gastro bar-style mains from Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs to Wood Fired Cauliflower ($25) marinated with turmeric and ginger, steamed and grilled with cashew nut butter and leek miso. Good to know: you can pay for a tour of the microbrewery that’s visible from the bar counter with its 23 taps.

The Great Mischief

The Great Mischief has moved from Little India to The National Gallery. If you’re looking for a cute nook to take flat lays of that flat white – this could be the spot. We have a little style crush on this new halal cafe with its pastel-hued blues, gold accents, and scallop chairs. The menu is Catalan-inspired but we see everything from sandwiches (avocado, peas, pickled shallots and chilli)  to small plates of Turkey Croquetas to spicy Patatas Bravas and for mains – Battered Snapper and Fries ($20), Half Roasted Chicken ($24) and Fried Chicken waffles ($20). The dinner menu is a set from $59 where you can choose a selection of four tapas, one main and one dessert. As this is a halal spot no alcohol is served.

Revolver: EDITOR’S PICK!

A sleek black and chrome wood-fired grill awaits at Revolver on Tras St. Expect modern Indian flavours using international ingredients in three set menus – the 8-course Discovery menu at $139, the 9-course Experience menu ($199) and Vegetarian menus ($129++). Grab an intimate leather booth spot or sit at the counter where you can eyeball the action at bincho grills. Highlights include Stuffed Courgette Flowers, charred, juicy Lobster with Pepper Garlic Butter, the three-day marinated charred Magra Lamb Chops, and the Smoked Aubergine atop a crusty Gruyère Kulchette (like a stuffed naan oozing morish umami gooey smokey deliciousness).

Mylo’s: EDITOR’S PICK!

Mylo’s is a new gelato café in Gardens by the Bay that’s kid-friendly (well they’re selling ice cream after all) and dog-friendly too. Set right next to the Active Garden near the outdoor musical instruments and exercise equipment, this bright café serves bakes, coffee, affogato and alcoholic drinks – but it’s the artisanal handcrafted gelato that is the star of the show. Hidden in the Pozzetti display are 20 different gelatos (from $5) in fantastic flavours from rich pistachio to smoked maple bacon gelato. We highly recommend the apple pie gelato (everything you love in baked apple pie – pie crust, spiced apples and crumble all in gelato form) ask for it in a warm toasty brioche bun ($8) – ice cream sandwiches just went next level! Don’t miss the chance to try their unusual affogatos – we loved the vanilla and himalayan pink salt gelato ($10) drowned in Papa’s Grove Extra Virgin Olive Oil, honey and topped with fennel pollen. Pups will be happy with homemade doggie biscuits peanut butter and beef bone broth popsicles!

boCHINche has moved!

Argentinian steakhouse boCHINche, helmed by Chef Fabrice has moved to a new hood at Club Street. Expect a meat feast charred to perfection on their famous jarrah charcoal grill that flanks the entire length of the restaurant. The new menu is designed to bring the old steakhouse experience to the modern age and features grass-fed beef imported directly from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Japan, with some cuts being dry-aged in-house. Highlights include Devesa’ Argentinian grain-fed OP RIB ($22 for 100g) and Bone-In Vintage Galiciana Striploin ($140 for 400g), dry-aged for 38 days with a marble beef score of 3+. Don’t miss the Italian Burrata ($29) contrasted with fermented tomatoes, Hand Cut Chips “Provençal” ($10), and the Roast Cauliflower ($15). Don’t tell everyone about the super value lunch deal – 2 courses for $36, 3 courses for $44 – it includes Rib Eye Steak and Chips plus other options and no surcharges!

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery reopens

Historical Chin Mee Chin Confectionery closed in 2018 but it’s now been given a new lease of life thanks to the Ebb & Flow Group. Chin Mee Chin flung open its doors again last month with a refreshed menu designed by the group’s pastry chef Maxine Ngooi (of Tigerlily Patisserie) together with the confectionery’s original owner’s family members. If you are nostalgic for the bakes from the good ole days, head over to check out their kaya buns that are still split and toasted over charcoal, plus other goodies like cheesecake brownies, gula Melaka coffee chiffon cake slices, and hae bee hiam buns. Looks-wise, this spot still retains much of its old-world charm with the original flooring, wall tiles, marble-topped tables and classic coffee shop chairs.

North Miznon

First there was Miznon with its pillowy stuffed pita breads. Now a new sister restaurant has been opened by Celebrity Israeli MasterChef judge Eyal Shahi – North Miznon, a more upmarket restaurant serving Israeli cuisine. We hear good things about the slow-roasted cabbage ($23), and the signature focaccia with tomatoes, onions and green chillies plus there are seasonal offerings like slices of octopus or beef, draped over mall boulders ($47) and the Naked Heirloom Tomato Mosaic of sliced thinly tomatoes and arranged on a slab of marbled rock, carpaccio-style.

Club Street Wine Room

Club Street Wine Room opens, the first wine bar by Andrew Walsh the Chef behind CURE, Butcher Boy and CATFISH. Think interesting wines like the Sea Soul No. 4 ($405), a sea-aged wine where bottles are submerged underwater for months at a time to aid fermentation. The food ranges from Aged T-bone 500g with beef fat frites ($84) to Whole Turbot with café de paris butter ($54) or more casual bites like Grilled Welsh Rarebit ($22).

Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen

Griglia, by the same peeps behind Zafferano, celebrates fresh seasonal produce cooked over charcoal – think Grilled Turbot (from $58), Dry-aged Porterhouse ($128) prepped Florentine-style, together with other Italian staples from Burratina to Beef Tartare, and a selection of artisanal salumi and cheeses. Griglia can be found on the ground level of a 3-storey conservation shophouse along Craig Road.

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Lead image: Ms Maria and Mr. Singh