Singapore

December 2015

Hottest restaurants:

• Spago
• Odette
• Aura
• Artemis Grill
• Terra by Seita
• Hashida Garo
• Saint Ma
• Adrift by David Myers
• Kakure

September 2015

• Open Farm Community
• JAAN
• Restaurant ANDRE
• Alma by Juan Amador
• Cure
• Luxe
• La Ventana
• Waku Ghin
• Les Amis

June 2015

Restaurants:

• Tippling Club
• Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay
• Bedrock Bar & Grill
• Ki-sho
• Lewin Terrace
• Corner House
• Shinji by Kanesaka
• Osteria Mozza
• Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck
• Burnt Ends

April 2015

Les Amis

French

#02-16 Shaw Centre,1 Scotts Rd.,

+65 6733-2225, www.lesamis.com.sg

Open Mon-Sat noon-2pm, 7-9:30pm.

This place has got to be Singapore’s best known fine dining joint. And its fame is well deserved. They’ve got regal décor, waitstaff who know their stuff, a comprehensive wine menu and really good French food, care of chef de cuisine Sebastien Lepinoy and pastry chef Cheryl Koh. Expect thought-out and laboriously plated dishes like a steamed lobster turban spaghetti with seasonal cepe mushroom and fish bone sauce. A meal here doesn’t come cheap, but it’s worth every penny.

CUT

Steak, Western. #B1-71 Galleria

Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave.,

+65 6688-8517, www.wolfgangpuck.com

Open Sun-Thu 6-10pm; Fri-Sat 6-11pm

The grand-daddy of all steakhouses is as close to faultless as it gets. The premium cuts of beef are certainly not the most budget-friendly but each melt-in-your-mouth bite is sublime. The Wolfgang Puck project offers a really impressive menu of beef, including 300-day grain-fed Australian Angus from Rangers Valley and Japanese Wagyu, along with a range of unique and delicious sauces like their signature Argentinean chimichurri. Cocktails are also amazing, so be sure to have at least one. If you’re looking for an old school meat-extravaganza, you can’t do better than this.

Hashida Sushi

Sushi

#02-37 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd.,

+65 6733-2114, www.hashida.com.sg

Open Tue-Sun noon-3pm, 7-10pm

Sushi fans rave about the first overseas offshoot of famed Tokyo establishment. Between the attentive service, adventurous omakase sets and super fresh sushi, this elegant and minimalist spot has earned a top spot in many bellies—and on our list. We love the seasonal nigiri sushi such as sea bream, ark shell and tuna, plus specialty chawanmushi with seasonal ingredients, and salmon roe and sea urchin rice. There are also fine sakes and Bordeaux wines to go along with the meal.

Waku Ghin

Japanese

#02-02 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave.,

+65 6688-8507, www.marinabaysands.com

Open daily 6-10:30pm

What sets Tetsuya Wakuda’s place apart from the rest of the celebrity chefs? Top-notch, personalized service, a 10-course, $400 degustation menu of playful and unexpected dishes using premium ingredients, such as grade nine Wagyu and Hokkaido uni (sea urchin) and an understated, elegant space. It’s easy to see why it’s among the hottest tables in town. The restaurant’s massive 3,000 bottle strong wine collection takes the experience over the top.

JAAN

French

70/F Equinox Complex, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore, 2 Stamford Rd.,

+65 6837-3322, www.jaan.com.sg

Open Mon-Sat noon-2:30pm, 7-10pm

JAAN really needs no introduction. It’s the ultimate blowout French meal. Perched up on the 70th floor, the view is breathtaking, the ambiance elegant and the service by-the-book. The real highlight, though, is chef de cuisine Julien Royer’s masterfully plated creations made with top-notch seasonal produce (the vegetables may be imported from France, but they are startlingly fresh) such as hand-dived scallop with Kagoshima pork, cauliflower and miso caramel.

Iggy’s

European

3/F Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Rd.,

+65 6732-2234, www.iggys.com.sg

Open Mon-Fri noon-1:30pm; Mon-Sat 7-9:30pm

Undoubtedly one of Singapore’s most well-known restaurants, it’s also a reliable option for quality fare that’s a unique blend of Japanese ingredients with European concepts, enhanced by professional service. Although there’s a seasonal menu change, expect conceptual dishes like toro with burrata, caviar and fennel and wagyu with tomato and wax bean. The wine list is also outstanding, courtesy of owner and decorated sommelier Ignatius Chan.

Restaurant ANDRE

French

41 Bukit Pasoh Rd.,

+65 6534-8880, www.restaurantandre.com

Open Tue-Fri noon-2pm; Tue-Sun 7-11pm

Expect an intimate space in a three-story shophouse in chef-owner André Chiang’s 30-seater restaurant with impeccable service staff. With two prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner, Chiang’s focus on fresh artisanal produce is showcased in exquisite dishes that reflect his roots in Southern French nouvelle cuisine. Dishes change pretty much daily, and you don’t get options, so come with an open mind and be prepared for whatever Chiang decides to craft.
Originally posted 11/13/2014 by Teressa Lim

NOV 2014: 10 New Restaurants in Singapore

El Mero Mero
Mexican food isn’t all about tacos and burritos. At the upscale El Mero Mero, you’ll find items like slow cooked veal tongue and oxtail, and slow roasted suckling pig. Mains aside, we must say their bar bites and appetisers – such as the savoury smoked corn and mushroom donuts and ceviche of razor clams with serrano chilli – have also got our taste buds tingling with pleasure.
El Mero Mero, #01-20 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996, p. 6337 1377. Open daily 12pm-3pm, 5:30pm-1am.

Sear
A steakhouse with a view? We’re on our way. This sky-high restaurant up on the 45th floor of the Singapore Land Tower in the CBD has all the top steak cuts (USDA and Australian beef) and grilled creations to send meat-loving hearts afluttering. Hold your horses, though – it’s set to soft-open middle of November, but you can be certain we’ll be first in line!
Sear, #45-01/02 Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore 048623, p. 6221 9555. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm & 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Sat 6:00pm – 11:00pm. Closed Sun.

Chilli crab at The Catch Seafood Restaurant & BarThe Catch Seafood Restaurant & Bar
This Changi-based seafood restaurant is one of those “faraway” places that are worth the journey. Choose from over 20 species of sea-dwelling critters (you know, Alaskan king crabs, blue lobsters, geoducks and the likes) cooked various ways, from the traditional (Chinese wine) to the modern (egg white with truffle oil). Order a round or two of their delish homemade sangria cocktails to wash them all down. Mmmm!
The Catch Seafood Restaurant & Bar, 27 Cosford Road, Singapore 499549, p. 6546 2155. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm. Closed Mon.

La Taperia
From the same folks behind Bistro du Vin and NamNam Noodle Bar, this Spanish tapas joint in what we call the “Empire Shaw Building” is all about the familiar classics. Look forward to plates like squid ink seafood paella, grilled octopus and suckling pig croquettes.
La Taperia, #02-10/11 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Singapore 228208, p. 6737 8336. Open daily 12pm-2pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm.

Prive @ CHIJMESPrivé @ CHIJMES
The Keppel Bay dining spot now has a second branch, and it’s serving signatures like the eggs benedict, wagyu burger and the must-try sticky date pudding – one of the best in town, in our opinion. New dishes including coconut waffles and spaghetti arrabbiata with slipper lobster are also available. After dinner, move over to the bar area to take advantage of Happy Hour.
Privé @ CHIJMES, #01-35 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996, p. 6776 0777. Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-12am, Fri 11:30am-1am, Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-12am.

Takumi Kacyo
This new Japanese spot got us at “fresh seafood”. Following a teppanyaki concept, the restaurant’s culinary highlights include a Japanese-style bouillabaisse, as well as a grade A5 wage tenderloin. Of course, there’ll be lots of sashimi to wolf down.
Takumi Kacyo, #02-01 Marina at Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, Singapore 098382, p. 6271 7414. Open daily 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm.

Grilled oysters with white wine sauce and avruga caviar (left) and Sex on the Quay (right) at Southbridge
We think oysters and alcohol is the best combo ever. If you’re like us, be sure to hit up Southbridge. The new rooftop oyster bar on Boat Quay knows a thing or two about umami with its show-stopping creations like the Pearls (grilled oysters with white wine sauce and avruga caviar), lobster knuckle roll, and truffle and smoked pancetta sandwich.
Southbridge, 5/F (rooftop), 80 Boat Quay, Singapore 049868, p. 6536 5818. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 3pm-12am. Closed Sun and PHs.

Paprika & Cumin
Eco-friendly restaurants are far and few between, so this newcomer certainly gets our attention. Paprika & Cumin handpicks the freshest ingredients from their little backyard garden and throws them into wholesome, Mediterranean-inspired creations such as chicken kebabs and Tournedos Rossini (a French steak dish). There’s also a range of fine wines (238 labels in all) to choose from.
Paprika & Cumin, #01-15/16 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996, p. 6883 2294. Open daily 11am-2am.

Here & There
This kushiyaki (skewer grilled) specialist offers an assortment of both meat and vegetable delights on a stick. One item we can’t resist is the chicken skin with black truffle. Don’t miss out on their wagyu and foie gras sliders, too!
Here & There, #01-11/12/13/18 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996, p. 6333 0106. Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-11pm, Fri 11:30am-1am, Sat-Sun 11:30am-11pm.

Club Meatballs
A meatball specialist? Where do we sign up? This gastrobar is the brainchild of the folks behind Sarnies and The Lokal and here you can customise your meaty bowl of goodness with choices like Iberico pork and fennel and wagyu and rosemary. Top it all off with a sauce of your choosing; we’re feeling particularly excited about the truffle mushroom option.
Club Meatballs, #01-35 China Square Central, 20 Cross Street, Singapore 048422, p. 6222 8660. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-12am. Closed Sun.