Whether you're after the rarest cuts of maguro or a perfectly done sirloin steak, this hip new food haven will sate your appetite with its slew of unique restaurants
It’s no news that the sprawling Suntec City mall is a haven for food lovers, offering everything from fine dining to fast food. So we were pretty thrilled when we found out about the new Sky Garden, and all its new dining options (with more still to come). Here’s our skinny on the coolest restaurants and bars at this swish new rooftop food enclave.
Saint Ma Restaurant and Arn Nan Bar
Opulent red chandeliers, baroque-style furniture, marble slab tables and the lush greenery of the restaurant’s garden walls are what will greet you as you step into IndoChine’s latest concept. If you’re familiar with the group’s offerings, the bold mix of old-world Asian décor and modern furnishings won’t come as a surprise. It’s not all about style here though; Saint Ma offers a hearty selection of healthy Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian cuisines that feature tapas dishes and fresh raw vegetables. The restaurant’s menu is put together in line with the philosophy of serving sustainably sourced foods that boast nutritional benefits. Take delight in unconventional dishes like rice paper rolls with swimmer crab and tropical fruits as well as hand-pounded papaya salad.
The evening sees the adjacent Arn Nan Bar really shine, literally, with its glowing alabaster tables at the outdoor area. Patrons can enjoy a full range of delightful cocktails as well a selection of new and old world wines, all while taking in a stellar view of the city.
Saint Ma Restaurant, #03-300/301. p. 6332 0323. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-10.30pm. Closed Sun.
Arn Nan Bar and Bistro, #03-304/305. p. 6332 0322. Mon-Thu 12pm-2am, Fri-Sat 12pm-3am. Closed on Sun.
Sumiya
Japanese dining is more than just sushi! Unlike the original outlet at ION Orchard, Sumiya at the Sky Garden offers irori genshiyaki-style grilled meats – meat is skewered and propped around stacked briquettes of charcoal. The irori genshiyaki options include grilled yellowtail collar with salt ($20.80 each) and grilled semi-dried kinki fish ($48 for a whole fish). If it’s tuna you crave, indulge in the steak-style fresh bluefin tuna sashimi that lets you enjoy otoro, chutoro and akami cuts of the fish all in one serving. The steak is seared right at your table as well, for some added pizzazz.
Sumiya, #03-332/333. p. 6235 1816. Open daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm.
Kuishin Bo
Sushi lovers will be spoilt for choice at Kuishin Bo’s Japanese buffets, starting at just $36.90. One of the highlights of the buffet at Kuishin Bo is fresh snow crabs, so prepare to get your hands dirty! Their vast sushi offerings include the standards, as well as more contemporary, Western styles like the California roll. The buffet also includes shabu shabu, kaminabe and charcoal grill sections, so you really get to enjoy the full breadth of Japanese cuisine. If you’ve got kids with you, fret not; the restaurant offers a children’s section with appropriately-sized tables and even a candy floss machine to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
Kuishin Bo, #03-334 to 337. p. 6341 9200. Open daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm.
Dallas Restaurant & Bar
Fans of classic Western cuisine will be no strangers to this establishment’s semi-formal dining branch at Clarke Quay. The newest outlet at the Sky Garden takes things up a notch with a posh interior of modern glass and steel, blended with old-school wood and leather furnishings. The restaurant is a treat for the carnivorously-inclined, who should certainly try the massive slabs of baby back berry and fiery ribs ($28 for half rack, $42 for full rack). Also represented is Tex-Mex cuisine, in the form of Dallas Fajitas ($26), made with grain-fed ribeye and starters like the chicken, vegetarian or pulled pork quesadillas platter ($20 for four pieces).
Dallas Restaurant & Bar, #03-302/303. p. 6333 4068. Open Sat-Wed 11.30am-12am, Thu-Fri 11.30am-1am.
Terra
Helmed by Limited Edition Concepts, the folks behind Kyo and Refuge, Terra is a South American-inspired rooftop bar offering botanically inspired cocktails. The bar opens at the end of January, so keep watching this space for more information.
Terra, #03-308/309.
Eat at Seven Dining
If you just love Japanese food but can’t quite decide on a single style, Eat at Seven Dining has got your back! The restaurant features seven distinct Japanese dining concepts under one roof. The first four of these restaurants are currently open, two more will launch in March and a final one will be announced soon.
The first restaurant in this lineup is Enbu, an Izakaya concept. Izakaya joints seem to be popping up all over the place, but Enbu distinguishes itself with its traditional Warayaki style of grilling meats using a straw fire. This imparts a distinctively smoky taste to their izakaya dishes that include katsuo warayaki (grilled bonito) and chicken warayaki with spring onion sauce.
As the name would imply, MaguroDonya Miuramisakikou Sushi & Dining (now isn’t that a mouthful?) prides itself on being true maguro (blue-fin tuna) mavens. Singapore is home to several Japanese speciality beef restaurants, but this is the first time we’ve had a speciality maguro restaurant open up. Thanks to the co-ownership with All Nippon Airways, the restaurant freshly imports maguro directly from Japan. Grab three of your buddies and spring for the four-person sashimi platter ($120) that will treat you to several prime cuts of maguro.
Kensuke Sakae, of Iron Chef fame has opened his first international branch of his Nigiro Café, specialising in Japanese-Italian Cuisine. This quick, casual café serves up contemporary fusion dishes like the cheesy short pasta melanzane and the Nigiro hamburg steak.
And finally, if you’re a lover of prime cuts of beef, Nikunohi will delight with its selection of exquisite beef cuts. Meat-eaters, don’t miss the premium rare plate where you’ll get into indulge in some of the more delicately flavoured cuts of beef. Dining here is yakiniku style, so you’ll be in charge of some of the cooking. Just go easy on the heat! A couple of seconds on the grill and you’re good to go.
As an added bonus, fans of craft beer will be happy to know that Coedo beer is available here as well.
Eat at Seven Dining, #03-314, p. 6654 5054. Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm 5.30pm-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-23.30pm.