Modern fine dining seems to be the flavour of the month, with February seeing restaurants like Whitegrass and Cheek by Jowl open their doors to the hungry masses. But hey, if fine dining isn’t your thing, you’ve still got plenty to look forward to with new casual joints like Jinzakaya and South Bronx. But that’s not all, we’ve sussed out some other under-the-radar openings that we’re sure you’ll just love. Here’s our round up.
Whitegrass
If the secrecy shrouding Whitegrass was an intentional effort to pique our interests, they did a pretty good job. The restaurant, opened on the 27th of January, is helmed by Sam Aisbet, alumnus of Tetsuya Wakuda’s acclaimed Tetsuya’s in Sydney. The chef’s new fine dining venture aims to redefine modern Australian cuisine, placing a focus on fresh ingredients sourced everywhere from the Blue Mountains to Tekka market. While specific details on the food remain a mystery, the restaurant itself comes across immediately as uncharacteristic of a traditional fine dining establishment. The interior, designed by Takenouchi Webb, is a mix of pastel shades and whimsical wall art (the latter done by MessyMsxi), juxtaposed with chic retro-modern furnishings in a brightly lit dining space.
Whitegrass, #01-26/27, 30 Victoria Street, Chijmes. p. 6837 0402.
Cheek by Jowl
Rising from the ashes of Sorrel is Unlisted Collection’s new concept restaurant, Cheek by Jowl. Helmed by another alumnus of Tetsuya’s, and former head chef of Maca Restaurant, Chef Rishi Naleendra plans to offer a seasonal menu with contemporary starters and shareable mains. Expect dishes like wild venison with fermented plums and wasabi, rabbit leg with parsnip and beach herbs, and of course, his signature dish at Maca, duck and waffles.
Cheek by Jowl, 21 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069620. p. 6211 1911.
Empress
Empress, the latest restaurant to open at the Asian Civilisations Museum, once again proves that works of art at museums are just as likely to appear on the plate as the walls. This smart casual dining establishment offers artfully plated classic Chinese cuisine like king prawn dumplings in broth, lobster ‘mapo’ tofu and novel dishes like steamed pumpkin and pork skin dumplings. The restaurant’s decor contrasts the modern and traditional, the interior being vibrant and fun while managing to retain historical references to the museum’s façade.
Empress, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555 .p. 6238 8733. Open daily 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-11pm.
A slider with the ID of 378 doesn't exist.Angeleno
After a five-year stint as Head Chef at the much-lauded Osteria Mozza in Marina Bay Sands, Chef David Almany has left to open his own Italian-American restaurant. Taking over the premises of Luke’s Oyster Bar, Chef David’s Angeleno marries fuss-free Italian dishes with seasonal farm-to-table produce from California. Signature dishes here are unmistakably Italian like veal parmigiana and meatballs in organic tomato sauce, but American influences become apparent in dishes like spaghetti of Maine lobster with roasted tomato and tarragon. The restaurant trades Luke’s Oyster Bar’s rather cold, modern look for something a little more rustic and romantic, as befitting of the cuisine.
Angeleno, 20 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069256. p. 6221 6986.
Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar
Joining Violet Oon’s National Kitchen and adding yet another fine dining establishment to the National Gallery is this modern Indian restaurant, formerly located at Duxton. Running the kitchen is executive chef, Preetam Singh Sodi, who serves up contemporary dishes engineered by celebrity chef Abhijit Saha. These often feature non-Indian ingredients and unusual techniques. A clear example of this is his pan-seared sous vide duck prepared with pepper and kokum. Also represented are more traditional dishes from various parts of India like rich curries from Tamil Nadu and spice-heavy Kashmiri dishes. Much like the food, Saha’s new venue swaps out the ornate mural-painted walls for a more modern, understated look that features bronze and champagne gold fixtures.
Saha, #01-03, National Gallery Singapore, 1 Saint Andrews Road, Singapore 178957. Open Tue-Sun 12pm-3pm, Tues-Sat 6pm-11pm. Closed on Mon.
Kontiki
Established by the same folks behind the Handlebar biker bar, you’ll be forgiven if you expected a gritty rough-and-tumble new dig. Kontiki proves to be quite the opposite – a bright and sunny waterfront dining experience. But like Handlebar, the food is hearty American-style comfort food: smoky BBQ ribs, cheeseburgers, flame-grilled steaks, mac & cheese and desserts like the good old-fashioned pecan pie.
Kontiki, #01-02, 11 Rhu Cross, Passion Wave at Marina Bay, Singapore 437440. p. 6368 5225. Open Tue-Fri 12pm-2.30pm 5.30pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm.
A slider with the ID of 379 doesn't exist.South Bronx
When it comes to buns and patties, what really revs our engines is a good old-fashioned American style burger; none of that bourgeois nonsense like truffle oil and Himalayan sea salt. The recently opened South Bronx at PoMo seems to offer just that, in its edgy, graffiti-covered digs. South Bronx’s signature burger is the Original Rump Shaker: a house-made beef patty with signature sauce, smoked bacon and a melted cheese slice. As an added bonus, you’ll get to pick a side of waffle-cut, curly or steak-cut fries. Of course, to wash that all down, there’s nothing better than a cold beer, and South Bronx keeps their coolers well stocked with crafty brews like Yenda IPA.
South Bronx, #01-02, 1 Selegie Road, PoMo Mall, Singapore 188306. Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-12am.
Jinzakaya
Planning a night out for drinks at an izakaya joint isn’t an excuse to skimp on a good feed. Jinzakaya, Les Amis Group’s latest venture aims to elevate the izakaya experience from a sleazy salaryman haunt to a legitimate dining alternative. Here, you’ll find the typical meat skewers that start from $2.50, as well as more unconventional choices like foie gras and wagyu beef. If you’d rather something more substantial, tuck into a selection of sashimi, donburi, ramen and udon, sandwiches and salads.
Jinzakaya, #01-08/10 Owen Link, 1 Farrer Park Station Road. p. 6443 1173. Open daily 12pm-3pm, 7pm-2am.
The Quay Kitchen and Bar
Before engaging in a night of unbridled revelry at Boat Quay, stop off at The Quay Kitchen and Bar for a quick casual meal, and perhaps even a game of darts. Inspired by a love for good food and craft beers, former Finance Director, Jesmin Tan, left the industry to pursue her lifelong dream of setting up a restaurant. The menu ranges from hearty risottos and satisfying burgers to lighter bites like salads and thin crust pizzas. If you’re a fan of craft beers, you might just consider spending the rest of your evening here sipping Brewdog ales by the riverside.
The Quay Kitchen and Bar, #01-02, 86 Robertson Quay. p. 6734 7241. Open Tue-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-12am. Closed on Mon.