10+1 New Restaurants in Singapore
In preparation for the holiday season, we’ve decided to train our appetites. We admit, it’s pretty intensive training. There’s a burger joint to tackle, a new ramen place, more tapas restos that have just sprung up, and what’s this we hear, a new Mexican place in town? Someone get us a margarita!
Our new favourite place might just be this new cheese bar at Robertson Quay, but let’s give the old guys some credit- Forlino and Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore are back in the game, folks.
Here’s this month’s cheat sheet:
Looking for more hot new tables? Check out our picks for March, June, July, August, September, & October.
Wine Connection Cheese Bar
Hang on, did we just hear the words ‘cheese’ and ‘bar’ … in the same sentence? Hallelujah, Wine Connection has struck gold!
Expect a selection of over 40 manufactured farm cheeses including the usual suspects like Brie de Meaus, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola, as well as regional specialties like Sicilian Pecorino with black pepper.
You can choose to go a la carte by creating your own platter of 3-7 cheeses (served with bread and condiments), pretend you’re eating healthy with a giant salad (honey, it’s a giant salad topped with great cheese), opt for a rustic tartine, or even order a traditional French Raclette (melted cheese).
Finish the meal with your choice of wine from over 250 exclusively imported wines and that’s what we call a perfect wine and cheese night by the quayside.
Wine Connection Cheese Bar, 1 Unity Street, #01-05 Robertson Walk,
Singapore 237995, p. 6235 1279. Open Mon-Thu 10am-2am, Fri-Sat & PH eve 10am-3am, Sun 10am-12midnight.
BOMBA Paella Bar
Yep, the tapas scene is still at it – so meet the latest kid on the block, BOMBA Paella Bar at the ever-hip Martin No. 38.
Helmed by Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno, whose portfolio includes head chef at one of UK’s top restaurants Quo Vadis, this restaurant is all about authentic paella. Translation: yes, you will enjoy that perfectly crusty layer (socarrat) at the bottom of each pan.
Signatures include the Secreto Iberico, sliced pork which is cooked to perfection over Loko mangrove charcoal spiced with apple branch wood chips. The direct contact with the charcoal and wood imparts a distinctive smoky, sweet flavour with hints of apple fragrance that lingers in the mouth.
And good news Spanish suckling pig fans – you can get a whole pig at BOMBA so long as you order 24 hours ahead. Otherwise, feast on the legs and ribs daily (no advanced order needed).
BOMBA Paella Bar, Martin No. 38, 38 Martin Road, Singapore 239059, p. 6509 1680. Open Mon-Sat 6-11pm. Make a reservation now on Chope!
Lucha Locho
Mexican food! If you’ve ever spent time on the West Coast of the States (or better yet, at the real deal), you’ll know that the best Mexican food is out on the street.
Lucha Loco brings the best of Mexico to Singers with this cozy restaurant at Duxton Hill – the area might just see a revival thanks to these guys.
The execution makes up for the limited menu and fair warning to hungry crowds out there: if you can’t take the heat, don’t hit up this Mexican joint.
Word has it that their Elotes (grilled corn rubbed with chilli, cheese, and mayo) is ace, and hurray for veges, this is some resto action that you can actually get in on, unlike the newer tapas places.
We’ve yet to visit but you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be there asap – watch this space for a more thorough review.
Tip: it’s a no reservations policy at Lucha Loco for tables under 8, so go early, feast, and booze up on Mexican beer.
Lucha Loco, 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598, p. 6226 3938. Open Tue-Thu 4-11pm, Fri 4pm-1am, and Sat 6pm-1am.
Symmetry
We were stoked when we first stumbled upon this little place 3 weeks back. Since then it’s started getting popular, so if you’re visiting – call ahead.
Brunchaholics, don’t miss out on weekend brunch at Symmetry – these guys nail their eggs every which way!
The dinner menu’s French-inspired with a twist of Australian hospitality, they serve coffee and cocktails, and the décor alone is worth a visit. Do you really need another excuse to visit?
It’s quiet on the weekdays, but make sure to reserve your table for brunch over the weekend.
Symmetry, 9 Jalan Kubor, Singapore 199206, p. 6291 9901. Open Tue-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12midnight, and Sun 10am-7pm.
Ramen Keisuke Tori King
Ramen’s a bit of a touchy subject, we know some guys who take the topic way too seriously. Our two cents worth: forget Ippudo, we think Ramen Dining at Millenia Walk does a much better job (and serves up bigger portions).
So are we excited about the upcoming Rmane Keisuke Tori King (the third branch of the same dude behind Ramen Dining)? You betcha!
The draw at Tori King is of course, in its rich broth – made with chicken feet, chicken bones, Japanese seaweed, and a brunch of veggies boiled together for 8 hours.
There’s also a novel Green Spicy Tori King Ramen made from wasabi, and each bowl of ramen comes topped with a chicken thigh, which promises to be perfectly marinated and grilled.
Ramen Keisuke Tori King, 100 Tras Street 100AM, #03-15 Amara Hotel Singapore 079027, p. 6604 6861. Open daily 1130am-11pm.
Amuse
Aaaaand here we go on the tapas train again, this time with the guys from the Esmirada Group.
The menu offers a full spectrum of global tastes, but highlights include the Beef Tartare Cone with horseradish mousse encased in filo pastry, tantalising Spicy Lamb Burger marinated using an in-house harissa spice blend and served with fennel pollen aioli, as well as the Ciabatta Wrapped Crispy Egg with prosciutto, spinach and mushroom ragout.
Amuse, 442 Orchard Road, #01-29, Orchard Hotel, Singapore 238879, p. 6735 3476. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 12nn-1am, Sun 12nn-11pm.
Edge
We know, Edge isn’t a new restaurant, so its presence has to be explained:
Pan Pacific Singapore has just completed a major revamp and Edge is spanking new and back in the game.
We’re talking an open-concept, highly interactive upscale ‘hawker’ environment with seven different kitchens, including Indian, Thai, Japanese, Australian, and American cuisines.
There’s yakitori and sushi, charcoal-grilled satay, pizza, pasta, steak – there’s even tom yum soup to be had!
As with most hotel buffets, expect an extensive salad bar and a ‘live’ seafood station, but we reckon the real highlight’s to be found at the dessert station: two chocolate fondue fountains, an ice cream counter, a ‘live’ crepe and waffle station, and an assortment of sweet treats.
Edge, Pan Pacific Singapore, Level 3, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595, p. 6826 8240
Forlino
Another oldie that deserves a mention – the always impressive Forlino just got a facelift with the arrival of top Japanese chef Kentaro Torii.
Chef Kentaro has combined the finesse of a top Japanese chef with his classic training in Italian cooking to create a menu with highlights such as 4 Cheeses ‘Bonbon’, Chanterelle Mushroom & Porcini Mushroom Trifolati, and Merluzzo, Black Cod wrapped in Parma Prosciutto, Squid Ink Sauce, and Tomato Arancini.
Forlino, #02-06 One Fullerton, One Fullerton Road, Singapore 049213, p. 6877 6995. Open daily 12-230pm and 630-1030pm.
Omakase Burger
Not a fan of fine dining but still want a touch of gourmet at mealtime?
Check out Omakase Burger at The Grandstand, where patties are never regular, but are wide, flat, and oddly shaped, though we are assured of their supreme deliciousness.
Imagine a burger which patty is made by handrolled beef being smashed onto a hot grill, resulting in a caramelized crust with all that smoky goodness sealed in. Said patty is formed using only USDA Choice Grade beef and made without fillers like onions or eggs, this thing is pure beef! And don’t be fooled by appearances, the burger weighs in heavier than most quarter pounders here. There are six different flavours and you can even make your birger a double one – sweet deal.
Don’t eat beef? There’s also a chicken burger and a chicken meal. Sides at this casual eatery include a house salad, French fries, cheese frieds, truffles fries and – wait for it – sweet potato fries (finally!).
Omakase Burger, #01-05 The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, p. 6763 2698. Open daily 11am-10pm.
Keong Saik Snacks
Just in case you missed it, Jason Atherton is not slowing down.
Meet Keong Saik Snacks, a causal bistro offering a blend and twist of local and British cafe culture and iconic comfort food from around the world.
True to his Brit roots, the menu includes the classic Fish & Chips, only done the Atherton way – Fish & Oysters served with homemade tartar sauce and drizzled with Maldon salt and malt vinegar. There’s also Jason’s Very Hot Dog topped with tangy ketchup lime, crispy shallots, English Cheddar, avocado, and jalapeños.
While you’re there, be sure to pop over to The Library next door and snoop around. They’ve got a dirty secret that they’re keeping under wraps!
Keong Saik Snacks, 49 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089153, p. 6221 8338. Open daily 12-11pm. No reservations taken.
The Big Sheila
Here’s a nice surprise for all of you who attempt to eat through our Hot New Tables list but can hardly make it out the door due to, well, life.
Meet The Big Sheila, a small restaurant with a big personality and a fab surprise – they deliver straight to you!
You can order home-cooked, nutritious meals online and have it sent to your home and your office twice a day, or pop in to the Siglap store and enjoy a meal there. Order before 11am and lunch is delivered from 1130am-230pm; order dinner before 4pm and it’s at your place between 5-8pm.
These guys specialize in western home-style food – and those working in the area now have gourmet coffee courtesy of Toby’s at their door.
The Big Sheila, 15 Swan Lake Avenue, Singapore 455711, p. 6645 4422. Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm. Or order online at http://www.thebigsheila.com/.