12 new restaurants in Singapore
That’s right, prep yourself for a whopper of a list cos this month’s edition of Hot New Tables is 12 restaurants long!
From Sydney-side burgers and bastardized Chinese food (think upscale Panda Express – though much better – in beautiful Dempsey) to conscious cuisine and CBD lunch crunches, March is definitely looking up for foodies.
Charlie & Co.
Let’s hear it for great burgers. Charlie & Co.’s chargrilled gourmet burgers are made with premium ingredients – 100% pure Australian Wagyu, bratwurst sausages, grass-fed sirloin steak, fish, chicken, and fresh-baked artisan buns.
Vegetarian? Need a gluten-free option? You got it. Try the Classic Charlie Burger (lettuce, tomatoes, and pickled gherkin on a Wagyu patty, served with Charlie’s signature tomato sauce, free-range aioli and topped with your choice of aged cheddar, brie, or blue cheese), or go for the Roadside Chicken Burger or sirloin steak New Yorker Burger.
Sides include Sea Salt Fries (S$7), Parmesan and Truffle Fries (S$8), crisp Onion Rings (S$7), and Seasonal Salad (S$7). Premium Australian beers from Little Creatures and ciders from are also available.
Charlie & Co., ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-56 Singapore 238801, p. 6509 9511. Open daily 10am-10pm. No reservations allowed.
The Market Grill
The Market Grill
Lobsters. Burgers. Wagyu rumps. If you respect good produce and miss traditional butcheries and diners, you’ll want to pop by The Market Grill. This newly-opened industrial chic resto on Telok Ayer is led by Executive Chef Colin West, who previously worked at Les Amis, Le Saint Julien, Braise, and Swiss Grill. We know – we’re impressed too. His specialty? Perfecting those meats.
Menu highlights include a pretty extensive grill selection (classic charboiled steaks in different cuts), live Atlantic lobsters, and handcrafted burgers.
We’re defo keeping tabs on this one.
The Market Grill, 208 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068642, p. 6221 3323. Open Mon-Sat 1130am-230pm (lunch), 5-10pm (dinner). Reservations not accepted.
Chopsuey Cafe
We’ll first preface this by saying that our grandmothers would not approve of this place, but it’s a pretty spot to bring out-of-towners who aren’t ready for the culture shock of Chinese dinner in a corner coffeeshop. Miss Chinese takeout in the States? Want to bask in the gorgeousness of another PS. establishment? Chopsuey’s your answer.
We reckon Chopsuey is more Western than it is Chinese, but it’s updated Chinese cuisine – less oil and no MSG here, fellas.
Good for the younger Chinese or those who aren’t fans of traditional Chinese cuisines, but if you’re heading for dinner with the grandparents and the extended fam, you’re better off at JUMBO.
Chopsuey Café, #01-23 Blk 10, Dempsey Road, p. 9224 6611. Open Thu-Sun 630pm-12am (dinner), Fri-Sat 630pm-2am, and Sat-Sun 930am-630pm (brunch).
Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora
Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora
We love our power women, and we love them even more when they’re eco-conscious. Meet Cat Cora, the first and only female Iron Chef from Iron Chef America. She’s all about light, simple, and healthy cuisine that uses sustainable-sourced produce from around the region.
Located inside the S.E.A. Aquarium at RWS, you get to dine next to the marine life- which, while novel, might be a smidge unsettling. We think the kids will love it though. Menu highlights include Coq Au Vin Asia, a Lemongrass-Sake Braised Spring Chicken with Roasted Ginger accompanied with Thai Chili and Young Bok Choy, Sous Vide 48°C King Salmon that comes with sustainable caviar, and Arctic CharMandarin with habanero glaze accompanied with Meyer lemon cous cous and micro cilantro.
Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora, S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa, p. 6577 8888. Open daily 11am-1030pm.
Ito-Kacho
The gourmet barbecue extravaganza continues with Ito-Kacho at Mandarin Gallery, the Japanese chain’s first international outlet. Expect top-grade beef that’s chilled and not frozen (greater consistency because the marbling is retained). The extensive menu includes Wagyu-Sashimi (flank steak), Toku-Jo-Bara (short rib), Tzubo-Tsuke Kurobata (marinated black Berkshire pork), and even Wagyu tongue (cow’s tongue).
Ito-Kacho, 333A Orchard Road, #04-08/09 Mandarin Gallery, p. 6836 0111. Open Mon-Fri 11am-2pm (lunch) & 6-11pm (dinner), Sat 11am-11pm, and Sun & PH 11am-10pm.
Spathe Public House
Spathe Public House
These guys say it best: they do mammoth servings here. Think 4-6 hungry blokes being fed a metre-long hotdog (no, really) or a pot full of mussels. And throw in a dash of humour too – finish said hotdog under 10 minutes and you get it on the house! Between us – we advise against scoffing this baby down; the veal and chicken curry wurst’s got ace texture and tons of flavour (it’s served with wasabi mayo and caramelized onions), so savour sloooowly.
Both individual and communal portions are available – we suggest the 12 hour Slow-cooked pork belly, Spanish octopus salad, and the confit duck puff.
Spathe Public House, 8 Mohamed Sultan Road, #01-01, p. 67351 035. Open Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-5pm.
Communal
CBD folks, you know we’re always looking out for you. Treat yourself to a well-deserved break at a good ol’ American diner – made modern and upscale, of course.
Find luxe comforts like lobster mac and cheese and prawns and polenta (recall shrimps and grits), but we suggest paying homage to the area and indulging in a CBD – the Communal Burger Deluxe.
Communal, 12 North Canal Road #01-01, Singapore 048825, p. 6221 7790. Open Mon-Sat 1130am-230pm (lunch), 6-10pm (dinner).
East 8 New York Fusion Tapas + Bar
East 8 New York Fusion Tapas + Bar
More gems for the city slickers!
East 8’s got a pretty sweet set-up – the outdoor seating area is modelled after The High Line in NYC (one of our favourite places in the world), while the interior is just the way we like it: nonchalantly industrial chic.
On the menu? Asian fusion served tapas style. Highlights include the Hamachi & Caviar, Kimchi Duck Salad, and Chilean Seabass. If you’re feeling thirsty, just yell – there’s a whole menu of sake for you to choose from.
East 8 New York Fusion Tapas + Bar, 10 Coleman Street #01-21/22, Singapore 179809, p. 6338 8289. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-12am, Sat 6pm-12am.
The Mansion
High Society by day, The Mansion by night – this place pulls double duty in the most glamorous way possible.
Firstly, this place has a full dedicated champagne bar. And not just any champagne, we’re talking French bubble-makers, Peppier-Jouet. In fact, The Mansion houses Singapore’s first ever Perrier-Jouet Salon & Bar!
There’s a wide range of cuisines here – you’ll see everything from Italian to local food – but we’ll admit, we’ll be there for the music. These guys promise a tightly orchestrated, yet wide range of tunes from house to indie anthems to dirty basslines. That and the fact that the décor is set to be Wong Kar Wai worthy? If only Instagram came with a video function.
The Mansion opens this Friday! Check out the opening party here.
The Mansion, Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Road #02-10/15, Singapore 228210, p. 6234 2276. Open daily 12-3pm (lunch), 3-6pm (tea), 6-10pm (dinner), and 10pm-4am (supper).
Foodology
Foodology
Stuck in the CBD with no way out? Can’t take any more cafeteria lunches? Looking for a new executive lunch? Ding ding ding, we have a winner!
Foodology at Marina Bay Financial Center’s huge (it seats 300), has Western fare, Asian food, specialist selections (it’s a market set-up), quick service, and reasonable prices.
Sections include the grills & burgers (Grass-fed RIbeye, Moroccan Spiced Chicken Burger), pizzas (Fig & Serrano Ham, Quattro Formaggi), pastas (Sakura Ebi Capellini, Vegetable Moussaka), salads & soups (Minestrone, Summer Shrimp Salad), sandwiches (Seafood Squid Ink Ciabatta, Grilled German Sausage), Asian noodles & sandwiches (Vietnamaese Pho Bo, Spicy Ramen, HK Beef Brisket Bun), Asian specialties (Ayam Penyet, Beef Rendang), and Desserts, Bread & Pastries.
It’s pay as you order during lunch hour and table service afterhours.
Foodology at Marina Bay Financial Centre, 12 Marina Boulevard, Marina Bay Link Mall Tower 3, #02-07/08/09, Singapore 018982.
ONAKA @ ARC
After all that feasting you finally feel like it’s time to eat clean. Head to our new favourite healthy café, ONAKA @ ARC.
It’s all about conscious eating here – not calorie counting – so you’ll find low-glycemic food, whole grains, a strict ‘no white bread, white rice, and white sugar’ policy, but still walk away full and with dessert in your belly. We approve.
What we really like about ONAKA is the creativity that’s gone into the menu. 50% of the menu is vegetarian (with many vegan, low glycemic, and gluten-free options) but don’t expect yet another salad bar. With pickings like watermelon sashimi (we tried it and it’s a trip) and eggplant bacon, ONAKA is really in a league of its own. Also make sure to try the Spiced Pear juice – we’re always on the hunt for great fresh juices and this one makes the cut.
If you’re looking for a weekend brunch but can’t spare the indulgence, try their weekend brunch menu for a switch-up in your diet.
ONAKA @ ARC, 460 Alexandra Road #01-32 PSA Building, Singapore 119963, p. 6270 2012. Open Mon-Fri 1130am-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm (brunch), 6-10pm (dinner).
Mozzino
There’s nothing we like more than wining on the dime, and Mozzino’s making our dreams come true – glass by glass.
Lounge seaside at this wine bistro and snack on smaller-sized portions here. There are pizzas, small bites like skewers, and even pasta, but things are on the light side, so don’t come ravenous.
The real stunner of the show: $9 glasses of wine, with bottles going from $38.
Mozzino, 1204 East Coast Parkway, #01-06, Singapore 449882, p. 8186 8860. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am.