Nemesis is a cosy and vibey space up on Duxton Hill, with bold colours, quirky prints and the right music to show for it. Cocktails are the name of the game here, with names like Peter Chua (formerly of 28HKS) and Tim Rosete (formerly of Manhattan) behind the bar. I especially their selection of unique martinis. If you like dill, please please try A Raw Dill ($23), a martini with herbal genepi liqueur, dill oil, and the most delish cheese cracker garnish. A strong drink for sure, but also a drink that keeps me coming back all the time.
Nemesis is a cosy and vibey space up on Duxton Hill, with bold colours, quirky prints and the right music to show for it. Cocktails are the name of the game here, with names like Peter Chua (formerly of 28HKS) and Tim Rosete (formerly of Manhattan) behind the bar. They also do great pizza like the Bolognese Pizza ($18) - beefy bolognese sauce baked with smooth bechamel, plus plenty of parmesan and fresh basil. A tad jelak and greasy after awhile, but the oil is where the flavour is.
For the uninitiated, sisig is a popular traditional Filipino dish that's typically made with chicken liver, minced pork, onion and also parts from the face of a pig. The Lechon Sisig ($10 as part of a rice set) here also adds in their signature crackling pork roasted over charcoal fire, and damn if it isn't glorious. The dish comes in a hot plate with an egg cracked on top, be sure to mix it in before it cooks up on top (or before the friendly Filipina proprietor scolds you haha). Absolutely delicious dish that I have to order every time I come here!
The newest kid on the Keong Saik block is Leckerbaer, which you might remember from its first outlet in Isetan Scotts for its Danish small cakes and biscuits. This new flagship outlet adds to the repertoire with outlet-exclusive Nordic-inspired sourdough sandwiches that are open-faced. Try the Jonah Crab & Avocado Salsa ($20) for generous layers of sweet succulent crab atop a tangy avocado salsa (this cuts the certain seafood smell you sometimes get with crabs, especially canned ones) with sprinklings of fresh chervil and chives.
This gorgeous Squid Ink pie comes as part of the $58++ sets from the much-awaited 4AM Pizza at Sentosa's new Southside Interim Market. That usually means a starter, two pizzas (about 10-inches) and housemade gelato from Legato next door. This pie has everything going for it: beautifully firm and tasty squid, tangy sweet cherry tomatoes, asari clams, sprigs of dill, and an umami squid ink sauce to marry it all together.
If you find yourself at Tenjin, a tempura joint opened by the Les Amis Group, and want the works, I highly recommend their Premium Bowl, which at $22.80 is still quite a steal. It comes with a hunking sweet crab leg, anago, prawn, white fish, a soft egg, and a number of vegetables like eggplant and asparagus. The batter itself is not heavy and rather light and crispy, allowing the flavours of the ingredients to shine through without excessive oil. Highly recommended for a hearty tempura bowl whenever you're in town.
This unique cheesecake ($10) uses the smoky tasting Idiazabal cheese, but doesn't actually have any smoke added while it's being made! Instead, it's a sheep's cheese that's rich and complex, with a buttery tang and that smokiness that we enjoyed so much.
The eels at Xi Man are crazy good. They use eels that are firmer than places like Man Man, but the crispy as heck skin works well together textually. It's served on a bed on Niigata rice with shoyu tare made from the shoyu from Marunaka, a brewery with 200 years of history. There's a regular and sweet version, but I loved the spicy tare the best, with just a bit of tingliness and heat.
Heard that Salted & Hung recently transitioned to just doing tasting menus and had to check it out. Chef Drew is a genius when it comes to using all parts of his ingredients and it really shows in his new 7- and 10-course sets (from $148). Loved every part of the menu, but if I had to pick favourites, it'd be the Aged Turbot with turbot tea broth and turbot liver vin jaune sauce, as well as the Green Lip Abalone with savoy cabbage and charcuterie broth that he makes with the leftovers from his famous cured meats.
Remember the old Kilo Lounge along Tanjong Pagar Road? The space has since been taken over by the folks behind NINETEEN80 and Pinball Wizard and transformed into Rails. Interesting drinks on the menu - we tried the Clockwork Sago ($16), a unique concoction with taro, sago pearls and coconut water, as well as the Jinrikisha Spritzer ($18), a rather medicinal take on regular gin spritzers with honey-fermented lemon, preserved lime peel and coconut water.
The food menu is mostly developed by Chix Hot Chicken, so expect to get bites like the Soul Slider ($8.90) and BLT ($9.90). Beware the chicken if you're going to order the 'Insane' spice level! 🥵
Lil Tiger is a hot new spot on the busy Robertson Quay stretch, with Mexican-inspired bites like chicken neck tacos, spider steaks, and cool music (if you manage to get a seat inside, that is). It's also a cocktail bar with some classic highballs, punchy barrel-aged cocktails (try the White Negroni!) and signature libations like the potent Bon Voyage with port, sweet vermouth, absinthe and gin.
Finally, a decent spot for bak kut teh in Tanjong Pagar! They serve up both the peppery and herbal broths so you can take your pick. In fact, they have a Lamb-Kut Teh ($16) that combines both versions, for a different take on bak kut teh. Love how the meat isn't gamey but instead elevates the taste of the soup. They also have zi char classics here, really like the Thai-style Steamed Sea Bass ($15).
