New Restaurants, Cafes And Bars: September 2015

Hailing all the way from the Big Apple, Clinton Street Baking Company has landed on Singapore's shores. Best known for their buttermilk fried chicken that is tender beyond belief and fried to golden-brown perfection, their Chicken & Waffles ($21) would be an easy choice, though some may find their waffles on the denser side. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Plate ($25) is probably a better option, especially for sharing. The three-piece platter comes with a choice of a side (sautéed spinach, sweet potato fries or moreish cheese grits) and a sweet-spicy Honey Tabasco. This will leave you some space for their thick, fluffy Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter ($18) and a topping of your choice – blueberries, banana walnut or chocolate chunks. Prices might seem a little steep, but their hearty portions will certainly make it worth your while!

Opening its doors a few steps away from the buzzy Karafuru Desserts on Jalan Klapa, KINS Restaurant (yes, you're reading it right) is a modern fusion restaurant that serves familiar dishes with unexpected flavour twists. Go for the 4896 Porky ($24) – pork belly braised in vintage hua tiow wine, served with green mash, braised egg and sautéed mushroom – or their indulgent and wonderfully fragrant Seafood Aglio Olio ($25) brimming with tiger prawns, scallops, fresh squid, Japanese konbu and spaghetti with crustacean oil. End the meal on a sweet note with their Apple Tortilla Tower ($9) - think apple crumble but with deep fried tortilla skin!

JQ Chef is the brainchild of Chef Johnny Quek – former executive chef of Singapore Flyer’s Sky Dining experience – taking over the now-defunct Les Patisseries in Toa Payoh. Although the menu sounds predictable, the dishes are well-executed and reasonably priced. If you're not in the mood for eggs benny (Eggs Royale, $11.90), give the Chicken Lasagna ($13.90) a go and be treated to a meaty, cheesy, glorious mess. For the sweet-toothed, the Waffalo ($9.90) is a winner, starring a fluffy yet crisp waffle topped with chewy torched marshmallows and chocolate and vanilla ice cream. On weekdays, stop by from 11:30am to 3pm for their Set Lunch ($15.90; garden salad, one main course and dessert).

The folks behind the now-defunct November 8 in Thomson V have opened Five by Five, taking over a new space that now faces the main road. The clean white walls, wood furnishings and oodles of natural light should prove popular amongst cafe-hoppers and the Instagram community. Coffee blends here are from the ever-reliable Common Man Coffee Roasters, while ice cream flavours include Thai Milk Tea, Bubblegum and Matcha Azuki. Go for their signature waffles ($6, or $10.20 with a single scoop of ice cream) and add a scoop of their refreshingly yam-my Coconut Taro ice cream! Beer from taps are also available here, if you are looking for a spot to drink at night.

Opening within the revamped The Club Hotel along Ann Siang Hill, The Disgruntled Chef at Ann Siang offers a chic, sexy fine dining experience and a relatively different menu its original Dempsey outlet. Start off with the heavenly Truffle Brioche ($12), served warm with a fluffy texture and surprise coins of nori butter. For the mains, opt for either the indulgent Maine Lobster and Chicken Pot Roast ($56) or the uber tender Korean-inspired Crispy Beef Short Ribs ($38). End off the experience with their Chocolate Croquette with Coffee Jelly ($16) and be surprised by the burst of oozy chocolate sauce as you bite into the fried croquette! Bookmark this for your next special occasion.

Mr & Mrs Maxwell is a cafe-cum-lounge concept nestled in the lobby of The Club, the same boutique hotel that houses The Disgruntled Chef. Serving all-day breakfast and local delights in the day, it transforms into a chic lounge at night serving cocktails and the usual libations. Try the surprising Poached Sakura Chicken Roulade ($18), a posh take on the humble chicken rice that boats succulent chicken topped with blitzed spring onion and ginger, accompanied by a side of greens and chilli sauce that packs a punch. Don't miss their Fried Ice-Cream ($9), a delectable duo of battered vanilla ice cream balls and oat-crusted banana fritters. Best part? They’re open till 2am, making this a great spot for noshing on a luxurious late night supper with drinks!

Located within The Art Space at Suntec City Mall, Artisan C. Specialty Coffee offers a quiet, minimalist spot in town for a good cuppa. Have a Flat White ($5) brewed using a special blend of beans by Common Man Coffee Roasters, and pair it with one of their interesting bites – they make their own fermented kimchi for their Artisan Kimchi Croissant ($6.70)!

Westsiders rejoice as nautical-themed ice cream parlour Archipelago Creamery drops anchor at Nanyang Community Club (somewhat) near NTU. Standard flavours such as the coffee-flavoured Shangri-Latte and Milk & Honey are priced at $3.50 per scoop, while premium flavours such as the Tali-Bourbon are priced at $4.50. An extensive array of desserts such as waffles, pancakes and Shibuya toasts is also available. Throw any notion of self-restraint out the window and just go for the Chocolate Hazelnut Shibuya Toast ($14.80) — two scoops of any ice cream, topped with a wild honey drizzle, fresh berries and whole hazelnuts! #yolo

Formerly known as Benjamin Browns, newly-revamped bistro concept The Benjamins makes a splashy (re)entrance with the launch of their Over The Top Shakes ($16) — absolutely massive milkshakes topped with everything from the kitchen sink to your mother. Current flavours include Caramel Crunch, Nutella Banana and Tim Tams, but we say go for the creamy and fragrant Coffee Avocado, which is probably the most restrained of the bunch!

Providing some sparkle at the edge of Orchard Road is French patisserie-bistro Mon Bijou (French for "my jewel"). Expect brunch fare such as Brioche French Toast ($14) and Slider Trio ($22). For the sweet tooth, try their Crème Brûlée in Glass ($16.80 for a set of 6 flavours) and Yuzu Lemon Tart ($6.80). We say go for their Raspberry & Lychee Macaroon ($7.80), those two crisp macaroon shells hold such plump raspberries that will tempt you out of sharing it.

Making a big splash at East Coast Park's Big Splash (lol) is Sunrise Bistro & Bar, which serves contemporary modern European cuisine. Chef Vincent Teng's deft use of the sous-vide cooking technique shines through in dishes such as the tender Marmite Canadian Pork Shoulder ($13) and the crispy Asian Five-spice Duck Leg Confit ($28) which sees a clever twist with use of the five-spice. Do not leave without ordering the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Molten Chocolate Cake ($14) — who could resist lush salted egg goodness bursting out of a warm chocolate cake?

Steps away from IKEA Alexandra within Park Hotel Alexandra is The Bakehouse, the latest concept by the people behind Carpenter & Cook. Fans of the Lorong Kilat outlet will love how The Bakehouse retains both the original's signature vintage chic interior as well as their signature bakes such as their tangy Passionfruit Meringue Tart ($6.50). What's new and notable is that The Bakehouse also serves savoury mains in their set lunch menu ($14) such as their Grilled Chicken Aglio Olio. Best part is, The Bakehouse opens seven days a week!