New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: August 2016

If you're in the market for an upscale dim sum brunch, this is your spot. Pastry chef Janice Wong's 1500 sqft flagship restaurant in the National Museum of Singapore will not only serve her well-known desserts, but also savoury dishes from the book she published in 2013. Come with your family in tow and tuck into familiar dim sum dishes like liu sha baos, dumplings and even heartier mains like somen — all done with a twist. The colourful hues from the artwork decorating her walls, made by Janice and her team, are also reflected in the food, like the striking pink, green and dark purple skins on the Mini Pots (Siew Mai, $15 for three). Instead of a measly amount of shrimp roe on typical siew mai's, the ones here are generously topped with caviar. Get the XLB Tasting Platter ($20) to have a taste of all four xiao long baos available — with its strong cherry flavour, we think the Foie Gras Pork Cherry is the most impressive of the lot.
Avg price: $35 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

Plentyfull is refined — the spacious bistro cum grocer is bright and tasteful, and the various seating areas (there's a private dining room, booth seats and a communal area) make this the perfect spot both for a business meeting over lunch or a reunion with your university mate. Foodwise, they offer build-your-own bowls, so let your creativity loose! Set A ($17) comes with one base, one protein and two sides while set B ($19) comes with three sides. We recommend the risoni, short cut pasta shaped like rice, as your base and the very tender, unbelievably delicious soy and ginger caramelised pork belly as your protein. For sides, the Caramelized Parsnip and Spiced Carrot and Maple and Bacon Brussel Sprouts are both very tasty, and portions are generous. There are only three sauces here, and they're all good, especially the addictively good chili jam that resembles Indonesian chili!
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayne Tan

This minimalist coffee joint looks like it belongs in Duxton or within the CBD, instead of a far out neighbourhood suburb that is a good 10-minute walk from Yio Chu Kang MRT Station. So if you find yourself in the neighbourhood, make the most out of it and have your coffee, tea and even squeeze in a small snack here. The Prodigal Roasters (by prodigal they mean wastefully extravagant in giving), keep their prices super pocket friendly and nothing costs over $5 here. They use Panama beans that are roasted in-house — these are also sold in packs of 250g ($15). The strictly standing-only shop has a narrow wooden counter for you to enjoy your cup of joe, but that shouldn't deter you from ordering their home made bakes. Everything looks and taste good here, especially the savoury Miso Cheese Tart ($4.50), which comes drizzled with a glossy brown miso sauce.
Avg price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Set inside COO, a new hipster boutique hostel in Tiong Bahru, this all-day dining bistro serves a menu of global and locally inspired dishes, all with a modern twist. The setting is casual, so come with a few buddies to enjoy a laidback dinner. Whet your appetites with the Roasted Pork Belly ($12), elevated with a salted egg yolk emulsion, then move on to hearty mains like Braised Lamb Shoulder ($32) served atop potato mousseline with gremolata (an Italian herbed condiment) and orange lamb sauce, and COO's Prawn Noodles ($18), which Burppler Shawn Loh describes to be "a dry interpretation of soupy prawn noodles" made with fettucine, smoky grilled prawns and a chilli sauce with a kick. Save space for Tiong Bahru "Chwee Kway" ($9), a fun dessert of panna cotta topped with candied walnuts and balsamic strawberries that almost looks like the real deal.
Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

'Katto', which means 'cut' in Japanese, is a counter-service poke joint located a few shops down from The Daily Cut at Galaxis (nearest MRT station is One-North). Choose one of three pre-selected combinations or create your own meal with high-quality fish for under $13. Bowls come in two sizes — Regular ($12.90) gets you two fish and two sides while the Mini ($7.90) gets you one fish and one side. We recommend the brown rice as your base (there's also white rice and salad base), the CRC (chicken rice chili) as your protein — salmon cubes marinated in an all-too familiar spicy sauce, and the unbelievably tasty miso butter corn as one of your sides. Wash it all down with a refreshing Cold Brew ($5.50). Of all the new places selling poke bowls, we've found Katto's to be of the highest quality with the best price point!
Avg price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Monica Lie

Taking over 20F Specialty Coffeehouse in Jalan Besar, this new kid on the block serves up great coffee in a chic but relaxed cafe setting. You'll love this place if you're serious about your java, because these guys are too. Beans in their brew come from well-known roasteries from around the world including Nylon (Singapore), Tim Wendelboe (Norway) and Koppi (Sweden), so rest assured your cuppa will be spot on. Keep it simple with a White ($5), a Cold Black ($5) on hot days, or ask them about their Selection Coffee, which changes every couple of days (price varies). For something to savour with your drink, try the French Omelette ($11), a fluffy, hearty option with haddock and parmesan. Pro-tip: Request to have a Selection espresso with milk ($6) to have what Burppler Dixon Chan enjoyed — a shot of espresso paired with a cup of white. In his words: "The espresso shot through my ears and forehead, and the white offered a homely embrace to my awakened mind. Incredible!"
Avg price: $5 for drinks, $15 for food
Photo by Burppler Dixon Chan

When you next get together with your friends, check out The Twenty Cavan. Located just across from Peranakan Khek on Cavan road, the industrial chic space exudes a laid-back vibe with bare brick walls and wiry lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling. The long communal tables that can easily accommodate groups of four to 12 are a godsend! There are seven East-meets-West mains here, of which the hearty Signature Crispy Fried Chicken ($16) is a clear winner in our books. Juicy, moist and flavourful chicken meat — what more could you ask for? End your meal with the Chilled Pumpkin Yam Puree ($8). It is smooth, creamy and filled with aloe and yam bits!
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

This popular restaurant chain from China has set up its first international outpost in Singapore, and its fiery mala sauce is not to be reckoned with. Located across Tiong Bahru Bakery in Raffles City Shopping Centre, Riverside Grilled Fish serves authentic Chong Qing province dishes that will not disappoint. Come with a small group of friends and start with the Si Chuan Cold Chicken ($8.80) — chilled chicken slices soaked in fiery chilli oil that shows its true prowess after only a few seconds. It's a great precursor to the Grilled Whole Fish in Unique Sauce ($35-42, depending on the type of fish you select), a combination of spicy, sour, sweet and numb that works together beautifully. Choose from four types of fish (red tilapia, sea bass, black pomfret or garoupa) and eight sauces. Buried below the grilled fish is a pool of treasures like luncheon meat, mushrooms, beancurd and sausages to help ease the numbness. End the meal with something to douse the flames. Try the Cold Rice Cake with Brown Sugar ($6.80), a chilled koi-shaped rice cake swimming in a pool of gula Melaka.
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Veronica Phua

Located above Common Man Coffee Roasters, Grounded by CMCR occupies the leafy alfresco area of Yoga Movement's newest studio in Robertson Quay. Chill out in the relaxed space with coffee from CMCR and refuel with one of the many wholesome (but substantial) eats on the menu. Meals are guilt-free with options like the GF Redemption Bowl ($17), a vegetarian, grain-free combination of all things healthy like roasted veggies, nuts, seeds and a tahini drizzle; as well as the Balance Burger ($17), which is more like a brioche bun sandwich holding together folded organic eggs, streaky bacon, kale and a sriracha mayo. Worked super hard in yoga? Treat yourself to a Beetroot Chocolate Brownie ($8) after!
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique may just a couple of weeks old, but they are already getting quite a bit of attention, thanks to memorable gelato flavours like the refreshing Spiced Pear and the creamy Strawberry Basil. This tiny scoop shop, really more of a takeaway counter, is located within the recently restored The Red House Katong and serves nine original, herb-infused flavours on rotation daily. Stop by on a hot day for a lick of the Spiced Pear Gelato ($4.70 per scoop) while marveling at the gorgeous botanical wallpaper in the shop or reward yourself with a double scoop (you deserve it!) of the Mint Cacao ($4.70 per scoop) and White Chrysanthemum ($4.70 per scoop) on their flavourful Thyme-infused Cone ($1) to go!
Avg price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Irina Tan

This Sichuan hotpot restaurant along Hong Kong Street is devoid of large, loud signs that scream "I am from China!". Instead, the borderline hipster restaurant is decked out in sturdy wooden furniture and comes complete with concrete walls tattooed with paintings. For an intimate dinner date, come with your partner and go straight for one of the three hotpot set menus (from $55, serves two). It comes with a divided bowl for two MSG-free broths, of which you should get wild mushrooms on one side — a trio of Chinese mushrooms boiled down to an incredible tasty concentrate — and spicy ma la on the other. The sets come with a variety of meats, vegetables and access to concocting your favourite dips at the sauce counter. Don't forget to order a round of the unbelievably delicious Luncheon Meat ($6.80), Potato Noodle ($3.80) and the freshly fried Beancurd Skin Roll ($6.80). Save space for the super addictive Crispy Taro Ball ($7.80) for dessert — chewy mochi-like dough fritters with a molten yam paste (orh ni) surprise centre!
Avg price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayson Yeo

This former strictly pop-up-only store has found a permanent home in the CBD. Nestled within Icon Village, swing by the adorable takeaway stand with your colleagues for a taste of their lusciously rich, creamy soft serve ($5.90). Excellent tea-flavoured ice creams are hard to come by (we often lament a too sorbet-like texture or a barely-there tea flavour), but Matchaya gets it right — intensely tea-infused and holds up well despite the blazing heat. At the moment, they offer three flavours, namely Matcha, Houjicha and Milk, but we hear there are new flavours to look forward to — just ask the friendly store owners. Only one flavour is available everyday, so it's best to check their Facebook for regular updates. We make it a point to head down to Matchaya whenever our favourite Houjicha flavour is available — it's so incredibly dense, flavourful and creamy that it bears a close resemblance to a strongly brewed cup of houjicha!
Avg price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Vanessa Kou