New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: September 2016
Located right next to Nickeldime Drafthouse at Novena Gardens, this casual Vietnamese eatery dishes out authentic staples, and may just be your next favourite spot to satisfy a pho craving. The Australian Beef Pho ($14) is a fail-safe choice, but if you’re okay with a little heat, get the Spicy Australian Sliced Beef Noodles (Hue Style) ($14) — instead of the usual flat rice noodles, this uses rice vermicelli, similar to the ones used in Laksa. Not only is the broth the perfect flavour and aroma, the generous portion of ingredients is also more than enough to fill you up. Swing by with your colleagues at lunch and take advantage of their value-for-money lunch sets. For just $12, you get a choice of a Big Bowl (any pho on the menu) and one spring roll (it’s usually the Fresh Vietnamese Prawn Paper Roll unless sold out). Complete your meal with either a dessert or a soft drink for just $2.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See
From the folks behind Little Island Brewing Co in Changi Village comes Alchemist Beer Lab, Asia’s first-of-its-kind beer-infused bar that allow the brewers to introduce any type of ingredient into their beers, like pomegranate, salted plum and star anise. Come with your pint-loving friends between 12pm-7pm to enjoy the beers at $12 a pint or share a party pack of any three choices at $30 (after 7pm, one beer for $15, party pack for $38). For the adventurous, try the Dead Gose, a concoction of mosambi orange and salted plum infused with ale or the Hopdog, cascade hops infused with lager. The high-ceilinged space in the basement of South Beach Tower also has eight draft beers from its sister outlet, Little Island Brewing Co including the Sister Golden Ale, Singapore Pale Ale and Old Black Magic — the latter is a dry Irish nitro stout that clinched a Gold Medal at the 2016 Asia Beer Awards. For light bites, opt for the crowd favourite Smoked Wagyu Brisket Tortilla ($16) — tender yet flavourful wagyu beef brisket served with green tomato chutney, pickled onions and topped with a dollop of sour cream or the indulgent Duck Fat Chips ($12) served with chipotle salt and preserved lemon aioli on the side.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Alvin Wang
Here’s the perfect date night spot — it’s intimate, refined and prices can be very reasonable, if you know what to order. Discreetly tucked away on the fourth floor of The Centrepoint, Kyoaji Dining is a warmly decorated restaurant with impressive menu offerings that include Crab Meat Bean Curd ($6), Ebi Almond Tempura ($15) and Foie Gras Chawanmushi ($25). The draw here, however, are their value-for-money lunch sets. The Bara Chirashi Gozen ($16) set that comes with chawanmushi, salad, miso soup and dessert is a real steal while the Bento ($35) set proves to be a hearty meal for one. Apart from the chawanmushi, salad, miso soup and dessert, the Bento also comes with unagi, freshly fried tempura and five pieces of quality sashimi that will please purists.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See
The words 'small plates' and 'inexpensive' have never co-existed in a sentence, but this dinner-only restaurant along North Canal Road has made that possible! This makes it a great place for afterwork drinks and light bites with the colleagues. Start the night with a specially concocted cocktail — Ginger Julie ($18) — an invigorating tipple made with Monkey 47 gin, Japanese shiso sake and grapefruit juice, rimmed with a secret blend of herbs and Japanese pink ginger sugar. Then, snack on the Seaviche ($8). A twist on ceviche, this is made with fresh sea coconut instead of raw seafood, tossed with chilli, coriander and served with hickory smoked corn chips. Be sure to add a couple more drops of the pineapple-infused chilli if you can handle some more heat. The bar snack menu starts from 10.30pm onwards and be sure to line your tummy with a Pigaroon ($3) — a bright pink beetroot macaron alongside pickled pig skin and cream cheese wrapped in pork belly and smoked bacon that should be eaten in the following order: half a macaron, bacon, half a macaron.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See
Part florist, part furniture shop, Knots Living has most recently introduced a cafe to its space. It may be a little out of the city in Paya Lebar, but we reckon Instagram junkies will be trooping down in no time to capture its gorgeous interiors — think grey walls, rustic wood furniture and beautiful floral accents, all served up with a dash of hipster panache. Soak in the good vibes as you sip on a Caramel Macchiato ($5.20), tuck into all-day breakfast classics like Eggs Benedict ($12.90), or treat yourself to the Banana Gusto ($9.90), a waffle topped with a scoop each of chocolate and chocolate mint ice cream supplied by Ice Cream Chefs, sliced bananas and marshmallows. For maximum visual impact, add $1 to make it a charcoal waffle! It's a lovely space to spend a weekend afternoon chilling out with a friend, preferably one who loves Instagramming as much as you do. Pro-tip: They currently have a pizza deal ongoing. Pay $25.80 for a 12-inch pizza, two drinks and two scoops of ice cream. It's great value!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh
Set in The Woodgrove (opposite NTUC Finest), this casual, hole-in-the-wall cafe is all set to bring great coffee to the Woodlands enclave — great news for Burpplers in the far north! Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua has given their coffee (made using Carmelo blend beans from Australia's Allpress Espresso) two thumbs up, so you can be assured of a great cuppa! Wake up on a lazy morning with the Flat White (from $4.50) or a Mocha Latte ($6). The coffee is what's worth the trip here but if you're peckish, you'll be glad to know that the tiny kitchen turns out a compact menu of simple eats like croissant sandwiches ($6.90), crustless quiches ($4.90, or $6.90 with a mixed green salad) and air-fried Truffle Fries ($8).
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
A section of the Food Republic in the basement of Shaw House has been redeveloped to include five new Japanese concepts, all of which aim to provide quality Japanese cuisine at pocket-friendly prices. The ample seating space, sheer variety of items and affordable prices make this a family-friendly meal option, and can accomodate a large group of friends looking to dine together in town without a reservation. The five concepts offer vastly different dishes, from freshly-made soba to steamed unagi and traditional Kyoto small plates. Go for the Katsu Black Curry ($14.80) — charcoal powder infused Japanese curry with a mildly spicy aftertaste or the hearty Ten Don ($11.80) that comes with eight pieces of freshly fried tempura (sadly there’s no oozy onsen egg here). Don't leave without trying the Unagi Seiro Mushi 1 Layer ($28.80) from Akasaka Yukun — a 60-year-old unagi stall that specialises in steaming unagi slices.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
Think of Shi Miao Dao as your go-to when you’re in desperate need of a steamy bowl of noodles. Located within VivoCity’s Food Republic, this stall is the first international outpost of China’s biggest restaurant chain specialising in Yunnan’s famous dish — “crossing the bridge rice noodles”. The story goes — daily, a wife would dutifully carry an earthen pot of boiling broth across a bridge to her scholar husband studying for the imperial exam, and would only throw in the ingredients and noodles to cook when he was ready to eat. At Shi Miao Dao, the earthen bowls are pre-heated to keep the broth hot enough to cook the thick vermicelli noodles in just 10 seconds. What really sets this place apart from most noodle houses is the slurp-worthy Tomato Sauce Rice Noodles ($8.50), a flavourful broth built on the original soup base that has been brewed for six hours from chicken and pork bones. It's best to toss in all the ingredients like beancurd skin, black fungus, ham and quail egg while the soup is still hot.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim
Located on the first floor of the Arcade, this muslim-owned stall serves massive sandwiches that are impossible to eat without getting your hands and face dirty, and that's the fun part! There's only one communal table to sit at and the small shop space can get quite crowded during lunch service, so best to pop by for a takeaway instead. Meat lovers will enjoy tucking into the Mighty Cheese Steak ($15) — tender slices of seared beef stacked in a brioche roll, topped with a cheese sauce and the Grand Poobah ($14) — a hotdog bun stuffed with luscious slow-roasted pulled beef, caramelised onions and stringy melted cheese. What the buns lacks in presentation, it makes up in flavour. Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong describes the Grand Poobah's generous portion of overflowing beef as “utterly umami and ridiculously rich”. Wash it all down with the complimentary ice lemon tea or iced black coffee that comes with every sandwich order.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu
This airy, modern cafe in the lobby of Wheelock Place (encased by the curved escalators) is an extension of Marks & Spencer, serving breakfast, light bites and brunch grub, some of which are also available in their food hall. If you're visiting in a group on the weekend (bring your family!), come early to snag one of the couch seats to be comfortable — the individual chairs are otherwise clunky and may not be able to accommodate as many people. Start with a Tomato Soup ($5.90) — chunky vine tomato soup blended with fresh basil, and get a Quinoa and Avocado Salad ($16.90) to share. Fancy something heartier? The Fish and Chips ($14.90) is a popular option for adults and kids alike; if not, the Kid’s Cheesy Pasta ($9.90) that comes with a complimentary juice will certainly get even the fussiest of eaters chowing down. The Afternoon High Tea Set for Two ($29.90) comprising of sandwiches, scones and two pots of tea is great to share if you're here with friends.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See
Sister outlet of SPRMRKT in the CBD, this cafe along Robertson Quay (behind STPI) serves excellent brunch grub, hearty mains and solid coffee. There are limited seats indoors, so dress cool to dine alfresco. Go for the Vongole Pasta ($20) — a generous portion of fresh clams in a tasty white wine broth, or the satisfying Bulgogi Beef and Seaweed Wrap ($15) that comes with a side of greens and a heap of fries. Wash it down with a cup of coffee (from $4) — opt for Bonsoy at no extra charge to make your drink dairy-free, if you like. Come by on the weekend for a good start to a boozy afternoon, and order their popular and very addictive Truffle Fries with Parmesan and Kelp ($13) to line your tummies! For now, SPRMRKT Kitchen and Bar, the gorgeous space located right above SPRMRKT Daily, only operates during dinner service, but we're looking forward to try their lunch offerings soon!
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
This darling little dessert takeaway shop located along River Valley Road creates all their bakes and gelato in-house, making it the perfect post-brunch place to satisfy your sweet tooth. The gelato flavours are without reproach: get a scoop of the velvety smooth, creamy Sesame Praline ($5) with a waffle finger ($3.50) and enjoy it while walking around Fort Canning Park catching Pokemon. If you prefer to eat in at their counter space, share a Fruit Loop ($8) — a striking red donut-shaped cake with layers of tangy lemon mousse, strawberry jelly and pistachio sponge.
Avg price: $5 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua
The top picks, popular finds and newly opened places in Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, curated by Burpple editors!