New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: December 2016

There's no such thing as "overdoing" the popular Sanrio character, Gudetama, at this cafe. Gush over the hanging waffles, the see-through egg tray table and even the wobbly eggs in the dishes — all plastered with the iconic lazy egg face. Located on the first floor of Suntec City (near the Convention Centre entrance), the character themed cafe is brought into Singapore by The Soup Spoon and Joe and Dough, so you know your food is in good hands. Start the meal by sharing the Gudetama Lobster Onsen ($16) — lusciously rich lobster bisque served with a poached egg in a crusty bread bowl, similar to the ones in The Soup Spoon. Then, tuck into delicious mains like the finger-licking good "Shiok" Pork Ribs ($38.50) that comes with smoky BBQ sauce (in a gudetama egg holder!), fries and cooked vegetables. End your meal on a sweet note with the Shoyu Ramen ($21.50). Don't be fooled by its appearance — the savoury looking treat is actually a dessert made with a chocolate mousse cake base, filled with smooth chestnut Mont Blanc and topped with earl grey jelly!
Avg Price: $35 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Zhihui Lim

This new inhabitant on the buzzy Haji Lane (nearer to South Beach Road) dishes out a whole host of delicious suds on tap and in bottles — making it our new (and favourite) spot for celebrating TGIF. There are a couple of tables indoors, but we much prefer to have our pint alfresco on a cool breezy evening. Choose from eight beers on tap that are on rotation including ciders, wheat beers and stouts. If available, go for the local brewery Innocence Brewing's Unknown Wheat ($15) — the yet-to-be-named brew is our favourite! Otherwise, ask the friendly staff for recommendations. The unlikely pairing of your ang moh liang teh with dim sum may raise some eyebrows, but they go surprisingly well together. If you're coming in a small group, get the Dim Sum Platter ($15) to share, it comes with a pair of har gow, siew mai. chives and pork dumplings, beancurd sheet and pork rolls as well as bbq pork buns.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayne Tan

It won't be long till this new addition at Far East Square is discovered by the healthy-eating office workers in the vicinity, so head down as soon as you can to avoid the long wait. Yuki Onna serves tasty Make Your Own Bowls (from $7.90) as well as Dons (from $13.90) and Sushi Sets (from $12.90). The medium Make Your Own Bowl ($15.90) comes with a salad base, two fish options, one carb and five toppings — enough to sate one very hungry tummy comfortably. Choose from four fish marinades for either your salmon or tuna — original shoyu, yuzu shoyu, yuzu miso or spicy. Then add on sushi rice, quinoa (additional $1 charge) or have it strictly with greens. Finally, go crazy on the toppings — cranberries, cherry tomatoes and even olives to add extra flavour to your bowl! If you're looking for something fuss free, opt for their Bara Chirashi ($14.90) instead. It comes with thick chunks of salmon, tuna, hamachi, tobiko and ikura. Although portions run small for the Cold Truffle Somen with Hotate ($14.90), the simple but flavourful bowl comes with a generous topping of caviar and sliced Hokkaido scallops, definitely worth splurging on especially since there's no GST or service charge!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

This established hawker stall commands at least an hour's wait at Pek Kio Market but you can now get your noodle fix quicker at its new outlet at Esplanade. Situated just a few doors down from Alter Ego, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles has opened its first branch and is fully air-conditioned, so you can have your piping hot noodles in comfort! Rest assured, despite the more accessible location and facilities (they use iPads here for their orders!), prices are just a mere one dollar increase from its original outlet. Choose from four sizes of prawns (from $6 to $30) and you can opt to have the noodles dry or with soup. This 65-year-old stall puts great care into creating its signature prawn broth, boiling the stock for four hours before its served, which is why we are partial to the soup version. Be sure to try all four of their lip-smacking chilli sauces! Apart from prawn noodles, the restaurant also serves a variety of seafood like freshly shucked oysters from France and USA ($48 per dozen) that comes with sauces in syringes, as well as succulent Grilled Squid ($15).
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim

Located in HillV2, this modern zi char eatery churns out homely, wok-hei ladened dishes that you can enjoy in the comforts of a fully air-conditioned space. Jiak, which means 'to eat' in dialect, can accommodate large groups and prices are affordable, making it the perfect spot for a weekend family gathering. Get the signature Curry Fish Head ($22) that is great for sharing among four — fresh fish head bubbling in a lusciously rich curry sauce made for ladling over white rice. Originally priced at $22, it goes for $15 if you order any dish (other than rice) on the menu — truly value for money indeed! Complete your meal with mainstay zi char dishes like Hotplate Beancurd (from $10), Salted Egg Prawns (from $18) and Claypot Golden Chicken (from $10). The sweet and spicy Mee Goreng (from $5) served in a claypot is great to fill your tummy, perfect for a solo meal if you're in the area!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayson Yeo

Sentosa's strong suit may be its attractions and endless water sports, and while there are several great seafood shacks dotting the coast, your first move should be to head to this Hawaiian-themed venue. The newly built Ola Beach Club houses a restaurant, bar and doubles up as a water sports hub. It's the perfect getaway spot for your family — while the kids frolic by the pool, mum can relax under the beach umbrellas with a cocktail (from $18) while dad can try their hand at jetblading! When the troop is down on energy, head to the restaurant on the second storey and refuel with the refreshing Saimin Salad ($15) — cold somen noodles served with Spam, fishcake and tossed in an umami soy-based sauce. For the ravenous, go for the Ola’s Signature “Kua’Aina” Burger ($28) — a 150g wagyu beef patty sandwiched between toasted sunflower seed buns and topped with guacamole, honeyed pineapples and a fried egg.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim

After a lot of hype, Central Perk SG has finally opened its doors — hurray for diehard fans of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.! Designed to look like the set of the hit American sitcom, the themed cafe has various iconic corners set up, including Monica's kitchen, Chandler and Joey's foosball table and, of course, the orange sofa. In a space modelled after the main characters' favourite cafe hangout, it's de rigueur to have a coffee. Choose from six different blends (from $4), each named after one of the main characters. The illustrated coffee menu should help you make your choice, but it may be more fun to pick based on your favourite character. Rachel Green, anyone? The food selection stays in line with the theme, with dishes like Janice's Oh My God Baby Back Ribs ($39), You're My Lobster Salad ($32), Monica's Lasagne ($26) and Mrs Braverman's Cheesecake ($16). Prices are definitely on the high side but hey, nobody said a F.R.I.E.N.D.S.-themed nostalgia would be cheap. Pro-tip: It gets really packed on the weekends, so come by on a weekday instead.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

Instead of enduring the two-hour wait at Tai Cheong Bakery's takeaway counter in Takashimaya, head over to their newest space in Holland Village to sate those egg tart cravings! The 42-seater eatery, identifiable by its signature teal signboard, has a shorter, separate takeaway line for their buttery, flaky crusted Egg Tart ($1.90). If you're a true durian fan, you'll appreciate the local creation of creamy Durian and Cheese Tart ($3.60) made with premium D24 durian pulp and cream cheese. There are both indoor and outdoor seating, where you can dine in to have your egg tarts at no extra service charge. Aside from the tarts, the eatery also serves hearty Hong Kong cha chaan teng dishes like Three Coloured Silky Eggs with Rice ($9.90), Three-Egg Macaroni Soup with Luncheon Meat ($8.50) and French Toast ($6.50).
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Julius Lim