Lunch

Located at the junction between Neil Road and Bukit Pasoh Road, this perpetually buzzy cafe offers brunch and coffee in the day, and tasty dinner mains in the evening. Gather your friends and challenge one another to create the most innovative breakfast plate. Called Pimp Your Breakfast, The Lokal offers a pretty extensive selection, although we always return to our favourites — house-smoked mackerel or salmon ($6), handmade ricotta ($5), wilted spinach ($4), sauteed mushrooms ($5) and eggs done any way ($5). For a sweeter start to the day, go for the Toasted Banana Bread ($16) with homemade vanilla yoghurt and toasted macadamia nuts. Burpple Tastemaker Veronica Phua deems it the best banana bread in Singapore! The coffee (from $4) here is decent but we generally prefer it a little less acidic. When night falls, the ambience gets a lot more intimate, so save an evening visit for your date. We enjoyed the Roasted Kampong Chicken ($26) and Crispy Battered Fish & Chips ($28). Make sure you order the amazing Sticky Date Pudding ($10) to share! Pro-tip: It can get very crowded on the weekends, so be prepared to wait.

Avg price: $25 per person for brunch; $30 per person for dinner
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Veronica Phua

The caramelized and crispy exterior was to die for. 😍 Not to mention that the pumpkin was sweet, moist and soft inside. The cucumber tzatziki sauce balanced out the sweetness and added light creaminess to the pumpkin. I also like the macadamia nuts that gave some crunchiness to the possibly one dimensional dish. And the mint leaves left a refreshing aftertaste which got us ready to start feasting on the mains. 😘

We like that HOUSE at Dempsey is close enough to the city, yet feels like it is worlds away from the buzz. Tucked amidst lush greenery, the relaxed ambience and excellent service makes it suitable for a first date. The setting is casually stylish, and this is reflected in the menu which is smart but not at all stuffy. The Burpple community has great things to say about the Elegant Black Pepper Prawn Linguine ($33) — the sauce is tasty, the plump prawns are char-grilled to smoky deliciousness, and it's finished with a sprinkling of salmon caviar. It's a splurge, but well worth the money. For a super satisfying vegetarian main, you must have the Macadamia-Crusted Pumpkin Salad ($18). Alternatively, dig into the sinful Bone Marrow And Steak Burger With Bacon Jam ($29) that will please any meat-lover. If the date is going well, spend a little more and linger over a slice of moist Marilah Onde-Onde! ($8.50), which sees pandan sponge cake layered with pandan-coconut cream and gula Melaka.
Avg Price: $65 per couple
Photo by Burppler Tammy Wee

Neighbours to Ding Dong and Bochinche, Birds of a Feather is the perfect date spot for those working in the CBD. The snazzy place on Amoy Street hits the sweet spot in our books — memorable Sichuan-inspired dishes, excellent cocktails and an overall relaxed vibe in a gorgeous setting. Splurge on the spicy Find the Chicken in the Chillies ($16), a cheeky appetizer that features little morsels of chicken fried hidden in an abundance of dried chillies. Otherwise, its best to put your money towards the Spicy Oriental Bolognaise ($22), their rendition of zha jiang mian made with angel hair pasta, pork ragout, kale and sakura ebi — incredibly tasty. End the meal with their deceivingly humble-looking Glutinous Rice Cake ($12), where flat chewy rice cakes are topped with soy powder and Okinawan black sugar. Pro tip: Squeeze in a little lunch date here — get the Spicy Oriental Bolognaise along with the lunch exclusive of Grilled Cheese Panini ($20) with braised pork belly and pickled cabbage.
Avg Price: $60 per couple
Photo by Burppler Jonathan Wong