New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: April 2017

The Australian husband-wife duo from the now-defunct Thirteen Duxton Hill have set up shop along Keong Saik, but don't wait too long to head down as the pop-up restaurant is only here till November. Gather a group of adventurous eaters and start the meal with the Frog Parfait, Egg Yolk, Longan ($12 each) — shredded frog meat coated in red rice batter, served with fishbone vinegar, longan and a cured egg yolk (see what we mean by adventurous?). Be sure to ask for their soda pairing as well ($12 for unlimited The Tapping Tapir sodas) — you'll be surprised at how well tea-infused soda goes with the food! Next, you must try the Bonito, Fermented Chicken Stock, Peppers ($26) that comes highly recommended by Tastemakers Peter Wong and Acamas Teo. Imagine thick slices of ice-brined bonito fish swimming in basil pesto oil, crowned with red bell peppers before fermented chicken stock is poured into the bowl. What you get is an unlikely combination of flavours that work surprisingly well together! End your meal with the delightful Corn Corn Corn ($16), a sweet corn pudding shaped to resemble a baby corn, topped with toasted corn silk and sweet mollasses — you'll want more of this, just like we did.
Avg Price: $80 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Peter Wong

This humble eatery in Hougang doesn't get much attention but it should — prices are affordable and nett, dishes are incredibly tasty and everything is made in-house, even their breads! Follow Tastemaker Russell Leong's lead and start the meal with the rich and flavourful Pumpkin and Carrot Soup ($4.90), which he describes to be pleasantly sweet and creamy. For mains, go for the Crackling Pork Belly ($22) that is slow-cooked in a herb brine, and perfectly roasted to produce a crackling top. It's served with your choice of two sides, with options like thick cut fries and salad. You must save space for the crowd favourite Baileys Tiramisu ($6.90) — it comes with homemade mascarpone cheese, and sponge fingers soaked in coffee and Baileys for that alcoholic kick!
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong

This sprawling retail cum dining concept on the third level of Orchard Central is just the place for you and your girlfriends to gather for a meal and a little shopping! Sit by the coffee counter to observe the kitchen and take in the lush greenery around you (yes, the plants are all real). Start with the refreshing Heirloom Tomato Salad ($14) dressed in balsamic vinegar, olive oil and topped with chunks of creamy feta cheese and cucumbers. For mains, dig into the Lobster Fregola Sarda Pasta ($26) — pearl-shaped pasta swimming in an umami lobster bisque, topped with a wobbly onsen egg. Otherwise, warm your tummy with a comforting bowl of Salmon Ochazuke ($26), where lightly seared Norwegian salmon slices, ikura and edamame are served on Japanese rice, with dashi stock on the side (to be poured over the dish). We like how the staff offered us a taste of the stock prior to pouring, so they know whether to pour more or less into your bowl. Don't miss the beautifully plated desserts like the Inspired by Red ($14) that features various raspberry and strawberry creations like sorbet, meringue and mousse. Wash it all down with a cup of Flat White (from $4.50). Pro tip: Enjoy 20% off all food items till 2nd May if you like or follow their FB and IG accounts!
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

This new Greek deli-cafe in Suntec City (directly opposite Gudetama Cafe) is perfect if you're in the area and want to grab a light bite for lunch. It's also spacious and laidback enough to while away an afternoon over pastries and coffee. The deli counter sports a selection of light bites including salads (from $17) and homemade pies ($8.90), which they can warm up. If you're in the mood for something heavier, try Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua's recommendation of the Grilled Octopus on Hummus ($24), a made-to-order open-faced toast — the hummus is smooth and the grilled octopus is tender. Otherwise, come by for tea and order the classic Baklava ($8), which we like for its textured layers of filo and crushed walnuts, and also because it is not overly sweet. Pair that with the house-recommended Freddo Cappuccino ($6), which sees an espresso shot topped with milk foam.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

To satisfy the meat lover in you, head to this beef-centric restaurant in the basement of ION Orchard. Niku Kappo serves a variety of beef dishes, including Sushi (from $5.90), Sashimi platters (from $23.90) and Hot Pots (from $18.90 per pax). The Niku Sushi Mori ($25.90) is a sushi platter that comes highly recommended by Tastemaker Ice Blossom. Start with the more subtle chicken breast sushi, and end with the wagyu toro sushi — Ice Blossom describes it as "glossy and buttery beef fat" that is simply divine! For mains, share the signature Yaki Tetsu Edo Style (from $18.90 per pax for Australian beef, minimum two persons). The meats are lightly grilled on the iron pot before miso paste and dashi stock are added to the mix. The rest of the ingredients like tofu, greens and glass noodles are arranged nicely in the thickened sauce. Surprisingly, the brown glossy sauce is not too salty and doesn't leave you feeling parched. Don't call for the bill immediately when you're done with the dish — the staff will throw in a bowl of rice and beaten egg into the leftover sauce for a comforting bowl of rice and gravy, so save space for that!
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Ice Blossom

Just around the corner from H&M on Grange Road lies Coocaça (pronounced “coo-ka-sa”), a pitstop serving hearty yet healthy fruit bowls and smoothies. Swing by after an intense yoga (or shopping) session and refuel with the crowd favourite Sao Paolo ($12.90). It sees chilled acai mixed with soy milk and cacao as the base, topped with cubes of strawberries, a whole banana, almond butter and a generous serving of their super yummy homemade granola. Portions are generous and the creamy acai base is enough to keep you full till your next meal. If you prefer a lighter acai base, go for the Pura Vida ($12.90) that is mixed with coconut water instead. The bowls are great on their own, but you can also opt for add ons like coconut flakes, chia seeds, and goji berries ($0.50 each). Seating is limited, so it's best to have yours to go!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Jessie Quek

Nestled within the Ramen Champion cluster in Bugis+ is Joshoken, a Tsukemen joint from Japan. Tsukemen is a style of ramen where noodles are served separately from the dipping sauce. Joshoken, a brand under the winner of the Super Tsukemen Exhibition last year, uses two broths to get its unique dipping sauce and requires 15 hours of boiling and constant stirring before it's placed in the fridge to cool. Tastemaker Justin Teo advises sharing a Tsukemen with a friend, as the portion of noodles can be too filling for one. Go for the Special Kotteri Tsukemen ($16.80) that comes with a blend of chicken and pork broth as the dipping sauce. Justin loves how the pork collar and belly cha shu served with the ramen has a smoky fragrance, a result of it being lightly torched before serving. Once you're done with the noodles, be sure to add dashi stock to the remaining dipping sauce and drink it as a soup. Otherwise, try the crowd-pleasing Maze Soba ($14.80), a dry ramen that comes topped with creamy mentaiko, spring onions and a wobbly onsen egg. Toss the entire dish thoroughly before digging in!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Justin Teo

One of the new additions to the Rangoon Cafe stretch, Enchanted Cafe definitely delivers what its name suggests, at least decor-wise: think fairy lights, bookcases with books that hint at ancient spells, and artfully mismatched chairs. Its food, while not quite in line with its decor, offers some tasty dishes. We really enjoyed the Enchanted Buffalo Bites ($9.90), a basket of popcorn chicken that featured crisp, tasty batter, tender meat and a pretty good homemade buffalo sauce on the side. The delicious-sounding Lu Rou Burger ($17.90) was unfortunately sold out by the time we arrived at 4pm on a Sunday, so we went with the Ngoh Hiang Burger ($18.90). They are a little heavy handed on the Chinese spices, but the meat patty is studded with chestnut cubes and really juicy. The accompanying scrambled eggs, however, stole the show — they were creamy, light and really velvety on the tongue. Skip the overly sweet Ondeh Ondeh ($5.90) drink and go instead for a complex Long Black ($5.50). Brewed using single origin beans from Brazil, the coffee is full-bodied with a bittersweet finish.
Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Lewis Tan

Located in the basement of Raffles Holland V (across from Holland Village), SENS is a casual; 42-seater Japanese restaurant that serves quality seafood and meats flown in from Japan regularly. We love the generous portions, spot-on flavours and wallet-friendly prices. Their menu offers a wide variety, from sashimi to teppanyaki to tendons, so there's definitely something for everyone! Fish lovers will love the fresh Hamachi Sashimi (yellow tail, $16 for six pieces), as well as the fatty Salmon Sashimi ($12 for six pieces). You won't go wrong with the Kurobuta Rosu Katsu ($17.50) — a generous portion of pork loin deep-fried to an unbelievably crisp exterior, while the meat remains juicy and tender on the inside.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See

Located right across the road from buzzy Old Hen Coffee Bar and the well-received Enchanted Cafe, Six by Sera feels almost like their plain-Jane cousin. On the plus side, the space is a lot quieter in comparison, which makes it a great space for serious mugging and intimate conversations. The drinks are decent enough to fuel you for an hour or two. The Flat White ($4.90) is well-balanced, while the Matcha Latte ($4.90) is thick and unsweetened — great for green tea fans. If you're peckish, skip the savoury Donuts ($2.90 each); while fluffy and rather tasty, these are pretty much glorified bread buns. Instead, go for the Chilli Crab Sauce Croissant ($11.90), a weekend special that sees a golden-brown croissant served in a pool of punchy, rather spicy chilli crab sauce and an oozy egg. If you're in the mood for sweets instead, the Molten Lava ($5.90) is a decent, tasty rendition of chocolate lava cake.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Leigh Khoo

Taking over the now defunct Black Tongue Bistro is this pretty space that dishes out equally pretty dishes. Flavours are spot on, prices are under $20 (except the steak, $22.90) and it's run by the former co-owner of Saveur. Come with a group of food-loving friends and share the flavourful Aus Frementle Octopus Tentacle ($14.90) and The Egg ($9), essentially a chawanmushi topped with a generous (we mean REALLY generous) portion of ikura, tobiko and homemade potato chips. The C & C Pasta ($9 for half portion, $14 for full portion) that stands for caviar and crabmeat is served chilled, and is a twist on the famed Saveur Pasta. It's an unbelievably tasty item that is a must-order in our books! You must end your meal with the Deep-Fried Camembert ($8.90) — gooey, melted cheese encased in a crisp yet light batter served with a side of cold yoghurt ice-cream, a handful of lavender buds and crunchy bits of gula Melaka granola.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Located a few doors down from Stateland Asian-Fusion Cafe, this casual joint dishes out hearty, juicy burgers. The halal-friendly offshoot of the Upper Thomson branch FatBoys, this two-storey outlet on Bali Lane is open till 11pm daily, so you know where to head to when late night cravings strike. Choose from eight pre-selected burgers (from $11.80) or have a hand at customising your own (ingredients range from $1 to $8.80). Note that all patties are cooked to well done, and burgers are served with a side of fries. If it's your first time trying FatPapas burgers, go for the signature Wimpy ($15) — a thick beef or lamb patty set on sesame seed buns and topped with turkey bacon, melted aged cheddar and fried egg. According to Burppler Alvin Wang, the burger is just as good as the non-halal version at FatBoys. Pile on the calories (because why not!) and order a Gula Melaka Ten Dollar Shake ($10) to go with your burger for ultimate fast food satisfaction. Pro tip: There is typically a long line at dinner, so make a reservation before heading down!
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Alvin Wang