New Restaurants, Cafes And Bars In Singapore: May 2017

Yes, you read that right — this ramen joint in the heartlands of Hougang dishes out hearty bowls of ramen that are under $8! Prices are nett and there's no service charge or GST, which makes this two-week-old spot really popular with the Hougang residents. Head there early to snag a seat indoors, otherwise be prepared to sweat it out sitting outside. Get appetites going with the Crisp-Fried Baby Squid ($4) or the Green Tea Smoked Duck ($4), which comes with five slices of smoked duck drizzled with passionfruit vinaigrette. For those who want it all, go for the Seven Wonder Ramen ($7.80) that comes with seven toppings, including prawns, ajitama egg and bamboo shoots. It comes with a Thai green chilli seafood sauce that Burppler Jayson Yeo describes to be tangy and fiery, packing a lip-smacking punch! The housemade pork and chicken broth is light yet flavourful — you'll want to slurp it all down to the last drop. Apart from the Seven Wonder Ramen, you won't go wrong with the Miso Kakuni Ramen ($7.80) that comes with perfectly torched pork belly.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

Helmed by chef Sebastian Ng from now defunct Restaurant Ember, this dining spot in the brand new OUE Downtown fits the bill for both business and pleasure. Come by for a lunch meeting, a special meal with the colleagues, or a quiet dinner date after office hours. So far, the Burpple community has nothing but praise for the food here. Start with the Toast with Foie Gras Mousse ($12) — a decadent, silky smooth mousse that spreads perfectly. You won't go wrong with the Chilean Seabass, Mushroom & Bacon Ragout, Truffle Yuzu Butter ($32), which Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua declares to be one of the more noteworthy dishes he's tasted this year; and the Grilled Octopus, Burnt Butter, Capers, Bean Purée ($27), which sees expertly grilled octopus on a burnt butter sauce. Save space for the Coffee Granite with Whipped Cream ($6), which will hit you with a potent hit of coffee, pillowed with folds of velvety whipped cream. Simple but oh so good.
Avg price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua

Taking over the now-defunct Pits & Pans is The Playground Coffee, a cafe that serves grain bowls, coffee and light bites. Prices are affordable, coffee's great and it's a short bus ride from Pioneer MRT Station — great for NTU students to hang out with friends in between classes. Grain bowls like the Pulled Beef Grain Bowl ($16) come with usual suspects like sous vide egg, bean sprouts, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, but we much prefer the tastier Mushroom Aglio Olio ($12). Tossed with a generous amount of mushrooms and topped with garlic breadcrumbs, it's flavourful and the portion is just right to not warrant a food coma after. End your meal with a sweet treat like the French Toast ($14) that comes with homemade berry compote, fresh fruits and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Wash it down with a Flat White ($5) brewed with beans from Two Degrees North Coffee Co, or treat yourself to a refreshing Virgil's Root Beer Float ($8) on a sweltering hot day!
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim

Located on the first floor of Maxwell Chambers is this Japanese chain specialising in torafugu (tiger pufferfish) and snowcrab. Guenpin Fugu & Snow Crab Japanese Restaurant cleans out the poisonous portions thoroughly before having it air-flown to Singapore, so there's no tingling sensation whatsoever. If it's your first time having pufferfish, share the nine-course Zeitaku Set ($168) for a full experience. While the menu states it as a set for one person, the restaurant allows you to share it with another diner at no extra cost. Eight out of nine dishes are pre-selected to showcase the different styles of preparing pufferfish (raw, grilled, shabu) and snow crab (raw, deep-fried, grilled), with the choice of having thin or thick-sliced pufferfish. Go for the latter, a lesser seen option that allows you to enjoy a stronger fugu flavour. Be sure to save space for the comforting porridge that is cooked with the leftover broth of the pufferfish hotpot. Pro tip: Swing by during lunch for their value-for-money set lunches (from $19.90) that include a massive Snow Crab Tempura Rice Bowl!
Avg Price: $100 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See

Swing by this gorgeous space that's perfect for a good read over a slice of cake, or to catch up with friends over tea. A short walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, Nesuto (which means "nest" in Japanese) is the brainchild of the good folks behind SHUU by Koki Tamagoyaki. Instead of choux puffs, Nesuto focuses more on dainty small cakes (from $9 to $10.80) like the crowd favourite Suzette ($9.80), which features vanilla, grand marnier, orange caramel and santiago tart. Tastemaker Xing Wei notes that while the flavours sound like they might overwhelm each other, the result is a subtle yet refined union that is not too punchy. Fans of their matcha choux puff would be happy to hear that Nesuto offers the Le Omm ($9), a layered sponge cake version that is more intense in flavour. The matcha soufflé sponge cake is layered with mascarpone cheese and azuki red beans, and spiked with a tinge of rum before being dusted with matcha powder. Be sure to pair this with the Oriental Green Tea ($9 per pot) from Antea Social that Tastemaker Kelly Wong loves. She adds that the tea complements the underlying light bitter notes of the cake — a true match made in heaven!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Kelly Wong

This Japanese duo concept along Boat Quay has been drawing in the crowds with its wallet-friendly wagyu prices. The second outlet of Aburiya Japanese Wagyu Yakiniku (the first outlet along Robertson Quay is undergoing renovation) serves Japanese-bred, Kuroge (black cattle) A4-grade wagyu grilled on specially imported charcoal (bincho). The space is classy yet inviting, and the bincho doesn't leave a lingering smoky scent on your clothes — perfect for business meetings with clients. Prices start from $18 for raw wagyu, $20 for grilled meats and Family Sets (good for three to four pax) that include an assortment of wagyu and pork start from $50. The other concept, The Container Japanese Wagyu Tapas & Bar, occupies the patio section overlooking the river. Sticking to their nose-to-tail philosophy, the bartender infuses the wagyu fat from Aburiya into their whisky. Try it in the Amai Sanaa ($19), a creamy cocktail that comes with a spritz of lemon, dashi syrup and strawberry candy on the side. Be sure to have that with the highly Instagrammable 'Smoking' Wagyu Carpaccio ($20)!
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Muriel A

Fans of Wimbly Lu — rejoice! Now you can enjoy the best of Wimbly Lu and Little Wimbly Lu at this new spot, just a few doors down from Chye Seng Huat Hardware. The gorgeous space has many photogenic spots, is more conveniently located than the other two outlets, and the menu puts together the bestselling items from the other two outlets, making this the perfect spot to catch up with your girlfriends. Skip the pancakes and stick with the foolproof Waffles with Ice Cream ($8.50). Choose from eight different flavours and if available, opt for the creamy Speculoos that our Burpple community loves. Root beer lovers will dig the signature Root Beer Float Cake ($6). Served in a martini glass, the slice of densely rich brownie is slicked with a root beer infused chocolate sauce, set on a bed of hot fudge and topped off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu

This new kid on the CBD circuit still has some ways to go in terms of getting their act down pat — they were flustered and out of several items when we visited two weeks into their opening — but we foresee a bright future once things are up and running smoothly. Their Avocado Toast ($5.50), a simple but effective combination of lightly warmed sourdough, sliced avocado and a generous sprinkle of chilli pepper, is something we'll be returning for time and again. Add a crumble of feta cheese ($1) for some added oomph. They also serve Acai Bowls (from $6.90), and their salads are quite something. Pacific Rim ($13.50) features a perfectly baked salmon fillet, served atop a punchy quinoa salad and basil aioli. Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua also had good things to say about New Farm ($12) — moist, slow-cooked chicken served on the same quinoa salad base. Grab a hit of their robust yet well-balanced coffee while you're here, their opening promo sees all espresso-based drinks going at just $2. Pro tip: There are only 10 seats in this cosy nook of a space, so either beat the lunch crowd, or order to go.
Avg price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua