New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: June 2017

Replacing Saint Pierre Market at Ngee Ann City, this Japanese cafe offers pretty good savoury items as well as sweet treats, which means it's ideal both for a casual lunch as well as a relaxing afternoon tea. Go for the Double Decker Tonkatsu Sandwich ($7.40 for half/$14.80 for full), which sees two juicy breaded pork cutlets sandwiched in fluffy white bread with sesame mayo, zingy hot mustard and shredded cabbage tossed in tonkatsu sauce. The half portion is just right for modest eaters; add $4 to make it a set with a soup. Hopefully, you will get a freshly fried cutlet like we did. For something more substantial, settle on the Minced Beef Dry Curry ($14.50) or the Mentaiko Pasta ($18.50). Just be sure not to miss out on the Grand Jeté Apple Pie ($3.40). Folded like a kouign amann pastry with caramelised apple chunks in the middle, this buttery, flaky bake is the ideal tea-time treat with an aromatic cup of coffee ($2.80).
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Muriel A

This new kid on the (poké) block is a go-to if you’re looking for a healthy lunch option in United Square. There are three bowl sizes, small ($11.90), medium ($15.90) and large ($19.90), and you can choose from white rice, brown rice or salad as your base. Follow Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua's lead and go for the Rice Mix — a mix of white rice with bonito flakes and brown rice with black sesame seeds. The fish cubes (tuna or salmon) are marinated in three different sauces, original, wasabi mayo and spicy. Opt for the Spicy Ahi Tuna if you’re up for a little spicy kick, or the Wasabi Mayo Salmon if you’re looking for punchy notes of wasabi. Each bowl comes with three add-ons and one superfood, like edamame, salmon roe (ikura) and avocado. Look out for their self-service counter and help yourself to the free-flow dressings like sesame (goma) and spicy Korean, as well as complimentary toppings like kimchi!
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

This watering hole at The Rail Mall serves up a constantly rotating selection of six craft beers on tap along with bottled beers and ciders — perfect for a laid-back boys' night out. From the current selection, Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua likes the Fourpure Indy Lager ($12 for half pint/$15 for full pint) for its crisp flavours and malty finish, and the Hitachino Nest White Ale ($12 for half pint/$15 for full pint) for hints of nutmeg, coriander and orange peel. Line your stomach with bar bites like Spam Fries ($6), Sausage Platters ($11) with housemade Sriracha mayo, and Chicken Ingots ($9) — fried chicken poppers with served with mayo and sweet Thai chilli sauce. Only bar bites are served for now, so don't come too hungry.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

When the occasion calls for it, reserve a table for dinner at this stylish Halal-certified restaurant on the fifth floor of Park Hotel Farrer Park. The opulent interiors, juxtaposed against its poolside location, can mean only one thing — put on your finest resort wear! The menu draws its influences from all across Thailand, so you're in for a flavourful treat. Standout dishes from the a la carte menu include Salmon Larb ($18), Orange Curry Stingray ($24) and Crab Meat Yellow Curry ($26) served with vibrant blue jasmine noodles. What we recommend however is their Ramadan iftar dinner buffet ($38/pax, available daily from 6.30-10.30pm), available now till 24 June. The wide selection of Thai-inspired dishes, from spicy soups to hearty mains and luscious sweets, is great value for money.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Cheryl | Audy

Go luxe with your next coffeeshop meal at this Bishan stall specialising in Penang-style prawn noodles. What crowds come for are not the regular Prawn Noodles (from $4.50); they're all ready to splash out on lobsters instead! Try the Lobster Noodles with Clams ($26.50), and get the soupy version so you can slurp on the mild, delicate broth. The lobsters are fresh, and the homemade chilli sauce that's served on the side is great for dipping. If budget is not a concern, consider going all out with the Combo Noodles ($38.50), which includes lobsters, prawns, crayfish and clams. It's just the thing for shellfish enthusiasts.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler I makan Sg

This laidback cafe-bar is taking beer into the heartlands — specifically the Potong Pasir neighbourhood. Come by with friends for some hearty chow and a few rounds. The food menu features mostly classics like Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($17), Truffle Fries ($10) and Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Burger ($16), and they also do brunch (11.30am-3pm on weekdays; 11am-3pm on weekends) with options like Eggs Benedict ($16) and Bangers & Mash ($15). While compact, the list of beers on tap is well-curated — Growlers is run by the same people behind Hospoda Microbrewery. Craft beer newbies can start with the easy drinking Working People's Golden IPA ($12 for half pint/$16 for full), while those with a heavier palate would likely appreciate the more robust Bohemian Dark Lager ($11 for half pint/$15 for full). Love their beer? Take your favourite home in special two-litre bottles known as growlers (the inspiration behind their name, perhaps?), available from $50.
Avg Price: $35 per person
Photo by Burppler DC GT

Tuck into Japanese food at this new Muslim-owned izakaya at Bussorah Street. Decked out in dark wood and Japanese-inspired wall art, this atmospheric space is great for a lunch date or dinner with the family. Come by with a few colleagues for their donburi lunch sets; both the Salmon Teriyaki Don ($12) and Unagi Don ($13) are tasty choices. Each set comes with a salad, miso soup and free flow green tea. Come dinner time, expect an izakaya style menu that includes a la carte grilled skewers and bar bites. Burppler Riny Wan loves the well-seasoned Grilled Ribeye ($24) as well as the generous portions of Tori Karaage ($8, fried chicken). Take her advice and skip the overpriced dealcoholised wine ($16/glass). Pro tip: Ask to sit upstairs for a tatami dining experience.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Riny Wan

Homegrown brand LiHO, which means "how are you" in Hokkien, has replaced all 80 outlets of Taiwanese tea franchise Gong Cha. Expect a good variety of bubble tea classics like Milk Tea + Pearl (from $3.30) and Earl Grey Milk Tea ($2.90), along with their signature cheese tea, which sees a savoury cheese foam layer topping the drinks. The result is a savoury, bittersweet combination that the Burpple community is beginning to warm up to. Take Burppler Thechoyalicious :)'s advice to pair the foam with one of the Chinese tea selections, which will balance flavours nicely. Try this in the Cheese Jing Syuan Tea (from $4.10) and Cheese Guan Yin (from $4.10).
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Thechoyalicious :)