PUBLISHED March 8th, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm
Is there really any surprise that wholesome, green foods are increasing in popularity in Singapore? Restaurants like Hilton Singapore’s Verde Kitchen and vegan joint HRVST are now open for your health needs, alongside Keisuke Takeda’s newest ramen concept, two new additions to the Hidden Door Concepts collection, and a fresh restaurant-bar from the Jigger and Pony Group. Eat up!
New Restaurants in Singapore
LES45
A branch-off from East Coast Road’s Lower East Side Tacqueria, LES45 joins the ranks of Empire, Sear, and Angie’s at the Singapore Land Tower. Rather than Tex-Mex cuisine, Mexican Chef Jorge tries to recreate the culinary delights of contemporary Mexico (think staples like heirloom corns, beans, and chilli) with local and regionally sourced produced. And what do you get? Fun dishes like the moreish LES Guacamole, tangy Chicken Tinga Tostadas with wasabi fried egg, and Tempura Hake Tacos served along with housemade hibiscus mayo and salsa fresca.
LES45 is located at L45 Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore 048623, p. +65 6221 9555. Open Mon-Fri 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 11pm. Closed weekends.
Verde Kitchen
Healthy yet great-tasting food is all the rage, and looking to presents its own brand of ‘real’ flavours is Hilton Singapore’s new Verde Kitchen. From gluten-free to vegetarian and raw food options, 98% of the menu items are made from scratch and half of them incorporate locally and sustainably-sourced ingredients, including leafy greens from the hotel’s own Vertical Garden. Some of the wholesome offerings include a Grilled Tandoori Organic Lacto Chicken Wrap with ‘ketchumbar’ salad ($27), and an Organic Basil-crusted Glacier 51 Tooth Fish cooked with local mushrooms ($38).
Verde Kitchen is located at L2 Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238883, p. +65 6730 3397. Open Mon-Sat 10.3am – 5.30pm (only desserts and beverages served from 2.30pm onwards.) Closed Sun.
ToriYard
There’s something particularly idyllic about having yakitori in the middle of a park – in this case, it’s Bishan Park. ToriYard is where Tokyo native Hasegawa Isao, who has close to 40 years of culinary experience across Japan, France, and Malaysia, cooks his meats at his open-concept grill kitchen. Snatch a counter seat and see first hand the various classic chicken skewers, as well as beef, pork, seafood, and vegetables – including the peppery Gyu ($8, Angus Ribeye), Buta Kubi ($5, Canadian Pork Neck), and Tebasaki ($4, chicken wing) are charred to smoky wonder.
ToriYard is located at 1380 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Bishan Park 2, Singapore 569930, p. +65 9296 5988. Open Sun-Thu 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm.
Kazu Sushi Grill Sake
Kazu Sushi Grill Sake is the latest Japanese eatery in the CBD, and it’s led by the best – Chef Ichimaya has served at Sushi Kyubei for 10 years and Sushi Kaishin for over three years, while his partner Chef Imai used to serve presidents, kings and queens, and dignitaries from all over the world at the Embassy of Japan. Enjoy an extensive range of premium sushi and sashimi, with ingredients flown straight in from Japan three times a week, from mirugai (geoduck) and yariika (spear squid) to precious shiraebi (white shrimp), hokkigai (surf clams), and mebaru (rock fish).
Kazu Sushi Grill Sake is located at 5 Straits View #01-14 Marina One, Singapore 018935, p. +65 6282 8141. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm, Sat 6pm – 10pm. Closed Sun.
HRVST
It’s not hard to find a cafe at your favourite gym, but a full-service F&B joint? That’s another thing altogether. This month, Kilter Avenue launches HRVST, a vegan restaurant and bar that dishes up an extensive menu of meat-free starters, mains, and bar snacks. Helmed by Head Chefs Addis Tan and Dylan Choong (who share nearly 20 years of experience in kitchens such as Tippling Club, Esquina, and Cheek by Jowl), some creations to expect include Soy Satay with peanut sauce and veggie chips, King Oyster Mushroom ‘Scallops’ in spinach puree, and feisty Pumpkin Gnocchi in tom yam broth and coriander oil. You’d almost forget you weren’t eating meat.
HRVST is located at Kilter Avenue, #05-01 Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815. Open Mon-Fri, 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm, Sat 9am – 3pm. Closed Sun.
Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke
If you thought that ‘King of Ramen’ Keisuke Takeda couldn’t come up with any more ideas for his Japanese food ‘empire’ in Singapore, you’re sorely mistaken. In fact, Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke is his ninth ramen concept, with the limelight shining on the celebrated Irish hybrid duck. Grilled, marinated in Keisuke’s special soy sauce, and then steamed, you’ll find juicy slices of this premium meat in more than four variations, including Clear ($14.90), Rich ($14.90), Spicy Miso ($16.50), and Tsukemen-style ($14.90) – served dry with an accompanying bowl of rich duck broth.
Kamo Soba Kyudaime Keisuke is located at 16A Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277677, p. +65 6463 4344. Open Mon-Fri 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am – 10pm.
New Bars in Singapore
Caffe Fernet
The most anticipated establishment in the local bar community of late, Caffe Fernet is conceptualised by the same drinks-loving folks behind Jigger and Pony, Sugarhall, and Gibson. Italian flavours are the name of the game here, as Executive Bar Programme Director Aki Eguchi and Executive Chef Polo join hands to serve up Italian-inspired cocktails and grub with a spritz of creative sprezzatura. And what better place to sip on drinks like the classic Garibaldi or banana-infused whisky Banana Negroni than the fabulous Collyer Quay waterfront? Read our review here.
Caffe Fernet is located at #01-05 Customs House, 70 Collyer Qy, Singapore 049232, p. +65 9178 1105. Open Mon-Thu 5pm – 12am, Fri 5pm – 2am, Sat 11am – 2am, Sun 11am – 5pm.
Ma Cuisine
If you love wine, boy, are you in for a treat. With a collection of over 3000 bottles and 600 labels of carefully-selected wines and spirits, Ma Cuisine looks set to revitalise the wine scene in Singapore, focusing on lesser-known wine makers and regions that are as noteworthy as the classics. Whether you’re a budding imbiber or a seasoned connoisseur, it’s easy to find a bottle from you – bottles start at $65 and go to well over several hundred – think a Hermitage “L’Ermite Blanc” 2012 Maison Chapoutier vintage at $900, or a Meursaults Les Luchets Domaine Guy Roulot 2012 ($380).
Ma Cuisine is located at 38 Craig Rd, Singapore 089676, p. +65 6224 1838. Open Mon-Sat 5pm – 12am. Closed Sun.
The Brightside
Named after the Monty Python song, Duxton Hill’s newest entrant is all about looking “on the bright side of life” with simple cocktails and delicious bar grub at great value. At just $15 (or $12 all night on Thursdays) per cocktails, creations include the Duxton Sour (an aromatic sour with vanilla vodka, apricot liquer, ginger, and refreshing craberry juice) and Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, featuring Tanqueray No. 10, cointreau, strawberry tea syrup, and Sicilian lemonade. And beers like Asahi Super Dry and Connors Stout are pretty cheap too – perfect for watching football, a hens night, or a particularly rambunctious birthday party.
The Brightside is located at 37 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089615. Open Mon-Sat 4pm – 11.45pm. Closed Sun.
Amrith by Barsmiths
Ah, Amrith, the nectar of the gods. This glasshouse space in the middle of town doesn’t confer immortality, but it does serve up some pretty amazing cocktails. An extension of the popular The Song of India restaurant, Amrith is run by beverage consultancy Barsmiths, and specialises in creations centred around classic Singapore flavours. For one, the Hainanese Chicken Rice ($26) is prepared with fat-washed rye and infused with ginger, garlic, shallots, and sesame oil, as well as a ginger liqueur, while The Lion City ($26) takes on Raffle Hotel’s original Singapore Sling.
Amrith by Barsmiths is located at 33 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228226, p. +65 6732 1365. Open Mon-Thu 5pm – 12am, Fri-Sat 5pm – 1am.
Top Image: Ma Cuisine