Just Opened #18 – May: 10 new restaurants & cafes to check out this month

PUBLISHED May 7th, 2014 01:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm

This month’s roll call of new restaurants sees new ventures from old faces, old ventures replaced by new ones, and new faces bringing new ventures to the constant revolving door that is the Singapore dining scene. With Singapore’s first ‘South of Latitude 30°’ restaurant, local flavours from crazy chef Shen Tan, great value Japanese from the Chef behind Teppei, an offshoot from the good folk behind insanely awesome burger outfit Two Blur Guys and a new venture from two stall owners at our favourite PasarBella market plus too many others to mention here…so read on below!

1. UNA @ One Rochester

Shaking things up over at One Rochester is UNA which has replaced the now defunct Roast, bringing together the sunny flavours of Spanish, French and Italian home-styled cuisines or as they have coined it ‘South of Latitude 30°’.  Under Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno, who has spent years honing his culinary flair under 3 Michelin Star Chef Nico Landenis, UNA promises to serve up rich flavours from the region in a cosy dining ambiance against the backdrop of the lush locale that is Rochester Park. Look out for the second level tapas bar which alongside tasty small plates will serve artisinal cocktails specially created by Proof and Co, (World Gourmet Summit’s Bar of The Year) and will also take up the mantle of Singapore’s first sherry bar. This is looking like a perfect new spot to unwind and escape the madness of the city.

UNA @ One Rochester is located at 1 Rochester Park, Singapore, 139212, Singapore. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: 6pm – 11pm, 6pm – 1am. To make a reservation call 6773 0070. For more information see their Facebook page here.

2. Ujong @ Raffles Hotel

The word has been bouncing around about our favourite crazy chef Shen Tan’s new project but until now, not much has been revealed. If you were a big fan of her previous venture Wok & Barrel as we were, then we are betting you’ll want to check out her new baby, Ujong, which will once again celebrate local cuisine with mouth watering favourites, unique interpretations and exclusive creations including Bak Chor Mee Pasta, Nasi Lemak and Pulot Hitam Cake set against the classic charm of Raffles Hotel Arcade.

Ujong is located at 01-10, 328 North Bridge Road, Raffles Hotel Arcade, Singapore, 188719. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: 8am – 10pm. To make a reservation call 9107 3028. For more information see their Facebook page here.

3. Hanare Japanese Cafe

We are big fans of Teppei for its insanely reasonably priced Omakase and so are very happy to hear that Chef Yamashita Teppei, the man behind it, has opened this new place on Tanjong Pagar Road. A homely affair serving buffet and barachirashi in a casual setting, true to form you can once again expect very reasonable prices with sets ringing in at under $20. Sweet!

Hanare Japanese Cafe is located at 99B Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore, 088520. Opening hours are Monday – Saturday: midday – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm. For reservations call 6222 1976. For more information see their Facebook page here.

4. Sprigs

Billing itself as an ‘avant-garde’ dining establishment, Sprigs is inspired by the small portions of herbs used in culinary preparations and therefore attention to detail on the flavour front is a big deal here. Scouring the menu, the devil certainly does seem to be in the detail at Sprigs, with thoughtfully crafted flavour combinations and layerings a common feature across its contemporary European-influenced offerings. Currently we’re salivating over the thought of the Honey Spiced Magret Duck Breast and the very sunny sounding Baked Cod with Saffron Broth. A welcomed addition to the Purvis Street shophouses which we’re looking forward to checking out ourselves.

Sprigs is located at 12 Purvis Street, 01-01, Singapore, 188591. Opening hours are Monday – Saturday: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm. For reservations call  6338 5844. For more information see their website here.

5. Crumbs @ Esplanade

It’s very seldom that Esplanade registers on the Just Opened radar, however we are big fans of the people behind this new venture (Two Blur Guys – synonymous with awesome burgers) and so let us introduce you to Crumbs, a deli-style eatery located in the Library at Esplanade. Serving up crowd pleasing comfort food including burgers (which we know will be top notch), pastas, salads and gourmet coffee, we hope this means there will finally be a decent casual eatery for a pre-show bite to eat worth heading to in Esplanade.

Crumbs is located at 8 Raffles Avenue, Esplanade, 03-02, Singapore, 039802. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: 11am – 9pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

6. Portico

An all-day dining café, restaurant and bar, Portico is the brainchild of two stall owners from PasarBella Market who have decided to take the restaurant plunge. Sitting in the unlikely location of an industrial estate off Alexandra Road, seeing as the Executive Chef Leandros Stagogiannis is formerly of 3 Michelin star restaurant The Fat Duck, this one is worth seeking out, particularly as it aims to serve home-style creations with interesting textural twists, fresh ingredients and offbeat flavour pairings. Our review is coming very soon so without giving the game away here’s a little hint of things: onion sorbet and the most edible sweetbreads you’ve ever had.

Portico is located at #01-10, 991B Alexandra Road, Singapore, 119970. Opening hours are Monday – Friday: 8am – 11.30pm and Saturday: 11am – 11.30pm, closed Sunday.

7. Le Cuisine

We were just a little surprised to hear that celebrity chef Daniel Koh’s new restaurant takes up residence at the newly renovated Chinatown Point but at least it’s refreshing that someone is bucking the current Tanjong Pagar trend! Equally were we surprised by the combination of offerings – salad and casserole – which on the face of it might not seem all that exciting but then delve a little deeper and suddenly that changes with irresistible items like Lychee Pork and Signature Crabmeat Burger (yums!) on the menu. Promising a home-style blend of the richness of Eastern spices and flavours and Western cooking techniques in an unpretentious yet elegant space, this one has piqued our interest!

Le Cuisine is located at #B2-34 & 36, Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road, Singapore, 059413. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: 11am – 10pm. For reservations call 6538 1963. For more information see their website here.

8. L’Atelier Tiramisu

Watch out The Tiramisu Hero, you’ve got company! in the form of L’Atelier Tiramisu.  Effectively translating into “The Tiramisu Workshop” it’s a bit of a no brainer what they specialize in. And if you’re focusing all your attention on that one thing, by gosh it better be good! Offering up different exquisite flavours infused into the timeless Italian dessert, look out for creative fusions of flavour from tropical fruits to tea. Death by tiramisu? Bring it on!

L’Atelier Tiramisu is located at B1-09, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Se  Street, Singapore, 059817. Opening hours are Monday – Friday: midday – 9.30pm, Saturday: 1pm – 8pm and Sunday: 1pm – 7pm. For more information see their website here.

9.Waffle Slayer

From the good folk that brought you Stranger’s Reunion, comes Waffle Slayer. Sitting cheek by jowl along Kampong Bahru Road, this latest venture is all about gourmet waffles served up in magic combination with speciality coffee.  Though the list of flavours is not endless with only six sweet and two savoury at the moment, what they lack in numbers they sure as hell make up for with style with varieties like Squid Ink Waffle with Smoked Salmon and Red Velvet Buttermilk Waffle, please tell us…what’s not to love?!

Waffle Slayer is located at 37 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore, 169356. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: 11am-10pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

10. Dibs

After a period of relative quiet on the Duxton front, there’s another new opening to shake things up in the enclave, this time in the form of Dibs, a restaurant-cum-bar taking over the space formerly occupied by Celina’s Gastrobar.  Expect a funky little place serving up honest European cuisine made for sharing with friends and family like Meat Butter (that’s veal marrow to you and I), Glazed Oxtail and Duck in a Jar, all complemented by a solid drinks list. So who’s got first dibs on this one then?

Dibs is located at 51 Duxton Road, Singapore, 089515. Opening hours are Monday – Friday: midday – 2pm, 6pm – midnight. Saturday: 6pm – midnight. For reservations call 6223 3784. For more information see their website here.

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Written by Ms Demeanour