PUBLISHED August 3rd, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm
Looking for new spots in Singapore to eat and drink this month? We’ve got you covered with our list of new restaurants and bars to check out, from fried chicken at The Bird and an assortment of Spanish small plates at Tapas Club to unique agave spirits at pop-up bar Junior and Lebanese grub at Byblos Grill.
New Restaurants in Singapore
The Bird
If you want to know what life is like in the Southern United States, make your way to John Kunkel’s The Bird (also known as Yardbird) and shed tears over the fantastic food there. Highlights include the 100-year-old recipe Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken (dredged in cayenne-spiced flour and brined for 27 hours) on fluffy waffles ($45), Shrimp ’n’ Grits ($39), and a decadent Macaroni & Cheese ($14) boasting five artisanal cheeses. Then, admire the restaurant’s stellar collection of whiskeys and bourbons, or go for the signature cocktail Watermelon Sling ($24). Read our review here.
The Bird is located at #B1-07, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018956, +65 6688 9959. Open daily 11am – 11pm.
Luka
Luka is not your typical contemporary Italian restaurant. With head chef Takashi Okuno at the helm, you can look forward to a hearty collection of pizzas, pastas, and various other Italian classics – albeit with a touch of Japanese flair. Think specials like the Smoked Egg with Wagyu and Uni cicchetti, Uni Aglio Olio pasta ($26), and Housemade Wagyu Breasola – salted and air-dried to umami perfection. For the classics, get the Margherita ($14) and Quattro Formmagi ($18), excellent with some of the affordable wines and spirits on offer.
Luka is located at 18 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088441, p. +65 6221 3988. Open Mon-Sat 12pm – 12am. Closed Sun.
Tapas Club
This newly-opened tapas joint is fabulous, not only for its accurate recreation of traditional Spanish bars but also its solid menu of quality and very affordable Spanish Tapas. José Alonso and Munuel Berganza, who helm the kitchen side by side, use locally-sourced ingredients alongside those imported from Spain to maintain the best of both worlds, resulting in dishes like the Gambas al Ajillo ($12.90) – prawns sautéed with garlic and parsley, Patatas Bravas ($9.90) – potatoes with salsa brava, and our favourite standout, the Fideuá Negra ($25), a variant of paella made not with rice, but with ‘vermicelli’ pasta. Read our review here.
Tapas Club is located at 181 Orchard Rd, #02-13–15 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896, p. +65 31637577. Open Sun-Thu 12pm – 11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm – 12am.
Rumah Rasa
As the first Indonesian restaurant in Singapore to use herbs (kaffir lime leaves, pandan, galangal, and chillies) from their own garden, Rumah Rasa is committed to serving only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Popular dishes – authentic Indonesian with a modern twist – include the soul-warming Sup Buntut (oxtail soup, $7.90), Ayam Panggang Berkakak (signature grilled chicken, $13.90), and as any self-respecting Indonesian chef would have mastered, the Tahu Telor (tofu omelette, $7.90) drizzled with a delectable dark sweet sauce. Enjoy a buffet lunch feast come the weekend, as well as live BBQ sessions for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
Rumah Rasa is located at 50 Telok Blangah Rd, Bay Hotel, Singapore 098828, p. +65 6818 6681. Open daily 12pm – 10.30pm.
Folklore
Folklore is the brainchild of chef Damian D’Silva, who’s been raised as a child of Eurasian-Peranakan parentage. That means cuisines from all the major races of Singapore in full authenticity, made from scratch with traditional cooking methods. You’ll find dishes – many of them family recipes – such as Peranakan Chap Chye (braised mixed vegetables, $16) and the unique Singgang (deboned wolf herring cooked in a non-spicy paste, $20), Sambal Buah Keluak ($22), and a tender-soft Beef Cheek Rendang ($32). With bottles of housemade sauces and mixes, along with giveaway recipe cards, it’ll almost feel like you’re dining in Chef Damian’s home.
Folklore is located at Destination Singapore Beach Road, 700 Beach Rd, Singapore 199598, p. +65 6679 2900. Open daily 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm.
Starker Q
Remember Starker group and their locally-brewed beer? They now have a new dining destination, Starker Q, at Punggol, with four different concepts and cuisines: Allegra with its classic Western fare – pastas, steaks, and sharing meat platters; My Bao with its gourmet take (think Bacon and Mushroom Cream, Spicy Tuna, and Curry Chicken) of Chinese baos; Pizalo with its unique cone pizzas and thin crust pizzas (Wanton pizza, anyone?); and perfect for the Hallyu lovers, Mukja with its Korean signatures such as tteok-bokki (rice cake) and kimchi pancake. The ever-popular beer is still available, of course.
Starker Q is located at 85 Punggol Central #01-01, Singapore 828726. Open daily 8am – 12am.
Byblos Grill
Byblos Grill is headed by Lebanese chef Mohamad Salim, who once cooked in the Burj Al Arab – the only seven star hotel in Dubai. With ingredients imported directly from Lebanon and the Mediterranean, he whips up an exceptional Lebanese menu with authentic hummus, tabbouleh salad, and kibbeh, a traditional meat ball. Don’t miss his favourite charcoal grill dishes as exemplified in the Byblos Mixed Grill ($38.90), Lamb Kofta ($24.90), Byblos Beef Steak ($28.50), and heavenly rice dishes like the Lamb Mandi ($27.50)!
Byblos Grill is located at 14 Bussorah St, Singapore 199435, p. +65 6296 8577. Open daily 11am – 1am.
CHIKIN
After the success of Chinese-inspired bar Sum Yi Tai, Coterie Dining Concept has introduced a new traditional Asian joint to town. CHIKIN is all about Japanese yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), but there’s a catch: many a dish is spiked with the spicy and numbing elements of Sichuan cuisine, and they are delicious. Apart from skewers, make an order for small plates like the Grilled Miso Cod and Mentaiko fries. There are some delectable cocktail infusions for you to try as well – the Chok-Chok Tini with torched marshmallow cream, and Sake Sangria – at just $15 a pop during happy hour from 5pm to 8pm.
CHIKIN is located at 6 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore, p. +65 6910 2742. Open Mon-Sat 5pm – 1am. Closed Sun.
New Bars in Singapore
Junior
The team behind 28HKS and Crackerjack recently announced Junior, an intriguing pocket bar with just ten seats. Just like exhibitions in an art gallery, the bar will present two original concepts every year, each focusing on one core topic. If you’re one for experimental drinks and ultra-personalised experiences, this is it – the platform is dedicated to the craziest and most creative ideas imaginable, from carefully-crafted cocktails and rare spirits to bar grub that goes hand in hand with Junior’s concept. First up is NORMA, which celebrates the tradition of authentic agave with over 100 bottles on offer. 30ml flights starting from $45? Yes, please.
Junior is located at 43 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088464, p. +65 8121 1462. Open Wed-Sat 7pm – 12am, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Hustle Co
No matter how hard you’re hustling, there is always time for beer – at least, Singapore’s newest bar-cafe Hustle Co will make sure of that. With an emphasis on craft beer on tap, the establishment takes up a staggering three levels of an entire shophouse unit; though for now, you’ll find the main dining hall on the first floor, along with communal tables and a long row of taps at the end of the shop. Make sure to get a swig of the Flat White Stout, brewed by New Zealand’s 8 Wired Brewing. It’s smooth to drink at 5.5% ABV, and has a beautiful tall layer of creamy foam – a testament to its name – and lingering notes of malty sweetness.
Hustle Co is located at 52 Craig Rd, Singapore 089690, p. +65 9826 3382. Open Tue-Sun 9am – 12am. Closed Mon.