PUBLISHED September 25th, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm
Hola, foodies! It’s that time of the month again, and we have everything from gastro-botanica to seafood boils, as well as cool new kids on the Hong Kong Street and Duxton Hill block. Oh, and if you’re the kind to thumb your nose at mall restaurants, you might be in for a surprise ’cause half of the new openings this edition are restaurants in shopping centres (that aren’t chains…yet). So go forth and conquer:
FOC
A collaboration between F&B powerhouses Michelin-starred Chef Nandu Jubany, ex-Catalunya mixologist Dario Knox, and Chef Jordi Noguera formerly of FoodBar Dada, FOC is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated openings of the year. In addition to traditional Spanish dishes like Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish style garlic prawns) and Arroz Negro con Marisco (black seafood paella), expect a small plates menu with Catalan and Mediterranean influences. We also can’t wait to try Dario’s own solera-aged cocktails!
FOC is located at 40 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059679. Open Mon-Wed 6-11.45pm, Thu-Sat 12-2.30pm, 6-11.45pm.
JBM Coffee & Dining
While JBM takes their coffee seriously (since their parent company, JBM Coffeeworks, roasts and distributes coffee beans), we rather enjoyed the food at this still-hidden gem in Raffles Place. Most of the somewhat posh French-Italian inspired menu sport playful names like The Green Knight ($8), a light but wholesome zucchini soup with seaweed and croutons, and Lil’ Froggy ($24), delicious pan seared frog legs accompanied with a mini cocotte of mushroom-filled ravioli. JBM is packed to the rafters during weekday lunch hours by CBD-ites, but really, this place makes for a great after-work or weekend gatherings too.
JBM Coffee & Dining is located at #03-23 One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616. Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-9.30pm.
Corner House
We were a little heartbroken when Les Amis Group’s Au Jardin moved out of Botanic Gardens after 16 years of French fine-dining, but we definitely perked up when we heard Chef Jason Tan (who spent 4 years at Sky on 57 at MBS) was moving in. We’re not sure what Gastro-Botanica means exactly, but it definitely nods to its home in our luscious gardens with ingredients like edible flowers, mushrooms, leaves and roots featured heavily on the menu. Prices start at $38++ for a 3-course lunch to $248++ for a 9-course degustation dinner menu.
Corner House is located at 1 Cluny Road, E J H Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens (Nassim Gate), Singapore 259569. Open Tue-Sat 12-3pm, 6.30-11pm, Sun 11.30am-3pm, 6.30pm-11pm.
Noodle Place
Owned by Prima, which operates Prima Flour Mills, Noodle Place is actually a 30-year old establishment – we kid you not. Recently reopened at orchardgateway (they were previously at Centrepoint), this is now our go-to place for affordable and authentic Hong Kong cuisine though portions are on the small side. Noodle Place’s Shrimp Wanton Noodle ($8) is one of the best in Singapore – we’re convinced it’s the handmade noodles, the bits of dried fish enveloped in the succulent shrimp dumplings, and the fact that Chef Chui used to work at the famous Mak’s Noodle in Hong Kong. Also try the Shredded Chili Pork Noodle ($9) and their Roast Duck ($15).
Noodle Place is located at #01-17 Orchard Gateway, 227 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858. Open Monday-Sunday 10am-10pm.
Super Loco
Foodies into Mexican would probably know that Duxton-resident Lucha Loco has made a (smart) move into the Robertson Quay neighbourhood with Super Loco. If we had to sum it up in three words? Tacos and ceviches. The taco de pescado (grilled snapper, $11) and taco de carne asada (grilled skirt steak, $11) were clear winners for us taco-heads, as was the wonderfully balanced ceviche de pulpo (octopus with smoked paprika and squid ink, $20). For more details, see our full review here.
Super Loco is located at #01-13 The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238252. Open Wed-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am.
SET
With a price tag of $28.80++ for lunch and $38.80++ – a five and six-course affair respectively, SET is one head-turner of a mall restaurant. Set up by the same people behind the now-defunct Tao’s Restaurant, the East-meets-West dining philosophy is not new, but executed rather well in the tender Baby Back Ribs (braised, baked then glazed with Chinese barbecue sauce) and Huai-shan Carpaccio, thinly-sliced Chinese yam with peach and drizzled with orange peel sauce. See our full review here for more details.
SET is located at #02-01, PoMo, 1 Selegie Road, Singapore 188306. Open Mon-Sun: 11.30am-10pm.
The Daily Cut
Touting themselves as the carnivore’s answer to the (usually sad) salad bowl, The Daily Cut is probably the most expensive – but probably also most satisfying – bowl of salad you’ll have in the CBD. Opened by muscleman Jonathan Yang, who’s also behind Keong Saik Road’s burrito heaven, Muchachos, this joint provides for the diet-watching and eat-clean crowd. All salad dressings are made in house and protein (except the roasted turkey breast) is cooked a la minute. Prices range from $12-$20 depending on your choice of and quantity of meat.
The Daily Cut is located at #B1-31 One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616. Open Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 6-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm.
COMNAM Broken Rice
The folks at Les Amis Group have introduced broken rice, a South Vietnamese staple, as the star of their new venture after the success of the trendsetting Nam Nam Noodle Bar. The couscous-like textured grain is interpreted mainly in two ways, rice in broth or dry rice bowls. So if you want something Vietnamese other than pho and bánh mì, or just want to hone your Vietamese palate (but keep in mind that the menu here deviates from traditional Vietnamese recipes a fair bit), COMNAM could do it for you.
COMNAM Broken Rice is located at #B1-46 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd. Singapore 179103. Open Monday-Sunday 10am-9.30pm.
The Boiler
If you still haven’t got enough of tasty crustaceans, we have another place for you to try! A new, affordable seafood boil restaurant, The Boiler channels the industrial vibe with exposed pipes, tall ceiling, and skeletal light fittings – and aptly so, with its Tai Seng address. Rally up your best mates and dig into The Boiler’s Bombdiggity Bag ($139), a bursting sack of Dungeness crab, prawns, mussels, clams, sausages, and corn. Be prepared to mop up every bit of the sauce (we loved the Peppa’ Butter) with the complementary fried buns.
The Boiler is located at #01-06 Novelty Bizcentre, 18 Howard Road Singapore, Singapore 369585. Open Tue-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm for lunch, dinner Tue-Thu 5pm-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12am, Sun 5pm-10.30pm.
Rhubarb le Restaurant
Backed by the Salut Group, Rhubarb le just opened its doors last month and is helmed by Au Petite Salut’s old head chef Paul Longworth and ex-manager Jerome Desfonds. Dishing out contemporary French food with quirky combinations like Japanese scallops, pork belly, crisp chicken skin, cauliflower and white chocolate. Fans of rhubarb, this fruit/veggie is definitely on the dessert menu – think rhubarb sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and crumble. Lunch starts at $42 for 3 courses, and dinner degustation at $138. A la carte options are range $16-$32 for appetizers and mains at $28-$64.
Rhubarb le Restaurant is located at 3 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089589. Open Mon-Fri 12pm to 3pm, 7pm to 10.30pm, Sat: 7pm to 10.30pm.
Top Image: The Boiler