New Restaurants

Fico  
One of the most exciting new restaurant openings in Singapore this year, Fico is a new Italian restaurant located in East Coast Park helmed by Chef-partner Mirko Febbrile (previously the head chef of One Michelin Star Braci) in partnership with The Lo & Behold Group. You get breezy outdoor seats and a beautiful indoor dining space which spots white and earthy colour tones. Chef Mirko hails from Puglia, Italy, and the menu at Fico is seasonal and designed with sharing dishes in mind – think terrines, handmade pastas and their signature Focaccina. Ingredients such as grains, cheese, olive oil and seafood are sourced directly from Puglia, a first in Singapore. [Read more here…]

Address: 1300 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 468964 

Tinto 
Located in Dempsey Hill, the newest kid on the block is Tinto, a new Spanish restaurant which took over the space of the now-defunct Moonbow. Taking its name and inspiration from the Spanish name for red wine, vino tinto, Tinto restaurant is helmed by husband-and-wife chefs Daniel and Tamara Chávez who are also behind the nearby Canchita Peruvian Cuisine. Expect the likes of tapas, paellas, fideuas, Spanish wines, and more on the menu which is currently the same for lunch and dinner. From Andalucia to Catalonia, Seville to Valencia, the menu traverses Spain in search of its many regional flavours. Definitely one restaurant to check out. [Read more here…]

Address: Block 10 Dempsey Road, #01-21, Singapore 247700  

Joo Chiat Oyster House  
This new concept is a one-stop place for oysters, cocktails, and food from the folks behind Kings Cart Coffee. The café space turns into a “red light district” come evening with highlights being the fresh plump oysters imported weekly from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Choose from Naked, Flavored, or Baked oysters along with a selection of Eastern-Western tapas such as Blur Like Sotong Fritters of fried calamari served with housemade lemon mayo sauce or Har Cheong Gai Chicken Loli. Big bites options include the likes of Portobello Aglio Olio. Drinks include cocktails with cheeky names like East Coast Plan, Aunty Rosalyn and the Solero, created as a rum-based drinkable version of the old school Solero lime-flavoured vanilla ice cream. [Read more here…]

Address: 328 Joo Chiat Road, #01-05, Singapore 427585

Gyu San Charcoal Bar 
The newest concept from Gyu San in Tanjong Pagar, Gyu San Charcoal Bar located at Forum The Shopping Mall focuses on A5 Wagyu Japanese Hamburg grilled over binchotan. The set is priced at a competitive S$23.80++ which includes two 90gram wagyu patties served to customers on a personal mini grill to keep the patties warm. Side dishes include an assortment of grilled vegetables and eight different types of sauces ranging from traditional yuzu kosho to local Singaporean sambal to go along with the grilled beef patty and vegetables.  [Read more here…]

Address: 583 Orchard Road, #01-28 Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884 

La Savoir
Located at Scotts Square in Orchard Road, I checked out La Savoir, a new French-local contemporary café restaurant which took over the space of The Coffee Academics on level two of the mall. The menu showcases the crossover of French and local cuisine, with signatures like the signature Butter Board, Angus Beef Tartare and Tomato-Burrata Soup served on Hermès tableware. [Read more here…]

Address: #02-01 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209   

Elijah Pies
The first physical cafe concept of Elijah Pies opened in Tanjong Pagar Plaza. The established online pie brand started back in 2014 where you can expect a cosy setting with predominantly cream-white cushion seats. The dessert pies are the signature staple at Elijah Pies with a range of flavours from Nutella and Wild Berry Lavender to Pandan Coconut where prices start from S$7.70 per slice. The main difference between the online shop and the Tanjong Pagar outlet is that only whole pies are available online, whereas you get to enjoy it by slice in the new physical space. [Read more here…]

Address: 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-102, Singapore 081007

Buzzing Restaurants

Skai At Swissôtel The Stamford Introduces New Menu Along With New Executive Chef Seumas Smith
The new menu at Skai is series of snacks, appetisers, mains, prime cuts of beef and seafood, all with Japanese influences. Expect dishes to be infused with smoky or charred flavours, a result of the new binchotan grills, the favoured Josper and a charcoal wok. I highly recommend the Shima Aji for a start, a fusion of mackerel and hamachi, where the fish undergoes an in-house dry-ageing process for a few days before being cured and lightly torched on the binchotan grill. Another highlight of my meal is the good variety of beef on Skai’s menu, with a special focus on Australian and Japanese cuts. [Read more here…]

Address: Level 70, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore 178882 

The St. Regis Singapore Presents A Pop-Up Restaurant Concept: The Astor Grill 
Available from I June to 31 August 2023 for a la carte lunch and dinner at the elegant space of Brasserie Les Saveurs, this pop-up restaurant is inspired by the heritage of St. Regis, and will showcase cuts from America and Australia – US Harris Ranch Angus Prime, USDA certified and one of the longest standing premium Angus brands in the USA; Aberdeen Pure Black from Australia, where the cattle are on a 200 days barley-fed diet; as well as Japanese Satsuma Gyu Presentation. The portions cater to sharing or individual plating with signature sharing cuts like the 1.4kg Australian Grass Fed Angus Tomahawk presented on a steak trolley and carved tableside. Also on the menu are starters like Tiger Prawns ‘A la Plancha’ with Avocado, Peach and Beef Heart Tomatoes; a Traditional Beef Tartare as well as non-steak main courses including Grilled Boston Lobster; Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb; and the Grilled Whole Turbot for sharing. 

Address: 29 Tanglin Road, Lobby Level, The St. Regis Singapore, Singapore 247911

Wagatomo Introduces New Head Chef Masashi Asai And New Grill-Focused Menu 
New to the menu also is a range of new creative bites, such as the Ebi Senbei, a Japanese taco made with crispy Sakura Ebi crackers and blue swimmer crab, and the Zucchini Flower Salad, which features baby zucchinis harvested with the blossom intact, dressed with a soy-infused vinaigrette, shredded Spanish Manchego cheese, and a little bit of yuzu togarashi. The Kaisen Donabe, a seafood-based version topped with Hamachi, Ebi, Hotate and Uni, is delicious.  

Address: 5 Wallich Street, #01-12, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883 

KI NO BI Omakase Series: Summer 2023 Singapore 
In partnership with some of Singapore’s leading Japanese dining partners such as Kappou, Ichigo Ichie, Omakase @ Stevens, Takayama, Sushi Hare and Hazuki, and official caviar partner 8 Gems, the KI NO BI Omakase Series features six (6) thoughtfully created exclusive omakase menus, each inspired by the six (6) aroma elements that build the unique character of KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin. The Japanese dining partners will present elements of KI NO BI and the season’s harvest. Priced from $333++ per person, and available for a limited period from 1 to 30 June 2023, seat reservations are recommended to be placed directly at the restaurant of your choice. 

Ranted by The Ranter