Singapore – The dining scene in Singapore is dynamic and ever-changing. While we have our monthly roundups of what’s new and buzzing restaurants to check out in Singapore, here is a more targeted list of what we think are the best new restaurants openings in the past year, across different price points. 

Did we miss out on your favourite new restaurant? Drop us a comment to let us know!

Splurge

Loca Niru
Here’s an interesting location of a restaurant in Singapore. Loca Niru is a contemporary innovative fine-dining restaurant located in the 140-year-old House of Tan Yeok Nee managed by Gaia Lifestyle Group. Many might have overlooked this building (me included) which is a stone’s throw from Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. A brief history of House of Tan Yeok Nee – the last surviving “Four Grand Mansions” of Teochew architecture in Singapore which was built in 1885 and gazetted as a national monument. Today, the House has been restored as a cultural and lifestyle destination. The cuisines here is coined as Contemporary Innovative cuisine, honouring Japanese and global produce with French and Japanese techniques. There is only an 8-course Tasting Menu (S$298++ per person) for dinner service at the moment. [Read more here for our full review]  
Address: House of Tan Yeok Nee, 101 Penang Road #02-01, Singapore 238466

Firebird by Suetomi 
Firebird by Suetomi is a partnership of Singapore-based Ebb & Flow Group with celebrated Tokyoite chef and serial restaurateur Makoto Suetomi which opened at Mondrian Singapore. It is the first overseas offshoot of the famed yakitori restaurant, Makitori Shinkobe, which boasts a one-year waiting list in Japan. The concept of Firebird is an intimate tori-focused wood-fire omakase, where the spotlight is on showcasing meticulously sourced chicken and seasonal ingredients prepared with techniques ranging from grilling to roasting, sautéing and smoking. Every course is excellent, one of the best yakitori meals we have had. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 83 Neil Road, #01-04/05, Singapore 089813

Mid-range

Jeju Haenyeo
Located within The Arts House in Cityhall, Jeju Haenyeo is a very different dining experience to say the least. This is the first overseas branch of Haenyeo’s Kitchen, bringing the first-ever Jeju Haenel show and dining experience to Singapore where it has multiple branches in Jeju. Seating is quite limited which makes it an intimate ambience, where the whole dining experience lasts for about two hours. I am not going to spoil much of the surprises here, but you can expect light, sound and movement of the staff throughout the meal.It is a fixed set menu which changes seasonally to reflect fresh, local ingredients. You can expect an omakase-style seasonal seafood dishes to reflect Jeju’s rich coastal bounty. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 1 Old Parliament Lane, The Arts House Annex Building, #01-04, Singapore 179429

Drim Gold 
Another exciting new opening located at Weave, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is Drim Gold, the first Korean restaurant in this new lifestyle and dining building in RWS by the same flagship brand Drim at Mandarin Gallery. One key highlight of Drim Gold is the dramatic large-scale cave-inspired interior with refined modern Hanok (traditional Korean architecture), as evident right from its entrance. As opposed to Drim in Mandarin Gallery, the menu at Drim Gold is an expanded and more diverse version. Key highlights are the rare Hanwoo beef and Jeju black pork alongside an all-new selection of premium seafood options, Jeju abalone, and Korean eel. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 26 Sentosa Gateway, B1-204-206 Resort World Sentosa, Singapore 098138 

La Vache! 
Located at Gemmill Lane, La Vache! is the latest kid on the block located on one of the most hidden dining lanes in Singapore, Gemmill Lane. The name La Vache! is the French expression for ‘Holy Cow!’, where the theme of the French restaurant honours the enduring legacy of L’Entrecôte which is an integral part of classic French dining. A very straightforward and brainless menu where the restaurant offers a standard set menu at S$68++ per person which essentially gets you salad, steak, and unlimited fries.  Excellent and good value steak frites in the CBD. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 40 Gemmill Lane, #01-03, Singapore 069269

Budget

Smash Street 
By the team behind Scarpetta, Smash Street is a new 14-seat modern burger joint which specialises in smashed beef burgers which starts from S$14. It is a concise menu where you just have to decide to go for the Classic (two smashed beef patties, melted cheese) or House (three smashed beef patties, melted cheese), and you can choose any add on such as onion relish, bacon, pickles or jalepeno. The patties are incredibly juicy. Side dishes include the crispy Chicken Poppers with chilli crunch aioli, fries and onion rings. [Read more here for our full review]   
Address: 50 Amoy Street, Singapore 069876 

Scarpetta 
If there is one new pasta place which got me excited in the past year, it has to be Scarpetta. Located along the buzzing Amoy Street, this is a contemporary, sleek and cosy casual Italian restaurant which focuses on pasta. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Danny Ng, who was previously head chef at Bar Cicheti. The food menu is and elevated take on Italian food and is kept concise. It is split into toasts, starters, pastas and desserts. It is a sin to leave without trying the Spicy alla Vodka, baked rigatoni, tomato, chilli, fresh basil (S$21), a baked version of rigatoni with a crisp, slight charred texture on the edge of the rigatoni. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 47 Amoy Street, Singapore 069873

Udon Shin 
We all love Japanese food, don’t we? Located at basement two of Takashimaya in Ngee Ann City is Udon Shin, Tokyo’s udon specialist which made its first international debut in Singapore this November. The brand started back in 2011 in Shibuya, it is well known for its chewy and freshly handmade udon. Udon Shin operates on its “Four Fresh” philosophy – freshly kneaded, freshly cut, freshly boiled, and freshly fried. Each strand of udon is freshly made in-house daily for a signature silky-yet-springy texture, delivering a balance of koshi )firmness) and nobi (stretchiness). While the carbonara udon is the signature cult favourite, the menu also features comforting hot and cold udon dishes alongside tempura fried to order. [Read more here for our full review] 
Address: 391 Orchard Road, #B2-32 Takashimaya S.C., Singapore 238872  

Ranted by The Ranter