New Restaurants, Cafes And Bars In Singapore: January 2017

Appearing in farmer's markets over the last four years, this micro bakery has now settled in a small brick-and-mortar bakeshop in Serene Centre, much to the delight of Burpplers. Located next to Sugarhaus, this humble bakery cranks out whole loaves of sourdough, toasts, sandwiches and excellent coffee — perfect for slow mornings. From the toast menu, go for the Nut Butter, Honey and Sea Salt ($3.50) that the Burpple community really loves, as well as the Sage Cream Cheese and Berry Compote ($4). All toast toppings are made in house! From their selection of hot pressed sandwiches, try the comforting Kimchee + Cheddar ($7) for a warm, simple lunch. Wash it down with a Hand Brew ($5) or Cold Brew ($5.50). Before leaving, select a loaf of excellent sourdough to bring home! Note that favours differ daily (check their Facebook page). Pro tip: For better storage, they don't slice the loaf for you and recommend you to slice only as needed. No gluten-free options available.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burppler Jonathan Wong

Opened by the team behind FATCAT Ice Cream Bar in Bedok, Stray serves up modern Chinese food, although we wouldn't have guessed based on their hipster, minimalist setting. They currently serve a compact soft launch menu, with lunchtime eats being the most value-for-money as dishes each come with a complimentary tea or coffee. Try the inspired Salmon Yu-Sheng Bowl ($18 for lunch special, a la carte $20), topped with plump cuts of marinated salmon, golden crackers, aromatic fried ginger and the obligatory wobbly onsen egg. The Black Pepper Wagyu Bowl ($20 for lunch special, a la carte $22) is great for a meatier option. You'll also find their signature dessert Spheres ($12 for a set of three), wobbly, pop-in-the-mouth treats served bite-sized on spoons. When the full menu launches (some time in February, according to the chatty servers), expect more daring Chinese-inspired creations like truffle paper-wrapped chicken.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Leigh Khoo

Fruce, derived from the words "fruits" and "fusion", is a colourful grab-and-go concept in the basement of Wisma Atria that serves delicious concoctions of desserts and juices combined. There are four categories of drinks (Coconuts, Fusion, Refresh and Top it Up) that are available in two sizes, medium or large. Go for the crowd favourite Avocado Coconut (from $4) — a creamy blend of avocado and smooth Thai coconut extract that comes with yummy coconut bits. For the more adventurous drinkers, try the Pumpkin Kuromitsu (from $3.80). Fresh pumpkin flesh is roasted, blended to a smooth paste before topping it with Kuromitsu foam made from Japanese brown sugar. It's bright orange hue may raise some eyebrows, but one sip and you'll be sold like us! Pro tip: The drinks are good on its own, but if you prefer having it less sweet, there's an option to do so.
Avg Price: $5 per person
Photo by Burppler Diana Tan

Housed in an 80-year-old British Colonial house, this cafe on the grounds of Seletar Aerospace Park is the place to kick back and relax with family. There's plenty of room for kids to run around, especially with the newly built aerospace themed playground. Most of the ingredients used in this farm-to-table cafe are sourced from local and Malaysian farms, with garnishes freshly plucked from the edible garden nearby. Expect hearty sandwiches like the Pork and Krauts ($15) — cured, smoked and slow-cooked pulled pork collar — and The Morocano ($18). The latter features tender three-day braised beef brisket, eggplant stew and sauteed pak choi, slathered with hummus and sesame. Kids will love to snack on the Super Thin Curly Fries (from $11) that come with a side of savoury seaweed mayonnaise. Don't leave without having the freshly baked Pea Flower Coconut Muffin ($6.50) that is infused with natural pea flower extract to give it its bright blue hue, and a nice gula Melaka coconut filling in the centre.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Cassie Ong

This atmospheric, fauna-inspired space has moved from its Haji Lane digs to Telok Ayer, right beside Sarnies. Those working nearby could come by for lunch savouries like beef goulash and grain bowls (avg price $15), but we think that its tropical garden-like setting makes it more of an oasis for a nature-themed tea break. We do wish they would fill the place with even more blooms though! Desserts wise, they have a tempting display of gorgeous bakes that will have you swooning. We love the Raspberry Pistachio Cake ($8), which is moist and boasts lovely hints of rose. A slice of it pairs very well with a cup of coffee (from $4.20 for an espresso), brewed from beans by Highlander Coffee.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Muriel A.

Here are two reasons why we'd re-visit this place: the stellar cooking and the unique setting. The restaurant is decked up to resemble olden China, complete with Chinese lanterns, old-school wooden benches and costumed servers. There's plenty to enjoy food-wise too. Try the Jinling Roast Duck (from $16.80/small), which sports tender meat and a tasty herbal sauce. Pair that with the Steamed Glutinous Rice with Pork ($13.80), which Burppler Dex Neo declares to be his favourite dish here. The glutinous rice is steamed with the pork for three hours, resulting in a soft, pillowy parcel fused and flavoured with the pork fat. Take Dex's advice and ask for their chilli oil mix, which is not set out on the table. For something sweet, end with the Honey-Glazed Stuffed Lotus Root ($12.80), which comes stuffed with glutinous rice and slicked in pear-honey syrup.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

Set in the lush surroundings of Selatar Aerospace Park, Wheeler's Estate (by the same guys behind Wheeler's Yard) is far out enough to make a visit feel like an adventure — one that would reward you with good food! Prices are on the high side, but its colonial bulding setting makes it quite romantic, so save this for special date nights or celebrations. If you're in a group, order the fun Pull Apart Breads ($12) to share — we heard the one with cheese and bacon is really good! The portion is generous, so save the tummy space for their mains if it's just the two of you. Try the 300g Ribeye ($45 with one side), not only for its smoky, perfectly grilled meat, but also the delicious side of roasted pumpkin with honey yoghurt. Another favourite is the elegant Flounder ($45), which Burpple Tastemaker Justin Teo describes to be moist, tender and covered in delicious lemony almond crumbs.
Avg Price: $80 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Justin Teo

Ramen lovers, you'll want to add this to your rotation. Located in the basement of Marina Bay Sands, Ippudo's first quick service outlet, Kuro-Obi, allows you to have your ramen to go. This means no service charge added to the bill, prices are kept under $12, and you can have piping hot ramen by the Singapore River while overlooking the city skyline in the night. It's also great as a quick solo lunch option — orders are made on the spot, and everything is done in just under six minutes. Unlike the famed pork broth used in Ippudo, Kuro-Obi's specialty is their tori-paitan, a silky rich chicken broth that goes perfectly with their tender chicken thigh chashu. There are four flavours available, Kuro-Obi (original), Aka-Obi (spicy shrimp), Cha-Obi (veggie shoyu) and Shiro-Obi (classic). The Aka-Obi ($10) that is loaded with a scoop of spicy shrimps (hae bi hiam) and a drizzle of chili oil gives the ramen just the right amount of kick. Note that not all flavours come with the chicken chashu or Ippudo's famed umami egg, so be sure to have them as add-ons!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

Located just a stone's throw away from Botanic Garden MRT Station is The Garage, a two storey colonial house that was formerly a stable for cars. It is now home to two concepts, Bee's Knees and Botanico. By day, Bee's Knees serves hearty meals, cakes and coffee on the first floor, great for chilling out on a weekend with the kids and pets. While the mains at Bee's Knees didn't impress, we recommend ordering the beautiful, floral-themed pastries like the Honey Lemon Rosemary Tart ($7) and the Banoffee Tart ($7) for tea break instead. Come nighttime, the second floor concept, Botanico, dishes out well-executed, beautifully plated dishes in an elegant space, great for a date night. If there's one item on the menu that you must order, let it be the Chargrilled Iberico Pork Belly ($26). The wickedly good dish that Burppler Shawn Loh describes as a "hot, steaming and incredibly soft, moist and fatty porcine kiss" is guaranteed to satisfy all meat lovers. Pro tip: On a cool night, opt to sit outdoors and take in all of the surrounding lush greenery.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

As the Everton Park vicinity continues to thrive with plenty of new openings, Marble Bistro's wallet-friendly small plate dining and stunningly-lit white, marbled space has captured the hearts of our Burpple community. The inviting space, helmed by Culinary Institute of America (CIA) chefs, makes this a great dinner spot with family and friends alike. Start off the meal with the Mushroom Macchiato ($6.50), a trio of portobello, button and shiitake mushroom essence that takes six hours to prepare. Served in a clear cup, the soup is made to look like a "macchiato" — dark brew mushroom essence to mimic coffee, and truffle foam as the milk froth. For mains, follow Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo's lead and order the Beef Steak ($16), a juicy, six-hour sous vide flank cut served with seasonal greens, baked mushroom and cheese. End off with a Double Chocolate Brownie ($7) that comes with a generous scoop of fig and honey ice cream.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Acamas Teo

This humble stall in the basement of Golden Mile Food Centre dishes out authentic Peranakan food at very affordable prices. Chef-owner Charlie is no stranger to the food scene, having set up his previous restaurant along East Coast Road eight years ago. For maximum satisfaction, bring a small group of friends so you can try more dishes. We especially love the Ayam Buah Keluak ($7) — Charlie's rendition sees a generous amount of buah keluak flesh scraped out from its nut, mixed with minced pork before being stuffed back into the shell. It's also used in the gravy, which helps to make it thicker and richer. Share the tender Beef Rendang ($7), Chap Chye ($2) and the Lok Kai Yik ($20), a Cantonese dish of stewed chicken wings, pork innards and taupok that we hardly see on menus nowadays. Its distinct pink yummy broth comes from long hours of stewing the dish with fermented red yam. So comforting!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Jeremy Tan

Previously known as Sebastian's Fusion Cuisine, this humble coffeeshop stall has moved into its new home just a few steps away. It's a reasonably-priced Outram Park standby, and easily our favourite choice in the area for neighbourhood pastas. Located under Block 4 in Everton Park and neighbours to Nylon Coffee Roasters, the Western diner has rebranded to At the Myo and has down-sized its menu, retaining only its best-selling dishes. The offerings are concise and simple — pastas, curry rice and a few moreish sides. As seating is limited, come with a small party, and plan to eat the Spicy Dried Shrimps "HBH" Linguine with Bacon ($12). It's tossed with a handful of hae bi hiam that adds just the right amount of spice to your pasta. Otherwise, you won't go wrong with the classic Bacon Carbonara ($10). Add $1 to complete your meal with a drink — opt for the well-brewed Thai Milk Tea!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Jean Kao