June is rife with huge happenings in the Singapore food scene. First up, we have two American fast good giants, In-N-Out and Chick-Fil-A, announcing pop-ups this month. Next, we have GastroBeats, a huge food festival that’s taking place at Bayfront, offering good food as well as live music and entertainment. Rounding it all up is our line-up of new restaurants and cafes to check out this June 2024 if you want to pat yourself on the back for making it to mid-year.
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Botanico, originally located in Botanic Gardens, has relocated to Seletar’s dining enclave, The Summerhouse! Now housed in a two-storey heritage bungalow, the restaurant offers immaculate vibes for your next special occasion meal or date night.
This Asian-inspired menu focuses on grilled dishes and innovative fusions, think Foie Gras Kaya Toast ($12++), where a foie gras kaya jam and cold butter is spread on thick toast. Other highlights include Sichuan Boiled Fish (+65++), an elevated take on Chongqing grilled fish, and the Min Jiang Kueh ($18++), a deconstructed version of the classic Chinese pancake, with peanut ice cream and a corn sponge.
Read our Botanico review.
Address: 3 Park Lane, Level 2, The Summerhouse, Singapore 798387
Opening hours: Wed-Fri 6pm to 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 8809 5840
Website
Botanico at The Summerhouse is not a halal-certified eatery.
Those on the hunt for a good Italian restaurant in Clarke Quay can check out Il Clay Supper Club, the latest opening in the district. Founded by acclaimed Italian pizzaiolo Ciro Sorrentino, the waterfront restaurant aims to deliver authentic Italian-Mediterranean cuisine to Singaporeans.
If it’s pizza you’re after, then the Regina Margherita ($32++) is one the restaurant recommends. This is the definition of simple is best—you get all the typical elements of a margherita pizza, but with premium ingredients that do the heavy lifting. The Lobster Ravioli ($58++) was another favourite, featuring ricotta and spinach ravioli dumplings dressed in a rich seafood bisque sauce.
Read our Il Clay review.
Address: 3D River Valley Road, #01-04, Singapore 179023
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 12:30pm to 2pm, 5:30pm to 12am, Fri-Sat 12:30pm to 2pm, 5:30pm to 2am
Website
Il Clay Supper Club is not a halal-certified eatery.
Here’s one for Japanese food fans: Toku Nori is a new specialty restaurant selling handrolls and small bites along with a lovely selection of sake and matcha drinks. The restaurant is within walking distance from Telok Ayer MRT Station, and it’s a great spot for lunch dates and evening hangouts.
We recommend the Engawa ($9.50++) handroll for a delicious combination of seared fluke fin, roast garlic, and shiro miso. Alternatively, the Wagyu & Uni ($16++) is a great premium option for everything yummy in one bite: you get Wagyu karubi, Hokkaido uni, and caviar in this. To substantiate your meal, pair your handrolls with their Chicken Ribs ($14++), which are essentially fried chicken ribs coated in sweet-salty yakisoba sauce. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Aburi Salmon Crispy Sushi ($16++), featuring salmon tartare, mentaiko sauce, and fresh ikura atop crisp sushi rice.
Read our Toku Nori feature.
Address: 200A Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068638
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:45am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 11:30pm
Website
Toku Nori is not a halal-certified eatery.
Chicco Pasta Bar is popular for its extensive selection of fresh Italian pasta dishes and mains, all available at affordable prices. Recently, they’ve established a new outlet away from the CBD at Holland Village, so Westies can swing by to get their fix of Italian food that won’t break the bank.
Prices here are typically mostly under $25++, with the cheapest pasta option being the Gigli ($18++), a Tuscan pasta recipe that sees Gigli tossed in a truffle ricotta cheese and sauteed field mushrooms. We suggest saving some stomach space for dessert, as the Pistachio Tiramisu ($12++) is not to be missed. Featuring a bittersweet coffee mascarpone, crushed pistachios, and espresso-soaked ladyfinger biscuits, this is both dessert and a welcome pick-me-up.
Read our Chicco Pasta Bar review.
Address: 27 Lor Mambong, Singapore 277686
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm, Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 11pm, Sat 11:30am to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 8468 8146
Website
Chicco Pasta Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
There’s more good food in Geylang now thanks to the opening of the cheekily named Ducking Good, a duck specialty restaurant that serves up their namesake protein cooked 10 different ways.
There’s your good old classic roast duck here, available in their Double Ducking Platter ($39++), but we suggest also ordering some of their more experimental options, such as the Crispy Spiced Confit Duck Leg ($13.90++), the comforting Braised Duck Claypot Porridge ($9.90++), and the nutritious Shi Quan Tonic Duck Soup ($13.90++).
Read our Ducking Good review.
Address: 487 Geylang Road, Singapore 389446
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30p
Tel: 8814 8366
Website
Ducking Good is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you like delicious, high-quality grilled meats at affordable prices, Sa Tae Bak is the place to go this June. The yakitori bar has opened their second outlet in Changi decked out in retro decor. If you’re just dining with a plus one, we recommend getting the Yaki Moriawase Set ($69+) which comes with 13 different Japanese tapas, great for pairing with alcohol.
To that, add-on some of their appetisers. We were also shocked by the absolute size of their Fresh Hyogo Oysters ($18+ for three pieces), served with a wedge of lemon. Squeeze some lemon juice and drizzle a bit of Tabasco sauce on top to add some oomph to the oyster.
Read our Sa Tae Bak review.
Address: 318 Changi Road, Singapore 419793
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 11pm
Website
Sa Tae Bak is not a halal-certified eatery.
For a relaxing time away from the office, head to Seal! The poolside cafe overlooks the CBD, and serves up fusion Western food fare such as rosti waffles, and beautiful drinks, sealed in cans. in-house. As Seal is a collaboration with the rooftop bar Skypool@139, the eatery also offers alcohol and small bites from 9:30pm onwards.
The roffles AKA rosti waffles are a signature dish here. Shredded fried potato pancakes are pressed in a waffle griddle, then used to sandwich savoury ingredients. The Beef Roffles ($12.80) are an instant crowd pleaser, featuring a house-made beef patty, scrambled eggs, melted cheese, and sour cream.
Read our Seal review.
Address: 139 Cecil Street, #16-01, YSY Building, Singapore 069539
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 6am
Website
Seal is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tipsy Hippo has collaborated with Kubo, a famous Filipino fine dining restaurant previously located at Mohamed Sultan Road, to come up with an all-new menu. This menu comes with many tiki-inspired dishes, including the Soy-Glazed Pork Belly ($20++), which features pork belly slow-cooked in a soya sauce, coconut, and vinegar marinade, served atop a dollop of garlicky mashed potatoes and fries. The meat is braised till tender, perfumed with subtle notes of coconut that cut through its melt-in-your-mouth layers of fat.
The new menu extends to desserts as well. The Roasted Banana Cannoli ($14++) was our favourite. This classic Italian dessert with a twist sees a pastry shell filled with a coconut butterscotch cream, then decorated with slices of roasted banana and coconut. Keep your eyes peeled for the Flambee Coconut And Pineapple ($14++), a seasonal dish that will be released soon. It features a coconut cake, moist from a rum soak, topped with grilled pineapple, coconut ice cream and torched meringue. Head down soon to try these exclusive dishes out. This collaboration is limited time only, though Tipsy Hippo has mentioned that there’s not a fixed end date in sight yet.
Address: 81 Clemenceau Avenue, #01-15/16/17, UE Square Shopping Mall, Singapore 239917
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 1am, Sun 12pm to 11pm
Website
Tippsy Hippo is not a halal-certified eatery.
From the owners of the former 46Mittsu comes Go Rogue! This new cafe comes with a menu starring all-new sandwiches, salads, rice bowls and side dishes. We visited the place and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch there. While they are still selling their ever-famous BEC ($14), a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, we found lots more to be excited about.
The Cow Me In ($18) sando was my favourite out of the lot. This sandwich showcases beef brisket braised to perfection, paired with a sunny-side up egg, pickled jalapeno, and some veggies. We loved the way that the richness of the braised beef was complemented by the velvety egg yolk. The juicy sourness of the pickles also acted as a palate cleanser.
Read our Go Rogue review.
Address: 20 North Canal Road, #01-01, Singapore 048832
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 3pm, 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Website
Go Rogue is not a halal-certified eatery.
Easties are lucky to have Ne Ne Neko, a minimalist Japanese-themed cafe that turns into an izakaya bar at night. It’s a breeze to spot the cafe as it’s located right next to Paya Lebar MRT Station!
For something light, their Oishi Mentai Shokupan ($14++) is the way to go. You get a thick shokupan generously topped with aburi mentaiko, furikake, and shredded seaweed. Otherwise, the Chicken Katsu Sando ($17++) makes for a filling quick bite. A mini tray comes with a side of fries as well as two pieces of bread stacked with fried chicken katsu, shredded cabbage salad, and kewpie mayo. Wash everything down with a cup of Kuro Goma Latte ($7++) made using oat milk and black sesame paste.
Read our Ne Ne Neko review.
Address: 10 Paya Lebar Road, #01-K7, PLQ Plaza, Singapore 409057
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 11am to 11pm, Wed-Fri 11am to 12am, Sat 10am to 12am, Sun 10am to 10pm
Website
Ne Ne Neko is not a halal-certified eatery.
Move over fish head steamboat, there’s a new seafood hotpot dish in town. Woodlands Claypot Prawn is a restaurant serving up their unique Claypot Prawn dish, served to you atop a charcoal stove.
Inside, you get fresh prawns bubbling away in a rich prawn broth. Prices start at $32.80++, and each portion feeds around four. The restaurant serves a selection of ingredients, from Enoki Mushrooms ($2.80) to Toman Fish Slices ($6.80), so you can turn your claypot soup into a hotpot. Recently, Woodlands Claypot Prawn opened its doors in Tampines, making the dish more accessible to Eastsiders.
Read our Woodlands Claypot Prawn review.
Address: 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01-16, Singapore 528605
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 8810 1674
Website
Woodlands Claypot Prawn is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Masses is a popular French-Asian restaurant helmed by Chef Dylan, who used to be part of the well-loved restaurant Saveuer in 2011. Recently, The Masses bid farewell to their first home at Beach Road and moved to Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski with a larger dining space.
Their signature starter Purple Cabbage ($19.90++) is a great way to familiarise yourself with the affordable French-Asian fusion offerings here. You get a wedge of braised purple cabbage topped with ikura in a slightly creamy broth starring sliced Hokkaido scallops and pickled fennel. As for mains, the Duck Confit ($21.90++) is a must-order for a delectable combination of wok hei-infused kway teow and a confit duck leg. This dish also comes with house-cured yolk and three types of mushrooms, namely enoki, shiitake, and shimeji.
Read our The Masses review.
Address: 15 Stamford Road, #01-84, Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10:30pm
Website
The Masses is not a halal-certified eatery.
Aside from all these new restaurants and cafes worth checking out, June also marks the opening of Cinnabon in Jewel Changi, which has also recently received a halal certification!
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