Kampong Glam and Little India are more famous for late-night eats and greasy delights, but there are a handful of amazing date spots to check out, too. Here are our favorites.
Cicheti
At this Venetian eatery, woodfire oven-baked Neapolitan pizzas are on offer, as well as tapas-style snacks known as ‘cicheti’, like fresh prawns served in a spicy, smoked herbed butter sauce and slow-cooked beef meatballs. With wrought iron furnishings and beat up oak tables, regional Italian cuisine is the name of the game at this Venetian-style wine bar.
Cocotte
An unpretentious, higher-end bistro, this French restaurant and bar combines rustic chic with industrial decor. Thankfully, the food is free of such fusion, and though the ambiance is bright and playful (with mismatched metallic chairs), the kitchen, under the care of Anthony Yeoh, takes their job seriously. It’s a communal dining concept, so bring along company to share starters like marinated chicken livers and the classic mussels in white wine, swiss chard and fennel cream. Most of all, we love the brunch trolley that comes heaping with roasted meats, quiche, salads and flambeed desserts.
Morsels
Run by Singaporean couple and chef-owners Bryan Chia and Petrina Loh, this 40-seater serves up fusion recipes like their scallop carpaccio with uni sabayon and ume-sake braised angus beef short rib. Loh graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, and Chia studied at the Culinary Institute of America, so you can be sure the chefs know their stuff.
Mustard
There’s no shortage of decent Indian eateries along Racecourse Road, and this restaurant specializing in Bengali and Punjabi cuisine is one of its brightest stars. Occupying a modest space in the shadow of its bigger and better known neighbors, eating here is a truly delightful experience. Service, while good, plays second fiddle to the mouthwatering food. You’d do well to order yourself the rich and spicy coconut prawn curry, a moreish dal tadka and kosha mansho (sauteed mutton curry). The best mid-priced Indian establishment in town.
Sushi Jin
The Les Amis Group ventures from their usual Scotts Road location for this sushi restaurant. The decor has gotten the zen treatment with pebbled flooring, slate tile walls, a light brown color scheme and a dedicated oak brown sushi counter. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but it won’t break your bank either. All ingredients are flown in three times a week from Japan’s Tsukiji market, so expect a mix of sushi, sashimi, noodles, rice and grilled dishes like the ootoro aburi sushi, wagyu asupara maki and truffle seafood chawanmushi with prawn, crab meat and scallops. It also has omakase sets that start at $80.
Symmetry
Tucked away on a little street in Kampong Glam, this eatery set up by Le Cordon Bleu grad Abby Lim is a cool space with a great brunch menu (the eggs benedict is killer and you get all-day brunch on Sundays). If you’re after a quiet spot for dinner, this is a good bet too, with dishes like duck leg risotto and Kurobuta pork cheek bourguignon.
Toots Brasserie
The Sultan Hotel’s anchor restaurant is a contemporary 40-seat French eatery helmed by chef Jason Wong, who served for seven years as head chef of Bistro Petit Salut at Holland Village. Outfitted in an airy bistro style with velvety upholstered chairs, pendant lamps and pretty mosaic-tiled floors, the spot is rather romantic. Tuck into a comforting pre-show dinner of French standards, before heading upstairs to SingJazz Club.
