When it comes to restaurants, the spotlight’s usually on dinner. But the truth is, lunch is the time to snag yourself a good meal, at a fraction of what you’d have to shell out in the evening. So whether you’re catching up with your tai tai friends, looking to seal an important business deal or just keen to check out a new spot without waiting in line, you’ll want to check out these top 13 restaurants, with options for different budgets. After all, if you’re not already taking advantage of the lunch sets offered by many fine dining establishments, you’ve been seriously missing out.
Under $40
The damage: $39 for three courses, plus an espresso-sized cup of soup.
The deal: There’s stiff competition in foodie enclave Chinatown, but Bistro Soori holds its own, thanks no doubt to able chef Ben McBride’s spot-on culinary sensibility. This 30-seater’s got great ambiance (try scoring a seat at the counter
or a table under the skylight if you’re after more privacy) and just-attentive-enough-withouthovering waitstaff. Boasting more options than most for starters and mains (seven and eight respectively), items like roasted pumpkin with brown butter, arugula and balsamic gelée, and lobster with truffle vinaigrette should do you nicely. Dessert fans should end with the light-as-air pandan-scented soufflé with strawberries.
The damage: $21.90 for two courses and $31.90 for a three-course meal, both include coffee or tea.
The deal: Pop by this charming, relaxed bistro at Robertson Quay for some rustic French fare which updates its lunch offerings at least every couple of months courtesy of head chef Claudio Sandri. Starters include fresh goat cheese in a crisp tart with sundried tomatoes or grilled white asparagus with poached egg and mains such as chicken breast with thyme jus or poached fish of the day, with three options for most courses. The best bit? It’s not overly busy in the daytime, so it affords you a bit of an escape from the madness of work.
The damage: $38 for three courses.
The deal: Smack dab in the CBD is this chic modern European establishment that has garnered quite a following with PMEBs, particularly around mid-day. It’s also the ideal setting for those oh-so-serious business meetings, thanks to the classy yet minimal décor and commendable service. Food-wise, chef de cuisine Mark Richards presents three to four choices for each course, showcasing European flavors with some Asian ingredients while employing progressive techniques. Think along the lines of Blackmore brisket with yukon-truffle gnocchi with crustacean emulsion ($7 supplement) and salmon gravlax with black squid crackling—new offerings rolled out just last month. If you’re looking to make an impression without breaking the bank, this one’s a real winner.
The damage: $35 for two courses and $45 for three, includes coffee or tea.
The deal: Don’t let the fact that it’s at Sentosa deter you from sampling
Australian celebrity chef Scott Webster’s Osia (Resorts World Sentosa really isn’t that far away). With a menu inspired by fresh Aussie produce and four to five choices for appetizers and mains including sea bass with preserved lemons and Webster’s signature polenta-crusted foie gras with beet and rhubarb ($10 supplement), the stylishly designed interior and conscientious waitstaff ensure a great dining experience. Chocoholics should opt for the incredibly rich Valrhona hot chocolate soup with sesame crisp and black pepper ice cream.
Osia
The damage: $38 for three courses.
The deal: Alice herself would approve of this beautiful space housed in a restored Ebenezer chapel with stained glass windows, high ceiling and a most appealing old world vibe. It attracts a mixed crowd during lunch—cool, creatives, mid- to-upper-level management types and well-coiffed tai tais and tai tai wannabes—all indulging in some reliable European fare. With four to six options for each course, you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy including starters like chicken and duck liver parfait with port wine jelly and toasted brioche soldiers ($4 supplement) and their signature truffle mac and cheese. Desserts are worth a go, too.
The White Rabbit
$40-100
The damage: From $45 for five courses and up to $72 for six.
The deal: This fine dining establishment isn’t just a pretty face. Aside from nice surrounds and welltrained staff, the grub’s also consistently good. Set lunch offerings include nourishing doubled-boiled soups and oven-baked lobster in spicy XO-cheese sauce. Strapped for time? Order the Lily set ($45), which they guarantee will be served in 45 minutes flat.
dim sum at Cherry Garden
The damage: $58 for three courses, or spring for five courses at $88. Both include coffee or tea.
The deal: One of our go-to spots when we truly want to knock someone’s socks off. Yes, the view’s gorgeous, the interior well-designed and the service spot-on, but
what keeps us coming back time after time is chef de cuisine Julien Royer’s exquisite creations. All things considered, lunch prices are very reasonable and start from just $52 for a three-course meal that includes coffee or tea, with three choices for each course. Whet your appetite with starters such as a signature smoked organic egg with Jerusalem artichokes and scrumptious mains like Kurobuta pork in four preparations.
set lunch at JAAN
The damage: From $45 for Encounters three courses ($13 supplement for cheese course) and up to $138 for the Wander & Savor seven-course set.
The deal: A centrally located fine dining debut that’s fronted by Laurent Peugeot of one-Michelin-starred Le Charlemagne in Burgundy. Housed in a well-dressed space, it’s a suitable spot whether you’re meeting business contacts or simply want to indulge in multiple courses of nouvelle cuisine. Peugeot masterfully shows off his signature French-Japanese style with items that change quarterly. The Encounters menu offers two choices for each course with creations such as rolled salmon with nori (seaweed) and Burgundy-style cheesecake on crispy rice.
The damage: The most basic lunch set’s $60, while the most decadent, omakase, is a cool $250 (that’s still much less than nighttime prices which run to $450).
The deal: Despite being less than six months old, the first outpost of one-Michelin-starred Ginza Sushi Ichi has been filled to the brim every lunch and dinner mostly by Japanese folks, despite the hefty price tags. The setup’s very Zen with pale wood finishing and unadorned walls in an intimate space that sits only 24 at two sushi counters and a private room. Expect the most succulent seafood from the famous Tsukiji fish market on expertly-crafted nigirizushi, accompanied by fresh hand-grated wasabi from Shizuoka. The food is truly spectacular and it’s quite an experience to watch the chefs at work, although don’t expect it to be quick.
Sushi Ichi
The damage: The lunch tasting menu will set you back $58 for five courses.
The deal: Talk about a serious destination dining spot. Perched atop Marina Bay Sands, Ku Dé Ta has one hell of a view, and the food’s not half bad, either. You’ll find a bit of a motley crew made up of tourists and execs at this much buzzed about entirely open air establishment with modern Asian cuisine. Dishes such as spicy bossam salad with toasted sesame and red onion ponzu, and grilled yellowfin tuna steak make an appearance.
Ku De Ta
Over $100
The damage: The three-course Déjeuner Club goes for $100 (no choices) while four courses will set you back $150.
The deal: We don’t need to tell you about culinary heavyweight Guy Savoy and his elegant namesake establishment. What we will tell you about is the recently introduced lunch service and awesome sets available. Be sure to opt for the four-course TGV set, with two options for each course, featuring highlights such as Savoy’s signature artichoke and black truffle soup. Although the price tags are hefty, a meal here is truly worth every cent. Expect nothing less than expertly-executed French fare, an inviting ambiance and impeccable service which make it an excellent spot for business meetings, too.
oysters at Guy Savoy
Super Luxury: PDR
This new concept from the Les Amis Group stands for Personal Dining Room, but it could just as easily spell Pretty Damn Refined. Sure, you can book a private room at plenty of fancy venues—but the chance to order from three different restaurant menus is rather harder to come by.
The damage: $500 minimum for a group of six, or from $1000 for a group of 12. And that’s just for lunch.
The deal: Bespoke private dining within Les Amis itself that’s built for closing serious multi-million dollar deals. Treat yourself to a fine, customized meal in a private room by mixing and matching dishes from their various outlets such as Japanese establishment Aoki, French restaurant Les Amis and even Annam Vietnamese Restaurant. As you’d expect, service is outstanding.
#02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road., 6733-2225, www.lesamis.com.sg.
