A steady stream of new eateries has been filling the shophouses of Upper Thomson Road over the last year, offering you more dining options this side of town. We nosy about the area and sniff out what’s worth your time.
Cotton Bleu
205 Upper Thomson Rd., 6252-5525.
Expect superb home-style French fare in a cozy ambiance at this three-month old establishment, which makes a choice spot for an intimate gathering. Their no-fuss menu of tapas ($8), starters ($12) and mains ($24) scored points with us. They’ve also got set meals for lunch and dinner. Try the scallops on rosemary skewers ($12) and rack of lamb ($24), and if you’re into vino, their wine list offers French, Australian and Chilean options.
Fatboy’s The Burger Bar
187 Upper Thomson Rd., 6252-8780.
One of the top burger joints in Singapore, it gets especially packed on weekends. We suggest American-style burgers like the Fat Basterd ($16) and Bolly Wooly ($11), handsome both in presentation and size.
La Petite Cuisine
227 Upper Thomson Rd., 6459-0553.
This is the second outlet of the popular eatery, known for unpretentious French food at affordable prices. This humble little restaurant serves up dishes such as tender dory fish with fragrant white wine sauce and butter rice for just $12.50. Other standouts include pan-fried foie gras paired with orange confit ($18) and duck confit served with French fries ($16.50)—the ultra crispy texture of the duck skin is just yum.
Old School Delights
215M Upper Thomson Rd., 6458-4518.
Truly old school, and truly delightful—stepping in makes you feel like you’ve been transported back to a simpler time with benches and chalkboards. Have a bowl of their much-raved about mee siam ($4.50) or try out their cakes, such as grandma’s butter cake ($2.80) and seriously dark chocolate cake ($4.20), while you sit back and reminisce about bygone times.
Our Bread Garden
229 Upper Thomson Rd., 6457-3318.
Hot selling local favorites like curry buns ($1.60) and otah buns ($1.80) can be found here. This bakery also prides itself on producing homemade bread with no preservatives, chemical additives or artificial essence—making this little hide-out a great place for no-fuss, healthy and very affordable afternoon tea.
Salted Caramel
246F Upper Thomson Rd., 9127-8716.
This three-week-old ice cream store may only have a few flavors on its menu but that’s good enough to keep us coming back for more. You obviously have to give their salted caramel a go but the rum and raisin is another standout, with its pleasantly sharp alcoholic taste balancing well with sweetness. It’s a mere $2.50 per scoop— talk about a steal.
Scoopz
222 Upper Thomson Rd., 6456-8698.
While their lime green décor could do with some improvement, their ice cream is a real winner. You can witness the “cooking” of the ice cream here—the mixture being whipped into shape with spatulas on an open counter. The shop owner claims this method reduces the air content in the ice cream and increases solidity, giving rise to slowermelting and chewier ice cream. We love the durian-flavored one, with a texture reminiscent of actual durian flesh. Other flavors worth a go are the avocado, rum and raisin and jackfruit. $2.90 per scoop.
Stevo’s Salads ‘n’ Such
215R Upper Thomson Rd., 6554-0636.
The rustic, laidback feel of Perth is what owner Stephen brings to you here. Their chili mussels ($10), complemented by a tasty sauce with tomato chunks, are delightfully succulent, and their extensive salad selection (from $6.50) includes unconventional options like apple coleslaw along with classics like Caesar salad. If you fancy spicy food, give their Buffalo wings heat challenge (from $8.50) a go.
