If one of your resolutions is to be a wiser spender, these are the places you should check out on for your next dinner out. They’ve got fine dining finesse without the extra moolah.
Clover Garden
This casual but pretty restaurant is located in the new Hotel Clover on Jalan Sultan. The place is all about European classics with an Asian touch with dishes like pan-fried crab cakes with peanut sauce and braised lamb shank with truffle mash and fritters. For the price you pay (nothing is more that $22), everything is well-plated and generous.
The Find
This bistro-style restaurant has digs in the up-and-coming Rochester Mall neighborhood. The menu is loaded with unfussy, back-to-basics food: hearty risottos with lobster and classic tomato-based pastas. Set lunches go for $20-25 depending on whether you choose a two- or three-course meal. The airy space is great for a chill weekend afternoon or evening drinks as the bar space is pretty large, as well.
Joie
This one’s for the health-conscious as everything’s meatless here. Perched on Orchard Central’s intimate rooftop space, this European-leaning restaurant does vegetarian dishes like mushroom gratin with mozzarella and potato puree and the hearty trio of butternut pumpkin risotto, mushroom puff pastry and fried mozzarella balls. A six-course lunch only sets you back $38 while a seven-course dinner is $68.
May May
The new kid on the Tras Street block, this is fusion restaurant looks pretty interesting. Dishes here are infused with Asian touches so expect twists, from fried cauliflower with chat masala ($14) to lobster rice noodles ($28) with lemongrass, kaffir lime and coconut broth. Plus, it’s also a good pit stop for a couple of tipples like soju plum (from $10).
Saveur Art
Saveur’s fine dining offshoot offers prettily-plated dishes for a bargain. Even though the French restaurant is more expensive than the original, super-affordable sister, you do get your money’s worth. A four-course meal sets you back $52 and has imaginative dishes like egg confit with truffle and Asian-spiced braised short ribs with jalapeno-rosemary crumbs. Plus, wines start at $10 per glass.
The Wejs
We’re particularly intrigued with this find. The charming black-and-white in Rochester dishes out Mediterranean-Tunisian cuisine, but it’s not as scary as you think. There are tons of mouthwatering spiced dishes like Tunisian cous cous with chicken, veggies, tomatoes and potato strips and chackchouka made with tomatoes and eggs. Bring on the harissa, we say.
