Angela May Food Chapters
Angela May Food Chapters
This eponymously-named restaurant by travel and food TV host Angela May offers a precious menu of Asian-inspired nibbles and mains. It’s not the first place to bill itself as a vegetable-forward establishment, but for the slightly more health conscious, her take on fusion local food is a reliable choice. Dishes like Caramelized Cauliflower Steak ($22), Chilled Coconut Chia Pudding with Fresh Berries and Gula Melaka ($18), and Shaved Asparagus & Arugula Mint Salad ($24) are compelling vegetarian options.
Barrio by Mex Out
Barrio by Mex Out
The team behind Mex Out at Far East Square have branched out to a more accessible location at 313@Somerset. While Mex Out has a takeaway, customizable concept, Barrio is where you go for drinks after work. Formerly occupied by Smoothie King, the 70-seater is an open-concept space with customary trendy finishes—an open kitchen, neon signs, colorful metal chairs, fairy lights and drinks served out of mason jars. It’s a tight squeeze, so arrive early to snag a seat. The food is hearty and messy, and the menu keeps to typical Mexican crowd pleasers: quesidillas, taco, burgers and generous rice bowls. Skip the usual steak choices, and go for the pulled pork tacos (from $12.90 for 2 pcs), which comes with a dollop of mango chunks, the buttermilk fried chicken burger ($14.90), deep fried in cold beer batter and served in a fluffy brioche bun, and the vegetable bowl ($13.20), which has fragrant basmati rice, guacamole and sour cream.
Bochinche
Beloved Argentinian restaurant Bochinche is moving from Martin Road to the oh so hip Amoy Street, joining neighbors like Burger Joint and Employee’s Only. Details are still under wraps and we heard that the new menu will have a more curated selection of dishes. The restaurant officially reopens on Jun 21, so watch this space for updates.
Camp Kilo Charcoal Club
Camp Kilo Charcoal Club
Kilo’s Kampong Bugis lounge may be no more, but in its place is a hot new barbecue joint. Camp Kilo is all about chilled out, dude-bro vibes—imagine kicking back with an ice cold beer, and getting down and dirty with juicy chunks of roasts slapped on paper-lined trays, all in the great outdoors (or rooftop). For now, choices are slim but pretty much a no-brainer, with roast chicken ($10 half, $18 whole), roasted pig ($12/100g), crispy pork belly ($10/100g), pork ribs ($15/half rack, $30/full rack) and a variety of breads and carb-loaded sides. Desserts, all of which are $8 nett, range from donuts with mint cream and gula melaka sauce to S’mores cheesecake with nutella. Kilo’s nights of debauchery are a thing of the past, but this carnal hangout more than makes up for it. Just note that it’s BYOB until they get their liquor licence.
Chow Fun
Chow Fun
It’s hard to miss this tapas-style restaurant at The Grandstand. Chow Fun sticks out with a blazing red ceremonial curtain draped across the entrance, while the neo-chinoiserie space is decked out in vintage Chinese posters and mini fortune cats. Inspired by Cantonese fried noodles found at Chinese restaurants in the US, chef-owner Alicia Lin puts out a menu of 18 Asian and Western noodle small plates comprising vermicelli, udon, rice noodles and pasta. Although dishes like the Kung Fu Dashi Broth ($2.90), Pineapple Fried Noodle ($2.90) and Bak Kut Teh ($2.90) are highlights, the show runners are actually the starters. Try the Potato, Bonito and Cheese Pancake ($5.90) or Mom’s White Radish Cake ($5.90). With a promising concept, it’s a great place for a mid-day nibble, but we wish they would focus on the mod Asian theme, sans the done to death pasta items.
Ding Dong
Whenever a trendy neighborhood pops up, you can be sure to find a Spa Esprit cafe/restaurant in the heart of it. Also moving to Amoy Street on June 20 is Ding Dong, a Spa Esprit and Ryan Clift collab, and just like Bochinche, details of its revamp are unavailable as of now. However, those familiar with its concept—a kitschy retro chinoiserie space with a menu influenced by Southeast-Asian flavors, should expect nothing less than a similar trendy treatment.
Salted & Hung
You may be familiar with 5th Quarter, the dramatic and meaty restaurant located at Hotel Vagabond specializing in Australian-Italian charcuterie dishes by executive chef Drew Nocente. After closing temporarily on April 1 for a revamp, it has now unveiled its new space at Purvis Street. While it’s now known as Salted & Hung, nothing much has changed but its location, and the menu is a rehash of popular 5th Quarter plates like beef tongue, onion and wasabi, chocolate salami, and salt and pepper tripe. To celebrate its official launch, they will be throwing a street party on Jun 12 (3pm onwards), with plenty of street grub, tap beer and a pop-up bar.
Skinny’s Lounge
Skinny’s Lounge
A typical night out at a KTV joint usually involves uninspired snacks, overpriced drinks that come out of a box, and off-key yowling. Unfortunately, singing in public spaces is still very much the domain of the tone-deaf but at Skinny’s, you can take the edge off the high-octave action with a couple of “Fast and Cheap” cocktails. This new karaoke bar by former Cufflink Club and Vasco bartender Nick Haas serves affordable and decent concoctions, like the Americano and tequila-based Paloma (both $15) or the Daiquiri No. 1 and caipiroska (both $18). For an extra $3, you can get your classics made with premium spirits too. Snacks are basic, including stuff like Ruffles with sour cream and onion dip and pretzel rolls with cheese dip.
