Mod Asian street food, a Texas-style barbecue, an all-butter grill eatery and more comforting goodness—December’s all about unpretentious grub.
Artemis Grill
Avenue Joffre
Traditional Chinese fare gets a cool, kitschy makeover inspired by 1930s Shanghai. The restaurant is a flamboyant combination of red French windows, lattice doors and turquoise eaves, a departure from your typical stuck-in-a-time-warp Chinese diner. Their menu features Shanghainese, Cantonese and Sichuan comfort fare like homemade Sichuan pickles with chicken feet ($12), the restaurant’s signature marinated chicken in spicy sauce ($15) and the Peking duck ($13). But really, go for their dim sum which starts from $5 for dumplings, $7 for pan-fried pork dumplings, $6 for the steamed crystal prawn dumplings and $5 for the steamed egg yolk bun. #02-137/139 Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, 6570-3213.
Bird Bird
You may have noticed that Bjorn Shen’s newest Thai fried chicken venture made it to our list last month, but it’s offical opening on Nov 24 warrants yet another shout-out here. Bjorn tells us that it’s actually a cross between an American friend chicken joint and a Thai street stall, and the menu includes stuff likeThai donuts with kaya dip, fermented beef sausage with ginger, peanuts and lime, Thai fried chicken with crispy garlic and caramelized chili jam, and lamb num tok with roasted rice powder. Expect wild queues. 18 Ann Siang Rd., 6635-2536.
Buttergrill
Decker Barbecue
Hidden right behind Aussie barbecue joint Boomerang, Decker Barbecue is firing up simple meats like beef brisket ($16/100g), tender-pulled pork ($9/100g), and other classic American sides like mac & cheese ($9) amd brisket beans ($9). This collab by Min Chan of Club Street Social and Texan pitmaster Elliott Decker is set in a no-frills set up complete an open kitchen, foldable chairs and picnic tables and fairy lights. There are also bottled Brooklyn Lager and Red Hook beers to wash down your chest-thumping meal. Right now, the place is only open from Tue-Sun from 6-10pm, so hit this gritty grill stop before the rest of Singapore does.
The Da Bang / Don’t Tell Mama
Shapeshifting cafe by day (The Da Bang) and bistro by night (Don’t Tell Mama) may have vastly different menus, but they’re both crowd-pleasers with simple, comfort nosh. At The Da Bang (7.30am-5pm daily), an Australian brunch and dessert spot with a dose of Korean-style dishes, try the kimchi panini ($12), bulgogi panini ($12) or their range of bingsu, if the adolescent dessert favorite isn’t too twee for your adult sensibilities. More age-appropriate is Don’t Tell Mama (5pm-12am daily), a Mexican-Korean fusion bistro (a la LA in the noughties) which has an uncomplicated menu of burritos (veggie and prawn), tacos (prawn, chicken, beef and enchilada), fries (bulgogi, kimchi and garlic prawn) and Korean-inspired quesadillas (bulbogi and kimchi and chicken). Their fun cocktails are the highlight, so order the beergarita ($22), spicy melon ($12) or lychee maragarita ($10) to feel a little more grown-up. 52 Tanjong Pagar Rd., 6221-2007.
Fat Saigon Boy
If being in Bjorn Shen’s fiery Thai fried chicken heaven isn’t enough, then hit up a steaming bowl of pho at this Australian Vietnamese diner two doors down. There are four different varieties of the silky noodle-soup to choose from (beef, chicken, mushroom and chicken and beef) or you could opt for other carb-loaded bites like vermicelli noodle buns, banh mi and tapas-style items like rice paper rolls and broiche sliders. And if you really must go carb-free, there are salads like lemongrass pork and spiced prawns ($15) and chargrilled Vietnamese satay style chicken ($14) too. 14 Ann Siang Rd., 6221-6784.
Kite
Co-owned by Quek Sue-Shan of SPRMRKT, this Southeast Asian-inspired eatery is located in a cool heritage shophouse at 53 Craig Road that’s furnished with semi-industrial interiors, ethnic-style tiles, a shiny marble bar counter and black steel chairs for a dash of swag. The food’s a newfangled East-West fusion of dishes like somen with lap cheong oil, leek flowers and prawns ($12), and Uncle William’s quail, cooked in barley risotto, mushroom duxelle and spiced jus ($16). Head chef Dannel Krishnan wields his Eurasian influences in items like the elevated version of the sugee cake ($10), with Mandarin pate de fruit, blood orange jelly, burnt orange segments, candied ginger and yoghurt. Don’t forget to order a drink at the bar—their cocktails are a fun take on local classics like The Suspicious Slinger ($25), a modernized version of the Singapore Sling with Tanqueray gin, cherry heering, yellow chartreuse, gula melaka, pineapple shrub, fresh lemon and aromatic bitters. 53 Craig Rd., 9729-7988.
Overeasy Orchard
Orchard Road’s not just about Japanese sushi chains and ramen bars. American-inspired diner and bar OverEasy has opened its second outlet at Liat Towers, formerly occupied by Wendy’s. It’s unapologetically kitsch with 60’s-style neon lights, cute pastel interiors, vinyl booths and checkered floors. Their milkshakes may bring the crowds to their yard, but don’t you dare tell your friends you’ve been there till you’ve had their beer can chicken ($58)— a glorious, juicy oven-roasted whole chicken flavored with hints of the malty beverage. #01-01 Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd.
Portico Prime
European, produce-driven restaurant Portico expands its gastronomic reach with a second outfit at Dempsey, but don’t expect a major departure from the mothership. Plates will still be cooked up with locally-sourced ingredients and the restaurant has teamed up with seafood supplier Tiberias Harvest, so expect plenty of fresh sea bass, golden snappers and barramundi. The interiors are modern, lush and fancy, with black steel fixtures, exposed brick and an open kitchen visible through a glass partition. On the food front, the pan seared Pulau Ubin barramundi ($38), locally farmed chicken done 2 ways ($38) and Tochigi prefecture wagyu A4 ribcap ($58/100g) are highlights of its signature tasting menu, only available till Dec 31. #01-20 10 Dempsey Rd., 6474-7427.
