Red House Seafood Restaurant (Prinsep Street)

The buzz: This seafood eatery (which also has branches at East Coast and Robertson Quay) has expanded to Prinsep Street, just off Orchard Road.

The vibe: Gone are the wobbly red plastic chairs expected of Singapore seafood joints. A spacious 300-seater in a conserved multi-story shophouse, this outlet is sleek and simple, with minimalist dark wood furnishings all round.

The food: Dig into market price local classics like chilli crab and salted egg yolk crab, as well as newer innovations like the spicy seafood combination (from $28), a saucy Thai inflected trough of shrimp, scallop and squid.

The drinks: There’s homemade iced lemon tea ($5), fresh juices ($5.50) and sodas ($4). Nothing unexpected, but they do the job.

Why you’ll be back: The food’s good, and the space is modern and comfortable for a seafood joint. Plus, it’s rare to get local seafood specialties so close to the city center.