Singapore Restaurants, Food and
Dining
Singapore is known as food lovers' heaven, and deservedly so. Its
various cultural influences and a readiness to take on the latest
gastronomic trends make for a unique blend of top-notch restaurants,
cosy cafes and local-style hawker stalls and kopi tiams (coffee
shops).
Singaporeans love eating, and have been known to travel miles in
search of the perfect preparation of their favourite dish. Where
to go for lunch or dinner, or which stall makes the best laksa (curry
noodles) are common topics of conversation. The typical Singapore
foodie is also rather sophisticated; he knows his penne from his
rigatoni and is au courant with the latest fusion eatery that has
just opened.
You could literally comb the streets for good restaurants; there
are so many everywhere and they are easily accessible. The choice
is so varied it is sometimes startling - there are whole streets
where Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan eateries rub shoulders
with their Japanese, American, French, Mexican and Mediterranean
counterparts.
Boat Quay & Clarke Quay
both bordering the Singapore River, are lined with colourfully
restored warehouses turned into restaurants. From your riverside
table, you can watch Chinese junk boats shuttle passengers to and
fro the two Quays against a backdrop of skyscrapers. The Quays are
also lined with bars and clubs, so be prepared for a good blast
of pop music when you're in the vicinity.
For an excellent introduction to Indonesian food from Sunda island,
hop into House of Sundanese (55-55A Boat Quay, 5343775) at
Boat Quay. If North Indian cuisine is more your thing, go
for Our Village (46 Boat Quay, 5383058), which has delightful
rooftop seating. Or check out the cool and classy Mediterranean
atmosphere of JP Bastiani (#01-12, Merchant's Court, 433
0156) and the smoky, spicy taste of Malay satay (grilled meat on
sticks) at the Satay Club at Clarke Quay.
Chijmes
Chijmes (30 Victoria Street), a chapel and convent converted into
a courtyard of restaurants and pubs, also offers great outdoor dining.
Try Lei Garden (#01-24, 3393822) for flawlessly-prepared
Cantonese food, Bobby Rubino's (#B1-03, 3375477) for juicy
American pork ribs or the trendy Shrooms (#01-19, 3362268)
which specialises in mushroom dishes.
Holland Village
Holland Village is another enclave dedicated to eating. Situated
off Orchard Road, away from the central business district, the place
is relaxed, even slightly bohemian. Step into Michelangelo's
(44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-60 Chip Bee Gardens, 4759069) for a candle-lit
tete-a-tete over Italian cuisine, or soak in the Mediterranean ambience
at Original Sin (43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-62, Chip Bee Gardens,
4755605), which offers scrumptious vegetarian fare.
For a Local Atmosphere
East Coast
For a local atmosphere, the East Coast of the island is
a great place to embark on a food excursion. For authentic and affordable
Peranakan food, try Guan Hoe Soon (214 Joo Chiat Road, 3442761)
or Baba Inn & Lounge (Frankel Avenue #01-103, 4452404), or
have a laid-back chow-down at one of the many open-air seafood place
such as Jumbo Restaurant along the East Coast Parkway,
where the chili crab and black-pepper crab's a must.
Hawker Centres
The great thing about Singapore is that you can eat really well
-- and have lots of fun too -- without busting your wallet. The
island is dotted with hawker centres, where you will find food stalls
that sell the local version of fast food. Some dishes to try: Hainanese
chicken rice, laksa, roti prata (Indian-style pancakes with a curry
dip), char kuay teow (fried noodles), satay.
Singapore dining
A popular hawker centre with tourists is Newton Circus near
the Newton MRT, but for a more authentic (and cheaper) meal you
can go to any of the hawker centres in the suburbs, such as Clementi,
Bedok or Geylang. Locals swear by Thasevi Food Eating
House (237/239, Jalan Kayu) for the best roti prata. If you have
no time to venture into the suburbs, hawker gourmets say the ultimate
Hainanese chicken rice can be had at Chatterbox (333 Orchard
Road, 8316288) at the Mandarin Singapore Hotel.
Unforgettables
For meals that are at once unforgettable and a little off the
beaten track, try the famous steamboat restaurant at Tiong Bahru,
where bird-singing competitions are regularly held. Or head for
Prima Tower (201 Keppel Road, 272 8822), whose revolving
restaurant set aside a flour mill will let you savour dim sum and
a bird's-eye view of the Singapore harbour at the same time.
There's also Killiney Kopi Tiam (67 Killiney Road), which
still serves the fast-disappearing Singapore breakfast of toast
with kaya (rich coconut custard) and half-boiled egg laced with
soya sauce. It may not sound so, but it's delicious.
Best Selection
BEST AMBIENCE - Indochine
42, Waterloo Street, Tel: 3335003
Cuisine : Vietnamese
Budget : Upper mid-range
MOST ROMANTIC - Au Jardin Les Amis
EJH Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Tel : 4668812
Cuisine : French
Budget : Upper Range
BEST LOCAL FLAVOUR - Newton Circus
Near Newton MRT
Cuisine : Local Hawker Stalls
Budget : Low to midrange (if you order seafood)
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY - Qun Zhong Eating House
21, Neil Road, Tel : 2213060
Cuisine : Beijing dumplings and noodles
Budget : Low to midrange
MOST POSH - Compass Rose
2 Stamford Road, 70th Level, Westin Stamford Hotel, Tel : 4316156
Cuisine : Continental
Budget : High
MOST HIP - Marmalade
#01-02, 33 Purvis Street, Tel : 8372123
Cuisine : European
Budget : Upper midrange
Trendy Spots
Most Trendy
For dining at the moment include Indochine (42, Waterloo
Street, 3335003) which dishes up good Vietnamese in an appropriately
exotic setting, replete with Angkor-like statues and the scent of
jasmine flowers.Marmalade (#01-02, 33 Purvis Street, 8372123),
is great for European food amid minimalist decor. Try Sunday
champagne brunches at restaurants like The Greenhouse
at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia (7 Raffles Avenue, 4345286), where
there's free flow of bubbly and an eat-all-you-can buffet.
Fine Dining
For impeccable Chinese fare try the Shang Palace (22, Orange
Grove Road, 7302473) at the Shangri-La Hotel, or the Summer Pavilion
(7 Raffles Avenue, 4345286) at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, to name
just two.
French Cuisine
Take your pick from restaurants such as Les Amis (1 Scotts
Road #02-16 Shaw Centre, 7332225) or L'Aigle d'Or (83 Duxton
Road, The Duxton Hotel, 2277678) or, if you really want to splurge,
Au Jardin Les Amis (EJH Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens,
4668812) which is set amidst the lush tropical greenery of the Botanic
Gardens.
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