Luckily that is not the case at Lowercase 😁

I like the Gravity Waffle with salted caramel ice cream! Though the popcorn can do with less caramel 🤣
The BBQ Smoked Duck thin crust pizza and salted egg yolk fried are also recommended 😋

This hip gastropub at Dempsey puts a new spin on pub grub with Asian skewers and surprise, surprise, claypot rice. Decked out in metal and wood, the spacious industrial-chic establishment is just the place to kick back with drinks and bar bites at the end of a working day or week. Leave your drink in the hands of co-owner and veteran bartender KC's capable hands, and let him surprise you with a bespoke cocktail (price varies). Food wise, the hearty fare reflects Singaporean chef-owner Justin Foo's Asian roots. The skewers (from $4) bring the limelight to familiar flavours, as seen in the Chicken Thigh ($5) marinated in yellow curry, lemongrass and kaffir lime, and Beef Sirloin ($9) marinated in kecap manis and oolong tea. To really line the tummy though, go for the selection of claypot rice. The Mushroom Tea Rice ($9) keeps it simple but great with smoky oolong, shiitake and egg, or go luxe with the Oyster & Uni Rice ($28).
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Cassie Ong

Previously housed in The Ardennes Hotel, this Peranakan restaurant has found a new home along Tan Quee Lan Street. The walls are covered with newspaper clippings of Peranakan Flavours's famed dish — Bakwan Kepiting ($10), a minced meatball and crabmeat soup, and the space is big enough to accommodate large groups, making this place ideal for company lunches or family dinners. Swing by with your colleagues during lunch for their value-for-money sets. Prices start from $8.80 for Nonya Curry Chicken and Babi Pongtey (stewed pork with fermented soy bean), and $10.80 for dishes like Chicken Buah Keluak and Assam Pedas Fish. Each set meal comes with a choice of rice (with pickles and curry vegetables on the side), noodles or bread. The Burpple community loves the House Special Laksa Goreng ($15) — a dry version of the iconic dish that features "noodles that are coated with thick rempah that packs a spicy umami punch", according to Burppler Weekendeatwhat. Don't leave without sharing a bowl of their house made Pulot Hitam ($5); it's thick, not overly sweet and just the way we like it.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Weekendeatwhat

Helmed by chef-owner Ivan Brehm, previously from The Kitchen at Bacchanalia, this intimate new restaurant at Amoy Street serves up an impressive omakase set menu both for lunch and dinner — file this away for business meals to impress, or special occasion dates. Nouri serves what the restaurant terms "crossroads cooking", where chef Brehm draws influences from cuisines across the world. The best way to understand his cooking philosophy is to splash out on the 5- or 7-Course Chef's Tasting Menu ($140/$170) for dinner, and ask to sit at the chef's table to watch the team work their magic. What commences is a well-orchestrated experience of unique flavours and textures coming together in stunning dishes, many of which have the Burpple community raving. These include the Acaraje and Vatapa, which sees falafel-like fritters served in a flavourful turmeric and coconut sauce, as well as the Steak and A1 Keluak Mole, which features a grass-fed wagyu rump cap slicked in buah keluak and bone marrow sauce. Pro tip: For a more affordable initiation, visit at lunch for the 5-Course Omakase Lunch Menu ($85, not available on Mondays). A curated selection of mains are available a la carte (from $28).
Avg Price: $150 per person
Photo by Burppler Blueskies Cottonclouds

Helping put industrial Tai Seng onto foodie radars is this cosy cafe at The Commerze @ Irving. The food here isn't fancy, but there is a homely charm to the place, and the food is hearty and affordable. Savoury plates include the Chilli Crabby Pasta ($14.80), slicked in chilli crab sauce and served with crispy soft shell crab; the generously portioned Chicken Confit Lost a Leg ($13.80) with mash, a sunny side up and salad, and the Lion Prawn Mala Mee Kia ($13.80) that sees capellini and tiger prawns tossed with chilli padi, Szechuan pepper and prawn roe — tasty, but not kid-friendly! Consider sharing the starter of Homemade Western Style Pork Belly ($7.50) with tender meat and crispy crackling. They also offer some pretty interesting bakes like the Wolfberry & Osmanthus Cheesecake ($4.80), where the humble cheesecake is enlivened with a floral jelly topping. There are hits and misses food-wise, but we are confident they will soon settle into their groove. Pro tip: Visit for lunch and add on $4 for their lunch set, which gets you a soft drink and a cake or tart with your order.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Shawn Loh

The brainchild of Peruvian chef Daniel Chavez, TONO specialises in ceviche (marinated raw seafood) and other authentic Peruvian dishes. Your meal is likely to be set to a soundtrack of salsa music — fun! The service staff are playful and the food is made for sharing, so bring your favourite friends. For first timers, get the Tasting Platter ($35) with three different ceviches: Mixto sees seafood of the day tossed with Peruvian peppers; Tono combines fresh fish with crispy baby calamari, smoked aji amarillo (a kind of chile pepper) and a base marinade called Tiger's Milk; and Nikkei sees yellowfin tuna mixed with purple potato chip and avocado. Individual portions of the ceviche otherwise go at an average of $25 per plate. The ceviche here are all incredibly fresh and layered with textures, and are great paired with a Pisco Sour ($14). Save space for cooked dishes like the flavourful seafood rice Arroz con Mariscos ($34) and the Sudado de Pescado ($34), a fisherman's stew with white wine, yellow chilli, onions, tomatoes and Peruvian corn cider. If you have space for sweets, try the Alfajores ($12) — butter cookies sandwiching dulce de leche filling, served with mango mousse.
Avg Price: $50 per person
Photo by Burppler K T

You read that right — this casual joint in Chinatown dishes out sharing plates, rice bowls and sandwiches that are priced at either $5 or $10. The food is very good (we hear the kitchen is helmed by former sous chef of Salted & Hung) and there are communal tables to accommodate large groups, making this two-week-old spot a popular one with those working nearby. At lunch, start with the addictively tasty Fried Smashed Potatoes ($5) and the Fried Chicken ($5 in the day, $10 in the night) served with a squeeze of house made nori mayonnaise on the side. The menu reminds us of a playful take on Taiwanese street snacks. Sink your teeth into the crowd favourite Steak Sandwich ($10), where a nicely grilled steak is sliced into bite-sized pieces, topped with a generous portion of caramelised onions and slathered with bearnaise. All this is sandwiched between two slices of toasted bread that provide just the right ratio of meat to bread. For something heartier, go for the Lu Rou Fan ($10), a rice bowl topped with thick chunks of what we deem as the most tender braised pork belly, a sous vide egg and kai lan. Pro tip: Swing by at dinner with your colleagues and kick back with half a pint of beer, all priced at $5!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua

Started by the guys behind Tendon Kohaku, Katsudon Hanakatsu (it's located directly beside Tendon Kohaku) serves only Katsudon ($13.50), crispy pork and chicken cutlets served atop rice. The are only two choices you need to make here: to decide between original or spicy for the cutlets — the latter sees the addition of Japanese spice powder for a fiery kick; and the type of rice — their classic Nanatsuboshi Hokkaido rice or the 16-grain, which has barley mixed in for texture and flavour. Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua appreciates how the the meat is tender, juicy and not greasy, and that the batter had a tinge of umami sweetness that sets it apart from regular katsudons. You might get hit with katsudon fatigue towards the end, so take Burppler Jayson Yeo's advice to order the Ton-Ji-Ru ($1.50) on the side. Boiled till sweet and flavourful, the miso soup also comes packed with carrots, cabbage and onions. It'll help to cut through the richness of fried meat.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

A new arrival on the Tiong Bahru circuit, BAKALAKI Greek Taverna is our next go-to for date night. Decked out in a palette of white and light wood, the gorgeous space serves authentic Greek fare with cosy, laidback vibes. Order the Moussaka ($22.90) the moment you are seated — the classic dish of layered eggplant, minced beef, cheese and potatoes takes 40 minutes to cook, but is well worth the wait. Meanwhile, get going with an order of Warm Pita Bread ($2.90) and their generously portioned dips. Try the Taramosalata ($15.90), an appetising dip made from white cod roe, bread crumbs and lemon juice. Other Burpple community favuorites include the Htapodi ($32.90), expertly grilled octopus tentacles (you get two tentacles per serving) and Paidakia ($32.90), grilled lamb chops marinated with oregano and rosemary. If space permits, consider the Loukoumades ($14.90) for dessert. These fried donuts are drizzled with honey and cinnamon, and served with chocolate sauce for dipping.
Avg Price: $55 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua

Located at OUE Downtown Gallery, SAMA Curry and Cafe is yet another spot for CBD folks to lunch at. Don’t expect your typical Japanese curry here — this joint offers a savoury and soupy spin on the usual sweet and thick style we’re familiar with. Start by picking from an assortment of meat options such as the Moo Moo Hamburg ($16.90) that comes with a hamburger patty, or the Hungry Bear ($18.90), which comes with a whole chicken leg atop a pork or hamburger patty. Each bowl comes customisable in three categories of spiciness (which is adorably named after their bear mascot), from Baby Bear (level 0-5), Adult Bear (level 6-15) to Crazy Bear (level 16-30). Don't be afraid to opt for the higher spice levels if you're a spice lover. Then, pick from four soup bases — tomato and coconut, which are thicker, or Japanese and shrimp. Each bowl of curry comes with a generous portion of assorted vegetables that, despite being cooked in curry, still remains fresh and crunchy!
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Mok XC

-
Chilled pasta with an Asian twist. Capellini tossed with sautéed mixed mushrooms, preserved ravanello (preserved radish/chai po/菜脯) & in-house olive oil seasoning blend. Topped with oriental chicken jerky and scallions. #fusionfood
-
PS: There's a 1-for-1 pasta* promotion till end of October! Check 'em out if you love pasta! You might want to leave some space for their cute desserts in a pot/jar!
-
*Valid for dine-in at South Bridge Road outlet only.

It's great to see a familiar dish at Salted & Hung even as the restaurant has moved to its new location on Purvis Street. Salaciously seasoned and fantastically crunchy, the Salt & Pepper Beef Tripe pair superbly with most tipples. Little wonder these deepfried delights are a firm favourite amongst their regulars and an instant infatuation with first-time customers.
Tip: Do eat the tripe while they're still hot because the crunchiness wears off once it starts to cool.