New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Singapore: December 2017

When in the mood for a solid burger, look to this new German burger bar in Orchard. Situated right next to the Thai Embassy, the garden-like space is perfect for a laid-back alfresco meal (there's indoor seating for scorching days too). They have a good selection of beef, chicken, vegetarian and vegan patties, so there really is something for everyone — come by with friends for a pre-movie meal, or gather with colleagues for dinner. The beef patties are made from Australian beef, which averages at 20 percent fat. This explains why the patties aren't very juicy and more like sausage filling, not that it bothered Burppler Raine Liu, who really enjoyed the Geissbock ($17) that comes topped with feta cheese, bacon and fig jam. The Wilder Western ($16) is another winning beef option — it's an umami bomb that comes with aged cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce and crispy shallots.
Pro tip: Visit at lunch (until 5pm) and add on $5 to make a meal out of it — the meal comes with a side (get the sweet potato fries!), a cold drink AND a hot drink. Modest appetites may wish to take Burppler Hwans Lim's advice to order one meal to share between two.
Avg price: $20
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu

Helmed by classically trained French chef Christophe Lerouy, his eponymous restaurant in Stanley Street is fast becoming one of the most celebrated openings. The most value-for-money way to experience his cooking is to book in for the Weekday Lunch Set ($38 for three courses; $55 for five courses) — the Burpple community has nothing but praise for the dishes served. Chef Lerouy's finesse is evident in both the food's flawless execution as well as flavour pairings. Dishes that have the community waxing lyrical include the mindblowing combination of hamachi with yellow curry sauce, the delicate poached Japanese oyster in comte beurre blanc, and a bacon and chocolate petit four. You'll have to try it to believe it.
Avg price: $60
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Blueskies Cottonclouds

Located within the new Novotel Singapore on Stevens, this sprawling half restaurant, half retail space is our new go-to for delicious and reasonably priced seafood. The Scandinavian-inspired interiors are gorgeous and full of natural light, and is lovely for all-occasion dining. Fisk is opened by the team behind Snorre Food, a longtime supplier of Norwegian and other coldwater seafood, so there's quality in the produce; these guys even have an in-house smoker to smoke fresh fish! Dishes worth a try include the impressive cold-smoked Salmon "Pulpit Rock" ($10.50) with creamy scrambled eggs and flatbread, Skagen ($12.50), a refreshing prawn cocktail that's super apt for hot day lunches, and the flavour-packed Creamed Fish and Shellfish Soup ($7.50 for half, $12.50 for full) with seasonal heirloom crudité vegetables. Lunch sets start at $29 for two courses while a seven-course dinner set is priced at $88. Don't miss out on a post-meal poke around the stunning seafood display at the gourmet market.
Avg price: $35
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua

Adding serious hipster cred to the Kampong Glam neighbourhood is this modern foodcourt concept. With interiors that ooze tropical vibes, lots of lush greenery all around and even a private courtyard, FOMO brings together seven food concepts — perfect for eclectic group gatherings and fickle diners. While not all the stalls are certified halal, all the dishes here are prepared without pork and lard. Some dishes that have worked their way onto the Burpple community's radar include slurping good creamy Chicken Ramen ($10) from Zamza (the same guys behind Jimota-Ya), a laksa-inspired pizza World is Mine! ($14.90) from The Don, and Louisiana-style seafood in combo baskets ($79, $139) from Mr. Wholly. Mr. Wholly also does a locally inspired Seafood Nasi Lemak Ambeng ($60) that pairs seafood with fragrant coconut rice.
Avg price: $10
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Justin Teo

Located just off Dempsey at Loewen Road, this chic cafe is looking to be the new hangout place for expat mummies. Nutrition and wholesome eating are the driving forces behind the compact menu, which sees the likes of sourdough sandwiches, salads and a few treats, with dairy and gluten-free options. Served on sourdough, the Smashed Avo ($18) is a classic that gets an Egyptian twist with the addition of dukkah, a heady spice mix that adds both warmth and complexity. What we really liked though is the Meredith Goat's Cheese with Thyme Roasted Mushrooms ($18), another open-faced sourdough sandwich that combines goat's cheese with roasted portobello chunks and sprouts for a flavourful, textural treat. According to Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua, the coffee is brewed from beans roasted by Brother Basil & Co. The Flat White ($6) is balanced and smooth, and a good albeit slightly pricy option. We suggest skipping the Organic Turmeric Latte ($8), which we found bland and flat-tasting, with hardly any flavour from the spice.
Avg price: $25
Photo by Burppler Muriel A

Joining the onslaught of rice bowl openings is Pickleville, opened by the good guys behind Sarnies. We popped by to try ther Roast Beef Bowl ($16) and were impressed by its generous portion. Picture this: crunchy steamed broccoli, pickled onions and carrots, and roast beef on rice. We only wish the rice was a tad fluffier, and that they gave better thought to the beef marinade. Rice bowls aside, it is hard to fault their Banana & Nutella Toast ($8), a classic in terms of flavour combinations, but a winner thanks to their addition of almonds, baked oats and dried apricots, along with generous drizzles of honey. We'll have this anytime for brunch, or lunch, or dessert! Burpple Tastemaker Xing Wei Chua also had great things to say about their Melted Mozzarella Ham and Fermented Honey Garlic Butter on Sourdough ($11). Our advice? Go for the toasts, think twice about the bowls, at least for now.
Avg price: $10
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim

Platform M by MOF brings together 10 food concepts at Singpost Centre, and we are loving the casual, laid-back vibes for a breezy meal with friends or family. Hopping onto the trending donburi bandwagon is Kazu Kazu, a stall specialising in curry and rice bowls. Prices are reasonable, with familiar options like Chicken Katsu Curry Don ($10.80) and Yakiniku Don ($9.80). There are some hits and misses, but clever ordering will guarantee a satisfying meal. Take Burppler Dex Neo's advice and go for the Pork Belly Mentai Mayo Don ($9.80). Tender slices of pork form the perfect canvas for the generous finish of mentai mayo, resulting in a lip-smacking, umami-rich rice bowl. This comes topped with an onsen egg — mix it all in for oozy, tasty magic.
Avg price: $10
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

Nestled on Stanley Street, this homey restaurant is great for laid-back business lunches in the CBD or better yet, a leisure lunch when the boss is away. With a menu revolving around familiar dishes, this spot is our pick for hearty Italian cooking with a touch of elegance. Trattoria Amanda takes pride in their pizzas, which sport crispy yet chewy dough baked to perfection. Take Burppler Sherman Yeo's advice and go for the Quattroformaggi (four-cheese pizza, $26), or keep it simple with the Classic Margherita ($19). Burppler Veronica Phua recommends the pastas over the pizzas, and enjoyed the flavoursome Angel Hair in White Wine Puttanesca Sauce from the set lunch menu ($28 for three courses). The Linguine Vongole Salsa di Vino Blanco (linguine with clams in white wine sauce, $28) is yet another winning classic. Consider getting a bottle of Italian craft beer 32 Via Dei Birrai ($38 for 750ml) to share; Curmi bears lively floral notes while Oppale is well-balanced with caramel tones and a bitter finish.
Avg price: $45
Photo by Burppler Sherman Yeo