New Bites: April 2015 | OpenRice Singapore

This April, we see a more diversified range of restaurant concepts springing up, from a Korean banana-themed café to an authentic New York pizza joint. Ready your appetites and dig into this month’s list of the latest in restaurant openings.

1. Long Chim

Helmed by celebrity chef David Thompson, Long Chim joins the ever growing list of celebrity chef restaurants in our iconic Marina Bay Sands (MBS). What sets Long Chim apart from the hoi polloi of MBS’s F&B outlets is the delicious and unpretentious fare that comes with a wallet-friendly price tag. In contrast to its neighbour Waku Ghin, prices here range from $10 to $20 for a majority of its menu offerings. Chef David Thompson dishes out incredibly delicious elevated Thai street food including Phad Thai, Thai-style cocktails and even home-made desserts. Expect authentic Thai-style cooking, from frying over a wok to grilling over a flaming charcoal grill. Long Chim definitely lives up to our expectations. Long Chim, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue #02-02 Singapore 018956 (Image: Long Chim’s Facebook page)

2. Royal Noodle

One of the newest additions to Circular Road’s food scene is one-month old Royal Noodle. Their concept is simple — to serve the noodles that Tang Dynasty emperors have eaten back in the day, done the classic Szechuan style with loads of spices, without overpowering the noodle’s original taste. For just $9.50 nett, customers can enjoy a set with sides such as eggs and fried dumplings. But for a light meal, stick to a serving of their noodles for just $6 nett. Royal Noodle, 27 Circular Road, Singapore 049383 (Image: Royal Noodle’s Facebook page)

3. The Rockin’ Diner

Think hot dogs, burgers and bacon fries in the hip and happening Club Street. An expansion of The Mustard Incident, The Rockin’ Diner is a casual but rad diner and bar aiming to serve up the most authentic American fare in authentic American portions. Sinfully delicious is a perfect way to describe the food served here. You can expect mouth-watering options such as Philadelphia Cheese Steak (pictured) and Little Italy’s Killa’ Lasagne. Don’t forget to end off your meal on a sweet note with their signature Nutella-misu — tiramisu with layers of nutella worked in between. The Rockin’ Diner, 11 Club St, Singapore 069405 (Image: The Rockin’ Diner)

4. Skinny Salads

A subsidiary of Skinny Pizza, Skinny Salads opened its doors in March at 100AM, serving fresh salads and wraps. Rest assured, only the freshest ingredients are used here. If you enjoy refreshing salads, this is the place to be. Try this – Kale & Quinoa Salad. This salad consists of beetroot, quinoa, tomatoes, sprouted lentils and zucchini with a tarragon-parsley verde dressing for that added flavour. If you prefer wraps, Skinny Salads has a good range of different options for you to choose from too. Skinny Salads, 100 AM, 100 Tras St #01-03, Singapore 079027 (Image: Skinny Salad’s Facebook page)

5. Yoğart

Yet another brand has hopped on the fro-yo bandwagon but we are certainly not complaining. Unlike most others, Yoğart doesn’t just served the wildly popular frozen yogurt, they also make rather Insta-worthy popsicles in-store. Nevertheless, as their name suggests, their specialty is still their frozen yogurt. Go for a cup of their The Bliss ($6.20) fro-yo that includes 3 kinds of fresh cut fruits, crunchy bits and a sauce of your choice. Yoğart, Burlington Square, 175 Bencoolen Street #01-56, Singapore 189649 (Image: Yoğart’s Facebook page)

6. 33SixtyEight

Gelato seems to be the trending food recently with more and more gelato shops popping up in neighbourhoods. 33SixtyEight graces the Mountbatten district with their recent grand opening in March, offering unique and unconventional dessert items. Try the Bun Bun Bomb ($6) – Your choice of gelato enveloped with a bun and sprinkled with icing sugar and Oreo cookie bits with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. A delicious combination of flavours and textures, tempting pictures of this dish are already floating around our Instagram timelines. 33SixtyEight, Blk 8 Jalan Batu #01-07, Singapore 431008 (Image: 33SixtyEight’s Facebook page)

7. Lollapalooza

A sister company to Lolla, Lollapalooza is a spanking new restaurant along Keong Saik Road sporting a sleek interior. Contrary to first impressions, this new eatery isn’t named after the annual music festival held in the U.S., but rather after the old American word that was used to describe ‘something particularly impressive’. With a unique and catchy name comes a menu of ‘Free-style or Borderless’ food whipped up by talented team of chefs. Expect the dishes on the menu to differ daily as Lollapalooza uses only the freshest seasonal produce. Some items to expect include the Marinated Razor Clams with Pickled Sunchoke (pictured). Lollapalooza, 1A Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109 (Image: Lollapalooza’s Facebook page)

8. Gogi Grill

This new joint will be another reason to rejoice for those who frequent or work around the Central Business District. Gogi Grill bears a simple menu with freshly grilled skewers of meat that can be ordered with rice as a set meal. For just $6.50, you can get 3 skewer meats with rice and a side of kimchi. Extremely pocket-friendly amidst the sky high prices for food in the CBD. Besides just grilled meats, Gogi Grill also offers a delicious Korean staple – Tteokbokki or Korean rice cakes. Gogi Grill, 51 Telok Ayer Street #01-03, Singapore 048441 (Image: Gogi Grill’s Facebook page)

9. Nest Tea Bar

If you’re a fan of all things tea, Nest Tea Bar will be your new favourite hangout. From cold brew teatails to a range of dessert selections, this is the perfect place to be for an afternoon of relaxation, be it alone or with your favourite company. Sporting a vintage and homely interior, Nest Tea Bar offers a nice respite amidst the dreaded hot weather outside. A must-try when you’re here is their sweet and refreshing cold brew tea, Blissful Berries ($5.90). Nest Tea Bar, 265 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058814 (Image: Nest Tea Bar’s Facebook page)

10. The Burning Oak

Simpang Bedok might seem like an odd place to set up a Japanese skewer shop. Nonetheless, owner Jeremy Han took a leap of faith and The Burning Oak was born. Specializing in charcoal-grilled Japanese Yakitori, expect classic skewers such as chicken thigh to premium skewers such as Wagyu beef shortrib. The Wagyu beef shortribs costs a relatively high price of $6 per skewer but we promise you that it’s worth every penny. The short ribs are slow cooked for 72 hours before grilling to retain all of its natural fatty umami flavours. Other must try skewers include their tender Pork Belly ($2), which features a dollop of apple puree on top that marries the flavours of the skewer perfectly. The Burning Oak, 348 Bedok Road #02-16, Simpang Bedok, Singapore 469560 (Image: The Burning Oak’s Facebook page)

11. 9Goubuli

Having opened its doors in March, 9Goubuli joins The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands with an inexpensive menu featuring a wide range of Northern and Southern Chinese cuisine. And in case you were wondering, ‘Goubuli’ directly translates to ‘Dog don’t care’ and was coined as the name of this popular shop back in the 1800s. A must-try when you patronize this restaurant are their ‘Goubuli’ buns. They are filled with a generous minced pork and soup just like xiao long bao but with a doughy bun exterior. Four fillings are available for you to choose from – Pork ($2.20), Pork with Vegetables ($2.60), Vegetables ($1.90) and Wagyu Beef ($3.50). 9Goubuli, 2 Bayfront Avenue, #B2-02, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 01897 (Image: 9Goubuli’s Facebook page)

12. Motorino

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, is the wildly popular Motorino pizza recommended by The New York Times and Mario Batelli himself. Mathieu Palombino takes the helm at this new kid on the block, which is his first-ever venture in our little nation and his fourth in Asia. Try their classic Pizza Margherita topped generously with mozzarella. And because their pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven, the crust itself is amazingly crunchy. Pizzas here will range from $17 to $30 and are great for sharing. Motorino, 3A River Valley Road Clarke Quay #01-01A, Singapore 179020 (Image: Motorino’s Facebook page)

13. Mad About Sucre

You might have noticed Mad About Sucre’s mouth-watering desserts floating around your Instagram timelines and we agree that they look too pretty to eat. But before you decide to just admire these gems for their visual appeal, tuck in and have a taste. Founder and Le Cordon Bleau-trained Lena Chan puts her skills to good use, dishing out incredibly decadent desserts that are pleasing to the eye and your taste buds. Try the San Dominique ($12.80), which is arguably the most popular and photogenic dessert here. Mad About Sucre, 27 Teo Hong Road, Singapore 088334 (Image: Mad About Sucre’s Facebook page)

14. Banana Tree

If you have been to Seoul recently, chances are that you have visited or at least heard of this popular Korean café chain. Renowned for their adorable desserts and banana-themed style and interior, Banana Tree opened its doors along Keong Saik Road on 1 April. Ladies will go gaga over the café’s cute bingsus that are served in a flower pot and topped off with pretty artificial flowers. Try this – Iced Som Som ($7). Just like the popular Korean Thundercloud soft-serve from Remicone and Thailand’s Lemon Mille Feuille from Karmakamet, Banana Tree’s Iced Som Som is crowned with a large poof of cotton candy. This is served atop some ice coffee, perfect for a cool-off from Singapore’s humid weather. Banana Tree, 26 Keong Saik Raod, Singapore 089133 (Image: Banana Tree’s Facebook page)

15. FYR Cycene and Drinc

Barely a week old, FYR (pronounced 'Fire') is already turning heads in the bustling Chinatown district. A rustic interior with hand painted walls, the restaurants feels homely and comforting with 90s tunes blaring from the overhead speakers. FYR also has a modern bar counter that serves inexpensive drinks and cocktails for those who want to kick back and relax after a long day at work. For meat enthusiasts, dive right into their Grain-fed US Holstein Ribeye 365 Days ($32). This slab of ribeye comes with a side of addictive Black Truffle sauce, Java Curry-dressed salad and a choice of buttered cassava or mashed potato. A surprising highlight of their menu is their incredibly delicious Baked Pistachio Melt & Pandan Ice Cream ($10), a lava cake that oozes out kaya goodness with generous sprinkles of pistachios. FYR, 19 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069619 (Image: FYR)

Written by Cheryl Chong, header image by FYR See Also: Find the best restaurants in Singapore Check out the eateries nearby you