New Bites - May 2014 | OpenRice Singapore

Greetings, fellow foodies! We hope you had an a-may-zing start to the month. If not, chin up because we have 10 new restaurants and cafes for you to check out. We think you easties will be beaming by the end of this with the handful of gems we’ve uncovered in your hood. And for the rest of us, the loot includes that much raved Korean dakgalbi chain, a fried-rice-only joint, a new cake studio that glows with bridal beauty and many more! Portico Contemporary cuisine with a taste of home

Dining in Portico can only remind you of being in someone’s home, complete with great hospitality. Nestled amongst office buildings over at 991 Alexandra Road, the restaurant and bar is well curated with hand-picked furniture, vibrant photographs of the food and members of the Portico family, as well as a line of specially designed crockery by a local ceramic artist. Those familiar with The Fat Duck in UK, or local establishments Fifty Three and St Pierre may recognize Executive Chef Leandros Stagogiannis, who brings you home-style all-day dining options here, such as the wagyu beef cheek ($27), sea bass fish and chips ($19) and tart aux citron ($14) with a savoury onion ice cream. 991B Alexandra Road, #01-10, Singapore 119970. Open Mon – Fri (8am to 11.30pm) & Sat (11am to 11.30pm). Ottoman Kebab & Grill Halal-certified Turkish delights

Likely to steal you away from Arab Street for authentic Turkish food is this new eatery in Bedok Mall, helmed by Turkish native Head Chef Ali Kose. Previously a humble stall in Marina Bay Sands, Ottoman Kebab & Grill now offers a concise menu with notable Turkish favourites like homemade Pide flat bread, well-executed Falafels and a generous Shish Platter for all to share. They take absolute pride in serving authentic Kunefe, a traditional Turkish dessert encompassing both sweet and savoury elements of nalbusi goat cheese, shredded kadayif phyllo pastry and sugar syrup. And if you’re up for it, round up your meal with some Turkish coffee served in ornate cups and saucers. 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-75 Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. Carvers & Co To meatier brunches and beyond

If you’re sick of eggs benedict and its yolky cousins, Carvers & Co will be a refreshing change for your next weekend brunch date. Located in a prime spot along the same stretch as 328 Katong Laksa, the 32-seater café offers Italian meatball baguette ($16.90), Carvers ham sandwiches ($16.90) with in-house made Gammon ham and a protein-packed peanut butter and banana French toast ($11.90) that you can “Elvis” up with a side of streaky bacon for an additional $3. Arrive after 6pm for an extended menu of mains. Highlights include a Carvers platter ($25) with sausages and roasted potatoes, as well as the wagyu roast platter ($45). 43 East Coast Road, Singapore 428764. Open Tue – Sun (10am to 10pm). D'Bell Tapas-style Indian-inspired cuisine

Popular shared-plates restaurant and bar from Mumbai, D'Bell, recently opened its doors in Clarke Quay – a perfect spot for anyone looking for a chic dining experience while dining on light Indian-inspired cuisine and classic cocktails. Expect fresh from the tandoori, mouth-watering naans with flavours like chilli cheese and garlic, as well as spicy boneless chicken leg cubes, Tandoori Kukkadke Purje. Not forgetting crispy pappadum cones to start your meal with a crunch, of course. 43 North Canal Road, Singapore 059299. Open for lunch from Mon – Fri (11.30am to 2.30pm), and for dinner from Mon – Thur (6pm to 11pm) & Fri – Sat (6pm to midnight). Le Cuisine Affordable East-meets-west dining in Chinatown Point

Located in the basement of Chinatown Point is this 90-seater restaurant, which has a salad-takeaway counter, an open-concept kitchen and a Chef’s Table in a private dining room that seats 12 comfortably. At the helm is celebrity Chef Daniel Koh, who marries European-style cooking techniques with familiar Asian spices and flavours that he grew up with. Affordable standouts at Le Cuisine include casseroles like a slow-cooked braised lamb shank and his signature crabmeat burger. Those looking for lighter lunch options would probably much appreciate the salad station, decked with refreshing choices like chicken liver terrine, niçoise, fusilli and Caesar – all of which are prepared daily and drizzled with homemade sauces. 133 New Bridge Road, #B2-34/36 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. aBite An elegant cake studio along Owen Road

Photo taken from aBite's Facebook Page

If a garden tea party minus the scorching heat sounds like a divine plan to you, then this new cake studio along Owen Road will suit your fancy. Two-week-old aBite wears white like a bride on her big day, complete with flower bouquets in every corner. Not surprisingly, they were first known for their beautifully designed wedding cakes and this quaint café allows owner Hilary to share her passion for baking. Of the many elegant cake and tart creations, best sellers include a delicate tofu cheesecake, of which you could pair with their selection of teas from Clipper Teas. 46 Owen Road, #01-277, Singapore 210046. Open Tue – Thur (12pm – 8pm) and Fri – Sun (12pm to 11pm). Captain Leo Fried rice wonderland of the east

Photo taken from Captain Leo's Facebook Page

Captain Leo – It’s all about fried rice in this casual dining restaurant located in I12 Katong Mall. The menu consists a variety of twelve fried rice options, featuring local flavours like sambal belachan, cereal and salted egg. More interestingly though, are the seven international versions of the fried rice, each using ingredients representative of the respective country. The Great American fried rice for example, strips a cheeseburger down with the combination of cheddar cheese, ground beef and button mushrooms. I12 Katong Mall, East Coast Road, #B1-24, Singapore 428802. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. Percolate Heartland hipster cafe in Bedok

Photo taken from Percolate's Facebook Page

Joining the island’s line of third-wave coffee movement cafes is Percolate, nestled in the heartlands of Bedok. Run by a former barista of Loysel’s Toy, the cosy 30-seater café offers blends from Pappa Palheta, as well as tea from local establishment Amuse Projects. For food, some of the best croissants from B.A.O. and a line of decadent cakes and pastries from Cakestand form your choice bites. Be sure to try the lemon tart, vanilla confetti cake and that inviting slice of fudgy dark chocolate cake. You know you’ll want to. 136 Bedok North Avenue 3 #01-152B, Singapore 460136. Open Mon, Wed - Fri (10.30am to 9.30pm) & Sat – Sun (9am to 9.30pm). Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar American diner meets mordern day coffeehouse

Photo taken from Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar's Facebook Page

A promising café to keep an eye out for in the One-north area is Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar. More than just coffee and cakes, it fuses your usual coffeehouse together with features of a classic American diner. Expect cheeseburgers ($16), mac & cheese ($15), spaghetti and meatballs ($16) served all-day and come evening, truffle fries ($8), onion rings ($7), plus steaks and mash ($18) join the party. Aside from mains, scrambled eggs and sourdough/ciabatta breads fly solo on the brunch menu. Oh and there’s wine here too. Housepours go for $12.50 a glass, while champagnes, red and white wines range from $65 to $145 per bottle. 21 Biopolis Drive, Nucleos, #01-21, Singapore 138567. Open daily from 8am to 10pm. Yoogane Popular Korean dakgalbi chain in Bugis

Apparently Singapore’s found her next place to queue at after the Tim Ho Wan frenzy. Currently all the rage on social media, Yoogane promises a queue of 1 hour at least for latecomers and then some. The signature Chicken Galbi features tender strips of chicken thigh meat marinated in the restaurant’s patented blend of sauces and seasonings cooked with fresh vegetables and rice cakes. Minimum order’s for 2 pax ($16.90/pax), and with side dishes clocking in at approximately$10-15, a meal at Yoogane could prove pricey for the chosen few (who survive the queuing). 200 Victoria Street, Bugis Junction, #02-47/48, Singapore 188021. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. By Peh Yi Wen Missed our past New Bites finds? New Bites - April 2014 New Bites - March 2014 New Bites - February 2014 New Bites - January 2014 New Bites - December 2013 New Bites - November 2013 New Bites - October 2013 New Bites - September 2013 See Also: Check out where are the new restaurants to explore Don't miss out on these great offers with OpenSnap