New Bites – December 2013 | OpenRice Singapore

‘Tis the season to indulge in some of the best new places we have rounded up for the month. Oh yes, December is all about feasting on Mexican food with a twist to affordable Italian/Mediterranean cuisine; and who could miss these hot dogs, hot dogs, hot diggety dogs at the latest stall in the Tangs Basement? Morsi & Sorsi

Photo courtesy of Morsi & Sorsi

Chef Lino Sauro, better known as the Owner Chef of Gattopardo, has recently opened a casual Italian establishment which highlights stuzzichini (traditional street food), sandwiches, and other popular Italian dishes in the menu. For the stuzzichini, the items to try are the Don Don Bocarte Anchovies served atop Frittata bread; and the Fish in Carpione which is cooked snapper served in brine and onions. More filling items such as Beef or Vegetarian Homemade Lasagne and Burratine and Bufala (buffalo mozzarella) are also available. Since the restaurant is located in the CBD area, Chef Lino made sure busy professionals can have their food to go such as the Foccaccia EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). For this option, the Panini is grilled so the bread doesn’t get soggy right away. It’s flavoured with zucchini, radicchio, Toma cheese and a dash of truffle mayonnaise. 51 Telok Ayer Street, #01-02, Singapore 048441, Open Mon to Fri 8am – 8:30pm RONIN

Does the world need another hipster café? Yes. With open arms, we welcome RONIN to Hong Kong Street – conveniently located a stone’s throw from a busy Clarke Quay, yet hidden enough so it’s hard to stumble upon. Brought to you by the people behind The Plain and The Bravery, the new café oozes with familiarity in a fresh get up with quality coffee and hearty, honest-to-goodness food. While you won’t find a physical menu just yet, ordering is kept simple with just 5 things available: 3 sandwiches, scrambled eggs and a rather popular french toast. To hit up the favourites, try their Dirty Ronin – a rustic sandwich featuring sourdough bread, spicy chorizo, lettuce and egg, dressed with a creamy miso mayo sauce. Create your own breakfast platter by dressing your order of Scrambled Eggs with a chorizo, avocado or even mushrooms. We hear the French Toast bags the quirky award, where sweet meets savoury. Imagine a thick brioche drenched with maple syrup with a sweet topping of caramelized apples and …. bacon. Hmmm. 17 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059660, Open Tue to Sun 8am – 8pm Lower East Side Tacqueria

Photo courtesy of Lower East Side Tacqueria

Lower East Side Tacqueria is the newest eatery to join the cluster of dining places in Katong. Despite being in the market for a few months, it has been steadily attracting customers here and there. One reason why we think so is the big bright signage, plus the quirky décor, which just piques anyone's curiosity. Once you’re lured inside, you will easily be tempted with the offerings available on the menu. It serves the usual taco, burrito, and other hearty mains… but with a twist. Chef Claudio Sandri only uses chillies and peppers imported from Mexico. Notable items to try are the Octopus and Squid Burrito ($18), Pork Belly Taco (single $11, Trio $28), and the Grilled Chicken Burrito ($13). These come in three levels of spiciness: the first is a bit mild, 2nd is quite intense, and the 3rd is recommended only for the brave. To wash down the spiciness, Chef has made a special drink of Horchata ($5), a traditional Mexican beverage. 19 East Coast Road, East Coast Park District, 428746, Open Mon to Fri 12pm – 11pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 11pm. The Mustard Incident

Photo courtesy of The Mustard Incident

If you haven’t heard, Tangs has recently renovated its basement level to include more dining options for foodies looking for new places to try. One such stall is The Mustard Incident, a new hotdog concept which serves a unique menu influenced by American, Mexican, and South East Asian flavours. To make its offerings stand out, owners have tweaked the sausage recipes and worked with top butchers to get the job done. The bread is also prepared by a local artisanal bakery to guarantee its quality. All items from the menu are worth trying; but if you want to go for the signatures, you can order the Hawt Dog ($9) – made with spicy pork sausage topped with TMI’s special hot sauce and some relish. The Frankenstein ($9) is also worth mentioning for it’s made of pork and beef sausages plus streaky bacon! The menu is completed with traditional American favourites. After all, it won’t be complete without these choices, right? 310 Orchard Road, Tangs Orchard Basement 1, Singapore 238864, Open Mon to Thur 10:30pm - 9:30pm, Fri 10:30am to 11pm, Sat 10:30am to 9:30pm, Sun 11am - 8:30pm Bécasse Bakery

Escape to Paris with this new French bakery, which sits in the middle of ION Orchard’s fourth floor. Like most French cafes, Bécasse Bakery sports a chic décor complete with marbled tables and monochrome patterned floors. Their counter is lined with the most delectable cakes and tarts, with croissants and meringues proudly displayed on top in elegant glass cake stands. Watch as artisan bakers prepare crepes from their extensive selection – we call dibs on the Sticky Date crepe, coated with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Besides the sweet, they’ve got the savoury department covered as well. An all-day breakfast menu runs from the beginning of the day, while heartier mains chime in from noon. Pick whatever your mood calls for. French Toast with Brûlée Banana, Pecan and Maple Syrup? Or maybe the Bécasse Wagyu Burger, featuring a juicy slab of beef patty. Also, their exquisite Afternoon High Tea (3pm – 6pm) might just fit ever so snugly into your day of Christmas shopping. 2 Orchard Turn #04-27/32, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801, Open daily 10am - 10pm (last order at 9.45pm). -- In case you missed our previous 'New Bites' finds, here's a throwback to: New Bites - September 2013 New Bites - October 2013 New Bites - November 2013 Enjoy! See Also: New restaurants you should check out Nearby eats for your convenience