Foodie News Flash: New Restaurants in Singapore this February

Here’s our pick of the hottest new restaurant and bar openings in Singapore

We serve up all the latest new restaurant openings to you in tasty bite-sized pieces so can you decide where’s best for that dinner date with the other half or lunch spot with your besties. This month, look forward to the hot new opening of Restaurant Lerouy, by Chef Lerouy, super sashimi (and Japanese cocktails) at Don & Tori, a new little Aussie cafe by Little Farms and more…

Check out our gallery for all the mouth-watering new restaurant details!

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Don & Tori has just popped up on Tras Street and it is quite a little gem of Japanese delights! Sit at the counter to watch sashimi chefs at work or grab a pew at the bar for crafted cocktails or a booth seat in the restaurant. Unlike many Japanese spots, Don & Tori doesn’t take itself too seriously — music is modern and the cocktails are quirky.

They are serious about their excellent quality sushi and sashimi though. The mixed sashimi platter is a stunning way to start a meal – choose from 5 pieces of seafood to 22 pieces ($33-$100) and the Chef will prepare these according to the catch of the day. Ingredients are flown directly from Japan’s iconic Tsukiji Fish Market, three times a week! Do not miss the maki.

The must-try has to be the Unagi & Hotate Tempura Maki ($27) a naughty version of maki with tempura battered eel, scallop and crab  Other favourites include Sakura Ebi Angel Hair Pasta ($32) and the delicious umami-luxe bowl of Truffle Wagyu Foie Gras Don ($38). To accompany your meal, order the Bold Fashioned ($23) a playful take on the Old Fashioned with Japanese whiskey washed in Wagyu beef fat, cinnamon bitters and yuzu.

Thumbs up to this place — we think we’ve found our new go-to for Japanese! Full review coming soon!

Don & Tori, 74 Tras Street, Tel: +65 9811 7888, hwww.facebook.com/donandtorisg

Chef Christophe Lerouy, from one-Michelin-starred Alma By Juan Amador has started his own restaurant, Lerouy, hidden away on Stanley Street. Restaurant Lerouy only seats 26, all at a counter around the open plan kitchen. The cuisine is French fine dining and there are just two set menus (no a la carte): the petit menu ($38++ for 3 lunch courses/98++ for 5 dinner courses) and the grand set ($55++ for 5 lunch courses/ $128++ for 7 dinner courses). Read our full review here.

Dishes run the gamut from amuse bouche – a polenta crisp loaded with a sweet raw amaebi shrimp, aioli sauce and fennel fronds – to the delightful main of massive Japanese oyster, in a pool of light foamy compte cheese sauce, beautifully offset by sweet pear purée and umami miso and decorated with dark green sea grapes. Guinea fowl with truffle, Jerusalem artichoke puree and fried artichoke skin is another standout. Petit fours include the unlikely pairing of a creamy chocolate truffle wrapped in soft bacon followed by white chocolate wasabi with beetroot purée presented as a lollipop. It’s clear that while Restaurant Lerouy is small on space, it proves big on fun and flavour.

Restaurant Lerouy, 3 Stanley Street, Singapore 068722, Tel: (+65) 6221 3639, www.lerouy.com

Little Farms Cafe is the new dine-in cafe set up by Little Farms, the Australian grocers in River Valley. The little cafe itself is a little hidden, tucked behind the shop inside Valley Point mall. We loved how flexible things are here — Want the sandwich on gluten-free bread? No problem. Want to order a half portion of two different salads? Sure!

If you’re a fan of the grocers next door you’ll recognise that all the items at the cafe are made using the same super fresh high-quality ingredients, making this the perfect place to try out the produce before you buy. Getting rave reviews: the Smashed Avocado with crumbed feta and poached eggs ($15). Fish of the Day ($22) might be a delicious crispy skinned NZ Salmon served with salad and fennel or there are Fishcakes $10 for two, Salads, Wraps and Sandwiches.

For something sweet, there’s a range of gluten-free goodies from the Whole Kitchen or affordable pastries like croissants to go with your All Press coffee (served as a double shot, thank you very much!). They are working on a kids’ menu but for now you can order anything in a kids portion! Parents with early risers (that will be everyone then!) know that Little Farms Cafe opens at 7:30am for your caffeine drip!

Little Farms Cafe, 491 River Valley Rd, #01-20, Singapore 248371, Tel: (+65) 6262 0619, www.littlefarms.com

Perched 57 storeys atop Tower 1 of Sands SkyPark, LAVO Singapore is the new bling club, restaurant and bar in town. Go for dinner at the restaurant, stay for a lineup of big name DJs when the space transforms into a pumping club.

The food is Italian-American cuisine helmed by Chef Ralph Scamardella and there’s a luxurious indoor and outdoor lounge with a wraparound terrace for beautiful people watching, that’s if you can take your eyes off the view seen through floor to ceiling windows. On the menu; most famously “The Meatball” (1lb of fresh ground imperial Wagyu and Italian sausage served with whipped ricotta, $38), pizzas from $32, pastas like the luxurious prawns, scallops and lobster penne ($48), and truffle gnocchi ($46), plus an American-style meat grill menu with all the sides.

LAVO Singapore, Level 57-Tower 1 Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., Singapore, 018956 www.lavosingapore.com 

Casa Poncho is a Latin bar and restaurant at 14 Bukit Pasoh Road in the former Keow Siong Club. There’s a small alfresco seating area for Mezcal-based cocktails, or perch at The Casa Poncho bar for La Margarita del Poncho made with Mezcal Alipus Blanco, Grand Marnier, yuzu and agave syrup.

The main restaurant indoors has long tables set up for large groups ready to party. Though a Latin restaurant, there’s no Tex Mex fare here so don’t expect the usual Mexican tacos and burritos. Instead dishes are served as modern tapas plates: grilled Iberico pork pluma with caramelized pineapple; sliced grilled octopus with a salsa “ranchera”; sea bass ceviche with avocado; or there’s charbroiled beef tenderloin with zucchini and roasted capsicum salsa. For dessert, Poncho’s Flan, of course, made with horchata, mango, and berries.

Casa Poncho, 14 Bukit Pasoh Singapore, 089828. Tel (+65) 6224 5466 www.casaponcho.com

Helmed by head chefs, Chef Ichimaya and Chef Imai, Kazu Sushi Grill Sake’s kitchen offers premium sushi and sashimi with seafood and vegetables flown in from Japan three times a week. Specialty dishes on the a la-carte dinner menu include Omi Beef Tataki with Ponzu Gelee ($40) with Grade A4 Omi Wagyu beef from Shiga and crispy King Crab Tempura (market price) made with Kazu Sushi Grill Sake’s Doctor Fryer, (50% less oil than regular deep-fried nosh!).

There’s also a traditional Robata Grill for grilling seafood for a smoky sweet finish or take the decision making out with the omakase dinner of the chef’s specially curated menu.

Kazu Sushi Grill Sake, 5 Straits View, Marina One The Heart, #01-14 Singapore 018935, www.facebook.com/KazuSushiGrillSake/