Singapore Dining and Singapore Food Guide
This list features selected dining establishments as recommended by WHERE
Singapore magazine and IS Magazine Restaurant Guide.
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Fishermen's Village
It's a hike to get to, but once you reach this beach-front property, you
can sample Chilli Crabs, spicy Thai glass noodles and fresh coconut juice.
Open Mon-Fri 5 pm-1 am, Sat-Sun 11am-midnight. Pasir Ris Park, 165 Pasir
Ris Road. Tel: 6-585-1211.
:: The Red Book
Inspiring restaurant serving mainly contemporary Asian dishes with Chinese,
Japanese, Thai and Indian twists. Order the soft Peking Duck Roll, Black
Bean Perch and Pineapple Pork Ribs. Open daily from noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm.
#01-09/10 Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade, 442 Orchard Road. Tel: 6-733-7667.
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Hai Tien Lo
This place reaches great heights on all fronts: stylish, haute Cantonese
cuisine, upscale service and wonderful ambiance come together on the 37th
floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel. Open Mon-Sat noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm.
Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm. 37th Floor, Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles
Blvd. Tel: 6-434-8338.
:: Imperial Herbal Restaurant
This restaurant is known for its healthy and delicious food. Most of the
dishes are prepared with traditional herbs known for their medicinal properties.
If you aren't sure what ails you, consult the resident sinseh (herbalist)
before ordering. The menu also features a number of exotic dishes - crocodile
soup, scorpions, turtles and eel. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm.
3rd Floor, Metropole Hotel, 41 Seah Street. Tel: 6-337-0491. Also check
out its other smaller and less formal sister restaurant, Imperial Hot
Wok. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10pm. #01-01 Far East Square, 72 Telok
Ayer St. Tel: 6-438-8918.
:: Jade
Located in the grand deluxe Fullerton Hotel, this popular restaurant features
award-winning local chef, Sam Leong, who has created a menu that varies
seasonally, but has favorites like nourishing congees, Dim Sum and Cocoa
Pork Ribs. Open daily 11:30am-3pm, 6:30-11pm. Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton
Square. Tel: 6-877-8188.
:: Lei Garden
An enduring local favorite, this classy place dishes up a mean Peking
Duck and the Dim Sum is legendary. Open daily 11:30am-3pm, 6-11pm. #01-24
CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street. Tel: 6-339-3822. Also located at #09-01/02
Orchard Plaza, 150 Orchard Rd. Tel: 6-738-2448.
:: Wan Hao
Located in the pagoda structure of the Marriott Hotel on Orchard Road
and accented by Zen-inspired calligraphy paintings, this restaurant serves
wonderful Cantonese Dim Sum. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm, Sat-Sun
11:30am-4pm, 6-10:30pm. Marriott Hotel, 320 Orchard Road. Tel: 6-735-5800.
 ::
Club Chinois
Using most traditional ingredients, Chef Susur Lee of Club Chinois marries
classical Chinese cuisine with Western styles, tastes and presentation,
producing unforgettable combinations such as Peking Duck with foie gras.
Open daily 7-10:30am, noon-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm. Sunday brunch 11am-2:30pm.
#02-18 Orchard Parade Hotel, 1 Tanglin Rd. Tel: 6-834-0660.
:: Doc Cheng's
Funky Doc Cheng's carries an inspired East-meets-West theme and impresses
with its "trans-ethnic" cuisine. What this translates to is
that your rack of lamb might be flavored with Szechuan influences, your
duck dish may be mixed with Malay spices and tiramisu could be flavored
with lemon grass. Open daily noon-2pm, 7-10pm. No lunch on Saturday/Sunday.
#02-02 Raffles Hotel Arcade (within the premises of the Raffles Hotel),
1 Beach Rd. Tel: 6-331-1612.
 ::
Au Jardin
Certainly one of the prettiest dining spaces in Singapore. This exclusive
establishment is set in a 1920s restored bungalow fringed by the beautiful
Botanic Gardens and seats only 12 tables. Only set menus are available.
Open Tues-Fri noon-2pm, Tues-Sun 7-9pm. No lunch Saturday/Sunday. EJH
Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, 1 Cluny Road.
Tel: 6-466-8812.
:: Maison De Fontaine
Inside this elegant yet unpretentious restaurant, expect to get some delicious
food and service. Their Escargot in Herbed Butter has got to be among
the best in town, and their lamb is done to perfection. Open daily noon-2:30pm,
6:30pm-midnight. #01-26/27 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St. Tel: 6-334-7663.
:: The Lighthouse
Perched atop the grand Fullerton Hotel, this intimate, stylish restaurant
boasts panoramic views of the Singapore harbor. It is an exclusive establishment
with its seating space of 38 and set menus. Open Mon-Sat noon-2pm, 7-9:30pm.
No lunch Saturday. Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square. Tel: 6-877-8932.
:: Salut
A beautiful setting, impeccable service and absolutely delectable food
keep Salut high on fine-dining lists. Though the menu changes frequently,
the escargot is always excellent. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm.
25-27 Tanjong Pagar Rd. Tel: 6-225-7555.
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Banana Leaf Apolo
This cafeteria-style restaurant is a favorite among the locals for South
Indian fare. Menu mainstays include more than one type of curry, meat
dishes like chicken and mutton, Masala dishes and seafood like crabs and
prawns. The prawns are the size of mini-lobsters, the plain naan is steaming
hot, the curry can be fiery and the mango ice cream is deliciously cooling.
Open daily 10:30am-10pm. 54/56/58 Race Course Rd. Tel: 6-293-8682.
:: Kinara
This place has both great looks and good food. Antique furniture and brass
and copper tableware give the place an extra bit of glitter. You'll enjoy
a warm glow from the ambiance and a warmer one from the spicy North Indian
curries and dishes. Delectable lamb dishes, tender Murgh Pastoom Chicken
and a full range of naans are excellent choices. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm,
6:30-11pm. 57 Boat Quay (along the Singapore River). Tel: 6-533-0412.
:: Muthu's Curry
This high-traffic establishment is famous for its Fish Head Curry and
is definitely a must-try. Expect this place to be packed during lunch
time (reservations not accepted). Your rice is served on banana leaves
while a waiter brings metal buckets filled with curried vegetables and
scoops them out for you. While spicy, the food is unlikely to disappoint.
Open daily 10am-10pm. 76-78 Race Course Rd. Tel: 6-293-2389.
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Mezza9
This 450-seat restaurant (yes, 450) is Zen and chic at the same time.
Located in the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Orchard, you can sit anywhere and
order Japanese, Italian or Chinese, then adjourn to the martini bar for
after-dinner drinks. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-11pm. Grand Hyatt Hotel, 10-12
Scotts Rd. Tel: 6-730-7189.
:: Raffles Grill
Christened the "Elizabethan Grill" in the 1950s, this restaurant
relives colonial life and Old World charm. The standards are severely
high to ensure an unforgettable occasion. The menu offers a varied selection
of continental classics with contemporary overtones. Open Mon-Fri noon-2pm,
daily 7-10pm. Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road. Tel: 6-331-1611.
:: SHROOMS
It's casual but elegant and fun. Star chef Marcel Sawyere serves up an
enticing menu that blends European cooking techniques with flavors from
around the world. Open daily noon-3pm, 6:30-10:30pm. No lunch Saturday/Sunday.
#01-18/20 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St. Tel: 6-336-2268.
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Ah Hoi's Kitchen
With refurbished old tables, porcelain chopstick holders, plates, bowls
and spoons, Ah Hoi's provides an authentic 1960s Singapore dining experience.
Some of the top dishes include Ngoh Hiang (yam and meat wrapped in bean
curd skin and deep fried), Kung Bao Chicken Mee Goreng and Black Pepper
Kway Teow (flat rice noodles). Prices are reasonable too. Open daily noon-2:30pm,
6:30-10:30pm. Traders Hotel (poolside), 1A Cuscaden Rd. Tel: 6-831-4373.
:: Blue Ginger
A good place to sample Singapore's unique Peranakan (Straits Chinese)
cuisine. Recommended dishes include Beef Rendang (beef in spicy gravy),
Ayam Panggang (fried chicken), Ikan Chilli (chilli fish), and for dessert,
try the Durian Chendol. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm. #05-02C
The Heeren Shops, 260 Orchard Rd. Tel: 6-835-3928.
:: East Coast Seafood Centre
The Chilli Crabs and Black Pepper Crabs at the East Coast Seafood Centre
are always a sure bet. This breezy by-the-sea spot is home to about a
dozen local seafood restaurants, of which Jumbo (#01-08, East Coast Seafood
Centre. Tel: 6-442-3435) and New Kheng Luck (#01-06, East Coast Seafood
Centre. Tel: 6-444-5911) are most notable and recommended. The center
is open daily from 5pm onwards. East Coast Parkway.
:: House of Peranakan Cuisine
Another favorite spot for Peranakan food despite the at-times tacky d?cor
(mannequins dressed in sarong kebayas). The important thing is that the
food is delicious. Try the Chili Pomfret (fish), Nonya Duck and Beef Rendang.
Portions are rather generous, so do save some room for dessert. Open daily
11:30am-3pm, 6-10:30pm. Located in the Meritus Negara Hotel, 10 Claymore
Rd. Tel: 6-733-4411.
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J P Bastiani
Count on spending some time at the downstairs bar while waiting to get
seated as this charming restaurant is perpetually busy. The open-air kitchen
dining room upstairs is warm and inviting and perfect for an intimate
evening out. Must-haves include the Pan-fried Foie Gras on Apple Walnut
Salad and a very tender rack of lamb. Open daily noon-2:30pm , 6:30-10:30pm.
#01-12 Merchant's Court, Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Rd. Tel: 6-433-0156.
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Patara
A popular hangout for locals seeking Thai food, we recommend the Garlic
and Pepper Spare Ribs, the Deep Fried Pomfret (fish) the Green Curry and
of course, the must-have Pineapple Rice. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-10:30pm.
#03-14 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd. Tel: 6-737-0818.
:: Pimai Thai
One of the island's most upscale Thai restaurants, Pinai claims to serve
"Royal Thai" cuisine. Order the Tom Yum Soup, Cispy Fried Garrupa
with Chilli and Green Curry with Prawns. Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm.
No dinner on Sunday. Hotel Inter-Continental, 80 Middle Rd. Tel: 6-431-1064.
 As
a testament that we Singaporeans take our food very seriously, there's
the annual Singapore Food Festival. Throughout this month-long culinary
celebration, there's something to satisfy everyone's craving.
To be held from March 29 - April 30, 2002, the 9th Singapore Food Festival
promises to feast your senses with a sizzling platter of great food and
other gourmet pleasures. The festival will be complemented by an exciting
spectrum of culinary events, workshops and food tours, making the Festival
a feast of epicurean proportions.
For additional information visit www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg
(c) Provided by Tourism
Authority of Singapore
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