Cliche as it sounds, all good things come to an end. And as reluctant as we are to see these four restaurants leave the food scene here in Singapore, here’s the lowdown on why you should pay them a visit soon (if you haven’t already) and what you should order before we bid farewell to them – for good.
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Set up in 2015 by celebrity chef Bjorn Shen and local chef Anthony Yeoh from famed Cocotte restaurant, Bird Bird was initially serving Thai-inspired street grub at Ann Siang Hill before moving to Frankel Avenue with a brand new concept without any feathers ruffled (no pun intended). Think American-style diner with a touch of class which translates to fried chicken, homemade curly fries and wines.
The star of the show is definitely its variety of fried sakura chicken, tender and oozing with juice. We’re not complaining about the variety too, ranging from a classic, Southern to Lebanese, paired with Za’atar spices. If this isn’t enough to convince you, Bird Bird was nominated for Best Cafe at this year’s Chope Diners Choice Awards.
Some of the best dishes to try include the Lebanese Fried Chicken. Slathered in honey and lemon plus a sprinkling of za’atar and complemented by toum, an intensely garlicky emulsion to tie the flavours together, the Lebanese Fried Chicken is an interesting middle-eastern twist on our favourite bird.Available in two serving sizes ,The Whole Damn Bird ($49++) and Half Bird ($25++).
There’s always room for desserts , so don’t miss out on the range of softies cups as well. If you bear huge love for the king of fruit, the Durian Softie Cup ($9 ++) is unapologetically good. It’s toasted milk softie drenched in intense gula melaka caramel with a durian pudding.
The chef duo will be serving their last meals on Nov 26 due to the cut-throat nature of the F&B industry, according to Yahoo, but will be celebrating their exit with an all-you-can-eat party on Nov 24-26. It’s priced at $39 ++ per pax for adult and $20++ for children below 12. The best part? It promises to get you satisfried, one last time.There are no plans for the relocation of Bird Bird but Bjorn will be focusing efforts on his other modern middle-eastern restaurant, Artichoke.
97 Frankel Avenue
After eight years of operation, the upcoming closure of this two-Michelin-starred French fine-dining restaurant during 2018’s Valentine’s Day has been talked about in the F&B industry. It’s not surprising why.Having been lauded by The New York Times as one of the top 10 restaurants in the world worth a plane ride, its Octaphilosophy Menu is worth every penny despite the estimated $400 price point (without drinks).
Comprising eight elements such as Unique, Pure, Texture, Memory, Salt, and more forming the DNA of Chef Andre Chiang’s cuisine, the courses are switched up daily, offering an element of surprise. It’s akin to a symphony of all sorts and some dishes are phenomenal to make you do a double take.
One of his most striking creations is the Smoked Swordfish and Cucumber Millefeuille with Chrysanthemum Jelly. We’re talking about delicate slices of daikon, shiso, cucumber and seaweed all sandwiched between smoked swordfish and chrysanthemum flower jelly, all perked with jalapeno sauce. Unique combination, we approve.
We also love that the restaurant has only 30 seats, making the dining experience an intimate one. Perfect for special occasions.
Starting from Oct 10, 2017, the Farewell Octaphilosophy menu that comes with beverages will be served at $800++ per pax and is available for both lunch and dinner. Just a word of advice: Make your reservations early and only on the restaurant’s website due to its high volume of requests. If you miss the opportunity though, not all is lost. Chef Andre would continue his legacy at his other restaurant, RAW in Taipei after the closure.
41 Bukit Pasoh Road
Quietly tucked away in the lush greenery of Rochester Park, Nosh is literally a hidden gem housed in a historic colonial setting that offers great urban respite. It doesn’t stop there. The dining areas are divided into three main sections, so take your pick.
Taking centre stage amongst the green foliage is the Greenhouse, a charming alfresco dining area made for quiet dinner or brunches.Next is the latest member of space, the Noshery – an all-day dining space. Serving globally inspired, casual bistro cuisine, it’s best known as one of the spots for affordable weekend brunch. Gorgeous photo ops are also at every turn, they’ve nailed the rustic look with botanical wallpapers and wooden decor. #Instagrammable.
The third space is Country Kitchen, an exclusive private dining room, warm, cosy and intimate. Ideal for hosting special celebrations like weddings.
Cult favourites that are a must order are the Lamb Shank Mechoui ($30) if you have a preference for strong and bold flavours and the Pan Roasted Barramundi ($28) which is lighter on the palate with a fresh twist. The dish features locally sourced fish with familiar Asian flavours such as coconut and kaffir lime.
Last day of operations will be on the Dec 31, 2017 due to the redevelopment of Rochester Park, so it’s still not too late to grab your brunch squad there and nosh to your heart’s content.
9 Rochester Park
Also affected by the redevelopment of Rochester Park, UNA (under 1- Group) will also be saying goodbye on Jan 27, 2018 after having been credited with setting new al fresco dining standards since 2014. The Spanish restaurant prides itself for serving only the freshest and authentic tapas and parrilla (grill in Spanish) that is robust, wholesome and flavourful.
Rejoice, seafood fans! We recommend the highly raved Fideau de Calamaresm ($20), squid ink spanish noodles paella with crispy calmari that’s bound to make you yearn for more.
According to a source , there’s a possibility that UNA may return but till then, there are new restaurants under the same company to check out such as MONTI and Stellar at 1- Altitude.
1 Rochester Park
Text: Shannon Ang/HerWorldPlus
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