Where To Eat & Drink: A New Chocolate Destination, Luna Patisserie Opens In Joo Chiat & More
Our round-up of great dining spots to check out, fab drinks and the latest in food news this week
By Michelle Lee SM -Â
Always on the hunt for new dining spots? We bring you sound bites on where to eat, including new restaurant and eatery openings, the best places for your after-work tipple, and what’s new in the food scene.
What to check out this week: Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie opens at Dempsey, Luna Patisserie has a new cafe at Joo Chiat, a new Mod-Sin gastrobar and more.
The ever-bustling Joo Chiat enclave sees yet another entrant — Luna Patisserie, which has an outlet at Amoy Street, has opened the doors to its second cafe. While its Amoy Street cafe bears minimalist interiors with light wooden furnishings, the one at Joo Chiat takes on a raw industrial look. Think exposed walls and columns to stone table tops and a striking stone display counter.
Luna signatures like the Orh Nee Cake and Goma x PB are available, but there are also several outlet-exclusive cakes on the menu, all deftly crafted and fodder for your Instagram feed. Tofu ($8.50++) is a glossy package of thick silkened tofu with light hazelnut praline and toasted buckwheat that adds crunch. You can't go wrong with banana and chocolate, as the Caramel Banana Chocolate tart ($9++) shows, which has gooey caramelised bananas atop a milk chocolate cremeux. Just don't get too enthusiastic with photos lest it gets runny like ours did during our visit.
For something that has a little tartness, try Cassis Chocolate ($9++), with cassis cremeux brightening the white chocolate feuilletine, chocolate victoria sponge, and vanilla-infused mascarpone mousse. But while the confections are enjoyable enough on their own, the menu's rather vanilla and berry-focused — a little more variety in flavour profiles would have drummed up more excitement in terms of the new offerings.
For its savoury options, the Salmon Spinach Pesto quiche ($7.50++) deserves your attention — the crust is buttery with a snap, and houses a creamy filling with tender flaky salmon, and a subtle pesto flavour. An alternative would be the Forest Mushroom quiche ($7++).
Luna Patisserie is at 121 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427410. Visit its website for more information.
No Golden Ticket is needed to step into Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie at Dempsey Hill, a new chocolate wonderland that references Roald Dahl's iconic storybook, and is named after protagonist Charlie Bucket.
Spanning close to 5,000 sq ft, you'll be greeted by rainbow-hued cacao pod decorations at the entrance. This opens to multi-sensory zones that allow patrons to soak in the bean-to-bar experience. A Cacao Garden, for instance, invites patrons to witness the processing of cacao beans. And over at The Chocolate Room, you can watch Mr Bucket’s famous chocolate bonbons and pastries handcrafted in real-time. Or if you want to try your hand at making your own, the space also houses Singapore’s first-ever build-your-own chocolate slab station.
From bonbons and bars to housemade bakes and entremets, drinking chocolate and cacao wine, everything in Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie is made fresh daily. They're also made using responsibly sourced single-estate Asian chocolate, which the chocolate maker champions.
To enjoy your treat outdoors, there's a breezy al fresco patio that seats up to 60, or you can park yourself at the indoor Tasting Room. From bakes like sea salt brownies to chocolate passionfruit tarts to entremets and tasting sets, the menu will include imaginative chocolate-filled treats to linger over.
And if you'd like to bring home some morsels to enjoy or share with loved ones, head to The Dispensary retail section. You're encouraged to bring your own containers as a nod to sustainability.
Mr Bucket Chocolaterie is at 13 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249674. Opens 12pm to 10pm (Tues to Fri) and 10am to 10pm (Sat, Sun & PH). Closed on Mod.  Â
Six months after debuting Cafe Natsu in Joo Chiat, Michelin one-star chef Lewis Barker has conceptualised yet another new space, this time in Clemenceau Citadines Connect Hotel.
The new location exudes the same laidback vibes of a Melbourne-style cafe imbued with the elegance of a Japanese establishment. The menu showcases Western brunch classisc with Japanese influences like the housemade Buckwheat Granola ($16++) with yuzu curd as well as poached Florentine eggs ‍($25++) with dressed crab and miso Hollandaise on the menu. There's also the signature Wagyu Sando ($26++) of slow-cooked cuts sandwiched in fluffy toasted shokupan and the crowd-pleasing Baked Hokkaido Cheese Tart ($8++).
There are also new outlet exclusives, with a  stronger Japanese influence such as the hearty Wagyu Hamburg with Okonomiyaki ($26++), Shortrib Ragu Kare Casarecce ($24++), and BBQ Shirobuta Don with Soy Caramel and Shishito Peppers ($24++), while the Cold Somen with Confit Egg Yolk and Soy Dashi ($14++) presents a lighter option.
Cafe Natsu Clemenceau is at 182 Clemenceau Ave, Singapore 239923. Opens daily (9.30am to 5.30pm). Visit its website for more information.
The latest concept from Jumbo is sui Yi Gastrobar. The menu, put together by Jumbo's top culinary experts, invites guests to chow down on Mod-Sin bar grub. There s are snacks like the Chilli Crab Flower Dome ($16), kueh pie tee filled with crabmeat, Jumbo's chilli crab sauce and caviar, alongside Pork Lard Crunch ($7++), a sinfully indulgent toss-up of crispy pork lard, ikan bilis, curry leaves and more.
The lineup of seafood includes Master Hawker’s Sambal Stingray($28++) and Sambal Sotong ($28++), chargrilled to smoky perfection with fragrant sambal sauce. For an inventive spin on a local classic, try the crunchy fried Fill Good Chicken Rice Balls ($14++).
And if you're up for a private party, there are six private karaoke rooms. Designed to house between eight to 16 persons, you can belt out your favourite tunes while enjoying a hearty meal. Each room is soundproofed, built with a state-of-the-art karaoke system and offers a wide selection of songs. Connecting rooms can also hold larger groups. Take your pick from three dining packages for its private rooms, at $328++, $528++ and $1,028 ++ each. All packages come with seven sharing appetisers and two mains.Â
Sui Yi Gastrobar is at  20 Upper Circular Road, #B1-48, The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416. Opens daily from 5pm to 12pm. (Kitchen’s last order at 10.45pm)
Quaich Bar Wanderlust located within InterContinental Singapore is where you can sip on signature cocktails and dishes inspired by different countries. The interiors are suitably fashioned as a retro luxe travel lounge decked with tasseled chandeliers, marbled tables, leather and velvet-clad seats, alongside walls lined with travel paraphernalia.
The cocktail programme, devised by general manager and head bartender Joshua Sim nod to the flavours,sees 19 libations that draw on different countries, from a Korean barbeque-inspired Miyeok Guk ($25++)Â with seaweed-washed vodka, makgeolli and sesame oil to a Mojito-meets-Thai milk tea creation. There's also a Chinese-style Bourbon Sour variant called Triple Happiness ($25++) with prune-infused bourbon, red dates, and ginseng syrup.
Unsurprisingly, as the Quaich brand is known for, there's an extensive collection of at least 100 world whiskies for enthusiasts and most are available by the glass. Think house exclusives like Bunnahabhain 12 years (Scotland), Tipperary Watershed (Ireland), The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Colheita (England).
The food menu by chef Mervin Leung is travel-themed too, with highlights like a Nanlu Pork Belly ($16++) for fermented tofu-marinated slices of deep-fried pork belly, a Mediterranean-style Octopus ($28++) on spicy tomato puree, and lightly seared Hokkaido scallops ($25++) on mash infused with sakura denbu (sweet seasoned codfish condiment) and ikura.
Quaich Bar Wanderlust is at 80 Middle Rd, Level 1 InterContinental Hotel, Singapore 188966. Visit its website for reservations and more information.