Where To Eat & Drink: Doughnut Gelato Sandwiches, Nox — Dine In The Dark Reopens & 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 -
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.
Where to head to this week: Dine amidst darkness at Nox — Dine In The Dark's new restaurant, authentic gelato and desserts at GelatiAmo cafe, The Hainan Story's standalone bakery, and more.
Here's a cool new spot for ice cream. Gelato cafe GelatiAmo has opened up at One-north, with a Mediterranean-inspired space woven with modern elements. The cafe is helmed by chef Loris Massimini of Ristorante Pietrasanta, and promises authentic creamy treats made without premixes, colouring, or preservatives.
You'll find classics on the menu, such as Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Chocolate (made with 76 per cent cacao), Earl Grey, Melted Butter Coffee (made with Brazil single-origin coffee grinds) and more. Or go for gorgeously indulgent flavours like Ferrero Rocher, or a Burrata Balsamico, an icy take on Ristorante Pietrasanta's popular cheesecake with balsamic vinegar. The gelato is priced at $4.20 per scoop, $7.80 for a double scoop, and an additional $0.80 per scoop for premium flavours.
Also, check out novelties like gelato served in between a brioche bun or atop square cinnamon-coated doughnuts ($2.50, $6.50with gelato). Head down on Feb 18 and 19 and get a one-for-one deal on its single scoop gelato — simply ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ GelatiAmo’s social media platforms to enjoy the promotion.
GelatiAmo is at 1 Fusionopolis Way, Connexis B1-11, Singapore 138632. Visit its website for more information.
After shuttering its original Beach Road outlet, Nox – Dine In The Dark has opened its doors again with a new two-storey concept on Club Street. The modern European restaurant is best known for its intriguing concept of dining in complete darkness that supports the visually impaired community (its trained hosts are visually impaired) and you can expect the same experience here.
The interiors, conceptualised by architecture firm Genius Loci, boasts burnished copper furnishings and warm-toned interiors, as well as an RGB art wall and a Braille-inspired wall.
Whet your appetite with an amuse-bouche or sip on a signature cocktail at the waiting area at level one, before being led to the dark dining area for a 12-dish mystery menu. Ready your palate for a bevy of bold local-meets-European flavours, varying textures, and temperatures.
The refreshed cocktail program is helmed by Sam Wong of Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall, and doles out inventive sips like Ignite My Passion, which has vinegar that evolves the cocktail’s flavours over time, as well as the refreshing Kwai Fei, a blend of elderflower liqueur, gin, fresh grapefruit juice, and tonic water.
Tasting menus are priced from $88++. Wine flights begin from $30++ and cocktail flights from $50++. NOX –Dine In The Dark is located at 83Club St, Singapore 069451. Visit its website for more information.
Well-loved for its white beehoon, White Restaurant has revamped the former popular Sembawang Prawn Noodles as Fei Lou Fatt, a new 68-seater cafe that is wooing diners with prawn noodles and lok lok (skewered meats and vegetables).
The rich prawn broth is prepared daily here, and slow-cooked for up to 10 hours using fresh prawn heads. Signatures include the Big Prawn and Braised Pork Ribs Noodle ($16) that uses Ang Kar prawns and , Signature Fei Lou Noodle ($20) that stars jumbo Ang Kar prawns and 12-head abalone. Soup-based or dry versions are available, and you can opt for your noodle of choice. More of a rice lover? Try the Big Prawn-zuke ($16), starring Japanese rice and a crispy homemade fried rice cracker that's then poured over with the prawn broth.
If you're partial to lok lok, you'll be spoilt for choice with over 20 options here (from $1.20 to $3) that can be doused in seasonings like mala, seaweed, barbeque and furikake.
Fei Lou Fatt is at 928 Upper Thomson, Singapore 787121. Visit its Facebook or Instagram for more information.
Foodies after new culinary adventures in the East, swing by new dining hotspot PLQ Parkside, an enclave of eight F&B establishments combined with a touch of urban greenery, three of which are never-before-seen concepts.
Unlike Killiney's usual outlets, you can enjoy a selection of gin and wine for the first time at the new Killiney Bistro & Bar. Pair your drinks with original creations such as crispy Har Cheong Kai (fried chicken wings, $14++), mouth-watering Ngo Hiang ($15++), and spicy Sambal Stingray ($29++). Don't miss the charcoal-grilled kaya toast, which is toasted to a nice golden brown.
Contemporary Chinese restaurant Xin Yan has debuted Zing by Xi Yan, showcasing a blend of Asian Chinese and Western cuisines. Start with the Prawn Pomelo Salad with Sakura Ebi ($15++), topped with a refreshing dressing of calamansi, olive oil, and honey. Juicy chunks of pomelo add a nice burst of texture to the dish. A stand-out is the Salivating Chicken ($23). Perfect for mala lovers, it stars tender chicken, peanuts, century egg and a generous dose of mala spice. For desserts, the Goji Berry Ice Cream ($4.50++) with Croffle ($3.50++) is the epitome of soft, buttery goodness, complemented perfectly with strawberries and blueberries.
MasterChef Singapore judge Damien D'Silva's Rempapa aims to reinvent traditional Singaporean dishes for the younger palette. Kick back with the Limpeh Sliders ($20++) for beef rendang made modern. The intense spiciness is balanced by the sweetness of the puff pastry, and you'll get lots of juicy shredded beef. Don't end your visit without a taste of the Kueh Platter (from $6++). It features up to six different kuehs like the pan-fried Ang Ku Kueh and Talam Keladi that has been fried in shallot oil.
Killiney Bistro & Bar is at #01-10, Rempapa is at #01-01 to 03, and Zing by Xi Yan is at Zing by Xi Yan #01-06 to 08, PLQ Parkside, 2 Tanjong Katong Road.
The confections at Hainanese eatery The Hainan Story have proved such a hit that it has introduced a standalone bakery at Hillion Mall, presenting well-loved items like the Hainanese Classic Curry Chicken Polo Bun ($3.80), Uncle Otah Bun($2.80) and Bak Kwa Pork Floss Bun($3.80) and new additions.
Joining the menu are bakery-exclusive petite versions of its popular Swiss rolls ($10 for four), together with new flavours like Teh Susu, Red Velvet, Ondeh Ondeh and Oreo, alongside mini buns ($1.90 each) such as Hainanese Kopi Nutella Crispy Crust Bun, and Ondeh Ondeh Coconut Pandan Crispy Crust Bun.
You can sink your teeth into a slew of sourdough bakes too. A star player's the new 10-inch Hainanese-style sourdough pizzas like the Hainanese Curry Chicken ($24.80) and Hainanese Pork Cutlet with Pineapples($24.80). Or dive into the Hainanese Curry Sourdough Bomb ($19.80), with chewy bread enveloping a rich spicy chicken curry.
The Hainan Story is at 17 Petir Road, #01-43, Hillion Mall, Singapore 678278. Visit its website for more information.