Where To Eat & Drink: Tokyo's Famed Sushi Takahashi Is Here, A Singapore Dessert Festival & More

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's new: Tokyo's Sushi Takahashi makes its Singapore debut, The Astor Grill is now a permanent concept at The St. Regis Singapore, the Museum of Ice Cream is rolling out a Singapore Dessert Festival, and more.

The Astor Grill by The St. Regis offers an expanded menu by new Chef de Cuisine Angelo Sergio

The Astor Grill at St. Regis Singapore has welcomed a new chef de cuisine, Angelo Sergio, who brings to the table his mastery of the grill, and know-how in varied cuts of meat. Bask in the grandeur of the high-ceilinged space, as you tuck into delectable cuts prepared on a custom-built parilla grill, with charcoal and vulcan stones imbuing them with a robust smoky flavour.

One of Sergio's recommendations is the 500-day grain-fed MB9+ Full Blood Autumn Wagyu ($138++), which is tender and buttery with a smokey charred crust. For sharing, there's the hefty 800g Dry-Aged Bone-In Shell Loin ($238++) that's a combination of three diverse cuts — bone-in striploin, bone-in ribeye, and T-bone.

Not in the mood for beef? Order the Grilled US Kurobuta Pork Chop ($52++). Its accompanying tangy Asian-inspired sauce of ginger, lemongrass, sesame and soya sauce pairs well with the rich, succulent meat. The Grilled Boston Live Lobster ($108++)with herb butter and the Butterflied Spring Chicken ($44++), cooked sous vide for three hours till tender before grilling and topped with a citrusy crumbly gratin are good options, too.

Conclude your meal with the classic baked Alaska flambeed at the table, with airy Italian meringue concealing a mix of pistachio gelato, tart raspberry sorbet, and a thin chocolate sponge layer. If you have room still, do yourself a favour and get the luscious lava cake or sticky date pudding, too.

The Astor Grill is at St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Rd, Singapore 247911. Visit its website for reservations and more information.

Tokyo's renowned Sushi Takahashi lands in Singapore

Tokyo's popular Sushi Takahashi, helmed by chef-owner Jun Takahashi, has opened its first international outpost in Singapore. Here, his protege, chef Rinto Sasagawa holds the reins.

The intimate 12-seater space resembles a tranquil Zen garden, right down to the mini sand gardens that greet diners as they are seated. Both lunch and dinner menus are available, with two seatings per session, showcasing speciality ingredients and seafood procured directly from various Japanese prefectures, especially Hokkaido.

I tried the Shoshu dinner menu (nine dishes and six nigiri, $320++), which opens with a beautiful Karesansui Zen Garden Platter of ikura in ichiban dashi, seasonal buri and Hokkaido ankimo (monkfish liver) — marinated and aged in chef Rinto’s secret sauce. Then comes a duo of crispy-skinned unagi and anago (fresh and saltwater eel) as well as a silky scallop-studded chawanmushi that swims in a viscous broth of flavourful dashi. Hints of black pepper add a surprising but welcome punch.

Six courses of nigiri follow, with the most memorable being the amaebi (sweet shrimp) topped with Oscietra caviar and a dab of moshio (Japanese sea salt) which culminates in a gloriously creamy mouthfeel. There's also menuke (deep sea rockfish) seared with charcoal to coax out its oils and add a smoky aroma, as well as nishin (herring) wrapped with kombu. Of course, the requisite akami, otoro and chutoro, sourced from Hokkaido's Hunka Bay, don't disappoint.

Another highlight is the signature uni ankimo rice bowl, a marriage of flavours and textures — think sweet, savoury, crunchy and creamy. I love the inclusion of crunchy narazuke (Japanese pickles), which lifts all the richness.

A serene tea ceremony, as well as a housemade seasonal dessert (I had juicy muscat wrapped in soft mochi) caps off the meal.

Lunch is at $180++ for the Koyu menu and $250++ for the Shurei menu. Dinner is at $320++ for the Shosu menu, and $480++ for the Signature Omakase Nagatsuki Menu. Sushi Takahashi is at 4 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238955.

Museum of Ice Cream Singapore has launched its inaugural Sweet Spots guide

Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) recently debuted its Sweet Spots Guide, naming 50 dining spots in Singapore that have won its Spoon awards. Establishments received awards ranging from one to three spoons based on evaluations conducted by anonymous judges. There were 10 winners with three spoons, 15 with two spoons, and 24 with one spoon.

Those who walked away with three spoons include Le Matin Patisserie, Rempapa, plant-based ice cream brand Kind Kones and Tigerlily Patisserie, while two-spoon winners saw names like Creamier, Hvala and Catkin by Huishan.

For one day only on Oct 28, five award-winning establishments — Rempapa, Kind Kones, Tigerlily Patisserie, White Marble, and ADDA — will take over all of the treat stations at MOIC to showcase their delightful delicacies the public. Event tickets will go on sale on Oct 10, 2023 tickets.museumoficecream.sg.

The Museum of Ice Cream is at 100 Loewen Rd, Singapore 248837. Visit the Sweet Spots website for the full list of winners.

Morton's The Steakhouse reopens with new cocktails and dishes

After a seven-month closure for a renovation alongside the rest of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, the 25-year-old steakhouse has reopened and added a repertoire of offerings to its menu. Think inventive new cocktails as well as grilled meats and seafood.

Popular for its premium steaks and succulent seafood, Morton’s new additions include a new creamy Baked Corn Souffle ($25++) to start your meal with. And for seafood, there's the Grilled Oyster Casino ($49++) and Miso Marinated Sea Bass ($78++). Prefer more turf to surf? Try the Japanese A5 Wagyu New York Strip ($150++) or Tomahawk Ribeye ($298++). End on a sweet note with the rich Hazelnut & Chocolate Mousse ($27++).

The cocktail programmes sees over 20 new additions, too. Or take your pick from the Morton’s Mixology selection, with options like the peach syrup-infused Torino Tonic, Bourbon Old Fashioned, Blackberry Mojito, Summer Sangria, or sweet Lavender Cosmo at $29++.

Or if you head down during Power Hour (5pm to 7pm, Mon to Fri), you'll get to sip on conconctions such as the Mezcalrita, Old Square, and the tropical Pineapple Paradise, all at $19++.

For the month of October, there's a Pink Love cocktail ($25++) created as a nod to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A proceed of $1 will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Singapore for every glass sold.

Morton's The Steakhouse is at Level 3, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039797. Visit its website for reservations or more information.