After teasing an omakase concept with a pop-up at Capitol, Zouk Group has now opened the doors to its first omakase restaurant, Sushi Ichizuke. Dark and intimate with a contemporary vibe, the main dining area can seat 16, while the private rooms can house eight and 12 respectively.

The kitchen is headed by head chef Ryoichi Nakatani, who brings with him over twenty years of experience as a sushi chef, intricate curing techniques, and precise knife skills.

You can look forward to his signatures like the House-special Handroll filled with Totoro (bluefin tuna belly), the Ichizuke Don with fresh seafood like uni, ikura, and Hokkaido hairy crab, as well as Edo-style Zuke Maguro, a marinated tuna dish. You can count on fresh ingredients used here, with seasonal ingredients imported twice a week from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market.

The lunch menu starts from $80++ (five courses) to $180++ (seven courses), and the dinner menu starts from $220++ (seven courses) to $380++ (eight courses). Sushi Ichizuke is at 3E River Valley Road, The Cannery, #02-01/02, Singapore 179024. Call or text 9489 8357 ahead for a reservation.

At the same time, the Zouk Group has also debuted Japanese speakeasy, Here Kitty Kitty, which recalls 1950s Shinjuku. Within the 75-seater space, you’ll find a distinctive bar and three concept rooms — including the Cathouse, Mamasan Lounge, and the Shibari Room — as well as a private bar and lounge.

Come here for the cocktails, like the bar’s signature Here Kitty Kitty Highball ($22++) a classic cocktail of Kaku-bin whiskey, Chita whiskey, lemon and soda, or the Haku-Hai ($24++), boasting earthy notes of matcha, Haku vodka, Calpis, and lemon.

And if you have the munchies, don’t miss out on bar bites like the Wagyu Sando ($58++) that’s also studded with caviar and uni, and the Here Kitty Kitty Signature Maki ($28++) stuffed with soft shell crab. Got an adventurous palate? Go for the Fugu & Ehire Shioyaki ($16++), a salt-grilled dish with dried pufferfish and stingray fin served with spicy mayo.

Here Kitty Kitty is at 3E River Valley Road, The Cannery, #02-01/02, Singapore 179024. Call or text 9489 8357 ahead for a reservation.

Pacific Northwest Seafood has brought its selection of premium, sustainable seafood to our shores from the pristine cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

While you can purchase its products from Angliss Singapore, it has also teamed up with The World Gourmet Summit 2021 and nine restaurants in Singapore to showcase its best catches — Pacific Dover sole, black cod, and Pacific rockfish — during limited time periods from now till October. Restaurants include Permata, HolyCrab, Peach Blossoms, Kucina, Yantra, Grissini, Punjab Grill, Tamarind Hill, The Malayan Council, and Opio Kitchen & Bar.

Over at buffet restaurant Permata, for instance, you’ll find four fish dishes cooked with Nusantara flavours; the Ikan Bakar Dover Sole is marinated with sambal bajak and wrapped in turmeric leaves for a spicy and aromatic hit, while the Cod Fish with Pineapple and Bean Sauce stars soft buttery cod slices in a thick sauce. Don’t miss the Black Cod Soup that boasts a tasty and velvety broth topped with crispy fried black cod.

The Pacific Northwest showcase at Permata is available from Sept 20 – 30, 2021. Weekday lunches are at $42++ per adult and $22++ per child (five to 10 years old), and dinners are at $48++ per adult and $22++ per child. Permata is at 73 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198497.

Visit Pacific Northwest Seafood Asia’s Instagram page for each restaurant’s showcase dates.

If you’re ready to let loose this weekend, make a booking for pizza joint Lucali BYGB’s new all-you-can-drink weekend brunch affair. From Friday to Sunday, indulge in two hours of unlimited rosé, wine, beer, and cocktails at $100, and $150 for additional Pol Roger champagne.

If you need to line your bellies, there’s a la carte grub such as Boneless Buffalo Wings ($20++), Fried Oysters in Rockerfeller style ($20++), and Meatball Parmesan Sandwich ($30++).

Lucali BYGB is at 66 Kampong Bugis, Level M. Visit its website for reservations or call  8284 1325.

Classic grigliata (an Italian summer outdoor grill) dishes with inventive twists take centre stage at Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen, a new grill restaurant nestled in a shophouse at Craig Road. And yes, the name of the restaurant was inspired by the grigliata.

The  41-seater restaurant boasts rustic chic interiors of wood, brick, and metal that nod to the outdoor setting of a grigliata, and an open kitchen. Here, dishes are designed to be served in smaller sharing portions, so you’ll get to have a taste of everything.

Think antipasti with seasonal produce, Hokkaido scallops crudo ($22++), and short ribs cannellone ($22++), as well as small portions of pasta like house-made pappardelle with braised pork jowl ($20++). Then there are, of course, the grilled meats, which range from 30 Days Dry Aged Porterhouse ‘Fiorentina’ ($128++ for 700g) to Spiced New Zealand Lamb Rack ($44++), and Whole Spanish Turbot ($58++ for 400g).

To accompany your meal, choose from over 100 wines from different regions, or a slew of tasty cocktails.

Griglia is at 37 Craig Road, Singapore 089675. Visit its website for reservations.