Hot Off The Hob: Food News, New Menus and Restaurants in Singapore

Foodies, we’ve got your back with all the latest in food news in Singapore from new menus, to food deals, new chefs and the latest in restaurant relocations and refurbs

Looking for somewhere tasty for that dinner date? Dine somewhere a bit different with hip restaurant Dehesa’s excellent cuisine, or pop into Barrio by Mex Out for a quick bite post-shopping, get your bao fix at relocated Bao Makers and we tell you where to find free coffee in Singapore!

For more food talk, read our Foodie News Flash column of all the latest new restaurant openings in Singapore!

Click through our gallery for restaurant and food news in town!

Dehesa may not be on your radar, it’s tucked away on North Canal Rd and is saucily dark inside with good low lighting. If it’s not a restaurant you know, mark it down now. Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno, or “JP” as he is known to foodies and friends, opened Dehesa with its “nose to tail” menu a few years ago. This year, the focus is more on bold flavours and big plates. Chef JP is a master in the kitchen – dish upon dish is a flavourful delight. From the Jamon De Bellota carved up on the counter to more unusual dishes like the Crispy Tripe ($14). Now let me first say this – offal is not something I ever crave or often succumb to. If you feel the same way, don’t run just yet. I promise dishes at Dehesa (like the aforementioned tripe which is fried so it’s deliciously crunchy and crisp, doused in chillies and a ridiculous amount of garlic), will make you change your mind. For those who dare not, (really you should) but there are other dishes on the menu to entice like the Dehesa Bravas Potatoes ($12) of steamed layered potatoes that are then fried and are one of the better renditions on the island, and the absolute winner of a dish the Carabineros (serves 2 at $36) umami lobster bisque drenched arroz topped with deep-sea Giant Red Sweet Prawns, and the equally good Dehesa Octopus ($28), of neat thin slices of grilled octopus, on top of smashed potatoes pepped up with a caper vinegary dressing, with shavings of lardo that are blowtorched at your table. Boom. So so good. Dehesa is rolling out an all-you-can-eat brunch ($58) any minute now too. Highlight that one!

Dehesa, 12 N Canal Rd, Singapore 048825, Tel: (+65): 6221 7790, dehesa.com.sg

Barrio by Mex Out has changed up their menu people and we like all the gluten free options too! Expect the addition of large plates and new regional staples from all parts of Mexico. Plus a whole lotta new tacos like the slow-cooked Pork Carnitas with green salsa, Chicken Pastor and Prawn Chipotle ($6 per piece/ 4 for $17 or – and this we love – sharing platters of ten $38) or there’s Tuna Tostada ($9) sashimi-grade tuna with avocado crema, chipotle mayo and garlic chips on crispy corn tortilla. For sharing mains: Beef Barbacoa ($25), tender beef brisket braised for six hours in banana leaf, with creamy poblano pepper, corn, onions, Mexican rice and smoky red salsa. For those gluten free: Protein Salads or Mexican Salad ($13) with roasted tomato, zucchini and corn with crispy corn tortilla, aged cotija cheese, fresh coriander and a cream dressing. Wash this all down with a new selection of margaritas (all at $17 each) try the La De Guzano with Mezcal, agave syrup and fresh lime.  Happy Hour (3pm-5pm and 9pm till close) sees a bucket of Sol for $35!
Find them at 313 Somerset or Vivo City plus new locations opening next month – stand by for news!

Barrio by Mex Out, 313@Somerset #01-14/15, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895, www.mexout.com

Summerlong is the jewel in the crown of Quayside’s new bout of restaurant openings and they are offering a 1-for-1 on their takeaway coffee. Available from 5pm to midnight from Monday to Friday, and 10.30am to midnight on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays – stop in for your caffeine fix. Coffee is by “A Stimulant by SARNIES” so you know it’s gonna be good – and they even do a Bullet Proof coffee, pistachio latte, and orange and chili mocha! Whoop! So stay for lunch (we wrote about all the goodies Summerlong have on their menu here), leave for coffee!

Summerlong, 60 Robertson Quay #01-04, Singapore 238252, www.summerlongsg.com

Bao Makers have made quite a name for themselves with foodies in the know. They make buns (bao) with interesting quirky fillings from Chilli Crab, to Salted Egg Shrimps, and Salmon Mentaiko. They have just moved shop from Horne Rd to a more accessible in town spot of Jiak Chuan just off foodie street Keong Saik. They have been known to put icecream in their bao too plus they do coffee. They opened their new space a few days ago so if you’re curious head on down pronto!

Bao Makers, 4 Jiak Chuan Road, 089261 Singapore, Tel: (+65) 6291 2330, www.baomakers.com

You make know 13% Gastro Wine for wine and dinner but they have just opened their doors to lunchers too! 13% Gastro Wine’s menu is designed by award-winning chef Geoffrey Weckx, and features European lunches with a focus on fresh produce. Everything from the bread, to the rillettes and condiments is made in-house. Try the Duck Rillette sandwich with gherkins ($8) or the Burger La Pluma on a home made brioche bun with grilled Iberico ($16). The in-house wine connoisseur, Bruno Valliant, is on for wine pairing and we love that it’s available by carafe during lunch.

13% Gastro Wine, 14 Aliwal Street, 2nd floor 
117A Killiney Road, 2nd Floor, www.13gastrowine.com

Wakanui Grill Dining Singapore is a Japanese steakhouse serving, not Japanese meat but the finest beef and lamb from the South Island of New Zealand instead. Wakanui originally opened its doors in Tokyo in 2011 by Anzco Foods Japan, and has been known as a go-to for grilled meat and steak since. Now in Singapore, Wakanui offers up marbled juicy New Zealand Ocean Beef and WAKANUI Spring Lamb, grilled over Japan-sourced Binchotan charcoal in the open plan kitchen.

Wakanui Grill Dining Singapore, 5 Straits View #04-02, Marina One The Heart Singapore, 018935, Tel: (+65) 6384 2665, wakanui.sg

The insanely popular bib gourmand Man Man on 1 Keong Saik where queues make great snake impressions, have opened a second outlet at Duo Gallery. This is the place for unagi fans though Man Man do something different to the norm – they specialise in live grilled eels! Japanese imported eels are killed, skewered and grilled on the spot for donburi (from $18.60) to Hitsumabushi ($26.80).

Man Man Unagi, 7 Fraser Street, Duo Galleria, Singapore 189356