Restaurant News & New Menus in Singapore: Hot Off The Hob September

Foodies: we bring you the latest food news including new menus, new chefs, restaurant relocations and refurbs in town

This month Vatos Urban Tacos launches weekend Kor-Mex brunch and Tanjong Beach Club now serves up a new brunch beachside every day! Get your antioxidant fix with Tiong Bahru Bakery’s new Bluebell breakfast; a second branch of Med Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen opens; Sushi Chiharu brings out a new Edomae-sushi menu; Hangar offers a new lunch menu and Bakalaki’s online Greek deli opens and more!

Vatos Urban Tacos — New Weekend Brunch & Kids’ Menu

Vatos Urban Tacos specialises in Ko-Mex. Not sure what that is? Scroll to the end of this article. Vatos Urban Tacos is a fave of ours when we’re craving fries slathered in kimchi, pork and sauce (aka Kimchi Carnitas Fries). Little ones will be more than happy with the Mozzarella Cheese Quesadilla ($9), Fish sticks and chips ($9), or the Bean and Rice Burrito ($9). The latter is a hearty serving of Mexican rice, black beans, and cheese packed into in a flour tortilla. The crispy Beef Taco sees a crispy corn tortilla shell, with carne asada, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream served with fires. For adults, there are new brunch dishes (weekend only): the Breakfast Burrito ($14) makes for great hangover chow with grilled meat, scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, and Mexican Breakfast Potatoes in a flour tortilla with Chipotle Ketchup on the side. For the Instagrammers, there’s the Avocado Toast ($14). This could easily be ordered for foodie kids too. Pretty arranged sliced avocado, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, and sliced radish are arranged on grilled, buttered sourdough bread and topped with poached egg. Traversing the Ko-Mex gap are dishes like the Chorizo Kimchi Fried Rice ($14) and the Vatos Migas ($16) of chorizo or carne asada mixed with red onions pepper jack and cheddar cheeses, crunchy corn tortilla strips and scrambled eggs, topped with pico de gallo and fresh avocado.

Vatos Urban Tacos, 36 Beach Road, South Beach Quarter, Singapore 189673, Tel: (+65) 6385 6010, www.vatoskorea.com

Tanjong Beach Club –– New Pretty Brunch Dishes Served Beachside

Tanjong Beach Club is now serving all-day brunch, every day! Long a fave spot for beachside fun (after sunset sees the party crowd, while sunrise sees the volleyball peeps, families and dog walkers, and in-between is a little mix of everything). There’s something for everyone with the menu here — burgers and fries for big kids, a junior portion of pasta or fish and chips for littlies, while foodies will be excited about their news dishes which are very easy on the eye! The Grain Salad with Octopus ($21) is one Instaworthy dish of greens and a rainbow of colours topped with little tendrils of octopus. Then there’s the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio ($28) sourced from Ranger’s Valley in Australia with pine nuts, jicama and kaffir aioli, and the Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche ($25) from Japan with burnt corn, coriander cress and topped with Nikkei tiger’s milk. Because it’s brunch it wouldn’t be complete without avocado on toast;  enter the Smashed Avo Toast ($25) with optional poached eggs; a powerhouse of antioxidants in the Açai Bowl; and crowd pleasers like Buttermilk Pancakes with Apple Compote and  Whipped Mascarpone. For dessert, another pretty plating: Tropical  Chocolate Popsicle ($16)  is a fruity mix of passionfruit and pineapple ice cream covered in jivara chocolate and served on an oatmeal crumble base.

Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk Sentosa, 098942, www.tanjongbeachclub.com

     Read more: Best Brunches in Singapore

Sushi Chiharu — Traditional Edomae-sushi Dinner

Sushi Chiharu is one of those hidden spots known only to the Japanese community. It’s an intimate 12-seater restaurant originating in Osaka, Japan, and you’ll find it within Tamaya Dining at foodie enclave Cuppage Road. Go with a few friends and you can easily book the place out to yourselves – though all seats are along a counter so you can watch the Chef in action. Sushi Chiharu specialises in Edomae-sushi, a traditional style of sushi that dates back to the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Seasonal fish and ingredients are imported from Japan twice weekly. The 18-course Omakase Menu ($140) features three appetisers, two seasonal sashimi, a seasonal dish, the restaurant’s signature ten-piece nigiri sushi, a soup like Miso Soup with Horse Mackerel Ball and dessert. You might get fresh sardines grilled and served with ponzu dashi, Tuna Cheek with sweet almera tomato, Belt fish torched and served with radish then a selection of Nigiri – Squid, Botan Ebi and Horse Mackerel dipped in vinegar and served on Haenuki rice from Yamagata cooked with vinegar and kombu. For something sweet, try the restaurant’s special fluffy Kerayki (tamago and miso), or spring for Matcha pudding or Black Sesame ice cream.

Sushi Chiharu, 45A Cuppage Rd, Singapore 229464, www.facebook.com/ChiharuSG

Hangar — New menu, new burgers

Melbourne-inspired Hangar in Arab Quarter is a tiny no-frills cafe, and roaster. Pop in for their famous sourdough (made at sister cafe Sideways), their coffee or lunch. The are plenty of new dishes to choose from – Healthy Bowls like the Summer Tuna Avo bowl ($15) on cauliflower rice with raw tuna, avocado and a poached egg or the Ham & Fig Relish on wood fire baked Sourdough ($15).  Slurp on an Avofreak (a milkshake with espresso, avocado and ice cream) and you are all set for one powerlunch! For dinner there’s a bunch of juicy looking burgers on offer (available from Thursday to Saturday, 5pm to closing time) – like The Big Cock ($18) with sourdough buns, Cajun chicken, bacon, pickled beetroot and lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.

Hangar, 25 Arab St, Singapore 199724, www.thehangar.com.sg

Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar — New Boat Quay Restaurant 

Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar, by the group behind Persian Shabestan, opens an affordable healthy Mediterranean food post in Boat Quay. Unlike the Pita Tree kiosk on Orchard Road, this Boat Quay outlet is a dine-in restaurant. Order the Mixed Dip Platter with a selection of dips like Spicy Eggplant dip, Hummus and Tzatziki served with pitas ($29); signature Arabic Lamb Shank Biryani ($38, portion for two); as well as grills, salads and kebabs. Look out for the Gourmet Lunch Set for a value $17 (soup of the day, all-you-can-eat buffet salads and dips with pita bread, a choice of vegetables, stews or grilled items, a soft drink and a dessert), served from 11:30am to 2:45pm, Monday to Friday.

Pita Tree Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar, 14 Lor Telok Singapore 049027, Tel: (+65) 6532 2098, www.pitatree.com

BAKALAKI Greek Taverna — Delish Greek Deli Goes Online

Greek restaurant BAKALAKI Greek Taverna in Tiong Bahru is one of our fave spots for super Greek cuisine, and they have just launched their online Greek deli selection. Stock up your pantry with their treasures of the Mediterranean from fine cheese, to decadent Greek sweet treats, premium pickled goods, and more, all hand-picked by Chef Spiros and imported directly from Greece. Delivery time slots between 9am – 9pm are available from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

www.bakalaki.com

   Read more: Foodie News Flash: New Restaurants this September

EVENTS

Singapore River Festival

The Singapore River Festival is on from 16 October to 11 November, showcasing unique eats along the river. Singapore River Festival has collaborated with HungryGoWhere to jointly award the best establishments along the three quays – Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and Robertson Quay. Violet Oon Satay Bar & Grill, Eight Korean BBQ and lots more restaurants are on the list offering exclusive deals specially curated to satisfy your palate. Find the promotions and details of the Singapore River Super Deals at the Singapore River Festival.

www.srf.sg

Goodwood Park Hotel — Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Buffet

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Goodwood Park Hotel supports this notable cause at L’Espresso with a pretty pink buffet (check out our past coverage here)! An array of dainty pink treats and a pink chocolate fountain are available in addition to the popular English Afternoon Tea spread. Every guest who dines on the English Afternoon Tea buffet at L’Espresso in October will receive a Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) pink ribbon pin (valued at $2). The hotel will then donate to BCF the value of the total number of pins given out. Guest are welcome (and encouraged!) to donate to this worthy cause as well.

Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road Singapore 228221, Tel: (+65) 67301743, www.goodwoodparkhotel.com

Oktoberfest with Brotzeit from 13th September – 23rd October

If you are craving authentic German dishes and beers, look out for Brotzeit’s Oktoberfest menu of sharing platters and wow-dishes like the Stuffed Pork Belly ($69) – oven-roasted with a crisp crackling skin and filled with bread stuffing – or the Halbes Brathuhn mit Knoblauch und Kräutern (Half oven-roasted chicken – $26). Brotzeit is the only place serving Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, a classic beer made specifically for Oktoberfest. Enjoy signature party days with international Oktoberfest Oompah band, Anton & the funny Guys at VivoCity from 18th October – 21st October. More here. 

Brotzeit, (various locations), www.brotzeit.co