The Mandala Group and Jekyll & Hyde have partnered together to reopen Operation Dagger, one of the World’s 50 Best Bars, in a new form.

They will be opening two concepts—graft and DAGGER at 76 Neil Road, just next to Jekyll & Hyde at 74 Neil Road.

The new brand is a collaboration between two powerhouses—The Mandala Group, which owns Mandala Club (previously known as Straits Clan) in Singapore as well as various restaurants, bars and resorts around the world; and Jekyll & Hyde, one of the most popular cocktail restaurant & bar concepts in Singapore which is known for its elevated Singapore soul food and whimsical cocktails.

In order to comply with URA requirements, food will be front and centre as graft’s main offering, while serving their signature drinks to complement the dishes.

Photos credit: Jekyll & Hyde & graft

A sustainability-first restaurant, graft is now open for booking, while DAGGER will only open early next year in 2022.

They have an edible garden in the courtyard, where all plants will be used in their food and drink. The restaurant will also be using glassware that is made all from used bottles, and cut and sanded down by hand.

The food is inspied from Chef Alvin’s—formerly head chef at Shanghai Dolly, and at Straits Clan—experience in both Western and Eastern kitchens and the drinks are made from Eco-Spirits.

graft
76 Neil Road
Singapore 088840
Tue to Fri: 5pm to 10.30pm
Sat: 12pm to 10.30pm

Specialising in Taiwanese-style hotpot and bubble tea, Coucou Hot Pot is opening two outlets in Singapore at Suntec City and Jewel Changi Airport.

Photo by Lynde Lim

Established in 2016, Coucou Hotpot has currently has outlets in China and Hong Kong and it is opening its first outlet in Singapore at level three of Suntec City’s North Wing will open in Dec 2021 while the second outlet at Jewel Changi Airport level 2 (next to Kam’s Roast) will open in Jan 2022.

While Coucou Hotpot Singapore has yet to announce the full menu for its Singapore outlet, it has revealed on Instagram that it will serving a selection of meat (Japanese wagyu, Iberico black pork slices USDA beef), seafood (abalone, live shrimps, Boston lobster) as well as the usual hotpot ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms and meatballs.

Photos credit: Coucou Hotpot Singapore

Other than hotpot, Coucou Hotpot will also be offering a selection of Taiwanese tea and bubble tea.

Coucou Hotpot Singapore
Level three of Suntec City’s North Wing
3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983

Jewel Changi Airport level 2
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819666

Sky Lido is a new rooftop bar & bistro that has opened up in Outram during the last Phase 2 HA. Located on level 5 of Concorde Shopping Centre, Sky Lido—a 6,000 sq ft open rooftop space—offers unobstructed views of the River Valley and Robertson Quay neighbourhoods.

The new rooftop bar & bistro is helmed by executive Chef Gabriel Cher who has over 18 years of experience in the F&B industry at establishments that include Klapsons The Boutique Hotel, and most recently as the Head Chef of Potatohead Folk.

Some of the dishes that you can try from their modern bistro menu include:

• Oxtail Ragu Pasta
• Beef Sausage Béarnaise Pizza
• Mushroom Bone Marrow Cream Pasta
• Bacon & Onion Jam White Pizza
• Bacon & Potato Pesto Pasta
• Chendol Panna Cotta

The rooftop bistro offers a pretty sick view of the sunset!

Photos credit: Sky Lido

We are definitely going to visit Sky Lido once dining restrictions have lifted. Until then, Sky Lido is currently offering a15% discount for customers who self-pick-up by ordering from their take.app https://take.app/s/6591772802.

Sky Lido
317 Outram Rd, #05-01 Concorde Shopping Centre
Singapore 169075

Premium yakiniku restaurant Yen Yakiniku has opened a new sister concept Yen Social at DUO Galleria on 2 July 2021.

Other than its Butcher Platters and premium cuts, Yen Social will be offering its in-house dry-aged Wagyu beef including whisky dry-aged Wagyu ribeye, using Kavalan single malt whisky from Taiwan.

Widely touted as one of the most popular Yakiniku restaurants in Singapore, Yen Yakiniki is a modern Yakiniku dining experience with farm-to-table premium wagyu cuts.

Yen Social Butcher Platters (pre-order required two days in advance) are available in sizes from 300gram (2 to 3 persons), 600gram (4 to 6 persons) and 1200gram (8 persons).

Look forward to thick cut karubi, chuck eye roll, chuck short ribs and Australian Wagyu ribeye. The restaurant host will demonstrate the precise way to grill each different cut.

Photos credit: Yen Social

You have to also order their signature in-house whisky dry-aged wagyu ribeye, as well as other speciality cuts such as ox tongue and wagyu intercoastal (rib finger) cubes.

Yen Social
7 Fraser Street, #01-25/26 DUO Galleria, Singapore 189356
Mon-Sat 6pm – 11pm (10pm last order)
Tel: +65 8669 6788

Wagyu Jin at Shaw Centre is a new prefecture-focused Wagyu omakase restaurant by the Les Amis Group.

Helmed by Executive Chef Makoto Saito, Wagyu Jin specialises in a selection of premium A5 Wagyu beef dishes from various Japanese prefectures like Gifu, Shiga, Miyazaki, Iwate and Tochigi. The wagyu lunch omakase is only S$118++ while the wagyu dinner omakase starts from S$238++.

Wagyu Jin’s seasonal Wagyu omakase menu will have 7-9 courses.

Wagyu Jin’s lunch omaksae is priced at S$118 per pax and it comes with the following dishes:

• Somen with sea urchin & Hokkaido hairy crab
• Yakiniku – A5 Mizayaki Beef
• Sushi – A5 Hida Beef
• Awabi (abalone)
• Sukiyaki – A5 Tochigi Beef
• Dessert – Yuzu Sorbet

There are two options for the dinner omakase and they are priced at S$238 and S$318.

The S$238 dinner omakase menu features the following dishes:

• Appetiser – Langoustine, sea urchin, caviar and jelly
• Yakiniku – A5 Mizayaki Beef
• Chateaubriand Sando with A5 Ohmi Beef
• Somen with caviar and truffle
• Sukiyaki
• Sushi – A5 Hida Beef
• A5 Tochigi Beef rice bowl
• Dessert – Yuzu Sorbet

If you are still hungry after having the wagyu omakase, you can also add on a la carte dishes including Uni Rice (S$38), Scampi (S$38), Yakiniku A5 Mizayaki Beef (S$27) and Hokkaido Hairy Crab (S$48).

Wagyu Jin
1, #02-12 Scotts Rd, Shaw Centre, 228208
Tel: +65 8940 0741

Opened by Chef Raymond Tan—the owner of high-end sushi restaurant, Hiyru—Shinsho Ramen is a new ramen eatery at Singpost Centre. Originating from Malaysia, Shinsho Ramen specialises in chicken paitan (white soup) ramen.

Shinsho’s paitan ramen is made from boiling and simmering a large amount of whole chicken, pork bones, chicken legs, and several kinds of vegetables over more than 8 hours. The result? A creamy, collagen-rich consistency with deep, savoury flavours.

There are 8 ramen on Shinsho Ramen’s menu:

• Aged Soy Sauce Ramen (S$14.90)
• Black Garlic Ramen (S$15.90)
• Spicy Red Miso Ramen (S$16.90)
• Special Black Truffle Flavour Ramen (S$17.90)
• Sakura Ebi & Chashu Curry Tsukemen (S$17.90)
• Pork Ribs Teriyaki Ramen (S$29)
• Half Rock Lobster Ramen (S$48)
• Kuroge Wagyu Ramen (S$54)

For delivery, you can opt for Shinsho Ramen’s raw noodle pack and cook the ramen yourself. The ramen ingredients, noodles and paitan soup broth will be packed separately and all you have to do is to cook the noodles in boiling water and heat up the soup broth which comes in a vacuum-packed bag. It’s a great way to enjoy piping hot ramen at the comfort of your place.

There are also premium ramen options including Half Rock Lobster Ramen and Kuroge Wagyu Ramen.

Apart from ramen, you can also choose from a selection of sides such as Fried Chicken Skin with Spicy Aioli, Homemade Wagyu Gzoya (S$12.40 for 4 pcs) and Roasted Pork Belly Bun (S$6.20).

We absolutely loved the spicy aioli dip which came with the fried chicken skin.

While we didn’t quite like the roasted pork belly which was too lean and dry, we thoroughly enjoyed the Homemade Wagyu Gzoya.

• Order Shinsho Ramen from their website—http://order.tabsquare.ai/ShinshoRamen.
• Islandwide delivery at only S$4 per trip with a minimum order of S$25.
• Free delivery for orders S$100 and above.

Shinsho Ramen
10 Eunos Rd 8, # 01-136, Singapore 408600
Daily: 11am – 8pm

Famous Chinese sauerkraut fish (Suan Cai Yu, or sour vegetables fish) restaurant from China, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish is opening its first outlet at Jewel Changi Airport.

Not to be confused with Tai Er Grilled Fish, Fragrant Spicy crab (which apparently is not from China) at Compass One which has the same name and spots a similar look and concept, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish is a massive chain with many restaurants in China.

Photo credit: Zara Zhang

It specialises in the Chinese sauerkraut fish—a traditional Sichuanese dish that is popular throughout China.

Other than its signature Suan Cai Yu, Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish in China is also known for its rules:

• You can only have four people max at one table at a time, and no latecomers will be seated.
• The restaurant will not adjust the spiciness level of the grilled fish
• No takeout

We wonder if Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish’s outpost in Singapore will maintain these rules.

Photo credit: Lynde Lim

Fans of Suan Cai Yu must visit them when they officially open at Jewel Changi Airport. The new outlet is located on level 3 next to Chun Yang Tea.

Tai Er Chinese SauerKraut Fish
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore 819666
#03-208 Jewel Changi Airport

Helmed by Daniel Ong, Dan’s Steak is a relatively new Korean-influenced Steakhouse which opened at Serangoon Gardens in April 2021. It is a small and cosy space which can seat around 30 pax.

Dan’s Steaks is a steakhouse with a slight Korean twang and what makes it different from the other steakhouses in Singapore is that it offers free banchan (Korean side dishes) just like the usual Korean restaurants. Daniel Ong will be cooking and serving the steaks himself.

For those of you who follow Daniel on Instagram, Dan’s Steaks is actually not a new concept. It first started as a home-based business in May 2020 during the Circuit Breaker period.

Here are the dishes that you can look forward to at Dan’s Steaks

• Grass-fed Steaks from S$28
• Wagyu/USDA from S$58
• Other mains from S$18
• Large format steak cuts (1-1.4kg) from S$118
• 12 sides at S$8 including fries, garlic mash, kimchi and namul, male and nuts, cream spinach with a fried egg on top, Honey balsamic tomatoes
• Cocktails, fresh fruit soju, vintage wines.

There will be around 20 different types of banchan that are made in-house—including kimchi, spicy tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes), and Daniel’s mum’s speciality, braised black beans—on a rotational basis.

Dan’s Steaks served only big format cuts (think 1kg tenderloin, 1.2kg bone-in ribeye, striploin) when they first started selling steaks online, but the new Dan’s Steaks at Serangoon Gardens will also have a range of 250g – 350g grass-fed steaks, wagyu steaks, USDA Prime steaks.

For people who don’t eat beef, there are other options such as miso salmon, and Korean chicken.

Do not miss out on the fantastic side dishes. The creamy and buttery Mashed Potatoes completely stole the show, while we also loved the Cream Spinach with Fried Egg.

Dan’s steaks
12 Maju avenue (Opp MyVillage)
Singapore 556690

Established in 2012 at Tanglin Post Office Building, Nassim Hill Bakery is best known for its brunch dishes and fresh bakes. The original outlet is a pet-friendly cafe and it is absolutely perfect for families looking to unwind over the weekend, if not, casual drinks at the bar with your mates.

Nassim Hill Bakery has opened a second outlet at the Killiney Post Office building, on Level 2 of KPO Café Bar.

The new outlet is right opposite the Orchard Central taxi stand, and only a few minutes walk away from Somerset MRT.

Nassim Hill @ Killiney will be serving breakfast and lunch from Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 3pm.

The menu is a distilled version of the original Nassim Hill brunch menu. Regulars will be happy to know that the signature dishes such as Chilli Crab Pasta and Cheddar Cheese Bacon Waffles will be available on the menu, together with freshly baked artisanal sourdough and their popular Brioche Donuts.

Enjoy a cuppa by Liberty Coffee and Nassim Hill’s brunch fare in a spacious setting with lush greenery surrounding the Killiney Post Office building.

Nassim Hill @ Killiney
1 Killiney Road, Level 2
Singapore 239518
Tel: +65 8339 5368

Prairie by Craftsmen is a new cafe & restaurant at Cluny Court near Botanic Gardens which has an outdoor alfresco dine-in concept, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Opened by Craftsmen Specialty Coffee, the new concept took over the former premise of Bar Bar Black Sheep at Cluny Court and they had a soft launch on 20 Jan 2021.

Prairie by Craftsmen has a rather extensive menu. There is a selection of breakfast options as well as pastas and mains including Duck Confit, Ribeye Steak and Fish & Chips.

Photos credit: Prairie by Craftsmen

If you are heading over to Prairie by Craftsmen in the afternoon, do note that the kitchen will be closed from 3pm to 5pm, with the last order for lunch at 2.30pm. In that period of time, drink, pastry and cake will still be available for order. Their dinner service will resume at 5pm.

Prairie by Craftsmen
Cluny Court #01-05C, beside Botanic Garden MRT, Exit A

Side walkway via Cluny basement parking entrance
Tel: +65 6972 9142

Joël Robuchon Restaurants are reopening in Singapore in 2021.

Both L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Joël Robuchon Restaurant first opened in Singapore back in 2011 and the late French chef Joël Robuchon closed both of his Michelin-starred restaurants in Singapore abruptly in 2018 without stating any reason.

According to an Icon’s article in January, Aimi Shibuya—the founder of Japanese restaurant Sushi Kou—is bringing Joël Robuchon’s restaurant and cafe back to Singapore.

Holding the most Michelin stars globally, the late French chef Joël Robuchon has over 25 Michelin stars to his name and more than 20 establishments around the globe.

A meal at a Joël Robuchon establishment is not the most affordable, of course. A five-course dinner was priced at S$228 at the now-defunct two-Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon while a four-course dinner three-Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon Restaurant started at S$298.

However, having a meal at a Joël Robuchon Restaurant is not just about the food; it is about the overall dining experience right from the moment you step into the restaurant. We are certainly looking forward to the reopening of Joël Robuchon Restaurants in Singapore.

Spearheaded by owner, baker and theatre actor Juwanda Hassim, The Fabulous Baker Boy is relaunching their multi-concept F&B brand at the Aliwal Arts Centre in January 2021 with a bigger 70-seater space and expanded menu.

Formerly located at the foothills of Fort Canning, The Fabulous Baker Boy closed its previous premise due to the Covid-19 situation. Fans of the bakery café will be thrilled to know that they are making a comeback next year.

The artisanal baked goods menu will be expanded to include sourdough breads, croissants, quiches, danishes and cookies as well as The Fabulous Baker Boy’s signature range of Diva and Divo cakes. There will be at any one time 14 different cakes to choose from.

The Fabulous Baker Boy’s all-day brunch and lunch menu will also feature new items such as Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli with burnt butter and sage, and Sourdough Pizzas. Popular favourites such as Corn Beef Hash, Chicken & Waffles and Ju’s Prawn Pasta will still be available on the menu.

The Fabulous Baker Boy
Aliwal Arts Centre
28 Aliwal St, Singapore 199918