Eating is a national hobby in Singapore. It goes without saying that we have many fantastic restaurants. When it comes to eating out, I have two preferred kinds of restaurants. The first is just about food. Service and ambience are not important so long they give me good food.

And of course, the other is all about the ambience. Everyone should spoil themselves a little by celebrating a special occasion in a romantic restaurant. You know, the kind of place where you can bring your partner for a nice date, and have a wonderful dining experience. Luckily for us, there are many romantic restaurants in Singapore with good ambience and view.

Here’s a list of Singapore’s top restaurants with the best romantic views:

Let’s dine with a view!

1-Altitude

With 360-degree sky dining view, the latest creation of the 1 Rochester Group, 1-Altitude is definitely a strong contender for the restaurant with the best view in Singapore. Looking for a place to party after work? Check out the world’s tallest al fresco rooftop bar 1-Altitude.

1 Raffles Place Level 62
One Raffles Place (OUB Centre) Singapore
Tel: +65 6438 0410

Equinox Restaurant

Be it the Weekday Semi Buffet Lunch ($59++), Sunday Brunch Buffet ($128++), Pink Brunch Buffet ($148++) on every last Sunday of the month, or afternoon high tea international buffet ($43++), Equinox, the highest restaurant in Singapore, is the perfect place for any special occasion. I’m in love with the restaurant.

2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 5669
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Jaan

Together with Equinox restaurant, City Space cocktail lounge and New Asia Bar, Jaan is located up on the 70th floor at the Equinox Complex of Swissotel the Stamford. Even though Chef Andre Chiang is no longer with Jaan, the restaurant is still the restaurant to beat for the best view in Singapore.

2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 5669

Ku De Ta

What’s there to say about Ku De Ta? The classy rooftop venue is the place to see and be seen. With a stunning view of the city’s skyline, Ku De Ta is an exciting addition to the vibrant Singapore food scene.

10 Bayfront Avenue Sands SkyPark Tower 3
Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6688 7688

Level 33 Restaurant

Residing in the penthouse of Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC), Level 33 restaurant gives you the gorgeous view of Marina Bay. Their tagline ‘experiential penthouse dining in the World’s highest urban craft-brewery’ says it all.

The executive set lunch at $33++ is definitely a good excuse to have a long lunch. The location of MBFC also makes Level 33 the place to bring your clients for a business luncheon.

8 Marina Boulevard
#33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 Singapore
Tel: +65 6834 3133

Peach Garden

Peach Garden is known for their traditional Cantonese cuisine. Their branch at OCBC Centre level 33 in the Executives’ Club offers a great view of Downtown Singapore. If you are there for dim sum lunch, be sure to try the signature custard buns – they are one of the best in Singapore.

65 Chulia Street #33-01
OCBC Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6535 7833

Salt Grill & Sky Bar

Perched at the top of Ion Orchard, Salt Grill Restaurant by Luke Mangan is all about the complete dining experience. The restaurant offers a panoramic view from the heart of Singapore – there is only one word to describe it – wow(!!!)

Easily one of the most romantic restaurants in Singapore.

2 Orchard Turn Level 55 & 56
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6592 5118

Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant

In order to get to level 60 of UOB Plaza where Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is, you need to change two lifts, but trust me, the magnificent view up there is worth the extra effort.

Tian Fu Tea Room, by Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, boasts the first teahouse concept within a restaurant in Singapore. They have an Imperial High Tea (pairing of 3 different tea and 8 dim sum items) which is ideal for a leisure afternoon. With a great view and the indulgence of tea pairing with dim sum, this is definitely one of the best afternoon tea places in Singapore.

80 Raffles place
#60-01 UOB Plaza
Tel: +65 6535 6006

Sky on 57

Helmed by arguably Singapore’s most accomplished chef Justin Quek, Sky on 57 is located at the southern end of the Sands SkyPark, at Tower 1 of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The 12,000 sq ft restaurant contains a bar, lounge, main and private dining rooms, and an outdoor terrace that offers amazing ocean and city views, from dawn to dusk. Signature dishes include foie gras xiao long bao and Maine lobster tossed in tongue-searing black pepper sauce

10 Bayfront Ave Level 57 Sands SkyPark
Tower 1 Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6688 8868

For more recommendations, read my list of 10 Things to do in Singapore

Italian cuisine is very popular in Singapore. I have been to quite a few Italian restaurants in Singapore but somehow most of them did not live up to standards.

Let me go straight to the point: La Cantina in venezia is one of the best Italian Restaurants in Singapore, and I will definitely recommend it for that special occasion.

La Cantina in venezia is located on the 8th level of Changi Village Hotel and it has a very classy yet soothing ambiance. The Italian restaurant is ideal for a quiet lunch, or a romantic dinner with your date.

Sometimes, it can be quite boring to have Italian food all the time. But I certainly will not mind eating at La Cantina every day if I live in the area. Okay maybe not every day, but you get the idea.

La Cantina in venezia’s menu has a good selection of Antipasti (from $15-$20), Pizza ($20-$30), Pasta/Risotto ($20-$27), and Main Course ($27-$35). Amongst the twenty pasta/risotto available, I’d probably come back again to try the squid ink linguine and seafood pasta in spicy tomato sauce.

The pizza section had interesting choices (with unique names) like Ferrari (pomodoro, mozzarella, bacon, salami, capsicum & fresh tomato) and Raikkonen (pomodoro, mozzarella, bacon, salami & sausage). If you are a big eater, go for the meats like grilled lamb in rosemary ($35) or rack of veal in italian mushroom sauce ($35).

Our lunch started with the Parma Ham on Rock Melon ($18.50) which was absolutely delightful. The paper thin slices of Parma ham came with the extremely sweet melon.

My dining companion is a big cheese lover, so it goes without saying that we ordered the Mixed Cheese Platter ($31) when she saw it on La Cantina’s menu. It was a lot of cheese, and even with the others helping us, we could not finish everything.

Our table ordered a few thin-crust pizzas, and they were huge. It was impossible to finish a whole pizza by yourself – definitely recommended for sharing.

La Cantina Italian Restaurant’s Linguine Al Granchio ($26.90) was PERFECT. The al dente linguine had huge chunks of crab meat and it was definitely one of the best pasta I’ve had. The portion was also quite substantial – I’d advise you to share this as the pasta was pretty rich and heavy.

Throughout lunch, I was pacing myself to save room for desserts. La Cantina does not have that many options for desserts, so we went for safe choices like the Tiramisu and Chocolate Lava Cake.

The Tiramisu was competent. It had a rather heavy dose of liquor and since the others were too full by then, I had the whole dessert to myself.

It took around 15-20 minutes for the Molten Chocolate Lava Cake to come, and luckily, it was worth the wait. After having under-par chocolate lava cakes elsewhere, I was relieved to find that the one here had a molten centre.

After trying the Italian food at La Cantina in venezia, it has joined Ristorante Da Valentino as my favourite Italian Restaurants in Singapore.

Valentino has a very homely vibe and serves really good authentic Italian food. On the other hand, La Cantina in venezia is stylish and it is definitely one of the most romantic restaurants in Singapore. The Italian restaurant at Changi Village Hotel may not be the most accessible place, but they are definitely worth a try.

Singapore Food Blog Review
La Cantina in venezia
1 Netheravon Road
#08/09-02 Changi Village Hotel
Tel: +65 6546 9190

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Whenever readers ask me to recommend romantic dining places in Singapore, I will always think of the restaurants at Dempsey road. Among the options there, The White Rabbit ranks highly on my list of romantic restaurants in Singapore.

The White Rabbit, owned by the folks behind Loof and OverEasy, is a romantic restaurant housed within a beautiful restored Chapel in Dempsey Road.

I fell in love as soon as I stepped into the place.

Fine dining restaurants are usually not very versatile. I mean they are nice for a romantic dinner, but some of them can be quite intimidating. The White Rabbit, on the other hand, is great for just about any occasion. Be it a romantic date with your partner, a chic business lunch with your clients or a casual dinner with a group of friends.

I wanted to dine at The White Rabbit for the longest time, and I finally came here last week for their 3 course set lunch ($38++ per pax).

Amongst the five starters that were available on The White Rabbit’s menu, we opted for the Caponata and White peach salad. Drizzled with Italian herbs and olive oil, the crispy tiger prawns were accompanied by eggplant, celery and Roma tomatoes.

For our second appetiser, we chose the White Peach Salad over the Grilled Vegetables, Smoked Salmon and Mushroom Soup.

The White Rabbit’s set lunch menu has 5 different choices to satisfy everyone: Pan Seared Salmon Fillet, Pan Roasted Sea Bass, Braised Oxtail, Galantine of Duck, Roasted Lamb Rump and pasta. We eventually settled for the salmon and duck.

Served with Petit Pois Puree (green peas) and carrots, the Salmon was pan seared nicely and we thought that it was pretty well done. But with no substantial sides, the portion might be too small for folks with big appetite.

The Galantine of duck however, came with simple yet tasty potatoes. The herbed minced beef stuffing within the de-boned duck was subtle, and the dish somehow tasted like roasted duck.

Out of the three desserts on The White Rabbit’s lunch menu, we had the Tiramisu and Valrhona Chocolate Tart (with the other option being profiteroles). It is difficult to judge a tiramisu since everyone has different interpretations on what makes a good tiramisu. If you like it with a strong alcohol taste, you will love the one here.

The White Rabbit’s tiramisu had an extremely strong liqueur flavour at the base, which left a bitter after-taste lingering in the mouth for a long time. We did not really enjoy it, and thankfully there was the Valrhona Chocolate Tart to distract us.

Paired with a slightly sourish strawberry ice cream, the chocolate-y Valrhona Chocolate Tart was small in size but huge on flavours. It contrasted hot with cold and sweet with sour perfectly.

The romantic restaurant has a uber-chic watering hole in the al fresco area. The Rabbit Hole is an outdoor bar which is a lovely place for some drinks and finger food. It is definitely a good option for events and parties, but don’t expect it to be cheap.

Hold my hands and follow me down the rabbit hole…

The 3 course set lunch at the White Rabbit is $38++ and they also have a 4 course degustation menu at $98++ per person. For their ala carte menu, appetisers like the tuna carpaccio and steak tartare start from $20. Most of the main courses are in the $30ish range and desserts like the creme brulee and souffle are $16 each.

The White Rabbit restaurant has received mixed reviews so far: there are people who love the Alice in Wonderland theme restaurant, and there are also others who feel that the food is inconsistent and not worth the money.

Whilst the food at The White Rabbit may not be the most spectacular, sometimes food becomes secondary when you are eating at such a beautiful place.

Singapore Food Blog Review
The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road
Dempsey Singapore
Tel: +65 6473 9965

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I am sure most of you have made reservations at a romantic restaurant for Valentine’s Day Dinner, why don’t you include a food gift as part of the surprise?

If your talent lies in eating rather than baking, this list of Valentine’s Day Gifts and Presents will come in handy for any festive occasions.

I love to feed people, I love the satisfied look on their face after a big feast, I love how food can always make us happy. Naturally, I always give food gifts to my friends and loved ones.

I know Cupcakes are so yesterday, but it never fails to make me happy so who cares if they are cliche. Be it the pretty cupcakes with fanciful toppings, or the plain ones with a messy and rustic look — it is always nice to see a cupcake. If you want to give cupcakes as part of your Valentine’s Day Gift, Marmalade Pantry has some of the best cupcakes in Singapore. You can also look for customised cupcakes from online bakeries.

GET THE BEST CUPCAKES IN SINGAPORE FROM:
Awfully Chocolate
131 East Coast Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6345 2190

Marmalade Pantry
2 Orchard Turn #03-22
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 2700

Give me a box of macarons and I will love you forever.

Macarons are delicious little devils, they are like love potions sealed within the shell. How can something so small be so intriguing? They are the perfect food gifts for Valentine’s Day.

GET THE BEST MACARONS IN SINGAPORE FROM:
Canele Patisserie
1 Scotts Road #01-01A
Shaw Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6738 9020

Jewel Artisan Chocolate
181 Orchard Road #02-31/32
Orchard Central Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 8998

SweetSpot Patisserie
10 Bayfront Avenue Lobby Level,
Tower 3 Marina Bay Sands Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6688 8888

Do I really need to elaborate about giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day? There are several Chocolatiers in Singapore like Laurent Bernard, Truffls, and Jewel Artisan which offer delicate and beautifully crafted truffles.

GET THE BEST CHOCOLATE IN SINGAPORE FROM:
Laurent Bernard Chocolatier
80 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-11
The Pier @ Robertson Singapore
Tel: +65 6235 9007

Royce Chocolate
Basement 4, Near ION Station
2 Orchard Turn
#B4-10 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 9340

Truffs The Chocolate Artisan
179a Telok Ayer Street Singapore
Tel: +65 9088 2736

Jelly Hearts Cheesecake is a dessert sold in Singapore by online bakeries. Maybe it is the fact that I am not a baker, so the Jelly Hearts recipe seems a little complicated. Basically, each Jelly Heart consists of a cheesecake square base topped with heart shape strawberry piece within the translucent jelly.

There is no nice dinner, fanciful holiday or diamond ring, but you can have my jelly heart.

GET THE STRAWBERRY JELLY HEART CAKES IN SINGAPORE FROM:
Eds Kitchen
Pick-up Area: Choa Chu Kang MRT
Make orders 2 Days in advance
$10 for a box of 12 pcs Jelly Hearts

The Jelly Hearts
Contact Candie Tel: +65 9118 4639
Pick-up Area: Flora road (Near Loyang)
Make orders 4 days in advance
$38 for a 5″ Heart Shape Jelly Heart Cake

Jelly Hearts
Contact Brian Tel: +65 9459 7711
Pick-up Area: 38 Hertford road Farrer Park
Make orders 2-3 days in advance
$18 for a box of 20pcs, or $10 for a box of 10pcs

* * *

Even though the title of this post is Valentine’s Day Food Gifts & Presents Ideas, you can also use this guide for other occasions like Christmas Food Gifts, a gift exchange session, or simply as a present to your partner.

Just one thing to note, the food gift should not be your only plan, it is just a nice little surprise. You should have a real Valentine’s Day Gift prepared. Instead of spending money on flowers that never last, why don’t you DIY a chocolate flower bouquet as your Valentine’s Day present for your date? Happy Valentine’s Day!

// Read my recommendations of romantic restaurants for Valentine’s Day Dinner.

I have received many emails asking me to recommend romantic restaurants in Singapore for Valentine’s Day Dinner. Many of you are probably trying to decide on a nice restaurant to bring your date, I hope that this list of Valentine’s Day Dinner Restaurants will help you make the decision.

If money is not an issue, obviously you can go for the best restaurants in Singapore like Les Amis, Iggy’s, Andre, and the celebrity chef restaurants at Marina Bay Sands.

But not everyone has the budget to splurge on a $500 meal, so my list of Valentine’s Dinner will include a range of dining options in Singapore: affordable cafes, ideal places to celebrate with a group of friends, and also romantic restaurant with nice ambience and good food.

Barracks Cafe

Barracks Cafe at House is one of my favourite restaurants at Dempsey road – they have nice ambience, and decent food at good value. There is currently no special Valentine’s Day Dinner menu, so order the skinny pizzas, and main courses like fish & chips, lobster linguine from their normal ala carte menu.

Barracks Cafe is ideal for all occasions, be it Valentine’s Dinner for two, or with a group of friends. If it’s not raining, get a table in the lovely al fresco during dinner.

Price Range: $20ish for most main courses, and $7-$12 for desserts.

8D Dempsey Road #01-01 to 06
Tanglin Village (Dempsey Road) Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 7787

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant

I know having German food doesn’t sound as romantic as French or Italian cuisine, but if you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a group of friends, why not have some German sausage and beer? Brotzeit German Restaurant has branches at Vivocity, Raffles City and 313 @ Somerset. If you have been there before, check out Paulaner Brauhaus at Millenia Walk.

Price Range: $20-$40 for a main course, $50 upwards with beer.

1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-149/-151 VivoCity
Tel: +65 6272 8815

District 10 Bistro

Whenever my friends ask for my recommendation for a romantic restaurant which is also laid back and affordable, I will always think of District 10 Bistro at Windstedt road near Newton Circus.

District 10 will be having a special ala carte menu for Valentine’s Dinner, but it is not out yet. I understand that there won’t be any set menu, but the prices for the ala carte items may be increased slightly higher. Please give them a call to check on the status of the ala carte menu next week.

Price Range: $20-$30 for Main Course, $12 for Desserts (Prices may be higher during Valentine’s Day).

10 Winstedt Road #01-17 Singapore
Tel: +65 6738 4788

Foo House Cafe & Bar

The Easties may want to check out Foo House Cafe & Bar near Upper Changi Road. Chef Robert Foo from Foo House used to work at Grand Hyatt Hotel Singapore as their Executive Sous Chef. They serve big portions of Western food at very reasonable pricing. Currently, there isn’t any special Valentine’s Day Dinner promotion, do give them a call to check on a closer date.

Price Range: $15-$25 for a main course.

6 Jalan Pari Burong Picardy Garden Singapore
Tel: +65 6445 3110

il Lido Italian Dining

If you are looking for a romantic restaurant in Singapore to spend Valentine’s Day with your partner, il Lido Italian restaurant is definitely the place. The restaurant needs no further introduction, it is one of the most popular Italian Restaurants in Singapore.

This Valentine’s day, they have a special dinner menu at $148++ per head. Start with an amuse bouche, and tease your palate with the grilled Hokkaido scallops and goose liver terrine. Follow up with the lobster tagliatelle and choose between il Lido’s Altantic cod fish and wagyu striploin. End the Valentine’s Day Dinner on a sweet note with their soft chocolate tart. Sounds good? Give them a call to make your reservations now!

Price Range: iL Lido’s Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu (available from 11-14th Feb 2011) $148++/pax. Main courses from ala carte menu $40 upwards.

27 Bukit Manis Road #02-00 Sentosa Golf Club Singapore
Tel: +65 6866 1977

1 Twenty Six

Another romantic restaurant that I will like to recommend is 1 Twenty Six at Big Splash, East Coast Parkway. They have a special Valentine’s Day promotion, the $95++/pax menu includes: tasting of oysters, pan fried foie gras, Hokkaido scallop, Angus Dried aged beef and a raspberry chiffon.

Price Range: 1 Twenty Six’s Valentine’s Day Dinner $95++/pax. Main courses from ala carte menu $30 for pasta, and $40 upwards for meat/seafood.

902 East Coast Parkway Blk E, #01-26
Playground @ Big Splash Singapore
Tel: +65 6348 2126

Osia Resorts World Sentosa

The Valentine’s Day Set Dinner menu at Osia Resorts World Sentosa is $320++ per person. It comes with oyster, crab bisque, foie gras. For the main course, choose from grilled king prawn or the Black Angus beef tendeloin, and their famous valrhona hot chocolate soup.

Price Range: Osia’s Valentine’s Day Promotion (available only on 14th Feb 2011) $320++ per person. Main courses from ala carte menu $40 upwards.

8 Sentosa Gateway
Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Tel: +65 6577 6560

The Landing Point at Fullerton Bay Hotel

With the opening of the restaurants at Fullerton Bay Hotel, and Customs House, we have new options for waterfront dining which give us a magnificent view of the Marina Bay area. For this Valentine’s Day, why not surprise your partner and go for high tea at The Landing Point, Fullerton Bay Hotel?

Like the afternoon tea at Regent Tea Lounge, the 3 tier dessert high tea set at The Landing Point is replenish-able if there’s no sharing and each person gets his/her own set. The Afternoon Tea (available from 3pm to 5.30pm daily) is $38++/pax and comes with scones, sandwiches, pastries and coffee/tea.

The Fullerton Bay Hotel
80 Collyer Quay
Tel: +65 6333 8388

The University Club

I know it may sound a little strange to have Valentine’s Day Dinner in the university, but if your partner and you first met in the university schooling days, I think it’s quite memorable to celebrate this special day back in the campus.

The University Club is a romantic fine dining restaurant run by the owners of the Prive Group. It has a $98++/pax Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu which starts off with amuse bouche, and an organic mushroom soup. Continue the dinner with the Scallop & Pea risotto, and choose your main course between the Dory or Wagyu Beef. End off with a happily-ever-after ending by having the Ivory Chocolate & Strawberry Tart.

Price Range: The University Club’s Valentine’s Day Dinner menu (available on 11th, 12th, & 14th Feb 2011) $98++/pax. Main courses from ala carte menu $20-$40.

11 Kent Ridge Drive Level 4
Shaw Foundation Alumni House Singapore
Tel: +65 6779 8919

* * *

Read my list of romantic restaurant in Singapore for more choices, and my guide to Valentine’s Day Gifts: Food Edition.

I know it is expensive to eat out at restaurants during Valentine’s Day, but I also believe that it is a special occasion for us to indulge. Guys, be a gentleman and hand over your wallet, and Ladies, wear your best dress and put on nice party make up for the dinner.

Every day can be Valentine’s Day if you cherish each other. For those who do not want to squeeze with other couples on Valentine’s Day or during the weekend (12th & 13th Feb 2011), why don’t you celebrate the occasion a few days earlier? Or even better still, cook a scrumptious meal for your partner at home. Have fun planning for Valentine’s Day!

It’s not about where you eat, but who you eat with.

I know there are people who put food as the main priority and it doesn’t matter if there isn’t any ambiance. But we are talking about Christmas after-all. It’s a special occasion, so choose a nice and romantic restaurant for your Xmas Dinner. Christmas is just another excuse for us to feast like kings and queens.

Here’s a list of Romantic Restaurants to have your Christmas Dinner for 2

Krish the Restaurant

Housed in a beautiful colonial bungalow, Krish at Rochester Park is a fine dining restaurant that offers South Asia influenced European cuisine. The mains are within the $30-40 range, and they have a special Christmas dinner menu at $115++ per pax from the 6th to 27th Dec 2010.

9 Rochester Park Singapore
Tel: +65 6779 4644

La Cantina in Venezia

I mentioned La Cantina in Venezia in my list of the best Singapore Italian Restaurants briefly before, so if you need a nice restaurant for a romantic Christmas Dinner, do make your reservations soon as they are almost booked for Christmas eve. They have a special Christmas Set Menu ($98+ for 7 course) on the 24th & 25th December 2010. Otherwise, order from their normal ala carte menu: pastas & pizzas are in the $20ish range.

1 Netheravon Road
#08/09-02 Changi Village Hotel
Tel: +65 6546 9190

Pamplemousse Bistro & Bar

My friend was just raving about the food at Pamplemousse Bistro & Bar at Dempsey road to me that day. Their special 7 course menu for Xmas Dinner is available from the 21th to 26th Dec 2010, at $118++ per pax. Actually, most of the Dempsey hill restaurants are nice for a romantic dinner.

Blk 7 Dempsey Road #01-04 Tanglin Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 0080

Spruce Restaurant Bar

Nestled in the heart of Tanglin road, Spruce restaurant is a nice charming place to have dinner after work or brunch during the weekends. The Christmas Dinner promotion menu is available from now until the festive holiday, otherwise you can choose to order from the ala carte menu: mains start from $20 for a pasta, and $30 upwards for meat.

320 Tanglin Road Phoenix Park Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 5528

* * *

Some possible restaurants for Christmas Party Venues in Singapore:

If you are celebrating this Christmas with your family, or a group of friends, chances are, you are probably cracking your brains trying to find a place to throw a party without bursting the budget. I know exactly how you feel, because everyone has been asking me to recommend suitable restaurants for Christmas Party Venues in Singapore for 2010. 

Prive Bakery Cafe Bar

Located just 3 minutes drive away from Harborfront, Prive Bakery Cafe Bar at Keppel Island is a gorgeous place for brunch, desserts or drinks. If you are planning to throw a Christmas party for a group of friends (less than 50 pax), call them 3-4 days in advance to make a reservation. For exclusive events and special menus (like Canapés, Buffets), they need a minimum of 50 guests.

For inquiries about events at Prive/Hacienda, email: rae@prive.com.sg

2 Keppel Bay Vista
GF Marina @ Keppel Bay
Tel: +65 6776 0777

nydc

If budget is a concern this Christmas, you may want to consider nydc’s Christmas set menu (24th to 26th Dec 2010) which comes with a festive drink, starter, a choice of entree and log cake for desserts. Otherwise, share the Jolly Max Platter (picture) which is part of nydc’s Christmas dinner promotion with a group of friends.

For inquiries about events at NYDC, email: events@nydc.com.sg

200 Victoria Street #02-47/48
Bugis Junction Singapore
Tel: +65 6333 3161

Zsofi Tapas Bar

Thinking of throwing a nice little Christmas party with some drinks and tapas for a group of friends? Little India may not be the place where you have in mind, but trust me, Zsofi Tapas Bar serves affordable and good Spanish food, and they are definitely a cool place for a nights out. Prices vary for different requirement, but to give you a better idea what to expect: a basic party package (min 30 pax) comes at $50 per guest for 3 drinks & 3 tapas.

For inquiries about events at Zsofi Tapas Bar: email: janice@tapasbar.com.sg

68 Dunlop Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6297 5875

Go for a Christmas buffet and eat to your heart’s content

What better way to end the year than to pig-out at a Christmas buffet and eat as much as you want? I always preach about eating things in moderation, and exercising regularly, but hey, this is Christmas! Give yourself a break! Be it a dim sum buffet, a Christmas Brunch, or whatever you are craving for — go for it!

Olive Tree Mediterranean Restaurant

The festive buffet at Olive Tree Intercontinental Hotel includes delightful spread includes traditional favorites such as roast turkey with chestnut stuffing served with cranberry sauce, rolled pork loin and barbecued duck with plum sauce; an array of decadent desserts such as Christmas pudding with brandy anglais, chocolate Yule log and caramelized pecan.

80 Middle Road GF
Intercontinental Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6825 1061
// Festive Buffet (10th to 23th Dec 2010)
Lunch $45++, Dinner $59++
Christmas Eve Buffet Lunch $55++, Dinner $88++
Christmas Buffet Dinner (25th Dec) $78++

Tea Lounge @ The Regent Singapore

If buffet is not your thing, you may want to consider going for the festive Afternoon High Tea instead. The Regent Singapore’s Tea Lounge is known to have one of the best Afternoon High Tea in Singapore. They serve the English Afternoon Tea on a 3 tier dessert Stand during weekdays, and a local-theme High Tea Buffet during weekends.

1 Cuscaden Road GF
The Regent Singapore Singapore
Tel: +65 6725 3246
// Three Tier Afternoon Tea $38++
(Monday to Friday: 12 noon – 5.30pm)
High Tea Buffet $46++
(Sat, Sun, eve of & PH: 1.30pm – 5.30pm)

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant

For those of you who never fancy turkey, and logcake, and mincemeat pies, how about having Japanese food? Ikoi Japanese restaurant at Hotel Miramar is known for their Japanese buffet in Singapore. It is a great way to end this year by having unlimited sashimi, sushi and tempura for just $33++ per pax.

401 Havelock Road #01-01
Hotel Miramar Singapore
Tel: +65 6887 3788

* * *

I will love to give you more recommendations, but my post is getting way too long. You may also want to check out the following — for Thai food: Sweet Salty Spicy, fine dining Chinese restaurant: Yan Ting, Waterfront restaurants: Dallas restaurant & Boathouse, within vicinity of town: District 10 Bistro & Wild Rocket, Champagne dim sum brunch: Cherry Garden, nice & cozy cafe: Food for Thought & little part 1 Cafe.

How are you planning to spend this Christmas? Is it gonna be a romantic Christmas dinner for two at a nice restaurant, or having a party with your family & friends, or simply a good feast at your favorite restaurant?

Updated: Read my list of Valentine’s Day Restaurant: 2011 Edition for more choices, and my guide to Valentine’s Day Gifts: Food Edition.

Saint Valentine’s is a strange little thing, it comes and leaves in a hurry, but memories will always stay behind. Even though it is a day where retailers, florists and restaurateurs rejoice – I believe in Valentine’s day. The idea behind it (less the commercialise plots), is very sacred; Valentine’s is all about you and me.

Have you decided on a romantic restaurant for your Valentine’s Day Dinner?

Everyday is Valentine’s, so long we are happy together. Yes that’s true, but Valentine’s is the only day that you can walk around with big bouquet of roses without having the whole world staring at you. This is the day where you have the perfect excuse to splurge on an expensive meal without feeling guilty. This is the day where you can justify spending a bomb to get the Tiffany blue box or that Gucci wallet without any nagging feelings. This is Valentine’s day.

Many people always have problems finding a nice restaurant for Valentine’s day. The guys will have a headache on where to bring their girlfriend, wife, and mistress, while the ladies will dream of where their man will bring them to, or in a slightly unfortunate twist, planning for their ideal Valentine’s day venue.

I’m no male chauvinist, but I firmly believe that a guy should plan the surprise, and search for a suitable Valentine’s day restaurant to bring their other half, well at least for Valentine’s day.

Here is a list of romantic restaurants in Singapore to celebrate Valentine’s Day:

Au Petit Salut
40c Harding road
Tanglin Village (Dempsey)
Tel: +65 6475 1976
$148++ per person (5 Course dinner on 14th)

Bistro One Zero Three
103 Pasir Panjang
Tel: +65 6476 6373
(Closed on 13th-23rd feb, for early Valentine’s only)

Boat House Fullerton
3 Fullerton Road
#03-01 The Fullerton Waterboat House
Tel: +65 6538 9038
(Please call restaurant to check if they are open on 14th)

Flute at the fort
21 Lewin Terrace
Fort Canning Park
Tel: +65 6338 8770
$228++ per couple (First seating 6.30-8.30pm)
$298++ per couple (Second seating 8.30pm onwards)
(Closed on 15-17th Feb)

Prive Restaurant
2 Keppel Bay Vista
GF Marina @ Keppel Bay
Tel: +65 6776 0777
$108++ per person (8 course dinner at restaurant)
$68++ per person (3 Course dinner at Bakery cafe)

Wild Rocket
10A Upper Wilkie Road
GF Hangout @ Mount Emily
Tel: +65 6339 9448
(Closed on 13th-18th Feb, for early Valentine’s only)

The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road
Dempsey
Tel: +65 6473 9965
$98++ per person (5 course dinner with glass of champagne)
(Closed on 15th-16th feb)

* * *

I will be adding this list to the top of my Delicious page if you need to find this page the next time. Remember to call the restaurants in advance and make your reservations. Have a good Valentine’s Dinner!

Epicurious, located on the banks of Robertson Quay, has been in operations for close to 6 years now. The restaurant is the brainchild of the duo owners, Helena and Sharon. The concept for the restaurant is like a neighbour joint, serving casual food where you can chill out and enjoy a meal without any qualms.

The interior of Epicurious is surprisingly small, from the outside i thought it will be bigger. There are only three tables inside, with most of the seats in the al fresco area.

Unpretentious and comfy, Epicurious is really a place where i can sit down there all day with my friends

The al fresco area offers a view of the river by Robertson Quay, its simple furniture make it seems as though you are having picnic out in the natural.

The food which Epicurious offers are simple and comfort food, like sandwiches, salads, pasta. On weekends from 9am to 1pm, they have the brunch menu which include choices like pancakes, toast, bagel, eggs, ommelette. And i am really tempted by their brunch menu, you’ll be seeing them here in the near future.

At Epicurious, there is the blackboard specials, which is not on the normal menu, and these are changed regularly to allow customers to experience different type of food.

The lunch menu does not have much selection of mains, in fact they only have three to choose from, with mostly sandwiches and pasta otherwise.

For dinner, the menu is a different one all together, with starters like beef carpaccio, smoked salmon tartare, to main course like their signature epicurious burger, and there are also quite a variety of grills to choose from. Price ranges from 10s to 20s.

Turkey Breast Sandwich ($9.50)

Turkey Breast with roasted bell pepper and havarti cheese. The sandwiches are all freshly made with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber, with choices of country-style white or wholemeal sunflower bread.

The turkey breast sandwich is fairly good, served with keropok.

Spaghetti vietnamese chicken bolognaise ($14)

The chicken bolognaise spaghetti is served with cheese flakes, your good old reliable fix of pasta.

Asian Sloppy Joe ($12)

Pork and beef mince with hoisin and lime. The Asian Sloppy Joe is under the blackboard special for sandwich. The unique name caught our attention, and the sandwich does not disappoint.

The pork and beef mince combination creates a rather distinctive taste, slightly sweet and spicy.

Epicurious Burger ($18)

House-made beef patty with sautéed onions, mushrooms and fries. The Epicurious Burger is the signature dish of the restaurant, having heard many good things about the burger, it is inevitable that this is a must-try dish when you visit epicurious.

Although i just had burger at Seah Street Deli the previous day, but i have no qualms tasting the epicurious burger. And indeed, the Epicurious Burger is the star of the show, the beef done medium-rare, is tender and retains the juiciness of the meat.

And you can choose to add cheese, bacon or a fried egg for $2 each, or $4 for all three. But i choose to serve my burger the original way without any toppings.

I like the fries too, which comes with cheese flakes, the overall taste is buttery and cheesy!

Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream ($7)

The Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream is recommended to us by Helena the owner of Epicurious. Now who can finish a meal without having desserts? Definitely not me! The apple crumble is sour-sweet, and the taste of it together with ice cream does it for us.

Bread and butter pudding with custard ($8)

The bread and butter pudding is also another of their more popular desserts, the way to eat it is by dipping the pudding into the custard, but i preferred to taste the bread and butter pudding on its own.

Carrot Cake ($5)

A slice of the Carrot cake is enough for anyone to end their meal on a high, and the cake certainly taste good here. With a layer of cheese on top of the carrot cake, the effect is a melt-in-your-month. The cheese is relatively light and does not overwhelms the carrot cake.

Total bill is $82.48 for 4 mains and 3 desserts. However, Helena kindly has the desserts on the house, so the total bill is $64.90 instead.

The owner Helena is friendly and warm, we had a chat and she explain the concept of Epicurious to us. So if you saw her at the restaurant, do not hesitate to have a chat with her!

The current location however is a tad too small, and cannot serve more customer. But then again this can be a double edge sword, more seats serves more customers, but in the process you might just lose the wonderful ambiance of the place.

And by the way, Helena and Sharon have recently opened another fusion western-local restaurant, Persimmion which is located at the Link Hotel. Do give them a try if you pass by Tiong Bahru area.

Epicurious is one place which i’ll gladly return again to try out their brunch and dinner menu. The reason is simple, Epicurious serves casual food, the price will not hurt your wallet, and the ambiance of the place is relaxing. Despite my usual practice of not repeating visits to a same restaurant, i’ll bend the rule this time, for Epicurious!

Epicurious
60 Robertson Quay
#01-02 The Quayside
Tel: 6734 7720

Epicurious is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favorite restaurants in Singapore

Bistro One Zero Three sounds quite interesting right? Being the inquisitive me, i was naturally attracted to the name, and hence the visit to the place. Located at Pasir Panjang, its not a place where you’ll imagine a restaurant like Bistro One Zero Three will be situated. Nevertheless, the ‘ulu’ place makes it fun to go to, as though like we are on a food-hunting trait.

Initially we thought it was near the Haw Par Villa area, so we started looking for it there, but then how wrong we were, Bistro One Zero Three is at the other end of Pasir Panjang Road, quite near to PSA Building. If you are going there by train, i suggest stopping at HarbourFront and take a bus there, its only a couple of bus-stops away from HarbourFront.

The cosy 52 seater bistro is into its tenth-month, and started by the owner Eric, together with his sister and his sister-in-law as the chef. Stepping into Bistro One Zero Three, we felt totally at home, the homely-wood furniture plays a part, but it is the friendly service of the owners who welcomed us enthusiastically, and serving us ice-water while we were going through the menu, that impressed us.

The Menu comprises of sandwiches, gourmet salads, some sides, spaghetti and the mains. They are actually in the midst of introducing more items to the menu, but meanwhile, this are the options available.

Besides dining, Bistro One Zero Three also provides services for birthday-party events, company functions. The previous night they just had a event where guests let their hairs down and party till late night at the bistro. The bistro is a draw for the working crowd during weekdays, and on fridays & saturdays there are people like you and me who specially visit the place.

Well, i like the early-bird feeling, when we got there for a early lunch, we had the whole place to ourselves, totally like what i experienced in Sweet Indulgence! Being hungry people, we went through the menu and didn’t have much problem ordering the food. My dining companion being a Salmon-lover, naturally she’ll order Pan-fried Salmon. My two other mates had Cajun chicken wrap and Salmon & crab meat spaghetti, while i had the bacon, ham, mushroom spaghetti.

Salmon & Crab Meat Spaghetti ($14.50)

We began our meal at Bistro One Zero Three with the Salmon & Crab meat Spaghetti. With two generous piece of salmon on the tomato-based spaghetti, it got our salivary gland working even before we started eating! While slurping down the pasta, we can also taste the crab meat which goes quite well together.

Bacon, Ham & Mushroom Spaghetti ($13.50)

There are tomato, carbonara style and aglio olio options to choose from, I chose carbonara style since the other spaghetti is tomato-based. The carbonara Bacon, Mushroom Spaghetti here at Bistro One Zero Three is slightly different from the usual one you’ll find in other restaurants.

Usually the egg in carbonara style will be mixed together and cook with the heat of the pasta itself, but in this case, the chef put on his thinking cap and played with his creativity by leaving the egg yolk on top of the pasta. This is a pleasant surprise for us knowing the chef actually put in his heart & soul into making something different from the norm.

Well, i’ll preferred the salmon spaghetti to this one, not that this is not good, but after trying both pasta, we come to a consensus that the tomato-based spaghetti here taste better!

Pan-fried Salmon ($16.50)

With Balsamic glaze & acompanied with seasonal vegetables, the Pan-fried salmon is a must-have for all the salmon-lovers out there. Balsamic dressing is a traditional flavoured vinegar commonly used in Italian cuisine, the Balsamic glaze here added a slight twist of Italiano to the salmon.

Cajun Chicken Wrap ($15.90)

Tomato herb Tortilla & Mesclun mix are found inside the Cajun Chicken Wrap. The chicken wrap does give me an oddly feeling of ‘popiah’. The two Cajun chicken wrap serving is rather small, and definitely not enough to serve a grown-up (well depending on the appetite also). My mate wasn’t full after he finished it.

Warm Brownie w/ French Vanilla ice cream ($5)

Who can resist the temptation of desserts after a meal? Not me, there is always room in my stomach for them! For the record, i love my desserts more than my main.

The warm brownie together with a scoop of the cold ice cream seems to match nicely together. The brownie is not too sweet also.

Panna cotta with Mocha ($5)

One thing about Bistro One Zero Three is that they currently have limited desserts selection, only two! So we ordered both the brownie and this one to share. The owners are looking for new additions to the desserts section, so we had to make do with this two for now.

At first glance, we thought that the dessert was a soup, but on second note, it was not! Panna Cotta is actually an Italian Dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set.

Panna Cotta is usually eaten plained or sweetened with vanilla, chocolate or fruits. But the one we had at Bistro One Zero Three gave a different twist by adding Mocha to flavour the dessert.

Total bill for 4 person (4 mains & 2 desserts) adds up to $82.86 (including GST & service charge). Overall the experience at Bistro One Zero Three is a positive one, and its a good place to chill out & dine with your friends. The place isn’t really inaccessible if you know where it is, just a few bus-stops away from Harbourfront. And the cozy environment and friendly service from the boss definitely makes it a plus for a revisit, but they need to work on their desserts selections if they are to satisfy my desserts-demand.

Bistro One Zero Three
103 Pasir Panjang 118531
Tel: 6476 6373

” Who say guys don’t like their desserts? I do! “

Sweet Indulgence, the petite cafe at Stanley Street is as charming as its name. From the decorations, to the food, to the service, everything just made you feels at home. Your cosy corner, in the hearts of the city. My female companion and i arrive at the place at 530pm, but the restaurant was not opened yet as their kitchen starts at 6. However the staff warmly welcome us in to the place. Being early-birds, we were the only diners there, and we enjoyed every moment there. The feeling was though we had booked the restaurant, and had the whole place to ourselves.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, I felt as if I had transported into another world all together. The bar counter, the simple yet comfortable furnitures under the dim spot-light made us feel totally at ease. The staff was very friendly, and he told us to make ourselves at home. So we heed his words, and literally make it our home.

Pretty is the word to describe the place, cozy is the word to describe the feeling, and indulgencing in the sweetness basically sums up everything else. We took photos, every shot and angles of the whole restaurant. While being overly engrossed in taking pictures, we even forgot to take our orders until we saw the chef sitting behind us.

The menu ranges from appetizer, salad, tapas, to the main course like pasta, fish & seafood, meats, to desserts and wine. Although under each category there might not have a wide range of selections, but for what it lack in variety, it made up for it in the pure quality and the presentation of the food.

And just for your information, the restaurant starts its lunch menu from 1145 to 230pm, dinner is served from 6 to 10pm. Indulge in a sumptuous three course set lunch at an additional $6.80 on top of the main course’s price.

Selections of wine available

The painting of the wall and the furniture colour blends in well together

The cozy corner seats

As we were in quite a rush for time, we didn’t have any appetizer or tapas to start the delightful meal, so we proceed on and begin with our main course. A peek into the menu, we immediately know what we wanted. As my female companion is a fan of spaghetti & also a lover of fish, the spaghetti salmon & mushroom seems to be tailor-made for her. To complete the fish-lover experience, i had the pan-sauteèd salmon steak.

The spaghetti selections come in the price range of $13.90 to $17.90, while the main course starts from $14.90 to $23.90 for its beef tenderloin.

Spaghetti Salmon & Mushroom ($15.90)

Spaghetti tossed with fresh salmon, mushrooms & seasonal vegetables in cream sauce. Being the fan of cream base rather than tomato base, the Spaghetti Salmon & Mushroom suits the tastebud of my companion perfectly. The sauce isn’t very strong, therefore it doesn’t overwhelm the overall taste of the dish. Coupled with the generous helping of fresh salmon & mushroom, every slurp of the pasta seems to exist for your savour of it.

Pan-sauteèd Salmon Steak ($19.90)

Pan-grilled salmon accompany with daily vegetables, serve with vanilla infused cream sauce, finished with balsamic reduction & caramelised cherry tomatoes. First taste into the Pan-sauteèd Salmon steak tell me this is something special, the second bite confirms the truth. The salmon is pan-grilled perfectly, where pan-grilled salmon in the hands of less-skillful chef will becomes hard and dry, this is definitely not the case at Sweet Indulgence.

The Salmon fillet that i had at Friends @ Jelita was slightly different, that one is coated with cripsy cajun crust. In this case, the grilled skin did not prevent me for tasting the soft and freshness of the juicy salmon. Some pepper and salt are sprinkled to add additional flavouring to the salmon, not that it is necessary, the salmon is so good that it can be eaten on its own.

The daily vegetables of broccoli and carrot helps to balance the meal, and the mashed potato together with the vanilla infused cream sauce certainly taste specially good. The only thing that i have to add will be the serving could be better, but i guess good food comes in appropriate serving, too much of a good thing spoils the taste.

Warm Choco Lava Indulgence ($8.90)

To end off our delightful meal, there is no doubt desserts are a must at such a sweet place like Sweet Indulgence. Warm chocolate cake filled with melted dark chocolate, served with tropical fruits and a scoop of ice cream.

Warm Choco Lava Indulgence’s filling very much satisfied the chocoholic in me. As our spoon cuts into the chocolate cake, the melted dark chocolate ooshed out and filled our spoon. Eaten separately, the warm dark chocolate taste like dark chocolate, and the ice cream like any other ordinary ice cream, but combine both together, the result is totally different. The warm dark chocolate seems to fuse perfectly with the cold vanilla ice cream, and the effect is a yummy sensation.

Tiramisu ($7.90)

Dessert couldn’t have been more satisfying than in the form of the popular Tiramisu. Original Italian tiramisu made with mascarpone cheese and Italian sponge fingers soaked in espresso and lots of kahlua, rum & brandy.

The Tiramisu i had at Wild Rocket was creative, but in my personal opinion, this ought to be one of my favourite Tiramisu. The first moment the tiramisu goes inside my mouth, I fell in love with it. Touching the tip of my tongue, the super soft texture of the cake immediately melt and touch my heart. Beautiful is the word, heavenly is the feeling, and falling in love with it concludes the tiramisu. I’ll be back for this one, watch out for it yeah!

Total bill for 2 main 2 desserts for 2 person comes up to $52.60 which is definitely not expensive, given the quality and presentation of the food, the excellent service, the comfy environment, which makes our dinner perfect. Also please be reminded that the restaurant is currently opened during weekdays only, there are plans to open on Sat in the near future.

After we finish our dinner, the boss of the restaurant, Christopher came and we had a friendly conservation, and the restaurant even gave us two complimentary orange juice on the house. The orange juice are some of the ones that they are looking to bring in from new suppliers and are not on the menu as yet.

If you visit the place and may not agree with me that the place is that good even its a small restaurant, hidden in the heart of the city. But the fact is I enjoyed the place very much indeed, and that is enough. We received dining vouchers in the form of $15 discount for every $60 spend in the dinner menu for our next visit. I will definitely be back for more. memorable dining experience – Sweet 2 Indulge

Sweet Indulgence
2 Stanley Street
Tel: 6223 7707

” I fell in love with you “