Newly opened contemporary restaurant Ash & Char sits in the heart of Singapore’s CBD. The gastro-bar—opened by the team behind Rise & Grind Coffee Co—is just a short walk away from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station and Telok Ayer MRT station.

Ash & Char derived its name from the primary cooking techniques used for its dishes. Do not let the fancy interiors put you off; the menu is actually surprisingly affordable. The scrumptious main courses here range between S$15++ to S$21++ for a scrumptious plate of Aglio Olio and Hanger Steak respectively.

The versatile venue is perfect for business luncheons, dinner dates and even after-work drinks.

The Hanger Steak (S$21++) was cooked to medium rare, but we thought the soft and chewy slices were leaning towards rare doneness instead. The 150-day grain-fed Angus steak is served with charred baby romaine lettuce, tomatoes, garlic flakes and a semi-spicy pickled jalapeño purée.

Ash & Char’s Korean Chicken Burger (S$17++) was served with crisp sweet potato fries. Succulent marinated fork-tender Korean fried chicken, in-house fermented kimchi and refreshing apple slaw are sandwiched between two fluffy sesame buns.

If you are torn between the Korean Chicken Burger and the Hanger Steak, we say go for the burger instead.

We also recommend the Bacon & Mushroom Carbonara (S$16++). Al dente penne pasta is cooked in fragrant white wine and served with aromatic mushrooms, crispy garlic flakes, streaky bacon and a sous vide egg.

Ash & Char
#01-03/04, 21 McCallum Street
Singapore 069047
Tel: +65 9132 8880
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves travelling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all-time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Located just at the first floor of Bukit Timah Plaza, Rise & Grind Coffee Co. occupies a cosy space with a partial alfresco dining area. Opened about three months ago, Rise & Grind Coffee Co. offers a nice and comfortable dining environment together with delicious food and different blends of coffee to choose from.

All mains at Rise & Grind Coffee Co. are well priced under S$20, and they occasional offer lunch deals at a steal. Expect Asian fusion food here, together with a good range of beverage and dessert options.

For a mere S$16, the chef at Rise & Grind will whip up this mouth-watering plate of pasta with a local Asian twist for you. Besides being perfectly al dente, each strand of pasta is coated evenly with the homemade Tom Yum sauce.

Delicious chicken wings start with a crisp exterior and when bit into, will reveal cooked-through and juicy meat – and that’s exactly how the Honey Wings (S$9) at Rise & Grind Coffee Co. fared. Coated with a slightly sweet honey sauce on the outside, the skin did not turn soggy even after leaving it on the plate for awhile.

Rise & Grind had perfected the Nacho Libre Burger (S$17) with a still-juicy chicken patty and a unique nacho cheese sauce with guacamole smothered on top of it. The only letdown was that the nacho chips served inside the burger itself turned soggy with the sauces.

Have your dessert with their house blend coffee for ultimate contentment.

Rise & Grind Coffee Co.
Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit #L1-CA1
Mon, Wed to Thu, Sun :9am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bukit Batok

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.