Menu Error processing SSI file
Error processing SSI file

We initially called this the 'F&B Experiences' and did not want to call it the 'Singapore restaurant guide' or 'where to dine in Singapore' section because we do not pretend to be complete in any way, but then we changed our mind. We want to be clear however that this list is completely subjective and sometimes based on single visits but, like all Singaporeans, we love to eat out so why not share our experience with you. These restaurant visits are not sponsored.

If you agree, disagree or know a great place why not rate it!
(We suggest you use the Edit > Find (on this page) option or similar on your browser if you are looking for someplace particular)

Breakfast - Lunch - 'After Work' - Diner - Hawkers

We use a 5-point rating ranging from 1; 'I would reconsider' via 3; 'we may be back' to 5; 'I don't care how long the queue is!'

Breakfast
Place	Rating	Remarks
Cafe Les Amis - Botanic Garden [mixed]	May 2007 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.4	On Sundays nothing much happens till noon but those already awake seem to congregate at the Botanic Gardens and they mainly appear to be people with (small) children and or pets. The cafe does a brisk business in the morning and all tables were occupied but kids lack patience so after some hovering a table will become available. Reasonable variety of western and local foods, including sets and not a bad quality. Not bad for an informal Sunday morning.
Nosh - UE-Square [Australian-ish]	Mar 2004 Food: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 4 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.8	Good (all-day) breakfast spread, well prepared. Good coffee (bit small cups). Communal table outside. Can be a bit busy in the weekend.

We use a 5-point rating ranging from 1; 'I would reconsider' via 3; 'we may be back' to 5; 'I don't care how long the queue is!'

Lunch
Place	Rating	Remarks
Town - Fullerton hotel [Asian & Western]	Feb. 2004 Food: 4.5 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 4	Excellent for a power lunch. Good food both on the buffet and a-la-carte. Great variety of freshly prepared fruit and vegetable juices. Not very cheap but still make a reservation.
Borders Bistro - Wheelock Place [Western]	May 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.3	Nice place to have a bite and a beer after browsing through the books.
The Penny Black - Boat Quay [English]	July 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.5	Great on a Saturday or Sunday, not too busy, nice view, bit of a breeze. In one word: relaxed.
Vil'age - China Square Central [International]	November 2004 Food: 3 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3	Nice place for lunch, walk around and choose your food from pasta to fried rice
Hill Top Japanese Restaurant - Jurong Hill [Japanese]	May 2007 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.3	We had the Teppan-yaki for (business)lunch. The restaurant looks old and it was full off staff from the local industrial estates so good thing we reserved. A Japanese may differ in opinion but we thought the food was pretty good and not extremely priced. Good spot for business.
Cafe Cartel - Plaza Singapura [Western]	February 2005 Food: 2 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 2.5 Price (value for money): 2.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 2.4	Very busy, small portions and a sausage even 'CMOT Dibbler' would not dare to sell (for non-Discworld fans; this is not good).
The Orange Lantern - Killiney Road [Vietnamese]	August 2006 Food: 3 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 2.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 2.75	Very decen food and very reasonably priced.

We use a 5-point rating ranging from 1; 'I would reconsider' via 3; 'we may be back' to 5; 'I don't care how long the queue is!'

After Work
Place	Rating	Remarks
Brewerkz - Riverside Point [Western]	Feb 2004 Drinks: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.5	Brewed on the premises they serve different beers from light to heavy. Nice atmosphere near the river and good finger food (never had a meal there)
Brauhaus - United Square [German]	Feb. 2004 Drinks: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.7	Been there for at least 10 years. Nice German foods and an enormous selection of foreign (bottled) beers at (for Singapore) reasonable prices. (This is not the Paulaner!).
Harry's Bar - Boat Quay [Western]	May 2004 Drinks: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.7	Nice chill-out place next to the water, has some reasonable food too.
Ice Cold Beer - Emerald Hill [Western]	January 2005 Drinks: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.6	Decent selection of beers and finger-food nice 2-for and 3-for promotions, impossible to get there by car (but then you are doing there for a drink, right).
The Penny Black - Boat Quay [English]	April 2005 Food: 3 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: no Overall: 3.4	It can be very busy and loud, in a positive way, after work but it is good to relax.

We use a 5-point rating ranging from 1; 'I would reconsider' via 3; 'we may be back' to 5; 'I don't care how long the queue is!'

Diner
Place	Rating	Remarks
Sushi Tei - Lorong Mambong [Japanese]	April 2004 Food: 3 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 2.8	Food is o.k. no culinary high point. Service (if you are not sitting at the conveyor) is friendly but somewhat chaotic.
Ichiban Boshi - Novena Square [Japanese]	March 2007 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.1	Quite nice food, also the non-sushi dishes. Very accomodating to the kids.
Space at My Humble House - The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay [Asian]	April 2005 Food: 4 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.8	Delicious local food, beautifully presented plus simple, elegant surroundings. Great for a quick pre-show snack or more leisurely dinner after the pre-show crowd departs. Reasonably priced wine list for Singapore. ----------- Full-house before the show but the staff adviced on timing of the food. Novel presentation, very nice.
Matsuo - Goldhill Plaza [Japanese]	September 2005 Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.4	Do not expect a fancy interior but do expect very good sushi! ----------- The interior must have changed since the last review, quite nice. Good food but small so tough to reserve sometimes. Very worth it though!
NYdC - Lorong Mambong [American]	April 2004 Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 4 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.2	Very relaxed atmosphere, service is very 'energetic'. The dishes are a bit different and not bad at all. Deserts are supposed to be great but the size of the mains kept us from them this time.
Black Angus - 1 Fullerton [American]	October 2004 Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 2.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.1	When you sit outside you overlook Marina Bay and the Benjamin Sheares Bridge. Nice place, decent food but a bit pricy for what you get (Singapore standard).
Cossroads Cafe - Marriot Hotel at Orchard Road [International]	October 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.4	A little noisy next to Orchard but the place itself is nice and relaxed. Good food and a very extensive menu.
Unplugged Bar - Key Point, Beach Road [International]	February 2005 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.5	A bit out of the way but a nice cozy place, good international selection of food, well prepared and definately 'value for money'.
The Line - Shangri-La Hotel [International]	May 2005 Food: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.6	'the Line' looks semi-retro, sort of mainstream 'lounge', it may not be everyone's style but everything apart from the cutlery seems to have been made specifically for them, looks great. The buffet is excellent, Japanese, Western, Chinese, Indian and incredible mixed deserts. Not cheap at S$20.- for a glass of wine and S$65.- for an adult buffet (May 05) but still 'value for money'.
211 Roof Terrace Cafe - Holland Village SC [International]	April 2008 Food: 3.5 Service: 4 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.7	Really nice, lots of plants, very kids friendly but still quite good food.
Lao Beijing - Novena Square [Chinese]	April 2004 Food: 3 Service: 2.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 2.8	We had their popular 'do it yourself' popiahs. Good food but difficult to communicate in English.
Good Chance Popiah - Telok Ayer Street [Chinese]	July 2005 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 2.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3	With such a name you can guess what the most popular dish is, and its good. The tofu and Thai chicken were good too. Reasonable price but not a very classy atmosphere.
Spizico - UE Square [Italian]	April 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.1	Good food, the menu contains pasta's, meats and fish (no pizza) and it was all nice.
Original Sin - Chip Bee Gardens [Italian]	Mar 2004 Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.2	Two of us did not order the same number of courses and a main arrived with the starter not finished. That being said the food was great, you'd forget it's vegetarian.
Pete's Place - Grand Hyatt Hotel Scotts Road [Italian]	February 2005 Food: 4 Service: 4 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.5	This place has apparently been there some 30 years including some of the staff! so the food can not be bad, and it is not. Pricing quite manageable too considering the place you are in but wine, as in most places a bit pricey.
La Vella - The Oasis @ Sakra (Jurong Island) [Italian / Local]	September 2005 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.1	Completely out-of-the-way for almost everybody as it is on Jurong Island but if you have business there you will be able to entertain a guest to very decent meals.
The French Stall - 544 Serangoon Road [French]	January 2005 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.3	An almost hawker serving very decent French food and wines for a very decent price, we liked it!
Fosters - Holland Avenue (Holland Village) [English]	July 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.5	A 'cosy' setting and live music together with a very decent meal, cheers! ----------- March 2008, must agree to the above.
Crystal Jade Ginseng Chicken and BBQ (Centrepoint) [Korean]	March 2007 Food: 4 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.5	Nice surroundings and attentive staff. Good food.
Siem Reap - Holland V [Vietnamese]	November 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.25	Bit noisy when you sit outdoor but good food (and that's what counts)
E-Sarn - 6th Avenue [Thai]	April 2005 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.5	Unpretentious, both the surroundings and the food but nice on both counts anyway!
Penang Kitchen - Coronation Arcade [Asian - Penang]	August 2006 Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 2.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 2.8	Tucked-away and not an extensive meny but nice foor, not too oily and all.
IndoChine - Club Street [Vietamese - Cambodian]	May 2007 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.5	The first IndoChine and according to our friend still the best. The food certainly was nice, the setting great though the wine was a bit pricy. The bar downstairs was also a good place to wind down first.
Vintage India - Dempsey Hill [Indian]	April 2008 Food: 5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 5 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 4.6	Indian Fine-Dining Restaurant
Al Hamra - Holland Village [Middle Eastern (Lebanese)]	March 2008 Food: 3.5 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4 Price (value for money): 3.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3.6	Nice place, nice food, decent price.

We use a 5-point rating ranging from 1; 'I would reconsider' via 3; 'we may be back' to 5; 'I don't care how long the queue is!'

Hawkers (and Foodcourts)
Place	Rating	Remarks
Pasar Holland Village [hawker]	Feb. 2007 Food: 3 Service: 3 Ambiance: 2 Price (value for money): 4 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3	Renovated, looks like a normal hawker now, nothing realy special. Closed for renovation --------Looks terrible, even for a hawker but the food is good with one of the better satays around. Why not give it a try? (beer is definately cheap)
Sin Huat Seafood Restaurant - Geylang rd off Lor 35 [hawker]	May 2007 Food: 4 Service: 3 Ambiance: 2.5 Price (value for money): 2.5 Child friendly: dunno Overall: 3	We went there because of its high ranking in the MakanSutra but almost left immediately because it looks realy crummy, even for a hawker. On closer inspection it was clean though so we stayed. It must be said the Crab Beehoon for which it is famous is quite good and the other food was not bad either but as the guide had warned; it takes a bloody long time to get on your table and it ain't cheap (for a hawker). Still a good 'Singapore experience' though.
Holland V Foodcourt [hawker]	February 2004 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3 Price (value for money): 4 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.4	Bit small but reasonable choice and good Murtabak and Popiah.
Newton Circus [hawker]	April 2007 Food: 3.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 3.5 Price (value for money): 3 Child friendly: yes Overall: 3.2	Is it the famous or infamous hawker centre? We went with a bunch of friends and though it is cheaper elsewhere I don't think we got ripped-of, maybe because the Singaporeans in the group. Not a bad hang-out, beer's no worse than anywhere else.