CHINESE NOODLE BAR BY BLUE LOTUS
The latest venture by restaurateur Ricky Ng, Chinese Noodle Bar by Blue Lotus, is a casual dining space serving northern Chinese food with a modern twist.
The 80-seat restaurant specialises in la mian and dumplings.
For starters, try its take on Chinese favourites such as the Tea Flavoured Egg with Five Spices ($1.50), which is made with a blend of tie guan yin tea and five spices.
There is also the Drunken Chicken Drumstick ($9), flavoured with Chinese wine
Diners can tuck into signature mains such as the Grilled King Prawn "Lau Gan Ma" Noodle ($12) or the Signature Crispy Pork Lard Truffle Noodle ($12).
Vegetarian options are also available, such as the Truffle Mushroom & Beansprout Noodle ($12).
Where: Savourworld, 01-26 Ascent, 2 Science Park Drive,
Open: 11.30am to 3pm, 5 to 10pm (Mondays to Fridays), closed on weekends
Info: Call 6988-0880 or go to www.bluelotus.com.sg
THE AFFOGATO BAR
Dessert cafes are a dime a dozen, but The Affogato Bar stands out from the pack by specialising in the Italian ice cream dessert usually topped with an espresso shot.
The cafe uses four blends of coffee from Dimattina Coffee in Melbourne, Australia, and each affogato is paired with a specific blend. For example, the signature item, Death by Chocolate ($13.90, above) - served with chocolate sorbet, brownie chunks and chocolate streusel - is paired with the Grande Tazza coffee blend.
And the Carota Carota ($13.90) - an ice cream with carrot cake, chopped walnuts and cream cheese - is topped with the Mocharoma blend instead.
Apart from affogato, the cafe also serves bagels and gourmet salads.
Where: 01-04B Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road
Open: 8am to 11pm daily
Info: www.facebook.com/theaffogatobar
GOKOKU JAPANESE BAKERY
At Gokoku Japanese Bakery, freshly baked Japanese buns are churned out daily in separate sessions throughout the day.
The bakery, which opened its doors last Monday, does more than 50 flavours of Japanese buns.
Its signature bun is the Gokoku Shichifuku Bun ($1.90), a soft chewy bun made with a combination of Japanese brown rice flour, rye flour, sunflower seeds, malt, oatmeal, linseed and soya beans.
Other popular items include the Jikasei Cream Pan ($1.90, above), which has a custard cream filling, and the Malt Kurumi Bun ($1.90), which is filled with walnuts, rye, malt, oatmeal, linseed, soya bean and sunflower seeds.
Where: B1-79 Jurong Point Shopping Centre, 1 Jurong West Central 2
Open: 10.30am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 6795-6714
•Opening a restaurant? Send the details to stlife@sph. com.sg