1 THE OTTOMAN ROOM
Fat Prince, the Middle Eastern restaurant which opened two months ago at Peck Seah Street, now houses another concept, The Ottoman Room, which is inspired by the opulent feasts of the Ottoman empire. Its menu highlights are slow-cooked meat and vegetables from the custom-built, wood-fired earth pit.
Dinner ($74++ a person) includes unlimited mezze (small plates) from the trolley, a choice of a meat or fish main, and two options from the "Earth" selection - which features black lentil salad, sweet and spicy baby carrots, and earth-oven pumpkin. On the mezze trolley are dishes such as Arabic lentil soup, scallop crudo and warm vine leaf confit duck. Meat and fish choices include Lebanese spiced duck breast, earth-oven apple-stuffed lamb shoulder and earth-oven Ottoman spiced short rib. Finish the meal with house-made Turkish delight ($12).
The cocktail menu is shared with Fat Prince, with drinks such as The Constant Gardener ($20), with lavender and pineapple pisco, apricot, lemon and egg white; Moroccan Mary ($18), with harissa, tomato, tequila, watermelon shrub, lemon and za'atar salt; and Fosco's Fiyasco ($20, pictured), with pink peppercorn and rose gin, campari and sweet vermouth.
Where: 48 Peck Seah Street
Open: 6pm to midnight (Tuesdays to Saturdays), closed on Sundays and Mondays
Info: Call 8221-3683
2 ROXY LAKSA AT TIMBRE+
The famous Roxy Laksa from East Coast Lagoon Food Village has moved to hip hawker centre Timbre+.
This move follows a partnership between Roxy Laksa's third-generation owner Mike Lim and chef Willin Low of Wild Rocket in Upper Wilkie Road. Chef Low - a long-time regular of Roxy Laksa - has been learning the recipe from Mr Lim for the past two years.
The brand was founded in 1952 by Mr Lim's grandfather, starting out as a humble cart outside the former Roxy Theatre in Katong. Till today, the rempah paste is still ground fresh daily for the robust laksa gravy.
A bowl of laksa costs $4.50, or $5.80 with otah.
Another newcomer to Timbre+ is Vatos Express, which serves a fusion of Korean and Mexican cuisine. Creative items on the menu include galbi short rib tacos, mango prawn quesadillas and kimchi carnitas fries.
Where: 01-17 Timbre+, JTC Launchpad @ one-north, 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Open: 9am to 6pm (Mondays to Saturdays), closed on Sundays
Info: www.facebook.com/RoxyLaksa1952
3 STARKER BISTRO
The Starker Group has opened its latest Starker Bistro at the new Katong Square mall. This is the fourth eatery under the group, which also has outlets at Zhongshan Park, Holland Village and HillV2 at Hill View Rise.
The 200-seat restaurant features modern European cuisine, with familiar favourites such as the traditional pork knuckle ($38.80); wagyu burger ($24.80); and king prawn pasta ($19.80).
A special lobster-centric menu (from 5pm daily) includes dishes such as lobster pizza ($36); pasta ($32.80); and risotto ($32.80). For the lobster pizza, black truffle paste is spread on an eight-inch, thin-crust dough, then topped with lobster, sliced mushrooms and mozzarella.
Pair your food with the signature Starker Fresh Beer (from $8.90 for a half pint).
Where: 01-15/16 Katong Square, 86 East Coast Road
Open: Noon to midnight daily
Info: Call 6344-0025 or go to www.starkergroup.com
4 RENGA-YA
Get your grill on at Japanese restaurant Renga-Ya in Chijmes, which specialises in premium Japanese beef.
The menu offers set meals and meat platters with a variety of beef cuts, all of which are good for sharing.
Options include meat-based platters such as the Hokkaido platter ($69 for 300g); Kagoshima platter ($109 for 300g); party platter ($199 for 800g); and Gourmand Beef Set ($139 for two); as well as the ocean seafood set ($99 for two), with squid, scallops and prawns.
Where: 01-11/12 Chijmes, 30 Victoria Street
Open: Noon to 2.30pm (daily), 6 to 11pm (Mondays to Saturdays), 5 to 10pm (Sundays)
Info: Call 6352-1966 or go to www.facebook.com/rengayasg
5 MUKSHIDONNA
Mukshidonna, the restaurant chain in Seoul famous for its Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki), has arrived in Singapore. Its first outlet is located at Downtown East in Pasir Ris.
The name means Eat (Muk), Rest (Shi), Pay (Don), Leave (Na) - or "Have your food, pay and leave".
To order, start by picking a tteokbokki base ($13.90 a portion) such as bulgogi or mussel, and add on noodles ($3 a portion) as well as ingredients ($3 a portion) such as dumplings, ham and egg. Towards the end of the meal, it is recommended that you order a serving of fried rice ($5) to soak up the savoury soup.
Mukshidonna is one of the many eateries at E!Avenue, the new dining wing in Downtown East. Other new eateries there include casual dining restaurant Herbs Bistro, along with other familiar names such as Eighteen Chefs, Hei Sushi and NTUC Foodfare food court.
Where: 02-324 E!Avenue, Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close
Open: 11am to 10pm daily
Info: tinyurl.com/zaawu2l
Eunice Quek
•Opening a new restaurant? Send the details to stlife@sph.com.sg
