Where To Eat This August
CONTENT: Michelle Ng
As we enter August, there seems to be an endless stream of exciting new restaurants. This month, we head back to the basics but with a twist because we love the thrill of something new yet love the comfort of familiarity. On our list are a couple of new bars that we enjoyed the vibes of as well as a couple of Chinese restaurants that never fails to disappoint.
Dragonfly
The dreamy Hong Kong bar has opened an outpost in Orchard, but it’s a whole new adventure from what you would be familiar with at its original location. While the opulent stained glass murals and ethereal dragonflies are homage to its namesake, the cocktail menu are built around the Cause & Effect idealogy, experiencing with the familiar across the 7 houses of storied spirits.
Start with a lighter aperitif with Every Cloud, a mustard Sherry and Bianco Vermouth with honey, or the Hazy Spring, a mezcal-based cocktail with clarified guava and citrus. As you explore deeper into the night, indulge in the Murphy’s Law, a dark Rum mixed with a flurry of flavours like sweet corn, cream, honey, and spicy mala oil, or Everything Gets Butter, which is becoming a fast favourite with decadent Brown Butter Bourbon with chocolate and angostura bitters.
24 Mount Elizabeth, Vibe Hotel Orchard, #01-05, Singapore 228518
Little Island Brewing Co.
Spends your Sundays at Little Island Brewing Co in Changi Village with delicious roast brunch and fresh beer on taps! The Sunday Roast is available all-day long, where you can feast on Honey Chicken, tender Roast Wagyu Beef that falls apart on the fork, or indulge in juicy Slow-Roasted Pork Belly. While the free-flow Yorkshire Pudding was a huge plus, we also loved the Crispy Roast Potatoes and Buttery Roasted Cauliflower.
Along with the arrival of Sunday Roast is the return of the Beer ATM. Only at the Changi Village outlet can you pour your own beer! Sample new beers and enjoy full pints of your favourites as you’re only charged by the amount you drink. With the LIBC ATM card, just top up the card before you can start tapping the draft of the day. Other than beers, there’s also alcoholic Kombucha (made in-house!) and cocktails like mojitos on tap for a nice variety of tipple.
The Sunday Roast and Beer ATM Experience is available at Little Island Brewing Co. Changi Village
Jungle
Jungle is not your usual Thai restaurant, with a constantly rotating menu that goes beyond your typical Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong. Sure, we love a good plate of Pad Thai, but Jungle wants to bring the extensive and flavorful cuisine from all corners of Thailand. The cosy interior of the bar with its open fire grill and wooden furnishings make for a quick respite in the middle of town, with an artistic choice of a classic funk and soul soundtrack as you go on a journey around Thailand.
Thai food fans would be excited for the Northern Duck Laab, a dish hardly found outside Northern Thailand and is packed full of herbs and spice. Grilled dishes like the Southern Style Charcoal Grilled Chicken and Sugarcane Smoked Pork Jowl balances the right flavours of smoke, umami, and spice, while the curries come in various levels of spiciness. Currently on the menu is the Southern Crab Yellow Curry, a spicy curry with flakes of crab and is best paired with rice. Save some room for the freshly baked in-house Grilled Banana Cake – a fluffy and moist cake that comes topped with Gula Melaka caramel sauce and coconut ice cream. Pair your meal with some wine, Thai beers, or try a Thai-inspired cocktail like a Mango Sticky Sour, a rum-based cocktail with notes of rice and mango.
10 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069789
Song Fa Ba Signatures
We’re all familiar with Song Fa Ba Kut Teh and their delicious soups with ribs that just fall off the bone, and now the second generation of the Yeo Family has launched a new concept Song Fa Signatures where you can get more homely dishes. With heirloom recipes from grandma, expect to feast on homely Traditional classics with an occasional modern twist as you sip on tea. Song Fa Premium has six different teas exclusively made by Pek Sin Choon, and the table’s favorite was none other than their signature King’s Garden Tea, an oolong and green tea blend with chrysanthemum.
Most of the dishes has a story behind them, like Silky Steamed Egg Tofu which Grandma Yeo loves to portion into ‘pizza slices’, and the Signature Pig’s Trotter Fried Rice, like how Grandma Yeo made it with leftover pig’s trotter chunks fried with just a bit of wok hei. Quintessential dishes like the Teochew Crispy Prawn Roll (Hei Zho), Nourishing Pig’s Stomach with Chicken Soup and the Traditional Teochew Style Steamed Flounder Fish are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of grandma and grandpa, while the younger ones will love the super addictive Crispy Kang Kong with Thai Chili Sauce, Fried Flounder Fish with Superior Sauce, and the Teochew Orh Nee Crème Brulee, an innovative twist on the creamy dessert.
290 Orchard Road, #B1-06 Paragon Shopping Centre, Singapore 238859
Dian Xiao Er
Dian Xiao Er goes back to the basics this National Day with 12 signature classics like the Claypot Fish Curry, Crispy Lotus Roots Pumpkin in Salted Egg Sauce, Mongolian Pork Ribs, and this spicy Hotplate Fiery Sambal Squid & Prawns with Petai which makes for a great family meal occasion. While you’re there, it goes without saying that every table will order a portion of the Herbal Roast Duck, which will come with a National Day DD.Duck Blind Box that has 6 exclusive designs including a rare secret design DD.Duck which you’ll need to get to find out! End your meal with exciting new renditions of Chinese desserts, with a savoury Sweet Potato & Snow Fungus with Water Chestnut pops that comes with chewy pearly pops of chestnut. Desserts are $5.90 for two portions in celebration of the nation’s 59th birthday.
The National Day DD.Duck Blind Boxes are only available until 31 August 2024, and is available while stocks last at all Dian Xiao Er outlets islandwide.
