12 Things To Know About The New Michelin Guide Singapore 2017 Winners

The injustice of the Imperial Treasure group of eateries’ Michelin snub last year is somewhat mitigated by this year’s win. It is one of the pitifully few winners that we wholeheartedly agree with. We love this elegant Teochew branch of the Chinese restaurant chain, which relocated from Ngee Ann City to larger, grander digs at Ion last year. Its refined Teochew plates (with some old Cantonese faves thrown in) remain just as stellar.

Signature dishes: Chilled Flower Crab in Teochew Style (seasonal price), Stewed “Mee-Pok” Noodles with XO Chilli Sauce ($18), Marinated Salted Chicken ($25), Sweetened Mashed Taro with Gingko Nuts ($5).

#03-05 Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, S238801. Tel: 6736-2118. www.imperialtreasure.com/home

Chef Han Li Guang has been quietly toiling at his craft since opening his mod Sin restaurant in 2013, having trained at two-Michelin-star restaurant Mirazur in France and three-Michelin-star Bo Innovation in Hongkong before setting up his own eatery. The young chef serves does mod riffs on local hawker dishes. Such as the…

Signature dish: 'Bak Chor Mee'. The dish comprises slim strands of sliced squid infused with saffron to resemble noodles, topped with a scallop masquerading as fish cake and anchovy ‘minced meat’. The dishes here are not sold a la carte, but a four-course lunch starts from $48 and goes up to $188 for an 11-course dinner.

Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave #02-23, S039802 Tel: 6223-4098 www.labyrinth.com.sg

Under-the-radar chef Ang Song Kang specialises in Cantonese cuisine, but the man is, surprise surprise, Teochew. Still, it does not stop him from winning a loyal following for his wok star fare since his days at Lei Garden, then the now-defunct Canton Wok in Joo Chiat. He has since set up this eponymous 40-seat eatery near Little India, serving hearty Cantonese fare.

Signature dishes: Crispy Fried Brinjal with Pork Floss ($24), Soon Hock Fish Soup ($128), Shrimp Paste Claypot Kai Lan ($28), Yuan Yang Pork Ribs ($28).

25 Mackenzie Rd, S228681. Tel: 6238-6263.

13 years is an eternity in the F&B world, but this swanky modern European restaurant owned by Les Amis alum Ignatius Chan (who is not a chef) has managed to survive diners’ fickle fancies, fierce competition — and also several changes of chefs. It first opened at the Regent hotel before relocating to its existing home at Hilton Singapore in 2010, and is currently helmed by Spanish-Australian chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive.

Signature dishes: Sakura Ebi Disc, a pre-meal snack topped with shiro ebi and caviar, Carabineros Risotto, Chef Aitor’s specialty which includes cooking Spanish Bomba rice in crustacean stock with carabinero prawns. There is no a la carte menu here; a four-course lunch starts from $85 per pax and goes up to $235 for a seven-course dinner.

Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Rd, Level 3, S238883. Tel: 6732-2234 www.iggys.com.sg

This casual-chic modern Australian restaurant is owned by hotelier-restaurateur Loh Lik Peng and helmed by affable, talented young head chef Rishi Naleendra (his wife works alongside him, ahem, cheek by jowl, as the restaurant manager). We can only hope that after its win, we can still get a table at this cosy, perpetually packed 40-seater.

Signature dishes: Oyster with Smoked Tomato ($5 each), Barramundi with charred lettuce, prawn floss and onion ($34), Salt Baked Beetroot Goat’s Cheese With Pickled Raisins Horseradish ($18).

21 Boon Tat St, S069620. Tel: 6221-1911. www.cheekbyjowl.com.sg

Dishy Korean chef Sun Kim (who’s hotter than gochujang), another protege of chef Tetsuya Wakuda, helms this mod French eatery with Korean flourishes. The edgy diner with an open kitchen and counter seating offers only tasting menus.

Signature dishes: Octopus with XO Sauce and Sunchoke (a tuber that kinda tastes like artichoke) and radicchio, and Wagyu Bulgogi with Korean Kimchi Pear, Egg Jelly and Puffed Rice. A three-course lunch starts from $48 per pax and goes up to $138 for a seven-course dinner.

9 Keong Saik Road, S089117. Tel: 6513-0898. www.metarestaurant.sg

At almost 20 years old, French fine-dining restaurant Saint Pierre welcomes its first star tonight. Its owner, chef Emmanuel Stroobant, has seen the fruits of his labour grow this year: his other restaurant, sushi bar Shoukouwa, retained its two stars first awarded at the Guide’s inaugural launch last year.

Signature dishes: Scallop ($68) with coconut, jalapeño and kaffir lime leaf, Cod ($68) in oxtail consommé, Artichoke ($38) with Indian turmeric foam and Chocolate ($24) with tanariva-manjari mousse, vanilla parfait and orange sorbet.

#02-02B One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd, S049213. Tel: 6438-0887. www.saintpierre.com.sg

Cantonese cuisine is the highlight at this stalwart restaurant at Regent Singapore, helmed by Chinese head chef, Liu Ching Hai. The dining room is cosy yet elegant, and dim sum lunches here are a favourite of out-of-town guests.

Signature dishes: Dim Sum items (various prices), Double-Boiled Assorted Seafood Soup Served in Golden Pumpkin ($28), Crispy Suckling Pig stuffed with Minced Shrimp and Almond Flakes ($38), Beef Cubes with Asparagus and Black Pepper Sauce ($42).

Regent Singapore, A Four Seasons Hotel, Level 3, 1 Cuscaden Road, S249715. Tel: 6725-3288. www.regenthotels.com

This Italian fine-diner that opened in 2003 is a fixture on Purvis Street. It’s where foodies flocked to over a decade ago back when posh Italian eateries were rare in Singapore. These days, diners are far more spoilt for choice, though. It is still helmed by its Italian executive chef-owner Roberto Galetti. Interesting fact: fellow Italian restaurateur Beppe De Vito of the newly-minted one-star Braci (see next slide), used to work here before striking it out on his own.

Signature dishes: Classica Costolette Alla Milanese ‘Orecchia D’Elefante’ (breaded veal chop served with rocket salad, $58), Carelian Caviar on Cold Angel’s Hair with Oysters & Chives ($48 for 5g) and Tiramisu of Mamma Bice (tiramisu scented amaretto liquor with mascapone cream, $16).

36 Purvis St, S188613. Tel: 6837-1468. www.garibaldi.com.sg

This compact, casual Italian restaurant and bar with a glittering river view is less than a year old, but it is already wearing a starry crown tonight. Tucked away in a shophouse by the Singapore River, it offers a charcoal-centric menu (‘braci’ means ember in Italian) of mod Italian eats mostly cooked in a Josper Charcoal Oven. It's owned by restaurateur Beppe De Vito (formerly from Garibaldi).

Signature dishes: Beef Tartare with Smoked Marrow and Baby Gem ($26), Aged Duck with Apple and Crispy Skin ($38), Tagliolini with Sea Urchin and Caviar ($58).

#05-01/ #06-01 52 Boat Quay, S049841. Tel: 6866-1933. www.braci.sg

It came as a shock last year when the stellar Waku Ghin, opened by Japan-born, Australia-based chef Tetsuya Wakuda, was awarded a mere one star. But the contemporary Japanese fine-diner bounced back in 2017 with 2 stars to its crown — deservedly so.

Signature dishes: Sea Urchin and Salmon Roe Set, Marinated Botan Shrimp with Sea Urchin and Oscietra Caviar, Braised Canadian Lobster with Fresh Tarragon, Grilled Wagyu Beef. There is no a la carte menu here except for bar bites at its bar outside the dining room; the 10-course degustation menu starts from an eye-watering $450 per pax.

Level 2 Dining, L2-01, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, S018956. Tel: 6688-8507. www.marinabaysands.com