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One Night in Singapore - Need Great Restaurant

One Night in Singapore - Need Great Restaurant

Old Feb 1st, 2008, 06:46 AM
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One Night in Singapore - Need Great Restaurant

My husband and I will be in Singapore for one night in July en route back to the States after a vacation in Indonesia. Does anyone have a recommendation for a great restaurant for our only dinner in Singapore? I've seen a couple of recommendations for Doc Cheng's in postings. What is the atmosphere like?

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Old Feb 1st, 2008, 07:25 AM
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I'm a fan of Doc Cheng's, located in the Raffles Hotel. The atmosphere is very nice, sort of "British outpost in a tropical country" style, which is consistent with Raffles, which is one of the old Sarkie Brothers Hotels. There are lovely curtained booths along one side. It's a very nice place, but not as formal as the other restaurants as Raffles.
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Old Feb 1st, 2008, 04:19 PM
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epsteisr, what kind of food (and in what price range) are you looking for? Singapore is becoming a world food destination and there are so many great restaurants that it's difficult to select just one.

Because the sanitation is strictly controled even at the most humble food courts you can safely experiment.

Doc Cheng's goes overboard on the atmosphere. Some would say the food is less authentic than the "real" Malay venues (and it's about 5 times the price of a foodcourt), but it's a lot of fun, the service is very good and you can have a look around Raffles at the same time. You can have a drink in the Long Bar or the gardens. It's very atmospheric -- touristy but well done.
I
f you're interested in Western/Asian fusion Iggy's at the Regent is phenomenally good. It's a fixed tasting menu of elegantly prepared, adventurous combinations. You sit at a lovely natural wood counter -- sushi bar cum fine dining -- and course after lovely course appears before you. The waitstaff is very attentive and well versed in the food and wine. Very pricy!

The last time I was in Singapore I went to Guntur's which is a newish fine dining fusion place. The food was wonderful! The ambience, like many of the trendy places in Singapore, a bit severe, but the service warm and friendly. Also very pricy, but I'd go back and try everything.

My other favorite in the same ilk is Papillon.

Then, there's the whole gamut of Chinese and Indian. Singapore has fabulous Asian and Southasian choices. So again, for one night, you'll have many, many choices.
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Old Feb 1st, 2008, 11:16 PM
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Correction: Gunther's!
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Old Feb 2nd, 2008, 01:14 PM
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We can spend up to $200 or so. It will be my 30th B'day that night so we want somewhere special. We want to have a great night. Doc Chengs sounds great as well as Iggy's. I'm going to check out your other suggestions too. Thanks!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 01:30 AM
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Since I live in SEA, I always head to Morton's. Nice to have some good qualịty beef!
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Old Feb 3rd, 2008, 10:44 PM
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Some reccos would be below. I think all of them would fit the budget, might want to check Les Amis au Jardin and Prive just to make sure:

1. Flutes at the Fort
Fort Canning Park
23B Coleman Street
Tel: 6338 8770
http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg/

Very good French food in an old "black and white" colonial bungalow. Get an outside table on the verandah, complete with whirring ceiling fans. I think this is slightly better for lunch so you can see the green views, but its pleasant at night too. This is near the downtown area.

2. Rochester Park area - this is an area northwest of the city, about 15 minutes by taxi, which is about 6 old houses that have been turned into restaurants, most have outdoor eating space which is quite nice; while there are no views it is green and pleasant. Three of the best IMO would be

Ming Jang at One North
No. 5 Rochester Park
Tel: 65-6774 0122
http://www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/dining-minjiangone.htm

Great Chinese in a nice setting in Rochester Park. Run by the Goodwood Park Hotel, they also have an outlet in the Goodwood Park Hotel near Orchard Road that is also worth considering if you want to stay in town (it’s about 100 meters from the Marriott).

Da Paolo Bistro
3 Rochester Park
Singapore 139214
Tel: 6774 5537
http://www.dapaolo.com.sg/bistro_rest.htm

Graze
4 Rochester Park
Singapore 139215
http://www.graze.sg/
Tel: 65-6775-9000

Excellent Asian-fusion food.

3. Les Amis au Jardin
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Cluny Road
Tel: 65-6466-8812

In the Botanic Garden in an old "black and white" bungalow. Good French food, very romantic setting, you can even eat at a table in the gardens. This group operate several good restaurants in Singapore, including the original Les Amis, which may also be one you might want to consider.

4. Prive
2 Keppel Bay Vista
65 6776 0777
http://www.prive.com.sg/

This is very new, food is really excellent, service is still be working its kinks out a bit, but a lovely setting on Keppel Island. No water views from the restaurant, but the bar has some nice marina views. Continental cuisine. They also have a bar serving a tapas menu.

5. Equinox Restaurant
Level 69
Restaurant, Swissôtel The Stamford
2 Stamford Road
Tel: 65) 6837 3322

This is on the top floor of the Swisshotel in downtown, and you will get a great view of the city and harbour. This may be a case where the view may be slightly better than the food, however, for a celebration IMO this would be a nice place.


6. Cricket Club
Connaught Drive
Singapore
Tel: (65) 6338 9271
http://www.scc.org.sg/

If you belong to a golf or country club at home, and they have reciprocity with the Cricket Club, IMO this is the best place to go for a celebration dinner. I prefer the more informal verandah, but their formal dining room is quite nice too. Good food, great ambience, history, etc at this club which has been a large part of Singapore's past and present history. And their Gin Slings (the club's version of the Singapore Sling) are vastly superior to the ones served at Raffles, IMO. The club just exudes the colonial era feeling, and has a nice location in downtown Singapore looking out onto the Padang where (naturally) cricket is played. I don't believe any hotel could get you in, but it may be worth asking.
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Old Feb 4th, 2008, 12:45 AM
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Sorry, the website for Les Amis is http://www.lesamis.com.sg. If you can't tell from the name, Da Paolo serves Italian food. Nice relaxed atmosphere, they have an outdoor bar with sofas that is a good place for a drink too.
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Old Feb 4th, 2008, 08:54 PM
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Cic---thanks as always for this great list...
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Old Apr 16th, 2008, 06:46 AM
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bring up this thread
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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 12:37 AM
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bookmarking
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Old Apr 20th, 2009, 01:49 AM
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Bookmarking as well, thanks
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Old Apr 20th, 2009, 09:08 AM
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Do have a drink at Swissotel sky bar for the view, It is very special, and then off to one of Cicerone' recs.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Flutes.

However, Doc cheng's is practically across the street from Swissotel.
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Old Apr 20th, 2009, 03:37 PM
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When I was in Singapore two years ago, friends who live there took me to Coriander Leaf on Clarke Quay. It was incredible. We all had the burramundi, which is a fish I had never tried before and was superb, plus excellent wine from Australia (Beresford chardonnay).
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