From The Straits Times    |

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Labyrinth Chilli Crab. Image: Restaurant Labyrinth

#1 RESTAURANT LABYRINTH RELOCATES

Just 11/2 years after it opened in Neil Road, the Asian fusion restaurant has found a new home at the Esplanade Mall. The new space seats up to 60 diners, has a bar and lounge, and three private rooms that can seat eight people each.

Signature dishes by 30-year-old chef Han Li Guang include chendol xiao long bao and Labyrinth Chilli Crab, which includes chilli crab ice cream and tempura soft shell crab.

This month, a three-course lunch costs $35, while the dinner menus are priced at $108 for six courses and $148 for eight courses. A selection of bar snacks and classic cocktails is also available. Next month , a three-course lunch costs $38, while dinner menus are priced from $98 for five courses.

Chef Han will roll out pre-theatre (from $48 for a four-course dinner, 5.30 to 7.30pm) and post-theatre (from about $30 to $40 a person, 10.15pm till late) menus. He is also working on cocktails with a local twist.

Where: 02-23 Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue

Open: Noon to 3pm (weekday lunch), 5.30pm till late (dinner daily). Closed today and tomorrow , open from Tuesday

Info: Call 6223-4098 or e-mail info@labyrinth.com.sg

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Tuna Tataki Salad. Image: Garcons

#2 GARCONS

Local chefs Enoch Teo and Immanuel Tee have teamed up to open Garcons (French for “boys”), a stall serving contemporary European cuisine at The Pinnacle @ Duxton. Both chefs got to know each other when they worked at Restaurant Andre.

Chef Teo, 25, now owns Enoch’s European at East Coast Road, while chef Tee, 28, helms Immanuel French Kitchen at 119 Bukit Merah Lane and By The Fire at East Coast Road.

The menu features starters such as tuna tataki salad ($12.90), duck rillettes served with pickled cucumber and baguette ($8.60), and black miso foie gras served with dashi broth and daikon noodles ($16.50).

Main courses include French duck leg confit ($16.90), 12-hour pork belly with mashed potatoes and mesclun salad ($16.90), and pork ragout baked rice gratin ($11.50).

Where: Essen@The Pinnacle, 1 Cantonment Road, The Pinnacle @ Duxton

Open: Noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 10pm (Tuesday to Friday), 11.30am to 3pm, 5.30 to 10pm (weekend and public holiday), closed on Monday

Info: www.facebook.com/garcons.sg

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The Spica Crustar features fruit toppings, tapioca pearls and Tino’s milk tea mousse. Image: Tino’s Pizza Cafe

#3 TINO’S PIZZA CAFE

Pizza chain Tino’s Pizza Cafe, which has outlets in Malaysia, has opened its first branch, at Resorts World Sentosa.

Savoury options include Mr Tino, with bacon, pepperoni and mushrooms; and Sicily Seafood. Diners can choose between a chewy Neapolitan crust or thin and crisp Roman crust for the pizza base.

Foccacia pizzas are also on the menu, including Blue Formaggio with blue cheese, Grana Padano, mozzarella and walnuts; and Salmone Affumicato, with smoked salmon, fresh greens and orange vinaigrette.

For those who want something sweet, opt for the dessert pizzas. The Sweet Crustar series features pizza dough shaped like a star.

For example, the Spica Crustar features fruit toppings, tapioca pearls and Tino’s milk tea mousse. Pizza prices range from $12.90 to $27.90.

Where: 01-206 Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, The Forum

Open: 11am to 10pm daily

Info: Call 6570-5812

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Oyster Biscuits. Image: Redbank Bar & Grill

#4 REDBANK BAR & GRILL

Tuck into grilled meats and seafood at this 150-seat American-style restaurant and bar, named after the road where co-owner John Steven’s childhood home was located in New Jersey. The 51-year-old is serving food made with his family’s recipes, such as Virginia-style Crab Cake ($18) and Oyster Biscuits ($18), which has the juicy shellfish sandwiched between two buttermilk biscuits.

Carnivores can order hulking cuts of chargrilled meats such as the 1.2kg RB grain-fed Tomahawk Steak ($164, serves two); and the 1.2kg RB Prime Rib ($124, serves two). The steaks come with fries, while the seafood and poultry dishes come with rice pilaf or fries.

Also on the menu are side dishes such as Hush Puppy (fried cornmeal balls) and Mac & Cheese (starts from $12). Drinks include US craft beers, wines and cocktails.

Where: 01-02 Claymore Connect, 442 Orchard Road

Open: noon to midnight, daily

Info: Call 6694-5376 or go to facebook.com/redbanksg

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Baked in a wood-fired oven are 10-inch pizzas ($14 each), which come in flavours such as eggplant and pesto. Image: The Bakehouse

#5 THE BAKEHOUSE

The team behind bakery cafe Carpenter And Cook in Lorong Kilat has opened a bistro offering savoury dishes. This 25-seat eatery in a new shopping mall in Alexandra Road serves more than 10 pizzas, gourmet sandwiches and pastas.

Baked in a wood-fired oven are 10-inch pizzas ($14 each), which come in flavours such as eggplant and pesto, and spicy salami with tomatoes. There are also five types of gourmet sandwiches ($12 each), using breads that are baked in-house. Options include a grilled chicken with baked prosciutto shards and grilled pineapple on ciabatta bread, and grilled Portobello mushrooms with roasted peppers on olive bread.

Those with a sweet tooth can order cakes such as White Rabbit Carrot Cake ($7 a slice). There are also craft beers (from $14 a bottle) to go with the bistro’s old English pub-inspired interiors.

Where: 01-14 Alexandra Central, 321 Alexandra Road

Open: 8am to 10pm, Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 11pm, Friday and Saturday

Info: Call 6250-0040

This story was first published in The Straits Times on August 9, 2015. For similar stories, go to www.sph.straitstimes.com/lifestyle.

Always on the lookout for great restaurants to try? Here are 4 great Asian restaurants and 3 celebrity chef restaurants you’ll want to visit!

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