From The Straits Times    |

Downtown gallery

Photo: Instagram / @venuebysebastian

Downtown Gallery is a pretty awesome place for food options.

Need a quick lunch because it’s crunch time at the office? No problem, places like Dosirak or SAMA Curry & Cafe have food delivery options so you can have healthy bibimbap or hot soup curry delivered to your office.

Or have you got time to spare? Then spend your break in one of the instaworthy cafes with a cuppa, or pick a healthy meal by creating your own bibimbap or grain bowls.

Check the list down below to browse through the restaurants and cafes.

Downtown Gallery is at 6A Shenton Way.

 

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1. Lunar coffee brewers

Here you can wash down homely rice bowls with a robust cup of coffee.

Or are you feeling adventurous? Some of the more unique options are the nitro coffee (a nitrogen infused brew that takes on the consistency and taste of stout beer), the Eclipse (a macchiato style tea that’s sweet and savoury), and cold brew matcha.

As for food, the mains include homestyle-inspired rice bowl (such as beef rendang or lu rou belly) that come with a runny onsen egg and pickled vegetables for a bit of acidity.

Expect to spend around $20 – $25 for a main and a drink; mains start from $13.50.

Lunar Coffee Brewers is on the first floor of Downtown Gallery (#01-49/50)

 

2. Wafuken

 

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Sous vide meats are the focus at Wafuken. From Honduras prawns, to Norwegian saba fish and Australian oyster blade steak, they’re all placed in air-tight bags and cooked at precise temperatures to seal in all the juices and flavour.

Even the chicken breast is said to be so juicy you might not realise it’s chicken breast.

The thing about Wafuken we really appreciate is how healthy the food is. No bad fats, excessive sugar or tenderizer are used in the cooking process.

And when it comes to sides you have a lot to choose from, like konbu yoghurt, furikake brown rice, teppanyaki mushrooms, and soba salad.

Wafuken is on the second floor of Downtown Gallery (#02-23).

 

3. Dosirak

Dosirak is one of our favourite places to go to for clean, non-processed food. And we love how it’s Korean bibimbap, instead of the more common grain or protein bowls.

You know you can eat guilt-free here, when even the smallest details are taken care of for you. For example, the gochujang sauce is made from cold-pressed pears and apples, instead of fructose, which normally used in Korean gochujang sauces.

And if you’re watching your diet, you’d be happy to know that all the bibimbaps here are under 500 calories. Expect to spend around $10 – $20 per bowl.

Dosirak is on the first floor of Downtown Gallery (#01-44).

 

4. HRVST

 

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If you’ve got a vegan or vegetarian friend you’d like to take to lunch, consider HRVST. The dishes are nourishing, creative, and beautifully plated. Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s limited.

Lunch set deal: $15 for one main and a cold pressed juice. Mains you can choose from are barley risotto, sourdough with housemade nut butter and pumpkin gnocchi.

HRVST is on the fifth floor of Downtown Gallery (#05-01).

 

5. SAMA Curry & Cafe

 

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Here’s where you should go for a quick fix to your craving for for something spicy. You can customise your curry soup however you like. (And yes, it’s curry soup – thin enough to drink on it’s own, but spicy and rich like curry.)

There are 30 levels of spices to choose from, four soup bases (tomato, coconut, Japanese, shrimp), and eight types of curry bases which each come with their own types of meat.

For example, the Ocean Trophy comes laden with prawns, squid, mussels and scallops, and Oink Oink comes with large and fatty slabs of pork belly.

You can also choose to have udon or rice with your curry soup. Prices start from $13.90.

SAMA Curry & Cafe is on the floor of Downtown Gallery (#03-26).

 

6. Marutama Ramen

 

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When rainy days in the office get you in a slump, this bowl of hot ramen in a nourishing chicken broth, topped with a sea of fresh scallions, slabs of soft cha shu, and a runny egg might just put you in a good mood again.

Just be careful not to get into a food coma, with this comfort food, and maybe grab a cup of coffee from Lunar Coffee Brewers before you head back to office.

Prices range from $15 – $20 per bowl.

Marutama Ramen is on the third floor of Downtown Gallery (#03-25).

 

7. Pho Stop

 

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It’s not just pho at pho stop. Sure, they have a variety of pho with sliced ribeye beef, beef meatballs, or chicken, but if you’re wanting something less soupy, order the deep fried spring rolls with dry noodles.

The spring rolls are meaty with a crisp skin, while the noodles taste lightly spicy and citrusy from the vietnamese sauce.

As for side dishes, try to popular fresh summer rolls with chicken and prawn – plump spring rolls stuffed with leafy greens, and with curls of prawn showing through the translucent skin.

Pho Stop is on the second floor of Downtown Gallery (#02-28).

 

8. The Autobus

‘Autobus’ is cycling jargon for a group of cyclists. Quite appropriate for the cafe, which is all about bicycles. You’ll find them hanging on the wall, and displayed on stands around the large space. You can even get bicycle accessories and equipment here.

But if we’re talking lunch, you could opt for build-your-own protein bowls.

The proteins and sides are the classic fare you’d expect at shops like these, like onsen eggs, kale chips, asparagus, sirloin steak, and baked chicken.

If you don’t want carb-heavy options like rice or pasta, you can swap it out with mesclun mix or romaine lettuce. Vegetarians could switch their protein option for two additional sides as well.

You’ll spend about $12 – $20 per bowl, depending on what you choose for your toppings.

Pro-tip: Get free bicycle parking outside the cafe, but know that there are only 30 lots.

The Autobus is on the first floor of Downtown Gallery (#01-01)

 

9. Takayama

 

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Takayama’s where you should go for an elegant and authentic Japanese meal. You can choose between dining in a private room, in a booth that seats four, or at the counter for some kappo-style dining (the Japanese equivalent of eating at the chef’s table).

We think a private room might be nice for a refined business lunch followed by discussion over hot tea.

The food is curated depending on the four seasons, and you’ll only get the freshest ingredients each time you visit.

Lunch sets are $68++ onwards. After GST, you’ll spend around $80 – $120 per pax here for lunch.

Takayama is on the first floor of Downtown Gallery (#01-09/10).

 

10. Venue By Sebastian

This sleek restaurant decked in mostly white is good for a semi-casual business lunch.

The concept is a little more laid back, as you tick the dishes you’d like on a piece of paper and they are served as soon as they’re done cooking instead of going course-by-course; kind of like when you eat zi char.

Note that the dishes change every day as seasonal ingredients are used. But in general you can expect Asian-European cuisine like Jerusalem artichoke soup with crispy duck flakes, or cold konbu and truffle oil pasta.

Lunch sets are $50++ per person, but there needs to be a minimum of 4 diners, and orders are taken only from 11.15am – 12pm, so come early.

Venue By Sebastian is on the first floor of Downtown Gallery (#01-02).

 

11. The Providore

 

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Aside from classic cafe nosh (pancakes, pasta, and open faced toasts) at The Providore cafe, you should make a stop at the other stations in The Providore as well.

For starters, drop by the bakery for freshly baked bread (baked once a day), pastries and cake. The live juice bar at the other end of The Providore is a great option if you want to have a healthier ‘dessert’ of sorts after your meal.

Next to the bakery is the deli which stocks artisanal grub like antipasti, cheese, charcuterie, and  jars of olives. And did we mention there’s a walk-in cheese room?

Though you probably aren’t racking up a charcuterie platter for lunch, maybe take away some for dinner later, and grab a bottle of wine as well.

The Providore is basement one of Downtown Gallery (#B1-07).

 

12. Chen’s Mapo Tofu

 

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You might be thrown off by the vibrantly red hue of Chen’s Signature Mapo Tofu, which seems to threaten dangerous spice levels.

But it is actually easy on the palate and goes well with the Japanese short grain rice at the bottom which soaks up the gravy.

You can also try the Dan Dan Mien noodles (served with minced meat) and the Nasu Don – tender chunks of eggplant and minced meat coated in sze chuan gravy and poured over a bed of white rice.

Pro-tip: If you want to try more while saving money, get the lunch set which includes half a bowl of mapo tofu with rice, half a bowl of the signature noodles, and a drink to boot; all for $10.80.

Chen’s Mapo Tofu is on the second floor of Downtown Gallery (#02-29).

Want to know what else there is to do at Downtown Gallery, check out the gallery below. 

 

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