From bottomless steak frites and wine-led omakase to over-the-top pizzas and cocktails inspired by barbecue, these are Singapore’s most delicious excuses to forget moderation for a while.
Life is too short to order the sensible option. Every so often, the only reasonable course of action is to say yes to the extra fries, the second bottle, the oversized dessert, and the steak that keeps coming until you surrender.
This month’s edition of Spirited Eats celebrates exactly that spirit of glorious excess, rounding up five dining experiences across Singapore where every day is a cheat day, restraint is politely shown the door, and indulgence is always on the menu.
Wine down with elevated comfort food at temper.
temper. at Mondrian Singapore Duxton has cemented itself become one of the city’s buzziest destinations for wine lovers, thanks to a thoughtfully curated, award-winning list championing terroir-driven bottles from some of the best wine producing regions across the world such as Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace and more.
Happily, the kitchen has now caught up in equally impressive fashion. Executive Chef Nicolas Tam and Head Chef Ronald Sim have recently expanded the menu with exceptionally well-executed elevated comfort food designed to keep the conversation — and the bottles — flowing.
The Temper Burger, for example, delivers juicy smashed wagyu-blend patties layered with cheddar, housemade pickles and the chef’s special sauce, while the Crispy Chicken 2.0 pairs a succulent suprême-cut with punchy chilli-lime zaab oil for an open-face sandwich that is both messy and immensely satisfying. Don’t sleep on the Pizza Shaker Fries — addictively crisp shoestring fries dusted with pizza seasoning and served in a paper bag for diners to shake at the table — that makes a perfect pairing with champagne. Trust us.
And just forget about your macros; go ahead and order the warm Skillet Orange Cake — flourished with smoky vanilla oil and pistachio ice cream — that will absolutely sing with a glass of port.
temper. Wine Room & Lounge | 83 Neil Rd, #01-07, Mondrian Singapore Duxton, 089813 (Google Maps link) | 5pm to 1am Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays | www.temper.sg | 9722 1253 | online reservations
Go Big Wine Freaks with omakase and wine, or go home.
Speaking of excellent wine, nearby over at Bukit Pasoh Road is Big Wine Freaks, a wine-loving hedonist’s haven with big party energy. For most of the week, it exists to dispense some seriously geeky pours — think grower champagnes and artisanal burgs — paired with excellent Japanese-meets-Mediterranean grub.
Every Thursday though, that food-wine relationship becomes a far more thoughtful conversation. That’s when Big Wine Freaks unveils its weekly omakase experience (S$188++ per person, pay for wine separately), turning the traditional chef-led tasting menu on its head by placing wine at the heart of the evening. Here Head Chef Lim Wei Kiat builds the menu around whatever seasonal ingredients look best that week, allowing each dish to respond naturally to the evening’s wines — curated around a rotating selection of producers, regions, vintages or cellar themes by sommelier Goh Kher Meng — rather than forcing pairings to fit a fixed menu.
Kombu dashi drenched fresh Hokkaido oyster complemented by a Laherte Frères blanc de noirs brut nature? Sure. Grilled eggplant generously topped with bafun uni or tuna sashimi washed down with a racy Chardonnay from cult Burgundy producer Fanny Sabre? Why not. Or how about a Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from family-owned boutique wine maker Serrat Wines helping to wash down some perfectly roasted baby lamb cutlets? We’ll have more of that please.
If you’re a keen fan of Japanese-style omakase dining but also prefer access to a more eclectic — and electric — wine list, this weekly experience promises as much fun as it does flavour.
Big Wine Freaks | 44 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089857 (Google Maps link) | 5.30pm to 12am Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays | bigwinefreaks.sg | 6019 0765 | online reservations
Carbo-loading is a thing at Artichoke Pizza Parlor.
Every day is cheat day at Artichoke Pizza Parlor, especially if you love over-the-top pizzas. Celebrity chef-owner Bjorn Shen’s latest refresh at his pizza joint has doubled down on its riotous Middle Eastern-inspired flavours, while delivering pizzas that are gloriously excessive in all the right ways.
His signature UnderCrunch pizzas remain the stars of the show, their pillowy rectangular crusts hiding irresistibly crisp, cheddar-frico bottoms that make stopping after one slice feel almost impossible. New additions like the Sunny Slice balance roast fennel, kumquat, haloumi and honey with surprising finesse, while the stone-baked Crab-Onara — topped with pancetta, crab, pecorino and luscious egg yolk sauce — proves that pizza and carbonara were always destined to meet. Then there’s the wonderfully ridiculous Super Bowl Supreme, a towering centrepiece layered with pepperoni pizza, meatball spaghetti, mortadella, Caesar salad and fried chicken meant for four.
But you’ll want to begin with the returning Fried Cauliflower, still one of the city’s most addictive vegetable dishes, and end with the gloriously sticky OG Date Pudding, whose cashew caramel, dulce de leche and smoked salt offer a reminder that dessert calories are, naturally, exempt.
If you enjoy meals with both hands, a stack of napkins and absolutely no regrets, a visit to Artichoke is in order. Just don’t count your carbs.
Artichoke Pizza Parlor | 46 Kim Yam Rd, #01-02 New Bahru, Singapore 239351 (Google Maps link) | 5pm to 10pm on Tuesdays; 11am to 10pm Wednesdays to Sundays; closed on Mondays | www.artichoke.com.sg | 8092 4210 | online reservations
Barbecue and cocktails do mix at Burnt Ends Bar.
Love the world-class barbecue at Burnt Ends but also wish you could settle in with a properly crafted cocktail? Here’s a tip — drop into Burnt Ends Bar. Tucked right beside the restaurant in Dempsey Hill, this moodily-lit hideaway reimagines the Burnt Ends experience as a chill affair, where smoky bar bites and culinary-minded cocktails share equal billing.
The cocktails approach flavour with the same precision as the kitchen, drawing on techniques such as fermentation, fat-washing, milk clarification and roasting to create drinks that are savoury, layered and unmistakably Burnt Ends. Signature serves like the Massaman Curry Cocktail, the smoky Blackened Eggplant Punch and the stiff Mushroom for Improvement showcase the bar’s playful gastronomic approach, while familiar favourites from the restaurant appear here to make ideal companions, such as the crunchy Grissini and Taramasalata, or the Burnt Ends Sanger, possibly the best littlest pulled pork burger this side of the planet.
Sometimes, the best seat at Burnt Ends — especially for a cocktail enthusiast — isn’t in the main dining room. Indeed, for us Burnt Ends Bar is less of a waiting room for our dinner reservation than a destination worthy of an evening in its own right.
Burnt Ends Bar | 7 Dempsey Rd, #01-04, Singapore 249671 (Google Maps link) | 5pm to 1am on Tuesdays to Fridays; 5pm to 2am on Saturdays; closed on Sundays and Mondays | burntends.com.sg | 8073 3948 | online reservations
Say yes to endless steak and fries at Cygnet.
Here’s one for the carnivores. At Cygnet in QT Singapore, you’ll want to drop any pretence at restraint with its ‘Bottomless Steak Frites’, where perfectly grilled steaks keep coming until you finally wave the white flag.
From hearty Argentinian Striploin (S$48++), to the richly-marbled Argentinian Ribeye (S$78++), and the most indulgent Omi Wagyu (S$108++), with every serving arriving with endless shoestring fries that come crisp, golden and dangerously addictive. While the buttery Omi Wagyu is every bit the luxury its reputation suggests, its richness means you’ll probably reach your limit sooner than expected. Ironically, the most satisfying choice is the humble Argentinian Striploin, whose robust beefy flavour and firmer bite make it the ideal cut for repeated rounds.
And since you’re already committed to excess, you may as well lean into it. Freshly shucked oysters are available for just S$1++ each, while a chilled glass of Moët & Chandon provides an appropriately celebratory companion to the endless parade of steaks.
Sometimes, more really is more.
Cygnet | 35 Robinson Rd, QT Singapore, Singapore 068876 (Google Maps link) | 511.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 11pm daily | www.cygnetsingapore.com | 6701 6833 | online reservations
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