New year, new me. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a drag. Restaurants are moving away from dreary salads and are injecting our mealtimes with vibrant and nutritious plates. Check out these 10 spots doling out menus that’ll leave you well-fed and energised for year ahead.
Pulled Pork Creamy Risoni Pasta. Photo: Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner
Digging into Miso Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Broccolini ($19), Super Green Warm Soup ($16) or the Chayote Kimchi and Mung Bean Salad (S$18) sure doesn’t sound like the usual diets. But that’s what makes Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner our new go-to for healthy eating. Chef de cuisine Paul Albert translates years of haute cuisine expertise into an all-day breakfast menu with an focus on the slow food movement (less instant and processed food, more of dishes made with nutrition in mind). This is best exemplified by the seemingly simple 100% Sourdough Waffles ($21-$23) made of a 158-year-old (and counting) starter teeming with gut-friendly bacteria and delivers a delectable tang. Founder Cynthia Chua puts it best, “You can’t find another cafe or diner offering food with such care and attention.”
Address: 107 North Bridge Rd #04-(22-25), Funan, Singapore 179105
Tel: +65 6877 4866
Opening Hours: Daily 8.00am-9.00pm
Plant-based, and eco-friendly eats at Afterglow by Anglow. Photo: Afterglow
Farm-to-table, plant-based, eco-friendly and community-based, Afterglow by Anglow is a pioneer when it comes to healthy eating and niche diets in Singapore. Munch on ‘Mac & Cheese’ Cauli Bites ($10), their take on the decadent dish with cashew and almond “cheese” or fill up on the Smoked Stacked Burger ($20) which can easily give Impossible Meats a run for its money. The patty is made of natural ingredients, such as green beans, shiitake, chickpeas and brown rice flour to name a few), void of pesky chemicals and will have a carnivore jumping on the vegetarian bandwagon (albeit temporary). It is also one of the few places serving up a raw menu of savouries and desserts.
Address: 24 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089131
Tel: +65 6224 8921
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 12.00pm-10.00pm
Brunch at Tanjong Beach Club. Photo: Tanjong Beach Club
What makes Tanjong Beach Club different from other beachside establishments in Sentosa is head chef Shiman Wong’s dedication to vibrant plates of thoughtfully-sourced ingredients. Wong breathes new life into everything from brunch plates to sharing platters, with options for gluten-intolerant diners. Highlights include the Crispy Skin Barramundi ($34) with fresh zucchini herb salad and smoked eggplant puree, cage-free Roasted Half Spring Chicken ($29) with a scrummy ratatouille, and the Tanjong Salad ($20) that offers a flavoursome rainbow of pumpkin, red cabbage, cucumber, lentils du puy and spiced sees. Remember to quench your thirst and load up on vitamin Cs with the fresh fruit smoothies ($10).
Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Singapore 098942
Tel: +65 6270 1355
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11.00am-10.00pm; Saturday to Sunday 9.00am-10.00pm
Seriously Keto Peanut Butter Spread. Photo: Seriously Keto
As the name suggests, owner Janti Brasali isn’t kidding around when it comes to her keto offerings. Low-carb, low-sugar and high-fat, the keto diet does more than shed weight; there are supposedly tonnes of benefits, such as lowered cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Stacking your plates high with keto options was a near impossible task till Brasali came in with her delectable bakes, accompanying spreads and drinks. The Rosemary Loaf ($10.90) or Garlic Pretzel ($5.90) with cheese are made to go with Kaya Kryptonite ($9.90), and there are colourful Ketocup (cakes) for the dessert fiends as well. Keto buddies can even jazz up their parties with the punny Pandan-monium ($115/20cm).
Address: 32 Seah Street, Singapore 188388
Tel: +65 9838 4047
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10.30am-6.30pm; Sunday 10.30am-2.30pm
Lobster Briyani. Photo: COMO Cuisine
Healthy eating takes flight when dining at COMO Cuisine. Taking inspiration from COMO Hotels and Resorts’ many locations abroad, from Bhutan to Maalifushi, chef Tshering Lhaden doles out a series of nutritious yet lip-smacking plates. The star dish is, without a doubt, the Lobster Biryani ($48). A fluffy layer of basmati rice, cooked in a luscious bisque infused with spices, is served with a whole lobster and a flavoursome raita with mint, chaat masala and diced cucumbers.
Address: 18A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249677
Tel: 1800 304 6688
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 8.00am-10.00pm; Friday to Saturday 8.00am-10.30pm
Spanakopita, a Greek spinach filling stuffed in flaky crust. Photo: Summerlong
Those living in the Mediterranean have it right with their colourful diet teeming with good fats, fruits and vegetables. Summerlong’s head chef Fotis Kokoshi picks the best of the Greeks’ in an extensive plant- and seafood-based menu. Light and bright, expect Seabass Carpaccio ($22) with locally-farmed Barramundi, trout roe and fresh wasabi, charcoal grilled kebabs with an vegetarian option of Wild Mushroom ($21) topped with truffle salsa verde and the Turkish-style Imam Bayildi ($25) of eggplant stuffed with garlic, tomatoes and feta cheese. Dessert sees a healthier option in the Honey Parfait ($15) which gets its decadent flavours from the addition of green apples, forest fruits and raspberries. Those looking to imbibe - a glass of wine equates to an hour of gym, studies say - can check out Mediterranean varietals in vinos, such as the Katogi Averoff Xinomavro 2015 ($85/bottle) or Skouras Moscofilero 2018 ($18/glass; $88/bottle).
Address: #01-04, 60 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238252
Tel: +65 6235 1225
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 5.30pm-12.00am; Saturday to Sunday 10.30am-12.00am
Our Own Goat Cheese. Photo: The Butcher's Wife
No, I’m not talking about Demi Moore’s hilariously bad rom-com circa 1991. This cosy bistro in Tiong Bahru is all about serving up gut-friendly, gluten-free meals. Brazilian Mariana Campos D'Almeida joined the restaurant as its new chef in late 2019 and has introduced a slew of innovative yet hearty plates. With options running the gamut of keto-friendly Crispy Pig’s Ears ($21) that comes with wild pepper leaf wraps and house pickles, Our Own Goat Cheese ($17) to the more filling Buckwheat Tagliatelle ($29) with tender duck in a appetite-whetting tamarind broth, I daresay she’s fitting in just nicely.
Address: 19 Yong Siak St, Singapore 168650
Tel: +65 6221 9307
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12.00pm-2.30pm (lunch) and 6.00pm-11.00pm (dinner)
Fatteh Breakfast. Photo: Fat Prince
Fact: Fat Prince’s Middle Eastern fare falls under umbrella of the Mediterranean diet. We are a fan of their Royal Brunch ($49, with a welcome koktail) where diners are treated to a long list of dips, mezze and salads and desserts every Saturday, from 11.30pm to 2.30pm. That’s three satisfying hours of digging into their crowd pleasing Brussel Sprouts Fattoush, Fried Cauliflower and Kale Tabbouleh to go along with your main. Can’t decide? We are ardent fans of the well-rounded Fatteh Breakfast packed with poached eggs, halloumi, spring leaf falafel, baby spinach and pita toasted in their custom made earth oven.
Address: 48 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079317
Tel: +65 6221 7794
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11.30am-3.00pm (lunch) and 6.00pm-12.00am (dinner); Saturday 11.30am-3.00pm (brunch) and 6.00pm-12.00am(dinner)
Sea Bass Fillet. Photo: Zorba The Greek Taverna
Be transported to the paradisiacal beachsides of the Aegean sea when at Zorba. The hearty menu may not look it but is overflowing with greens and omega-3 rich fishes. Sea bass, a fish known for its low fat content and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, is a core ingredient in Greek cooking and does it three ways. Love the smoky char of the grill? Go for Tsipora ($32) that’s dressed simply with lemon, garlic and olive oil. Lavraki ($38) presents a moreish baked dish with skodalia potatoes, while the pan-fried Sea Bass Fillet ($32) dazzles with a white wine sauce. The starters and sides offer equally health-conscious choices of Greek Moussaka ($22) as well as the creamy eggplant drip, Melitzanosalata ($12)
Address: 3A River Valley Road, #01-02, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020
Tel: +65 8558 1704
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 6.00pm-12.00am
Wild Rice Congee. Photo: Tracy Juice Culture
Address: #01-34, Fortune Centre, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979
Tel: +65 6336 0754
Opening Hours: Daily, 9.00am-7.00pm