No. 11 Joo Chiat Place #01 -03
Tel: 6275 1002
Operating Hours: Lunch: 11 am – 2.30pm Dinner: 5.30pm – 9:30pm
This restaurant has all the hallmarks of an iconic Singaporean eatery. Naturally, a Peranakan theme dominates the decor, and batik slip covers are all over the place. Oddly, what I might have usually categorised as tacky here exudes a certain retro charm, creating a dining environment that gives a feeling of eating in a very naff friend’s home. My beef rending had been cooked properly – for hours and hours in coconut milk – until very soft, fragrant and delicious. The fish head assam pedas – a sort of spicy-sour curry with tamarind – was another winner: the flavour benefiting enormously from the gelatine in the heads. However, while the restaurant bills its offerings as authentic Nonya fare, some dishes lack the depth and complexity of this diverse and interesting culinary culture. That said, the food is generally very tasty and good value – if perhaps sometimes far too hot: if overly spicy food is not your preference, choose another restaurant. For an after meal sweet, go for one of their variously flavoured chendol  - or crushed iced desserts – very refreshing after all that spice.

The Copperdome, Anchorpoint, 368 Alexandra Road
Tel: 6472 3833
Operating Hours: Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm (Mon – Sat) Dinner: 6pm – 10.30pm (Mon – Sat)
With more than 80 items on the la carte menu, deciding what to order here can be difficult, especially when you are a party of just two. But larger groups or families will appreciate the range, with milder dishes suitable for younger palates thoughtfully indicated with a smiley face, and the staff here are extremely knowledgeable and helpful if you really do get stuck. Fortunately I didn’t have any trouble there – I went straight for the signature dish of grilled pork shoulder with a garlic chilli dip – a cut you so rarely see quickly cooked, but one that responds very well to it – the natural sinews and collagen do make for a slightly chewier meat than say, the loin, but it also traps in those all important (and delicious) juices: eat it with a handful of fresh basil leaves and a bowl of hot steamed rice, and it will turn into a very satisfying meal. The restaurant also offers promotional items monthly, such as duck with pepper sauce and barbecued squid. That said, their tried-and­ tested a la carte items are generally safer options. 

#01-18/23 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road
Tel: 6238 3450
Operating Hours: 11 am – 2am

This place has a lovely ambience provided by rustic timber decking, charming staff, teakwood furniture, lots of plants and a 20m long water feature in the middle of the café. Here one gets Vietnamese cuisine given the IndoChine treatment – the same dishes that you will find at any pho shop, but served with good cutlery in a more up-market environment. The food throws up no stunners but is fairly good – the fried dried beef and raw spring rolls are very satisfying. Special note also goes to the raw rice paper spring rolls that are generously packed with crunchy fresh vegetables, and very reasonable: most mains and pho  are about $14 for generous portions, making this hidden alcove in the middle of Orchard Road a good place for shoppers with tired feet and rumbling stomachs.