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| Gorkha
Grill |
Price:
S$24. Wine: S$38 or BYO |
| This
small gem of a dining room, situated in the busy eating
area of Smith Street, is Singapore’s first authentic
Nepalese restaurant. Small and friendly, with large
murals of mountain scenery, the menu is a superb sample
of the spices and flavours of Nepal. Filling without
being heavy and greasy, momos (meat or vegetarian steamed
or fried dumplings) are an excellent way to start. Recommended
dishes include the soup consisting of beans simmered
with herbs and green vegetables; Jheenge papita (prawns
marinated with vegetables and herbs) served in a papaya
boat, and kukhura so makhani (chicken marinated with
butter gravy and herbs). Gorkha Grill is delicious and
reasonably priced – made more economical by bringing
along your own wine. A new branch, Everest Kitchen,
opened in mid-2002 specialising in North Indian cuisine,
has an excellent-value buffet lunch for S$8. |
21 Smith
Street
Tel: 6227 0806. |
Branch: 55 Chander Road,
Little India Tel: 6299 0745. |
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| Komala
Vilas |
Price:
S$10. Unlicensed. |
| Komala
Vilas is one of many small, relaxed eating places in
the ethnic section of Little India. The vegetarian menu
offers an entire traditional South Indian meal, with specialties
such as the dosai, a vegetable-filled crêpe, and
thali, a complete meal of rice, lentils and a variety
of curries, all presented on a banana leaf. A superb
place for breakfast, open from 7.00 am. Credit cards are not accepted. |
76–78
Serangoon Road
Tel: 6293 6980. Fax: 6392 9385.
E-mail: komala@singnet.com.sg |
Branch:
12–14 Buffalo Road
Tel: 6293 3664. |
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| Ling
Zhi |
Price:
S$25. Wine: Unlicensed. |
|
With most Chinese food dominated by meat and seafood,
it is a relief to be able to enjoy purely vegetarian
dishes – and at reasonable prices. Dim sum is
an excellent place to start – the fried monkey
head mushrooms with capsicum and dried chilli are a
must to sample (despite the name), as must the honshimeiji
mushrooms, stir fried with capsicum, asparagus, and macadamia
nuts in a crispy yam basket. The chefs in the two outlets
have proved that one can to turn vegetables and soya
into creative and tasty dishes. Due to the location
and price, lunchtimes are crowded but generally relaxed,
with friendly service. |
Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road
Tel: 6734 3788. Fax: 6734 5788.
E-mail: lingzhi@tunglok.com |
Branch:
Far East Square, 7–10 Amoy St
Tel: 6538 2992. Fax: 6538 7882. |
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| Newton
Circus |
Price:
From S$3 per dish. |
| Eating
in a hawker centre is a unique dining experience to
Singapore, with many throughout the city, particularly in
the shopping quarters. Newton Circus is constantly a
favourite place among the locals and foreign visitors, particularly because
it is open-air and open 24 hours. Tourists should pay no
attention to the touts who try and lure visitors to
their stall but check out what each place has, then
find a table and place an order. As is the case with
most food centres, you can order from different stalls
and it will all be delivered to your table. It doesn't have the greatest variety of dishes, with few vegetarian
options, nor is it the least expensive, but the ambience
is always lively whether people get together for a late-night
meal, for breakfast, or for a beer at 4.00 am. |
| Newton
Circus, next to the Newton MRT |
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| Orchard
Maharajah |
Price:
S$26. Wine: S$30. |
| This
small North Indian restaurant, located in Orchard Road’s
shopping area, is a perfect place for those who enjoy open-air
dining amidst many activities. In spite of its modest
situation and price, the food is excellent. The tandoori
platter comes laden with chicken tikka, fish, prawns
and shish kebab. The Raan e Maharajah is the specialty,
the lamb marinated overnight and roast in the tandoor.
Some vegetarian dishes are the classic saag aloo (spinach
and potato) and baigan bartha (aubergine with spices). |
27 Cuppage
Terrace
Tel: 6732 6331. |
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