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FOOD & WINE
Keep it Casual at These Restaurants Around Town
by Anton D. Javier
03 Jun 2024
03 Jun 2024
A few new and familiar places where you can gather friends and family to sit back, relax, and feast on comforting and downright delicious food.
- GU:UM
- PODI & PORIYAL
- BAR CICHETI
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An assortment of starters and mains at GU:UM -
Striploin steak -
Chef Louis Han of Michelin-starred NAE:UM gives in to his deep love for Korean-style barbecue with GU:UM, a contemporary grill restaurant located at Keong Saik Road. But instead of grilling the meats yourself like in traditional Korean barbecue restaurants, sit back and watch the capable team prepare and cook an assortment of flame-kissed dishes – and more – in the open kitchen.
At the heart of the menu at GU:UM are prime cuts of meat, such as Tajima Wagyu Ribeye MBS 8, USDA Prime New York Striploin, and Iberico Pluma, which can be enjoyed simply salted or marinated in either galbi, chili gochujang, or fermented fish sauce. The meats are then served sliced and with a parade of banchan, pickles, and vegetables so you can enjoy a DIY ssam Korean wrap experience. Other tasty bites to consider include the Yukhwae Jeon, a crispy and chewy potato pancake topped with beef tartare, Korean Fried Cauliflower, sweet and savory Honey Butter Corn, and if stomach space permits, Sot Bibimbap – fluffy short grain rice cooked in a cast iron pot and topped with braised meats, seasonal vegetables, and a sunny side up egg. GU:UM’s take on Hotteok, a chewy rice flour pancake filled with cinnamon powder and brown sugar, caps off the meal perfectly.
- GU:UM
- PODI & PORIYAL
- BAR CICHETI
PODI & PORIYAL
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An assortment of starters at Podi & Poriyal -
Chakka Biryani -
Double decker Parotta -
While not particularly a new restaurant, Podi & Poriyal (which officially opened in 2019) needs to be on your radar. This modern South Indian restaurant, which is in a quiet corner of bustling Little India, specializes in a menu chockfull of flavorful vegetarian fare that are served alongside flavor-forward cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages like Curry Leaf Gin Fizz and the perfectly tart Manga Margarita. The cozy space, decorated with traditional cooking tools, rustic wooden columns, and images of South India will also make you want to linger a little longer even after the meal is done.
The vegetarian options at Podi & Poriyal are perhaps unlike anything you’ve had before, starting with the Edamame Sundal, where the mildly spiced tender green beans are tossed with grated fresh coconut and cashews for texture. The Signature Podi Idlis are pillowy and addictive, topped with a generous sprinkling of the day’s podi spice mix and crisp curry leaves. Meanwhile, the Chakka Biryani deserves a spot at the center of the table. Dig through the steaming, fluffy basmati rice to unearth baked chunks of young jackfruit, which beautifully shred like meat that’s been braised for hours. Then there’s also something to be said about brown, messy food – you just know it’s going to be good. Podi & Poriyal’s take on this is the Double Decker Parotta, where steamed, toasted, and stacked whole-wheat parottas are drenched in thick saalna curry, wrapped in banana leaves, and unveiled tableside.
- GU:UM
- PODI & PORIYAL
- BAR CICHETI
BAR CICHETI
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Smoked Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe -
Saltimbocca -
Bar Cicheti may not need a proper introduction, but take this as a timely reminder to schedule another visit – especially since the pasta joint just reopened in April, following a timely refresh. Step into the homey restaurant off Keong Saik Road and take in the striking red interiors, updated brand visuals and décor, and peruse the tightened menu and expanded wine program.
At Bar Cicheti, pastas reign supreme so take your pick from new additions, such as the Smoked Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe, where the rigatoni is charred on the grill, lending it texture and smokiness. Seafood fans will enjoy the briny, umami flavors of the Spaghettini al Nero di Seppia and Bucatini con Gamberi, while those who prefer meatier flavors can opt for the Tagliatelle al Ragù and Agnolotti stuffed with savory duck marmalade. Complete the meal by ordering a variety of sides, such as the addictive tempura-battered Fried Sage, Burratina with raspberry vinaigrette and marinated cherries, Grilled Baby Gem lettuce with burnt butter vinaigrette, and the moreish Saltimbocca – slices of veal tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and glazed with sweet marsala wine.
Visit Bar Cicheti at 10 Jiak Chuan Road, Tel: 6789 9801/9640 5502
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