Like the Fine-Dining series I did recently, these semi-fine-dining restaurants are the ones I visited in the past year or so. I’m going to call it S’Fun dining. As I’m rebooting my blog, I want to clear the memory space of my mind and hence, I’m writing for my own reference and my own memory. Some concepts may have already changed. But if this is useful to you, I’m glad.
These S’Fun dining places fill in the gap between casual and fine-dining, pricing at about $60 to $100. Their target audience is fun-loving working adults in their late 20s to 40s who have friends and some disposable income.
Iko
65 Neil Road Singapore 088897
t: +65 8866 5218
M-Th 5pm – 1am
F, Sat, & Ph 5pm – 3am
facebook
Visited: 10 Aug 2022
Iko was open by the original founder of Saveur and The Masses, Dylan Ong. The funky modern Japanese restaurant-bar is called Iko because the food can be eaten in 一口 (one mouthful). The food is interesting but doesn’t quite give the WOW that Saveur and the Masses had inspired.
Postscript: Since my visit, Iko is now a vinyl record bar, not a restaurant, serving only finger food and drinks.
Food: 6.5/10
Price: 5.5/10
Decor/ambience: 8/10
Josephine – French Cuisine and Wine Bar
97 Amoy Street, Singapore 069917
t: +65 9642 4901
11:45 am – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Closed Sun
Visited: 17 May 2022
I find the food here so… insincere. I’ve cooked some of these dishes in some variations at home before. Nothing really special about the food although the steak is quite tasty. The French ancestors would rise from their graves if they know the gimmick of sticking a magmum ice cream into a souffle.
Food: 5.5/10
Price: 6/10
Decor/ambience: 6/10
Service: 6.5/10
Kilo
97 Duxton Road, Singapore 089541
t: +65 9625 0279
Tues – Thu 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm
Fri 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 12am
Sun 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm
Instagram
Visited: 5 Aug 2022
Been to Kilo at Orchard Central in 2014, it’s closed now. This Kilo at Duxton is gorgeous, so much greenery and concrete, feels like Bali. The Asian-inspired food was bursting with flavours too. But they could work on their desserts. I put this on my Best Food in Singapore 2022 list.
Food: 7.5/10
Price: 5.5/10
Decor/ambience: 8.5/10
Service: 6.5/10
Kinou
2 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088380
Tue-Thu, Sat: 3pm-12am
Fri: 12pm-12am
t: +65 8453 4519
Instagram
Visited: 24 Jun 2022
Kinou, which serves Basque tapas, really needs to have their own website, they have so little online presence and they are at a cul de sac. I worry that such a good restaurant may disappear. I remember everything I had was excellent, especially the tenderloin with foie gras burger. Writing this entry, I feel like I need to return soon.
Food: 7.5/10
Decor/ambience: 7.5/10
Kongsee
10 & 12 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069252
t: +65 8828 7664
5pm till late, closed Sun
facebook
Visited: 6 Apr 2022
I love and support you, Willin Low, the chef-partner of Kongsee, but I gotta tell the truth: the mod-sin cuisine is disappointing. I can’t be sure because I didn’t ask, this is not a fact, it’s a guess: That pizza tasted like a factory made prata with toppings. My friend and I quit the place after a few dishes and drinks and went to a hawker centre.
When I ordered the fried chicken, the waiter (manager?) took my order but later came back to say they sold out. How could it be sold out when I was the first customer there? Just say “sorry, the item isn’t available today.” Lying to customers is a big NO. It makes me throw into question every interaction, every menu write up of whether the restaurant is telling the truth or not.
Food: 5/10
Decor/ambience: 5.5/10
Service: 6/10
Price: 6/10
In conclusion, I recommend Kilo and Kinou, and do not recommend Kongsee. The other two, Iko and Josephine, are fine.
You may be interested in…
– New Restaurants & Promos: Nori Nori Yakiniku (Telok Ayer); Zorba (Clarke Quay); Peppermint (Parkroyal Marina Bay)
– Fine Dining I’ve Been For the Past Year Part 1: 5 on 25 (Andaz); Bam! (Tras St); Bedrock Origin (Sentosa); Caviar (Palais Renaissance); and Guccio (Gemmill Lane)
– Fine Dining Part 2: Lavo (MBS); Orchid Live Seafood (HomeTeamNS Khatib); Racines (Sofitel Tanjong Pagar); Rosemead (Cecil St); and Siri House (Dempsey)
– Fine Dining Part 3: Whitegrass (CHIJMES); Brasserie Les Saveurs (St Regis); Firangi Superstar (Craig Rd); Restaurant Born (Neil Road)
Written by Dr. A. Nathanael Ho.
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