Eat

TABLE FOR TWO

Good food and great wine that make for intriguing conversation with your favourite person—what more could one ask for?

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

The eclectic decor of the 40-seat Cloudstreet is as on point as the food 

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ON CLOUD NINE

Dinner is a cosy affair at Rishi Naleendra’s new restaurant Cloudstreet, a 40-seat, mid-century modern space dressed in botanicals, white panelled walls, chequered floors and whimsical mismatched armchairs. Chef-owner Naleendra, who used to head the now-defunct one-Michelin-starred Cheek by Jowl, presents a degustation menu ($198) that delights with its Asian riffs and well-honed European culinary hand. The delicately balanced dishes, such as the grilled Western Australian marron in yellow curry (below) and porcini ice cream dessert (it tastes better than it sounds, we promise), and excellent wine list of mostly independent makers will give you plenty to talk about all night. We won’t be surprised if this restaurant goes on your list of favourite places for date night. Visit cloudstreet.com.sg.
 
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From above: Preludio’s Wine Lounge. 1 Week, a new dish of a-week-aged amberjack, foie gras terrine, blueberry vinegar pearls, chives, esplette and puffed quinoa 

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STIMULATING STARTERS

Ingredient-driven plates take centre stage at Preludio, a sleek, contemporary restaurant that unfolds a new culinary theme every 12 to 18 months. Executive Chef Fernando Arévalo serves what he calls an “author’s cuisine”, where the ingredients’ provenance meld with his experiences to result in unconventional but well-balanced flavours that will keep you both guessing and marvelling at what’s placed on the table. The 56-seater debuted its dining tome with a “Monochrome” chapter featuring dishes presented in starkly minimalist forms—think Iberico pork with whiffs of coffee and port, and a pure white Strawberry Milkshake dessert—and its new concept “Time”, starting this month, promises to continue an intrigue that you can both unravel together. Lunch consists of four- and seven-course sets from $58, while a Complete eight-course dinner menu costs $238 per person. Those feeling less peckish can go for the Abridged dinner of six courses at $188. Visit preludio.sg.
 
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From top: Art Restaurant’s Spaghetti ‘Monograno Felicetti’, Scampi And Ginger. The stylishly elegant Art Restaurant 

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 SWEET TRADITIONS

Celebrate la dolce vita together at the 50-seat Art Restaurant. The three-, four- and five-course degustation menus ($78 to $138) showcase chef-restaurateur Beppe De Vito’s skilful and creative hand at traditional Italian dishes, with personally sourced seasonal produce from Italy landing on the table in hearty forms. Signatures include the Suckling Pig Rack, Chestnut, Myrtle And Fig Vincotto, made with figs from his family farm in Puglia, and the Tuna Belly Carpaccio, Autumn Truffle And Piedmont Hazelnuts, which references the classic beef carpaccio. Bookend dinner with drinks at the bar overlooking the city’s starlit skyline and it’ll be the perfect night out. Visit artrestaurant.sg.

BY GRACEMA