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Time Out
7 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
This hidden bistro in an industrial building serves some of the best Asian-inspired pasta in Singapore
Regulars were up in arms when RVLT announced last December that it would be closing sometime in 2025. Over its eight years on Carpenter Street, the fun-loving, casual wine bar carved out a reputation for itself as a pioneer of the natural wine movement in Singapore. But with business never quite bouncing back to its pre-Covid heyday – and rent and costs on a steady incline – even beloved institutions have to call it a day sometimes. RVLT poured its last glass in July this year. Thankfully, what died didn't stay dead. Founders Alvin Gho and Ian Lim are quick to bounce back on their feet with a brand new concept, Revolution, tucked away in an unsuspecting industrial estate in Bukit Merah. The restaurant has swapped out the grungy aesthetics of its old digs for a more minimalistic, classy look, with clean lines and a softer colour palette. The new space is designed in collaboration with Danish design house Fritz Hansen just next door, so that explains it. Despite the makeover, the spirit of RVLT lives on in its menu and wine programme. Executive Chef Sunny Leong continues to helm the kitchen, bringing back old faves like the homemade chicken nuggets ($20) – just as good, with a perfectly crisp shell and tender middle, studded with bits of chicken soft bone for an extra crunch, and paired with a slightly sweet tomato sriracha. Other dishes that survive the lynch include the sourdough bread with seaweed butter ($8), steak tartare ($26) and wagyu beef patty melt with fries ($28). And if you miss the vino, shimmy up to the bar-counter for spot-on recommendations by Alvin and Ian, who'll pour you anything from a juicy pinot noir from China to an unfussy glass of pet-nat. If you work around the area, Revolution's two-course set lunch ($28.80) is a solid deal, with Asian-inspired pastas taking centre stage. There are five to choose from, like salted egg carbonara spaghetti and black pepper wagyu steak bucatini. Our picks? The 'hua diao' white clam linguine and mala pesto trofie. The linguine has a splash of Chinese rice wine, though in the gentlest, most delicate way. What really stands out is the buttery sauce and giant, slippery clams which add a briny sweetness to each bite. Alvin tells us the mala pesto pasta is the most underrated of the lot, and we're inclined to agree. It's got that satisfying numbing kick, with a fine dusting of crushed almonds on top for added crunch. His personal favourite, however, is the chicken rendang ravioli, the only dish on the menu which uses fresh pasta. Each parcel is filled with a smooth chicken mousse and coated in a rich rendang sauce, with generous sprinkles of berempah (crispy, spiced crumbs) as the cherry on top. Come late September to October, Revolution will be rolling out its dinner menu, featuring new dishes dreamed up by Chef Sunny. We shan't spoil it, but let's just say you can expect anything from a reinvention of his iconic crystal bread to delicate stroopwaffles made of chicken skin, and more funky, boundary-pushing creations. For now, Revolution is open for lunch and tea from 11am to 5pm daily, with dinner hours expected to run from 6pm to midnight from Thursdays to Saturdays.
Time Out
04-08-2025
- Time Out
5 new restaurants in Singapore to check out this August 2025
After a relatively slow July, Singapore's food scene is springing right back into action, especially with the launch of Resorts World Sentosa's new lifestyle enclave, Weave, on top of several openings in Jewel Changi Airport. This month's food picks include an affordable offshoot of the award-winning ramen restaurant Mensho Tokyo, a bistro concept by the folks behind RVLT (a cult-favourite natural wine bar which closed this year); a breezy Italian spot nestled in the Botanic Gardens; Singapore's very first Bornean restaurant; and a gorgeous new hideout in the CBD with wallet-friendly set lunches. Here are the finest places to wine and dine this August. Explore Singapore's 2025 restaurant openings by month: Find out which are the best new restaurants that opened in Singapore this year. 1. Mensho X If Mensho Tokyo is a little out of your budget this month, try Mensho X, a fast-casual offshoot of the award-winning ramen restaurant with signature bowls from $19. It currently has an outlet in Raffles Place, with one more set to open in Resorts World Sentosa later this year. While the original Mensho Tokyo is known for its rich, velvety toripaitan broth, Mensho X's version leans towards the lighter side, thanks to the use of ingredients like kelp, shiitake and porcini mushrooms. It's not just the broth that differs – instead of Mensho Tokyo's whole wheat, stone-milled noodles, there are three noodle options at Mensho X: ramen, tsukemen and mazeman, all made from a proprietary flour blend. Highlights on the menu to look out for include the mochi mochi mazemen ($19), toripaitan tsukemen ($19), Firebird Ramen ($20) and toripaitan ramen with egg yolk ($19). Address: 6 Battery Rd, Raffles #01-02, Singapore 049909 Opening hours: Daily 11am-10pm Expect to pay: From $19 per bowl of ramen. 2. Revolution Wine Bistro Singapore's OG natural wine bar RVLT is making a glorious comeback with a new wine bistro in the heart of Bukit Merah. The restaurant has swapped out the grungy aesthetics of its old Carpenter Street digs for a more minimalistic and classy look. Its new location is housed within the Danish design studio Fritz Hansen, so that explains it. Despite the makeover, the borderless and boundary-pushing food and spirit of RVLT live on. Yes, cult-faves have not been taken off the menu – thank God. You can still get your fix of the brand's iconic homemade chicken nuggets ($20) with fermented tomato sriracha, and its wagyu beef patty melt with fries ($28). Other than that, it's pasta with a local twist that takes centre stage. Think salted egg carbonara ($19.80), hua diao white clams linguine ($19.80) and the like. And if you miss the vino, shimmy up to the bar counter for spot-on recommendations by co-founders and wine geeks Alvin Gho and Ian Lim. Address: 211 Henderson Rd, #01-05, Singapore 159552 Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-midnight Expect to pay: Around $30 for set lunches and more for a la carte and dinner options. 3. iL Giardino There's something undeniably appealing about dining within the Botanic Gardens, surrounded by lush nature and greenery. iL Giardino embodies that experience quite literally, its name translating to 'The Garden' in Italian. The new bistro is located within The Garage, taking over the second floor of the conservation building. There's even the option to dine out at the breezy alfresco terrace, which seats up to 24 guests. The menu revolves around cicchetti-style dining originating from Venice, where small sharing plates are passed around the table and enjoyed with wine or cocktails. Not to be missed are the slow-braised osso bucco (from $28) featuring tender veal and creamy whipped potatoes; roasted corn-fed chicken (from $16) and the pan-roasted king salmon ($28) with ginger flower salsa verde and eggplant caponata. Sip on refreshing botanical-inspired cocktails like the signature Giardino Spritz ($18) with prosecco and limoncello, or Under the Tuscan Sun ($18), which combines white rum, fresh basil and lemon. Address: 50 Cluny Park Rd, Singapore Botanic Gardens, The Garage, Level 2, Singapore 257488 Opening hours: Wed-Fri 6pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 5pm-10pm Expect to pay: Around $60 per person for sharing plates and drinks. 4. Kantin Singapore's food repertoire just got an upgrade with the opening of Kantin, our first and only Bornean restaurant to date. This is the second outlet of the popular Kuching-based establishment, which has won multiple food and travel awards in Malaysia. Kantin is located in Jewel Changi's glass dome, overlooking the stunning rain vortex. But it's not just its location that impresses – the restaurant is Singapore's first to hone in on 'jungle food', that is, the ingredient-driven cuisine of some of the 300 indigenous tribes native to Borneo. A must-try is the Headhuter Pansuh Set, a nod to the Dayak people of the region. Sample slow-cooked chicken in a special broth served in bamboo crockery, paired with purple rice wrapped in banana leaves, keropok lekor, and Dayak sides like pusu bawang (pickled onions with fried anchovies), paku (Bornean fern with belachan) and jellyfish served ceviche-style. Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, Jewel, Singapore Changi Airport, #05-206/207, Singapore 819666 Opening hours: Daily 11am-10pm Expect to pay: Around $40 per person for sharing dishes and drinks. 5. Salt & Soul The interiors are looking spot-on at this gorgeous new spot in Frasers Tower, located right opposite Amoy Street Food Centre. And surprisingly, the prices here aren't exorbitant either. For those working around the area, the lunch sets are priced affordably at $17, and if you're looking for a promising date night spot, pasta dishes at Salt & Soul are all under the $20 range. Expect mainly European-style comfort dishes done right – carbonara made the traditional Italian way with only egg yolk; chicken beignet – a French classic; and mussel pots – a Belgian staple. Other addictive sides to order include the buttery house mash, chips and dip, cauliflower and prawn fritters. The coffee programme is courtesy of PPP Coffee (and yes, pour-over coffee is available too), while the cocktail menu sees easy favourites like the spicy margarita, passionfruit and white chocolate daiquiri, and the restaurant's signature S&S espresso martini.
