Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Artichoke @ New Bahru - Recalibrates with a Bolder Middle Eastern Identity

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Artichoke Pizza Parlor at New Bahru is turning the dial back to where it all began — its Middle Eastern roots. Six months into its opening, the refreshed menu isn’t about reinvention but a confident recalibration. Chef Bjorn Shen’s irreverent style remains unmistakable, now sharpened with a more pronounced Middle Eastern DNA. The result? A menu that feels tighter, more intentional, yet still brimming with playful surprises.

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Hummus 4.2/5

We started with the Hummus ($16), a returning staple that continues to hold its ground as a dependable opener. Made in-house from dried chickpeas soaked overnight, the hummus is smooth, nutty and deeply satisfying. It comes crowned with housemade chilli oil and chilli crunch, almond dukkah, and a medley of roasted seasonal vegetables such as lotus root, broccolini, mushrooms and baby carrots. A squeeze of lemon lifts the richness, setting the stage for the bold flavours that follow.

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Garlic Bread 4/5

To complement it, the Garlic Bread ($10) is a must-order. Crafted from Artichoke’s pizza bianca — a focaccia-like dough — the bread is brushed with an aglio olio-style garlic relish before being toasted to a crisp. The relish itself is thoughtfully prepared, with garlic fried in oil and gently braised in water to mellow its sharpness while retaining its aromatic depth. The result is a crisp, flavourful base that serves as the perfect vehicle for scooping up every last bit of the hummus.

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Baked Camembert 4.2/5

For something indulgent, the Baked Camembert ($28) delivers in both richness and comfort. The whole wheel of Camembert is baked until molten and oozy, then drizzled with black truffle-infused honey — made by shaving real black truffles into honey — and finished with roasted mixed nuts tossed in brown butter. Served alongside Ritz crackers, it’s a decadent combination of sweet, savoury, creamy and crunchy elements that come together effortlessly.

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Arti-Casear 4.5/5

The Arti-Casear ($24) offers a lighter interlude. Featuring pistachio mortadella, soft egg, crisp greens and croutons, the salad is tossed in a well-balanced Caesar dressing. While straightforward in concept, the interplay of textures — from crunchy vegetables to the richness of the soft egg — keeps it satisfying without feeling heavy.

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Sunny Slice 4.5/5

The spotlight, however, firmly belongs to the pizzas. The refreshed menu places a stronger emphasis on Artichoke’s signature rectangular UnderCrunch pizzas — pillowy slabs with cheddar-crisped frico bases that deliver both crunch and chew.

The new Sunny Slice ($26) is a standout addition. Built on a pizza bianca base spread with toum (a punchy garlic sauce), it is layered with roasted fennel, haloumi cubes and fresh kumquat slices. Finished with housemade hot honey, arugula, mint and pistachio crumble, the pizza offers a vibrant balance of sweet, savoury and herbaceous notes. The kumquat lends a bright citrusy pop, while the haloumi adds a satisfying saltiness against the crisp, golden base.

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Crab-Onara 4.2/5

On the other end of the spectrum are the Stone Baked Rounds, which mark a return to a more traditional style. The Crab-Onara ($34) is a prime example of how Artichoke blends classic techniques with bold creativity. The dough, fermented for three days, yields a light and puffy crust. Topped with garlic cream sauce, fior di latte, zucchini and sautéed pancetta, it is then finished with generous chunks of crab claw meat. A unique “jellified” egg yolk sauce — made by cooking yolks sous vide before seasoning — adds a luscious, carbonara-like richness, rounded off with a dusting of pecorino and black pepper. It’s indulgent, complex, and undeniably satisfying.

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OG Date Pudding 4.8/5

Dessert brings us to the OG Date Pudding ($16), a nostalgic throwback made the original way in 2010. This warm steamed date cake is paired with a cold dulce de leche sauce, creating a pleasing temperature contrast. Accompaniments of black coffee jelly, crunchy cashew nougat and a touch of smoked salt add layers of bitterness, sweetness and texture, elevating the dish beyond a typical sticky date pudding.

Artichoke Pizza Parlor’s refreshed menu feels like a confident step forward by looking back. By leaning into its Middle Eastern roots while refining its offerings, the restaurant delivers a dining experience that is both focused and full of personality. It’s not about doing more, but doing what it does best — with even greater clarity and conviction.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Artichoke
New Bahru
46 Kim Yam Road
#01-02
Singapore 239351
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue: 5pm - 10pm
Wed-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the traffic junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and cut through UE Square to Unity Street. Turn right onto Unity Street and walk to Mohamed Sultan Road. Cross the road and walk to Kim Yam Road. Walk down Kim Yam Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 10 minutes. [Map]

Monday, June 22, 2026

One Ninety Bar @ Four Seasons Singapore - A New "Italian Job Afternoon Tea", A Leisurely Escape with Mediterranean Flair

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Four Seasons Hotel Singapore brings a taste of Italy to the heart of Orchard Road with The Italian Job Afternoon Tea, an exclusive collaboration with Executive Pastry Chef Andrea Bonaffini from Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. Joining him are Four Seasons Hotel Singapore’s own Chef Patrick Benedetti and Chef Valerio Pierantonelli, who collectively present an afternoon tea experience that celebrates the flavours, craftsmanship and charm of Italy.

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Available until 5 September, the limited-time afternoon tea at One-Ninety Bar features refined savouries, Italian-inspired desserts and handcrafted cocktails, offering a leisurely afternoon escape with Mediterranean flair. Unlike the traditional three-tiered presentation, the menu is served course by course, allowing guests to fully appreciate each creation as it arrives.

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Cocktails and Mocktails

Guests can choose between the classic afternoon tea experience at S$68++ per person, which includes coffee or tea, or elevate the experience with the S$89++ per person option, which comes with a signature Italian-inspired craft cocktail alongside coffee or tea.

Additional cocktails are available at S$22++ each or S$42++ for two. La Dolce Vita is a refreshing blend of Código 1530 Tequila, cream, lemon bitters, strawberry sorbet and Prosecco, delivering fruity, creamy and lightly sparkling notes that evoke a carefree Italian summer. The Italian Sour offers a rich, velvety combination of Malfy Gin, Amaretto, fresh lemon juice, pistachio syrup and egg white.

For something lighter, Fioritura combines Monkey 47 Gin, jasmine yuzu syrup and tonic for a fragrant, floral profile with refreshing citrus notes, and is also available as a mocktail. Meanwhile, Pesca Amaro is a sophisticated aperitif-style cocktail featuring Glenlivet 12 Years, Peach Campari and Cocchi Rosa, bringing together fruity, bittersweet and botanical flavours in an elegant finish.

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Pomodoro

To begin our afternoon tea, we were served the Pomodoro, an adorable tomato-shaped bite. Beneath the tomato exterior lies an aubergine mousse centre. The entire tomato sits on a bed of Parmesan cheese and is finished with basil oil. It’s like a delicate eggplant parmigiana in bite-sized form, and almost too cute to eat.

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Polipo

Polipo was one of the more substantial savouries, featuring charcoal-grilled octopus hidden within a silky smoked potato foam. Capers and lemon add brightness that complements the smoky octopus. Very delicious, and I scooped up every last bit.

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Savouries Assortment

Three additional savoury bites were presented together, each showcasing a different facet of Italian cuisine. The Scapece, inspired by the Southern Italian preparation of marinated vegetables, paired courgette with Pecorino cheese. The Tartella featured sweet Carabinero prawn atop a delicate tartlet, complemented by crisp fennel, bright orange and olives for sweetness. Completing the trio was the Maritozzo, an interpretation of the classic Italian bun filled with tender veal loin and a rich tonnata sauce made from tuna and capers, finished with freshly shaved black truffle.

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Limone

This was followed by an intermezzo of Limone. This dessert immediately caught my eye with its striking resemblance to those ultra-aesthetic lemon-shaped gelatos that have been taking over social media. It features Amalfi lemon and vanilla granita, with creamy ricotta cheese within, crowned with a light mandarin foam. Bright and citrusy, the dessert was refreshing, though quite sweet, and I found the cinnamon notes slightly more pronounced than expected.

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Albicocca

Moving on to the sweets, the Albicocca paired intense Valrhona 70% dark chocolate with hazelnut praline, while apricot and bergamot brought fruitiness and citrusy tartness to balance the richness.

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Cakes Assortment

The Raviolo was designed to resemble a miniature pasta parcel, filled with nutty Bronte pistachios and bright orange marmalade, with a crunchy element adding textural contrast to the smooth filling. A super cute dessert ‘pasta’ I’d love to have again.

The Fragola was perhaps the prettiest cake, featuring vanilla ganache, biscuit and sweet Cameron Highlands strawberries, delicately adorned with edible flowers for a light and elegant finish.

No Italian dessert selection is complete without Tiramisu, and this was a refined take on the beloved Italian classic, using mascarpone cream, espresso and cocoa biscuit for a familiar combination of creamy, coffee-infused indulgence.

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Nocciola

The afternoon tea concludes with Da Condividere (To Share). Nocciola brings together cocoa and hazelnut cake, creamy crema ice cream and a generous pour of warm chocolate foam. The chocolate foam was especially delicious, adding an indulgent touch to the dessert. While designed for sharing, I still found it a little heavy, particularly after the many cakes I’d just eaten. Nevertheless, its chocolate and hazelnut flavours make for a fitting finale, showcasing a classic flavour pairing that rounded off the afternoon tea on a decadent note.

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Note: This is an invited tasting.


One-Ninety Bar
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
190 Orchard Boulevard
Singapore 248646
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Weekend Brunch: 12pm - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 11. Walk straight down Orchard Boulevard Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 6 minutes. [Map]