Under Der Linden @ Portsdown Road - Floral Escape With European Vibes

Tucked away along Portsdown Road at One-North, Under Der Linden offers diners a floral-themed dining escape, blending European vibes with whimsical charm. The restaurant draws inspiration from the medieval poem "Under der Linden", infusing its interiors with pastel blooms, whitewashed walls, and arched details. The result is a serene, picture-perfect setting, and one of the rare pet-friendly restaurants in Singapore where even furry companions are welcome indoors.

Ice Latte 4.2/5

Kickstart the meal at Under Der Linden with a refreshing Ice Latte, smooth and lightly aromatic, setting the tone for a relaxing dining experience.

Burrata Garden Delight 4/5

For our lunch, we started with the Burrata Garden Delight ($22). A whole vine tomato sits on top of a bed of mizuna salad. Slice open the tomato, and it reveals a creamy burrata hidden within. The dish is light, fresh, and visually playful, marrying creamy richness with the peppery crunch of mizuna greens.

Crispy Calamari Fiesta 4.2/5

The Crispy Calamari Fiesta ($16) is super addictive, with its exterior perfectly crisp while the inside remains firm and tender. A comforting sharing dish that is simple yet executed with finesse.

Duck Confit 4/5

The Duck Confit ($32) is very well executed. The duck was tender and fell off the bone with ease. It is paired with compressed nashi pear, beetroot purée, and natural jus. The sweetness from the pear and beetroot balances the richness of the duck, creating a harmonious bite.

Wagyu Beef Burger 4.2/5

The Wagyu Beef Burger ($29) features a juicy, medium-rare 200g wagyu patty sandwiched between two soft and fluffy buns. Layered with onion compote, bacon jam, miso aioli, and cheddar cheese, the burger is flavour-packed and indulgent, easily one of the highlights of the menu.

Under Der Linden stands out as more than just a floral café. With its elegant interiors, pet-friendly policy, and well-executed menu, it makes for a charming spot for dates, gatherings, or simply a peaceful retreat from the city's bustle. The food is not only beautifully presented but also thoughtfully crafted, making it a dining destination that marries aesthetics with flavour.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Under Der Linden
5B Portsdown Road
#01-02
Singapore 139311
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 10am - 330pm, 530pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 9pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite One-North MRT station (Stop ID 18151). Take bus number 191. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

GelatiAmo @ Connexis Tower, Fusionpolis - Authentic Italian Gelato By Chef Loris Massimini Of Ristorante Pietrasanta

GelatiAmo is a new gelato cafe brought to you by Chef Loris of Ristorante Pietrasanta. Each day, the gelato is churned in a special combi gelato machine from Italy. GelatiAmo's gelato is made without any shortcuts that compromise its integrity, using time-honed techniques and quality ingredients to produce the ideal gelato texture.

Instead of trendy flavours, GelatiAmo focuses on timeless, classic flavours done right. On top of that, it will also introduce store speciality that can't find elsewhere in Singapore. Each scoop is priced at $4.20, while double scoop at $7.80 with an extra $0.80 charge per scoop for premium flavours. An additional $1 for the cone instead of the cup.

Classic flavours include Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Chocolate (made with 76% cacao), Earl Grey, Coconut with Choco Chip, Yogurt Strawberry, Ferrero Rocher, Pistachio and Melted Butter Coffee.

The store speciality comprises the Burrata Balsamico, inspired by the popular cheesecake at Ristorante Pietrasanta. It uses the same 12 Year Old Giuseppe Giusti Balsamic Vinegar for the gelato flavour. In addition, customers can look forward to seasonal rotation such as Champagne Grapefruit, Almond and Turmeric, and Grapefruit sorbet.

Besides having the gelato on its own, customers can choose to serve in Brioche, Square Cinnamon-coated Doughnuts and Waffle.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


GelatiAmo
Connexis
1 Fusionopolis Way
#B1-11
Singapore 138632
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 830pm
Sun: 2pm - 830pm

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Ristorante Pietrasanta @ Connexis Tower, Fusionpolis - Authentic Tuscan-style Dining Inspired By The Town Of Pietrasanta

I could not believe this was my first time visiting Ristorante Pietrasanta until it recently relocated to Connexis Tower, Fusionpolis. It moved from Portsdown Road to the current location, which is more accessible. It is so much accessible now located just beside the One-North MRT station.

Burrata 4.5/5

The Italian Burrata ($42.90) is not available on the menu flown in from Italy every three days. The 300g fresh Italian burrata is served with cold-pressed olive oil, parma ham, rocket salad, San Marzano tomatoes. The chef's brother specially produces the olive oil in Italy to a long-kept family recipe. This olive oil makes Ristorante Pietrasanta's burrata apart from its competitors.

Porchetta 4.2/5

I would recommend having the Porchetta ($24.90) to go with the burrata. It comes with thinly sliced roasted pork belly with rocket leaves. It is further sweetened with Italian tomatoes, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, and Giuseppe Giusti 15 years aged balsamico.

Fettucine Con Salsiccio Tartufo 4.5/5

A must-have is the pasta dishes at Ristorante Pietrasanta. They handmade all their pasta daily. With their opening at their new location, the restaurant is bringing back its most popular pasta dish - Fettucine Con Salsiccio Tartufo ($28.90). It is also known as the Italian bak chor mee for the pork ragout in a light cream sauce tossed in the handmade fettucine pasta.

Fresche Gamberi E Pomodori Secchi 4.8/5

If the Fettucine Con Salsiccio Tartufo is good, the Fresche Gamberi E Pomodori Secchi ($28.90) is even better. The tagliatelle cooked with fresh prawns, semi-dried tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, and prawn broth is packed with robustness, with its fragrance wafting through the air.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina 4.2/5

The Bistecca Alla Fiorentina ($149.90) is excellent for sharing, which comes in a 1kg grilled Angus T-Bone cooked in Tuscany style accompanied with roasted potatoes and beans. No sauce is served here. The steak is simply grilled with salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme to fully appreciate its natural beefy boldness.

Galletto Disossato Arrosto $34.90

The Galletto Disossato Arrosto ($34.90) doesn't come with any sauce like the Angus T-bone steak. The whole organic chicken imported from Europe is roasted and deboned. The succulent spring chicken is further garnished with garlic, herbs, and lemon zest, elevating the taste profile.

For the festive period, Ristorante Pietrasanta has launched a 4-course Festive Menu ($88+) available only from 1 to 31 December 2021. The festive menu is available for both dine-in and takeaway. Orders are to be placed 3 days prior via 98639253.

Noted: This is an invited tasting.


Ristorante Pietrasanta
1 Fusionpolis Way
#01-08
Singapore 138632
Tel: +65 98639253
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn right and walk out of the building. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Super Simple+ @ Fusionopolis Place - Simple And Wholesome Way To Mindful Eating

Salad bars, protein bowls aplenty in our little island, but Singaporean chef Jasper Jek shall entice you differently. Chef Jek's years of training and experiences at Michelin-starred establishments in Spain, Norway, and Singapore eventually converged into Super Simple+, where an ingredient-driven philosophy forms the staple of the concept. You might have chanced upon it in the CBD area as a takeaway format, and the latest outlet in here in Fusionpolis allows you to dine in a cosy environment.

Beef Steak, House-pickled Beetroot, Roasted Pineapple 4.5/5

Build your own Small, Medium or Large box (prices start from $9.90). My customised Large Box looked amazing. Using rump cap, the Beef Steak is by far the tastier beef I had for a protein bowl - tender with flavourful fats, and it remained easy on the jaws even after it had sat there for a while. For the base, I highly recommend Bulghur Wheat. It has the lovely, chewy bite of barley and the aromatic fragrance of brown rice. The supplements shine in their own right too. Using minimal processing to allow the natural flavours of the ingredients to shine doesn't mean merely slicing and dicing them and toss them into the salad. Still, it can also be using the best way to bring out their best, such as the house-pickled beetroot and roasted pineapple. For condiments, I reckon the fresh and fragrant Petite Herb Mix, comprising chervil, tarragon and dill will best suit the Salmon or Wild-caught Barramundi, or even the Beef Steak. To add some crunch and nuttiness into your salad, the spiced Dukkah will be ideal, especially if you have a vegetarian-protein pan-fried miso-glazed tofu.

Norwegian Salmon, Scrambled Eggs, Avocado 4/5

Wild-caught Barramundi, Mushroom medley, Herbed Zucchini 4/5

You can even create a wholesome brunch by pairing the huge slab of Norwegian Salmon with Scrambled Eggs! Slow-baked in the oven, the salmon fillet was very tender and tastes exceptionally 'clean' without the use of additional oil to sear it like what some others do. However, if you like the sear on fish skin, the Wild-caught Barramundi will win you over. Slow-cooked Chicken Breast and Tandoori Chicken Thighs are also available, both in equally big servings. The menu changes every 3 months.

As all the ingredients are prepared with minimum seasonings, one gets to fully appreciate the house-made dressings. You can taste and feel the differences between the dressings here and the store-bought ones, which can sometimes be overly sweet and leave a greasy feel in the mouth. A couple of my personal favourites are the Wasabi Sesame, made simply with ground sesame and wasabi powder, and the exquisite tasting Ponzu Dashi. The Parsley Pesto packs a punch of flavours too, excellent on Wholewheat Pasta.

For beverages, try the house-brewed ice tea, just slightly sweetened with honey.

I like Super Simple+ on its excellent quality and tasty proteins, the thoughtful efforts behind the supplements and interesting toppings. Most importantly, it fills you up without burdening your senses.

Written and photography by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Super Simpler+
Galaxis
1 Fusionpolis Place
#01-28/29
Singapore 138522
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 530pm - 8pm
(Closed on Sat-Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Wok Palace @ Fusionpolis - From Running A Cafe To Operating A Chinese Restaurant

Wok Palace at Fusionpolis is founded by the team behind Coffee Hive. If you work in the CBD area, you probably are quite well acquainted with one of their coffee joints. The growth of their coffee business speared the team to venture into Wok Master, a zi char concept that caters to the suburban crowd. After 3 years of finding their way around the even more intense restaurant industry, Wok Palace marks another milestone for the team. Catering to a more corporate clientele, this new Chinese restaurant serves up a more refined menu that incorporates a contemporary take on Chinese cuisine and homemade delights, along with the local zi char favourites.

Ginseng Chicken Soup 4/5

Boiled over a slow fire for several hours, the Ginseng Chicken Soup with Sea Whelk ($12) was full-bodied and milky, with a slightly gelatinous texture which I could feel it with my lips in every sip.

Scallop Roll 3.8/5

Scallop Roll with Braised Daikon and Pork Broth ($23.80) is a sophisticated dish that uses sashimi grade scallop. Minced and rolled into a wrap, encased within is minced pork and shrimps, mixed with diced carrots and water chestnut for a right amount of refreshing crunch. What I find lacking is a better accompanying broth.

Homemade Kale Tofu 4/5

Homemade Kale Tofu ($6) brings joy to the diner with its crisp exterior and an interior so soft and tender texture, almost like a dessert soya beancurd. Wholesome with a piece of mushroom sandwiched between the tofu and tomato, bigger sized tofu would have made it into a delicious light main on its own.

Braised Beef Cheek 4.5/5

The front-page cover of the menu sits their signature - Braised Beef Cheek with Organic Kale and Confit Tomato ($28). This beef cheek is probably one of the best that I have had so far this year. Perhaps these beef cheeks have been braised and not sous-vide, which some places have chosen to adopt such a method, the meat was fork-tender and moist with a gelatinous texture, rather than stringy and flat in taste.

3 Combination Roast Meat 3/5

Wok Palace serves up pretty sumptuous roast meats too. The Roasted Pork was succulent with a jacket of crispy skin, and the Roasted Duck was very well done also, with just the right amount of seasoning. The Char Siew had a good ratio of meat to fats, but it was a tad chewy. I reckon it needed more time in the oven to break down the fats further, as well as to caramelise the exterior even more.

I feel Wok Palace is an exciting addition to our local Chinese restaurant establishments, given its background and the years they took to reach this stage.

Written By Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Wok Palace
1 Fusionopolis Way
#02-01/02
Singapore 138632
Tel: +65 69099856
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Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 10am-10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes.  [Map]

Empress Porridge @ Fusionpolis Galaxis - 无米粥 (no rice grain) Porridge Steamboat

Empress Porridge was first established in NUH Medical Centre and has since become known for their home cooked flavours with a rotating menu of wholesome dishes. Now setting foot in Fusionpolis Place, Empress Porridge continues to warm your bellies with an expanded menu with two new additions - Porridge Steamboat and Take Home Dinner.

Porridge Steamboat 3.5/5

The Porridge Steamboat ($15) comes with a finely milled porridge base, along with an assortment of protein and vegetables. To achieve the desired grainless texture, the Empress Porridge’s 无米粥 is slow cooked for hours which at the same time draw out the sweetness of the rice.

Portion for two

Minimum 2 pax is required. Each set comes with fresh prawns, sliced fish, white and brown mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, ring ring beancurd roll including your choice of beef/chick/pork meatballs. Additional charges apply to add-on meat and vegetables. The fish slices were quite good, I like the hint of rice wine that came along with it. I do not recommend choosing beef out of the 3 meat options. I had that but I do not like the taste of it at all. Hence, best to go for either the chicken or the meatballs. The meatballs were sweet and juicy, couldn't be any better to go with the velvety porridge.

Mustard Leaves Fried Rice

A thoughtful touch added to this set is the mini bowl of Mustard Leaves Fried Rice that will be served to you to wrap up your meal. This is to make sure that you are really full at the end of this humble feast!

Empress Porridge 3/5

Solo diners can simply go for the Signature Empress Porridge ($4.80) for similar comfort. Signature Empress Porridge is cooked with a mixture of brown and white rice, simmered with dried scallops, cuttlefish, dried shrimp, tender pork collar and braised peanut. Brown rice gave it more bite which I find a lot more satisfying than just using plain white rice. The savoury taste come mainly from the dried scallops and shrimps which elevates the enjoyment of the porridge. However, there might be a need to cut back on the dried shrimps as they can get rather overwhelming after a few bites.

Carrot Cake 3/5

Prawn Paste Chicken 3/5

Other familiar delights includes Carrot Cake ($2.50) and Prawn Paste Chicken ($2.50). Pricing is economical, considering that these are not from your neighbourhood hawker centre or coffeeshop. The radish on the carrot cake is done in-house which flavoured the fluffy egg nicely, just like Cai Pok egg! The 'cake' itself is mediocre but it will satiate your craving nonetheless. The prawn paste chicken was a bit oily but if you like chicken kaarage, this is not too far off.

A quick solution to having homecooked food is their Empress' Take Home Dinner. From $9 onwards, each set comes with 1 bowl of heartwarming soup, slow-cooked daily for up to eight hours, 3 hearty dishes and 1 variation of rice dish. Check out their website for more information on pricing and dishes available.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Empress Porridge
Fusionpolis Galaxis
1 Fusionopolis Place
#01-15
Singapore 138522
Tel: +65 93836788/ 69095228
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 730am - 730pm
Sat: 8am - 1pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Nam Nam GO @ Timbre+ - A New Express Concept By Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Nam Nam Noodle Bar has moved into Timbre+ at Ayer Rajah Crescent with a new express concept - Nam Nam GO, operating out of a repurposed caravan. The menu offers a variety of noodles, rice and banh mi which is ideal for the busy executives or diners in a rush.

Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls 3.8/5

The Hanoi Pho comes with 4 selections. Basically they are pork balls, chicken, beef and vegetarian. I decided to have the beef, Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls ($7.90). The soup was robust and sweet but I did not like the texture of the rice noodle. I find it too thick. The beef slices were fresh and tender but the beef balls were too tough for my liking.

Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice 3/5

The other item we ordered is the Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice ($8.90). I did not quite enjoy the rice because it uses broken rice. It did not have that satisfactory bite of the rice grains. Saying that, the rice was quite fragrant with the aroma of the lemon grass. The chicken pieces were also chunky, tender and juicy.

Nam Nam Go
Timbre+
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
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Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]