Surrey Hills Grocer @ Vivocity - Largest Surrey Hills Outlet, Bringing Diners the Aussie Rainforest Experience

Surrey Hills Grocer has unveiled its largest branch on VivoCity's rooftop, offering diners an Aussie rainforest-themed experience. The cosy space is adorned with lush greenery and playful animal decor like kangaroos, koalas, and giraffes.

Like its other branches, this new outlet introduces outlet-exclusive dishes and their first ever full kids menu.

Pet owners will also be happy to know that the outlet is pet-friendly and offers an all-new pet-friendly menu. Their freshly made treats are all crafted with quality, human-grade ingredients.

Diners can find a great variety of produce and food items to be purchased. The retail space is in a dedicated store segment near the entrance.

Surrey’s Homemade Iced Lemon Tea

Surrey has an extensive beverage list, which includes alcohols, fresh juices, wines, smoothies, teas and homemade options, such as the mildly sweet Surrey's Homemade Iced Lemon Tea ($8). It is made in-house using cold-brewed premium black tea dust and fresh lemons.

Corn & Crab Chowder 4/5

For a comforting start, we opted for the Corn & Crab Chowder ($14), a mildly creamy soup peppered with sweet crab meat bits and served with a side of focaccia.

Pumpkin Soup 4/5

Equally satisfying was the Pumpkin Soup ($12), which featured warm flavours of burnt orange and dukkah, balanced by a refreshing touch of mint, accompanied by focaccia.

Tender Seared Turkey 4.8/5

To add to the festive cheer, Surrey Hills Grocer has rolled out a seasonal Christmas menu available till the end of December. I was especially excited to try their Tender Seared Turkey ($32), which was strongly recommended by the staff. It was stellar and indeed one of the most tender renditions I've had of the meat. The turkey breast is drizzled with fragrant truffle butter and served with a bed of creamy truffled pomme puree, sherry caramel, miso glaze butternut squash and mushroom gravy.

Christmas Porchetta 4.5/5

Another festive highlight was the Christmas Porchetta ($28), which features tender Spanish chestnut pork belly with perfectly crisped skin stuffed with aromatics and sweet yet tangy apple cider glaze and cranberry apple compote.

Octopus Salad 3.8/5

Unfortunately, the Octopus Salad ($28) was less memorable, primarily due to its texture, which was a little too chewy. The sides of edamame, grape salsa and whipped cod roe went well together.

Flat Bread Hammy Benny 4/5

From the standard menu, we had the Flat Bread Hammy Benny ($26), featuring smoked Kurobuta ham, eggs of your choice, wilted spinach, truffle mushroom ragout, and foam-textured hollandaise on warmed flatbread. While enjoyable, my companions found it slightly overpriced for its simplicity.

Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza 4.2/5

A standout speciality exclusive to this outlet is its Sicilian-style pizzas and pasta. The Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza ($12) was a crowd-pleaser, featuring creamy ricotta, spicy pepperoni, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet-spicy kick.

“Hokkien Mee” 4.8/5

Among the pasta options, the "Hokkien Mee" ($26) impressed us with its creative local twist. Al dente malfadine pasta was bathed in a rich prawn bisque with lard and topped with ikura, grilled prawns, and spicy shrimp sambal. It was a bold, crustacean-infused dish.

Roasted Garlic Miso Butter Pasta 4/5

By contrast, the Roasted Garlic Miso Butter Pasta ($22) felt slightly underwhelming. The casarecce pasta, paired with pork sausage, asparagus, and fresh herbs, was well-cooked but lacked the robust flavours of the other dishes.

Strawberries Donut with Vanilla Custard, Vanilla Glazed Donut 3/5

We sampled two donuts for dessert: the Strawberries Donut with Vanilla Custard ($6.50) and the Vanilla Glazed Donut ($5). Both were dense and much sweeter than expected. We favoured the latter for its delicate sugar coating.

Sticky Date Pudding 4.5/5

Finally, the Sticky Date Pudding ($16) stole the show. This moist sponge cake was paired with sea salt butterscotch, almond crumble, and vanilla ice cream. The sweetness was balanced with a contrasting touch of saltiness.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Surrey Hills Grocer
VivoCity
#03-02
1 HarbourFront Walk
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 8189 6392
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront MRT (NE, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi @ Jiak Chuan Road - A Blend of Artisan Pizzas and World-Class Cocktails

Nestled among the charming heritage shophouses on Jiak Chuan Road, ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi is a restaurant helmed by renowned bartender/entrepreneur Giancarlo Mancino and Master Pizzaiolo Antonio Brancato. Here, authentic Italian pizzas meet innovative world-class cocktails, creating a unique dining experience.

Bruschette - The Classic 4.5/5

We began with Bruschette - The Classic ($16), a timeless appetiser that highlights simplicity at its best. Sourdough bread is topped with oven-baked tomatoes, garlic olive oil, and fresh basil. The vibrant sweetness of the tomatoes combined with the earthy notes of olive oil makes this a refreshing and satisfying start to the meal.

Bruscette - Cetara 4/5

Next was the Bruschette - Cetara ($20), featuring lemon zest butter, Cetara anchovies, and caper flowers. While the buttery richness felt slightly overpowering for some diners (a few were seen scraping off excess butter), the overall balance of zesty, salty, and tangy notes worked well for me.

Rocco 4.2/5

The Rocco ($24) is a Southern Italian-style pizza baked in a small pan at over 250°C for 10-12 minutes. The result is a puffed dough with a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Topped simply with mozzarella, thinly sliced potatoes, and fresh rosemary, each bite is a delightful combination of textures and flavours.

Caponata 4/5

The Caponata ($36) is a vegan pizza topped with tomato sauce, Sicilian-style agrodolce vegetables (zucchini, aubergine, and capsicum), and homemade onion purée. While the combination isn't traditionally associated with pizza, the balance of sweet, tangy, and savoury flavours worked beautifully together.

Rustica 4.2/5

From the more inventive "Le Antonio" section of the menu, the Rustica ($38) is a standout. Created by Chef Antonio a decade ago, this pizza features tomato sauce, fresh salsiccia (fennel pork sausage), smoked Scamorza cheese, radicchio, and rosemary. The play on textures from the smoky cheese and shredded raw chicory elevate this dish, making it a creative yet comforting option.

Melanzana 4/5

Another innovative offering is the Melanzana ($38), a pizza topped with oven-baked eggplants, smoked Scamorza cheese, mint, and peperoncino oil. Specifically crafted for Singapore, the aubergine purée adds a creamy depth, while the fresh mint offers a surprising burst of flavour, giving it a refreshing touch.

Margherita Dolce Fried 3/5

The Margherita Dolce Fried ($22) offers a playful, vegan twist on the classic pizza. It features sweetened house tomato sauce, soy cream in place of mozzarella, and a mint reduction instead of basil. While the dough's texture was enjoyable, the overly sweet sauce was not to my liking, making it less appealing overall.

Classic Panettone 3.5/5

We ended the meal with the Classic Panettone ($20), served with a velvety vermouth zabaglione made using Mancino Vermouth. The dessert is reminiscent of bread pudding, offering a warm and comforting end to the meal, though it could have used a touch more excitement in flavour to leave a lasting impression.

ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi masterfully blends tradition and creativity, offering pizzas that range from classic Italian styles to bold, modern creations. While a couple of dishes missed the mark slightly, the overall experience was delightful, particularly when paired with their expertly crafted cocktails. For pizza enthusiasts and those seeking a unique pizza experience, ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi is worth a visit.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


ANTO Pizzeria E Aperitivi
2 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089260
Tel: +65 9689 6869
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Website
Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line), Outram Park (DT, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 330pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk down Neil Road to Teck Lim Road. Turn right onto Teck Lim Road. Walk down Teck Lim Road and turn left onto Jiak Chuan Road. Walk down Jiak Chuan Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk straight towards Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right onto Keong Siak Road. Walk down Keong Siak Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]