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A plateful of buttery risotto with the goodness of mushrooms. A healthy bowl of mushroom risotto has benefits more than you can think. A great source of protein, powerful antioxidant and even has cancer-fighting properties. This risotto recipe with mushrooms is a delicious recipe besides being easy and quick! Great to feed a hungry horde!

Fancy a pipping hot pizza, fresh out of the oven? Create one at home! Margherita Pizza is to many the true Italian flag. One of the most loved Italian dishes, it just takes a few simple ingredients and you get insanely delicious results! You just can't go wrong with that tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella combo.

This simple Roman pasta dish derives its name from 'carbone' meaning coal. It was a pasta popular with the coal miners. The original recipe calls for guanciale, which is pig's cheek, but since its not easily available, the chef has used bacon instead.

An antipasto dish, bruschetta has grilled bread topped with veggies, rubbed garlic and tomato mix. A country bread sliced and topped with different toppings - the evergreen tomato-basil and an inventive mushroom-garlic. The classic Italian starter!

Panzenella is a Tuscan bread salad, ideal for summer. It does not follow a particular recipe, but the two ingredients that do not change are tomatoes and bread. This salad is great with a chilled glass of Prosecco and lots of sunshine!

Nothing like a fresh tomato salad in summers! A great antipasto bite to start your meal with. This combination of juicy tomatoes and mozzarella cheese salad topped with freshly made pesto sauce is a distinct yet simple one. It offers a twist to the classic caprese salad.

Home to dramatic landscapes and upscale resorts, Lake Como is a holiday lover’s ideal destination. Como is the region's largest lake and is shaped like the letter Y. The alps create a picturesque background and the surrounding cities are filled with Renaissance architecture. Best for: Scenic sites. Where is it? Lake Como is in northern Italy and is most easily accessed from Milan, which is a 2.5 hour ride away. Top 5 things to see/do: Stroll the streets of Bellagio, check out the luxury villas such as Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta, cruise across the lake, do a food tour or cooking class and visit the Duomo of Como. How long do I need? 2-4 days. Recommended tour: Visit a villa, have food tastings and boat your way around Lake Como visiting the towns of Bellagio and Varenna on a Lake Como Walking and Boating Full-Day Tour.

Tuscany is a region in Italy that cannot go unmissed. Its capital, Florence, is a highlight on its own but time should also be spent enjoying the countryside and driving through the fertile lands that make this region a culinary capital. The green, rolling hills filled with vineyards are picturesque and medieval hilltop towns make this region postcard perfect. Best for: Food and drinks, and scenic sites. Where is it? In northern central Italy, the main hub in Tuscany is Florence where further regions can be explored from. Flights from Rome are 55 minutes or by train from Milan is 1 hour, and Venice is 2 hours and 15 minutes. Top 5 things to see/do: Pose with the leaning tower of Pisa, indulge in a wine tour, eat your way through the region, visit the city of Siena and make a pilgrimage to La Verna. How long do I need? 5 days - 1 week (including Florence). Recommended tour: The Tuscany in One-Day Sightseeing Tour will take you through the stunning countryside, to a gothic cathedra...

No trip to Italy is complete without visiting the birthplace of pizza. Naples doesn’t only delight taste buds though – it’s one of Italy’s largest cities and is home to a historic centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Castles, palaces and centuries worth of architecture and art fill this important Italian city. Best for: Architecture, art and food. Where is it? Naples is in southern Italy and can be accessed by train from Rome (1 hour and 10 minutes), Florence (3 hours) or Milan (4.5 hours). Direct flights are available from Rome (50 minutes), Milan (1 hour and 25 minutes) and Venice (1 hour and 10 minutes). Top 5 things to see/do: Eat pizza until you can’t walk, pop across to the island of Capri, climb Mount Vesuvius, see the ruins of Herculaneum and check out underground Naples. How long do I need? 1-2 days. Recommended tour: See the best of the city on a Naples Street Food and Sightseeing Tour to experience the culinary delights of Naples and see the historic sites.

Sicily is home to dramatic landscapes, with stunning seas surrounding the largest island in the Mediterranean. Mount Etna, one of Europe’s tallest active volcanoes, lends itself to active travellers who wish to hike. From flowery meadows to coastal sights, this island doesn’t disappoint. Not to mention the Mediterranean cuisine and the historical, royal and Greek sites. Best for: Scenic sites, active travellers, beaches and food. Where is it? Sicily is the island off the tip of Italy’s boot in the south. Flights are the easiest way to get to Sicily from Rome (1 hour), Florence (1 hour and 20 minutes), Milan (1.5 hours) and Naples (1 hour). Top 5 things to see/do: Ski down or hike up Mount Etna, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Valley of the Temples, see the mosaics in Villa Romana del Casale, try the local street food and visit some of Italy’s best beaches such as Mondello Lido. How long do I need? 10 days - 2 weeks. Recommended tour: Sicily is large and cannot be seen in a d...

Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of a string of five villages along the Italian Riviera coastline. The coast plunges into the ocean with colourful towns serving fresh seafood dishes on terraces overlooking the waters that are filled with fishing boats. A train connects the towns through tunnels or you can choose to hike between each. Best for: Scenic sites, hiking and seafood. Where is it? Cinque Terre is in northern Italy and is best reached from Florence by train, which is 2.5 hours away. The closest airport is Pisa International Airport and trains from the airport to Cinque Terre take 1.5 hours. Top 5 things to see/do: Walk the nature hike from Manarola, visit the Cinque Terre National Park, enjoy a boat tour, see the Church of San Francesco and take a cooking class. How long do I need? 3-5 days. Recommended tour: Take a Cinque Terre Train Tour that is led by a local guide so you can learn about each of the towns’ history, take in the scenery and more.

Pompeii will take you back in time to 79AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and wiped out the once thriving Roman city of Pompeii. This expertly preserved site is now open for visitors to wander through and witness the city that was covered by a thick blanket of ash from the eruption. Pompeii is an archaeological site of an entire city where streets, buildings and even ancient bodies can be seen. Best for: History. Where is it? Pompeii is in southern Italy and is most commonly visited from Naples which is a 45-minute train ride away. Day tours from Naples, Rome and Sorrento are also common. Top 5 things to see/do: Visit a brothel, see the forum baths, take in the frescoes at the Villa of the Mysteries, walk through the Forum and see the garden of the fugitives. How long do I need? 1 day. Recommended tour: Experience Pompeii on a full-day tour where you can explore the ruins and learn about the eruption and history of Pompeii.

This popular holiday destination is dotted with colourful fishing villages that make for perfect pictures. The Amalfi Coast stretches 50km long in the Sorrentine Peninsula and it’s a Mediterranean paradise with steep cliffs that drop into the ocean and beaches where sunbathers gather. But if you prefer to be more active, this holiday hotspot also has some of the country’s best hiking trails along with the finest hotels and restaurants to spoil yourself. Best for: Beach lovers, hiking and cuisine. Where is it? The Amalfi Coast in southern Italy can be reached by train from Rome (3.5 hours), Florence (5 hours and 15 minutes) and Naples (2 hours and 50 minutes). Flights can be caught from Rome (50 minutes), Florence (50 minutes) and Venice (1 hour and 10 minutes) to Naples Airport. Top 5 things to see/do: Take a cruise through the turquoise waters, visit Capri Island, hike and drink in the coastal views, relax on the beaches and spend some time in Positano. How long do I need? 2-3 da...

Milan is one city that you’re going to want to look good in while you walk the streets that the Caesars and Napoleon once ruled. Though a financial hub, it is known for its high-end fashion, shopping and restaurants. Milan is one big city with an elegant lifestyle that you can embrace through the cuisine, art and culture. Best for: City lovers, art, food and fashion. Where is it? Located in northern Italy, Milan can be reached by train from Rome (3.5 hours), Florence (1 hour and 45 minutes) and Venice (2.5 hours). Flights from Rome (1 hour and 15 minutes) and Naples (1 hour and 25 minutes) are non-stop. Top 5 things to see/do: Visit the Milan Cathedral (Duomo), see The Last Supper up close, stop by Castello Sforzesco, take in the architecture of the Monumental Cemetery and window shop at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. How long do I need? 1-3 days. Recommended tour: A Milan Highlights Tour takes you to important sites such as The Last Supper, La Scala and more.

A trip to Italy is not complete without visiting the country’s capital, Rome. This city is packed with over 3,000 years of history in the form of ruins, art and architecture. A sprawling romantic city, Rome will teach you the pleasures of dining out like the locals, will bring you back in time to the Roman Empire, show you some of the finest art in the world and take you to some of the world’s most known places such as Vatican City. Best for: History, art, architecture, food and drinks. Where is it? Rome is in the central west of the country and can be reached by flying from Milan (1 hour and 15 minutes), Florence (50 minutes) and Naples (50 minutes). Or by train from Milan (3 hours and 20 minutes), Florence (1 hour and 20 minutes), Venice (3 hours and 40 minutes) and Naples (1 hour and 10 minutes). Top 5 things to see/do: Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, visit the ruins of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, gawk at the Pantheon, visit Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel and eat ...

Florence is perhaps the most “Italian” city there is. Packed with works of art around every corner, romantic Renaissance architecture, quality local food and wine and boutique shopping where designers first opened their stores, Florence encompasses the best parts of Italy in one small city. Days can be spent marvelling at the famous works of art such as Michelangelo's statue of David, walking through the world-known Duomo and sipping on fine Tuscan wines. Best for: Art, architecture, food and wine, and shopping. Where is it? Located in northern Italy, you can get to Florence by flying from Rome (55 minutes) or by train from Milan (1 hour 4 minutes) and Venice (2 hours and 15 minutes). Top 5 things to see/do: Climb the Duomo and Bell Tower, take in the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, see Michelangelo's David, admire the art in Uffizi Gallery and learn about the art of making leather. How long do I need? 1-3 days. Recommended tour: Experience The Best of Florence on a walk...

Venice is a city most famous for being built on a lagoon. There are no roads, just canals that run through the 118 small islands that make up this city. The largest is the Grand Canal which is deserving of its name as palaces from the Renaissance and Gothic periods line the waterway. At the end sits Piazza San Marco where visitors flock in awe to see yet more stunning architecture. The best thing to do in Venice is to get lost walking through the cobblestone streets, admiring the art and finding cafes to enjoy a spritz. Best for: Architecture, art and seafood. Where is it? In northeastern Italy Iies Venice, which can be accessed by flying to Marco Polo Airport and taking a ferry into the city centre. Trains also serve the city centre, or you can drive and park your car outside the city and then visit by ferry. Top 5 things to see/do: Ride a gondola, wander around Piazza San Marco, witness Venetian glass blowing, walk along the Grand Canal and eat like a local. How long do I need? ...

Experience the culinary delights, postcard-perfect scenery and centuries worth of history and architecture in Italy’s must-visit spots. Italy is a country spoiled with fertile lands, dramatic landscapes, mouth-watering cuisine, stunning architecture and tons of history. There is certainly no shortage of attractions, wine or places to visit in Italy for every type of traveller. From the top food regions in the world to towering volcanoes and designer boutiques, this list of the best places to visit in Italy not only covers the food and history of this diverse country but also art, scenic sites and hiking for active travellers.

Labyrinth, like the city it represents, is defined by growth and change. Chef-owner Han Li Guang's "new expression of Singapore cuisine" sees him moving away from reinterpretations of classic local dishes like chilli crab and mee pok. Instead, this truly local restaurant has turned locavore: 80% of its menu is made from ingredients sourced from the city's farms presented in a 16-course dinner that echoes Singapore's past, present and future.

When a restaurant still draws in daily queues despite charging $12.80 for a dish people typically pay $2 for, you know it's doing something right. The nasi lemak at The Coconut Club is a faultless example of the classic Malay dish. You get a fried egg, ikan bilis, peanuts, slices of Japanese cucumber, two juicy pieces of fried chicken, sambal and unlimited servings of rice flavoured with coconut milk from a single plantation in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia.

While Malcolm Lee's rendition of Peranakan food at Candlenut breaks away from tradition, Violet Oon serves the classics done right. The recipes have not been trifled with, so you get dishes like ayam buah keluak, beef rendang and babi pong tay excatly as they should be. That's not to say she doesn't play around every now and then – the dry laksa is a killer rendition of the familiar original that you'll be licking clean.

Western dishes get a Sichuan twist at Birds of a Feather. Inspired by the laid-back teahouses of Chengdu, the restaurant tastefully makes use of lush greenery and eclectic design pieces to create a space you won't mind unwinding at from morning 'til late. Try the roasted chicken and avocado salad with Sichuan pepper, oriental bolognaise and hot and sour chazuke, a light and mildly spicy broth that's poured over a bed of Niigata rice and charcoal-grilled barramundi.

No list of the best restaurants in Singapore would be complete without our only World's 50 Best entry, Odette. The two-Michelin-star holder is really pushing Singapore's culinary landscape forwards with its Essential Cuisine philosophy.  Described as honest food with a steep respect for ingredients cultivated from his farming family in France, chef Julien Royer’s cuisine prides itself on keeping up with the provenance of its produce, which results in magnificent plates that will blow any diner away.

A mainstay on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurant's list, Burnt Ends is well worth the hype and the month-long (or sometimes longer) waiting list. There’s just something incredibly honest about a solid slab of meat coaxed over open flames. The steak topped with bone marrow and burnt onion is something you'll find on every table, but to leave without chowing down on Burnt End's legendary sanger burger would be a travesty.

To be the world's only Michelin-starred Peranakan chef is no easy feat, but through hard work, a passion for his heritage and unyielding dedication, chef Malcolm Lee managed to earn this badge of honour all before turning 35. Opt for Lee’s ‘ahmakase’ menu ($65/lunch, $88/dinner) if you're new the cuisine and unsure of where to start. But the brave should not miss buah keluak ($22) of braised local chicken – it's an acquired taste but you haven't really had Peranakan food if you don't give it a try.

Modern Australian is the name of the game at Cheek by Jowl. It offers one of the most value-for-money Michelin-starred tasting menus in town, with a five-course dinner menu priced at $98 and a seven-course going for $118. Sri Lankan chef Rishi Naleendra sneaks some of is heritage into the menu so expect to find dishes like Sri Lankan mung beans, millet and sunflower seed alongside Australian staples of barramundi and kangaroo.

With breathtaking views of the Singapore skyline, Jaan is an intimate 40-seat restaurant that takes you on a culinary journey to Britain. After three years helming the restaurant, chef Kirk Westaway has hit full stride with his latest Reinventing British menu. A series of snacks like a fish and chips tart and Britain’s national dish, chicken tikka masala served to the tune of Brit-pop and rock music to set the tone of the meal. Signature mains include the Alaskan langoustine served with courgette as well as aged roasted pigeon with blackberry, beetroot and foie gras.

Chef-owner Ivan Brehm, an alumnus of The Fat Duck and former head chef of Bacchanalia, has us hooked on 'crossroads cooking' – a term he coined that celebrates the similarities between cuisines and cultures. Cooking philosophy aside, the food at Nouri speaks volumes on its own. Expect deftly prepared dishes that use uncommon ingredients like wild rice stem and kanzuri to create flavour combinations that are all at once familiar and novel.

Esora is a treat for the senses. Chef-owner Shigeru Koizumi prepares Kappo-style cuisine with utmost precision, bringing together his experience cooking at three-Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo and Singapore’s very own two-Michelin-starred Odette. The menu changes almost every week, following the micro-seasonality of ingredients, so you never really know what you’re going to get. The only choice you get to make is if you want the seven-course ($198), nine-course ($258) or the more premium and customisable chef’s menu ($308) and if you’d like to pair your meal with alcohol ($78/$108) or house-blended teas ($38/$48)

At Candlenut, Singaporean chef Malcolm Lee taps into his Peranakan heritage and culinary training to deliver modern renditions of Straits Chinese dishes. Many are based on family recipes, such as the "yeye" (grandfather's) curry, which is served as an appetizer of fried pastry cups (kueh pie tee shells) filled with crab meat, pickled shallots, and laksa leaves. Try the bakwan kepiting, a comforting chicken broth swimming with crab and pork balls and sliced bamboo shoots, and the buah keluak (an earthy black nut) curry with local chicken. And be sure to save room for dessert.

Folklore chef Damian D'Silva is widely regarded as a champion of heritage Peranakan and Eurasian food, and his staunchly old-school dishes such as hati babi bungkus (pig's hearts wrapped in minced pork and caul) and singgang (shredded wolf herring cooked in spices) aren't found elsewhere in Singapore. D'Silva continues to make these specialties the old-fashioned way; that is, braising stocks for bases, hand-picking wolf herring flesh off the bones, and pounding ingredients for spice mixes using a mortar and pestle.

Folklore chef Damian D'Silva is widely regarded as a champion of heritage Peranakan and Eurasian food, and his staunchly old-school dishes such as hati babi bungkus (pig's hearts wrapped in minced pork and caul) and singgang (shredded wolf herring cooked in spices) aren't found elsewhere in Singapore. D'Silva continues to make these specialties the old-fashioned way; that is, braising stocks for bases, hand-picking wolf herring flesh off the bones, and pounding ingredients for spice mixes using a mortar and pestle.

As the name Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant suggests, the Peking duck—sliced tableside, of course—is the star of the show here, and it's widely regarded as one of the best in town. Its beautifully lacquered, paper-thin skin is served first with a saucer of sugar for dipping. Luscious slices of duck breast arrive next. The rest goes back to the kitchen to be prepared in one of several ways: fried with noodles or vegetables, or made into a rich broth. Tip: Book in advance.

At Hajah Maimunah, a glass-and-metal counter contains trays of at least 30 different dishes that straddle the flavors of Malaysia and Indonesia. Among them are spoon-tender beef rendang (beef braised in a blend of chiles, onions, lemongrass, and coconut milk), sayur lodeh (cabbage, carrots, and green beans stewed in a spicy coconut gravy), and grilled spicy chicken. Point to the dishes that interest you and the friendly women behind the counter will dish them onto a plate of rice.

Penang Seafood offers excellent, full-bodied Malaysian-style Chinese food that was made for sharing. The kitchen doesn't hold back on the pork lard, which flavors just about everything, including the ever-popular Lala Hokkien Mee (wheat noodles bathed in a thick seafood-based stock and studded with clams). Must-tries here include the hot and spicy garoupa, the baby spinach soup, and the fermented pork belly.

Despite its rather fervent-sounding name, Wild Rocket is a tranquil restaurant designed to resemble a Japanese teahouse, with blond-wood furnishings and filigreed slats. Drawing inspiration from his childhood in Singapore in the '70s and '80s, chef Wilin Low gives classic Singaporean dishes like Hokkien mee (noodles) and beef rendang a modern spin. For instance, his creative pineapple dessert recalls a time when pineapple cordials were sold by street peddlers on bicycles

Chef Sun Kim cut his teeth under Japanese chef Tetsuya Wakuda at Wakuda's eponymous restaurant in Sydney and at his Singapore outpost Waku Ghin. So it’s not surprising that his style of modern European cooking at Meta is similarly light and elegant, and inflected with pronounced Korean accents. You'll find dishes like a beef tartare that riffs on Korean beef bulgogi, a list of pricey wines by the glass, and a service style that's efficient and professional. Make sure to sit at the bar fronting the open kitchen for a chance to chat with the chefs.

Taking influences from his experience working under British chefs like Jason Atherton, Irish chef Andrew Walsh dishes out his creative brand of modern European food at Cure, the first place of his own. Walsh's heritage comes through in his signature snack: sourdough served with whisky-brined preserved cabbage and bacon butter, an ode to traditional Irish cabbage and bacon. Other standouts include foie gras mousse torched to resemble creme brûlée, a cold and garlicky almond soup drizzled over fat cubes of cured salmon, and beef tartare spiked with oysters and oyster leaves.

At Les Amis, chef de cuisine Sebastien Lepinoy, who cut his teeth under Joel Robuchon, delivers seasonal modern French cuisine that's both refined and laidback. Often, his dishes are reinterpretations of Robuchon classics: langoustine tucked within crisp, paper-thin pastry, or ketchup-heavy beef tartare garnished with edible flowers. Lepinoy's more original dishes—like a Spanish-style stuffed baby squid with chorizo and olives—capture the zeitgeist of what’s popular in food at any given time.

Warong Nasi Pariaman is the longest-running nasi padang joint in Singapore, having served the Indonesian rice specialty since 1948. Fittingly, the restaurant remains true to its origins today, turning out dishes like ayam bakar (barbecued chicken served in a thick, mildly spiced coconut gravy) and sambal goreng (a spicy stir-fry of long beans, tempeh, and diced beancurd). The place fills up quickly, so come early to avoid waiting. Also note that because the restaurant is Halal certified, there's no alcohol on the menu.

Samy's Curry, a third-generation restaurant that opened in the 1950s, continues to be run by the same family today; in fact, you'll find the same well-loved dishes that have been around since the beginning, such as chicken masala, fish cutlets, and mysore mutton. Servers ladle spoonfuls of rice, curried prawns, chicken, and fish from buckets, and slap them onto sheets of banana leaves. The best way to enjoy the deliciously spicy fare is with your hands; taps and sinks at the back of the restaurant will let you wash up after you're done.

Head chef Ivan Brehm, an alum of The Fat Duck in the U.K., calls the food at Nouri "crossroads cooking" thanks to its mix of international influences, which span much of Asia and Brehm's native Brazil. Tasting menus might include acaraje, a pinto bean fritter served with a coconut and turmeric sauce reminiscent of Indian vadai, with Thai yellow curry, or and a tartar-like concoction of minced wagyu and kimchi.

Jaan is helmed by chef Kirk Westaway, who sources fine produce from small producers around the world. One representative dish is Westaway's Tomato Collection. First, the kitchen slow-cooks the tomato in a tomato consommé. Then the tomato is stuffed with diced oxheart tomatoes, gherkins, capers, and oregano, a mixture that tastes a bit like beef tartare. In an elaborate process of dehydrating and rehydrating the fruit, the stuffed tomato is returned to its original shape and served with a basil-and–mimolette cheese pesto, Japanese tomato berries, burrata, and a brightly flavored basil sorbet.

At Blue Lotus Chinese Eating House, you'll find simple Chinese food done remarkably well. The restaurant's signature chilli pomelo crab is always a hit; a spin on Singapore's quintessential chilli crab, this version packs a spicy punch in its light tomato-based gravy that's flecked with a generous showering of pomelo pulp. Dishes like poached Chinese spinach with superior stock and duo eggs (regular chicken eggs and salted duck eggs) or braised XO mee pok (flat egg noodles) with king prawns keep regulars coming back for a simple, but consistently tasty, meal.

New Ubin Seafood's extensive menu of seemingly mixed styles reflects how taste preferences of Singaporeans today. There are traditional offerings like chilli crab and various Indian-style biryanis, but there are also dishes like "Heart Attack Fried Rice" (rice fried to a crisp with beef fat and dark soy sauce), perfectly cooked U.S. Black Angus rib eye steaks and foie gras satay. The menu is certainly eclectic, but almost all the dishes are soul-stirring.

Odette, an exceptional Michelin-starred restaurant, is helmed by chef Julien Royer, the son of farmers from Auvergne, France, who pays homage to his pastoral heritage by sourcing the finest ingredients from small produces around the world. The resulting cuisine straddles tradition and innovation; Royer is adept at blending classic cooking techniques with modern interpretations. Every dish is artful, complex, and most importantly delicious. This is undoubtedly world-class nouvelle cuisine.

At The Coconut Club, chef and owner Lee Eng Su uses single-origin coconut milk to infuse the rice in his nasi lemak (literally, "coconut-rich rice"), which sits at the heart of the small menu and is served with all the traditional fixin's: spicy fried chicken, fried peanuts and anchovies, a fried egg with a molten yolk, and a punchy sambal (chile jam). At $12.80 per plate, it's considered pricey for a dish that can be found at just about every hawker center in the city, but there's quality to be found in the chef's artisanal approach.

Violet Oon is Singapore's original culinary celebrity—she has cooked and written about Singapore food for more than 50 years, which explains why expectations of National Kitchen are exceptionally high. Luckily, the team doesn't disappoint. Along with classics from her Peranakan heritage and a couple of modern interpretations, you're in for homespun local favorites, including Indian idli( (steamed fermented rice cakes) served with coconut-tomato chutney, Hakka abacus beads, and spoon-tender daging chabek beef cheeks bathed in a fiery sambal (chile paste).

Regulars return time after time for Hua Yu Wee's chili crab, crispy fried duck, and feng sha (flattened) roast chicken served with a potent chili-garlic dip: all decades-old dishes that the restaurant continually updates to suit the personality of Singapore's ever-changing dining scene. Over the years, its chefs have incorporated a modern touches; for instance, adding textural and crispy puffed rice to a traditional plate of fried rice. The regulars who have grown up eating here appreciate these small, but discernible, tweaks.

At Yantra, an unexpectedly plush and cavernous mall restaurant, a menu of rich and refined North Indian fare is designed by chef Hemant Oberoi and well executed by the kitchen team. Must-tries include dal Yantra (black lentils simmered overnight over charcoal until they yield a velvety, buttery stew) and okra spiked with mango powder and cooked slowly in an onion-tomato masala. At lunch, a 25-dish buffet includes Yantra's signature mahi macchi tikka (cubes of grilled salmon marinated in spiced yoghurt) and a bunch of curries.