Tips on Dining

Keep in mind that the divisions by neighborhood are almost as arbitrary as they were when Stamford Raffles created them in 1822. Everything in the city is relatively close and easily accessible, so don't think you should plan your meals by the neighborhood your hotel sits in when a short taxi ride will take you where you really want to go.

Also, it has become the trend if you've got a terrific restaurant that people love, to open branches in other locations. Some may believe this dilutes the unique appeal of a special restaurant, but in Singapore, generally I find that good restaurateurs retain the consistent quality of food and service for all their outlets. You'll notice many restaurants in the listings have branches in other parts of the city, which I have also listed.

I've selected the restaurants listed here because they have some of the best food and most memorable atmospheres, but there are hundreds of other restaurants serving any kind of food in a variety of price ranges. Many magazines on dining in Singapore are available at newsstands and can help you find other favorite restaurants.

In many foreign destinations, the exotic cuisine isn't the only thing that keeps you guessing. Here, I give you the ground rules on Singapore dining.

Hours -- Most restaurants are open for lunch as early as 11am but close around 2:30pm or 3pm to give them a chance to set up for dinner, which begins around 6pm. Where closing times are listed, that is the time when the last order is taken. If you need to eat at odd hours, food centers serve all day and some hawker centers are open all night.

Tipping -- Don't. Restaurants always add a gratuity to the bill. Sometimes I just leave the small change, but it's not expected.

Reservations -- Some restaurants, especially the more fashionable or upscale ones, may require that reservations be made up to a couple of days in advance. Reservations are always recommended for Saturday and Sunday lunch and dinner, as eating is a favorite national pastime and a lot of families take meals out for weekend quality time.

Attire -- Because Singapore is so hot, "smart casual" (a local term, meaning a shirt and slacks for men and a dress or skirt/slacks and blouse for women) is always a safe bet in moderate to expensive restaurants. For the very expensive restaurants, "smart elegant" is required, which in Singapore means jacket and tie for men and a dressier outfit for women. For the cheap places, come as you are, as long as you're decent.

Ordering Wine with Dinner -- Singaporeans have become more wine savvy in recent years and have begun importing estate-bottled wines from California, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, France, and Germany. However, these bottles are heavily taxed. A bottle of wine with dinner starts at around S$50 (US$29/£17) and a single glass runs between S$10 (US$5.90/£3.30) and S$25 (US$15/£8.25), depending on the wine and the restaurant. Chinese restaurants usually don't charge corkage fees for bringing your own.

How to Handle Your Asian Meal -- You'll notice that not all Asians use chopsticks. The Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese use them, while the Thais, Malays, and Indians do not (except for some noodle dishes). How can you tell who uses what? If your rice is served in a bowl, use chopsticks. If it's served on a flat plate, use a combination fork and spoon (the spoon is the actual eating utensil, the fork used only to push the food around).

Southern Indians and Malays also eat with their hands. If you choose to try this traditional style of eating, make sure to wash your hands before and after your meal, and only use your right hand for the task.

Lunch Costs -- Lunch at a hawker center can be as cheap as S$3.50 (US$2.20/£1.15), truly a bargain. Many places have set-price buffet lunches, but these can be as high as S$45 (US$29/£15). Indian restaurants are great deals for inexpensive buffet lunches, which can be found as reasonably as S$10 (US$6.40/£3.30) per person for all you can eat.

Dinner Costs -- prices for Western restaurants list the range for standard entrees and prices for Asian restaurants list the range for small dishes intended for two people to share. As a guideline, here are the relative costs for dinner in each category of restaurant, without wine, beer, cocktails, or coffee, and ordered either a la carte or from a set-price menu:

Inexpensive ($): Some inexpensive dinners can be under S$5 (US$3.20/£1.65) at hawker stalls and up to around S$15 (US$9.60/£4.95) for one if you eat at local restaurants. Fortunately, Singapore is not only a haven for cultural gastronomic diversity, but it's also possible to eat exotic foods here to your heart's content, all while maintaining a shoestring budget.

One from Column A, One from Column B . . . -- Western cuisine serves each diner a plate with a complete meal for one. Not so with the Asians, where, even in the finest restaurants, Chinese, Indian, and every other kind of Asian fare is served "family style." To fully appreciate the experience, order a meat dish, a seafood dish, and a vegetable dish to share between two or three people. With your rice bowl in front of you, take only small servings of each dish at a time. For a larger party add on a soup dish, plus other meat, seafood, and veggie selections for a variety of tastes to go round.

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Singapore & Malaysia, 5th Edition Author: Jennifer Eveland Pub Date: May 29, 2007 Price: $21.99				Related Titles: Comrades and Strangers: Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea Frommer's Beijing Day by Day, Official U.S.O.C. Edition, 1st Edition Frommer's Beijing, 5th Edition