2 Sep 2007, ST
A quiet spot in Sunset Way is now abuzz with diners flocking to the nine new restaurants there
By Huang Xueling
THE word is out. Diners are flocking to nine new restaurants bringing trendy alfresco dining to the heartlands at Sunset Way, even before their official opening.
The outlets, fronted by decking that provides an outdoor eating area, are nestled in a quiet, leafy spot in a revamped Housing Board (HDB) block at the back of the Sunset Way strip.
With just one billboard advertising their presence - and that not even amid the main shops, but pointing to an HDB carpark - residents and curious foodies alike are still managing to track them down ahead of the official launch on Sept 21.
Since the soft launch of the F&B outlets at Block 106 on Clementi Street 12 two or three weeks ago, business has been surprisingly good so far, say most owners.
Mr Desmond Lim, director of Japanese steamboat buffet restaurant Fortune Cuisine, said: 'We're running full-house practically every night on weekends. Even on weekdays, it's 60 to 70 per cent full.'
Similarly, Mr Roth Pay, consultant for steakhouse Grill-Out!, said: 'It's so crowded that we have had to turn people away on weekends because we don't want customers to wait so long.'
Diners have a range of cuisines to chose from, including Thai, Japanese, New Zealand and Italian courtesy of Rocky's pizzas (see other story).
The outlets are in what used to be shops selling fruit, vegetables and the like and were revamped under the HDB's Restructuring Programme for Shops implemented two years ago.
When LifeStyle visited on Thursday, determined diners were seated alfresco although it was drizzling.
Mr Victor Koh, master tenant of the block, assures that awnings will be installed at a later stage.
Ms Daphne Chua, 20, who had dinner at Megumi Japanese Restaurant with her friends, said: 'My auntie told me about this new place I should check out. I didn't expect to find such a variety of restaurants, including a bar, here.'
She added: 'I like the idea of dining alfresco in an HDB area. I can just pop by in a T-shirt and shorts.'
With the area's popularity growing fast, people have already started touting Sunset Way as the new Holland Village or Rochester.
However, that is not quite the label the owners want.
Grill-Out!'s Mr Pay said: 'We don't want to be the next Holland V, we want an identity of our own.
'Firstly, we have quite a good mix of restaurants, both Asian and Western here, and secondly, we have a lot more greenery.' A quiet spot in Sunset Way is now abuzz with diners flocking to the nine new restaurants there
By Huang Xueling
THE word is out. Diners are flocking to nine new restaurants bringing trendy alfresco dining to the heartlands at Sunset Way, even before their official opening.
The outlets, fronted by decking that provides an outdoor eating area, are nestled in a quiet, leafy spot in a revamped Housing Board (HDB) block at the back of the Sunset Way strip.
With just one billboard advertising their presence - and that not even amid the main shops, but pointing to an HDB carpark - residents and curious foodies alike are still managing to track them down ahead of the official launch on Sept 21.
Since the soft launch of the F&B outlets at Block 106 on Clementi Street 12 two or three weeks ago, business has been surprisingly good so far, say most owners.
Mr Desmond Lim, director of Japanese steamboat buffet restaurant Fortune Cuisine, said: 'We're running full-house practically every night on weekends. Even on weekdays, it's 60 to 70 per cent full.'
Similarly, Mr Roth Pay, consultant for steakhouse Grill-Out!, said: 'It's so crowded that we have had to turn people away on weekends because we don't want customers to wait so long.'
Diners have a range of cuisines to chose from, including Thai, Japanese, New Zealand and Italian courtesy of Rocky's pizzas (see other story).
The outlets are in what used to be shops selling fruit, vegetables and the like and were revamped under the HDB's Restructuring Programme for Shops implemented two years ago.
When LifeStyle visited on Thursday, determined diners were seated alfresco although it was drizzling.
Mr Victor Koh, master tenant of the block, assures that awnings will be installed at a later stage.
Ms Daphne Chua, 20, who had dinner at Megumi Japanese Restaurant with her friends, said: 'My auntie told me about this new place I should check out. I didn't expect to find such a variety of restaurants, including a bar, here.'
She added: 'I like the idea of dining alfresco in an HDB area. I can just pop by in a T-shirt and shorts.'
With the area's popularity growing fast, people have already started touting Sunset Way as the new Holland Village or Rochester.
However, that is not quite the label the owners want.
Grill-Out!'s Mr Pay said: 'We don't want to be the next Holland V, we want an identity of our own.
'Firstly, we have quite a good mix of restaurants, both Asian and Western here, and secondly, we have a lot more greenery.'
---------------------------------
Way to go
The New Holland V?: Diners can opt for Thai, Japanese, New Zealand or even Italian food.
1. Megumi Japanese Restaurant
01-38A, tel: 6779-1411
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6 to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: UFO Maki ($12) and shabu-shabu ($17.80)
2. Fortune Cuisine
01-40/42, tel: 6777-8622
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6 to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: Steamboat is served in two kinds of soup, Sichuan or regular, $19.80 per person on weekdays and $22.80 per person on weekends.
3. Yum Yum Thai
01-44, tel: 6777-1025
Open: 11am to 3pm and 6 to 10pm daily
Specialities: Garoupa with dried chilli ($24), tom yum soup ($8) and mango salad ($8).
4. Absolutely New Zealand
01-46, tel: 6777-4628
Open: Noon to 9pm daily
Specialities: L&P lemon-flavoured fizzy spring water ($5.90 for 1.5 litres) Deep South ice cream ($13.90 for 2-litre tub), and other produce from New Zealand.
5. Grill-Out!
01-38E, tel: 6774-7001
Open: 6 to 11.30pm daily except Mondays
Specialities: US Kobe ribeye ($65 for 220g) and Black Angus striploin ($30 for 220g)
6. Peaberry & Pretzel
01-52, tel: 6777-3477
Open: Noon to 10pm daily
Specialities: German pork knuckle ($35) and mussels in white wine sauce ($35).
7. Sunset Tavern
01-54/56, tel: 6777-8938
Open: 4pm to midnight daily
Specialities: Beef or chicken kebabs ($12.90) and a wide range of liquers. Happy Hours are from 4 to 8pm.
8. Rocky's Pizza
01-60, tel: 6468-9188
Open: 11am to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: Boston Special ($23.80), lasagna ($10.70) and deep-fried chicken wings ($7.60 for four)
9. Cafe d'Orient
01-38L, tel: 6777-4680
Open: 11am to 11pm daily
Specialities: Hong Kong favourites like baked rice with six sauces, including Portuguese, black pepper and Hong Kong curry ($8.90 to $14.90)
A quiet spot in Sunset Way is now abuzz with diners flocking to the nine new restaurants there
By Huang Xueling
THE word is out. Diners are flocking to nine new restaurants bringing trendy alfresco dining to the heartlands at Sunset Way, even before their official opening.
The outlets, fronted by decking that provides an outdoor eating area, are nestled in a quiet, leafy spot in a revamped Housing Board (HDB) block at the back of the Sunset Way strip.
With just one billboard advertising their presence - and that not even amid the main shops, but pointing to an HDB carpark - residents and curious foodies alike are still managing to track them down ahead of the official launch on Sept 21.
Since the soft launch of the F&B outlets at Block 106 on Clementi Street 12 two or three weeks ago, business has been surprisingly good so far, say most owners.
Mr Desmond Lim, director of Japanese steamboat buffet restaurant Fortune Cuisine, said: 'We're running full-house practically every night on weekends. Even on weekdays, it's 60 to 70 per cent full.'
Similarly, Mr Roth Pay, consultant for steakhouse Grill-Out!, said: 'It's so crowded that we have had to turn people away on weekends because we don't want customers to wait so long.'
Diners have a range of cuisines to chose from, including Thai, Japanese, New Zealand and Italian courtesy of Rocky's pizzas (see other story).
The outlets are in what used to be shops selling fruit, vegetables and the like and were revamped under the HDB's Restructuring Programme for Shops implemented two years ago.
When LifeStyle visited on Thursday, determined diners were seated alfresco although it was drizzling.
Mr Victor Koh, master tenant of the block, assures that awnings will be installed at a later stage.
Ms Daphne Chua, 20, who had dinner at Megumi Japanese Restaurant with her friends, said: 'My auntie told me about this new place I should check out. I didn't expect to find such a variety of restaurants, including a bar, here.'
She added: 'I like the idea of dining alfresco in an HDB area. I can just pop by in a T-shirt and shorts.'
With the area's popularity growing fast, people have already started touting Sunset Way as the new Holland Village or Rochester.
However, that is not quite the label the owners want.
Grill-Out!'s Mr Pay said: 'We don't want to be the next Holland V, we want an identity of our own.
'Firstly, we have quite a good mix of restaurants, both Asian and Western here, and secondly, we have a lot more greenery.' A quiet spot in Sunset Way is now abuzz with diners flocking to the nine new restaurants there
By Huang Xueling
THE word is out. Diners are flocking to nine new restaurants bringing trendy alfresco dining to the heartlands at Sunset Way, even before their official opening.
The outlets, fronted by decking that provides an outdoor eating area, are nestled in a quiet, leafy spot in a revamped Housing Board (HDB) block at the back of the Sunset Way strip.
With just one billboard advertising their presence - and that not even amid the main shops, but pointing to an HDB carpark - residents and curious foodies alike are still managing to track them down ahead of the official launch on Sept 21.
Since the soft launch of the F&B outlets at Block 106 on Clementi Street 12 two or three weeks ago, business has been surprisingly good so far, say most owners.
Mr Desmond Lim, director of Japanese steamboat buffet restaurant Fortune Cuisine, said: 'We're running full-house practically every night on weekends. Even on weekdays, it's 60 to 70 per cent full.'
Similarly, Mr Roth Pay, consultant for steakhouse Grill-Out!, said: 'It's so crowded that we have had to turn people away on weekends because we don't want customers to wait so long.'
Diners have a range of cuisines to chose from, including Thai, Japanese, New Zealand and Italian courtesy of Rocky's pizzas (see other story).
The outlets are in what used to be shops selling fruit, vegetables and the like and were revamped under the HDB's Restructuring Programme for Shops implemented two years ago.
When LifeStyle visited on Thursday, determined diners were seated alfresco although it was drizzling.
Mr Victor Koh, master tenant of the block, assures that awnings will be installed at a later stage.
Ms Daphne Chua, 20, who had dinner at Megumi Japanese Restaurant with her friends, said: 'My auntie told me about this new place I should check out. I didn't expect to find such a variety of restaurants, including a bar, here.'
She added: 'I like the idea of dining alfresco in an HDB area. I can just pop by in a T-shirt and shorts.'
With the area's popularity growing fast, people have already started touting Sunset Way as the new Holland Village or Rochester.
However, that is not quite the label the owners want.
Grill-Out!'s Mr Pay said: 'We don't want to be the next Holland V, we want an identity of our own.
'Firstly, we have quite a good mix of restaurants, both Asian and Western here, and secondly, we have a lot more greenery.'
---------------------------------
Way to go
The New Holland V?: Diners can opt for Thai, Japanese, New Zealand or even Italian food.
1. Megumi Japanese Restaurant
01-38A, tel: 6779-1411
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6 to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: UFO Maki ($12) and shabu-shabu ($17.80)
2. Fortune Cuisine
01-40/42, tel: 6777-8622
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6 to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: Steamboat is served in two kinds of soup, Sichuan or regular, $19.80 per person on weekdays and $22.80 per person on weekends.
3. Yum Yum Thai
01-44, tel: 6777-1025
Open: 11am to 3pm and 6 to 10pm daily
Specialities: Garoupa with dried chilli ($24), tom yum soup ($8) and mango salad ($8).
4. Absolutely New Zealand
01-46, tel: 6777-4628
Open: Noon to 9pm daily
Specialities: L&P lemon-flavoured fizzy spring water ($5.90 for 1.5 litres) Deep South ice cream ($13.90 for 2-litre tub), and other produce from New Zealand.
5. Grill-Out!
01-38E, tel: 6774-7001
Open: 6 to 11.30pm daily except Mondays
Specialities: US Kobe ribeye ($65 for 220g) and Black Angus striploin ($30 for 220g)
6. Peaberry & Pretzel
01-52, tel: 6777-3477
Open: Noon to 10pm daily
Specialities: German pork knuckle ($35) and mussels in white wine sauce ($35).
7. Sunset Tavern
01-54/56, tel: 6777-8938
Open: 4pm to midnight daily
Specialities: Beef or chicken kebabs ($12.90) and a wide range of liquers. Happy Hours are from 4 to 8pm.
8. Rocky's Pizza
01-60, tel: 6468-9188
Open: 11am to 10.30pm daily
Specialities: Boston Special ($23.80), lasagna ($10.70) and deep-fried chicken wings ($7.60 for four)
9. Cafe d'Orient
01-38L, tel: 6777-4680
Open: 11am to 11pm daily
Specialities: Hong Kong favourites like baked rice with six sauces, including Portuguese, black pepper and Hong Kong curry ($8.90 to $14.90)
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