An all-local effort, NUDE Grill has the energy, enthusiasm and style that remind one of Les Amis in its early days. Just opened months ago, it shows great promise and is a testament that a restaurant doesn’t need an imported celebrity chef to be successful. Within its dark, streamlined interiors, NUDE Grill serves up downright excellent food. Run by a young team, creativity here is rife, original and proudly local. We love its contemporary fare—Western in framework, but with an Asian body, flavour and soul.

The delectable côte de beouf, a corn-fed US prime rib dry-aged 45 days in-house, is a must-have. It is served with a 90-day housemade black garlic purée and a glorious katsuobushi rösti. Other highlights are pork jowl with pineapple, celeriac purée, tamarind; poussin with glutinous rice, scallop and shrimp, shiitake; and Iberico pork with cherries and roasted pumpkin. The Kagoshima wagyu is also worth trying, served with a smoky rojak flower jus, and an intriguing buah keluak Yorkshire pudding. The dessert Wendee in Wonderland is great fun to eat, comprising matcha pistachio praline, compressed apples, apple tea jelly, granny smith sorbet, lime meringue and caramelised pistachios.

The bonus? The owners work the floor well, and provide enthusiastic, engaged service.