What to expect: One of the O.G. Italian pizzerias in Singapore, this is the place to go for your Italian gastronomical fix. The restaurant now sees an upgraded menu dreamed up by chef/co-owner Lim Yew Aun’s who spent his time toying with new dishes when his initial travel plans were shelved because of the lockdown. Look forward to fine-tuned classics and new additions to the menu: two new handmade pastas (peep the Stracci above), an expansion in its Secondi selection, and more. Other Cicheti’s crowd favourites remain on the menu.

Where to find them: 52 Kandahar Street; open Monday-Friday from noon-2.30pm and from 6.30 pm-10.30pm, and on Saturday from 6pm-10.30pm; tel: 6292-5012 or e-mail: eat@cicheti.com

What to expect: One thing we all need after all the madness that’s been happening in the world? A good drink and company and this super chic spot with its contemporary Scandi-influenced decor is the perfect spot for that. This three-month-old cocktail bar and restaurant concept melds together Japanese and modern European fare and includes dishes such as wagyu intercostals served with confit shallots and pickled kohlrabi.

Where to find them: 50 South Bridge Road; open Monday-Saturday, from 5.30 pm-10.30pm; tel: 8921-3818 or make a reservation here

What to expect: From Spanish and Basque cuisine to freshly-baked pastries and cakes, take your pick from three different cafes and restaurants at The Alkaff Mansion: UNA, TXO Pinto Bar and Wildseed Cafe. The restaurants offer safe-distancing alfresco seating in Phase Two, and this may be the perfect space for weekend brunch dates with its ethereal seating space surrounded by the lush canopies of the area.

Where to find them: 10 Telok Blangah Green

Wildseed Cafe: Open daily from 8am-5pm; tel: 8126-8484 or e-mail: wildseed@thealkaffmansion.sg

UNA: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 6pm- 10.30pm; tel: 8126-8844 or e-mail: hola@una.sg

TXA Pinto Bar: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 5pm- 11pm; tel: 8123-8484 or e-mail: eat@txapintxobar.sg

What to expect: Craving for a fine-dining experience after months of staying in? Take your pick from the seven-course lunch or the Premium Ozaki Beef 10-course meal at this Japanese restaurant while its executive chef Hirohashi Nobuaki prepares your meals right in front of you. The latter is a luxurious indulgence that boasts a tongue-to-tail Wagyu dining experience, with beef shipped from the Miyazaki prefecture in the south of Japan.

Where to find them: 57 Tras Street; open Monday-Friday from noon-2.30pm and from 6pm-10.30pm and on Saturday from 6pm-10.30pm; tel: 6221-6379 or visit www.ushidoki.com

What to expect: While vegetables are usually thought of as an accompaniment to main dishes, these greens are the star of the show here. Dig into dishes like The Nasu – an umami-laden baked Japanese eggplant coated with Shio kombu topped with honey yoghurt – while being surrounded by amazing art pieces as part of the decor that changes regularly. The restaurant – it has two locations at Dempsey Hill and Cluny Court – will feed both your body and soul.

Where to find them:  #01-15A Blk 8 Dempsey Hill and #02-13 Cluny Court; open daily from 9am-10pm at Dempsey and 8am-8pm from Sunday to Thursday and 8am-10pm on Friday and Saturday at Cluny Court; tel: 8129-8166 (Dempsey and 9736-4170 (Cluny Court) or e-mail: contactus@sprmrkt.com.sg

What to expect: Support local with the farm-to-table open-concept restaurant that’s leading the way for local farming with its own in-house community garden. All produce here are locally-sourced, with seasonal dishes and hosting of local farmers to share more about the ingredients in their foods. With Phase Two, the Open Farm Community has an array of elevated comfort foods like their Sumatran crab taglioni made with a laksa reduction, or spiced aubergine with a house rendang paste. Dishes are also priced at pandemic-friendly price points (a portion of mains to share starts from $32) available for dining in.

Where to find them: 130E Minden Road; open weekdays from 12pm-4pm and from 6pm-11pm and weekends from 11am-5pm and from 6pm-9.30pm; tel: 6471-0306 or book a table here

What to expect: If a good hearty meal with company (of not more than five) is what you crave, then make a reservation here. Enjoy the taste of modern Argentinian dishes like the classic empanada and steak cuts imported straight from Argentina, USA and Australia.

Where to find them: #01-02 115 Amoy Street; open Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday from 11.30am-3pm and from 5.30pm-10.30pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:30am-3pm and from 5.30pm-11pm; tel: 6235-4990 or book a table here