Be ahead of the curve and book yourself a table at the most buzzed-about new restaurants in 2016. Some of them have very recently opened their doors, so you won’t be hungry (or hopefully not hangry) for long. Tuck in!
#1 Oliver Maki in London
The family-owned contemporary brand already has four restaurants in Kuwait and Bahrain and soon, one in London. Brothers Oliver and Amer Zeitoun now run the show and apparently, Oliver eats at any one of their sushi branches every single day since launching a decade ago. That kind of dedication deserves a nice little nod, and a reservation. The Soho branch will be headed by Executive Head Chef Louis Kenji Huang, formerly the Head Sushi Chef at Nobu Las Vegas.
Opening date: February 2016.
Address: 33, Dean Street.
#2 Odette in Singapore
You can already try out this one! Its housed inside the recently-opened National Gallery Singapore. The buzz surrounding Odette is sure to carry on well into 2016. It’s a fine-dining establishment by French chef Julien Royer, which pays homage to his grandmother who greatly influenced his cooking. Odette’s menu will change often, so who knows if the beef tartare or miso trout will be around for long. But if the reviews are to be trusted, we sure hope so.
Opening date: November 2015.
Address: 1, St Andrew’s Rd.
#3 Insa in New York
Karaoke, beers and Korean food in the middle of NYC? Heck yes! The husband and wife team (previously from The Good Fork) decided it was time to bring an authentic taste of Korea to South Brooklyn. This calls for a song and dance so luckily, Insa has five private karaoke rooms and a 70s-inspired cocktail lounge. But come first and foremost for the Korean BBQ — there are 18 tables for 165 people so we’re hoping this means you won’t need to book months in advance.
Opening date: Mid-December 2015.
Address: 326 Douglass St., Gowanus.
#4 The Newport in Sydney
Merivale is bringing The Newport back, having acquired the Newport Arms Hotel in May as its new home. Think of it as an upscale food court with Pittwater views and fresh air. The gardens will have a food-market feel where people can relax in the afternoons and stay for dinner. For now, eateries like Vinnie’s Pizzeria and Burger Shack have been confirmed, as have facilities like a tennis table, giant magnetic scrabble board and exercise bikes that charge mobile phones (bonus!).
Opening date: Late-January 2016.
Address: Kalinya St, Newport.
#5 Taka by Sushi Saito in Kuala Lumpur
Ranked one of San Pelligrino’s 50 Best Restaurants in Asia, the fifth branch and first ever outside of Tokyo will be located in the soon-to-be St Regis Kuala Lumpur. The three-Michelin-star Sushi Saito’s flagship eat in Tokyo is just a tiny minimalistic space, but you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to get a reservation there. Chef Saito is famous for his signature style of smaller cut fish, topped with a touch of salt, and milder red vinegar in the rice for his ideal combination of texture and flavour.
Opening date: April 2016.
Address: St Regis, KL Sentral.
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Photo credits: Main, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
