Artichoke Cafe & Bar

Expensive, but worth every single dollar spent. There is an instant vibe as soon as you walk in. The atmosphere was upbeat, modern and I almost felt back home in California. Each bite from every dish I tried made my eyes roll back in my head as I uttered an unconscious mmmmmmmm.
If you’re going to eat here, forget about the price and enjoy the food. If you’re on a tight budget, go somewhere else.

While the food here is undeniably amazing (everything we ordered other than the beets were out-​of-​this-​world good) the prices are too high, the portions are too small, and the service is TERRIBLE. Our waiter waited a good 30 minutes after seating us to take our drink orders. We finally ordered the lamb and chicken entrees, as well as the broccoli, brussel sprouts, hummus, egg plant, and beets appetizers to share, with three orders of pita bread. They completed botched our order– three of the dishes were wrong, and when we asked for the correct dishes, it took an additional 45 minutes to get the proper dishes delivered. By that point, everything was cold, and the serving sizes were tiny– definitely not enough to share. So we ended up having to order more. The staff was totally unapologetic about the incorrect order, and had the audacity to ask us to hurry up eating (after they were the reason it took so long), because they wanted our table for later reservations. Regardless of how good the food is, we will not be coming back, and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Beautiful, beautiful food. Beautiful presentation. Beautiful ambiance.
This take-​on Middle Eastern joint is a wonderful vegetable-​forward place to take all the visiting yuppies in your life.
They replaced my Cauliflower Sabbich with brussel sprouts which I didn’t mind in the least bit. It comes with this delightfully soft-​cooked egg that has an oozing yolk when you pierce it.
My cousin visiting from NY got the lamb shakshouka and his gf got the Salmon Pancake. All of it looked and tasted amazing.
One star off because we dined outside where the only relief from the heat was a fan and some shade. By the end of the meal, the three of us Americans had wilted.
Oh and P. S. it was a 20 minute wait at 1pm on Sunday.

Food — Awesome.
Ambience — Awesome.
Location — Cool.
Prices — Pretty darn high. (What did you expect? Hahaha)
Pretty awesome place and I really wish that I could afford to return every week. Great for all occasions and usually packed from what I remember. I simply love the fact that they don’t do the typical Japanese-​Fusion but rather chose Middle Eastern Fusion instead. It’s rare, it’s delicious and under appreciated.
Artichoke is a place for a real food lover.
Their fried chicken is pretty sick too.

Heard many many great things about Artichoke and finally visited last weekend for a friend’s farewell brunch (had to try before leaving!). Not sure if we were too last minute as we were told no reservations taken and to try walking in at 1 pm on Sunday. So for a change we arrived 1 pm sharp and was told it’s a 45 minute wait. Place did look busy with most of the outdoor seats table and on a sunday noon in May it was hot and steamy just as the tropics should be. We decided to retreat to the Fortune Center across the street for a cup of coffee. 30 mins easily killed and by the time we returned we were promptly shown to our table.
Thank god we were seated indoors with ac. I mean the outdoor area looks charming but not at 2 pm in the afternoon. Dinner should be fine though. I was quite surprised by how big the space is inside. I have passed by several times when I visited Objectifs next door and the restaurant space always looks a bit crammed so I assume it was mostly outdoors. We were seated in an indoor patio area which has been converted into part of the indoor dining space with natural lighting seeping through the glass ceiling, perfect setting for sunday brunch!
I was delighted to find out that it’s a middle eastern themed menu — definitely a welcoming change from the typical steak/​eggs benedict) aplenty across the island. It also reminds me of one of my favorite restaurants Ottolenghi in London. The first thing that caught my eye on the brunch menu was the Cauliflower Sabbich, essentially a pita bread open sandwich topped with grilled/​deep fried cauliflower, hummus, labneh and served with a smoked egg that resembles funnily enough a Chinese «tea leaves smoked egg». It’s flavorful without being over seasoned, healthy but filling. We also had the lamb shashouka, which is basically your normal shashouka with shreds of lamb in it. Again, won’t be complete without scooping chunks of it up with pieces of pita bread. The lemonade was a bit too sweet but otherwise a refreshing cooler in the heat of the Singapore afternoon. Can’t wait to check out their dinner options. And if you are visiting the afternoon, do drop by at the Objectifs next door, they always have interesting exhibitions and will be a good place to stroll around and burn off some of that food.

5 stars for brunch but this was years ago. I’m writing this so I can add it to my «re-​visit» list!

Went for dinner on a weekday. Great vibe and great music. Most importantly great food. Everything we had was delicious so I will simply list everything we had and all dishes are best to be shared.
For mezze we had babaganoush paired with the pita bread, rich but yummy. Had some cured swordfish and fresh figs with goat cheese which were both really refreshing. Would suggest ordering mezze to start! They are small dishes for 2 – 4 people.
For sides we had the feta burrata, broccoli salad, and the green beans and beet. Could pass on these but it is nice to have veggies since all the other dishes are so rich.
For mains we had the duck tacos which was messy to eat but yummy and filling. The hot skillet prawns are a must! The lamb shoulder dish was rich and yummy but filling and definitely for sharing.
We got hot tea which actually worked so well with our meal because it helped cut the rich flavors between dishes.
I definitely recommend this place and would go again and maybe try their weekend brunch. Don’t forget to make reservations!

It’s a real chic café/​bar/​dining place, creative menus that are fresh, but balanced in taste.
Especially enjoyed cauliflower sabbich, fried chicken was quite good too.

Visited at 1pm on a Sunday (reservations recommended — saw a long line for tables on the way in). Food was great, a nice change from the typical café fare; my only gripe was the cold service.
We tried:
— Cauliflower Sabbich ($ 22): I personally enjoyed this, though would have preferred the pita to have been toasted/​grilled, and the cauliflower crunchier to provide better texture. This had a slightly soggy feel to it. The Israeli salad provided some tang, which I liked, and the smoked egg had a glorious flowy yolk — would have preferred the egg warm rather than cold though. Overall a tasty dish.
— Haloumi & Mushrooms ($ 22): The best dish of the 3, in my opinion. The toast was thick and fluffy, with generous portions of haloumi and mushrooms. The best part was the smashed avocado spread on the toast — it was salted nicely and went beautifully when you get a piece of toast with avocado, haloumi and mushroom all in one bite.
— Artichoke Fried Chicken ($ 24): 3 pieces of chicken on a bed of crumbled hashed browns, which went nicely with the garlic whip. Slightly too greasy for me, and the chicken had a hint of honey. Didn’t enjoy the coleslaw, but the chicken was flavorful. We didn’t finish this.
Good quality and novel food, would return to try their intriguing dinner menu!

Everyone around me knows my stinginess for giving 5 stars. But not only do I give this jewel a 5 star, but also would go as far as saying, if I were to recommend just one restaurant to have a unique tantalizing food experience in Singapore — other than the local options like chicken rice & chili crab that everyone must check off their list — it would’ve be Artichoke.
(But with that being said, I have heard the same thing being said about Burnt Ends — which I will definitely try soon enough.)
Artichoke offers creative dishes, while staying true to the root of its cuisine. (Yes, regardless of how delicious their food is, some restaurants just puzzle me with what cuisine they are serving to me.) How delicately they pull this off– amazing. Here goes the breakdown:
Hummus (4.5÷5) — No frill. GOOD hummus– not the watered-​down version that makes you question how much of chickpeas is in it. A bit of a bummer that it doesn’t come with any pita bread. I know I can just eat spoonful (s) of hummus by itself, but come one, not even one?
Pita Bread (4.5÷5) — Served hot. Pita bread served here is on the thicker side. Not too chewy, but I can tell it’s good quality & actually understand why this is a separate item to be ordered rather than served on the side, although I complained above on not coming with my hummus order. This is a must order as many of the dishes at Artichoke has sauces that deserves to be wiped to the bottom with this pita bread.
Fresh Fig & Goat cheese (⁵⁄₅) — I admit that even from just reading this menu, I knew that I was to fall in love. Fig & goat cheese simply cannot go wrong. But then again, how Artichoke artfully put together fresh fig on a spread of creamy goat cheese was just orgasmic.
Feta Burrata (⁵⁄₅) — Really fresh & unique twist to the regular burrata dishes. I’d say this is the prime example of what I meant by ‘creative while staying true to the root’. Some may argue that burrata is Italian, but adding the feta kick to it absolutely justified its presence on the Mediterranean menu. Innovative & just plain delicious.
Hot Skillet Prawn (⁵⁄₅) — Jesus. My friend and I almost licked the skillet. 4 HUGE prawns that was better than lobster. Sauce was not to be wasted. I remember this dish being rather salty last time but this time, they were perfect. Have this. Just have it.
Slow-​roasted Lamb Shoulder (⁵⁄₅) — SO SUCCULENT & FULL OF FLAVOR! Another dish that requires pita bread to wash the plate. Lamb was so well-​roasted — the texture of the meat was soft while not mushy. The smell of the lamb was very well controlled (I know for some people the strong smell particular to lamb meat is of problem).
Babaganoush (3.5÷5) — Don’t get me wrong. Just because I raved about other dishes so much doesn’t mean that babaganoush was bad. It was just different from my expectation of creamy dark colored paste. Artichoke’s babaganoush made it very obvious that it was made of eggplant (the texture and taste is maintained, unlike other babaganoush I’ve tried). It was good, but I prefer my creamy dark colored version.
Neh Neh pops — It shows that you don’t have to go crazy complicated to come up with a strongly branded item. Neh Neh pop’s simple yet alluring presentation along with its hand-​packed-​looking packaging crafts a sense of craft (no pun intended) — which draws people, making them ignore the little voice in their head saying ‘it’s just magnum with bunch of stuffs put all over’. They seem to be actively experimenting with the flavors — such as Neh-​espresso, Cheesecake, etc. Looking forward to all the fun flavors.
— Baklava flavor (³⁄₅): I am a huge fan of balkava — how its crispness is preserved while keeping all the mouth-​watering sweetness in between its layers. But really not impressed by this flavor on NehNeh pops. Ice cream wasn’t rich either (actually tasted a bit of icy-​ness, which is what I taste when ice cream melts & then re-​freezes.) I wouldn’t go for it. A bit too sweet as baklava’s sugary sweetness and ice cream & chocolate’s deeper sweetness strikes your tastebuds separately creating a not-​so-​pleasant overdose of sweetness.
— Strawberry pokey (⁴⁄₅): Contrary to my initial standing that it’d be rather boring, its back-​to-​basic approach was done very well. I don’t think the cover was white chocolate — which really works for me.
I look for a lot of things when visiting a restaurant, but here food speaks for the brand. The ambiance & entirety of experience isn’t bad, but not impression-​leaving. Food is just so well-​done. It is not only delicious, un-​pretentious, but also fun. This is combination of using good ingredients, adding succulent flavors, playing with mix of tastes, while not losing touch in presentation.

Been here a few times, always had great food and service. The lamb is fantastic. Highly recommend this place

One of very few places I will truly miss when I leave Singapore!
I’ve only been to Artichoke for brunch so review does not cover dinner. Walk-​ins can be quite a wait but I’ve been lucky twice so far and was seated right away.
The Cauliflower Sabbich is to die for. It’s really perfect for Singapore’s hot weather as it has rich flavors and yet refreshing. And if you’re like me, always on the lookout for fried/​roasted cauliflower, it is absolutely amazing! The Artichoke Fried Chicken is spot-​on delicious (crispy and juicy) and the Lamb Shakshouka is super tender if you’re a fan. Great coffee too!
Planning to go back to try everything on their brunch menu!

Easily one of the best Middle Eastern /​Mediterranean restaurants on the Red Dot. I would describe the décor as Rustic chic, if that makes any sense., complemented by a full array of old school pop songs to set the vibe. In layman’s terms, a cool place to eat and hangout in a communal setting.
The food itself is just tremendous. My wife and I started off with the Pita and hummus. It was spot on. Next up was the slow roasted lamb shoulder. Wow, simply wow. The meat just fell off the bone after the first cut, which is a testament to how tender it was. Mixed in with some amazing spices and herbs, this dish easily was the star of the meal.
The other main dish we ordered was the charcoal grilled pork belly dish. It was very good, but surprisingly sweet. I probably would not order both the lamb shoulder and the pork belly dish together as the flavours seemed to clash. Nevertheless, these dishes on their own are just fantastic.
We topped the dinner off with Artichoke’s Neh Neh Pops. I went for the Mango Sticky pudding rice given my penchant for anything mango. After the first bite, it was no surprise to me that this was the best seller. Common, how can you beat coconut rice mixed with blocks of frozen mango.
Great food, Great Vibe, Great Company. Will definitely be back to try the other dishes, but of course order that lamb shoulder again.

Some of my friends said I should try this place, so here I am after work and starving.
I can sit outside and enjoy my freshly ordered watermelon weizen (it’s in the cider section of the menu if you want to give it a try too).
As a starter some pita with hummus. The pita bread is still warm when I start dipping it into the hummus. The hummus is good but could take a little more garlic for my taste.
Main dish: mutton as the waiter suggested. Very delicious and tender. Really loved the seasoning and taste. No way to finish the dish though, better next time bring some people to share.
Before I left I had a look inside. Nice, modern arrangement with little funny bits here and there. One can even order beer for the chefs. Not sure if you want to do that though ;)
To summarize I will definitely come back and try something else, but better not alone so I have some help finishing my order.

There’re always some restaurants that make you wanna keep going back every month, and this place has been a staple for me since I first discovered it.
The bestseller on the menu, Lambgasm, has never disappointed. Other must-​have on my order list are the seasoned cauliflower and assorted, finger-​licking good hummus (thumbs up on the pomegranates hummus). The seasonal beef special reminds me of the specialty back in my hometown, Taiwan — the famous beef noodles.
Will definitely recommend the resto to anyone who’s into al fresco dining (they have indoor space as well), good for a Friday night out or Sunday brunch. Advance reservations recommended for peak hours, splitting to two bills maximum.

Loved this place. We were able to make a reservation right before leaving the house. We walked and found this restaurant tucked away with cobblestone-​like area leading up to it’s entrance. You’re immediately greeted by the dessert case and then are seated in either patio or inside space.
The ambiance is overall chic/​hip. The lighting in the evening is soft and romantic. The food is phenomenal and the service is very good as well. This is one of my favorite tapas joints in Singapore.
We started with the red sangria pitcher and then ordered the roasted cauliflower, which had pomegranate. It was so tasty and different! We also got the whole market fish ($ 34), roasted pumpkin, and humus. They brought out pita, but we were good Paleo kids and didn’t touch it. We saved our cheat for the dark chocolate and almond baklava. Delicious.
We’ll definitely be back.

Really, really good Mediterranean inspired food at this cozy and rustic restaurant. The main entrance is directly opposite Fortune Center (the yellow and white building along Middle Road) and you have to walk in to a courtyard before you can see reservation counter of the restaurant. The courtyard is beautiful with a lot of plants and a couple of tables if you fancy an al-​fresco dining experience and enough blood to donate to the mosquito community. If you’re coming from the side door, it is just next to Torte café (the brownie is to die for) at the end of Waterloo Street.
I’ve dined at Artichoke a couple of times (both on weekend brunch and dinner) and always had the best time here. For brunch, you need to come for their Mezza platter (perfect for 2) which consist of 4 mezze (usually babaganoush, hummus, beetroot and smoked salmon) and a few slices of toasted bread. I suspect they rub the toasted bread with garlic hence making it really delicious and addictive. One portion is never enough all the time!
For dinner last night, we had the usual mezze plates of hummus, babaganoush and beetroot while getting a roasted lemon chicken, burrata and deep fried cauliflower to share. All the mains were delicious and I wished we ordered second or third of the burrata (I can eat burrata everyday). The deep fried cauliflower was amazing too, the best I’ve tried in Singapore after Pony Dining in Eagle Strret Pier, Brisbane. Flavors were spot on accompanied by chick peas and pomegranate for that extra texture. HEAVEN. The grilled lemon chicken is moist and tender. What makes it so special is the garlic purée (no kissing after eating this, so you have been forewarned) that elevates the flavor of the chicken with a squeeze of lemon juice on it. Do check out the blackboard for weekly specials if you’re into trying something new.
I’ve heard people complaint about the price being not wallet friendly here. Well, I think it all depends on what you order and how you order. They have their best seller — The «Lambgasm» — a 2.8kg bone-​in-​lamb shoulder slow roasted with assorted condiments selling at $ 220. So of course, if you order this coupled with a few mains plus cocktails, the bill will definitely come up to $ 300 — $ 400.
The four of us ordered 4 mezze plates, 3 mains with no drinks and we paid a total of $ 124 ($ 28 each) last night. Considering the food we ate, the price was relatively cheap and reasonable. And we walked out from the restaurant feeling just nice (not extremely full or bloated) and very satisfied with dinner.
It can get very pack during weekend brunch and dinner, so call in and make reservation to avoid any disappointment.

Since we moved to Singapore less than two months ago, we’ve eaten here three times already! Once for brunch, twice for dinner. The décor of this place is quite rustic, and it reminds me of some of the places we used to frequent in New York City where the chef cares very much about the food and nothing else.
As for our first experience, we came late for brunch to avoid the crowd. Unfortunately, half of the dishes on the brunch menu were sold out by the time we got seated (around 2pm). Although I was dying for some fried chicken, the second best thing available on the menu — mushroom scrabbled egg — was just equally delicious. They do accept ressy for brunch so make sure you call to get a table.
Personally I enjoyed our dinner even more so than brunch. The menu is bigger — about 10 mezzes and 10 entrees, plus some side dishes. The must haves — pumpkin and eggplant from the mezze, burrata and prawns from the entrée. It’s not a late night place as their last kitchen call comes before 9:30.

Excellent ambience, just what I was in the mood for this evening. Open air, small and well thought out menu and most definitely not in a mall!!!
The food was excellent. The highlights of the evening being the pumpkin mezze and the babycorn mezze.
The feta buratta was light and perfectly fluffy.
The lamb was well cooked but a tad bit bitter IMHO, but complimented by the burrata.
Skipped dessert… but will defiently return.
P.s there were mice running around (understandable in a tropical outdoor setting) but nevertheless unnerving.

A little something special.
Artichoke is very special in my opinion, in terms of everything, from the food to the location and atmosphere.
Thanks to my beautiful friend who arrived first, I didn’t have to queue to get a table for a Saturday brunch. The entrance to this restaurant is a short alley amongst empty houses. It almost became a quaint place hidden in the middle of busy streets. We were seated outdoor in a lovely garden.
Menu was quite interesting — it’s probably because I’m not experienced with Middle Eastern food. We had 2 dishes to share and my apology for not having the exact name but they are: 1. a BIG pile of burrata on top of buttery bread — I’m biased from having Osteria Mozza the night before so this can not match up, but I would say it’s not too bad 2. salmon pancake — which I thought was quite delicious, a good combination of sweetness from the pancakes and saltiness from the smoked salmon. Artichoke seemed to be very generous with its portion and the two of us were so stuffed after those 2 dishes :)
We had a look at the Overdough bakery and everything looked so delicious. I will definitely come back to try some baked goods!