15 Minutes
Café. G/F, LASALLE College of the arts, 1 McNally St., 6333-9915.
From the good people who brought us Night & Day, 15 Minutes is another cool café and bar that’s drawing in the arty crowd. The vibe here is reminiscent of a New York deli, with edgy graphics on the wall, acoustic folk music in the background, shabby-chic sofas and loads of design magazines for you to flip through and find inspiration as you nurse your java or bite into a sandwich. The food here comprises a small but tasty range of salads, pastas, sandwiches, pizzas and mains. We especially like the healthy pomodoro mushroom penne ($7.90) and Thai basil chicken Panini with pesto ($5.90)—very affordably priced. The lunch crowd usually heads for the main dining area that boasts a canteen-like interior (very old school), but come evening time, the crowd moves to the lounge area with a beer to chill. There is an open mic area where new bands get their shot at 15 minutes of fame in the evenings (hence, the name of the place, actually). This is a great new place to see and be seen in. Open Mon-Fri 11am-11pm; Sat 11am-midnight.

Chili’s Grill & Bar
American. #02-23 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd., 6733-3317.
After 10 years, Chili’s is finally back! Chow down on unpretentious, fun and it’s-okay-to-get-your-hands-dirty grub like signature ribs, burgers, fajitas and margaritas here. The décor is vibrant and eclectic; and matches the food perfectly. Start your meal with easy-sized bites like Classic Nachos ($13.90), Fried Cheese (crispy breaded mozzarella sticks, $10.90) and Big Mouth Bites (17.90)—four savory mini beef burgers topped with applewood smoked bacon, cheese and sautéed onions. We also like mains like the Mix & Match baby backs ($32.90), and the Southern Smokehouse Bacon Big Mouth burger ($22.90). The desserts here are all drool-worthy affairs—our penultimate favorite is the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie ($13.90)—an awesome bar interspersed with chocolate chips, coconut and walnut, drizzled with hot fudge and caramel, and served with vanilla ice-cream. Can you say “indulgent”?  Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm.