Bites & Brews’ new dinner menu gives us every reason to revisit this cosy Joo Chiat restaurant

Over two years after we first checked out Bites & Brews, we returned to the Joo Chiat cafe with a different mission in mind: To see what happens when the sun goes down.

If you’ve never heard of the brand, Bites & Brews comes from Shanghai and opened its first international outlet in Joo Chiat. It pays homage to its Joo Chiat home with Peranakan-inspired touches, such as heritage tiles and porcelain installations. Its signature east-meets-west philosophy comes across in its interiors and menu, too!

By day, it’s a bustling neighbourhood cafe. By evening, Bites & Brews reveals a different side — the lights are dimmed, and the space is enveloped in a soft glow.

The cosy setting is complemented by a lineup of hearty mains, inventive cocktails, and a selection of new dishes, with the menu updated every three to four months — meaning there’s always something new to try.

Although it is tucked away from Joo Chiat’s main stretch, Bites & Brews has built a loyal following over the years by creating dishes that balance familiarity with unexpected flavour combinations.

From daytime cafe to cosy dinner spot

Bathed in warm lighting and filled with a friendly, neighbourly buzz, the cafe strikes a balance between lively and laidback vibes. The vintage decor and softly lit table lamps take on a different charm after dark, inviting diners to settle in and linger.

Plenty of seating for both humans and furry companions

Bites & Brews offers a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, making it an easy choice for a variety of occasions. The cosy indoor dining room works well for date nights and catch-ups with friends, while the pet-friendly outdoor area caters to those looking to enjoy a leisurely meal with their furry companions in tow.

A new dinner menu worth revisiting

The menu takes a distinctly east-meets-west approach, pairing Western techniques with bold Asian flavours tailored to local palates.

We started with the mapo tofu fries (S$12), where crispy fries are topped with punchy, mildly spicy mapo tofu and cheese sauce that makes for an addictive sharing plate.

One of the newer additions to the dinner menu is the tom yum salted egg spinach tagliatelle (S$29). Thick spinach tagliatelle is tossed in a creamy tom yum and salted egg sauce, with capers, chilli padi, and kaffir lime leaves lending a fragrant, tangy lift to the rich pasta. 

It is topped with red-leg prawns lightly dressed in mentai mayo and ikura, with a delicate natural sweetness that balances the dish’s richness.

Our standout dish of the night was undoubtedly the grilled iberico pork jowl (S$38). Thick slices of iberico pork jowl arrive juicy and tender, paired with coffee-roasted parsnips, grilled pineapple, and pea sprouts. 

The sweet and punchy pineapple was a good addition that cut through the rich, fatty pork jowl. Tying everything together is the fig-sesame mostarda — an Italian fruit-and-mustard condiment that lends a sweet, tangy, and slightly sharp finish — adding an unexpected layer of flavour to an already excellent dish.

The drinks

We also tried two of Bites & Brews’ signature fusion cocktails.

The Rumor Banana (S$18) combines rum with an apricot-honey cordial and cold earl grey tea, topped with a bright orange foam. Light, fragrant, and subtly sweet, it worked well as a great counterpoint to our rich meal.

For something more adventurous, the Tom Rum Yum (S$18) blends rum, coconut water, coconut cream, lime, kaffir lime, ginger, and chilli into a savoury-sweet concoction with a gentle spicy kick. It’s served in an entire coconut and garnished with fiery red chilli padi and lemongrass stalks.

Despite being tucked away in a quiet residential pocket of Joo Chiat, and located quite a walk away from the main road, Bites & Brews was buzzing with diners on a weekday evening. 

By the time we finished our meal, it was easy to see why: Each dish was unique and offered something new, making each course feel distinct rather than predictable. 

Bites & Brews may have first caught our attention with its brunch menu, but its dinner experience proves there’s plenty more to discover after sunset. Between its cosy ambience, intimate setting, and inventive food and drinks, it offers plenty of reasons to come back once the sun sets.

For more eats at Joo Chiat, check out The Egyptian Baker, with freshly-baked Egyptian pastries daily or Touchwood Breakfast Bar.