Artichoke

Published - 25 February 2021, Thursday

Artichoke is a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant in the heart of Singapore’s Arts and Heritage district. At the helm is chef-owner Bjorn Shen, who’s been slinging out plates of tasty food to you beautiful peeps since 2010. Artichoke is an extension of Bjorn’s slapstick personality; inspired by his favorite movie, You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Artichoke is probably the least authentic Middle-Eastern restaurant around. And that's exactly how we want to be. The food is fun and creative; drawing inspiration from Middle-Eastern flavors and ingredients, as opposed to being traditional. Imagine funky stuff like a THICC hashbrown (no limp little bitty ones), their TV-famous harissa prawns, a roasted half-head of cauliflower slathered in yogurt, and milk pudding with apricots and tarragon for something sweet, all served to a backdrop of 60’s soul and 90’s hip-hop. If you get thirsty, Artichoke has got you covered with a mean wine list, ice-cold beers, ciders, Sunday Punch cocktails, and a killer gin drink called the GGNR. If that ain't your thing, or if you're underage, don't break a sweat. The bar at Artichoke also pumps out Turkish sodas, housemade Turkish tea, and solid coffee all day from their friend's Common Man Coffee Roasters.

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Comments

Anushka

  • 142 comments
  • CONTRIBUTOR
RATED 8 / 8

For those with adventurous friends,  Artichoke is the perfect place to go for innovative and funky treats!

Taking inspiration from Middle-Eastern cuisine, chef-owner Bjorn Shen serves delights like which you’ve never had before!

Try the THICC hashbrown, harissa prawns, a roasted half-head of cauliflower slathered in yogurt, cuttlefish shawarma, and more! They also offer a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that promise to be an absolute treat for the tastebuds.

Davidson

  • 590 comments
  • ELITE
RATED 7.5 / 8
Rustic and charming, Artichoke has artwork all around and the vibe is cheerful which reflects in their food. Chef Bjorn Shen likes to experiment with Middle Eastern ingredients and flavour profiles and has come up with splendid, mouth-watering dishes while doing so. Get ready to give your taste buds a refreshing change with dishes like Thicc Hash Brown with sour cream and chive za’atar, Crab Tzatziki with chicken skin, trout roe and basil, Slow Roasted Lamb Mandi, Green Harissa Prawns and Date Pudding.

Christina George

  • 450 comments
  • CONNOISSEUR
RATED 8 / 8
Don’t head to Artichoke if you’re looking for traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, because Chef Bjorn Shen brings his ‘Zohan-inspired’ personality to each of his dishes! Expect to find interesting dishes like Cuttlefish Shawarma, Falafel-crumbed Fried Chicken, and Wagyu Ham Pizza! Wash it all down with some Turkish Soda, Sunday-Punch cocktails, or something from the wine list! Additionally, hidden in Chef Bjorn’s office, is the recently opened Small’s, if you want to try some of his more experimental fare.

Gisele

  • 127 comments
  • CONNOISSEUR
RATED 8 / 8
OMG I love Artichoke!! It's such a fun & delicious restaurant. Really unique twist on this cuisine.
The chef behind this concept, Bjorn Shen, is a great dude. He was a judge on Singapore's Masterchef.

I mean, I don't usually like baba ghanoush - but I fell in love with theirs! I always go back for it.

They also have a lovely happy hour. Check out their menu online for more info.
Definitely think of making a reservation. It's a popular place. They also have brunch :)

Richard

  • 3716 comments
  • ELITE
RATED 7.5 / 8
Wow this place is amazing. Always busy and popular. Book in advance, you won't be disappointed.

Taly

  • 3 comments
  • CONTRIBUTOR
RATED 8 / 8
My number one favorite restaurant in Singapore. Can't stress how wonderful is the experience of dining in this place. The food quality is superb with exciting flavors and surprising combinations, the decor is beautiful, and best of all the owner - Ronny is such a lovely welcoming person. Always keeps a smile for us and lets us feel as if we're his most special guests. A real gem and highly recommended!

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