Pen cai or no pen cai, the important thing is to be together at Chinese New Year. If you're over all the lo hei, check out some of these alternative CNY menus we've dug up at some of our favorite restaurants.

10 at Claymore

Until Mar 31: This buffet doesn't veer too far from tradition but the poached lamb and foie gras dumplings are intriguing. The buffet has small plates of barramundi in lemongrass chili sauce and garlic-chili Indonesian mud crab. $72 for dinner (Mon-Thu); $78 for dinner (Fri-Sat); $88 for brunch (Sun); $88 for lunch and dinner (Feb 19-20).

D'Bell

Until Feb 28: This Indian lounge and restaurant is doing a special menu of Chinese-Indian cuisine, a staple of Delhi diners and mid-range date nights in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Expect dishes such as the vegetarian Chinese bhel (a reworked version of a classic Mumbai street snack, $7) and chilli paneer ($16).

The Halia at Raffles

Until Mar 31: The chic and casual restaurant is doing a nine-course menu that includes chilli crab and a fusion halibut en papillote. $688-888 per table of up to 10.

UNA

Until Mar 5: They've got a lo hei ($48) with suckling pig and crispy pork crackling, but we're definitely in it for the paella ($98) with seafood like prawns and mussels, chorizo and chicken (and which sort of looks like pen cai).

Zafferano

Until Mar 7: The Italian restaurant has a sharing menu with Mediterannean-inspired dishes like battered anchovies, calamari and prawns, as well as pork knuckle with caramelized red apples and berries. $88, with minimum of three people.