It's December, which means turkey, turkey and more turkey. But that's not all that's cooking this festive season. There's fancy Middle Eastern, Sichuan fusion, Michelin-starred ramen and lots more. Here's what should be on your checklist.

Leafy restaurants are a thing

Birds of a Feather

Not one but two large and leafy restaurants have opened in recent weeks. For the chic and sophisticated, there's a new opening on Amoy Street, straight from Chengdu. Birds of a Feather is a fusion restaurant and bar with a rather calm ambiance, serving Western cuisine with a Sichuan twist. This 90-seater establishment consists of two shophouse units merged together and is naturally lit by two huge air-well openings. The decor is all about plants and wooden furniture and counters, hand-made using native northern Chinese timber to create a forest-like atmosphere. Food wise, they serve dishes like their signature burger ($30) made up of charcoal grilled beef patty, foie gras, cheddar, caramelized onions with a chilli soy tapenade for both lunch and dinner; the healthier roasted chicken and avacado salad with Sichuan pepper ($18/$20) and the hot and sour Chazuke that's served with Niigata rice and a spicy pickled mustard green broth, charcoal-grilled barramundi and mentaiko. 

And over on Orchard, there's Picnic. Unlike Japan Food Town, this one "acclimatizes" according to the four seasons, so expect an entirely new décor and food options (pumpkin-spiced latte for fall, maybe?) every three months or so. The space has three distinctive sections: Flower Gardens, where you will see dense flora seeping through the entire area; Picnic Park, which imitates a picnic setting with its grass carpeting and lush greenery on the walls and the Beer Garden, perfect for perfect for casual get-togethers or even dates.

The Neon Pigeon guys are going Middle Eastern

Brought you by the people behind the newly opened kebab and cocktail bar Fat Prince, Ottoman Room is hidden behind the casual kebab noshery that is accessed through a beautiful arched black and gold walkway. It follows a similar Middle Eastern theme, but with nuances of luxury in a much more intimate setting. The portions of dishes here are relatively bigger so that they can be shared. Using a wood-fired earth pit (typical in Istanbul establishments), the food is grilled for hours to achieve rich smoky flavors. Food items on the menu include their grilled fish which is served with cucumber labneh (yoghurt cheese), duck breast that's coated with Lebanese spices, and their spiced short ribs which comes with a side of pumpkin puree. On top of their luxury main courses, diners can expect a trolley of Middle Eastern appetizers such as a variety of hummus infused with other ingredients, lentil soup and salmon tartare with smoked date puree and almond dukkah; all served throughout your meal. The strong Turkish influence is extended to their cocktail menu as well, with offerings such as their Black Sea Rize, a vodka-based cocktail that has Turkish tea syrup, and their Hard Turkish Coffee which is spiked with rum.

There's a new place to eat at Esplanade

Opened by the same sibling duo that brought you A Poke Theory in the CBD, the evil sister outlet Alter Ego takes on the same industrial-chic concept and gives it a darker twist on all fronts. In contrast to its healthy lunch place sibling, this 74-seater establishment on the first floor of the Esplamade Mall facing the Marina Bay waterfront serves unapologetic greasy grub for patrons to unwind from an otherwise hectic day. Swing by during the day and you'll be served similar offerings to A Poke Theory, with their famed smoothie bowls and highly Instagrammable (and delicious) Hawaiian poke bowls they've become known for on Boon Tat Street. But by night, the restaurant does a complete 180 and takes on a darker persona as the menu dishes out sinful grubs such as their tater tots ($13), which is loaded with jalapeno cheese sauce, maple-glazed bacon and sour cream; their chilli cheese hotdog ($14) that's topped with a sweet and spicy house-made beef mince, sour cream and gooey cheddar cheese; and their pork ribs ($16), which gets a generous coating of salted yolk sauce. Don't forget to try their Poke & Chips as they turn their special poke offerings into dips you can eat with crunchy tortilla chips. For those who have a sweet tooth, their desserts are equally as indulgent: including their lemon pie ($11) which is filled with a tangy lemon cream served with a dollop of whipped cream.

Fancy schmancy nasi lemak

Nasi lemak is getting atas. The new Coconut Club, located among the upscale bars, pubs and eateries of Ann Siang Hill, dishes out a plate of nasi lemak at a whopping $12.80, which sounds almost ridiculous. But when you realize what goes into the dish, you'll probably want to try it for yourself. For their coconut rice, they use Malaysian West African hybrid (MAWA) coconuts that are imported three times a week from Selangor. The chicken used for the ayam goreng berempah is from Malaysia, and the ikan bilis, from Pangkor Island, a Malaysian resort island. That's a lot of effort for a simple dish, but it's details like these that really make it stand out.  And then there's Shen Tan's legendary nasi lemak, which needs no introduction. She started off selling the dish at a stall in Maxwell Food Center and afterwards, at the now-defunct Wok & Barrel on Duxton Hill. She's now hanging her hat at Revolution Coffee, where you can now have her signature twice steamed nasi lemak with their crispy fried boneless chicken thigh or deep fried pork belly, both marinated in their secret marinade; pork confit that's marinated with coffee gorunds and five-spice powder; or their super tender beef shin or boneless chicken thigh braised in coconut milk, spices and herbs (aka rendang!). Each option comes with ikan billis, an omelette, cucumber slices, her homemade sambal belachan and an espresso-infused sambal. A plate can go up to $9.90.

More affordable Michelin-starred eats

Hot on the heels of the Singapore Michelin Guide hullabaloo, the more affordable starred eats are making a stir. First, we wrote about HK Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, aka the first Michelin-starred hawker stall, opening a proper, air-conditioned restaurant on Smith Street. Then came the Singapore outpost of the Michelin-starred Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, an 18-seater located at Pacific Plaza. The secret of its success in Japan lies in its carefully selected ingredients, a mixture of sauces used for the base of the soy broth. Even their noodles are unique; made with four types of whole wheat flour for a nice bite and smooth texture. Starting from $14 for a bowl, you can choose from three different types of soup bases—the Shoyu Soba, which has a dash of black truffle sauce; the Shio Soba, which consists of a blend of chicken and seafood, rock salt, red wine and rosemary; and the Miso soup, which has a lighter yet robust flavor.

Right next door is a HK Michelin starred restaurant. Kam’s Roast Goose earned its star in 2015 and was founded by the Yung Kee family, a household name in the restaurant scene over in Hong Kong. After the passing of owner Kam Shui Fai, there was a lengthy legal dispute on who would own the restaurant, which led to the establishment being liquidated. Now, his grandchild Hardy Kam is continuing the legacy with Kam’s Roast Goose, and they have branched out from Hong Kong to Singapore. Their menu has pretty much the same great offerings as its main branch in Hong Kong, except for their famous roast goose; they're still looking for the right supplier before the start serving up their showstopper dish. Nonetheless, the roast duck ($11.80) and pork ($14.80) are just as good, and the crispy skin goes hand-in-hand with the tender meat. Their pork belly ($14.80) is definitely a cut above the rest—it's marinated with the family's award-winning secret-recipe marinade and barbequed until it has the right amount of char for that smoky flavor.

It was only a matter of time. National Gallery Singapore set a high bar for the city's museums with its panoply of big-deal restaurants over a year ago. Then Janice Wong made the National Museum the home of her dim sum-themed flagship more recently. Now the beautifully refurbished Victoria Theatre, most recently hosting the Singapore Writers Festival and concerts by Yo Yo Ma, is getting a big restaurant, too. Michelin-starred D'O's chef Davide Oldani is opening FOO'D here on Dec 17. They will be serving three- and four-course meals during lunch and heartier five- and seven-course menus for dinner. Though the full menu is still in the works, the restaurant will be showcasing some of his signature dishes such as the mousse made from Grana Pandano cheese served with caramelized onions and ice-cream and the lettuce ice-cream paired with lemon curd and spiky meringue.

Stuffing your face for great causes

December is also the season of giving, and it's never easier to do so when there's delicious food involved. Score a ticket or five to the Fundraising Supper Club for Oogachaga, one of Singapore's most visible LGBT non-profits, providing counselling services, which is happening at 8 Cafe & Bar, where you get a sit-down three-course meal by chef Bill Ho. Oogachaga's main sponsors have cut back funding this year, and they are looking to make up the difference with your support.