At Nemesis, paintings from masters of art are splashed with quirky neon graphics (courtesy of Feral) – which is perhaps the best representation of what Nemesis is all about. Located at the cosy Duxton Hill, the new concept by Junior the Pocket Bar sets out to put its own irreverent spin on the classics with a fun menu of cocktails and bar bites.
Whet your appetite with its aperitifs. These come with a 'safe-for-work' option, designed such that you don't miss the lack of alcohol. Sunrise Drip ($19) is sugar, spice and everything nice – wine-y Shiraz gin is layered on top of grand bitters, spiced orange and mint for a sweet and smokey drink; meanwhile, Iaso ($19) surprises with a savoury whiff of fennel and parmesan, which gives way to a fruity concoction of gin, gentiane, apple, orange and honey. The house cocktails and martinis, unsurprisingly, pack a bigger punch. Manly Glass ($23) rounds out a classic tipple with some sherry, while the Wise Crack martini's ($25) blend of gin, vermouth, sherry, sage, elderflower and elixir burns all the way down. If cocktails aren't your thing, then Nemesis has a selection of craft beers and wines on the drinks menu too.
On to the food – start yourself off with some sinful appetizers. Olives ($12), green olives stuffed with goat's cheese and deep-fried in a beer batter, is intensely briny – definitely give it a good dip in the creamy goat's cheese and black lime powder dip to balance it out. And as if the original wasn't sinful enough, Lasagne ($14) takes the classic dish, crumbs it, and deep fries it for that extra oomph. If you want something lighter, then try Bitter Leaf ($12), a salad of radicchio and endive, given more flavour and texture thanks to cubes of sweet pear and blue cheese topping.
We daresay the pizzas are the star though. By Andrei Soen and Matt Kuhnemann of Park Bench Deli, these 10-inch pies come with red or white bases, so pick your poison. The light and fluffy crusts are oddly refreshing and painted with brown butter from tip to crust so you never meet a bland bite. We tried the Pepperoni ($18), a classic staple that Nemesis does well, and Potato ($18), a more out-of-left-field combination that is surprisingly delicious – potato salad, bechamel, and tangy onion pickle make for a hearty, creamy pie. Both pizzas are great on its own, but benefit from a drizzle of chilli oil, which you can request from the staff.
Nemesis is open every Monday to Saturday from 6pm to 12pm. Snag your seats via nemesisbar.sg or by dropping a text at +65 8028 3697.
