Cheek by Jowl

Services

Cheek by Jowl is a modern Australian restaurant in Singapore, helmed by the husband-and-wife team, Rishi Naleendra and Manuela Toniolo. Their casual approach is a sharp contrast to most other Michelin star restaurants, dishing out a constant sense of wonder in a friendly setting that has a perpetual buzz.

We were commissioned to work on a brand refresh, to elevate the restaurant without losing sight of its essence. Our approach was to present the purest version of the Cheek by Jowl experience; to peel away any banal dining experience and allow its distinct warmth to permeate every touchpoint.

The overarching concept references the restaurant’s name and close working relationship of the owners. We juxtaposed photographs, drawings and words to reflect the narrative.

Rishi and Manuela sharing spaces in the name cards

We worked closely with the owners to devise a visual language that is candid and warm.

Rishi, trained as an architect in his earlier years, is an extremely talented illustrator. We tapped on his delightful culinary sketches to present an honest and fun insight into his processes.

“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed.”
— Julian Barnes

We worked with Rishi’s long-time collaborator, John Heng, to capture the effortless charm in Cheek by Jowl’s food and environment.

The casualness sometimes belies the complexity and craft at work in Cheek by Jowl. We took that kind of surprise into various touchpoints—imbuing the menu with stories and slipping in sketches on the website behind small interactions.

“Some things have little to do with each other… until they come into contact.”

— Patrick Pound

A personalised order docket and holder as a souvenir for diners

hello@restless.org

151 Jalan Besar, #02-01
Singapore 208869

“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed.” — Julian Barnes

“Some things have little to do with each other… until they come into contact.”

— Patrick Pound

“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed.”
— Julian Barnes