They are located at the corner nearer to the Intercontinental Hotel. If you could not find it... Check out the bunch of school girls exclaiming "So Cute!!! So Cute!!!" at the glass panals... Thats the shop!!!
This outlet I notice... have one of the most live animals besides the flag ship outlet at vivo and holland village. You can find Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, hamsters of various breeds as well as rats if you like.. Not to forget fishes and turtles. The shop though small, can house many things... including colourful cages with rotating balconies and tanks for fishes...
One of the many outlets i patronise frequently, their service is great. Helpful and informative. They even taught me how to get my membership number online so that I can chalk up the points of what little things i buy. Theres this once i called up their hotline and boy... the operator was so gentle, understanding, helpful and informative.
Though i find maybe a little long winded, He offered me great solutions, contact numbers for the outlets and things to look out for and helpful information to beware of. I am very VERY impressed by the extent of service they offer....
Time Flies... My lovely guinea pig is already coming 2 years old... and is still a bachelor. While looking around for a beautiful girlfriend to share his bachelor pad with, I could not but browse at every Pet Lovers Centre. Reason being, they are just everywhere.. Conveniently located at many shopping spots, you can never miss them. Most importantly, they have a good supply of small pets almost at every stall.
I compared the prices of pet supplies and find them priced quite reasonably. On top of that, for a mere $50 of purchase and above, you could get their free delivery.... Thats a super great service they offer... imagine lunging a 35litre of Cats Litter walking around. Its a physical and emotional disaster.
They do have some pretty good promos around sometimes for 20% discount on food and necessity. I am also impressed services they offer. They have a vet like staff in almost every outlet that sells live animals and they are knowledgable as well as helpful. I get most of my know how to take of my GP from them.
If you need a pet... This is a place you can go to... Healthy pets and fresh supply of goods... with free delivery.....
Had the luxury of 2nights for a wedding, and with Hyatt points, I just needed to top up $60 per night to upgrade to the grand deluxe suite, which they call a "junior suite", on level 20 of the hotel and allows you access to the Grand Club Lounge which serves refreshments and bites during certain hours.
I'll talk about the rooms first -
Club Deluxe King - at 54 sqM, the room feels bigger than it is, with a nice separate working living room from the bedroom and bathroom. It was spanking clean and very well maintained, including the small minor things like bathroom tiles. Nothing to fault on cleaniness, comfort, and style. The bed was big enough for 3pax actually.
Grand Duplex Suite - the 128 sqM suite is divided into 2 floors, with the living, meeting, and kitchen areas below and the bedroom, master bathroom, and separate make up area on top. Similarly spanking clean with ultimate comfort in mind. But it comes with an extremely narrow staircase which only makes for 1 way traffic.
Grand Club Lounge - Only accessible via a stairway from the 20 floor and was a much bigger area than I expected. It was quite empty most of the time, and the bites served during the evening was not too bad, although I think the Club Lounge at Conrad Singapore serves better food. Service was okay, although I felt the staff tended to attend to non-Chinese more.
Service -
I was abit let down by the service throughout the stay as I thought well, its Hyatt. When I arrived, my taxi was packed with luggages and wedding stuff but no one came forward to help me with the things; only 1 doorman approached, took the stuff only to place them on the floor beside the departing taxi. ???!!!. I ended up lugging all the things from thedriveway to the hotel lobby myself. The same thing happened when we returned to the hotel the 2nd night, at almost 2am. We had numerous packs of things with us, including one huge wedding gift but no one came forward. I had to gesture them to bring a trolley, then 1 staff slowly strolled out with no trolley in hand.
During the 2nd day, we were running out for the wedding proper at 3pm and because we knew we would be back very late, we called for an extra bed to be put in while we're gone so the extra guest can rest immediately after we return without having to wait. At 2am, we opened the door, and no extra bed. We called again to ask for it, then after 15mins, 2 staff rang my door, and I thought oh good, the bed's here. Nope. I opened the door only to have them ask me what was it I needed. I couldnt believe it. I told them about the bed, and just had to call to scream at the concierge because I was in absolutely no mood to be nice at 2am.
Something else very irritating to me happened on the 3rd morning too. We were moving loads of the wedding stuff from the deluxe to the suite coz it was all on the same floor, just on different ends of the floor. My siser's mother in law is Causasian and was walking in front of me, both of us struggling with as much stuff on our hands. One senior staff saw us, and smiled politely to her and asked if he can help her with the things, which she declined. Then, he took a look at me then turned away without even mustering a smile, I caught more of a disdain than anything. It was very iritating to have hotel staff practice blantant discrimination like this but I was in a hurry to finish moving our staff.
Didnt have time to try the room service, pool, gym but I'm sure they are quite nice. But I do really think they should brush up on their service.
Definitely me and my wife's favorite steak place. It's so worth it (price and taste wise) that on a particular month, we went to eat there every sunday. That's 4 times in one month. Even now with the economic slowdown and all, we still go there like 2-3 times/ month.
Word of caution though, the queue can be very long during lunch or dinner time. So coming at 2pm-5pm is very advisable to avoid queuing for too long although there maybe a short line of queue still.
Ordering the meal of your choice is very simple, pick one of the main dishes and it will come with 2 choices of hot or cold side dishes. My favorite which is also my wife's favorite is the New York Strip medium done. The portion is bigger than the prime sirloin. That's why we always opted for the New York Strip. =) Waiting time for the food is quite reasonable which is 5-15 minutes ( can be more if you come at peak hours ). You can always order the mushroom soup as an appetizer while waiting for the main dish to come.
Dishes we usually order : 2 New York Strips, 2 Soups, 1 ice water, and 1 soft drink. The bill came around 35-38 dollars. So very reasonable for 2 big steaks. =)
Overall astons is somewhat quite good for me as price and taste wise is very reasonable. So for all of you that has not try astons, please do so. Totally worth your money. Go Try it, it's a must
Most people think of Changi Village as a rustic spot still relatively untouched by modernisation, with its lush greenery and long sandy beach. What most people don't know is the existence of an Italian semi fine dining restaurant, La Cantina, at the only "modern" building there - Changi Village Hotel.
Hidden from sight on level 8 of the hotel, La Cantina offers a splendid view of the ocean as well the surrounding greenery through the vast windows that stretches all the way up to the second floor, which incidentally happens to be the private dining area I believe. The decor revolves around simplicity with a touch of Victorian elegance through the addition of Roman pillars and crafted figurines. For people who prefer the outdoors, there's the more romantic (but warmer) al fresco option as well.
I didn't think too much of the Bruschetta, which was decent but not the least bit outstanding. It was essentially garlic bread with diced tomatoes on top, in which case the tomatoes looked a tad tired but managed to retain its juiciness fortunately.
Billed as the specialty for the week, the grilled scampi was nice with a smoky grilled taste but did come across as a tad too salty for my liking. Another grouse was that the meat was minimal. And at $29, it certainly didn't come cheap.
Linguine Al Granchio - Crabmeat Linguine in Creamy Tomato Sauce - A most decent dish save for the fact that the creamy tomato sauce overwhelmed the taste of the crab, which was a pity really. They could have added chicken and there would be minimal differences except for the texture. Pasta was al dente however and overall the dish didn't come across as too heavy on the palate.
Quattro Stagioni - Pomodoro, Mozzarella, Ham, Artichoke, Mushroom & Olive - First looks, the pizza looked huge and was literally spilling off the sides of the plate. However it was more of an eye full than anything else. The crust was a little limp and not the least bit crispy, while the ingredients tasted rather bland with neither cohesion nor contrast of flavours.
Coffee Creme Brulee - I had thought the coffee creme brulee would have been an interesting dessert but it didn't really live up to expectations. The creme brulee was very sweet on the first mouth but slowly became better. The coffee taste was unique but a tad too strong for my liking.
Chocolate Bitter Tart - Contrary to its drooling inducing appearance, the chocolate tart was merely average with its crust being too hard and the chocolate not being rich enough. Never ever judge a dish by its appearance.
Chocolate Souffle - Probably the best dessert of the evening, the chocolate souffle was not too sweet but small and didn't come with ice cream which would have complemented it very well. The crust could have been a little firmer as well but no complains about the oozing chocolate though. I would say its a slightly above average rendition.
Dinner for 2 cost almost $125, which isn't too expensive considering the quantity of food we ordered. Sure, the quality isn't top notch but its still decent Italian fare with huge portions to boot. Throw in the excellent ambience and service and there's no question if a revisit is on the cards.
Suburbia - A residential district located on the outskirts of a city. A most interesting name for a restaurant, but decidedly apt considering its location. Opened just 2 weeks ago, Suburbia is a newcomer to the uppity culinary scene of Sentosa and is touted as the place for good food and wine - a claim supported by the fact that it is managed by Wine Network.
Housed in a former monorail station (Fiscus station), Suburbia glistens in the dark skylight with its orangey hues and bluish overtones. The place is divided into 2 levels, with the al fresco dining section located on the first level, overlooking lush green lawns on one side and the Fiscus tree aka "Marriage Tree" on the other. The second level is air conditioned and employs a "classroom" look through the use of louver windows, which does seem to clash with the modern chic vibe that the place oozes. Tables are limited on the second floor, probably squeezing in about 15 four seater tables, which did seem a little too close for comfort although I wouldn't have been able to give a fair judgement given that we had the whole place to ourselves.
Complimentary Bread - Very few places serve up noteworthy bread and Suburbia falls into that minority. Served up in a glass vase, the assortment of bread was moist, warm and tasty. The butter was different as well, smooth and lightly sweet with a rather strong hint of orange flavouring. Appropriately named Orange Butter.
Crab Meat Waldorf Salad - First looks, I was petrified at the size of it, or lack of for that matter. I could have probably stuffed the whole thing down my mouth at one go without breaking a sweat. Taste wise, it was above average but nothing too outstanding. The rather diluted crab meat was sandwiched between layers of thinly sliced crunchy green apples, which acted as a counter balance to the rawness of the crab. Lightly sweet with a dash of saltiness and rawness.
Beef Tenderloin I'infusion De Poivre Noir - Weighing in at a mere 200g, I must say that the tenderloin was a tad too small for the price ($38). Grilled to my specification of medium rare, the meat retained its natural flavours without being too chewy or limp. Topped with mushroom sauce, it was a dish to slowly savour and relish save for the fact that the meat was a little too soft at some places.
Tiramisu - Interestingly, crushed cookie bits were sprinkled atop the tiramisu instead of the de facto cocoa powder. This gave it a different texture altogether and eliminated the risk of me choking on the fine cocoa powder. Light and fluffy, the tiramisu didn't come across as too wet or soggy but I couldn't make out any liquor taste in the sponge fingers - a must have in any good tiramisu.
Belgium Marquise - The Belgium Marquise wasn't too sweet or rich with a nice wafer texture in between. It had a slightly chewy texture which reminded me a little of chewing on mudpies. I didn't think too much of the ice cream and sesame brandy snap basket though, with the latter tasting almost exclusively of sesame.
$108($86 after 20% soft launch discount) for an appetiser, a main, 2 desserts and a glass of wine earns Suburbia a spot among the ranks of mid range pricing restaurants. However in this case, the price does seem a tad over the hill(without discount) especially when the food, though good, isn't particularly outstanding. There is hope yet as I understand from my friends, who were there as well, that the rack of lamb was good and that, coupled with a rather comprehensive wine list and a lovely ambience, might just be enough to entice me to return.
Dropped by Gim Tim for dinner with my parents, who had heard much about it but never really gotten down to trying. Just a little background on Gim Tim. It started out as a humble restaurant in its present location, at the corner of a row of shophouses in the midst of a sleepy HDB estate. From there, it has since grown into 4 outlets but with only the original outlet retaining the Gim Tim name.
If its your first visit, some topography skills are required as the restaurant is located behind a market in a quiet cul-de-sac facing a block of HDB flats. The interior holds no allure, save for the fact that its air conditioned.
Braised Boneless Duck with Sea Cucumber - We ordered this dish thinking that it was sufficient for 3 people. It turned out to be much bigger than expected ( I estimate it to be for about 5 pax) and we had to doggy bag the left overs. The duck meat was tender yet firm and fibrous while the sea cucumber was not too soft and chewy. Both came in generous servings. Just a little something that I learnt about the cooking procedure for this dish. The duck has to be fried first till crispy and then simmered in the gravy to let it absorb all the flavours. Thats why the duck meat still manages to remain firm when served.
Broccoli with Prawns - A most excellent dish with the sizeable prawns fresh and crunchy and the broccoli cooked just right. Simple yet tasty.
Home Made Beancurd with Spinach - A little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the homemade beancurd was decent, but still had room for improvements. One major flaw is its lack of taste, even with the spinach. I did like the mushrooms that came with it though, wildly refreshing yet not overpowering.
$75 for 3 pax might seem a little too much given the variety of food and cost of items. However, no one complained. Honestly, I think the quality and potions more than justify the price. Throw in good service minus the service charge and this place goes into my book of must return places.
Azhang is an intriguing place because the name sounds Chinese, yet it serves largely Mediterranean food. How you define Mediterranean food, I don't have a clue though, but thats what it has been described as. From its old hideout at Joo Chiat, Azhang has relocated to a nicely done up shophouse unit along Mohamed Sultan Road, just beside the Italian eatery, Papi (which happens to be a place that comes highly recommended from my friend). Decor was simple and subtle, giving rise to that homely and laid back atmosphere which I personally fancy quite a bit. There were 8 of us for dinner and we were split into 2 camps - the beef eating and the non beef eating. 5 of us formed the former and we had the Azhang's Combo Platter and the Rib Eye to share between us. Everyone had a serving of the highly recommended Roasted Corn Salad.
The Roasted Corn Salad had a nice mixture of colours and tasted really great. The corns were coated with butter and roasted over an open flame until slightly charred. Toss in some garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and whats not and you get a really sublime flavour. Although I am not a fan of Corn Salad, I must say this one is without question, one of the, if not THE best Corn Salad I have ever tried.
When it comes to steaks or prime ribs, comparisons with Morton's offerings are inevitable. And so it was the case with the Rib Eye served with a topping of Onions and Sauteed in red wine atop a bed of Pilaf. The Ribeye was actually quite decent, except that it was a little too rare which made it a little too chewy and difficult to carve (I did the carving so I know). Decent, but not worth the $26.90.
A feast for the eyes awaited in the form of the Azhang's Combo Platter. Honestly, I have never seen such a huge platter before. Salmon Belly, Calamari, Jumbo Prawns, Tandoor Chicken, skewers of Lamb and Beef Kebab and Pilaf formed the platter.The Salmon Belly was pretty alright, without the salmon taste being too overpowering. Calamari was tasteless except for the grilled taste. The Jumbo Prawns were huge but they were pretty tough due to the grilling and it was a major chore trying to get the shell off. I looked forward to the Beef and Lamb Kebabs, but they were disappointing. Too much spice and minimal natural flavours from the meats. It was also a little too charred on the outside. The Tandoor Chicken was the pits. I practically couldn't taste any chicken at all because it was too charred which had a very acidic taste. Acidic enough to make me cringe with every bite.
Thus concludes our dinner for the night and our bill stood at about $297/-, inclusive of a bottle of red wine. Not worth it if you ask me. Sure, the atmosphere is great and stuff, the wait staff are personal and friendly (namely Ava), but for the quality of food and pricing, I am better off elsewhere.
Had an appetite for cheap French food so headed down with my gf to FRE(N)SH at Vivo City for a quick tartine fix.
Hidden in a quiet corner of the colossal shopping mall, FRE(N)SH is interestingly named, from which I infer to be a short form for French & Fresh or vice versa. I may be wrong, but I deserve some marks for trying? The place in itself is tiny, as evident by the bar counter seats which take up the majority of the place. There are 4 tightly packed tables in a corner as well but they shouldn't even be an option unless you seriously don't mind sitting about 20cm away from the next table.
FRE(N)SH Chicken Tartine - How could I resist ordering a Tartine with the same name? (I'm assuming its their signature dish.) The bread was nicely toasted with extremely generous amounts of chicken, sliced potatoes and mustard. Personally, I couldn't quite stomach the mustard as it made me tear involuntarily but the chicken and potatoes were good. Probably next time round I'll ask for mayonnaise instead.
Chicken Tartine - This was very similar to the FRE(N)SH Tartine except that it had anchovies and it came with mayonnaise instead of mustard. As with the former, ingredients were generous and this dish had a slight fishy overtone which generally went well with the chicken taste. However, any stronger and it would have been revolting (at least for me).
Crème brûlée - Served in an aluminum foil container, the layer of sugar atop looked a tad charred but broke easily with the slightest effort. Didn't find it to be quivery smooth though. But I could make out the vanilla beans in it, which probably means that its home made. Thumbs up to that!
Tiramisu - Looking more like a chocolate cake than anything else, the Tiramisu had a nice amaretto liqueur taste to it, which is different from the usual Kahlua infused ones. However, I did find the layer of sponge a little too excessive, so much so that it reminded me of eating a slice of cake. On that note, the Mascarpone cheese was a little lacking. But overall rather smooth and decent.
No GST, no service charge, what more can I ask for? Well maybe a mint to cleanse my breath. I'm just being corny here but $32 for 2 set meals is a rather good deal if you ask me. A drink, a Tartine and a dessert - a complete meal without busting your wallet.
Was on leave on a Friday so dropped by Szechuan Kitchen with my colleague (who also happens to be on leave) for some dim sum since we were in the vicinity. Szechuan Kitchen is not to be confused with Szechuan Court, which I had the privilege to dine in sometime back. Szechuan Kitchen serves up dim sum and other simple dishes whereas Szechuan Court serves up exquisite Cantonese fare at a relatively higher price of course.
Tucked away on the third floor of Raffles The Plaza and just next to Szechuan Court, Szechuan Kitchen very much resembles a small teahouse with its wooden furniture and paneling. Not that I'm complaining though. The teahouse look gave it a humble and down to earth feel. Only quirk was its table placement, which had a passageway in the middle for passers by to walk through.
Deep Fried Prawn and Banana Wrapped in Bean Curd Skin Roll - I've never ordered this dish before and to be honest, I sort of regretted it. The bean curd skin was crispy but oily and I couldn't quite taste the banana taste, probably due to the minuscule amounts present. The prawns were fresh though, but had their sweetness curtailed by the taste of the bean curd skin.
The steamed pork dumpling aka Siew Mai was quite well done - tasty yet light on the palate. No oily residue or overwhelming pork taste to contend with. Definitely one of the better Siew Mais that I've tried.
Steamed Bun with BBQ Pork - A rather average rendition of the Char Siew Bao. The pastry was a little too thick and the Char Siew filling a little too sweet. Luckily it was served piping hot, which served to cover up most of its flaws (It helped that we were starving too).
Steamed Prawn Dumpling with Century Egg and Pink Ginger - This has got to be one of the weirdest Har Gao that I've ever eaten, with the addition of ginger and century egg. I appreciate the sense of innovation, but I really dislike ginger, especially when it comes in a sizable piece! That aside, the skin was relatively thin and not too starchy, with the prawns being fresh and crunchy. If only they would do something about the ginger. Oh and did I mention that there was no taste of century egg whatsoever?
My personal favourite, the Deep Fried Bacon Roll with Golden Mushrooms. As the name suggests, the golden mushrooms are wrapped with a layer of bacon and then coated with flour before deep frying it to a crisp. The result? A nice crispy layer of batter complementing the slightly salty bacon roll with the added crunchy texture of the golden mushroom. Even my colleague liked it!
Pan Fried Carrot & Radish Cake with Chinese Sausage and Dried Shrimp - Disappointing sums this dish up. True, it was softer and silkier than your average carrot cake but it was so soft that it became a little gross. Nowhere close to the likes of Royal China or Wah Lok.
Baked BBQ Pork Pastry with Pork Floss & Cheese - Another innovative dish from Szechuan Kitchen - Char Siew Sou with cheese. The pastry had a distinct hearty oven baked taste but the Char Siew filling was a little bland. However, this was where the pork floss came into play, breathing a light sweetness into the whole dish. I could detect the presence of the cheese as well, but in a more subtle milky variant. All in all, an innovation well done.
The bill came up to just over $40 (before discount, $20 after discount) for a non filling dim sum lunch for 2, which in my opinion, is relatively expensive for the quantity and merely above average quality of food. Service was generally faultless but could have been friendlier.
1=SGD 0.0587
They are located at the corner nearer to the Intercontinental Hotel. If you could not find it... Check out the bunch of school girls exclaiming "So Cute!!! So Cute!!!" at the glass panals... Thats the shop!!!
This outlet I notice... have one of the most live animals besides the flag ship outlet at vivo and holland village. You can find Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, hamsters of various breeds as well as rats if you like.. Not to forget fishes and turtles. The shop though small, can house many things... including colourful cages with rotating balconies and tanks for fishes...
One of the many outlets i patronise frequently, their service is great. Helpful and informative. They even taught me how to get my membership number online so that I can chalk up the points of what little things i buy. Theres this once i called up their hotline and boy... the operator was so gentle, understanding, helpful and informative.
Though i find maybe a little long winded, He offered me great solutions, contact numbers for the outlets and things to look out for and helpful information to beware of. I am very VERY impressed by the extent of service they offer....
Rating given:
Time Flies... My lovely guinea pig is already coming 2 years old... and is still a bachelor. While looking around for a beautiful girlfriend to share his bachelor pad with, I could not but browse at every Pet Lovers Centre. Reason being, they are just everywhere.. Conveniently located at many shopping spots, you can never miss them. Most importantly, they have a good supply of small pets almost at every stall.
I compared the prices of pet supplies and find them priced quite reasonably. On top of that, for a mere $50 of purchase and above, you could get their free delivery.... Thats a super great service they offer... imagine lunging a 35litre of Cats Litter walking around. Its a physical and emotional disaster.
They do have some pretty good promos around sometimes for 20% discount on food and necessity. I am also impressed services they offer. They have a vet like staff in almost every outlet that sells live animals and they are knowledgable as well as helpful. I get most of my know how to take of my GP from them.
If you need a pet... This is a place you can go to... Healthy pets and fresh supply of goods... with free delivery.....
Rating given:
Had the luxury of 2nights for a wedding, and with Hyatt points, I just needed to top up $60 per night to upgrade to the grand deluxe suite, which they call a "junior suite", on level 20 of the hotel and allows you access to the Grand Club Lounge which serves refreshments and bites during certain hours.
I'll talk about the rooms first -
Club Deluxe King - at 54 sqM, the room feels bigger than it is, with a nice separate working living room from the bedroom and bathroom. It was spanking clean and very well maintained, including the small minor things like bathroom tiles. Nothing to fault on cleaniness, comfort, and style. The bed was big enough for 3pax actually.
Grand Duplex Suite - the 128 sqM suite is divided into 2 floors, with the living, meeting, and kitchen areas below and the bedroom, master bathroom, and separate make up area on top. Similarly spanking clean with ultimate comfort in mind. But it comes with an extremely narrow staircase which only makes for 1 way traffic.
Grand Club Lounge - Only accessible via a stairway from the 20 floor and was a much bigger area than I expected. It was quite empty most of the time, and the bites served during the evening was not too bad, although I think the Club Lounge at Conrad Singapore serves better food. Service was okay, although I felt the staff tended to attend to non-Chinese more.
Service -
I was abit let down by the service throughout the stay as I thought well, its Hyatt. When I arrived, my taxi was packed with luggages and wedding stuff but no one came forward to help me with the things; only 1 doorman approached, took the stuff only to place them on the floor beside the departing taxi. ???!!!. I ended up lugging all the things from thedriveway to the hotel lobby myself. The same thing happened when we returned to the hotel the 2nd night, at almost 2am. We had numerous packs of things with us, including one huge wedding gift but no one came forward. I had to gesture them to bring a trolley, then 1 staff slowly strolled out with no trolley in hand.
During the 2nd day, we were running out for the wedding proper at 3pm and because we knew we would be back very late, we called for an extra bed to be put in while we're gone so the extra guest can rest immediately after we return without having to wait. At 2am, we opened the door, and no extra bed. We called again to ask for it, then after 15mins, 2 staff rang my door, and I thought oh good, the bed's here. Nope. I opened the door only to have them ask me what was it I needed. I couldnt believe it. I told them about the bed, and just had to call to scream at the concierge because I was in absolutely no mood to be nice at 2am.
Something else very irritating to me happened on the 3rd morning too. We were moving loads of the wedding stuff from the deluxe to the suite coz it was all on the same floor, just on different ends of the floor. My siser's mother in law is Causasian and was walking in front of me, both of us struggling with as much stuff on our hands. One senior staff saw us, and smiled politely to her and asked if he can help her with the things, which she declined. Then, he took a look at me then turned away without even mustering a smile, I caught more of a disdain than anything. It was very iritating to have hotel staff practice blantant discrimination like this but I was in a hurry to finish moving our staff.
Didnt have time to try the room service, pool, gym but I'm sure they are quite nice. But I do really think they should brush up on their service.
Rating given:
Definitely me and my wife's favorite steak place. It's so worth it (price and taste wise) that on a particular month, we went to eat there every sunday. That's 4 times in one month. Even now with the economic slowdown and all, we still go there like 2-3 times/ month.
Word of caution though, the queue can be very long during lunch or dinner time. So coming at 2pm-5pm is very advisable to avoid queuing for too long although there maybe a short line of queue still.
Ordering the meal of your choice is very simple, pick one of the main dishes and it will come with 2 choices of hot or cold side dishes. My favorite which is also my wife's favorite is the New York Strip medium done. The portion is bigger than the prime sirloin. That's why we always opted for the New York Strip. =)
Waiting time for the food is quite reasonable which is 5-15 minutes ( can be more if you come at peak hours ). You can always order the mushroom soup as an appetizer while waiting for the main dish to come.
Dishes we usually order : 2 New York Strips, 2 Soups, 1 ice water, and 1 soft drink. The bill came around 35-38 dollars. So very reasonable for 2 big steaks. =)
Overall astons is somewhat quite good for me as price and taste wise is very reasonable. So for all of you that has not try astons, please do so. Totally worth your money. Go Try it, it's a must
Rating given:
Most people think of Changi Village as a rustic spot still relatively untouched by modernisation, with its lush greenery and long sandy beach. What most people don't know is the existence of an Italian semi fine dining restaurant, La Cantina, at the only "modern" building there - Changi Village Hotel.
Hidden from sight on level 8 of the hotel, La Cantina offers a splendid view of the ocean as well the surrounding greenery through the vast windows that stretches all the way up to the second floor, which incidentally happens to be the private dining area I believe. The decor revolves around simplicity with a touch of Victorian elegance through the addition of Roman pillars and crafted figurines. For people who prefer the outdoors, there's the more romantic (but warmer) al fresco option as well.
I didn't think too much of the Bruschetta, which was decent but not the least bit outstanding. It was essentially garlic bread with diced tomatoes on top, in which case the tomatoes looked a tad tired but managed to retain its juiciness fortunately.
Billed as the specialty for the week, the grilled scampi was nice with a smoky grilled taste but did come across as a tad too salty for my liking. Another grouse was that the meat was minimal. And at $29, it certainly didn't come cheap.
Linguine Al Granchio - Crabmeat Linguine in Creamy Tomato Sauce -
A most decent dish save for the fact that the creamy tomato sauce overwhelmed the taste of the crab, which was a pity really. They could have added chicken and there would be minimal differences except for the texture. Pasta was al dente however and overall the dish didn't come across as too heavy on the palate.
Quattro Stagioni - Pomodoro, Mozzarella, Ham, Artichoke, Mushroom & Olive -
First looks, the pizza looked huge and was literally spilling off the sides of the plate. However it was more of an eye full than anything else. The crust was a little limp and not the least bit crispy, while the ingredients tasted rather bland with neither cohesion nor contrast of flavours.
Coffee Creme Brulee - I had thought the coffee creme brulee would have been an interesting dessert but it didn't really live up to expectations. The creme brulee was very sweet on the first mouth but slowly became better. The coffee taste was unique but a tad too strong for my liking.
Chocolate Bitter Tart - Contrary to its drooling inducing appearance, the chocolate tart was merely average with its crust being too hard and the chocolate not being rich enough. Never ever judge a dish by its appearance.
Chocolate Souffle - Probably the best dessert of the evening, the chocolate souffle was not too sweet but small and didn't come with ice cream which would have complemented it very well. The crust could have been a little firmer as well but no complains about the oozing chocolate though. I would say its a slightly above average rendition.
Dinner for 2 cost almost $125, which isn't too expensive considering the quantity of food we ordered. Sure, the quality isn't top notch but its still decent Italian fare with huge portions to boot. Throw in the excellent ambience and service and there's no question if a revisit is on the cards.
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Suburbia - A residential district located on the outskirts of a city. A most interesting name for a restaurant, but decidedly apt considering its location. Opened just 2 weeks ago, Suburbia is a newcomer to the uppity culinary scene of Sentosa and is touted as the place for good food and wine - a claim supported by the fact that it is managed by Wine Network.
Housed in a former monorail station (Fiscus station), Suburbia glistens in the dark skylight with its orangey hues and bluish overtones. The place is divided into 2 levels, with the al fresco dining section located on the first level, overlooking lush green lawns on one side and the Fiscus tree aka "Marriage Tree" on the other. The second level is air conditioned and employs a "classroom" look through the use of louver windows, which does seem to clash with the modern chic vibe that the place oozes. Tables are limited on the second floor, probably squeezing in about 15 four seater tables, which did seem a little too close for comfort although I wouldn't have been able to give a fair judgement given that we had the whole place to ourselves.
Complimentary Bread - Very few places serve up noteworthy bread and Suburbia falls into that minority. Served up in a glass vase, the assortment of bread was moist, warm and tasty. The butter was different as well, smooth and lightly sweet with a rather strong hint of orange flavouring. Appropriately named Orange Butter.
Crab Meat Waldorf Salad - First looks, I was petrified at the size of it, or lack of for that matter. I could have probably stuffed the whole thing down my mouth at one go without breaking a sweat. Taste wise, it was above average but nothing too outstanding. The rather diluted crab meat was sandwiched between layers of thinly sliced crunchy green apples, which acted as a counter balance to the rawness of the crab. Lightly sweet with a dash of saltiness and rawness.
Beef Tenderloin I'infusion De Poivre Noir - Weighing in at a mere 200g, I must say that the tenderloin was a tad too small for the price ($38). Grilled to my specification of medium rare, the meat retained its natural flavours without being too chewy or limp. Topped with mushroom sauce, it was a dish to slowly savour and relish save for the fact that the meat was a little too soft at some places.
Tiramisu - Interestingly, crushed cookie bits were sprinkled atop the tiramisu instead of the de facto cocoa powder. This gave it a different texture altogether and eliminated the risk of me choking on the fine cocoa powder. Light and fluffy, the tiramisu didn't come across as too wet or soggy but I couldn't make out any liquor taste in the sponge fingers - a must have in any good tiramisu.
Belgium Marquise - The Belgium Marquise wasn't too sweet or rich with a nice wafer texture in between. It had a slightly chewy texture which reminded me a little of chewing on mudpies. I didn't think too much of the ice cream and sesame brandy snap basket though, with the latter tasting almost exclusively of sesame.
$108($86 after 20% soft launch discount) for an appetiser, a main, 2 desserts and a glass of wine earns Suburbia a spot among the ranks of mid range pricing restaurants. However in this case, the price does seem a tad over the hill(without discount) especially when the food, though good, isn't particularly outstanding. There is hope yet as I understand from my friends, who were there as well, that the rack of lamb was good and that, coupled with a rather comprehensive wine list and a lovely ambience, might just be enough to entice me to return.
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Dropped by Gim Tim for dinner with my parents, who had heard much about it but never really gotten down to trying. Just a little background on Gim Tim. It started out as a humble restaurant in its present location, at the corner of a row of shophouses in the midst of a sleepy HDB estate. From there, it has since grown into 4 outlets but with only the original outlet retaining the Gim Tim name.
If its your first visit, some topography skills are required as the restaurant is located behind a market in a quiet cul-de-sac facing a block of HDB flats. The interior holds no allure, save for the fact that its air conditioned.
Braised Boneless Duck with Sea Cucumber - We ordered this dish thinking that it was sufficient for 3 people. It turned out to be much bigger than expected ( I estimate it to be for about 5 pax) and we had to doggy bag the left overs. The duck meat was tender yet firm and fibrous while the sea cucumber was not too soft and chewy. Both came in generous servings. Just a little something that I learnt about the cooking procedure for this dish. The duck has to be fried first till crispy and then simmered in the gravy to let it absorb all the flavours. Thats why the duck meat still manages to remain firm when served.
Broccoli with Prawns - A most excellent dish with the sizeable prawns fresh and crunchy and the broccoli cooked just right. Simple yet tasty.
Home Made Beancurd with Spinach - A little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the homemade beancurd was decent, but still had room for improvements. One major flaw is its lack of taste, even with the spinach. I did like the mushrooms that came with it though, wildly refreshing yet not overpowering.
$75 for 3 pax might seem a little too much given the variety of food and cost of items. However, no one complained. Honestly, I think the quality and potions more than justify the price. Throw in good service minus the service charge and this place goes into my book of must return places.
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Azhang is an intriguing place because the name sounds Chinese, yet it serves largely Mediterranean food. How you define Mediterranean food, I don't have a clue though, but thats what it has been described as. From its old hideout at Joo Chiat, Azhang has relocated to a nicely done up shophouse unit along Mohamed Sultan Road, just beside the Italian eatery, Papi (which happens to be a place that comes highly recommended from my friend). Decor was simple and subtle, giving rise to that homely and laid back atmosphere which I personally fancy quite a bit. There were 8 of us for dinner and we were split into 2 camps - the beef eating and the non beef eating. 5 of us formed the former and we had the Azhang's Combo Platter and the Rib Eye to share between us. Everyone had a serving of the highly recommended Roasted Corn Salad.
The Roasted Corn Salad had a nice mixture of colours and tasted really great. The corns were coated with butter and roasted over an open flame until slightly charred. Toss in some garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and whats not and you get a really sublime flavour. Although I am not a fan of Corn Salad, I must say this one is without question, one of the, if not THE best Corn Salad I have ever tried.
When it comes to steaks or prime ribs, comparisons with Morton's offerings are inevitable. And so it was the case with the Rib Eye served with a topping of Onions and Sauteed in red wine atop a bed of Pilaf. The Ribeye was actually quite decent, except that it was a little too rare which made it a little too chewy and difficult to carve (I did the carving so I know). Decent, but not worth the $26.90.
A feast for the eyes awaited in the form of the Azhang's Combo Platter. Honestly, I have never seen such a huge platter before. Salmon Belly, Calamari, Jumbo Prawns, Tandoor Chicken, skewers of Lamb and Beef Kebab and Pilaf formed the platter.The Salmon Belly was pretty alright, without the salmon taste being too overpowering. Calamari was tasteless except for the grilled taste. The Jumbo Prawns were huge but they were pretty tough due to the grilling and it was a major chore trying to get the shell off. I looked forward to the Beef and Lamb Kebabs, but they were disappointing. Too much spice and minimal natural flavours from the meats. It was also a little too charred on the outside. The Tandoor Chicken was the pits. I practically couldn't taste any chicken at all because it was too charred which had a very acidic taste. Acidic enough to make me cringe with every bite.
Thus concludes our dinner for the night and our bill stood at about $297/-, inclusive of a bottle of red wine. Not worth it if you ask me. Sure, the atmosphere is great and stuff, the wait staff are personal and friendly (namely Ava), but for the quality of food and pricing, I am better off elsewhere.
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Had an appetite for cheap French food so headed down with my gf to FRE(N)SH at Vivo City for a quick tartine fix.
Hidden in a quiet corner of the colossal shopping mall, FRE(N)SH is interestingly named, from which I infer to be a short form for French & Fresh or vice versa. I may be wrong, but I deserve some marks for trying? The place in itself is tiny, as evident by the bar counter seats which take up the majority of the place. There are 4 tightly packed tables in a corner as well but they shouldn't even be an option unless you seriously don't mind sitting about 20cm away from the next table.
FRE(N)SH Chicken Tartine - How could I resist ordering a Tartine with the same name? (I'm assuming its their signature dish.) The bread was nicely toasted with extremely generous amounts of chicken, sliced potatoes and mustard. Personally, I couldn't quite stomach the mustard as it made me tear involuntarily but the chicken and potatoes were good. Probably next time round I'll ask for mayonnaise instead.
Chicken Tartine - This was very similar to the FRE(N)SH Tartine except that it had anchovies and it came with mayonnaise instead of mustard. As with the former, ingredients were generous and this dish had a slight fishy overtone which generally went well with the chicken taste. However, any stronger and it would have been revolting (at least for me).
Crème brûlée - Served in an aluminum foil container, the layer of sugar atop looked a tad charred but broke easily with the slightest effort. Didn't find it to be quivery smooth though. But I could make out the vanilla beans in it, which probably means that its home made. Thumbs up to that!
Tiramisu - Looking more like a chocolate cake than anything else, the Tiramisu had a nice amaretto liqueur taste to it, which is different from the usual Kahlua infused ones. However, I did find the layer of sponge a little too excessive, so much so that it reminded me of eating a slice of cake. On that note, the Mascarpone cheese was a little lacking. But overall rather smooth and decent.
No GST, no service charge, what more can I ask for? Well maybe a mint to cleanse my breath. I'm just being corny here but $32 for 2 set meals is a rather good deal if you ask me. A drink, a Tartine and a dessert - a complete meal without busting your wallet.
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Was on leave on a Friday so dropped by Szechuan Kitchen with my colleague (who also happens to be on leave) for some dim sum since we were in the vicinity. Szechuan Kitchen is not to be confused with Szechuan Court, which I had the privilege to dine in sometime back. Szechuan Kitchen serves up dim sum and other simple dishes whereas Szechuan Court serves up exquisite Cantonese fare at a relatively higher price of course.
Tucked away on the third floor of Raffles The Plaza and just next to Szechuan Court, Szechuan Kitchen very much resembles a small teahouse with its wooden furniture and paneling. Not that I'm complaining though. The teahouse look gave it a humble and down to earth feel. Only quirk was its table placement, which had a passageway in the middle for passers by to walk through.
Deep Fried Prawn and Banana Wrapped in Bean Curd Skin Roll - I've never ordered this dish before and to be honest, I sort of regretted it. The bean curd skin was crispy but oily and I couldn't quite taste the banana taste, probably due to the minuscule amounts present. The prawns were fresh though, but had their sweetness curtailed by the taste of the bean curd skin.
The steamed pork dumpling aka Siew Mai was quite well done - tasty yet light on the palate. No oily residue or overwhelming pork taste to contend with. Definitely one of the better Siew Mais that I've tried.
Steamed Bun with BBQ Pork - A rather average rendition of the Char Siew Bao. The pastry was a little too thick and the Char Siew filling a little too sweet. Luckily it was served piping hot, which served to cover up most of its flaws (It helped that we were starving too).
Steamed Prawn Dumpling with Century Egg and Pink Ginger - This has got to be one of the weirdest Har Gao that I've ever eaten, with the addition of ginger and century egg. I appreciate the sense of innovation, but I really dislike ginger, especially when it comes in a sizable piece! That aside, the skin was relatively thin and not too starchy, with the prawns being fresh and crunchy. If only they would do something about the ginger. Oh and did I mention that there was no taste of century egg whatsoever?
My personal favourite, the Deep Fried Bacon Roll with Golden Mushrooms. As the name suggests, the golden mushrooms are wrapped with a layer of bacon and then coated with flour before deep frying it to a crisp. The result? A nice crispy layer of batter complementing the slightly salty bacon roll with the added crunchy texture of the golden mushroom. Even my colleague liked it!
Pan Fried Carrot & Radish Cake with Chinese Sausage and Dried Shrimp - Disappointing sums this dish up. True, it was softer and silkier than your average carrot cake but it was so soft that it became a little gross. Nowhere close to the likes of Royal China or Wah Lok.
Baked BBQ Pork Pastry with Pork Floss & Cheese - Another innovative dish from Szechuan Kitchen - Char Siew Sou with cheese. The pastry had a distinct hearty oven baked taste but the Char Siew filling was a little bland. However, this was where the pork floss came into play, breathing a light sweetness into the whole dish. I could detect the presence of the cheese as well, but in a more subtle milky variant. All in all, an innovation well done.
The bill came up to just over $40 (before discount, $20 after discount) for a non filling dim sum lunch for 2, which in my opinion, is relatively expensive for the quantity and merely above average quality of food. Service was generally faultless but could have been friendlier.
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