We were wandering aimlessly as we could not find a comfy place to rest our legs. Every food outlet seem to have long queue of people waiting to be served.
We finally chose this outlet as we saw two young female staff greeting us politely even though we were just browsing through the menu. We also noticed that it was not so crowded and rowdy as compared to those places that we wanted to dine initially.
Fried Chicken Wings with Fish Sauce ( $9.50 ) - The chicken wings seem to have shrunk quite a bit as there were hardly any meat left to chew. But the crispy skin was well marinated and that helped to offset our disappointment.
Crayfish Spaghetti with Garlic ( $14.50 ) - This was the best dish as the springy spaghetti was lightly covered with black pepper and this made the dish very palatable. The meaty crayfish were also a bonus as we were expecting smaller sized shellfish.
Stir Fried Minced Meat with Basil Leaves ( $11.90 ) - As usual, most Thai-concept food outlets will served this popular dish. We were pleasantly surprised that the meat was juicy and have the right mix of long beans, basil leaves and baby chillies.
Lastly, we finished with Pomelo Salad with Shrimps ( $10.50 ) - A bit expensive but unique dish that combined chunks of pomelo, prawns and cashew nuts in a mixture of special salad sauce.
Food was served very quickly, service was efficient and what we like most was the attitude of the staff that greeted customers and also thank customers for their patronage
We have always love desserts especially after dinner. This dessert outlet has a catchy name Ji De Chi which translated to Remember To Eat.
We were captivated by the photos pasted on the walls and was wondering whether it will be too filling since most of them are paste based like black sesame, peanut paste, etc.
We ordered the Yam paste with Ginko nuts ( $4.00 ), Durian with Pomelo Sago ( $6.50 ) and Mango Pomelo ( $4.50 ).
We tried the not-so-warm Yam paste and was satisfied that it was smooth, fragrant and most important of all, not sweet at all. There were also generous amount of Ginko nuts both as topping and mixed in the paste.
The Mango Pomela has finely shaved ice like a masterpiece sitting on the mango puree with bits of mango in the bowl. Again, we could taste the sweet mango and the smoothen paste. Another thumbs up for this item.
Lastly, we shared the Durian with Pomelo Sago and after taking a spoonful, we all wowed at the same time. Other diners were wondering with curious faces.. This is by far the best dessert that we have taken as the durian puree was a bit sweet but the durian topping was slightly bitter. So both types of durian compliment each other. We kept nodding our heads for making the right choice.
Overall, this place is worth visiting as the prices are reasonable and the service staff ( mainly teenagers ) were efficient and polite.
We were glad we chose to dine here as we were shown to a fairly large sitting area laced with wooden separators for privacy and comfy seats with ample space for our bags. Yes we girls do carry a little more than a kitchen sink in our little expensive handbags...
The menu was impressive with a good choice of raw, grilled, soup, boiled, skewered and pan fried items complete with a one for one deal on Sapporo draft beers and set meals. We took quite a while to decide and the friendly staff was kind enough to wait on us with patience (You know Girls and their Girlie talk...). So we decided to go for a omelette don set, one sashimi on rice set ($23.90) and two ladies (24.90) set which like us, is a little of everything, pretty, petite yet fulfilling. While we were told we actually qualify for a free 3 types sashimi, the girls became ecstatically happy... (you know squealing girl kinda happy).
So while we gladly chatter on a competition to the other tables of girls on our right, I realised the sound containment was pretty good. We could never hear what other tables were talking about, perhaps just the occasional exclaiming squeals of Joy. The deco was really nice, a mix of modern designs using traditional materials like wood and bamboo, recreating a traditional japanese cottage. While we appreciated every small detail of the deco entangled with bits and pieces of our life, the food arrived. First the free sashimi platter which was beautiful placed in a bowl the shape of an ingot (how auspicious) atop shaved ice and radish, then the sets. Beautifully designed with lots of little side dishes.
The sashimi is fresh, succulent and juicy while the omelate rice tasty and creamy. I love the sides the best. Each set came with a small portion of grilled boneless fish in teriyaki sauce which was extremely yummy. The ladies set ($23.90)is a pretty big set with a fruit jelly as dessert. Small petite dishes that contained a few sushi, some takoyaki, some grilled fish and a little bit of rice.
While we were about to finish our set, the staff was eager to remove our plates and bowls. I must say the service was really quick but rather we felt rushed to finish our food. Refilling of tea was a quick and prompt affair with frequent rounds made, we were very pleased with the service. Efficient and Friendly. 4 Set meals for 4 ladies cost us a total of $110. Which was pretty worth it as compared to the nice environment and free sashimi.
The spanking new Suntec Fountain Makan zone has got an incredible addition. Right opposite the Food Republic Food Court is this new concept called the BreadTalk Cafe. As the name suggested... Its a menu full of yummilicious baked stuffs, delicately designed cakes and pastries, not forgetting the ever so famous coffee. Its something like the toast box yet more english cultured and serves cafe like selections for your all day dining.
Loved the entrance to the cafe, instead of waiting to be seated, you could just easily grab a spot near the large glass wall facing the fountain. The seatees were poshed, lavishly cushioned and dimly lit for a dose of warm sunlight otherwise a romantic rainy afternoon tea.
The Portobello Party was one of my favourite appetizer which is a grilled portobello on a bed of greens garnished with savoury streaky bacons. Pumpkin soup was creamy and yummy while the prawn cake on toast is something deliciously special that I've never tried it elsewhere. Serving size was great for sharing as there is quite a few interesting selection on the menu but we wanted to leave space for dessert.
We ordered a brownie overload which we thought could be more exciting, yet it wasn't. The brownie was not as moist as it should be and the ice-cream placed at the side didn't look delectable at all. I always thought ice cream with brownie should be heaped into a superb mess of yumminess.
The entire meal here was nothing short of interesting. Love the seats, the location by the walkway yet the scenic view of the fountain, the menu selections were great and service was just so so though. Food was pretty much yummy though i expected for something with more of a WOW factor which I didn't get in the end. Pricing is pretty okay as the portion was good for 2 lady diners. We might come back for occasional afternoon teas as I still didn't manage to try anything from the cake displays.
Love the concept of this restaurant. You may order a main course which is mostly a bento set and you get to enjoy a free flow of appetizers, on top of that you could opt from free flow of drinks or one beer with a top up.
The seats were plenty and the ambience a casual jap restaurant, nothing fanciful with just table and chairs of ample space and lots of diners. I never had a chance as I was always put off by the long queue, however on this faithful day, i was earlier then usual and manage to secure a good seat for all the other babes that were coming.
We were shown to a seat that we could look down the mall and it was roomy yet private, great for discussing secrets. Shortly after we settled in, the menu was presented messily on the table. The menu was not much, some 34 main courses mostly repetitive, somewhat similar stuffs with different meats. I ended up with a sukiyaki beef which could never go wrong and yes, it arrived yummy as usual yet i wish there were more beef to go along. The rice was yummy and i was surprised! Well made with the right softness and stickiness, I must say pretty good rice. The curry chicken which my pal ordered was also yummy, curry of the right texture and taste while a huge drumstick sticks out of her claypot bowl made her very happy.
The free flow appetizers placed on a small island near the entrance comprises of a good choice, though not many varieties and the stuffs we love would be:
1) Fried Sweet Potato coated with brown sugar - crispy and tasty, imagine french fries but sweet and crunchy
2) Chawarmushi - Smooth, soft and tasty steam egg mix
3) Double boiled radish in miso with baby shrimps - radish is sweet and crunchy
4) Green tea dessert with powdery tang yuan - very matcha with tasty chewy balls
The free flow drinks serves up a good variety of soft drinks like ginger ale, ice lemon tea, coke, grape as well as freshly brewed coffee, many varieties of tea and warm water.
The place is casual and priced extremely well. Main courses are priced between $13.99 - $24.99 and additional of drinks with $2.99.
We talked and ate the free flows all the way till closing and before the closing of the appetizer bar, we were asked if we needed the last helping. I must say pretty good service. Will come back...
High Tea are important part of the entire shopping trip. While you splurge on the Christmas presents and almost anything your eyes takes fancy, you have got to seat and rest, chalk up the gossip scales and have a moment of guilt for not being the item you've seen previously and liked.
Situated right next to the escalator, this outlet serves up a good chinese, western fusion affair. The menu has confusing lots of yummy stuffs and extremely hongkonger dishes like instant noodles with SPAM or tea with coffee (yuan yang). Best of all, no queue and lots of seats to choose from. We managed to secure a nice cushion seat 2 for our bums and 2 for our shopping bags. Ordering is fast and the food arrived as quickly. I must say.... just like when I'm in HK.
We ordered a noodle with SPAM, which is pretty healthy and lots of veg, a side dish of something that looked like spring roll, which is a tad too oily for me, a french toast whom I find really special yummy and again Sinful.
The french toast I must eleborate. It is a cube of bread soaked in egg and deep fried. Served beautifully with maple syrup and a thick slice of butter melting on top. Eating this is a little messy and it is definitely good to share. The inside of the bread is soft and the extra butter makes it rich and creamier.
For desserts, we ordered a yuan yang which is something that gave my tastebuds a surprising confusion. Its a mixture of tea and coffee and tasted something I wouldn't know how to describe. The mango and pomelo dessert is also a clash of sweet and extreme sour. Sweet from the mango ice cream and the bits of pomelo is extremely sourish. They have these transparent balls that burst in your mouth, coating it with a layer of sourish something.
The overall experience was pleasant, it is a noisy place so good for gossiping about anything. Service is fast and price is reasonable. Great place if you enjoy eating food HK style
I was convinced by the overated comments of my dining pals to try out Serenity at vivocity and for a while I consider some comments to be true to the core, some areas i suppose needed some improvements.
Though you see a small entrance, this corner unit actually provides more space then you can imagine. I deep narrow walkway littered with plentiful of well arranged tables and chairs with colourful tiles and decoration just like the gleefully coloured Spanish culture. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping into another world, while I was still getting over with the surprise factor of the sudden but good change in ambience, flamenco music filled the air and I was intrigued by the good three piece band and the upbeat oldies that brought back many good memories. We decided upon the alfresco seat as it was a cool evening with slight drizzling and made particularly romantic by the table candles dancing away with the cool breeze.
I was shocked by the portion and the condiments of the nacho, it came plain with a small dish of nacho sauce and salsa. I expected a pretty sight of nachos topped with cheese, veg, salsa, more cheese and other yummy stuffs, but it was plain. Though the nacho sauce and salsa was pretty tasty, I was dismayed by the lack of colour and character to the food.
The Salteado de Setas which is a Sauteed mix mushrooms with garlic & extra virgin olive oil came sadly in a small bowl. The mushrooms were cut too finely and limp, portion felt much smaller than the picture description and I was embarrassed to have ordered that.
Though we were told the pork was good here, we didn't have much to stomach it, as such we ordered a Grilled Vegetarian Platter which consist of Eggplant, mushroom, zuchinni, capsicums, asparagus, pine nuts olive, onion, tomatoes grilled to perfection. The portion was okay for one and the veg nicely grilled. Presentation was good and veg sweet.
The overall ambience was good, music not ear blaring and we could chit chat without much difficulties. Love the alfresco dining and the choices on the menu but found it a little to pricey and portion small, on top of it, lack of presentation. So I guess its good for drinks but not good for meals. Great for romantic diners and big group gatherings.
Dropped by my favourite hangout yesterday evening and it totally felt like Christmas sitting on the comfy couches of coffee bean watching shoppers go by as though they were dancing to the ringing beat of " Jingle Bells Jingle Bells". The location of this outlet is very interesting. Love the indoor alfresco feel signature of many coffee places especially The Coffee Bean... The indoor alfresco is an outdoor sitting outside the shop premises by the corridor with just some fencing for a little privacy. You get to enjoy a private space at the same time watch the shoppers go by and does not look awkward in the middle of nowhere while you enjoy the air-conditioning and do not have to brave the fickle weather conditions of Singapore.
There are many seats here, warm and cosy is how I feel of the deco while the indoor sitting is just like you are by a fireplace. The choice of food for dining has improved through the years. Besides just cakes and cookies, they have included a great deal of all day breakfast like toast and sandwiches as well as hot food such as pasta, baked rice and other simple yet food the fills and warms your tummy.
We had dinner at this outlet and tried the mac and cheese. While I think about how cheesy and milky mundane this could be, the Mac & Cheese like a mud hole in the crevice of a plate. Hot and gooey, yet with a dash of pepper, i was astounded. The macaroni was cooked just right, not too soft and chewy and the mix of cheese, i guess loads of chedder with a mixture of other mild cheese was not too strong and easy to go with my creamy coffee concoction. We could also not finish a mac and cheese because half way through we usually grow sick of the cheese, while this time round, we finished this less licking the plate clean. It was good.
Next we had another cheesy dish which is the Penne mushroom. Its pasta in cream sauce with mushroom, capsicum and some veg, sprinkled with load of parmesan cheese for that extra punch. It was just alright, a little too creamy and plain.
We always loved the drinks and for this year's Christmas the Double Chocolate Peppermint Ice Blended was mine favourite. Chocolaty and minty not forgetting to add a good spray of light whipped cream for that extra calories.
The night ended well though i still spotted some unfriendly students studying during dinner hours as though blind to the sign that clearly states NO STUDYING DURING PEAK HOURS.. sometimes it just gets on people's nerves....
One of the biggest modernised shopping mall that is not only designed for sustainability, but also for lifestyle that inculcates nature, fun and relaxation.
Situated right next to JEM, this is another huge addition to the current already huge JEM Mall, however Westgate is something more upclass and interesting. Walking into it reminds me of THE STAR at buona vista, with the open concept non airconed corridors with huge glass enclosed glass retail shops and lots of greenery and lounging areas. But thats not all, at the ends of the long air con less corridors, you can walk through a large glass door and enjoy the cool breeze of man's greatest invention, the aircon. This mall is a mixture of many outdoor natural aired places and airconed walkways which also boost a huge wet and dry play ground at the higher levels.
I was glad to be able to see some really town exclusive labels opening their outlets here. Isetan is here, ROYCE, BORDERS and many other fanciful restaurants that used to reside only in town is now in the suburban JURONG. The walkways are huge, aircon strong and Interior Decorations beautiful and full of nature.
So if you are considering to explore this new mall, please do so before it is fully completed and the crowds will jam up the place just like JEM.
Dropped by HY California @ Marina Bay Sands for lunch one weekday afternoon. This visit was prompted in part due to my previous visit to Hide Yamamoto and my curiosity was piqued when I learnt of the existence of a cheaper alternative - HY California.
HY California offers indoor seating with a couple of counter seats and tables as well as al fresco dining along the pathway. Full length panels offer patrons who decide to sit indoors, a view of the pathway outside and plenty of natural light if you happen to dine during the day - a win win situation.
Chicken Bento Set - There are various bento sets available for lunch but the sirloin beef bento set that I was aiming for had only 1 portion left so I went gave it up to my colleague and went for the chicken option instead. The presentation was aesthetically pleasing with small plates of sushi, sashimi, chicken, salad and tempura neatly placed within compartments in a wooden tray. Taste wise, everything came across as average and wouldn't seem out of place at "lower end" eateries like Sakae Sushi or Ichiban Sushi.
Lunch for the 4 of us cost about $96, which isn't really expensive but the general consensus is that food quality hovers around the average mark at best. I can understand that HY California is a casual eatery but the service level, food quality and pricing somehow fails to convince me why I should choose it over the likes of Sushi Tei or Ichiban Sushi/Boshi.
1=SGD 0.0587
We were wandering aimlessly as we could not find a comfy place to rest our legs. Every food outlet seem to have long queue of people waiting to be served.
We finally chose this outlet as we saw two young female staff greeting us politely even though we were just browsing through the menu. We also noticed that it was not so crowded and rowdy as compared to those places that we wanted to dine initially.
Fried Chicken Wings with Fish Sauce ( $9.50 ) - The chicken wings seem to have shrunk quite a bit as there were hardly any meat left to chew. But the crispy skin was well marinated and that helped to offset our disappointment.
Crayfish Spaghetti with Garlic ( $14.50 ) - This was the best dish as the springy spaghetti was lightly covered with black pepper and this made the dish very palatable. The meaty crayfish were also a bonus as we were expecting smaller sized shellfish.
Stir Fried Minced Meat with Basil Leaves ( $11.90 ) - As usual, most Thai-concept food outlets will served this popular dish. We were pleasantly surprised that the meat was juicy and have the right mix of long beans, basil leaves and baby chillies.
Lastly, we finished with Pomelo Salad with Shrimps ( $10.50 ) - A bit expensive but unique dish that combined chunks of pomelo, prawns and cashew nuts in a mixture of special salad sauce.
Food was served very quickly, service was efficient and what we like most was the attitude of the staff that greeted customers and also thank customers for their patronage
Rating given:
We have always love desserts especially after dinner. This dessert outlet has a catchy name Ji De Chi which translated to Remember To Eat.
We were captivated by the photos pasted on the walls and was wondering whether it will be too filling since most of them are paste based like black sesame, peanut paste, etc.
We ordered the Yam paste with Ginko nuts ( $4.00 ), Durian with Pomelo Sago ( $6.50 ) and Mango Pomelo ( $4.50 ).
We tried the not-so-warm Yam paste and was satisfied that it was smooth, fragrant and most important of all, not sweet at all. There were also generous amount of Ginko nuts both as topping and mixed in the paste.
The Mango Pomela has finely shaved ice like a masterpiece sitting on the mango puree with bits of mango in the bowl. Again, we could taste the sweet mango and the smoothen paste. Another thumbs up for this item.
Lastly, we shared the Durian with Pomelo Sago and after taking a spoonful, we all wowed at the same time. Other diners were wondering with curious faces.. This is by far the best dessert that we have taken as the durian puree was a bit sweet but the durian topping was slightly bitter. So both types of durian compliment each other. We kept nodding our heads for making the right choice.
Overall, this place is worth visiting as the prices are reasonable and the service staff ( mainly teenagers ) were efficient and polite.
Rating given:
We were glad we chose to dine here as we were shown to a fairly large sitting area laced with wooden separators for privacy and comfy seats with ample space for our bags. Yes we girls do carry a little more than a kitchen sink in our little expensive handbags...
The menu was impressive with a good choice of raw, grilled, soup, boiled, skewered and pan fried items complete with a one for one deal on Sapporo draft beers and set meals. We took quite a while to decide and the friendly staff was kind enough to wait on us with patience (You know Girls and their Girlie talk...). So we decided to go for a omelette don set, one sashimi on rice set ($23.90) and two ladies (24.90) set which like us, is a little of everything, pretty, petite yet fulfilling. While we were told we actually qualify for a free 3 types sashimi, the girls became ecstatically happy... (you know squealing girl kinda happy).
So while we gladly chatter on a competition to the other tables of girls on our right, I realised the sound containment was pretty good. We could never hear what other tables were talking about, perhaps just the occasional exclaiming squeals of Joy. The deco was really nice, a mix of modern designs using traditional materials like wood and bamboo, recreating a traditional japanese cottage. While we appreciated every small detail of the deco entangled with bits and pieces of our life, the food arrived. First the free sashimi platter which was beautiful placed in a bowl the shape of an ingot (how auspicious) atop shaved ice and radish, then the sets. Beautifully designed with lots of little side dishes.
The sashimi is fresh, succulent and juicy while the omelate rice tasty and creamy. I love the sides the best. Each set came with a small portion of grilled boneless fish in teriyaki sauce which was extremely yummy. The ladies set ($23.90)is a pretty big set with a fruit jelly as dessert. Small petite dishes that contained a few sushi, some takoyaki, some grilled fish and a little bit of rice.
While we were about to finish our set, the staff was eager to remove our plates and bowls. I must say the service was really quick but rather we felt rushed to finish our food. Refilling of tea was a quick and prompt affair with frequent rounds made, we were very pleased with the service. Efficient and Friendly. 4 Set meals for 4 ladies cost us a total of $110. Which was pretty worth it as compared to the nice environment and free sashimi.
Good dining place for big groups as well.
Rating given:
The spanking new Suntec Fountain Makan zone has got an incredible addition. Right opposite the Food Republic Food Court is this new concept called the BreadTalk Cafe. As the name suggested... Its a menu full of yummilicious baked stuffs, delicately designed cakes and pastries, not forgetting the ever so famous coffee. Its something like the toast box yet more english cultured and serves cafe like selections for your all day dining.
Loved the entrance to the cafe, instead of waiting to be seated, you could just easily grab a spot near the large glass wall facing the fountain. The seatees were poshed, lavishly cushioned and dimly lit for a dose of warm sunlight otherwise a romantic rainy afternoon tea.
The Portobello Party was one of my favourite appetizer which is a grilled portobello on a bed of greens garnished with savoury streaky bacons. Pumpkin soup was creamy and yummy while the prawn cake on toast is something deliciously special that I've never tried it elsewhere. Serving size was great for sharing as there is quite a few interesting selection on the menu but we wanted to leave space for dessert.
We ordered a brownie overload which we thought could be more exciting, yet it wasn't. The brownie was not as moist as it should be and the ice-cream placed at the side didn't look delectable at all. I always thought ice cream with brownie should be heaped into a superb mess of yumminess.
The entire meal here was nothing short of interesting. Love the seats, the location by the walkway yet the scenic view of the fountain, the menu selections were great and service was just so so though. Food was pretty much yummy though i expected for something with more of a WOW factor which I didn't get in the end. Pricing is pretty okay as the portion was good for 2 lady diners. We might come back for occasional afternoon teas as I still didn't manage to try anything from the cake displays.
Rating given:
Love the concept of this restaurant. You may order a main course which is mostly a bento set and you get to enjoy a free flow of appetizers, on top of that you could opt from free flow of drinks or one beer with a top up.
The seats were plenty and the ambience a casual jap restaurant, nothing fanciful with just table and chairs of ample space and lots of diners. I never had a chance as I was always put off by the long queue, however on this faithful day, i was earlier then usual and manage to secure a good seat for all the other babes that were coming.
We were shown to a seat that we could look down the mall and it was roomy yet private, great for discussing secrets. Shortly after we settled in, the menu was presented messily on the table. The menu was not much, some 34 main courses mostly repetitive, somewhat similar stuffs with different meats. I ended up with a sukiyaki beef which could never go wrong and yes, it arrived yummy as usual yet i wish there were more beef to go along. The rice was yummy and i was surprised! Well made with the right softness and stickiness, I must say pretty good rice. The curry chicken which my pal ordered was also yummy, curry of the right texture and taste while a huge drumstick sticks out of her claypot bowl made her very happy.
The free flow appetizers placed on a small island near the entrance comprises of a good choice, though not many varieties and the stuffs we love would be:
1) Fried Sweet Potato coated with brown sugar - crispy and tasty, imagine french fries but sweet and crunchy
2) Chawarmushi - Smooth, soft and tasty steam egg mix
3) Double boiled radish in miso with baby shrimps - radish is sweet and crunchy
4) Green tea dessert with powdery tang yuan - very matcha with tasty chewy balls
The free flow drinks serves up a good variety of soft drinks like ginger ale, ice lemon tea, coke, grape as well as freshly brewed coffee, many varieties of tea and warm water.
The place is casual and priced extremely well. Main courses are priced between $13.99 - $24.99 and additional of drinks with $2.99.
We talked and ate the free flows all the way till closing and before the closing of the appetizer bar, we were asked if we needed the last helping. I must say pretty good service. Will come back...
Rating given:
High Tea are important part of the entire shopping trip. While you splurge on the Christmas presents and almost anything your eyes takes fancy, you have got to seat and rest, chalk up the gossip scales and have a moment of guilt for not being the item you've seen previously and liked.
Situated right next to the escalator, this outlet serves up a good chinese, western fusion affair. The menu has confusing lots of yummy stuffs and extremely hongkonger dishes like instant noodles with SPAM or tea with coffee (yuan yang). Best of all, no queue and lots of seats to choose from. We managed to secure a nice cushion seat 2 for our bums and 2 for our shopping bags. Ordering is fast and the food arrived as quickly. I must say.... just like when I'm in HK.
We ordered a noodle with SPAM, which is pretty healthy and lots of veg, a side dish of something that looked like spring roll, which is a tad too oily for me, a french toast whom I find really special yummy and again Sinful.
The french toast I must eleborate. It is a cube of bread soaked in egg and deep fried. Served beautifully with maple syrup and a thick slice of butter melting on top. Eating this is a little messy and it is definitely good to share. The inside of the bread is soft and the extra butter makes it rich and creamier.
For desserts, we ordered a yuan yang which is something that gave my tastebuds a surprising confusion. Its a mixture of tea and coffee and tasted something I wouldn't know how to describe. The mango and pomelo dessert is also a clash of sweet and extreme sour. Sweet from the mango ice cream and the bits of pomelo is extremely sourish. They have these transparent balls that burst in your mouth, coating it with a layer of sourish something.
The overall experience was pleasant, it is a noisy place so good for gossiping about anything. Service is fast and price is reasonable. Great place if you enjoy eating food HK style
Rating given:
I was convinced by the overated comments of my dining pals to try out Serenity at vivocity and for a while I consider some comments to be true to the core, some areas i suppose needed some improvements.
Though you see a small entrance, this corner unit actually provides more space then you can imagine. I deep narrow walkway littered with plentiful of well arranged tables and chairs with colourful tiles and decoration just like the gleefully coloured Spanish culture. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping into another world, while I was still getting over with the surprise factor of the sudden but good change in ambience, flamenco music filled the air and I was intrigued by the good three piece band and the upbeat oldies that brought back many good memories. We decided upon the alfresco seat as it was a cool evening with slight drizzling and made particularly romantic by the table candles dancing away with the cool breeze.
We were showed the menu which had many choices for mains, tapas, starters and drinks and while we ponder at the fanciful names and descriptions of the dishes, we decided to get ourselves some drinks, nachos and sautéed mushrooms. They have a good choice of cocktails, mocktails and wine by the bottle, yet for glasses aka housepours, there was only one type of white and one type of red, which is of a name that I simply couldn't catch, not because the music was loud yet... I just simply don't know what the hell the waiter was speaking.
I was shocked by the portion and the condiments of the nacho, it came plain with a small dish of nacho sauce and salsa. I expected a pretty sight of nachos topped with cheese, veg, salsa, more cheese and other yummy stuffs, but it was plain. Though the nacho sauce and salsa was pretty tasty, I was dismayed by the lack of colour and character to the food.
The Salteado de Setas which is a Sauteed mix mushrooms with garlic & extra virgin olive oil came sadly in a small bowl. The mushrooms were cut too finely and limp, portion felt much smaller than the picture description and I was embarrassed to have ordered that.
Though we were told the pork was good here, we didn't have much to stomach it, as such we ordered a Grilled Vegetarian Platter which consist of Eggplant, mushroom, zuchinni, capsicums, asparagus, pine nuts olive, onion, tomatoes grilled to perfection. The portion was okay for one and the veg nicely grilled. Presentation was good and veg sweet.
The overall ambience was good, music not ear blaring and we could chit chat without much difficulties. Love the alfresco dining and the choices on the menu but found it a little to pricey and portion small, on top of it, lack of presentation. So I guess its good for drinks but not good for meals. Great for romantic diners and big group gatherings.
Rating given:
Dropped by my favourite hangout yesterday evening and it totally felt like Christmas sitting on the comfy couches of coffee bean watching shoppers go by as though they were dancing to the ringing beat of " Jingle Bells Jingle Bells". The location of this outlet is very interesting. Love the indoor alfresco feel signature of many coffee places especially The Coffee Bean... The indoor alfresco is an outdoor sitting outside the shop premises by the corridor with just some fencing for a little privacy. You get to enjoy a private space at the same time watch the shoppers go by and does not look awkward in the middle of nowhere while you enjoy the air-conditioning and do not have to brave the fickle weather conditions of Singapore.
There are many seats here, warm and cosy is how I feel of the deco while the indoor sitting is just like you are by a fireplace. The choice of food for dining has improved through the years. Besides just cakes and cookies, they have included a great deal of all day breakfast like toast and sandwiches as well as hot food such as pasta, baked rice and other simple yet food the fills and warms your tummy.
We had dinner at this outlet and tried the mac and cheese. While I think about how cheesy and milky mundane this could be, the Mac & Cheese like a mud hole in the crevice of a plate. Hot and gooey, yet with a dash of pepper, i was astounded. The macaroni was cooked just right, not too soft and chewy and the mix of cheese, i guess loads of chedder with a mixture of other mild cheese was not too strong and easy to go with my creamy coffee concoction. We could also not finish a mac and cheese because half way through we usually grow sick of the cheese, while this time round, we finished this less licking the plate clean. It was good.
Next we had another cheesy dish which is the Penne mushroom. Its pasta in cream sauce with mushroom, capsicum and some veg, sprinkled with load of parmesan cheese for that extra punch. It was just alright, a little too creamy and plain.
We always loved the drinks and for this year's Christmas the Double Chocolate Peppermint Ice Blended was mine favourite. Chocolaty and minty not forgetting to add a good spray of light whipped cream for that extra calories.
The night ended well though i still spotted some unfriendly students studying during dinner hours as though blind to the sign that clearly states NO STUDYING DURING PEAK HOURS.. sometimes it just gets on people's nerves....
Rating given:
One of the biggest modernised shopping mall that is not only designed for sustainability, but also for lifestyle that inculcates nature, fun and relaxation.
Situated right next to JEM, this is another huge addition to the current already huge JEM Mall, however Westgate is something more upclass and interesting. Walking into it reminds me of THE STAR at buona vista, with the open concept non airconed corridors with huge glass enclosed glass retail shops and lots of greenery and lounging areas. But thats not all, at the ends of the long air con less corridors, you can walk through a large glass door and enjoy the cool breeze of man's greatest invention, the aircon. This mall is a mixture of many outdoor natural aired places and airconed walkways which also boost a huge wet and dry play ground at the higher levels.
I was glad to be able to see some really town exclusive labels opening their outlets here. Isetan is here, ROYCE, BORDERS and many other fanciful restaurants that used to reside only in town is now in the suburban JURONG. The walkways are huge, aircon strong and Interior Decorations beautiful and full of nature.
So if you are considering to explore this new mall, please do so before it is fully completed and the crowds will jam up the place just like JEM.
Rating given:
Dropped by HY California @ Marina Bay Sands for lunch one weekday afternoon. This visit was prompted in part due to my previous visit to Hide Yamamoto and my curiosity was piqued when I learnt of the existence of a cheaper alternative - HY California.
HY California offers indoor seating with a couple of counter seats and tables as well as al fresco dining along the pathway. Full length panels offer patrons who decide to sit indoors, a view of the pathway outside and plenty of natural light if you happen to dine during the day - a win win situation.
Chicken Bento Set - There are various bento sets available for lunch but the sirloin beef bento set that I was aiming for had only 1 portion left so I went gave it up to my colleague and went for the chicken option instead. The presentation was aesthetically pleasing with small plates of sushi, sashimi, chicken, salad and tempura neatly placed within compartments in a wooden tray. Taste wise, everything came across as average and wouldn't seem out of place at "lower end" eateries like Sakae Sushi or Ichiban Sushi.
Lunch for the 4 of us cost about $96, which isn't really expensive but the general consensus is that food quality hovers around the average mark at best. I can understand that HY California is a casual eatery but the service level, food quality and pricing somehow fails to convince me why I should choose it over the likes of Sushi Tei or Ichiban Sushi/Boshi.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given: