A private hair salon at Bugis Village. Personalised service as there is at most 2 customers at a time. Yuki goes by word of mouth and appointment only. She not only does your hair well, she also gives reviews of hair products when you ask her for opinion. She based her work more on your likes and dislikes and from there, helps you with what look best on you. Does free lance make up and hairdo. Great quality too~ She did hair and make up for my wedding dinner and I've received only compliments for it. Gives privildge cards to regular customers
Pro:
Website looks clean and neat. Easy to navigate.
Has got the latest sprees update on the main page. clear photos and description. Fast respond to emails queries.
Offers membership discounts as well as presentation of a nicely printed membership card and member code on first purchase. Very accomodating web owner
Excellent site with handpicked, handcarried bags, cufflinks, mirrors and other accessories.
Although a tad to the expensive side, the items are unique and not seen on other blog stores.
Excellent customer service as the owner/co owner would answer questions promptly, bring you your item (purchased) as well as 3 other items that you are interested in for your review. No obligations at all.
Discounts when you help them advertise.
Cons:
Lack of descriptions on the website and detailed pictures. Too many graphics that makes the site looks cluttered.
Had a craving for authentic Thai cuisine one day and decided to take full advantage of the 30% discount offered by UOB to try out this restuarant with my gf and Gwenn. Featured in Singapore Tatler's top restaurants 2007 as well, i had pretty high expectations when i stepped in.
The interior was simple with wooden chairs reminiscent of Chinese coffee shops and cushioned seats along the walls. Worth noting were various Thai statues adorning the corners and multi colors 'fans' along the ceiling. Also to note was that there wasn't many people around when we arrived so there was no need to fight for any seats, the restaurant was packed by the time we left though.
Complimentary/ Compulsory Crackers ($2) - As we were awaiting the arrival of our friend, we promptly ordered everything we wanted for the day. The first item was this complimentary basket of vegetable crackers (or was it prawn crackers?) with Thai sweet and sour chilli sauce dip. The crackers were warm and very crispy, making it go really well with the dip.
Clear Tom Yam Soup ($12) - Any visit to a Thai restaurant would not be complete without an order of Tom Yam soup. I opted for the 'clear' version since spicy items make me pant with effort eating them. $12 serves up a small claypot filled with soup and assorted ingredients. The soup is spicy, sour and sweet with a full bodied seafood base. Appetising and satisfying.
Pineapple rice ($15) - A medium portioned pineapple rice is actually a very big serving. Generously sprinkled with dried and cooked shrimp, it is served in a pot in all its yellowish wonder. The rice nicely cooked but seems to lack the pineapple fragrance that is supposed to be a mainstay for this dish. Also, please note that only the regular sized portion has the item served in an actual pineapple skin.
Lemongrass Chicken ($14) - Lemongrass spring chicken actually tastes more like normal spring chicken to me. I couldn't make out the lemon grass taste but instead found the meat tough and having a strange tofu-like taste. The skin was crispy and nice though. Strange because i thought an item bearing the restaurant's namesake would be at least worthy but that is unfortunately not the case.
Hot Plate Beancurd ($12) - This was good. The sauce was sweet, tangy and a little sour but otherwise thick with minced meat and assorted vegetables. The beancurd was of the egg variety and had a very soft melt-in-your-mouth texture and a soft but firm outer skin. There was also egg beneath all that goodness and to top it all off, the item is hot from start to finish.
Green Curry Beef ($12) - Green colored curry with beef. The curry was not spicy in the least and had an overwhelming coconut milk taste. That said, the curry was thick and came with quite a generous serving of beef which had us picking it out long after we've finished the main mean items. Personally, i wouldn't order it again though.
Mango with Glutinous Rice ($8) - Having satisfied our hungers, we wanted something light for dessert and Gwen suggested we have a Thai dessert which is a must-have for any Thai cuisine fan. When it was served, i was pretty sure there was no room left for something as heavy as this but i was wrong. The mango was served warm with a strangely cold glutinous rice. The result of the combination is actually a very nice appetizing dessert that eventually was finished by a very stuffed trio of customers.
The bill worked out of be $64.85 for 3 people after a 30% discount. Not too much to ask for the food quantity and service.
A generally good experience with good tasting food and unforgettable tastes of Tom Yam and an interesting dessert. Could have been cheaper though. Without the 30% discount, this would have been a little too expensive.
Excellent store~ excellent ice cream~ Yum~! Yes we at the west is so lucky cos there's a store right at jurong point~! I simply loved the chocolate flavour, Mango and soursop flavour~
Yes~ soursop! with fruit bits inside.
Too bad this flavour is not available 24/7. Its seasonal since they are using real fruits as part of their ingredients.
There is also watermelon flavour, green tea and mango~!
I loved to buy their package of 2 flavours where I will choose either chocolate and soursop or chocolate and mango. The combination is simply heaven. It taste even better when you mix the 2 flavours.
Nice environment, need to go early else there will be a long queue at the door. Comfortable seats though abit cramped.
Good customer service.
Nice food although the quality of the food is changing periodically, I guess a change in chef ba.
Loved the "shui jiao mian" (dumpling noodles) although the noodles doesn't taste much but the dumplings are nice.
Especially introduce the french toast with peanut butter and margarine. Definitely my favourite in that cafe~
Changing Appetites. I remember a time long ago when their tag line was: "Japanese and Western fusion for the masses." but its been some time since that particular portion of history and now, the new tag line is: "The all American and Dessert Cafe" which is still mildly inaccurate due to the infusion of Mexican influenced items since early 2007.
Relaxed, huge and cold would most probably pop into your minds when you see this place. Located along a stretch of food joints such as Carl's Junior, Cafe Cartel and Swenson's, it wouldn't be exaggerating to say that competition is stiff. It still managed to grab my attention over the more generic outlets available due to its bright colors and reasonable prices. And because it was one of the first places i brought my gf for a meal when we started out. Nostalgia abound.
Strawberry Frozen Magaritas ($10.90) - Big, that was the first thought when i saw this drink. I know places that charge higher prices but serve miserly portions of the drink. Strawberry bits were readily apparent from the outset but i'm not sure if concentrate was used instead of actual strawberries. However, i do know that it is not sweet enough so i'm guessing they used real strawberries in blending this concoction. The white outer layer is salt and believe me, you'll need it because the alcohol is pretty strong and generous as well. A good item if it was just a wee bit sweeter.
Boneless Shanghai Chicken ($8.90) - An appetizer i ordered out of curiousity which i was soon to rejoice because its very well done. Deep fried crispy chicken tossed with pineapple-citrus sauce and topped with sesame seeds. Its basically a cross between 3 different culinary disciplines since even wasabi mayo sauce is used for its dip. The result is a tender, crispy, sweet, sour, spicy and yet light tasting chicken which tastes better when everything is mixed together. Do try this.
Chicken And Mushroom ($16.90) - This dish came looking less glamorous then its menu picture showed which kinda turned my gf off a bit. Her request for more cheese also fell on deaf ears with our extremely forgetful waiter who seems unable to remember anything longer then 4 words. Taste wise, the chicken was rather bland and the cheese was not as strong as it could have been. However, wrap it in the flour tortillas, add a little sour cream and fill it up with onions, bell pepper, chicken and sauteed mushrooms and take another bite for a refreshed feeling of this item. Although not good enough to elevate it to a status where i would say it is delicious, it is at least better then when the items were taken individually. Not that i would order it again on my own though.
The Barbarian Burger ($20.90) - This is the main reason i keep returning to Changing Appetites. Despite being raised by $1 since my last few visits, this is still value for money regardless of how you slice it. 2 200gms of well marinated and totally compressed beef patties which even my gf said tasted good when she's not a beef lover, 1 dory fish fillet which is actually really small but tasty nonetheless and 1 spicy grilled chicken patty nestled within 2 slices of brown cereal bread, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. And finally, served with a huge serving of piping hot fries. I have personally tried to finish this item 4 times, with and without other items beforehand, and sad to say, i've never been able to finish it. The beef patty is where it is all at, marinated minced beef meat without further additions make it compact, tender, juicy and absolutely bursting with taste. Still one of the better patties i've had, at a rather hefty price i must admit but i say its still worth it. Do challenge yourself with it and let me know if you actually finish everything on your plate.
Cookie Monster Mudpie ($7.90) - Dessert was a cookie monster mudpie. Cookies and cream ice cream decked in hot chocolate fudge and sprinkled with oreo cookie crumbs. Sweet, sinful, slightly bitter and very tasty. The mudpie is as i remember it to be, smooth in texture, hard but easily cut away and melt-in-your-mouth tasty. Though i have to say, the best tasting mudpie i had was the complimentary watermelon mudpie i had during my previous visit. A shame it wasn't on the menu though.
To my surprise, a meal for 2 came up to $77. Which is quite a hefty sum for a total of 5 items. Although of course, whatever we had could have easily fed 3 young adults but i do miss the support of UOB promotions in this joint. *hint hint*
Not many places serve burgers as big as this place packing the same amount of taste. For a fusion restaurant, there are bound to be a few hits and misses in their items and honestly, i've seen my friend strike out in their fish and chips, my gf in their chicken and mushroom and her previous order of something associated with chicken as well. So i'd say their not all good but have certain good calls that are bound to please. Do give it a chance.
Had the black pepper chicken set lunch. Portion big and tasty however its sweet and lack of black pepper flavour. For people who prefer stronger taste would not like the dish. However, the set is value for money. It consist of Chawanmushi, tofu, miso, rice with corn/pumpkin croquettes and hot plate black pepper chicken @ $16.90
had the pastries instead of the main dishes ... rather cramp inside the restaurant though
However the pastries are great. We ordered the famous Tiramisu, Cassata Siciliana and this Dark Chocolate pastry which I've forgotten the name
Great blend of ingredients and wine. Usually eating too much pastry and sweet stuffs will cause people to gag. However, eating more of the pastries at Ricciotti will not have that effect.
A great place for small/short gatherings or dating to impress as the place has got rather expensive selections.
There is a current promotion of 50% discount after 9pm on all pastries.
Departmental store lying in the heart of town! I know there are actually quite a few departmental stores in town, but the one that i visited the most is definitely this store - Metro @ Paragon.
My reason for choosing departmental store over individual concept boutique / shop is definitely the vareities. Take for example, during this year christmas shopping, i am going to purchse the following item:
1) Soft care bear toy for my niece
2) Brick game for my nephew
3) New shirts for dad
4) Evening grown for mama
5) Nice wallet for myself
I am definitely not very willing to travel all the way to north to get the toys, to the west to get the clothes and to the south to get my wallet. Thus, departmental store plays a rather important part in my life i can say.
The first storey of Metro @ Paragon is the beauty hall.
It sells some of the most popular brand of cosemectics and perfume in town. I have accompanied my friend to buy some perfume from one of the beauty counters there before. I can say i am rather impressed on how the staff actually introduce different types of perfume patiently to my friend.
The second storey of Metro @ Paragon is the ladies level where it sells a varieties types of clothes and accessories for ladies. I find that they are very thoughtful not only to the ladies (main consumer to their shop) but also to the guys that accompany the ladies for shopping. Do you know why i say so? This is because they even arranged to have one section as the mens department. So guys would definitely not feel left out.
I was looking at some wallets on this mens level when the friendly staffs approached me. Well, i guess its pretty good customer service shown to make the first move and ask if the customer needs any help.
However, since i would like to take a look first, i decline her help. The staff promptly left me on my own to view the products. Well, i guess this suits my pretty well than to have a staff to keep pressurizing on me.
When i asked to take a look at the serval models of the wallet, the staff gladly took all the designs out for me to compare and feel the texture. In the end, i choose most suitable one and gladly part my money.
Guess whenever one goes out for shopping, he /she is not only looking for a usefulness of a product, they are also looking for a smile on the staff. If the staff is to show you a similing face where ever you go, i believe it would be the best experience for you even if you have bought nothing at all. :)
1=SGD 0.0587
Pros:
A private hair salon at Bugis Village. Personalised service as there is at most 2 customers at a time. Yuki goes by word of mouth and appointment only. She not only does your hair well, she also gives reviews of hair products when you ask her for opinion. She based her work more on your likes and dislikes and from there, helps you with what look best on you. Does free lance make up and hairdo. Great quality too~ She did hair and make up for my wedding dinner and I've received only compliments for it. Gives privildge cards to regular customers
Cons:
Place difficult to find. Only cash payments
Moved to Tanjong Pagar In Nov 08
Rating given:
Pro:
Website looks clean and neat. Easy to navigate.
Has got the latest sprees update on the main page. clear photos and description. Fast respond to emails queries.
Offers membership discounts as well as presentation of a nicely printed membership card and member code on first purchase. Very accomodating web owner
Con:
Photos not big enough.
Rating given:
Pros:
Excellent site with handpicked, handcarried bags, cufflinks, mirrors and other accessories.
Although a tad to the expensive side, the items are unique and not seen on other blog stores.
Excellent customer service as the owner/co owner would answer questions promptly, bring you your item (purchased) as well as 3 other items that you are interested in for your review. No obligations at all.
Discounts when you help them advertise.
Cons:
Lack of descriptions on the website and detailed pictures. Too many graphics that makes the site looks cluttered.
Rating given:
Had a craving for authentic Thai cuisine one day and decided to take full advantage of the 30% discount offered by UOB to try out this restuarant with my gf and Gwenn. Featured in Singapore Tatler's top restaurants 2007 as well, i had pretty high expectations when i stepped in.
The interior was simple with wooden chairs reminiscent of Chinese coffee shops and cushioned seats along the walls. Worth noting were various Thai statues adorning the corners and multi colors 'fans' along the ceiling. Also to note was that there wasn't many people around when we arrived so there was no need to fight for any seats, the restaurant was packed by the time we left though.
Complimentary/ Compulsory Crackers ($2) - As we were awaiting the arrival of our friend, we promptly ordered everything we wanted for the day. The first item was this complimentary basket of vegetable crackers (or was it prawn crackers?) with Thai sweet and sour chilli sauce dip. The crackers were warm and very crispy, making it go really well with the dip.
Clear Tom Yam Soup ($12) - Any visit to a Thai restaurant would not be complete without an order of Tom Yam soup. I opted for the 'clear' version since spicy items make me pant with effort eating them. $12 serves up a small claypot filled with soup and assorted ingredients. The soup is spicy, sour and sweet with a full bodied seafood base. Appetising and satisfying.
Pineapple rice ($15) - A medium portioned pineapple rice is actually a very big serving. Generously sprinkled with dried and cooked shrimp, it is served in a pot in all its yellowish wonder. The rice nicely cooked but seems to lack the pineapple fragrance that is supposed to be a mainstay for this dish. Also, please note that only the regular sized portion has the item served in an actual pineapple skin.
Lemongrass Chicken ($14) - Lemongrass spring chicken actually tastes more like normal spring chicken to me. I couldn't make out the lemon grass taste but instead found the meat tough and having a strange tofu-like taste. The skin was crispy and nice though. Strange because i thought an item bearing the restaurant's namesake would be at least worthy but that is unfortunately not the case.
Hot Plate Beancurd ($12) - This was good. The sauce was sweet, tangy and a little sour but otherwise thick with minced meat and assorted vegetables. The beancurd was of the egg variety and had a very soft melt-in-your-mouth texture and a soft but firm outer skin. There was also egg beneath all that goodness and to top it all off, the item is hot from start to finish.
Green Curry Beef ($12) - Green colored curry with beef. The curry was not spicy in the least and had an overwhelming coconut milk taste. That said, the curry was thick and came with quite a generous serving of beef which had us picking it out long after we've finished the main mean items. Personally, i wouldn't order it again though.
Mango with Glutinous Rice ($8) - Having satisfied our hungers, we wanted something light for dessert and Gwen suggested we have a Thai dessert which is a must-have for any Thai cuisine fan. When it was served, i was pretty sure there was no room left for something as heavy as this but i was wrong. The mango was served warm with a strangely cold glutinous rice. The result of the combination is actually a very nice appetizing dessert that eventually was finished by a very stuffed trio of customers.
The bill worked out of be $64.85 for 3 people after a 30% discount. Not too much to ask for the food quantity and service.
A generally good experience with good tasting food and unforgettable tastes of Tom Yam and an interesting dessert. Could have been cheaper though. Without the 30% discount, this would have been a little too expensive.
Rating given:
Excellent store~ excellent ice cream~ Yum~! Yes we at the west is so lucky cos there's a store right at jurong point~! I simply loved the chocolate flavour, Mango and soursop flavour~
Yes~ soursop! with fruit bits inside.
Too bad this flavour is not available 24/7. Its seasonal since they are using real fruits as part of their ingredients.
There is also watermelon flavour, green tea and mango~!
I loved to buy their package of 2 flavours where I will choose either chocolate and soursop or chocolate and mango. The combination is simply heaven. It taste even better when you mix the 2 flavours.
Rating given:
Nice environment, need to go early else there will be a long queue at the door. Comfortable seats though abit cramped.
Good customer service.
Nice food although the quality of the food is changing periodically, I guess a change in chef ba.
Loved the "shui jiao mian" (dumpling noodles) although the noodles doesn't taste much but the dumplings are nice.
Especially introduce the french toast with peanut butter and margarine. Definitely my favourite in that cafe~
Rating given:
Changing Appetites. I remember a time long ago when their tag line was: "Japanese and Western fusion for the masses." but its been some time since that particular portion of history and now, the new tag line is: "The all American and Dessert Cafe" which is still mildly inaccurate due to the infusion of Mexican influenced items since early 2007.
Relaxed, huge and cold would most probably pop into your minds when you see this place. Located along a stretch of food joints such as Carl's Junior, Cafe Cartel and Swenson's, it wouldn't be exaggerating to say that competition is stiff. It still managed to grab my attention over the more generic outlets available due to its bright colors and reasonable prices. And because it was one of the first places i brought my gf for a meal when we started out. Nostalgia abound.
Strawberry Frozen Magaritas ($10.90) - Big, that was the first thought when i saw this drink. I know places that charge higher prices but serve miserly portions of the drink. Strawberry bits were readily apparent from the outset but i'm not sure if concentrate was used instead of actual strawberries. However, i do know that it is not sweet enough so i'm guessing they used real strawberries in blending this concoction. The white outer layer is salt and believe me, you'll need it because the alcohol is pretty strong and generous as well. A good item if it was just a wee bit sweeter.
Boneless Shanghai Chicken ($8.90) - An appetizer i ordered out of curiousity which i was soon to rejoice because its very well done. Deep fried crispy chicken tossed with pineapple-citrus sauce and topped with sesame seeds. Its basically a cross between 3 different culinary disciplines since even wasabi mayo sauce is used for its dip. The result is a tender, crispy, sweet, sour, spicy and yet light tasting chicken which tastes better when everything is mixed together. Do try this.
Chicken And Mushroom ($16.90) - This dish came looking less glamorous then its menu picture showed which kinda turned my gf off a bit. Her request for more cheese also fell on deaf ears with our extremely forgetful waiter who seems unable to remember anything longer then 4 words. Taste wise, the chicken was rather bland and the cheese was not as strong as it could have been. However, wrap it in the flour tortillas, add a little sour cream and fill it up with onions, bell pepper, chicken and sauteed mushrooms and take another bite for a refreshed feeling of this item. Although not good enough to elevate it to a status where i would say it is delicious, it is at least better then when the items were taken individually. Not that i would order it again on my own though.
The Barbarian Burger ($20.90) - This is the main reason i keep returning to Changing Appetites. Despite being raised by $1 since my last few visits, this is still value for money regardless of how you slice it. 2 200gms of well marinated and totally compressed beef patties which even my gf said tasted good when she's not a beef lover, 1 dory fish fillet which is actually really small but tasty nonetheless and 1 spicy grilled chicken patty nestled within 2 slices of brown cereal bread, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. And finally, served with a huge serving of piping hot fries. I have personally tried to finish this item 4 times, with and without other items beforehand, and sad to say, i've never been able to finish it. The beef patty is where it is all at, marinated minced beef meat without further additions make it compact, tender, juicy and absolutely bursting with taste. Still one of the better patties i've had, at a rather hefty price i must admit but i say its still worth it. Do challenge yourself with it and let me know if you actually finish everything on your plate.
Cookie Monster Mudpie ($7.90) - Dessert was a cookie monster mudpie. Cookies and cream ice cream decked in hot chocolate fudge and sprinkled with oreo cookie crumbs. Sweet, sinful, slightly bitter and very tasty. The mudpie is as i remember it to be, smooth in texture, hard but easily cut away and melt-in-your-mouth tasty. Though i have to say, the best tasting mudpie i had was the complimentary watermelon mudpie i had during my previous visit. A shame it wasn't on the menu though.
To my surprise, a meal for 2 came up to $77. Which is quite a hefty sum for a total of 5 items. Although of course, whatever we had could have easily fed 3 young adults but i do miss the support of UOB promotions in this joint. *hint hint*
Not many places serve burgers as big as this place packing the same amount of taste. For a fusion restaurant, there are bound to be a few hits and misses in their items and honestly, i've seen my friend strike out in their fish and chips, my gf in their chicken and mushroom and her previous order of something associated with chicken as well. So i'd say their not all good but have certain good calls that are bound to please. Do give it a chance.
Rating given:
Excellent service. Excellent food.
Had the black pepper chicken set lunch. Portion big and tasty however its sweet and lack of black pepper flavour. For people who prefer stronger taste would not like the dish. However, the set is value for money. It consist of Chawanmushi, tofu, miso, rice with corn/pumpkin croquettes and hot plate black pepper chicken @ $16.90
Very nice dessert esp fruit sorbet.
Rating given:
had the pastries instead of the main dishes ... rather cramp inside the restaurant though
However the pastries are great. We ordered the famous Tiramisu, Cassata Siciliana and this Dark Chocolate pastry which I've forgotten the name
Great blend of ingredients and wine. Usually eating too much pastry and sweet stuffs will cause people to gag. However, eating more of the pastries at Ricciotti will not have that effect.
A great place for small/short gatherings or dating to impress as the place has got rather expensive selections.
There is a current promotion of 50% discount after 9pm on all pastries.
Rating given:
Departmental store lying in the heart of town! I know there are actually quite a few departmental stores in town, but the one that i visited the most is definitely this store - Metro @ Paragon.
My reason for choosing departmental store over individual concept boutique / shop is definitely the vareities. Take for example, during this year christmas shopping, i am going to purchse the following item:
1) Soft care bear toy for my niece
2) Brick game for my nephew
3) New shirts for dad
4) Evening grown for mama
5) Nice wallet for myself
I am definitely not very willing to travel all the way to north to get the toys, to the west to get the clothes and to the south to get my wallet. Thus, departmental store plays a rather important part in my life i can say.
The first storey of Metro @ Paragon is the beauty hall.
It sells some of the most popular brand of cosemectics and perfume in town. I have accompanied my friend to buy some perfume from one of the beauty counters there before. I can say i am rather impressed on how the staff actually introduce different types of perfume patiently to my friend.
The second storey of Metro @ Paragon is the ladies level where it sells a varieties types of clothes and accessories for ladies. I find that they are very thoughtful not only to the ladies (main consumer to their shop) but also to the guys that accompany the ladies for shopping. Do you know why i say so? This is because they even arranged to have one section as the mens department. So guys would definitely not feel left out.
I was looking at some wallets on this mens level when the friendly staffs approached me. Well, i guess its pretty good customer service shown to make the first move and ask if the customer needs any help.
However, since i would like to take a look first, i decline her help. The staff promptly left me on my own to view the products. Well, i guess this suits my pretty well than to have a staff to keep pressurizing on me.
When i asked to take a look at the serval models of the wallet, the staff gladly took all the designs out for me to compare and feel the texture. In the end, i choose most suitable one and gladly part my money.
Guess whenever one goes out for shopping, he /she is not only looking for a usefulness of a product, they are also looking for a smile on the staff. If the staff is to show you a similing face where ever you go, i believe it would be the best experience for you even if you have bought nothing at all. :)
Rating given: