Buffets buffets. Who could resist the temptation of eating as much as you can for a fixed price? I for one, am always intrigued by what is offered at these places. Ellenborough cafe happens to be the one that our dear Moses Lim happened to patronize when we were there. He donned a chef's garb and was patrolling the premises while we dined, for reasons unexplained. The reason i was there was because FatPig invited me and my gf in to share his good fortune of being able to secure a 50% discount with the help of his friend.
As with all buffets, there'll be a few good pickings and a huge load of bad pickings before you realise which items are worth having and which aren't. The crabs were alright but its meat tend to stick to the shell which i detest. Seafood was generally fresh though not exactly tasty. The best items in these had to be the salmon and the otak which were moderately passable.
Sharks Fin Soup - Maybe its just me, but i fished the entire bowl and found at max about 5 strands of what i hope to be shark's fin. The broth was also a bit too salty and thin for my liking.
Durian Pengat - I've heard that you can't have a buffet here without tasting the durian pengat and i must say it has a certain amount of truth in that phrase. Smooth, creamy, sweet and rich are what you would use to describe the pengat served here. I had huge servings of food before having the pengat but still managed to get 2 bowls of it down. Still, there were comments that the standard had dropped for this item. On my note however, it stands as a very good dessert still.
Bill came up to $223.63 before discount. A staggering amount if you ask me. The quality and selection present does not warrant nor justify the price in the least. After discount however, it stands at $22 per head but i'm still not returning for another try though.
Decent selection due to additional items for anniversary event organized by the restaurant but food quality varies. There were some really bad items and some that were pretty good but for the price before discount, there should not be any bad items in the first place. Having heard many things about how good this buffet is from colleagues, it was a quite a disappointment for me unfortunately.
I went over to the restaurant at Holland Village with my colleagues during lunch hour to celebrate one of their birthdays. This outlet consists of 2 floors, with the ground floor having a bar. There's like 13 of us so we took the long table upstairs and it was freaking cold! Yah, it'll be good to bring a jacket along then. Haha
They do have a set lunch menu which provides a good variety of main course ranging from their famous grilled steak to salads. Soup and dessert are also included in the set. Compared to the ala carte menu, it's definitely value for money.
I have ordered grilled sirloin steak wih garlic mushroom sauce. Nice! Like the way they grilled the steak but wished that they would be more generous with the sauce. Another thing I like about their food is their Hog Tail fries. So crispy!
However, the pan-fried dory fish fillet wasn't so satisfying for one of my colleagues. Well, I guess since the place is famous for it's steak, one should really try that.
The meal was completed with a sinful indulge on the dessert - brownie with ice cream. Nice if you are someone with a sweet tooth. But the restaurant was very sweet to prepare a large brownie with ice cream and strawberries and even a lighted candle for our birthday girl.
Stumbled upon Bather's by accident one afternoon while I was exploring the serene neighbourhood of Sunset Way and decided to drop in for lunch.
Little is known about Bather's except that it has been around for quite a fair amount of time. Hidden in one oblivious corner of Sunset Way just along the outskirts of the restaurant cluster, Bather's setting is simple and laid back which easily puts one at ease while enjoying the serenity of the surroundings.
Vegetable Cream Soup & Mushroom Fruit Duxelle - The soup was reasonably decent and didn't taste like those straight out of the can kind. But it was too watery to be of any difference honestly. Not that the mushroom salad was any better, coming across as average.
Ham Carbonara - I didn't find the sauce of the Carbonara too coagulated which was good and the addition of coriander made it easier to stomach so much cream. However, the pasta was way too overcooked which was a pity really. Ham and bacon slices provided the additional bite and taste but did come across as rather forgettable.
Pepper Sauce Grass Fed Striploin Steak - Even though I had requested for my steak to be done medium rare, it came almost well done, which would still have been acceptable if not for the fact that there wasn't much beefy taste left. The meat was a little too fatty along the edges as well but still came across as chewy. Overall still decent though when eaten with the slightly buttery gravy.
Ice Cream with Apple Pie - I didn't have a choice with the dessert as it came with the set. Very average at best.
I wouldn't exactly call $39.50 for 2 pax reasonable especially for the quality of food but it isn't expensive either. The place is nice and service is good which might just tempt me enough to return.
Has anyone tried the the outlet at Parkway? It was first recommended by my friend who commented that it resembles those pie shops of the West.
After much prompting, I decided to give it a try. The design is modern classic though it was a little warm there. It was a quiet setting with chairs and tables lying around.
Having ordered a set meal of $8.80, comprising of a pie, a drink (coffee/tea) and a slice of cake. For my pie, I had vegetable pie. As for drinks I had a latte. It came in tall glass with the foam floating at the brim. It was heavenly to drink it with my cake, a slice of tiramisu.
The tiramisu was simply decadent, heavenly. It was very smooth and bittersweet. It literally melts in your mouth.
The staff were well mannered. No dress code so one can just pop in for a pie or drink in a pair of slacks.
They do takeaways too. It would be good to have a takeaway. I will definitely do so on my next visit there.
Last evening I went over to the restaurant with my colleague & German boss. The place is nicely done & we took an outdoor seat which was great! It gives you a nice view of the sea and part of Sentosa. Heez...
Ok, coming back to the food, I have ordered the butter Dory fillet with mushroom, and the other 2 main dishes ordered by my colleagues were the braised veal and smoked pork loin. I quite like the main course which I've ordered, nice & thick cut of dory fillet, except that the mushroom sauce was abit too salty. As for the braised veal, it tasted not-too-bad to my German boss. The smoked pork loin was more of a disappointment to my colleague as it turned out to be 4 slices of ham on top of a heap of mashed potato.
However, I think their German beers had compensated for the disappointment in the food for the night. I had both the Paulaner Weissbier & Paulaner Weissbier Dunkel, served chilled in tall, elegant glasses. Personally, I have preference for Paulaner Weissbier as it tastes lighter and less bitter.
On the overall, it's a nice place to have a couple of drinks with your friends!
I have been listening to Class 95 for many years. However if you were to ask me who the djs were or what programmes they had, that i cant tell as my memory has failed me.
However, I have admit the present morning express show (6-10am) can be quirky at times and gets the sardonic laugh out of you other times. the morning crew - FD and glenn definitely know they roles well. Once there was a topic on what type of cats should the two deejays be... that was an interesting segment. :) one listener relayed that FD should be coffee shop cat .
I would recommend one to listen to the morning express as it definitely brightens your day.
Another programme worth listening to me is the love songs (9-1am). What can I say, I like ballads and the love songs they play there are beautiful. It gets you into the mood... helps me to relax. it plays a mixture of late 80s, early 90s and modern love songs...
I was there a few weeks back to watch the preview of Stardust. it was a midnight movie. Though it was showing at 0145 hrs in the morn, it was practically a full house.
Was seated in the Row B. The seats were comfty! very plushy and the head rest were there to support our neck. it is always a good place to hang out, good ambience and environment.
the staff were good. There was a queue behind me as it was a newbie manning the cashbox. her colleague at the ticketing entrance rushed over to aide her. They were both very polite and helpful.
Totally great service and seats!!
the sound system and the effects there were absolutely fab too. I couldnt detect any static.
:) ;)
oh I forgot to add that i was in Hall 10, Level 9, watching Stardust!! (;
i have to agree with you iyeb. i was there with my colleagues and decided to give it a try!!!
as you said, the couple is really worth watching. was discussing with my colleagues about their absolutely fantastic memory. though there was quite a queue, the couple came down to my order pretty fast. but it was really worth the wait. it is really good!!
the chilli is really hot and great!the spiciness really burns your tongue bout it definitely adds the kick to the noodles. the liver pieces were really well done. but i have to say that am a great fan of liver, so what can i say. yet eating it with chilli is bound to bring the spiciness to your ears and out of them.
I had the pleasure of buying my camera from this place after some research. It was easy to get a quotation after sending an email on the model that I wanted.
The reply was within the same day and the price quoted was valid for at least 3 days. I went down the next day with the printed email and tested the camera.
I could take my time examining and taking photos with the camera, a big difference if I were to test it elsewhere. The service was polite and the person gave his opinion that if there is no need for a stronger flash, the built-in flash would do for most situations.
It's a good place to get some opinions and advice so that you won't be purchasing unnecessary accessories for your camera.
I just got back from a fruitful trip at Hong Kong! I was there a few years back, but I must say Hong Kong has changed a fair bit, and it is better now. I don't know if people still have the idea that HK is a dirty place with litter all over the floor or something, but if you do, I must say you have to change your perception. It wasn't too bad when I was there a few years back and it's even better now!
Like what tinkerbell said, their train system is very similar to what we have in Singapore. After coming back from HK, I realized that it does make a difference when instructions were given in 3 different languages, rather than just English (like in singapore). Also, it was very easy to figure out where you are by looking at the map on the train, which indicates where you are through little blinking lights.
On the whole, it's not just on the train where they give instructions. Even at the escalators in the train station, you will hear reminders to hold on to the handrail for your own safety, all given in Chinese, English and Cantonese. The lift of the hotel I stayed at would also tell you which floor you're at and all. I feel that much thought has been put in to create a user-friendly environment for everyone, even handicaps.
Nonetheless, I felt that the walking distance from the entrance to the MTR was pretty far for most places. I guess you can't help it when the place is big. And train stations were always packed, people had to really squeeze in the trains. It's worse than during the knock-off time in Singapore and it's harder to get seats.
Also, transportation is more expensive in HK. Could also be due to the location the train system covers. If you cross over to another island, it's like having to pay a toll fee, your ride could cost you more than S$2.20. Bus rides could be about S$1 too. But if you're going from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, you could try taking the ferry instead. It's cheaper and you get to avoid the crowd at the train station.
As for shopping, there are many huuuuuge malls in HK. However, many of these malls are like Paragon - yes, the up-market place. But if you were to go during the November period, where they're clearing the summer clothes to make space for winter stuff, you might get quite a good buy at these shops. Unlike Singapore, you seldom get deals like 30% off at shops like Morgan or even up to 70% at other shops. I must say after the discount, it's a really good buy. Even certain shops like Nike and Esprit are cheaper there, probably also due to the exchange rate, putting us at an advantage.
Nonetheless, we're often looking for cheaper stuff when we're shopping right. And so, I don't suggest that you go to the big malls around. As mentioned above, Li Yuen Streetat Central would be a good place to go. But some other possible places to go would also be Stanley Market, near Repulse Bay. It's a bit more expensive than Li Yuen, but for some places bargaining is still possible. However, these places are mostly good for shopping for women only. Some other places to explore could be the little shop units along the street of Tsim Sha Tsui (for the slightly cheaper things) and Causeway Bay (definitely more expensive).
I used to hear that shop owners in HK don't like people touching their things unless they're going to buy. But I don't think that they are like that now. They're much friendlier, especially the younger people. The service of the sales people there are better than in Singapore too. Especially in shops with their own fitting room, they would offer to take your clothes to the fitting room while you're still scouting for other clothes. Frees your hands for more! And most places I went didn't seem to have a limit to how many clothes you could try. It's a little different though, because the malls are seldom fully packed like it is in Singapore, maybe that could be why it's not a common gesture in Singapore.
New Territories is a good place to go for sight seeing. It's a little more laid back, but I like it there. It's more relaxing. They've got their famous wishing tree there, as tinkerbell has mentioned above, along with many other places to visit.
One more place worth going would be the famous Ocean Park! For dolphin lovers, don't miss their dolphin show. It's my first time watching an animal show overseas and I find the dolphin show much more entertaining than shows you get in Singapore. Of course there are other shows which I didn't catch, as well as aquariums and a pseudo reef with many sea creatures, plus their new addition of the Giant Panda. Do go as early as 1030am to beat the tourist crowd. After about 330pm when there's no more animal shows, the place would be pretty packed. Think it'll be good to start early and leave early.
As for food, I did hear that the goose was good, but I didn't get to try. However, I suggest that you have a go at their seafood as it's mostly fresh and it's relatively cheaper there too! Things are much bigger there too, like their fish and crab. I'd say it's pretty worth the money too, for the quality and quantity you get.
On the whole, HK is rather similar to Singapore in terms of fashion and transportation. However the people there are friendlier. To me, I think it's worth the experience traveling and being exposed to different cultures in different countries (: I definitely did enjoy myself on this trip!
1=SGD 0.0587
Buffets buffets. Who could resist the temptation of eating as much as you can for a fixed price? I for one, am always intrigued by what is offered at these places. Ellenborough cafe happens to be the one that our dear Moses Lim happened to patronize when we were there. He donned a chef's garb and was patrolling the premises while we dined, for reasons unexplained. The reason i was there was because FatPig invited me and my gf in to share his good fortune of being able to secure a 50% discount with the help of his friend.
As with all buffets, there'll be a few good pickings and a huge load of bad pickings before you realise which items are worth having and which aren't. The crabs were alright but its meat tend to stick to the shell which i detest. Seafood was generally fresh though not exactly tasty. The best items in these had to be the salmon and the otak which were moderately passable.
Sharks Fin Soup - Maybe its just me, but i fished the entire bowl and found at max about 5 strands of what i hope to be shark's fin. The broth was also a bit too salty and thin for my liking.
Durian Pengat - I've heard that you can't have a buffet here without tasting the durian pengat and i must say it has a certain amount of truth in that phrase. Smooth, creamy, sweet and rich are what you would use to describe the pengat served here. I had huge servings of food before having the pengat but still managed to get 2 bowls of it down. Still, there were comments that the standard had dropped for this item. On my note however, it stands as a very good dessert still.
Bill came up to $223.63 before discount. A staggering amount if you ask me. The quality and selection present does not warrant nor justify the price in the least. After discount however, it stands at $22 per head but i'm still not returning for another try though.
Decent selection due to additional items for anniversary event organized by the restaurant but food quality varies. There were some really bad items and some that were pretty good but for the price before discount, there should not be any bad items in the first place. Having heard many things about how good this buffet is from colleagues, it was a quite a disappointment for me unfortunately.
Rating given:
I went over to the restaurant at Holland Village with my colleagues during lunch hour to celebrate one of their birthdays. This outlet consists of 2 floors, with the ground floor having a bar. There's like 13 of us so we took the long table upstairs and it was freaking cold! Yah, it'll be good to bring a jacket along then. Haha
They do have a set lunch menu which provides a good variety of main course ranging from their famous grilled steak to salads. Soup and dessert are also included in the set. Compared to the ala carte menu, it's definitely value for money.
I have ordered grilled sirloin steak wih garlic mushroom sauce. Nice! Like the way they grilled the steak but wished that they would be more generous with the sauce. Another thing I like about their food is their Hog Tail fries. So crispy!
However, the pan-fried dory fish fillet wasn't so satisfying for one of my colleagues. Well, I guess since the place is famous for it's steak, one should really try that.
The meal was completed with a sinful indulge on the dessert - brownie with ice cream. Nice if you are someone with a sweet tooth. But the restaurant was very sweet to prepare a large brownie with ice cream and strawberries and even a lighted candle for our birthday girl.
Nice place for steak!
Rating given:
Stumbled upon Bather's by accident one afternoon while I was exploring the serene neighbourhood of Sunset Way and decided to drop in for lunch.
Little is known about Bather's except that it has been around for quite a fair amount of time. Hidden in one oblivious corner of Sunset Way just along the outskirts of the restaurant cluster, Bather's setting is simple and laid back which easily puts one at ease while enjoying the serenity of the surroundings.
Vegetable Cream Soup & Mushroom Fruit Duxelle - The soup was reasonably decent and didn't taste like those straight out of the can kind. But it was too watery to be of any difference honestly. Not that the mushroom salad was any better, coming across as average.
Ham Carbonara - I didn't find the sauce of the Carbonara too coagulated which was good and the addition of coriander made it easier to stomach so much cream. However, the pasta was way too overcooked which was a pity really. Ham and bacon slices provided the additional bite and taste but did come across as rather forgettable.
Pepper Sauce Grass Fed Striploin Steak - Even though I had requested for my steak to be done medium rare, it came almost well done, which would still have been acceptable if not for the fact that there wasn't much beefy taste left. The meat was a little too fatty along the edges as well but still came across as chewy. Overall still decent though when eaten with the slightly buttery gravy.
Ice Cream with Apple Pie - I didn't have a choice with the dessert as it came with the set. Very average at best.
I wouldn't exactly call $39.50 for 2 pax reasonable especially for the quality of food but it isn't expensive either. The place is nice and service is good which might just tempt me enough to return.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Has anyone tried the the outlet at Parkway?
It was first recommended by my friend who commented that it resembles those pie shops of the West.
After much prompting, I decided to give it a try. The design is modern classic though it was a little warm there. It was a quiet setting with chairs and tables lying around.
Having ordered a set meal of $8.80, comprising of a pie, a drink (coffee/tea) and a slice of cake.
For my pie, I had vegetable pie. As for drinks I had a latte. It came in tall glass with the foam floating at the brim. It was heavenly to drink it with my cake, a slice of tiramisu.
The tiramisu was simply decadent, heavenly. It was very smooth and bittersweet. It literally melts in your mouth.
The staff were well mannered. No dress code so one can just pop in for a pie or drink in a pair of slacks.
They do takeaways too. It would be good to have a takeaway. I will definitely do so on my next visit there.
Go try!! :P
Rating given:
Last evening I went over to the restaurant with my colleague & German boss. The place is nicely done & we took an outdoor seat which was great! It gives you a nice view of the sea and part of Sentosa. Heez...
Ok, coming back to the food, I have ordered the butter Dory fillet with mushroom, and the other 2 main dishes ordered by my colleagues were the braised veal and smoked pork loin. I quite like the main course which I've ordered, nice & thick cut of dory fillet, except that the mushroom sauce was abit too salty. As for the braised veal, it tasted not-too-bad to my German boss. The smoked pork loin was more of a disappointment to my colleague as it turned out to be 4 slices of ham on top of a heap of mashed potato.
However, I think their German beers had compensated for the disappointment in the food for the night. I had both the Paulaner Weissbier & Paulaner Weissbier Dunkel, served chilled in tall, elegant glasses. Personally, I have preference for Paulaner Weissbier as it tastes lighter and less bitter.
On the overall, it's a nice place to have a couple of drinks with your friends!
Rating given:
I have been listening to Class 95 for many years. However if you were to ask me who the djs were or what programmes they had, that i cant tell as my memory has failed me.
However, I have admit the present morning express show (6-10am) can be quirky at times and gets the sardonic laugh out of you other times. the morning crew - FD and glenn definitely know they roles well. Once there was a topic on what type of cats should the two deejays be... that was an interesting segment. :) one listener relayed that FD should be coffee shop cat .
I would recommend one to listen to the morning express as it definitely brightens your day.
Another programme worth listening to me is the love songs (9-1am). What can I say, I like ballads and the love songs they play there are beautiful. It gets you into the mood... helps me to relax. it plays a mixture of late 80s, early 90s and modern love songs...
Check it out!!:)
Rating given:
I was there a few weeks back to watch the preview of Stardust. it was a midnight movie.
Though it was showing at 0145 hrs in the morn, it was practically a full house.
Was seated in the Row B. The seats were comfty! very plushy and the head rest were there to support our neck. it is always a good place to hang out, good ambience and environment.
the staff were good. There was a queue behind me as it was a newbie manning the cashbox. her colleague at the ticketing entrance rushed over to aide her. They were both very polite and helpful.
Totally great service and seats!!
the sound system and the effects there were absolutely fab too. I couldnt detect any static.
:) ;)
oh I forgot to add that i was in Hall 10, Level 9, watching Stardust!! (;
Rating given:
i have to agree with you iyeb. i was there with my colleagues and decided to give it a try!!!
as you said, the couple is really worth watching. was discussing with my colleagues about their absolutely fantastic memory. though there was quite a queue, the couple came down to my order pretty fast. but it was really worth the wait. it is really good!!
the chilli is really hot and great!the spiciness really burns your tongue bout it definitely adds the kick to the noodles. the liver pieces were really well done. but i have to say that am a great fan of liver, so what can i say. yet eating it with chilli is bound to bring the spiciness to your ears and out of
them.
two thumbs up!!!:)
Rating given:
I had the pleasure of buying my camera from this place after some research. It was easy to get a quotation after sending an email on the model that I wanted.
The reply was within the same day and the price quoted was valid for at least 3 days. I went down the next day with the printed email and tested the camera.
I could take my time examining and taking photos with the camera, a big difference if I were to test it elsewhere. The service was polite and the person gave his opinion that if there is no need for a stronger flash, the built-in flash would do for most situations.
It's a good place to get some opinions and advice so that you won't be purchasing unnecessary accessories for your camera.
Rating given:
I just got back from a fruitful trip at Hong Kong! I was there a few years back, but I must say Hong Kong has changed a fair bit, and it is better now. I don't know if people still have the idea that HK is a dirty place with litter all over the floor or something, but if you do, I must say you have to change your perception. It wasn't too bad when I was there a few years back and it's even better now!
Like what tinkerbell said, their train system is very similar to what we have in Singapore. After coming back from HK, I realized that it does make a difference when instructions were given in 3 different languages, rather than just English (like in singapore). Also, it was very easy to figure out where you are by looking at the map on the train, which indicates where you are through little blinking lights.
On the whole, it's not just on the train where they give instructions. Even at the escalators in the train station, you will hear reminders to hold on to the handrail for your own safety, all given in Chinese, English and Cantonese. The lift of the hotel I stayed at would also tell you which floor you're at and all. I feel that much thought has been put in to create a user-friendly environment for everyone, even handicaps.
Nonetheless, I felt that the walking distance from the entrance to the MTR was pretty far for most places. I guess you can't help it when the place is big. And train stations were always packed, people had to really squeeze in the trains. It's worse than during the knock-off time in Singapore and it's harder to get seats.
Also, transportation is more expensive in HK. Could also be due to the location the train system covers. If you cross over to another island, it's like having to pay a toll fee, your ride could cost you more than S$2.20. Bus rides could be about S$1 too. But if you're going from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, you could try taking the ferry instead. It's cheaper and you get to avoid the crowd at the train station.
As for shopping, there are many huuuuuge malls in HK. However, many of these malls are like Paragon - yes, the up-market place. But if you were to go during the November period, where they're clearing the summer clothes to make space for winter stuff, you might get quite a good buy at these shops. Unlike Singapore, you seldom get deals like 30% off at shops like Morgan or even up to 70% at other shops. I must say after the discount, it's a really good buy. Even certain shops like Nike and Esprit are cheaper there, probably also due to the exchange rate, putting us at an advantage.
Nonetheless, we're often looking for cheaper stuff when we're shopping right. And so, I don't suggest that you go to the big malls around. As mentioned above, Li Yuen Street at Central would be a good place to go. But some other possible places to go would also be Stanley Market, near Repulse Bay. It's a bit more expensive than Li Yuen, but for some places bargaining is still possible. However, these places are mostly good for shopping for women only. Some other places to explore could be the little shop units along the street of Tsim Sha Tsui (for the slightly cheaper things) and Causeway Bay (definitely more expensive).
I used to hear that shop owners in HK don't like people touching their things unless they're going to buy. But I don't think that they are like that now. They're much friendlier, especially the younger people. The service of the sales people there are better than in Singapore too. Especially in shops with their own fitting room, they would offer to take your clothes to the fitting room while you're still scouting for other clothes. Frees your hands for more! And most places I went didn't seem to have a limit to how many clothes you could try. It's a little different though, because the malls are seldom fully packed like it is in Singapore, maybe that could be why it's not a common gesture in Singapore.
New Territories is a good place to go for sight seeing. It's a little more laid back, but I like it there. It's more relaxing. They've got their famous wishing tree there, as tinkerbell has mentioned above, along with many other places to visit.
One more place worth going would be the famous Ocean Park! For dolphin lovers, don't miss their dolphin show. It's my first time watching an animal show overseas and I find the dolphin show much more entertaining than shows you get in Singapore. Of course there are other shows which I didn't catch, as well as aquariums and a pseudo reef with many sea creatures, plus their new addition of the Giant Panda. Do go as early as 1030am to beat the tourist crowd. After about 330pm when there's no more animal shows, the place would be pretty packed. Think it'll be good to start early and leave early.
As for food, I did hear that the goose was good, but I didn't get to try. However, I suggest that you have a go at their seafood as it's mostly fresh and it's relatively cheaper there too! Things are much bigger there too, like their fish and crab. I'd say it's pretty worth the money too, for the quality and quantity you get.
On the whole, HK is rather similar to Singapore in terms of fashion and transportation. However the people there are friendlier. To me, I think it's worth the experience traveling and being exposed to different cultures in different countries (: I definitely did enjoy myself on this trip!
Rating given: