Took the Transtar coach a couple of months ago with my friends to Genting Highlands and Kuala Lumpur . It was the first time taking the agency's coach. In the past used to travel by the Gunang Raya,which was slightly cheaper. So this time round, decided to try out Transtar after being impressed by their fleet of coaches,whuch ranged from SuperVIP(26 seaters, 3 seats in a single row air-con coach), Premium (37 seaters, 3 seats in a single row Double Deck air-con coach) and First Class(Luxurious 16 seaters, 2 seats in a single row air-con coach). More info can be found from the website itself.
We chose to take the Premium class so that we wouldnt be so cramped and the prices were still quite affordable. We did contemplate about taking the First Class but decided that would be reserved for another time. And I must say that throughout the journey, I was kept occupied by the movie that was made available to you on an individual 7.2" LCD TV, so that you need not have to squint your eyes to catch the show unlike other coaches,which has only one small TV in front for all. In addition, there are a range of movies to choose from, similar to that when you are on an plane.
And for those who have been to Genting would know that the journey can take up to say 4 to 6 hours. And being cramped in your seat can be quite uncomfortable. But fret not, cos for the Premium and First Class seats, they are all equipped with massaging controls to soothe your soreness,be it on the back,legs or even neck. I found out this only when I got on to the bus and it was a pleasant surprise. So you will not be having that stiff neck ever again!!!
Then from our transfer from GH to KL, it was via a private bus. But at that time there were only the few of us, so I presume if the number was bigger,perhaps a coach would be catered instead. And from the KL hotel to the bus interchange at KL, they would also despatch a van to bring you there. Again, I guess that the mode of transport is dependent on the number of passengers.
And on our way back from KL, meals were served as well. But pls take note that the serving of meals onboard is only for the KL route. Thus, if you are travelling straight from GH back to Singapore, there will be no meal served.
Overall, I would say that the service was good and the coaches were well maintained and comfortable to sit in for extended hours, as there was in-house entertainment as well as massaging available. And maybe the next time, I may go for the First Class coach a try too.
Looking for a delicious chicken rice and haven tried it?
Go down to Novena and give it a try.It's near the busstop too.It's a shop on their own and there's air-con inside.
The prices of the chicken rice is $3-$4 for normal and dumbstick.
What i find particularly nice about the chicken rice is their soy sauce they pour onto the chicken.Even the chicken rice shop is delicious to drink.Their chicken meat is tender and juicy.
Beside having chicken rice you should try their baby kai lan with oyster juice.Very nice too!BUT you have to eat it while it's hot cos it's nicer that way.
There's seafood besides their famous chicken.They do serve crabs,pork rib,hot plate toufu.They are operating like a normal restaurant.
If you're wondering where to go after cruising around at night this might be a good place to go cos their business hours are from 10am-2am. They have takeaways,Delivery service and Buffet.
Beside listing how great their food is their main flaw is their poor service.The waitresses there can be quite attitude sometimes which can really piss people off.
However,despite this i still return because the food is good!So i recommend this place if you're wondering where to dine next time.
Wetnt here to repair my friend's notebook. it was my first visit there and to say that the place is quite easy to find.
The service was fast. I think most of the coutner girls they employ are overseas so they spoke with an accent. They dun have much people interaction skills and sounded pretty machnical to me when talking.
I waited for 15 mins and when it was my turn, 5 mins I am done.
So now still waiting for them to get back to me on the status of the laptop and hope that I can get it back soon.
My sister yesterday brought back 6 donuts from donut factory. The queue at both outlets alwasy puts me off so I dun even bother to queue for it. After all, I have tasted Krispy Kreme and thinks that nothing can beats that.
Since she did not buy my fav which is apple cinemmon, I ate a blue berry one instead. Well it turn out to be good compared to others that I have eaten in Singapore less Krispy kreme of course. I put it in the toaster for a few mins to warm it up. It turned out to be soft and fluffy the way I like it, the topping , like, others, found it too be a little too sweet.
My mum ate the one with almond flakes and she became a fan of it. Asking me to buy more of it the next time round.
Update (2 Nov 07):
I decided to queue for donuts for my very first time last thursday @ Suntec City. Guess what? There is no queue and I managed to get my donuts in 5 mins flat. Haa... I bought 2 dozens in record time I think. Haa.....
Well I still stand by Krispy Kreme still remians 1st in my heart while Donut Factory is a near second. Still I dun think queueing a few hours for the donuts is worth it!
I was there last friday to attend a wedding. The hotel was a classy, small and unique. It was hidden away in a corner yet near to town.
The wedding took place in their 4th level resturant, and it was a buffet. The service there was good. The service crew actually took a lot of effort to do up the whole place to make it look romantic.
The buffet was good with a wide variety of food and all tasting very good as well.
The room that they have was quite cosy and well decorated as well. As it was a suite, the living room and the bed room was seprated by a wall. The toilet is seperated by frosted glass sos you can see a shadow of the person in the toilet as well.
They got a special design swimming pool as well at the top of the building where it is protuding part and it feels like siwmming in the open air.
Overall It is a small cosy hotel that can spent the weekend. It is within walking distant fromt he main clubbing streets and places like zouk, clarke quay etc.
Snow City is the first permanent indoor snow centre in Singapore. Despite our sunny Singapore now has real snow for everybody!It is so cold inside that you can see smoke coming out of mouth when u talk.
Been there twice.The ticket cost $12 for an hour and $18 for two.Gloves are optional and they cost $2.10 per pair.Their's is the thicker type so it's worth it.Seriously an hour there is just nice to enjoy the slide and to freeze.Remember to put on long pant if you don't want your legs to freeze.
15mins before the start of your session you will have to queue up get your boots,gloves(if you rent them).The jackets are hung on the hanger so you just go and grab whatever that fits you.You have to be fast cos if not u'll be left with the small sizes.
After changing not to worry you can leave all your belongings in the locer and put $1coin in it.The thing is you can bring any form of photographic equipment in there as they prohibits photos to be taken once you're waitin in the chamber.
However,so many people still bring it in despite all the warnings.But not to worry they do take your photos for you when you are playing and the price of a photo is $10.
Once inside the chamber and it's about time to enter the snow palace there will be a safety briefing.Those who are suffering from backaches,heart attack,children below the age of 3 etc..will be discourage from going onto the slide which is about 3storeys high.
When my friend and i were inside we ran to the float section,grab it and start walking up the flights of stairs.It sure was tiring firstly,it was freezing cold,inside the temperature was -7degrees.Climbing up can be quite taxing but it was worth it!
At the top when we sat down on our respective floats we had our photos taken.The first time we went down we locked our arms and went down side by side.I could feel my adrenaline rushing to my head when i slide down.It was fast and i shouted and cheered on the way down.
Not to worry when you're at the top there will be assistants up there to assist you if you have kids or old people woth you.They will teach you the right way to go down to ensure safety.They are a fun bunch of people and very friendly too.
The subsequent times we went down we went in different formations like one front,one back.The best is to go down alone.It's more scary that way and you're alone!!
There were times where the ice when the ice went into my pants and you really can feel the freezing at the back to the legs and it's the feeling of dried ice on your skin.
It really is very fun though i had to go out once to warm myself cos i couldn't take the cold.You can reenter and exit as ,any times u want so you should not worry if you feel cold easily.
So if you have the time why don't you drop by the snow city and get your ticket for the admission and have a Chilly good time!!The science centre and the moni-max threatre are there too so if you have time to kill it just a few mins walk away.
Have fun!!
Long time had not eaten at NYDC so yesterday popped in to have a meal.
Since I was in before 5pm, decided to go for their set lunch.
Main course Coffee / Tea / Soft Drinks Soup of the day.
It is only additional $5 on top of the main course's price. If you decided to have cake of the date, you jz need to pay additional $7.5 on top of the main course's price. Main course can be their salads, baked rice or pasta, or pizzas.
So I order my fav Farmboy Salad! Be warned that the serving is big enough for a main course and plus it is healthy too. Haa... Tons of lettuce, almond flaks, cucumber, chicken shreds, and big pcs if toasted garlic bread. The combination together with Thousand Island (3 dressings to choose from) was heavenly! It is a must try!
Their soup of the day was cream of mushroom. It was think and creamy with big slices of button mushroom in the soup. Good.
Got myself an ice lemon tea. They brewed the tea then served with syrup. So you can do your own mix and match.
Of course one BIG thing @ NYDC is to have their mudpie! I have tasted all of their mudpies and have to say that my fav is the cookie monster. Like the chucky cookies inside the ice cream with a think oreao crust base. Jz loved it. It is one of my happy food, food that will make me happy when I am feeling sad.
The service there was on the spot and fast. Food was served fast and the waitress are pro when taking orders as well.
Caught one of the Chinese variety shows, HDB Tai Tai, recommending Bermuda Triangle, a bistro selling western food in the heartlands. First time I went there, it was full and I didn't really fancy waiting an hour just to have my dinner. I got lucky the second time though and there were a few tables left when I arrived with my gf at about 630pm.
Tucked away in a sleepy neighbourhood of Ang Mo Kio just below a block of HDBs, Bermuda Triangle is barely visible even from the main road, which is rather ironical as the flats are just next to the road. I guess that says alot about its visibility. Inside its rather small and crampish interior, mini flags of different countries adorn the place and theres a pool table to boot. Overall a very nice and cosy environment, the kind where you would go for a nice after dinner drink and just relax. Now whats missing is a fireplace if you ask me.
Cream of Mushroom Soup - I like the cream of mushroom soup solely for the fact that it was served in a bread bowl and nothing else. The soup was tasteless and a little on the runny side. It was quite bad actually and we had to resort to adding salt in to make it more palatable. To give it credit, it tasted like it was homemade and not straight of out of the can kind. The bread, though warm and slightly crisp, was just your regular round baguette which you can buy off the shelves at any bakery.
Jimi Hendrix Chicken Steak - I honestly do not see the association between Jimi Hendrix the singer and a piece of teriyaki chicken. Nevertheless, aesthetics wise, it was a mess with the chicken overly dark and not the least bit appetising. Soft and moist, the chicken was rather rather charred and devoid of the teriyaki taste, which is surprisingly really, given that its supposed to be teriyaki chicken. To top it off, the accompanying fries were limp and soggy. Jimi Hendrix was a success. The chicken was a failure.
Toad in the Hole - Traditional Oven Baked Yorkshire Sausage Pudding Served with Onion Gravy - A most interesting name and one of the dishes recommended by the variety show. I had seen beautiful images on television and I had expected something similar or at least something not too far from the original image. Imagine my shock when I saw this dish. The sausages were badly charred at the ends and the whole dish looked like a kid's cooking class gone wrong. The pudding itself tasted rather bland save for an eggy taste. I haven't eaten too many Yorkshire puddings in my life to comment on what a good pudding should be like but if its going to turn out like this, I'm swearing off Yorkshire pudding for good. Okay I exaggerate. Its not as bad as it seems. Still palatable but not something I'll wanna eat again if given a choice. I did like the onion gravy though, which tasted very similar to mashed potato gravy.
What did I say about never trusting commercial reviews? Now I got myself burnt once again. Sure, $28 for 2 pax isn't expensive, but its $28 too much. The place is cosy and service is excellent, but I'll think twice before eating there again.
I am allergic to raw fish, so I always hesitated to eat Fish & Chips which is my Dear’s Favourite. I afraid that the batter is too thick until the fish is not well done. So…. Fish & Co will not be on my dinning list, but I decided to eat there on last Friday because I was starving (as usual)..
I ordered the safer item - Wild Mushroom Carbonara Spaghetti. It was good. The sauce was thick and creamy.
The Soup of the day, Clam Chowder, is So-so only. Not flavourful enough. But there were a lot of ingredients. I felt like I was eating a Salad more than drinking a soup. ;p
My Dear ordered the Philadelphia Fish & Chips. I dun like the Fish. My Dear finds it ok only. :p
My nightmare is the Squid with Paprika. The servings was too big for my own consumption. My Dear dun eat Ika. :( So I got to “enjoy” it all by myself. After a few pieces, I fell like puking. The squid was too soft, and the taste was a bit salty. Coming to think of it now, I still feel like puking. I think I will not touch Ika for quite some time.
The items that we ordered were exclusive at the Paragon Branch. You can’t find them listed on their webby.
They gave us a mint after the meal. Maybe to prevent us from puking after they saw the leftover of the squid. :p Haaaaaa…..
Besides the food, I find that their service is good. They are prompt even though dinner crowd heavy.
Had an impromptu dinner last night with a few of my makan khakis at Morton's Steakhouse. The choice was initially IL-Lido, but they didn't have tables until 9pm so we settled for Mortons. (Actually Mortons didn't have a table till 9 as well, but it was in town, so that made it easier for everyone)We were punctual for our reservation and was promptly shown to our table. Even at 9pm, the place was still packed to the brim and rather noisy due to the incessant chatter from the customers. Ironically, the noise made the entire atmosphere pretty exciting and relaxing at the same time. Conversation wasn't difficult as the decibel level was within a reasonable range. That being our first visit to Mortons, we were given a thorough introduction to the variety of mains, sides and desserts as well as the cuts of meat available by a very friendly waitress who tended to us that evening. After some recommendations, we ordered the Double Cut Fillet Mignon, Porterhouse Steak, sides of Hashbrown Potato, Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Steamed Fresh Broccoli, with the Morton's Famous Hot Chocolate Cake and the Upside Down Apple Pie as desserts.
Breads are always a bad way to start off your meals as they fill you up really fast, but I couldn't help stuffing myself with the complementary Onion Bread that was served. Served with smooth butter, it was really quite good. However, we ate it after it had turned cold as we were busy taking photos, so my guess would be that it would taste much better if it had been taken fresh from the oven.
The star of the mains was undoubtedly the Double Cut Fillet Mignon. Perfectly done medium rare and emanating unadulterated sweetness with every bite, chewing on it was sheer ecstasy. The outside of the steak was slightly charred, giving it a nice and subtle grilled taste. Everyone liked it, no questions about it. It was a little small though. We estimated it to be about 16-18 oz only. By the way, just for general information, the fillet mignon is one of the best cuts, if not THE best cut and its also the leanest.
The Porterhouse was one side Rib Eye and the other Fillet Mignon. I had some grouses with this one. The steak was a little underdone. Medium rare turned out almost rare, which was a little too much for me to bear as there was this metallic taste. The Fillet Mignon side of the steak was also a little underdone, but tasted really good, as with the Double Cut Fillet Mignon that we had ordered. This Porterhouse was a giant, weighing in at 24 oz. (There's the double Porterhouse as well, at 48 oz)Nice big steak. Pity about the cooking though.
The sides were a gargantuan affair. Each side was simply huge. I mean they are supposed to be sides, yet they look like mains! Nevertheless, we polished every bit of them. The Hashbrown Potato tasted and looked just like Rossi which is(was) sold at Marche. I had expected it to look like those hashbrowns in MacDonalds, so surprise surprise. Top the hashbrown with sour cream and freshly grilled bacon bits and you are ready to go. A little charred and crispy on the inside, soft on the inside. The Steamed Broccoli looked nothing out of the ordinary, yet it was nicely steamed with a tinge of buttery slickness. The Sautéed Wild Mushrooms were pan fried I believe and was quite tasty. However, I did find it a little too soft for my liking.
What's a meal without desserts? The desserts didn't disappoint one bit. The Upside Down Apple Pie was made from top grade apples and tasted a little sourish. Complementing and balancing the sourish taste was a scoop of smooth homemade ice cream.(Vanilla I presume)
Morton's signature Hot Chocolate Cake was simply my favourite. Hot Godiva chocolate encapsulated within layers of soft and dense sponge cake with a slightly hardened exterior. Slicing the cake allows the hot and thick chocolate to slowly ooze out. Extremely sweet and sinful. No wonder many ladies are said to have taken a liking to it.
All in all, an extremely hearty meal. Good food and good companionship - one of the simple pleasures of life. Grand total was about $315 for 3 pax. Definitely expensive, but well worth the money paid. Service was excellent with our waitress being friendly and chatty. Ambience wise, it isn't really a romantic restaurant, but it does have private rooms which look nice and exclusive. I highly recommend checking this place out. On a side note, Oriental Hotel has a very pretty interior. Seeing is believing :)
1=SGD 0.0587
Took the Transtar coach a couple of months ago with my friends to Genting Highlands and Kuala Lumpur . It was the first time taking the agency's coach. In the past used to travel by the Gunang Raya,which was slightly cheaper. So this time round, decided to try out Transtar after being impressed by their fleet of coaches,whuch ranged from SuperVIP(26 seaters, 3 seats in a single row air-con coach), Premium (37 seaters, 3 seats in a single row Double Deck air-con coach) and First Class(Luxurious 16 seaters, 2 seats in a single row air-con coach). More info can be found from the website itself.
We chose to take the Premium class so that we wouldnt be so cramped and the prices were still quite affordable. We did contemplate about taking the First Class but decided that would be reserved for another time. And I must say that throughout the journey, I was kept occupied by the movie that was made available to you on an individual 7.2" LCD TV, so that you need not have to squint your eyes to catch the show unlike other coaches,which has only one small TV in front for all. In addition, there are a range of movies to choose from, similar to that when you are on an plane.
And for those who have been to Genting would know that the journey can take up to say 4 to 6 hours. And being cramped in your seat can be quite uncomfortable. But fret not, cos for the Premium and First Class seats, they are all equipped with massaging controls to soothe your soreness,be it on the back,legs or even neck. I found out this only when I got on to the bus and it was a pleasant surprise. So you will not be having that stiff neck ever again!!!
Then from our transfer from GH to KL, it was via a private bus. But at that time there were only the few of us, so I presume if the number was bigger,perhaps a coach would be catered instead. And from the KL hotel to the bus interchange at KL, they would also despatch a van to bring you there. Again, I guess that the mode of transport is dependent on the number of passengers.
And on our way back from KL, meals were served as well. But pls take note that the serving of meals onboard is only for the KL route. Thus, if you are travelling straight from GH back to Singapore, there will be no meal served.
Overall, I would say that the service was good and the coaches were well maintained and comfortable to sit in for extended hours, as there was in-house entertainment as well as massaging available. And maybe the next time, I may go for the First Class coach a try too.
Rating given:
Looking for a delicious chicken rice and haven tried it?
Go down to Novena and give it a try.It's near the busstop too.It's a shop on their own and there's air-con inside.
The prices of the chicken rice is $3-$4 for normal and dumbstick.
What i find particularly nice about the chicken rice is their soy sauce they pour onto the chicken.Even the chicken rice shop is delicious to drink.Their chicken meat is tender and juicy.
Beside having chicken rice you should try their baby kai lan with oyster juice.Very nice too!BUT you have to eat it while it's hot cos it's nicer that way.
There's seafood besides their famous chicken.They do serve crabs,pork rib,hot plate toufu.They are operating like a normal restaurant.
If you're wondering where to go after cruising around at night this might be a good place to go cos their business hours are from 10am-2am. They have takeaways,Delivery service and Buffet.
Beside listing how great their food is their main flaw is their poor service.The waitresses there can be quite attitude sometimes which can really piss people off.
However,despite this i still return because the food is good!So i recommend this place if you're wondering where to dine next time.
Rating given:
Wetnt here to repair my friend's notebook. it was my first visit there and to say that the place is quite easy to find.
The service was fast. I think most of the coutner girls they employ are overseas so they spoke with an accent. They dun have much people interaction skills and sounded pretty machnical to me when talking.
I waited for 15 mins and when it was my turn, 5 mins I am done.
So now still waiting for them to get back to me on the status of the laptop and hope that I can get it back soon.
Rating given:
My sister yesterday brought back 6 donuts from donut factory. The queue at both outlets alwasy puts me off so I dun even bother to queue for it. After all, I have tasted Krispy Kreme and thinks that nothing can beats that.
Since she did not buy my fav which is apple cinemmon, I ate a blue berry one instead. Well it turn out to be good compared to others that I have eaten in Singapore less Krispy kreme of course. I put it in the toaster for a few mins to warm it up. It turned out to be soft and fluffy the way I like it, the topping , like, others, found it too be a little too sweet.
My mum ate the one with almond flakes and she became a fan of it. Asking me to buy more of it the next time round.
Update (2 Nov 07):
I decided to queue for donuts for my very first time last thursday @ Suntec City. Guess what? There is no queue and I managed to get my donuts in 5 mins flat. Haa... I bought 2 dozens in record time I think. Haa.....
Well I still stand by Krispy Kreme still remians 1st in my heart while Donut Factory is a near second. Still I dun think queueing a few hours for the donuts is worth it!
Rating given:
I was there last friday to attend a wedding. The hotel was a classy, small and unique. It was hidden away in a corner yet near to town.
The wedding took place in their 4th level resturant, and it was a buffet. The service there was good. The service crew actually took a lot of effort to do up the whole place to make it look romantic.
The buffet was good with a wide variety of food and all tasting very good as well.
The room that they have was quite cosy and well decorated as well. As it was a suite, the living room and the bed room was seprated by a wall. The toilet is seperated by frosted glass sos you can see a shadow of the person in the toilet as well.
They got a special design swimming pool as well at the top of the building where it is protuding part and it feels like siwmming in the open air.
Overall It is a small cosy hotel that can spent the weekend. It is within walking distant fromt he main clubbing streets and places like zouk, clarke quay etc.
Rating given:
Snow City is the first permanent indoor snow centre in Singapore. Despite our sunny Singapore now has real snow for everybody!It is so cold inside that you can see smoke coming out of mouth when u talk.
Been there twice.The ticket cost $12 for an hour and $18 for two.Gloves are optional and they cost $2.10 per pair.Their's is the thicker type so it's worth it.Seriously an hour there is just nice to enjoy the slide and to freeze.Remember to put on long pant if you don't want your legs to freeze.
15mins before the start of your session you will have to queue up get your boots,gloves(if you rent them).The jackets are hung on the hanger so you just go and grab whatever that fits you.You have to be fast cos if not u'll be left with the small sizes.
After changing not to worry you can leave all your belongings in the locer and put $1coin in it.The thing is you can bring any form of photographic equipment in there as they prohibits photos to be taken once you're waitin in the chamber.
However,so many people still bring it in despite all the warnings.But not to worry they do take your photos for you when you are playing and the price of a photo is $10.
Once inside the chamber and it's about time to enter the snow palace there will be a safety briefing.Those who are suffering from backaches,heart attack,children below the age of 3 etc..will be discourage from going onto the slide which is about 3storeys high.
When my friend and i were inside we ran to the float section,grab it and start walking up the flights of stairs.It sure was tiring firstly,it was freezing cold,inside the temperature was -7degrees.Climbing up can be quite taxing but it was worth it!
At the top when we sat down on our respective floats we had our photos taken.The first time we went down we locked our arms and went down side by side.I could feel my adrenaline rushing to my head when i slide down.It was fast and i shouted and cheered on the way down.
Not to worry when you're at the top there will be assistants up there to assist you if you have kids or old people woth you.They will teach you the right way to go down to ensure safety.They are a fun bunch of people and very friendly too.
The subsequent times we went down we went in different formations like one front,one back.The best is to go down alone.It's more scary that way and you're alone!!
There were times where the ice when the ice went into my pants and you really can feel the freezing at the back to the legs and it's the feeling of dried ice on your skin.
It really is very fun though i had to go out once to warm myself cos i couldn't take the cold.You can reenter and exit as ,any times u want so you should not worry if you feel cold easily.
So if you have the time why don't you drop by the snow city and get your ticket for the admission and have a Chilly good time!!The science centre and the moni-max threatre are there too so if you have time to kill it just a few mins walk away.
Have fun!!
Rating given:
Long time had not eaten at NYDC so yesterday popped in to have a meal.
Since I was in before 5pm, decided to go for their set lunch.
Main course Coffee / Tea / Soft Drinks Soup of the day.
It is only additional $5 on top of the main course's price. If you decided to have cake of the date, you jz need to pay additional $7.5 on top of the main course's price. Main course can be their salads, baked rice or pasta, or pizzas.
So I order my fav Farmboy Salad! Be warned that the serving is big enough for a main course and plus it is healthy too. Haa... Tons of lettuce, almond flaks, cucumber, chicken shreds, and big pcs if toasted garlic bread. The combination together with Thousand Island (3 dressings to choose from) was heavenly! It is a must try!
Their soup of the day was cream of mushroom. It was think and creamy with big slices of button mushroom in the soup. Good.
Got myself an ice lemon tea. They brewed the tea then served with syrup. So you can do your own mix and match.
Of course one BIG thing @ NYDC is to have their mudpie! I have tasted all of their mudpies and have to say that my fav is the cookie monster. Like the chucky cookies inside the ice cream with a think oreao crust base. Jz loved it. It is one of my happy food, food that will make me happy when I am feeling sad.
The service there was on the spot and fast. Food was served fast and the waitress are pro when taking orders as well.
Always enjoyed my meal there!
Rating given:
Caught one of the Chinese variety shows, HDB Tai Tai, recommending Bermuda Triangle, a bistro selling western food in the heartlands. First time I went there, it was full and I didn't really fancy waiting an hour just to have my dinner. I got lucky the second time though and there were a few tables left when I arrived with my gf at about 630pm.
Tucked away in a sleepy neighbourhood of Ang Mo Kio just below a block of HDBs, Bermuda Triangle is barely visible even from the main road, which is rather ironical as the flats are just next to the road. I guess that says alot about its visibility. Inside its rather small and crampish interior, mini flags of different countries adorn the place and theres a pool table to boot. Overall a very nice and cosy environment, the kind where you would go for a nice after dinner drink and just relax. Now whats missing is a fireplace if you ask me.
Cream of Mushroom Soup - I like the cream of mushroom soup solely for the fact that it was served in a bread bowl and nothing else. The soup was tasteless and a little on the runny side. It was quite bad actually and we had to resort to adding salt in to make it more palatable. To give it credit, it tasted like it was homemade and not straight of out of the can kind. The bread, though warm and slightly crisp, was just your regular round baguette which you can buy off the shelves at any bakery.
Jimi Hendrix Chicken Steak - I honestly do not see the association between Jimi Hendrix the singer and a piece of teriyaki chicken. Nevertheless, aesthetics wise, it was a mess with the chicken overly dark and not the least bit appetising. Soft and moist, the chicken was rather rather charred and devoid of the teriyaki taste, which is surprisingly really, given that its supposed to be teriyaki chicken. To top it off, the accompanying fries were limp and soggy. Jimi Hendrix was a success. The chicken was a failure.
Toad in the Hole - Traditional Oven Baked Yorkshire Sausage Pudding Served with Onion Gravy - A most interesting name and one of the dishes recommended by the variety show. I had seen beautiful images on television and I had expected something similar or at least something not too far from the original image. Imagine my shock when I saw this dish. The sausages were badly charred at the ends and the whole dish looked like a kid's cooking class gone wrong. The pudding itself tasted rather bland save for an eggy taste. I haven't eaten too many Yorkshire puddings in my life to comment on what a good pudding should be like but if its going to turn out like this, I'm swearing off Yorkshire pudding for good. Okay I exaggerate. Its not as bad as it seems. Still palatable but not something I'll wanna eat again if given a choice. I did like the onion gravy though, which tasted very similar to mashed potato gravy.
What did I say about never trusting commercial reviews? Now I got myself burnt once again. Sure, $28 for 2 pax isn't expensive, but its $28 too much. The place is cosy and service is excellent, but I'll think twice before eating there again.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
I am allergic to raw fish, so I always hesitated to eat Fish & Chips which is my Dear’s Favourite. I afraid that the batter is too thick until the fish is not well done. So…. Fish & Co will not be on my dinning list, but I decided to eat there on last Friday because I was starving (as usual)..
I ordered the safer item - Wild Mushroom Carbonara Spaghetti. It was good. The sauce was thick and creamy.
The Soup of the day, Clam Chowder, is So-so only. Not flavourful enough. But there were a lot of ingredients. I felt like I was eating a Salad more than drinking a soup. ;p
My Dear ordered the Philadelphia Fish & Chips. I dun like the Fish. My Dear finds it ok only. :p
My nightmare is the Squid with Paprika. The servings was too big for my own consumption. My Dear dun eat Ika. :( So I got to “enjoy” it all by myself. After a few pieces, I fell like puking. The squid was too soft, and the taste was a bit salty. Coming to think of it now, I still feel like puking. I think I will not touch Ika for quite some time.
The items that we ordered were exclusive at the Paragon Branch. You can’t find them listed on their webby.
They gave us a mint after the meal. Maybe to prevent us from puking after they saw the leftover of the squid. :p Haaaaaa…..
Besides the food, I find that their service is good. They are prompt even though dinner crowd heavy.
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Had an impromptu dinner last night with a few of my makan khakis at Morton's Steakhouse. The choice was initially IL-Lido, but they didn't have tables until 9pm so we settled for Mortons. (Actually Mortons didn't have a table till 9 as well, but it was in town, so that made it easier for everyone)We were punctual for our reservation and was promptly shown to our table. Even at 9pm, the place was still packed to the brim and rather noisy due to the incessant chatter from the customers. Ironically, the noise made the entire atmosphere pretty exciting and relaxing at the same time. Conversation wasn't difficult as the decibel level was within a reasonable range. That being our first visit to Mortons, we were given a thorough introduction to the variety of mains, sides and desserts as well as the cuts of meat available by a very friendly waitress who tended to us that evening. After some recommendations, we ordered the Double Cut Fillet Mignon, Porterhouse Steak, sides of Hashbrown Potato, Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Steamed Fresh Broccoli, with the Morton's Famous Hot Chocolate Cake and the Upside Down Apple Pie as desserts.
Breads are always a bad way to start off your meals as they fill you up really fast, but I couldn't help stuffing myself with the complementary Onion Bread that was served. Served with smooth butter, it was really quite good. However, we ate it after it had turned cold as we were busy taking photos, so my guess would be that it would taste much better if it had been taken fresh from the oven.
The star of the mains was undoubtedly the Double Cut Fillet Mignon. Perfectly done medium rare and emanating unadulterated sweetness with every bite, chewing on it was sheer ecstasy. The outside of the steak was slightly charred, giving it a nice and subtle grilled taste. Everyone liked it, no questions about it. It was a little small though. We estimated it to be about 16-18 oz only. By the way, just for general information, the fillet mignon is one of the best cuts, if not THE best cut and its also the leanest.
The Porterhouse was one side Rib Eye and the other Fillet Mignon. I had some grouses with this one. The steak was a little underdone. Medium rare turned out almost rare, which was a little too much for me to bear as there was this metallic taste. The Fillet Mignon side of the steak was also a little underdone, but tasted really good, as with the Double Cut Fillet Mignon that we had ordered. This Porterhouse was a giant, weighing in at 24 oz. (There's the double Porterhouse as well, at 48 oz)Nice big steak. Pity about the cooking though.
The sides were a gargantuan affair. Each side was simply huge. I mean they are supposed to be sides, yet they look like mains! Nevertheless, we polished every bit of them. The Hashbrown Potato tasted and looked just like Rossi which is(was) sold at Marche. I had expected it to look like those hashbrowns in MacDonalds, so surprise surprise. Top the hashbrown with sour cream and freshly grilled bacon bits and you are ready to go. A little charred and crispy on the inside, soft on the inside. The Steamed Broccoli looked nothing out of the ordinary, yet it was nicely steamed with a tinge of buttery slickness. The Sautéed Wild Mushrooms were pan fried I believe and was quite tasty. However, I did find it a little too soft for my liking.
What's a meal without desserts? The desserts didn't disappoint one bit. The Upside Down Apple Pie was made from top grade apples and tasted a little sourish. Complementing and balancing the sourish taste was a scoop of smooth homemade ice cream.(Vanilla I presume)
Morton's signature Hot Chocolate Cake was simply my favourite. Hot Godiva chocolate encapsulated within layers of soft and dense sponge cake with a slightly hardened exterior. Slicing the cake allows the hot and thick chocolate to slowly ooze out. Extremely sweet and sinful. No wonder many ladies are said to have taken a liking to it.
All in all, an extremely hearty meal. Good food and good companionship - one of the simple pleasures of life. Grand total was about $315 for 3 pax. Definitely expensive, but well worth the money paid. Service was excellent with our waitress being friendly and chatty. Ambience wise, it isn't really a romantic restaurant, but it does have private rooms which look nice and exclusive. I highly recommend checking this place out. On a side note, Oriental Hotel has a very pretty interior. Seeing is believing :)
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