My mom works near this place thus, I get to eat their stuff pretty often.
I remembered when she first brought back some of their golf ball pineapple tarts. I was amazed because I have never seen such huge pineapple tarts before. Took one bite and I felt like I was in heaven. The crust melts in your mouth and the pineapple filling was just perfect. They were very generous with the fillings as well.
Recently, my mom bought back their beancurd tarts which I thought was really good (I love tau huey!!!). I am the sort which likes more filling whereas my brother prefers more crust. So I was really happy when I saw that their crust was rather thin. However, the crust was really soft even though it didn't break while I handled it. I guess it's because the tarts had to be refrigerated, thus the texture. It was still good nonetheless. Not too sweet and no eggs used.
As feizhu mentioned above, it would be best to order their popular items as they get sold out pretty quickly.
This place had been hidden from my view since I first stepped foot on Serangoon Circle, until I saw the reviews here. The shop front looks rather run down and the signboard outside was too old for anyone to take notice of its existence. The windows were covered with white lace curtains, and if you don't take notice of the signboard, most probably you'll miss them too.
When I first stepped into the restaurant, I was amazed at how they managed to continue in such a retro unit. It looks as if you're dining in a run-down 70s restaurant. Even the staff there are retro.
Not knowing what to order, we ordered the set lunches. There were 2 types of pricing, one at $7 and the other above $12. We each ordered one from each of the menu. He got himself the grilled fish and chips set lunch that comes with dessert and drink. I ordered the pepper steak set that comes with soup of the day, ice cream and drink. (The drink served was in kiddo size. Luck they serve ice water too.)
When the soup was served, I knew we made a wrong choice for lunch. The soup was too diluted and it tasted more like water than thick soup.
My steak was served first. The serving was acceptable but the taste just didn't quite meet my expectation. The two other steakhouses around Serangoon Circle. Next came the fish and chips. Oh boy, was my boyfriend disappointed. One word to describe it - tasteless.
The only thing that somehow surprised us was the dessert that came with the cheaper set lunch. It's their own version of muah chee with coconut. Usually muah chee is eaten with chopped peanuts and sugar. So it's quite interesting to taste it with coconut instead.
I'm probably not going to return. There's just too many choices available around the area.
High quality mouth watering authentic Japanese Cuisine.
I've to agree with HisFoodBlog that EN Japanese Dining Bar is one of the best I'd been to by far. Serving the freshest sashimi and to-drool-for authentic cuisine.
This was the first time I tried the Beef Carpaccio. At first sight, I didn't dare touch it. But since its ordered, I just went ahead and dared myself. After the first slice of beef, I wanted more! It was thinly sliced and blended well with the seasoning on the beef. Although a tad too saltish, but still great one to devour on.
As the dishes ordered were more or less those recommended above by HisFoodBlog, I shall just share one more, which is another surprisingly yummilicious one.
The Unagi Fried Rice is most probably the only thing I will order if I should be going back there again. (Cos the price tag there is just not friendly enough for my thin wallet.) The fried rice is very fragrant and the rice grain is the real good stuff. Unlike the usual fried rice, I had at other Jap place, this is solid and slightly chewy too. The Unagi although cut to rather tiny pieces, I could still feel it when I chew on the mouthful of rice and unagi.
Great place to go for good quality Jap food.
(*Please take note that EN Jap dining bar is located along M.Sultan road, before reaching the left turn at Obar. Thanks to the incomplete directions given, when I was there, I couldn't find it within UE Square building. :S)
Beauty, body and hair care at its cheapest! This is the place to go for cheap cheap toiletries, beauty products, hair and body products and even perfumes.
Located in the heart of Ang Mo Kio, you might missed this gem as its hidden among the rows of shops along the main shopping lanes. The only thing that might help make it stand out is the pink sign board and lots of bottled shampoos neatly arranged outside of the shop.
The shop carries most of the brands, such as Loreal, Biore, SK2, and many others. But their prices are the most competitive. Giving the bigger pharmacies and shops a chase for their money.
For instance, the Loreal Facial gel and toner I bought. Usual price for the gel is $6 and the toner is around 10 . At Pink Beauty, the gel cost $4.50 and the toner cost only $6.20! I also bought 2 tubes of Biore Facial Scrub. U.P. $6 at NTUC and Watsons. But at Pink Beauty, its only $2.10! REAL Cheap right?
So now you know where to go for your beauty products ya? ;)
Have you tried the new Japanese selection at Pastamania? If you're looking for value for money and yummilicious pasta (and pizzas), head on down to Pastamania!
There's currently 6 Japanese style pasta available. But I heard, soon they'll be releasing new choices and also the pizzas! (Psss... the Unagi pizzas is very good! MUST TRY!)
I managed to try 2 of their current offerings... the Unagi Pasta and the Tako Pasta.
Unagi Pasta ($10.90) - pasta choice Fettucini This is cooked with Unagi (Eel), onions and lightly spiced up with chilli padi, top with seaweed flakes. If you're a fan of unagi and spicy pasta, this one is a die-die-must-try pasta! The Unagi pasta is flavorful and spiced up to the right level. After one mouthful of it, you'll just want to have more.
Tako Pasta ($10.90) - pasta choice Penne Octopus and garlic tossed in olive oil, drizzled with tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayo topped with bonito flakes. This one is for the Tako lovers! (Like me!) First look at the serving, it reminded me of those tako balls you can get almost everywhere, but instead this is served with pasta. They are very generous with the amount of tako used. The fragrance is enough to tempt any hungry soul when you mixed the entire bowl of pasta, tako, sauces and bonito flakes.
Between the two, although I'm a tako lover, I would order the Unagi Pasta again the next time I go. Cause its spicy and more flavorful. Anyone wants to join me for Pastamania when they launch the new menu with the Japanese pizzas? :P
Craving for Japanese food? Why not give Shokudo a try? But be prepared to be stuck with too many choices!
After reading the above reviews, I decided to give this place a try. The chance came and I went on this mini adventure of mine at Shokudo...
Thanks for the reviews here, I already know what to expect at the entrance. And I quickly got into my adventurous mode the moment I stepped in. *haha!*
The first impression I got was Wow! So big! It's about the size of the old Marche at Heeren. But cos this place is done up in a Japanese kind of style with minimum decorations around the place, it seems slightly more spacious than the old Marche. As it was a weekday, there wasn't much crowd when I went. With many tables available, I skipped the "Reserve table" part and went on to find food.
After going around the place, I kinda got lost of my orientation. (Perhaps I was too hungry then.) Good thing I didn't place my "Reservation token" at any of the tables, cos I would most probably forget which section it was. The place is divided into various themes so customers can decided where is more suitable for the mood they're in. (This is not quite possible if you go on a crowded period thou.)
As I was alone, and having limited cash with me, I opted for something friendly for my wallet and tummy. I bought a "Hakodate" Seafood Cheese Pizza ($8.80) and a glass of japanese orange peel drink ($price forgotten). The pizza is made fresh upon ordering, so I settled down with my drink to enjoy the peacefulness during that time. There was soft music playing in background and I was totally relaxed and enjoying my time alone after a long day of meetings.
The pizza was different from the one we usually see. This was served in a rectangular wooden pan and the pizza crust was thin and crispy. There were plentiful of toppings and one bite into the pizza will make you want to have more. The pizza might not look big nor sufficient for the hungry people, but if you're having it alone, its fills just right the right amount in one's tummy. Due to its thin crust, you'll not feel "sick" of the pizza.
The pizza with the refreshing orange peel drink - a perfect match!
Before J.Co arrives in this little small dot, I'd read bloggers from across the causeway sharing how good it is and how much they love it. So when I head they've set up their very first outlet at Raffles city, I was delighted! Off I went to try the infamous J.Co donuts.
When I was there, the queue wasn't as long as I'd expected. Instead the competition nearby, Donut Factory, was having a longer queue than J.Co.
I joined in the queue and started observing the staff behind the counter. They've in place an ordering system where each staff is incharge of some flavors within the hand-reach. And each customer is given a number for their order. The first staff will ask the quantity you want to buy and get the boxes ready. She's in charge of the first few flavors and will issue you a number when she passes you to the next staff who'll serve you for the rest of the flavors available. When you're done with your selection, you'll then proceed to the cashier where they'll tally your order and collect payment.
This seem like a systematic and effective way for them. But its not so friendly to some of the customers. Especially if they're there for the first time and not sure of what flavors they want. I would recommend to decide on the flavors and quantity for each before you reach the first staff. This will surely speed up the ordering process.
Hmm... looks like I've spent more time typing and explaining the process rather than talking about the donuts! Well, because, after tasting almost all the brands of donuts available in Singapore and also those from Krispy Kreme, I find the J.Co is just another brand of donuts. Nothing much to wow about. Other than some of the interesting looking ones with special names for some, there's just nothing much I would comment on. But because this is the only outlet here in Singapore, for now, I'm sure many will still queue to buy some just to get a taste of this sweet indulgence that is still getting the attention for the mass in Singapore.
As for me, I'll be staying away from these fattening snacks for now. :)
Together with a few Yebbers, we met at mint cafe for an informal gathering. The cafe is cosy and comfy. Located at the basement of mint museum, decorated to the theme of the museum. The cafe is filled with retro looking movie posters and toys. Even the cushion on the seats were printed with robot (if I'd not remembered wrongly). The cafe thou small, house quite a good variety of food.
Some of us ordered their set lunch at $13.80 and some ordered the tea set at $7.80 .
There's a few mains that one can choose for their set lunch. And the set comes with soup, main, dessert and drink. As for the tea sets, one can choose any cakes/desserts in the menu and any of the tea/coffee available.
The soup served was nicely cooked and thick. For my set lunch, I ordered the Crispy Chicken Chop as my main. When it was served, I could smell the aroma coming from the generous piece of chicken. The main was served with mashed potato and side salad. One cut into the chicken and I knew I'm going to love it. Taking my first bite, I could taste the crispy crust and the meat inside was marinated and I love the taste. (Know when I'm writing this, I think this is the same chicken served at the night of Yebber's anniversary! No wonder it tasted familiarly delicious that night. Hot favorite by everyone.)
The dessert served with my lunch set was a tad too sweet for my liking. Couldn't remember what is its name thou.
On my other visit to the cafe, I ordered their tea set with Mississippi pie as the dessert. The chocolate mousse covering the layer of chocolate pie was not too sweet and complements the entire pie pretty well. I would recommend to enjoy the pie together with the whipped cream at the side. It's there for a reason. If you are not a whipped cream person, I recommend you try their other selections. Cos the pie gets a little "sick-to-eat" if eaten on its own.
Will surely be going back for their lunch set if I've the chance to. The spaghetti in their lunch set selection looks nice too.
Footnote After the event at mint, I would personally recommend anyone who's looking for a classy place to host your events at Mint museum. The staff are all very helpful and despite my long-winded conversation and constant reminders, the lady planning the event with me is always friendly and helpful. Thanks Mandy for the wonderful coordination and effort! As for the food, I'm sure many whom attended will agree with me that its good. Right?
The thing that I love most about cafe cartel would be their free flow of bread. Goes really well with their soups.
I guess cafe cartel is most well-known for their ribs. But too much of it would make you feel like dying seriously. It was fantastic on the first rib. Second rib was so-so. Third rib was making me quite full already. Fourth rib was too overpowering. So i suggest you share.
Had a plate of ribs all to myself and I left half of it untouched. I should have asked them to pack it so that I can bring it home.
My friend loves their sandwiches though. Have not tried it before but I will the next time.
As for the service on that day, it was alright. As it was a friday, the place was pretty packed. We could not manage to get the sofa seats. But the table beside us left after we ordered, so we asked if we could switch tables. They allowed us to and even helped us to shift our stuff over.
My mom works near this place thus, I get to eat their stuff pretty often.
I remembered when she first brought back some of their golf ball pineapple tarts. I was amazed because I have never seen such huge pineapple tarts before. Took one bite and I felt like I was in heaven. The crust melts in your mouth and the pineapple filling was just perfect. They were very generous with the fillings as well.
Recently, my mom bought back their beancurd tarts which I thought was really good (I love tau huey!!!). I am the sort which likes more filling whereas my brother prefers more crust. So I was really happy when I saw that their crust was rather thin. However, the crust was really soft even though it didn't break while I handled it. I guess it's because the tarts had to be refrigerated, thus the texture. It was still good nonetheless. Not too sweet and no eggs used.
As feizhu mentioned above, it would be best to order their popular items as they get sold out pretty quickly.
Rating given:
Mediocre set lunches.
This place had been hidden from my view since I first stepped foot on Serangoon Circle, until I saw the reviews here. The shop front looks rather run down and the signboard outside was too old for anyone to take notice of its existence. The windows were covered with white lace curtains, and if you don't take notice of the signboard, most probably you'll miss them too.
When I first stepped into the restaurant, I was amazed at how they managed to continue in such a retro unit. It looks as if you're dining in a run-down 70s restaurant. Even the staff there are retro.
Not knowing what to order, we ordered the set lunches. There were 2 types of pricing, one at $7 and the other above $12. We each ordered one from each of the menu. He got himself the grilled fish and chips set lunch that comes with dessert and drink. I ordered the pepper steak set that comes with soup of the day, ice cream and drink. (The drink served was in kiddo size. Luck they serve ice water too.)
When the soup was served, I knew we made a wrong choice for lunch. The soup was too diluted and it tasted more like water than thick soup.
My steak was served first. The serving was acceptable but the taste just didn't quite meet my expectation. The two other steakhouses around Serangoon Circle. Next came the fish and chips. Oh boy, was my boyfriend disappointed. One word to describe it - tasteless.
The only thing that somehow surprised us was the dessert that came with the cheaper set lunch. It's their own version of muah chee with coconut. Usually muah chee is eaten with chopped peanuts and sugar. So it's quite interesting to taste it with coconut instead.
I'm probably not going to return. There's just too many choices available around the area.
Rating given:
High quality mouth watering authentic Japanese Cuisine.
I've to agree with HisFoodBlog that EN Japanese Dining Bar is one of the best I'd been to by far. Serving the freshest sashimi and to-drool-for authentic cuisine.
This was the first time I tried the Beef Carpaccio. At first sight, I didn't dare touch it. But since its ordered, I just went ahead and dared myself. After the first slice of beef, I wanted more! It was thinly sliced and blended well with the seasoning on the beef. Although a tad too saltish, but still great one to devour on.
As the dishes ordered were more or less those recommended above by HisFoodBlog, I shall just share one more, which is another surprisingly yummilicious one.
The Unagi Fried Rice is most probably the only thing I will order if I should be going back there again. (Cos the price tag there is just not friendly enough for my thin wallet.) The fried rice is very fragrant and the rice grain is the real good stuff. Unlike the usual fried rice, I had at other Jap place, this is solid and slightly chewy too. The Unagi although cut to rather tiny pieces, I could still feel it when I chew on the mouthful of rice and unagi.
Great place to go for good quality Jap food.
(*Please take note that EN Jap dining bar is located along M.Sultan road, before reaching the left turn at Obar. Thanks to the incomplete directions given, when I was there, I couldn't find it within UE Square building. :S)
Rating given:
Beauty, body and hair care at its cheapest! This is the place to go for cheap cheap toiletries, beauty products, hair and body products and even perfumes.
Located in the heart of Ang Mo Kio, you might missed this gem as its hidden among the rows of shops along the main shopping lanes. The only thing that might help make it stand out is the pink sign board and lots of bottled shampoos neatly arranged outside of the shop.
The shop carries most of the brands, such as Loreal, Biore, SK2, and many others. But their prices are the most competitive. Giving the bigger pharmacies and shops a chase for their money.
For instance, the Loreal Facial gel and toner I bought. Usual price for the gel is $6 and the toner is around 10 . At Pink Beauty, the gel cost $4.50 and the toner cost only $6.20! I also bought 2 tubes of Biore Facial Scrub. U.P. $6 at NTUC and Watsons. But at Pink Beauty, its only $2.10! REAL Cheap right?
So now you know where to go for your beauty products ya? ;)
Rating given:
Pastamania Banzai!!!
Have you tried the new Japanese selection at Pastamania? If you're looking for value for money and yummilicious pasta (and pizzas), head on down to Pastamania!
There's currently 6 Japanese style pasta available. But I heard, soon they'll be releasing new choices and also the pizzas! (Psss... the Unagi pizzas is very good! MUST TRY!)
I managed to try 2 of their current offerings... the Unagi Pasta and the Tako Pasta.
Unagi Pasta ($10.90) - pasta choice Fettucini
This is cooked with Unagi (Eel), onions and lightly spiced up with chilli padi, top with seaweed flakes. If you're a fan of unagi and spicy pasta, this one is a die-die-must-try pasta! The Unagi pasta is flavorful and spiced up to the right level. After one mouthful of it, you'll just want to have more.
Tako Pasta ($10.90) - pasta choice Penne
Octopus and garlic tossed in olive oil, drizzled with tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayo topped with bonito flakes. This one is for the Tako lovers! (Like me!) First look at the serving, it reminded me of those tako balls you can get almost everywhere, but instead this is served with pasta. They are very generous with the amount of tako used. The fragrance is enough to tempt any hungry soul when you mixed the entire bowl of pasta, tako, sauces and bonito flakes.
Between the two, although I'm a tako lover, I would order the Unagi Pasta again the next time I go. Cause its spicy and more flavorful. Anyone wants to join me for Pastamania when they launch the new menu with the Japanese pizzas? :P
Rating given:
Craving for Japanese food? Why not give Shokudo a try? But be prepared to be stuck with too many choices!
After reading the above reviews, I decided to give this place a try. The chance came and I went on this mini adventure of mine at Shokudo...
Thanks for the reviews here, I already know what to expect at the entrance. And I quickly got into my adventurous mode the moment I stepped in. *haha!*
The first impression I got was Wow! So big! It's about the size of the old Marche at Heeren. But cos this place is done up in a Japanese kind of style with minimum decorations around the place, it seems slightly more spacious than the old Marche. As it was a weekday, there wasn't much crowd when I went. With many tables available, I skipped the "Reserve table" part and went on to find food.
After going around the place, I kinda got lost of my orientation. (Perhaps I was too hungry then.) Good thing I didn't place my "Reservation token" at any of the tables, cos I would most probably forget which section it was. The place is divided into various themes so customers can decided where is more suitable for the mood they're in. (This is not quite possible if you go on a crowded period thou.)
As I was alone, and having limited cash with me, I opted for something friendly for my wallet and tummy. I bought a "Hakodate" Seafood Cheese Pizza ($8.80) and a glass of japanese orange peel drink ($price forgotten). The pizza is made fresh upon ordering, so I settled down with my drink to enjoy the peacefulness during that time. There was soft music playing in background and I was totally relaxed and enjoying my time alone after a long day of meetings.
The pizza was different from the one we usually see. This was served in a rectangular wooden pan and the pizza crust was thin and crispy. There were plentiful of toppings and one bite into the pizza will make you want to have more. The pizza might not look big nor sufficient for the hungry people, but if you're having it alone, its fills just right the right amount in one's tummy. Due to its thin crust, you'll not feel "sick" of the pizza.
The pizza with the refreshing orange peel drink - a perfect match!
Will be back for more.
Rating given:
Not as special as I thought
Before J.Co arrives in this little small dot, I'd read bloggers from across the causeway sharing how good it is and how much they love it. So when I head they've set up their very first outlet at Raffles city, I was delighted! Off I went to try the infamous J.Co donuts.
When I was there, the queue wasn't as long as I'd expected. Instead the competition nearby, Donut Factory, was having a longer queue than J.Co.
I joined in the queue and started observing the staff behind the counter. They've in place an ordering system where each staff is incharge of some flavors within the hand-reach. And each customer is given a number for their order. The first staff will ask the quantity you want to buy and get the boxes ready. She's in charge of the first few flavors and will issue you a number when she passes you to the next staff who'll serve you for the rest of the flavors available. When you're done with your selection, you'll then proceed to the cashier where they'll tally your order and collect payment.
This seem like a systematic and effective way for them. But its not so friendly to some of the customers. Especially if they're there for the first time and not sure of what flavors they want. I would recommend to decide on the flavors and quantity for each before you reach the first staff. This will surely speed up the ordering process.
Hmm... looks like I've spent more time typing and explaining the process rather than talking about the donuts! Well, because, after tasting almost all the brands of donuts available in Singapore and also those from Krispy Kreme, I find the J.Co is just another brand of donuts. Nothing much to wow about. Other than some of the interesting looking ones with special names for some, there's just nothing much I would comment on. But because this is the only outlet here in Singapore, for now, I'm sure many will still queue to buy some just to get a taste of this sweet indulgence that is still getting the attention for the mass in Singapore.
As for me, I'll be staying away from these fattening snacks for now. :)
Rating given:
Lovely place with lovely food
Together with a few Yebbers, we met at mint cafe for an informal gathering. The cafe is cosy and comfy. Located at the basement of mint museum, decorated to the theme of the museum. The cafe is filled with retro looking movie posters and toys. Even the cushion on the seats were printed with robot (if I'd not remembered wrongly). The cafe thou small, house quite a good variety of food.
Some of us ordered their set lunch at $13.80 and some ordered the tea set at $7.80 .
There's a few mains that one can choose for their set lunch. And the set comes with soup, main, dessert and drink. As for the tea sets, one can choose any cakes/desserts in the menu and any of the tea/coffee available.
The soup served was nicely cooked and thick. For my set lunch, I ordered the Crispy Chicken Chop as my main. When it was served, I could smell the aroma coming from the generous piece of chicken. The main was served with mashed potato and side salad. One cut into the chicken and I knew I'm going to love it. Taking my first bite, I could taste the crispy crust and the meat inside was marinated and I love the taste. (Know when I'm writing this, I think this is the same chicken served at the night of Yebber's anniversary! No wonder it tasted familiarly delicious that night. Hot favorite by everyone.)
The dessert served with my lunch set was a tad too sweet for my liking. Couldn't remember what is its name thou.
On my other visit to the cafe, I ordered their tea set with Mississippi pie as the dessert. The chocolate mousse covering the layer of chocolate pie was not too sweet and complements the entire pie pretty well. I would recommend to enjoy the pie together with the whipped cream at the side. It's there for a reason. If you are not a whipped cream person, I recommend you try their other selections. Cos the pie gets a little "sick-to-eat" if eaten on its own.
Will surely be going back for their lunch set if I've the chance to. The spaghetti in their lunch set selection looks nice too.
Footnote
After the event at mint, I would personally recommend anyone who's looking for a classy place to host your events at Mint museum. The staff are all very helpful and despite my long-winded conversation and constant reminders, the lady planning the event with me is always friendly and helpful. Thanks Mandy for the wonderful coordination and effort! As for the food, I'm sure many whom attended will agree with me that its good. Right?
Rating given:
The thing that I love most about cafe cartel would be their free flow of bread. Goes really well with their soups.
I guess cafe cartel is most well-known for their ribs. But too much of it would make you feel like dying seriously. It was fantastic on the first rib. Second rib was so-so. Third rib was making me quite full already. Fourth rib was too overpowering. So i suggest you share.
Had a plate of ribs all to myself and I left half of it untouched. I should have asked them to pack it so that I can bring it home.
My friend loves their sandwiches though. Have not tried it before but I will the next time.
As for the service on that day, it was alright. As it was a friday, the place was pretty packed. We could not manage to get the sofa seats. But the table beside us left after we ordered, so we asked if we could switch tables. They allowed us to and even helped us to shift our stuff over.
Rating given:
Whenever I'm craving for Thai food, I would go to any Thai express to get my fix mainly because it is affordable.
This time round, I had stir fried glass noodles with beef instead of my usual seafood one. It had lots of flavour. Not too oily as well.
I love their mango salad too but the vegetables weren't very fresh on that day. So I was quite disappointed.
Overall service was good. Our cups are always filled once it reaches the halfway mark.
Somehow, I prefer the branch at City link even though the layout is abit squeezy.
Rating given: