You are at Yebber
At Yebber, you can rate, review & find everything from restaurants & shopping to hotels & spas

PassportChop.com's Reviews

       13 Jan 2008 at 2:55 pm
    feizhu feizhu says:

    Each fondue set came with a small saucer of melted White Chocolate, melted Milk Chocolate and melted Dark Chocolate served over a small flame to heat the liquid chocolate up. Dip items consisted of Marshmallows, Strawberries, cubes of bread and Bananas. The Dark Chocolate was nice and thick without being too sweet. The Milk Chocolate was acceptable but a little too milky for my taste. The White Chocolate was way to sweet for my taste and tasted a little creamy. The unanimous winner for the night was the Dark Chocolate, with everyone voting in favour of it.

    At $20 for 1 fondue set (serves 2), I feel it’s quite a rip off. But I’m a sucker for chocolate, so I don’t see an end to me visiting such places, or Max Brenner for that matter – if they buck up on their slow service that is.

    See all my pictures here


    Rating given:Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

       13 Jan 2008 at 11:43 am
    ladyironchef ladyironchef says:

    Haato is a feeling, you don’t give or receive haato.

    You just feel it. It comes to you so long you open your heart

    Haato celebrates the Art of Giving from the heart … to the heart

    you won’t See it, Smell it, Touch it, but you can Feel it, its always around you…

    Every scoop of Haato is a special experience.

    Haato is a unique brand of gelato based on traditional recipes from Japan. It is one of the first gelato counters in Singapore to offer freshly made gelato that is free from artificial colouring and preservatives.

    With their flagship outlet (formerly known as Gelato di Crema) at Liang Court Shopping Centre has been serving gelato for more than 16 years and continues to earn rave reviews from people all over the world. Haato is perfect for any occasion. A premium quality treat to be shared with friends and loved ones.

    For the hungry pack, Haato @ Ridgewood serves food ranging from Japanese pasta and Japanese don. For sweet delights, enjoy an affogato or waffles with gelato. So drop by this quaint cafe at Ridgewood Close (off Pandan Valley Condominium and Ridgewood Condominium) for a quiet afternoon and some savoury food. (And not to forget the gelato of course!)

    Haato @ Ridgewood is rather inaccessible and difficult to find. For one, it is off Pandan Valley Condominium, and if you are coming by Public transport, you need to stop at Ulu Pandan Rd, with the walking distance about 10-15min. Lucky for us, my usual foodie companian Hong Yi and Wee Hong drive, we went there by car. Even so, we spent some time looking for the place as we went one round around Mount Sinai rise before we realise its the wrong way, and found Ridgewood Close. However, despite all the hassle, Haato @ Ridgewood greets me with a delightful surprise when i got there.

    Located at Ridgewood Condominium, the place where Haato’s at is actually a row of shops below the Condo. The interior of Haato is actually smaller than i expected, there are also outdoor seats though. Well, if i were to compare with Island Creamery or The Daily Scoop, , i would say Haato win hands-down for its laid-back and chill-out environment. You can order Gelato and sit there chat with your friends whole day. Who says you need to go to Demspey to chill out?

    Unagi Pasta ($6.50)

    The Unagi Pasta ($6.50) is great value for money. A generous slice of unagi (eel) engulfed in homemade sauce is served with warm Japanese pasta. The taste is not too strong and subtle, very much like home-cooked food. However, the portion is a tad too small.

    Chicken Katsudon ($7)

    I like this one. Like all Katsudon, the egg cover the layer of chicken and rice underneath it. Nothing special you’ll say, but then sometimes ordinary food taste extraordinary in the company of good friends, and good environment.

    Chicken Teriyaki Don ($7.50)

    Not too bad, considering the price is relatively inexpensive, and the fact that you are here more for the Gelato than the Japanese Don. But really i think the portion could be a bit bigger : )

    Double Cone Gelato chocolate banana & Sweet Potato with Honey chestnut ($4.50)

    Chocolate Banana (left) was great, the chocolate Gelato with a hint of banana flavour within. The Sweet Potato with Honey & Chestnut was more disappointing though, relatively tasteless. The double scoop was very generously given by one of the staff. Definitely value for money at $4.50.

    Waffle with single scoop Gelato chocolate hazelnut ($6)

    Chocolate Hazelnut, my favourite! I always like to order hazelnut ice cream whenever i go to a ice-cream palour. Nutella! The waffle took about ten minutes or so. The Waffle mix is made in-house using an exclusive recipe. Toasted to perfection – crispy on the outside and warm and moist on the inside, it tastes heavenly even on its own. First bite of the waffle was cripsy and soft, and i would say this is one of the better waffles out there.

    The Gelato simply melts on my tongue together with the waffle. However the scoop was not as generous as the one above (the double scoop), because this time it was another staff who scoop the Gelato. He gave much smaller scoops for both our waffle compare to the one who gave us the double scoop cone.

    Waffle with single scoop Gelato milk tea ($6)

    For something different, yet close to home, try the Milk Tea gelato, which tastes exactly like the “Teh Tarik” found in local coffee shops. Milk tea fanatics would like this very much on swelteringly warm days, instead of their usual hot cuppa.

    Actually my conclusion of the waffles, they are wonderful, but don’t order Waffle with Gelato, just take waffle with melted butter and treacly maple syrup instead. Reason is simple, the waffle is so good on its own that you don’t need the Gelato to compliment it. Besides, its more worth it to take double scoop at $4.50 than a single scoop on waffle at $6. Furthermore, i found that you could taste the Gelato better on its own, than together with the waffle, because the hot waffle sort of cover the Gelato flavour. So just take Waffle with butter syrup, den a couple of double scoops to share around.

    Haato @ Ridgewood is a delightful place to chill-out, will definitely go back again, i’ll take bus the next time if i have to. If you find it far, there are other outlets at Wheelock, Liang Court and Serangoon Gardens. Check em’ out! Their Japanese Don and Pastas might not be the best, but they are there to act as compliments to the Gelato. Total Bill of $37.50 for three person was really not expensive at all. Oh ya, there are board games around to play while you chill with friends. And always feel free to ask for sample of the Gelato if you are not sure which flavour are nice, the staff will always provide you with samplers if you ask.

    You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written above are my geniune feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or bias. Please do not feel emotional or distress should you have any violent objections. Kindly click the little X at the upper, extreme right of your screen if negative adjectives would be derived. Otherwise, feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )

    " From our heart to yours "


    Rating given:Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

    1483. Jiang Nan Chun   
       13 Jan 2008 at 11:38 am
    feizhu feizhu says:

    In conjunction with their 30th anniversary, Business Times offered a set dinner for 2 pax at Jiang Nan Chun for only $30 NETT! Naturally I was excited and after much difficulty, managed to get a table for 2 pax last evening. I had initially wanted to try our One Ninety, but it was fully booked even though I had called at 0830hrs the day the advertisement was published in the newspapers. Imagine that!

    Jiang Nan Chun is the flagship Cantonese restaurant of the posh Four Seasons Hotel just along Orchard Boulevard. Its entrance was done up in sombre black with an air of exclusivity. Inside, the main theme revolved around the use of wood, with the walls and partitions spotting wooden finishes. A rather nice place, but pales in comparison to other restaurants of similar standing, like Li Bai, Min Jiang @ One North or even Peach Blossoms.
    Since we were there for the promotion, there was no choice of food, although we did add on a few items. The menu of the day included Consommé of Chicken with Chinese Mushrooms, Chinese Cabbage and Bamboo Pith, Steamed Fillet of Cod with Black Fungus Mushroom, Red Dates and Shredded Ginger, Braised Vermicelli with Salted Fish and Minced Pork and Chilled Mango Pudding. We added on a single serving of Yang Chow Fried Rice and Rice Flour Crisp coated with Maple Syrup and Sesame Seeds.

    The Consommé of Chicken with Chinese Mushrooms, Chinese Cabbage and Bamboo Pith was very flavourful, probably due to it being double boiled, but too much flavour isn't always a good thing. I personally found the soup a little too overwhelming maybe because I like soups that are light and easy on the palates.

    I like Cod Fish for its smooth flesh and minimal raw fishy taste and Jiang Nan Chun's offering didn't disappoint. The Steamed Fillet of Cod with Black Fungus Mushroom, Red Dates and Shredded Ginger was soft and tender, with the red dates giving it a slightly sweet taste, much like the mangoes in Hai Tien Lo's rendition. However I did find the gravy a little heavy on the sweetness.

    Joke of the day best describes the Braised Vermicelli with Salted Fish and Minced Pork. It was too soft, a result of soaking the Vermicelli in water for too long and it was practically tasteless. I have eaten better fried Vermicelli in hawker centres. To think that it is listed as one of the Chef's specialties. Geez.

    My extra order of Yang Chow Fried Rice was pretty normal. Sure the ingredients were generous and the rice evenly coated and fried, but it wasn't fragrant enough. Add the dryness of the rice and you get a lacklustre offering. Serving size is about a third of your neighbourhood kopitiam's $3 fried rice, but it goes for $8 instead.

    In all honesty, I liked the desserts most of all. The Chilled Mango Pudding was very smooth and refreshing without being too sweet. Strands of Pomelo added bite to the dish. Accompanying the Chilled Mango Pudding was a small serving of Avocado Pudding and Almond Biscuit. While I found the Avocado Pudding a little bland, I did like the Almond Biscuit. It was freshly baked and not too dry or soggy, with a slight almond taste. Last up was my other additional order of Rice Flour Crisp coated with Maple Syrup and Sesame Seeds. It looked like Keropok (fish/prawn crackers) with a sprinkling of Sesame Seeds and god knows what. But I liked it! It tasted like Kellog's Honeystars, albeit a crispier, lighter and not so sweet version (For those who have never tried Honeystars, please go to your nearest supermarket and grab a box now).

    A slightly above average dinner for 2 pax stood at $48.65/-. Cheap because of the promotion. If not, prices are rather steep and alot of the dishes are priced per head. Service is generally good, but could well do with a little genuine friendliness.

    See all my pictures here


    Rating given:Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

       13 Jan 2008 at 11:11 am
    Category: Seafood
    Lucardia Lucardia says:

    Another long belated post, this chain of restaurants have been around since 1998 ever since a group of entrepreneurs decided to mine the niche that is the mid-level casual diners. Positioned as a casual and fun eating place at mid-level prices, Fish and Co has since opened multiple outlets throughout Singapore and overseas with new franchises such as "The Simple Life" opened to further boost their business. The question is, is the food really that great? I finally got this answered when my boss brought the crew out for a birthday lunch for a fellow team member. Thanks Boss!

    Casual and slick best describes the interior of this restaurant with its soft lighting and wooden separators. Our group managed to get a personal function room all to ourselves which would have been great had the walls been soundproof. Unfortunately, that was not the case and the function room served little purpose in insulating our little gathering from the crowd that thronged outside.

    Prawn Fettucini ($13.90), Salmon Cajun ($16.90), Grilled Seasonal Fish ($14.90), Swordfish Collar ($14.90), Mussels Penne ($12.90) and Peri Peri Prawns ($14.90) - The above are items had by my colleagues and boss. The food seems alright to me though a little too generic in preparation and the serving size has shrunk since i last remembered it. I did not get to try most of it so i'll be reserving my comments on these items. There is, however, a service issue with the company on this day. We kept getting wrong orders coming into our "private" room due to the fact that the entire of Fish and Co seemed to be booked by another company for their lunch function. Major points deducted on that hiccup because it didn't happen once, nor twice but as many as 4 times.

    Seafood Platter for 1 ($18.90) - Aha! Finally something i had the honor to try. (In all honesty, i had a go at the fried calamari ($8.90) before this but i did not take any pictures. The calamari was pretty nicely fried and lightly battered but wasn't quite chewy nor fragrant as it should be. Decent, nothing more) This platter contained grilled herbal calamari, a healthy smattering of chips, grilled prawns, a dory fillet and rice. High points for variety and the fact that most of its items were grilled and not fried. I liked the calamari for its strong peppery taste and chewy texture but it chilled quickly in the strong air conditioned room. The prawns were quite forgettable while the dory tasted sweet but nothing too special. Overall, the seafood platter is passable but somehow did not quite satisfy my craving for good seafood.

    Total bill for 7 people came to an astonishing $166.40. This is a shock to me as it certainly did not feel like we ordered enough to fill that amount.

    I'm grateful for the opportunity to try out this restaurant but its probably going to be the last time i visit it or maybe second last since my gf has yet to try it. Service and room problems aside, i simply wasn't impressed with the food that was brought to the table. It came across as a underwhelming on many points. My previous impression of Fish and Co was years ago when my mom brought me there and i remembered bigger fish and smaller prices. Better yet, the fish tasted good. Guess i'm simply not "hooked" by their food anymore.


    Rating given:Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5

       13 Jan 2008 at 10:54 am
    Category: Hawker Centres
    Lucardia Lucardia says:

    On this particular day, the family was too lazy to step out of the house so we decided to try out a food caterer that shoved its pamphlet right under our doorstep. I never had a good impression of caterers but since i'm not paying, i can't say anything till much later.

    Yam Ring ($15) - In a word, tasteless. Despite its rather nice outlook and the generous servings of prawn, chicken pieces and mushrooms, this yam ring did not have what it takes to make a good impression. The yam ring itself was soggy, the meat tasteless and hard and the prawns are a far cry from the word 'fresh'.

    Fried Battered Prawns ($12) - Having a bad start with the yam ring, i didn't hold high hopes as i chowed down my first serving. Yet again, they have outdone themselves by serving a badly made dish. The prawns were powdery and the batter too thick for its own good. The word "terrible" doesn't quite pin the feeling down.

    Coffee Pork Ribs ($8) - This dish was fouled up with it being overwhelming in its taste of coffee so much so that its bitter. In its defense, at least the meat was tender but still, something i would not order from them ever again.

    Vegetables with fish ($5) - Yellowish vegetables, flour like fish and a sauce that tastes just like soy sauce. Need i say more?

    Fish Soup ($10) - I'm beginning to find myself at a loss at how to describe the food we ordered. Alike with all the other offerings from this particular caterer. The soup's redeeming grace is that it was at least warm when i had it. Apart from that, it did not contain much taste and is simply a let down like the rest.

    The bill came up to exactly $50 for this meal of 5 items.

    In all honesty and in their defense, the food is still warm when it arrived which is quite an accomplishment for the kind of food they offer and i do applaud their brave attempt at stepping out. However, they definitely need a better cook and a better way to get their items to customers. I'm still not ordering from them ever again though. This is just not good enough to consider for a second chance.


    Rating given:Rating: 1 out of 5Rating: 1 out of 5Rating: 1 out of 5Rating: 1 out of 5Rating: 1 out of 5

       13 Jan 2008 at 10:22 am
    Category: Bakeries
    Lucardia Lucardia says:

    Don's was introduced to me recently by my gf after she bought me one to enjoy at my leisure. They tout themselves as being the one stop solution for chicken pies and have been around for quite a long time and currently have quite about 4 outlets selling their products. Is it good enough to warrant another purchase though? Read on.

    A Slice of the Pie ($16.50) - I've always liked chicken pies but struggled to find one thats dependable or remotely worth a mention to recommend. Well, i guess the search is over for now. We actually bought the pie on take away on Friday night and ate it over the weekend as breakfast after heating it in the oven. What can i say? Its delicious.
    The crust is of medium thickness, which means it feels just right without making you feel like you just paid for flour instead of a pie. It was also fragrant and very appetising, and thats only talking about the crust. The next thing you notice about the pie is how heavy it is. For something that small, its actually quite surprising how much weight it packs. And it is so because of the thick stuffings and ingredients they used for the pie.
    For the ingredients, they used chicken meat, egg, potato, corn, green pea, mushroom, celery, peppercorn and spices and everything is halal so our Malay friends can have a slice of the pie (pun intended) and eat it as well. Everything in it tastes authentic and fresh which makes it definitely worth the price.

    Try it to see if it is indeed worthwhile of being a pie specialist. Try it and let me know if you feel otherwise or if you know of anywhere better, but whatever your reason, try it!


    Rating given:Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

    1487. Pet Concierge   
       13 Jan 2008 at 8:51 am
    Category: Grooming
    ladyironchef ladyironchef says:

    " At Pet Concierge, your pets are our most valued customers. Why not?

    After all, they're your best friends, family members and bundles of joy. They deserve first class treatment, just as you do.

    We understand this, because Pet Concierge owner Sandy has long held a passion for working with all creatures great and small.

    After years of experience handling various species of animals in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Reptile Park and various pet shops, Sandy established The Pet Concierge in 2004.

    In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it is not uncommon for busy professionals to be travelling frequently -- and Sandy understands that as a pet owner, you might be worried about leaving your precious one in the hands of a stranger.

    Rest assured, at the Pet Concierge, Sandy ensures that all effort is made to give each pet the attention they have always received with you.

    In addition to boarding animals, he offers transportation, basic grooming and swimming therapy (hydrotherapy) services for your pets too.

    A jovial and truly caring person, Sandy values all animals and believes that as God's creatures, they are blessed with the wonderful gift of joy and healing. To him, each animal is unique and is deserving of individual attention.

    At the Pet Concierge, your pets will feel like they've never left the comforts of home. "

    The above extract is taken from Pet Concierge, the owner is a friend, please approach them if you need basic grooming, pet taxi, boarding or hydrotherapy for your pets. Rest assured your pets are in good hands :)


    Rating given:Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5Rating: 5 out of 5

    1488. Dragon Gate Restaurant   
       13 Jan 2008 at 12:06 am
    ladyironchef ladyironchef says:

    The first time i went to the place did not find it too easily, it is at level 4 of harbour front just beside the car park. The evaluators do not go to level 4, so highly take the lift.

    Similar to wad the previous post Bubblesky has said, Dragon Gate like most Dim-sum restaurants, there is the usual range of dim-sum such as; har gow (shrimp dumplings), char siew baos, siew mai, char siew sou, luobogao (carrot cakes), xiaolongbaos, and many more. There is particularly more deep-fried type of Dim-sum available. The menu also have some dishes like sweet-sour pork, chicken, fried veggies and some other stuff.

    After two rounds of dim-sum ordering, boy was i full. Considering the fact that if you go to a normal dim-sum restaurant ordering dim-sum would be at least $2 per plate. At $12 plus per person, it is a steal for the all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet.


    Rating given:Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

       12 Jan 2008 at 11:55 pm
    Category: Buffet, Japanese
    ladyironchef ladyironchef says:

    Sakura is being located in ommi centre, beside the science centre in jurong. A pretty strange place to locate a restaurant if you asked me. Ommi centre does not have rather much visitors, but when i reached sakura, it is quite crowded despite the place being a little hard to reach.

    The buffet lunch is $20 nett, which i believe is rather cheap for a buffet lunch, and $26 nett for buffet dinner. There are sushi, desserts, fried-stuff, salads, fruits, free flow of drinks. In addition, there is a place serving chicken chops, lamp chops, beef, prawn, fish, all cook on the spot, u'll have to put a clip(which has yr table no on it) at the food that u wan. After which, the chef will cook on the spot, and the waiters will serve it to your table.

    Although the food cannot be describe as heavenly, but i believe at 20 bucks per person, it is considered value for money, after all there are buffets that cost much and taste less


    Rating given:Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

       12 Jan 2008 at 11:52 pm
    ladyironchef ladyironchef says:

    Went to Pepper lunch with a couple of friends a while ago. First impression, it this a fastfood restaurant or is it a japanese restaurant. Well, its both actually.

    The Q was'nt too long, and very soon we ordered our food at the counter.
    I ordeded the set meal chicken which comes at $8.80, while my friends ordered salmons, and beef.

    What was special about the food, was its packaging. The sizzling hot-plates all came with a paper wrapped round it to teach you how to savour its meals.

    Overall, i found the food to be anything but special, that is ordinary. But if you didn't went before, it is worth well going once for the sizzling hot plates. However, be WARNED, the pepper lunch smell will be with you after finishing the meal : )


    Rating given:Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

January's Exchange Rate

1=SGD 0.0587

How Do I Earn Yebber$?
32 Yebbers Online!
Double Yebber Dollar Category for January:

Shopping

Click here for future month