If you ever take a stroll down Telok Ayer Street on a quiet Sunday evening when most of the shops are closed, you will notice a small shop with a brightly lighted blue signboard which is packed with people. The signboard reads Bee Heong Palace Restaurant. Known to many of the older generation as one of the finer Hokkien restaurants around, it used to be located at PIL building along Cecil Street for quite a number of years, but has since shifted to its current smaller premises. On this sleepy evening, we were lucky to get a table without making reservations.
As mentioned earlier, the place is small. And by that, I mean cramp. You probably can fit about 30 people indoors and thats already a very generous estimate. I understand that they do have tables upstairs, but I didn't get a chance to go up, so no comments.
Haer Zhor - Prawn Rolls - This was probably one of the better dishes of the night. The skin was crispy and the filling had lots of bite due to the high proportion of minced meat. Here comes the problem. There was so much meat in the filling that I couldn't really make out any prawns except for small bits of shrimps hidden within the filling. Why call it Haer Zhor or Prawn Rolls when there hardly seem to be any prawns around?
Hokkien Mee - As the name of this dish suggests, its a must order when having Hokkien cuisine. The gravy appeared quite thick and starchy at first sight, but was in fact rather watery and tasted quite bland. The noodles tasted rather flat and didn't have the slight bitter aftertaste that I personally prefer. An above average rendition, but maybe I've eaten more than my fair share of Hokkien Mee to not be impressed by it.
Stir Fried Baby Kailan - The simplest dish, yet the dish I liked the best. Green and bursting with freshness, the Kailian was stir fried just right with oyster sauce, fried onions and garlic. A no frills yet delightful dish.
Fish Maw Soup - he soup was easy on the starch but tasted quite normal. There were but a few slices of Fish Maw, but then again, what do you expect for a $3 a bowl soup? However, I would have liked it better if the slices of Fish Maw were slightly crispy, like the one I had at Beng Hiang.
Kong Ba Pao - The key to increasing your cholesterol level and waistline served in the disguise of a soft and fluffy Pao. We had a small serving of it and was disgusted. First of all, the meat was ridiculously fatty. I estimated about 75% of the meat was fats. 50% is still marginally acceptable, but 75%? I really don't wish to die of a heart attack before I'm 30. Secondly, the gravy, which plays a pivotal role in this dish, was bland. No matter how much gravy I splashed onto the Pao, the taste was still very sublime.
Dinner didn't cost us a cent because it was a treat from my mum's boss(many thanks!) who we happened to bump into at the restaurant, but judging from the listed prices in the menu, it would have come up to about $40 for 3 pax, which is rather inexpensive. To be fair, the food wasn't really up to standard, but I would probably give it another chance(I'll order other dishes of course) since it comes highly recommended by my mum, who has dined there quite a few times.
Decided to try some traditional Hokkien cuisine and where better to try it than the famous Beng Hiang Restaurant. It is renowned for it's excellent culinary skills in Hokkien fare and it is no secret that even UOB's chairman and CEO, Mr Wee Cho Yaw, dines there frequently. We made a reservation for 2000hrs and got there about 5 mins late and believe me when I say this, the place was packed to the brim with people and the place had at least 40 tables! Thank goodness we had a reservation.
Our orders were taken promptly and we had most of their signature dishes, (We would have liked to try more, but our stomachs and pockets were constrained)which included - Ngo Hiang with Har Cho, Hokkien Mee, Oyster Omelette, Kong Ba Pao and Fish Maw Soup.
The Ngo Hiang with Har Cho was very good. The Ngo Hiang was very cripsy and crunchy while the Har Cho was crispy and filled with shrimps. The Har Cho went well with the plum sauce provided. Very fresh with no taste of reused oil at all, unlike others that I have tried. The Hokkien Mee was tasty with the gravy a little starchy and the Mee chewy and eggy. This is something different from the usual Hokkien Mee which is often very oily. Oyster Omelettes are usually soft, so it came as a surprise when the Oyster Omelette served was thin and crispy which was just heavenly. The oysters were also larger than the small ones you get outside.
Delicious doesn't even begin to describe the Fish Maw Soup. It looked and tasted a little like sharks fin soup except that it had fish maw and egg in it. Thick, marginally starchy and full of flavour. This is one thing you definitely have to try. The Kong Ba Pao was also nicely done. The Kong Ba was evenly layered and it was melt in your mouth kind of tender. I usually have reservations about eating such high cholesteral food, but now I'm a convert!
Overall it cost us about $80 for 5 pax, which all of us unanimously agreed that it was worth the money and that the food was good. Don't bring your date for a romantic dinner though, because it's heck of a noisy there, unless the both of you are just looking for good food. I will unbashedly declare that I'll be back to try the other dishes, namely the suckling pig. And oh yes, there's no service charge as well, which is a plus. Try this place out, you won't regret it.
Twas the night before Christmas and most restaurants were fully booked for the yuletide season. I got lucky and managed to squeeze in a table at IL Lido, which incidentally was the venue of my last Christmas dinner. To see my previous writeup on IL Lido, click here. On a side note, I realised that there was a downsizing in the number of courses from 5 last year to 4 this year. So much for inflation.
The interior was as I had remembered it to be, simple yet oozing unadulterated chic. I did find the spacing between tables a lot narrower now (maybe I just expanded horizontally), which made eavesdropping an interesting after dinner pastime (pun intended). The outdoor seating promises a view of the Singapore Straits and if you are lucky, some cooling breeze. The interior on the other hand, is filled with nice cool air but comes without much of a view.
Complimentary Bread - I am pleased to say that the complimentary bread was still up to standard. Thin and crispy with lots of bite, it helped us quash our hunger as we waited for the dishes to be served.
Home Made Tagliolini with Live Lobster and Green Asparagus Tips - I wasn't too impressed by this dish as the texture of the Taglionlini tasted like wanton noodles to me. That's not to say that it wasn't good though, coming across as springy, full of bite and light on the palate. Something could be done about the sweetness of the lobster though.
Goose Liver with Pears and Marsala Wine Sauce - I'm no expert in foie gras but I do feel that it could have been more quivery and smooth. However, on a lighter note, it went very well with the pear and marsala wine sauce, which by nature was fairly sweet.
Roast Turkey Stuffed with Pancetta and Truffle, Apple and Chestnut Puree - For mains, you either get the turkey or the cod and since I'm not a fan of fish, I chose the former. The turkey was a delight if I may say so, with the meat tender and juicy and the stuffing of pancetta, truffle, apple and chestnut puree adding a nice touch of sweetness and texture. Pity about the small serving.
Pan Roasted Atlantic Cod with Porcini Mushrooms and Potato Cream - This was probably one of the weirdest cod fish that I've ever tasted to date. Firstly, it reeked of the raw fish taste that I personally dislike and secondly, the flesh tasted very soft and mashed up, which together with the equally soft potato cream, made me nauseous.
Chocolate Souffle with Wild Berries and Caramel Sauce - Aesthetically pleasing, the chocolate souffle came served under an intricate red basket made of sugar. The crust of the souffle was a little soft and pudding like, which was quite a bummer but as I broke into it, mounds of chocolate oozed out. Simply decadent!
I would have hoped that with the parring down of the menu for the same price, food quality would have stayed consistent or even gone up a notch. However, this was obviously not the case, with dinner merely slightly above average and weighing in at $245 with a glass of dessert wine. I'll probably be trying somewhere else next year.
Vansh is an Indian Restaurant that combines the traditional Indian food with modern dining concepts. With a neon-green open kitchen in the centre that has glass surrounding it, there are even bar seats where you can watch your food being prepared up close. If you're worried about getting "smoked" or smelling like you've just stepped out of a BBQ party, don't worry as the real cooking is done in the regular kitchen nearby. If bar seats are not your fancy, you can choose to have the indoor couches or the al fresco seats. Dimly lit, it's a great place to chill, but not quite for photo-taking. (as you can see from my pictures)
We dropped in without a reservation on Christmas Eve. Luckily we were pretty early and the place was quite empty when we got there. The wierd thing was that it got filled with family-types close to 9pm.
The staff were mostly native Indian and were very polite. I liked the ambience very much. It was cosy and still had an Indian flavour to it.
There was quite a selection of food and we took some time to decide. We were also given complimentary rolls (I don't know what they are called) and a variety of dips as starters. We certainly enjoyed trying all the dips.
Food Ordered:
Honey Kulzza $9 This was a a pizza like bread covered with honey, tomatoes, coriander and onion seeds. I liked it very much. It wasn't overly sweet. This alone could be a meal for a small-eater as it was enough for the two of us to share.
Tandoori Mushroom $13 These are fresh button mushrooms covered in herbed cheese marinade. Honestly? They did look quite ugly on the plate. But once they are in your mouth, it's very nice. Despite looking very dry, the button mushroom is still juicy and chewy, which gives it a different texture from its outer covering.
Chicken Tikka Masala $18 Recommended by the staff, this consists of tandoori marinated chicken cooked with capsicum in a flavourful tomato masala. MMmM I'm still thinking of this one... it was spicy but not the kind to make your hair stand. The chicken was still tender. The masala was perfect for us to dip our naans in.
Plain (X1) and Butter naans (X1) $4 each The naans were thick and fluffy, served nicely in a basket. Actually the plain one was enough for the two of us. But we had so much masala left we ordered the garlic one too! The Butter one was more oily than the plain one (obviously) and I think I would have rather stuck to the plain one.
Virgin Colada $9 My companion had no complaints about this drink. It was just a little overly sourish but there was a strong coconut flavour which appealed.
Tulsi Sherbet $9 A mix of basil, lemon, ginger and spices all blended to give a delightfully sourish drink. I'd say this drink was a good accompaniment to the food. I wouldn't order this if I weren't eating though.
Good service throughout our time there. When I dropped the naan on my lap the staff was alert enough to hurry over quickly and offer me another napkin. We were also given little party sets since it was Christmas Eve.
So good service, good food and good ambience. All for $78, inclusive of service charge and GST. I wouldn't say it was expensive, but it is above average. I would have given it 5-stars if it were more convenient. But the waterfront location made it quite romantic to have a leisurely walk after dinner. Worth a try definitely.
I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered: Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy. Tapioca for Dessert About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be. Lemongrass Drink Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Cheap cantonese cuisine is few and far between but Bi Feng Tang seeks to change that. The Century Square outlet opened in December 2004 and has been there ever since, offering Hong Kong style food at semi affordable prices. This is not my first visit here but is my first official blogging visit, does its standard hold up after 3 years? Thats what we are going to find out.
Pickles ($1) - Well, pickles are never free it seems. Not that there's much to complain for a $1 charge on compulsory pickles, but some choice would be appreciated. That said, the pickles are suitably sour but my gf tasted some detergent in them? Either way, it served its purpose of given me a growling tummy for the dishes to follow.
Sze Chuan Spicy Beef ($4) - I actually expected alot more than what was served but i've never tried enough Sze Chuan Spicy Beef enough to know if the dish was a failure or a success. Found in the appetizer section of the menu, i should have realized it would come in small portions and it did. Six slices in all, it was not much to look at and tasted weird. Spicy, sour and extremely salty, this is not what i can recommend. Add the fact that you can't taste the beef and you have something ingrained in your mind never to order again.
Fried Rice With Crab Meat and Roasted Pork (Set menu for 2, $28.80) - Do not be deceived by the way the shot looks, the rice is actually very nicely done. Soft, fragrant and packed with ingredients, this is better then the one i had in Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao. This only complaint i have for the rice is how tasteless the crab meat really is, other then that, this fried rice is simply tasty enough for a second visit.
Pineapple Fried With Pork Rib - Honestly, not very well done. The meat was tough and sour due to either the meat being not fresh or the overuse of pineapple, which does not mask the refrigerated taste in the end. Its also overly sweet and oily which just doesn't do it for me.
Braised Tofu With Seafood and Quail Egg - I really liked this tofu, though not comparable to gourmet tofu's like Hai Tien Lo or even Hua Ting, this is decent. What really got me going for it was the generous braised seafood and the nicely done quail eggs and stock. Overall, this goes well with rice or any other accompaniment. Something i can have again when i visit.
Mixed Roast Meat - For this dish, you are given a choice of having duck, Char Siew or San Chen Rou. We selected the Char Siew and Duck meat for more variety and balance. The good news is, we got the balance. The bad news is, the char siew was supremely hard for some reason and the duck meat had a very thick layer of fats under the skin. Suffice to say this is not what i had in mind.
Herbal Chicken - Generous servings of chicken and the option to ask for more herbal soup make this a clear winner. The chicken meat did come across as a tad tough though and the herbal soup a little to light on my palates but otherwise, a simple and good dish that is easily enjoyed.
Sesame and peanut paste - Sesame mixed with peanut in paste form as a dessert is totally new for me. The taste is somewhat familiar yet foreign as you can taste both the items in the mixture. The result is interesting but not something i would try again.
The bill for 3 came up to $37.13 for me, my gf and her mother. I'm the only big eater there though so take your chances if you want to try replicating the feat.
Not too expensive and serving decent cantonese food. The set meal surprised me by being good value for money and actually served 3 people instead of 2. The variety it came with was decent as well though there were still a few hits and misses. For the price though, its difficult to find the same offering elsewhere. Decent, not outstanding but always worth a try.
Lerk Thai literally means "select thai" and is a subsidiary of Select Catering services limited. The executive chef is reportedly a chef that served in the royal thai household before coming to helm the position in Singapore. So how does it fair in comparison the Lemon Grass? Carry on reading then.
During lunch, the place was quiet and had only about 5 patrons. Interior was furnished in a modern Thai style and had a generally clean and comfortable look.
Thai Prawn Crackers ($1) - Nope, the crackers are not free but aren't too expensive either. The crackers were fragrant, spicy and crunchy but did not come with any sauce like those served in Lemongrass. Still pretty good though.
Yam Som O/ Pomelo Salad ($3 each) - For appetizers, we ordered the Pomelo salad to whet our appetites. It came looking simply delightful with a orange peel holder , stuffed to the top with Pomelo in peanut and sweet sauce. The shrimp was fresh as well but only half was served which detracts from the points. Taste wise, it was an interesting blend of sweet and sour with a strong peanut taste which leaves a fresh taste in your mouth. Do try this.
Pineapple Rice ($8.50) - Their rendition had a stronger pineapple taste as compared to Lemongrass's rendition. It was a little sour and had more shrimp even though the portion was smaller. I personally found this version of it better then Lemongrass as it had an abundance of sweet pork floss and dried raisins. Still can't quite compare to the authentic ones i've had in Thailand however. One complaint i'd like to bring up is the use of pineapple casing for the rice, aesthetics aside, the casing only causes the rice to be spilled over when scooped and generally causes a mess.
Beef Hor Fan ($6.50) - I was intrigued by how a Thai beef hor fan should taste like when i ordered this and was promptly disappointed. It doesn't taste any different from our run of the mill hor fan and in fact, tastes a little worse since its too salty. Portions of beef were generous but lacked taste as well. Not recommended to try.
Tom Yam Soup ($2 due to promotion, normal price $8) - The tom yam soup was quite spicy even though all we ordered was the clear version. And at $2, this is quite a steal as the seafood present in it was plentiful and the portion could have filled 4 small bowls. It is readily evident that there are at least, 2 prawns, fish, lemon grass, squid and some mushrooms in it. Their rendition is more spicy then Lemon grass but less sour and less body as well. For the price, however, i'm not really complaining. Last i saw, the promotion has since been taken off though.
Total bill came up to $28.25 for 2 people. Not too expensive and totally suits their vision of being priced for mid range customers.
For a mid ranged Thai restaurant, Lerk Thai has quite a lot going for it. Nice ambiance, relaxed setting, reasonably priced food and is generally decent tasting. The experience i had was pleasant but comparing food wise, Lemon Grass is still the clear winner. Lemon Grass, however belongs to a more up market pricing so do take note. You can view my visit to Lemon Grass here.
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90) It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90) A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry. Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90) It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
Ever since the previous visit to Waraku, i've been pining for the next outing to reconfirm my impressions of the place. This time, i brought my entire family there for dinner since its my sister's birthday and was hoping for the same treatment of good Japanese cuisine as my first visit. You can view my first impressions here.
Parking space was abundant when we arrived at approximately 6pm but was soon taken up as the dinner crowd came in. The same goes for space within the restaurant as there were plenty of space which was quickly filled up within minutes after we arrived. The place looks decidedly grander since it occupies a themed building all by itself and is finished with wooden furniture for an authentic Japanese feel. However, it was also more cramped then the cuppage branch and somehow did not project an image of being a relaxing venue.
Iced Coffee ($3.80) - I've said it before and i'll say it again. Never order drinks in a restaurant unless you want to order wine or feel as though you have too much money. The coffee was tasteless at best and is a wonderful example of wasting money.
Tonkatsu Set ($15.50) - My father and sister had this set but he said it wasn't anything special. The Japanese curry and sticky rice did not appeal to him as he prefers his curry spicy. The katsu was juicy, lightly battered and tender but otherwise a tad too oily. My sister enjoyed it but said it could have been better.
Yasai Curry Udon ($10.80) - My mother's a vegetarian and so this suited her perfectly. The Udon came in a huge bowl and was filled with mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes and assorted greens to go with the slightly thin udon. I found it quite sour and mildly spicy which makes for an appetizing meal. My mom was quite taken with it as well.
Gyu Yanagawa Wazen with Cold Soba ($16 2) - This is the reason why i returned to this restaurant and this time, the experience is somewhat muted due to the fact that the table was packed with food but they still kept adding our orders when they should have waited. That aside, the beef was as tasty as ever and the stock is still sweet. The cold soba however, was an unworthy introduction as it just doesn't taste authentic enough. I still prefer Cha Soba instead.
Ebi Cheese Curry Udon ($10.80) - My gf took a surprise turn this time around and chose to have udon instead of Katsu. I must say she makes interesting and good choices as the Ebi Cheese curry udon turned out pretty good. The ebi (or prawns/shrimps) were big, crunchy, fresh and sweet which complemented the cheese curry well. The curry was thick and tasted of garlic and cheese with a little sour vinegar taste to add variety. Nicely done but portion could be bigger.
Potato Mentai ($8.80) - This item drew lots of heat on me as nobody seemed to liked it. Everyone felt that the fish eggs (the pink little dots you see) gave the cheese and potatoes a fishy and revolting smell and taste. It is indeed so after the first few bites and the smell lingers long after the dish is finished. Its basically just potatoes heated in a pan with oil, fish eggs and cheese. Not worth the money nor agony involved in finishing it.
Salmon Teriyaki ($8.80) - This was ridiculous when it was served. The serving was terribly small and felt like a rip off from the start. Upon the taste test, it did have the usual teriyaki trappings but i felt the meat was too dry. Overall, my money is better off ordering other stuff.
Soft Shell Crab ($6.80) - I can sum up the soft shell crab in two words: Overly Fried. It was so crunchy i couldn't make out the taste of crab at all. Not something i will try again here, the Ichiban Boshi rendition is a little better since it comes in bigger portions.
Salmon Cheese with Tartar Sauce ($6.80) - Thin, crisp bread batter with 2 slice of salmon and cheese in the middle. Deep fry it and serve with lemon and tartar sauce. This is hardly worth the money to eat given that its such a simple dish. Nonetheless, its tastes like fishy Mcnuggets and wasn't too bad. Just not worth an order.
Agedashi Tofu ($6.80) - I guess you just can't go wrong with tofu. Soft, silky and hot. The tofu was as good as the cuppage branch as well. Portion size is still a problem though as this works out to be close to $1.75 a tofu which is darn expensive.
Renkon Chips ($4.80) - Lotus root in thin slices deep fried in oil. Somehow, deep frying seems like a popular way of cooking these days. Anyway, this was surprisingly nice and light. The chips literally melt and disappear the moment you chew or bite on it, leaving a taste of lotus on your tongue. However, you really can do this on your own at home, so save the money and just get on with it yourself.
Surprisingly, after all those orders and food, the bill only came to $139. I wouldn't call it a fulfilling meal but it got the job done.
Though it goes by the same name and cuisine, the experience i had here was much less pleasurable due in part to the constantly shouting serving staff and the really small table we had. The food was still decent but i did realise that if you are not a beef lover, do stay away as the value drops considerably when you order the non beef items. The only items i found decent this time round was the ebi cheese and the yasai curry udon, obviously my beef dish was still good but everything else was mediocre. The serving staff also needs to learn that when the table is full, stop bringing orders out. I would say the place is still good but i'm not returning to this branch ever again. It was a much better experience at cuppage.
1=SGD 0.0587
If you ever take a stroll down Telok Ayer Street on a quiet Sunday evening when most of the shops are closed, you will notice a small shop with a brightly lighted blue signboard which is packed with people. The signboard reads Bee Heong Palace Restaurant. Known to many of the older generation as one of the finer Hokkien restaurants around, it used to be located at PIL building along Cecil Street for quite a number of years, but has since shifted to its current smaller premises. On this sleepy evening, we were lucky to get a table without making reservations.
As mentioned earlier, the place is small. And by that, I mean cramp. You probably can fit about 30 people indoors and thats already a very generous estimate. I understand that they do have tables upstairs, but I didn't get a chance to go up, so no comments.
Haer Zhor - Prawn Rolls - This was probably one of the better dishes of the night. The skin was crispy and the filling had lots of bite due to the high proportion of minced meat. Here comes the problem. There was so much meat in the filling that I couldn't really make out any prawns except for small bits of shrimps hidden within the filling. Why call it Haer Zhor or Prawn Rolls when there hardly seem to be any prawns around?
Hokkien Mee - As the name of this dish suggests, its a must order when having Hokkien cuisine. The gravy appeared quite thick and starchy at first sight, but was in fact rather watery and tasted quite bland. The noodles tasted rather flat and didn't have the slight bitter aftertaste that I personally prefer. An above average rendition, but maybe I've eaten more than my fair share of Hokkien Mee to not be impressed by it.
Stir Fried Baby Kailan - The simplest dish, yet the dish I liked the best. Green and bursting with freshness, the Kailian was stir fried just right with oyster sauce, fried onions and garlic. A no frills yet delightful dish.
Fish Maw Soup - he soup was easy on the starch but tasted quite normal. There were but a few slices of Fish Maw, but then again, what do you expect for a $3 a bowl soup? However, I would have liked it better if the slices of Fish Maw were slightly crispy, like the one I had at Beng Hiang.
Kong Ba Pao - The key to increasing your cholesterol level and waistline served in the disguise of a soft and fluffy Pao. We had a small serving of it and was disgusted. First of all, the meat was ridiculously fatty. I estimated about 75% of the meat was fats. 50% is still marginally acceptable, but 75%? I really don't wish to die of a heart attack before I'm 30. Secondly, the gravy, which plays a pivotal role in this dish, was bland. No matter how much gravy I splashed onto the Pao, the taste was still very sublime.
Dinner didn't cost us a cent because it was a treat from my mum's boss(many thanks!) who we happened to bump into at the restaurant, but judging from the listed prices in the menu, it would have come up to about $40 for 3 pax, which is rather inexpensive. To be fair, the food wasn't really up to standard, but I would probably give it another chance(I'll order other dishes of course) since it comes highly recommended by my mum, who has dined there quite a few times.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Decided to try some traditional Hokkien cuisine and where better to try it than the famous Beng Hiang Restaurant. It is renowned for it's excellent culinary skills in Hokkien fare and it is no secret that even UOB's chairman and CEO, Mr Wee Cho Yaw, dines there frequently. We made a reservation for 2000hrs and got there about 5 mins late and believe me when I say this, the place was packed to the brim with people and the place had at least 40 tables! Thank goodness we had a reservation.
Our orders were taken promptly and we had most of their signature dishes, (We would have liked to try more, but our stomachs and pockets were constrained)which included - Ngo Hiang with Har Cho, Hokkien Mee, Oyster Omelette, Kong Ba Pao and Fish Maw Soup.
The Ngo Hiang with Har Cho was very good. The Ngo Hiang was very cripsy and crunchy while the Har Cho was crispy and filled with shrimps. The Har Cho went well with the plum sauce provided. Very fresh with no taste of reused oil at all, unlike others that I have tried. The Hokkien Mee was tasty with the gravy a little starchy and the Mee chewy and eggy. This is something different from the usual Hokkien Mee which is often very oily. Oyster Omelettes are usually soft, so it came as a surprise when the Oyster Omelette served was thin and crispy which was just heavenly. The oysters were also larger than the small ones you get outside.
Delicious doesn't even begin to describe the Fish Maw Soup. It looked and tasted a little like sharks fin soup except that it had fish maw and egg in it. Thick, marginally starchy and full of flavour. This is one thing you definitely have to try. The Kong Ba Pao was also nicely done. The Kong Ba was evenly layered and it was melt in your mouth kind of tender. I usually have reservations about eating such high cholesteral food, but now I'm a convert!
Overall it cost us about $80 for 5 pax, which all of us unanimously agreed that it was worth the money and that the food was good. Don't bring your date for a romantic dinner though, because it's heck of a noisy there, unless the both of you are just looking for good food. I will unbashedly declare that I'll be back to try the other dishes, namely the suckling pig. And oh yes, there's no service charge as well, which is a plus. Try this place out, you won't regret it.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Twas the night before Christmas and most restaurants were fully booked for the yuletide season. I got lucky and managed to squeeze in a table at IL Lido, which incidentally was the venue of my last Christmas dinner. To see my previous writeup on IL Lido, click here. On a side note, I realised that there was a downsizing in the number of courses from 5 last year to 4 this year. So much for inflation.
The interior was as I had remembered it to be, simple yet oozing unadulterated chic. I did find the spacing between tables a lot narrower now (maybe I just expanded horizontally), which made eavesdropping an interesting after dinner pastime (pun intended). The outdoor seating promises a view of the Singapore Straits and if you are lucky, some cooling breeze. The interior on the other hand, is filled with nice cool air but comes without much of a view.
Complimentary Bread - I am pleased to say that the complimentary bread was still up to standard. Thin and crispy with lots of bite, it helped us quash our hunger as we waited for the dishes to be served.
Home Made Tagliolini with Live Lobster and Green Asparagus Tips - I wasn't too impressed by this dish as the texture of the Taglionlini tasted like wanton noodles to me. That's not to say that it wasn't good though, coming across as springy, full of bite and light on the palate. Something could be done about the sweetness of the lobster though.
Goose Liver with Pears and Marsala Wine Sauce - I'm no expert in foie gras but I do feel that it could have been more quivery and smooth. However, on a lighter note, it went very well with the pear and marsala wine sauce, which by nature was fairly sweet.
Roast Turkey Stuffed with Pancetta and Truffle, Apple and Chestnut Puree - For mains, you either get the turkey or the cod and since I'm not a fan of fish, I chose the former. The turkey was a delight if I may say so, with the meat tender and juicy and the stuffing of pancetta, truffle, apple and chestnut puree adding a nice touch of sweetness and texture. Pity about the small serving.
Pan Roasted Atlantic Cod with Porcini Mushrooms and Potato Cream - This was probably one of the weirdest cod fish that I've ever tasted to date. Firstly, it reeked of the raw fish taste that I personally dislike and secondly, the flesh tasted very soft and mashed up, which together with the equally soft potato cream, made me nauseous.
Chocolate Souffle with Wild Berries and Caramel Sauce - Aesthetically pleasing, the chocolate souffle came served under an intricate red basket made of sugar. The crust of the souffle was a little soft and pudding like, which was quite a bummer but as I broke into it, mounds of chocolate oozed out. Simply decadent!
I would have hoped that with the parring down of the menu for the same price, food quality would have stayed consistent or even gone up a notch. However, this was obviously not the case, with dinner merely slightly above average and weighing in at $245 with a glass of dessert wine. I'll probably be trying somewhere else next year.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Vansh is an Indian Restaurant that combines the traditional Indian food with modern dining concepts. With a neon-green open kitchen in the centre that has glass surrounding it, there are even bar seats where you can watch your food being prepared up close. If you're worried about getting "smoked" or smelling like you've just stepped out of a BBQ party, don't worry as the real cooking is done in the regular kitchen nearby. If bar seats are not your fancy, you can choose to have the indoor couches or the al fresco seats. Dimly lit, it's a great place to chill, but not quite for photo-taking. (as you can see from my pictures)
We dropped in without a reservation on Christmas Eve. Luckily we were pretty early and the place was quite empty when we got there. The wierd thing was that it got filled with family-types close to 9pm.
The staff were mostly native Indian and were very polite. I liked the ambience very much. It was cosy and still had an Indian flavour to it.
There was quite a selection of food and we took some time to decide. We were also given complimentary rolls (I don't know what they are called) and a variety of dips as starters. We certainly enjoyed trying all the dips.
Food Ordered:
Honey Kulzza $9
This was a a pizza like bread covered with honey, tomatoes, coriander and onion seeds. I liked it very much. It wasn't overly sweet. This alone could be a meal for a small-eater as it was enough for the two of us to share.
Tandoori Mushroom $13
These are fresh button mushrooms covered in herbed cheese marinade. Honestly? They did look quite ugly on the plate. But once they are in your mouth, it's very nice. Despite looking very dry, the button mushroom is still juicy and chewy, which gives it a different texture from its outer covering.
Chicken Tikka Masala $18
Recommended by the staff, this consists of tandoori marinated chicken cooked with capsicum in a flavourful tomato masala. MMmM I'm still thinking of this one... it was spicy but not the kind to make your hair stand. The chicken was still tender. The masala was perfect for us to dip our naans in.
Plain (X1) and Butter naans (X1) $4 each
The naans were thick and fluffy, served nicely in a basket. Actually the plain one was enough for the two of us. But we had so much masala left we ordered the garlic one too! The Butter one was more oily than the plain one (obviously) and I think I would have rather stuck to the plain one.
Virgin Colada $9
My companion had no complaints about this drink. It was just a little overly sourish but there was a strong coconut flavour which appealed.
Tulsi Sherbet $9
A mix of basil, lemon, ginger and spices all blended to give a delightfully sourish drink. I'd say this drink was a good accompaniment to the food. I wouldn't order this if I weren't eating though.
Good service throughout our time there. When I dropped the naan on my lap the staff was alert enough to hurry over quickly and offer me another napkin. We were also given little party sets since it was Christmas Eve.
So good service, good food and good ambience. All for $78, inclusive of service charge and GST. I wouldn't say it was expensive, but it is above average. I would have given it 5-stars if it were more convenient. But the waterfront location made it quite romantic to have a leisurely walk after dinner. Worth a try definitely.
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I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered:
Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts
The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah
I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise
This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean
A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy.
Tapioca for Dessert
About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be.
Lemongrass Drink
Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Rating given:
Cheap cantonese cuisine is few and far between but Bi Feng Tang seeks to change that. The Century Square outlet opened in December 2004 and has been there ever since, offering Hong Kong style food at semi affordable prices. This is not my first visit here but is my first official blogging visit, does its standard hold up after 3 years? Thats what we are going to find out.
Pickles ($1) - Well, pickles are never free it seems. Not that there's much to complain for a $1 charge on compulsory pickles, but some choice would be appreciated. That said, the pickles are suitably sour but my gf tasted some detergent in them? Either way, it served its purpose of given me a growling tummy for the dishes to follow.
Sze Chuan Spicy Beef ($4) - I actually expected alot more than what was served but i've never tried enough Sze Chuan Spicy Beef enough to know if the dish was a failure or a success. Found in the appetizer section of the menu, i should have realized it would come in small portions and it did. Six slices in all, it was not much to look at and tasted weird. Spicy, sour and extremely salty, this is not what i can recommend. Add the fact that you can't taste the beef and you have something ingrained in your mind never to order again.
Fried Rice With Crab Meat and Roasted Pork (Set menu for 2, $28.80) - Do not be deceived by the way the shot looks, the rice is actually very nicely done. Soft, fragrant and packed with ingredients, this is better then the one i had in Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao. This only complaint i have for the rice is how tasteless the crab meat really is, other then that, this fried rice is simply tasty enough for a second visit.
Pineapple Fried With Pork Rib - Honestly, not very well done. The meat was tough and sour due to either the meat being not fresh or the overuse of pineapple, which does not mask the refrigerated taste in the end. Its also overly sweet and oily which just doesn't do it for me.
Braised Tofu With Seafood and Quail Egg - I really liked this tofu, though not comparable to gourmet tofu's like Hai Tien Lo or even Hua Ting, this is decent. What really got me going for it was the generous braised seafood and the nicely done quail eggs and stock. Overall, this goes well with rice or any other accompaniment. Something i can have again when i visit.
Mixed Roast Meat - For this dish, you are given a choice of having duck, Char Siew or San Chen Rou. We selected the Char Siew and Duck meat for more variety and balance. The good news is, we got the balance. The bad news is, the char siew was supremely hard for some reason and the duck meat had a very thick layer of fats under the skin. Suffice to say this is not what i had in mind.
Herbal Chicken - Generous servings of chicken and the option to ask for more herbal soup make this a clear winner. The chicken meat did come across as a tad tough though and the herbal soup a little to light on my palates but otherwise, a simple and good dish that is easily enjoyed.
Sesame and peanut paste - Sesame mixed with peanut in paste form as a dessert is totally new for me. The taste is somewhat familiar yet foreign as you can taste both the items in the mixture. The result is interesting but not something i would try again.
The bill for 3 came up to $37.13 for me, my gf and her mother. I'm the only big eater there though so take your chances if you want to try replicating the feat.
Not too expensive and serving decent cantonese food. The set meal surprised me by being good value for money and actually served 3 people instead of 2. The variety it came with was decent as well though there were still a few hits and misses. For the price though, its difficult to find the same offering elsewhere. Decent, not outstanding but always worth a try.
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Lerk Thai literally means "select thai" and is a subsidiary of Select Catering services limited. The executive chef is reportedly a chef that served in the royal thai household before coming to helm the position in Singapore. So how does it fair in comparison the Lemon Grass? Carry on reading then.
During lunch, the place was quiet and had only about 5 patrons. Interior was furnished in a modern Thai style and had a generally clean and comfortable look.
Thai Prawn Crackers ($1) - Nope, the crackers are not free but aren't too expensive either. The crackers were fragrant, spicy and crunchy but did not come with any sauce like those served in Lemongrass. Still pretty good though.
Yam Som O/ Pomelo Salad ($3 each) - For appetizers, we ordered the Pomelo salad to whet our appetites. It came looking simply delightful with a orange peel holder , stuffed to the top with Pomelo in peanut and sweet sauce. The shrimp was fresh as well but only half was served which detracts from the points. Taste wise, it was an interesting blend of sweet and sour with a strong peanut taste which leaves a fresh taste in your mouth. Do try this.
Pineapple Rice ($8.50) - Their rendition had a stronger pineapple taste as compared to Lemongrass's rendition. It was a little sour and had more shrimp even though the portion was smaller. I personally found this version of it better then Lemongrass as it had an abundance of sweet pork floss and dried raisins. Still can't quite compare to the authentic ones i've had in Thailand however. One complaint i'd like to bring up is the use of pineapple casing for the rice, aesthetics aside, the casing only causes the rice to be spilled over when scooped and generally causes a mess.
Beef Hor Fan ($6.50) - I was intrigued by how a Thai beef hor fan should taste like when i ordered this and was promptly disappointed. It doesn't taste any different from our run of the mill hor fan and in fact, tastes a little worse since its too salty. Portions of beef were generous but lacked taste as well. Not recommended to try.
Tom Yam Soup ($2 due to promotion, normal price $8) - The tom yam soup was quite spicy even though all we ordered was the clear version. And at $2, this is quite a steal as the seafood present in it was plentiful and the portion could have filled 4 small bowls. It is readily evident that there are at least, 2 prawns, fish, lemon grass, squid and some mushrooms in it. Their rendition is more spicy then Lemon grass but less sour and less body as well. For the price, however, i'm not really complaining. Last i saw, the promotion has since been taken off though.
Total bill came up to $28.25 for 2 people. Not too expensive and totally suits their vision of being priced for mid range customers.
For a mid ranged Thai restaurant, Lerk Thai has quite a lot going for it. Nice ambiance, relaxed setting, reasonably priced food and is generally decent tasting. The experience i had was pleasant but comparing food wise, Lemon Grass is still the clear winner. Lemon Grass, however belongs to a more up market pricing so do take note. You can view my visit to Lemon Grass here.
Rating given:
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90)
It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90)
A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry.
Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90)
It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Rating given:
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Ever since the previous visit to Waraku, i've been pining for the next outing to reconfirm my impressions of the place. This time, i brought my entire family there for dinner since its my sister's birthday and was hoping for the same treatment of good Japanese cuisine as my first visit. You can view my first impressions here.
Parking space was abundant when we arrived at approximately 6pm but was soon taken up as the dinner crowd came in. The same goes for space within the restaurant as there were plenty of space which was quickly filled up within minutes after we arrived. The place looks decidedly grander since it occupies a themed building all by itself and is finished with wooden furniture for an authentic Japanese feel. However, it was also more cramped then the cuppage branch and somehow did not project an image of being a relaxing venue.
Iced Coffee ($3.80) - I've said it before and i'll say it again. Never order drinks in a restaurant unless you want to order wine or feel as though you have too much money. The coffee was tasteless at best and is a wonderful example of wasting money.
Tonkatsu Set ($15.50) - My father and sister had this set but he said it wasn't anything special. The Japanese curry and sticky rice did not appeal to him as he prefers his curry spicy. The katsu was juicy, lightly battered and tender but otherwise a tad too oily. My sister enjoyed it but said it could have been better.
Yasai Curry Udon ($10.80) - My mother's a vegetarian and so this suited her perfectly. The Udon came in a huge bowl and was filled with mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes and assorted greens to go with the slightly thin udon. I found it quite sour and mildly spicy which makes for an appetizing meal. My mom was quite taken with it as well.
Gyu Yanagawa Wazen with Cold Soba ($16 2) - This is the reason why i returned to this restaurant and this time, the experience is somewhat muted due to the fact that the table was packed with food but they still kept adding our orders when they should have waited. That aside, the beef was as tasty as ever and the stock is still sweet. The cold soba however, was an unworthy introduction as it just doesn't taste authentic enough. I still prefer Cha Soba instead.
Ebi Cheese Curry Udon ($10.80) - My gf took a surprise turn this time around and chose to have udon instead of Katsu. I must say she makes interesting and good choices as the Ebi Cheese curry udon turned out pretty good. The ebi (or prawns/shrimps) were big, crunchy, fresh and sweet which complemented the cheese curry well. The curry was thick and tasted of garlic and cheese with a little sour vinegar taste to add variety. Nicely done but portion could be bigger.
Potato Mentai ($8.80) - This item drew lots of heat on me as nobody seemed to liked it. Everyone felt that the fish eggs (the pink little dots you see) gave the cheese and potatoes a fishy and revolting smell and taste. It is indeed so after the first few bites and the smell lingers long after the dish is finished. Its basically just potatoes heated in a pan with oil, fish eggs and cheese. Not worth the money nor agony involved in finishing it.
Salmon Teriyaki ($8.80) - This was ridiculous when it was served. The serving was terribly small and felt like a rip off from the start. Upon the taste test, it did have the usual teriyaki trappings but i felt the meat was too dry. Overall, my money is better off ordering other stuff.
Soft Shell Crab ($6.80) - I can sum up the soft shell crab in two words: Overly Fried. It was so crunchy i couldn't make out the taste of crab at all. Not something i will try again here, the Ichiban Boshi rendition is a little better since it comes in bigger portions.
Salmon Cheese with Tartar Sauce ($6.80) - Thin, crisp bread batter with 2 slice of salmon and cheese in the middle. Deep fry it and serve with lemon and tartar sauce. This is hardly worth the money to eat given that its such a simple dish. Nonetheless, its tastes like fishy Mcnuggets and wasn't too bad. Just not worth an order.
Agedashi Tofu ($6.80) - I guess you just can't go wrong with tofu. Soft, silky and hot. The tofu was as good as the cuppage branch as well. Portion size is still a problem though as this works out to be close to $1.75 a tofu which is darn expensive.
Renkon Chips ($4.80) - Lotus root in thin slices deep fried in oil. Somehow, deep frying seems like a popular way of cooking these days. Anyway, this was surprisingly nice and light. The chips literally melt and disappear the moment you chew or bite on it, leaving a taste of lotus on your tongue. However, you really can do this on your own at home, so save the money and just get on with it yourself.
Surprisingly, after all those orders and food, the bill only came to $139. I wouldn't call it a fulfilling meal but it got the job done.
Though it goes by the same name and cuisine, the experience i had here was much less pleasurable due in part to the constantly shouting serving staff and the really small table we had. The food was still decent but i did realise that if you are not a beef lover, do stay away as the value drops considerably when you order the non beef items. The only items i found decent this time round was the ebi cheese and the yasai curry udon, obviously my beef dish was still good but everything else was mediocre. The serving staff also needs to learn that when the table is full, stop bringing orders out. I would say the place is still good but i'm not returning to this branch ever again. It was a much better experience at cuppage.
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