If you would really enjoy a mouthful of italian food without owning an italian chef boyfriend, then PastaMania is the most convenient choice. You don't have to speak the romantic language of italiano to enjoy the hot kisses of spicy Sicilian seafood AglioOlio or the stinky cheesy breath of the mix of cheeses on that freshly baked Mediterranean pizza that left a sleazy clue on the crease on your lips.
The closest italian staples at the most affordable prices I can find, the varieties on the menu just made me hope I really do have an inflatable tummy. Appetizers was a good choice of more than 10 items yet I still ended up with a minestrone soup and a chicken caesar salad with bits of bacon. Soup was thin and watery while the salad was really crunchy and tasty with bouncy boiled eggs, just the way Caesar himself might like it.
Well, there were many pasta and pizza choices to choose from, yet with a big group, we could always do what the skinny girls does, to order and to share less we weren't too skinny and would usually over-order, which we eventually did. OVER-ORDERED. so here goes the list:
Chicken Ham & Sausage Baked Rice - was a pipping hot cheesy dish with loads of yummy soft rice underneath all that mess. Cream based, extremely tasty and cheesy, while the ham and sausages just pairs on well with the bits of mushrooms. Portion was a little small as the dish was rather shallow.
Vongole in a white wine sauce - pasta was well made to the right hardness and sauce was light but tasty. The clams chewy and rather brought with it the tasty sense of the ocean. Great portion and lots of clam, just without the wow factor.
Sicilian Spaghetti from the set menu of the day is a seafood angel hair pasta which is spiced nicely with a balanced amount of light chili and spices tossed lightly with olive oil and some chuncks of tomatoes and capsicum for that exotic look. Its yummy, light and healthy. Wonderful choice out of all we have chosen.
Meat Lover meaty pizza is one that was pretty disappointing. The crust was great, crispy and tasty, cheeses regular but the meat topping were hams and sausages and seriously lacking some real MEAT. So we suggest... to bring on some REAL MEAT!
Beverages were not much of a choice from canned drinks but they do have some interesting cocktails to choose from, love the strawberry soda thingee.. It was refreshing.
Meanwhile, the ambiance was nice and the sitting adequate even for big groups of 10 or 16s. Seats were casual and place is rather clean, its not too noisy, perhaps because we were the noise makers and the service is rather quick. Water and cutlery are self serve and order and make payment at the counter. Food portion was okay and I think its a great place for a get together rowdy kinda gatherings. Love the choices love the food and the italian look of the entire restaurant.
Step back in time for a cuppa coffee one lazy afternoon at the colonial styled building where Starbucks resides amidst the greenery and the squeaky insects calling. This is the most charming Starbucks outlet i've ever came across in Singapore. The location is kinda on a low hill and is almost too perfect except being obscured by the other higher buildings built in front of it.
Flushed in white with the prominent dark Starbuck's Green showing up in logos and gazebos, this is not a small outlet with plenty of seats indoor and outdoors for people who love to enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee and a book. Outdoor decked seats kept cool with some fan and the green surroundings while the indoor air-conditioned cushioned seats is just like a huge living room. Head up to the second floor and find yourself in a huge lounging living room as though an excerpt from your english novel (the gentlemen's card room). Lots of seats with various comfort level and well arranged space for easy moving around. There is also a non-aircon balcony area which overlooks the green surrounding down the hill which is the favorite spot for many. There are ample powerpoints if you need to charge your phones or power for laptops and seats are pretty mobile except for the lounging sofas, great for big groups. Noise is not very well contained with the high ceilings, so its important not to speak too loudly.
We find more food choices here as with the other outlets with lots of hot dishes to choose from such as lasagna, hot sandwiches and of course the regular cakes, biscuits, muffins and other coffee pairing desserts. The coffee menu is the standard menu like every outlet while I always love a good cuppa cappuccino with a coffee chiffon cake and a fantasy book for my weekend afternoons. Most cakes served in coffee delis are usually cheese or chocolate fudge cakes which is heavy and usually served cold rather I was surprised that their coffee chiffon cake is a good balance of a lightweight chiffon mildly coffee scented with a buttery cream top and walnuts that brings a soothing nutty taste without the crunch. The entire cake is soft but not limp, mildly flavored but not blend, eventful but not rich, the taste and texture blended very well and is tantalizing but not overpowering. Really good cake I must say.
This is going to be my secret haunt, though already home for many, I'm joining in the gang. Really exceptionally charming location. By the way, service was fast and friendly with large smiles and accented english everywhere however, it takes a little more effort to clear the tables and to keep the cafe clean :)
It was the F1 weekend again and we didn't fancy going into town for our dim sum fix. And so we decided on Ba Xian, the flagship Chinese restaurant at Tower Club. It helped that they were offering a 50% discount on dim sum for weekends only.
The lifts take you up to the entrance of Tower Club on the 62nd floor. From there, you take an internal lift from the club's lobby to the 63rd floor where Ba Xian is located. The furnishing is plush with full length windows that look out into the South China Sea. There are capsule like seats for 2 that offer a somewhat quirky dining experience.
Crispy Cuttlefish - Nicely seasoned but the flour coating was a tad too thick for my liking and so was the oil content. Makes you sick after a while.
Pork Belly Char Siew - The BBQ pork belly had a proportionate fat to meat ratio which made for great texture. However, the meat was rather bland and lacked any sweetness that I would usually associate with char siew.
Roasted Pork Belly - Although I love my sio bak, this was honestly a little hard to stomach and both of us were struggling to finish all 12 cubes of it. Sure, the skin was crispy but it was a tad too thick and dry for my liking. Also, as with the char siew, the meat was almost tasteless. A little more salt perhaps?
Pork & Century Egg Congee - Apart from the sticky texture of porridge that I personally like, this dish was average tasting with quantity of ingredients bordering on miserly.
Prawn with Crab Meat - Generous serving of prawns and crab meat stuffed within the crispy deep fried shell but strangely enough, there was a rather strong ginger aftertaste which I didn't like. Thank god for mayonnaise.
Sweet Corn Cake - This was the first time seeing sweet corn cake on a dim sum menu so thought it would be interesting to give it a go. Alas, it tasted like normal carrot cake with sweet corn and tiny bits of Chinese sausage embedded within. Texture wasn't exactly smooth but overall still palatable.
Chee Cheong Fun -The chee cheong fun came in 3 varieties of filling - char siew, scallop and prawn. For starters, the cheong fun was a little too thick but I was impressed by the generous amounts of scallop and char siew within. This was one of the rare occasions where I could actually make out the texture and taste of the scallop wrapped within. That said, the prawn filling was rather underwhelming though.
Siew Mai - Served with a slice of topshell, the siew mai was decent without coming across as too oily.
Har Gao - Instead of the de facto prawn taste that I was expecting, the har gao tasted overwhelming of vegetables instead. And the thicker than expected skin didn't help matters.
Mini Egg Tartlets - After the repertoire of dismal dim sum items, we almost gave up but decided to give the egg tarts a shot. It was decent without the custard being cloyingly sweet whilst the pastry had a nice flaky texture but lacked the oven baked taste that I personally like.
Even with 7 items at 50% off, the two of us still managed to chalk up a bill of $94, which is terribly expensive for the quality of food. Service and ambience is great but that hardly justifies the ridiculous price tag. So much for the positive online reviews.
Ever wondered why Cordon Bleu is a chicken dish? I was puzzled when the friendly server kept asking me if I wanted that.. I always associated Cordon Bleu with a spirited drink and perhaps an alcohol laced dish, but this is neither.
We wanted to eat at a queueless place and this is all we got on a weekday evening. Though the space is large and seats plentiful, staff is low as such service is rather draggy, though we could understand and with good control of our hunger pangs and some patience, we managed to get a seat after waiting for about 10 mins. The place was large and there are plenty seats but the staff is but 2 lady and a guy yet, the lady who served us with super huge eyes is efficient, friendly and speaks very fast.
We ordered their speciality, fish and chips and cordon bleu chicken as promoted to us by the big eyed girl! It was a set meal and we both had fizzy peach to go with our meals. The soup of the day, a savoury and creamy mushroom soup with bits of mushrooms is yummy and smooth.
Shortly the cordon bleu chicken arrived. The chicken is a cheese and ham sandwiched breast meat of 2 pieces of chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes with sauteed mushroom and picked radish by the side complete with a bed of tossed greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The meat is a little too tough for my taste as I expected the filling to be more tender and juicy but it ain't. The mash is yummy and mushroom appetizing.
Fish and chip is served over tossed greens drizzled with the ever yummy balsamic vinegar. Though I hope they used less batter and more fish, the fish is tender and fresh with no fishy breaths.
The meal ended with a good note of the staff quickly clearing our table and topping up our ice water. It was a good experience and price is pretty worth for the portion. The seats are comfy and spacious able to house big groups however situated kindoff in the middle of nowhere, there is not much privacy, rather great for casual chit chats. Dessert choices were very few and the menu is rather confusing to read as its kinda in the form of a newsletter. So always ask the opinion of the staff on what is nice and they usually serve up a good meal for you.
The photos are all very dark... I Know... That is because it is really a very dark place, I mean its huge, on a rooftop and people are lazing on the super comfy sofas whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. It would be too rude for me to turn on my super bright flash and post a picture of many shocked stares and pissed looking faces here.
Its a cosy place, great for huge groups as the seats are easily low (great for the short guy, i mean whats with the high chairs?) and casual rooftop lazing couches, just like an alfresco living room at your roof top serving the chic drinks and you get to peep at hot looking strangers with the skirts riding way.... too high!
I mean you even have a personal lift that brings you up to the 3rd level which is also the highest on Odeon Towers (how inappropriately tower like). Piped music was a soothing modern jazz mix of instrumental beats and running bass, while the lightings somewhat reminded me of streetlights and a hue of orange and low riding yellows with trees and vegetations all around keeping the atmosphere moist and cool with a sense of obscurity.
We prayed that it didn't rain and it didn't, while we forgot to pray for seats, as such we ended up in a very cool indoor seating area which is a short corridor with huge glass windows overlooking the low buildings all the way till Marina Bay Sands, though the next door building blocked much of the view, yet I guess its a great location to view some fireworks during the celebratory seasons. Wowed by the privy cubicle like seating (that is a max for 5 persons) and the creatively posh seat arrangements utilizing every small space available. Comfy, posh yet private, its really a good design.
Drinks are a tad pricey, yet they serve up a good variety of classical whiskeys, gin, cognac and mostly bottled beers except for Asahi on the tap. $11 for a house pour, $15 for a shot of black label on ice, $16 for a bottle of erdinger, the drinks menu is substantial. Snacks and food are served and quite yummy with loads of choices and the occasional worry of Bird Shit, so eat it up fast.
Its a nice place, view is great, setting wonderful and location so convenient. Great place to chill alone or with friends. By the way, the waiters are just too too too cute of course not to mention friendly :)
Stylish outfits at a fraction of the price is what NewLook is offering. Always love their very stretchy and reasonably priced jeans as well as basic tanks and funky t-shirts. Love their wide ranged sizes as well as fanciful and bold coloured merchandises. Though this outlet is not their bigger outlet, it managed to still carry some accessories such as belts, necklaces, bracelets, clutches and other nick knacks to complete your look
Also do check out the footwear section that has endless display of heels, flats and other kind of shoes or sandles, matter of fact they have a wide array of sizes to fit all shape and sized women :) Stores on the linkway usually do not have much space for changing rooms yet the changing rooms here are spacious and plentiful. If you like something, simply head on to the changing room and i'm sure you could get a space and could spend some quality time identifying the item you need.
Service is usually smiley and friendly, not to forget the efficient cash counter that not only impressed me with their fast hands, but also their friendly disposition and no fail in asking me if i'm a member, introduce me the membership and the perks in a non-pushy way. Matter of fact I get that almost everytime when i purchase something at NEWLOOK. I personally find the sales of a better deal then paying the regular price with the discount card, however you might not get the sizing that you want. So far not yet any issues with the merchandisez I brought back so really good products, QC, return policy and service. (Fingers Crossed) very satisfied.
We were glad we chose to dine here as we were shown to a fairly large sitting area laced with wooden separators for privacy and comfy seats with ample space for our bags. Yes we girls do carry a little more than a kitchen sink in our little expensive handbags...
The menu was impressive with a good choice of raw, grilled, soup, boiled, skewered and pan fried items complete with a one for one deal on Sapporo draft beers and set meals. We took quite a while to decide and the friendly staff was kind enough to wait on us with patience (You know Girls and their Girlie talk...). So we decided to go for a omelette don set, one sashimi on rice set ($23.90) and two ladies (24.90) set which like us, is a little of everything, pretty, petite yet fulfilling. While we were told we actually qualify for a free 3 types sashimi, the girls became ecstatically happy... (you know squealing girl kinda happy).
So while we gladly chatter on a competition to the other tables of girls on our right, I realised the sound containment was pretty good. We could never hear what other tables were talking about, perhaps just the occasional exclaiming squeals of Joy. The deco was really nice, a mix of modern designs using traditional materials like wood and bamboo, recreating a traditional japanese cottage. While we appreciated every small detail of the deco entangled with bits and pieces of our life, the food arrived. First the free sashimi platter which was beautiful placed in a bowl the shape of an ingot (how auspicious) atop shaved ice and radish, then the sets. Beautifully designed with lots of little side dishes.
The sashimi is fresh, succulent and juicy while the omelate rice tasty and creamy. I love the sides the best. Each set came with a small portion of grilled boneless fish in teriyaki sauce which was extremely yummy. The ladies set ($23.90)is a pretty big set with a fruit jelly as dessert. Small petite dishes that contained a few sushi, some takoyaki, some grilled fish and a little bit of rice.
While we were about to finish our set, the staff was eager to remove our plates and bowls. I must say the service was really quick but rather we felt rushed to finish our food. Refilling of tea was a quick and prompt affair with frequent rounds made, we were very pleased with the service. Efficient and Friendly. 4 Set meals for 4 ladies cost us a total of $110. Which was pretty worth it as compared to the nice environment and free sashimi.
The spanking new Suntec Fountain Makan zone has got an incredible addition. Right opposite the Food Republic Food Court is this new concept called the BreadTalk Cafe. As the name suggested... Its a menu full of yummilicious baked stuffs, delicately designed cakes and pastries, not forgetting the ever so famous coffee. Its something like the toast box yet more english cultured and serves cafe like selections for your all day dining.
Loved the entrance to the cafe, instead of waiting to be seated, you could just easily grab a spot near the large glass wall facing the fountain. The seatees were poshed, lavishly cushioned and dimly lit for a dose of warm sunlight otherwise a romantic rainy afternoon tea.
The Portobello Party was one of my favourite appetizer which is a grilled portobello on a bed of greens garnished with savoury streaky bacons. Pumpkin soup was creamy and yummy while the prawn cake on toast is something deliciously special that I've never tried it elsewhere. Serving size was great for sharing as there is quite a few interesting selection on the menu but we wanted to leave space for dessert.
We ordered a brownie overload which we thought could be more exciting, yet it wasn't. The brownie was not as moist as it should be and the ice-cream placed at the side didn't look delectable at all. I always thought ice cream with brownie should be heaped into a superb mess of yumminess.
The entire meal here was nothing short of interesting. Love the seats, the location by the walkway yet the scenic view of the fountain, the menu selections were great and service was just so so though. Food was pretty much yummy though i expected for something with more of a WOW factor which I didn't get in the end. Pricing is pretty okay as the portion was good for 2 lady diners. We might come back for occasional afternoon teas as I still didn't manage to try anything from the cake displays.
Love the concept of this restaurant. You may order a main course which is mostly a bento set and you get to enjoy a free flow of appetizers, on top of that you could opt from free flow of drinks or one beer with a top up.
The seats were plenty and the ambience a casual jap restaurant, nothing fanciful with just table and chairs of ample space and lots of diners. I never had a chance as I was always put off by the long queue, however on this faithful day, i was earlier then usual and manage to secure a good seat for all the other babes that were coming.
We were shown to a seat that we could look down the mall and it was roomy yet private, great for discussing secrets. Shortly after we settled in, the menu was presented messily on the table. The menu was not much, some 34 main courses mostly repetitive, somewhat similar stuffs with different meats. I ended up with a sukiyaki beef which could never go wrong and yes, it arrived yummy as usual yet i wish there were more beef to go along. The rice was yummy and i was surprised! Well made with the right softness and stickiness, I must say pretty good rice. The curry chicken which my pal ordered was also yummy, curry of the right texture and taste while a huge drumstick sticks out of her claypot bowl made her very happy.
The free flow appetizers placed on a small island near the entrance comprises of a good choice, though not many varieties and the stuffs we love would be:
1) Fried Sweet Potato coated with brown sugar - crispy and tasty, imagine french fries but sweet and crunchy
2) Chawarmushi - Smooth, soft and tasty steam egg mix
3) Double boiled radish in miso with baby shrimps - radish is sweet and crunchy
4) Green tea dessert with powdery tang yuan - very matcha with tasty chewy balls
The free flow drinks serves up a good variety of soft drinks like ginger ale, ice lemon tea, coke, grape as well as freshly brewed coffee, many varieties of tea and warm water.
The place is casual and priced extremely well. Main courses are priced between $13.99 - $24.99 and additional of drinks with $2.99.
We talked and ate the free flows all the way till closing and before the closing of the appetizer bar, we were asked if we needed the last helping. I must say pretty good service. Will come back...
High Tea are important part of the entire shopping trip. While you splurge on the Christmas presents and almost anything your eyes takes fancy, you have got to seat and rest, chalk up the gossip scales and have a moment of guilt for not being the item you've seen previously and liked.
Situated right next to the escalator, this outlet serves up a good chinese, western fusion affair. The menu has confusing lots of yummy stuffs and extremely hongkonger dishes like instant noodles with SPAM or tea with coffee (yuan yang). Best of all, no queue and lots of seats to choose from. We managed to secure a nice cushion seat 2 for our bums and 2 for our shopping bags. Ordering is fast and the food arrived as quickly. I must say.... just like when I'm in HK.
We ordered a noodle with SPAM, which is pretty healthy and lots of veg, a side dish of something that looked like spring roll, which is a tad too oily for me, a french toast whom I find really special yummy and again Sinful.
The french toast I must eleborate. It is a cube of bread soaked in egg and deep fried. Served beautifully with maple syrup and a thick slice of butter melting on top. Eating this is a little messy and it is definitely good to share. The inside of the bread is soft and the extra butter makes it rich and creamier.
For desserts, we ordered a yuan yang which is something that gave my tastebuds a surprising confusion. Its a mixture of tea and coffee and tasted something I wouldn't know how to describe. The mango and pomelo dessert is also a clash of sweet and extreme sour. Sweet from the mango ice cream and the bits of pomelo is extremely sourish. They have these transparent balls that burst in your mouth, coating it with a layer of sourish something.
The overall experience was pleasant, it is a noisy place so good for gossiping about anything. Service is fast and price is reasonable. Great place if you enjoy eating food HK style
If you would really enjoy a mouthful of italian food without owning an italian chef boyfriend, then PastaMania is the most convenient choice. You don't have to speak the romantic language of italiano to enjoy the hot kisses of spicy Sicilian seafood AglioOlio or the stinky cheesy breath of the mix of cheeses on that freshly baked Mediterranean pizza that left a sleazy clue on the crease on your lips.
The closest italian staples at the most affordable prices I can find, the varieties on the menu just made me hope I really do have an inflatable tummy. Appetizers was a good choice of more than 10 items yet I still ended up with a minestrone soup and a chicken caesar salad with bits of bacon. Soup was thin and watery while the salad was really crunchy and tasty with bouncy boiled eggs, just the way Caesar himself might like it.
Well, there were many pasta and pizza choices to choose from, yet with a big group, we could always do what the skinny girls does, to order and to share less we weren't too skinny and would usually over-order, which we eventually did. OVER-ORDERED. so here goes the list:
Chicken Ham & Sausage Baked Rice - was a pipping hot cheesy dish with loads of yummy soft rice underneath all that mess. Cream based, extremely tasty and cheesy, while the ham and sausages just pairs on well with the bits of mushrooms. Portion was a little small as the dish was rather shallow.
Vongole in a white wine sauce - pasta was well made to the right hardness and sauce was light but tasty. The clams chewy and rather brought with it the tasty sense of the ocean. Great portion and lots of clam, just without the wow factor.
Sicilian Spaghetti from the set menu of the day is a seafood angel hair pasta which is spiced nicely with a balanced amount of light chili and spices tossed lightly with olive oil and some chuncks of tomatoes and capsicum for that exotic look. Its yummy, light and healthy. Wonderful choice out of all we have chosen.
Meat Lover meaty pizza is one that was pretty disappointing. The crust was great, crispy and tasty, cheeses regular but the meat topping were hams and sausages and seriously lacking some real MEAT. So we suggest... to bring on some REAL MEAT!
Beverages were not much of a choice from canned drinks but they do have some interesting cocktails to choose from, love the strawberry soda thingee.. It was refreshing.
Meanwhile, the ambiance was nice and the sitting adequate even for big groups of 10 or 16s. Seats were casual and place is rather clean, its not too noisy, perhaps because we were the noise makers and the service is rather quick. Water and cutlery are self serve and order and make payment at the counter. Food portion was okay and I think its a great place for a get together rowdy kinda gatherings. Love the choices love the food and the italian look of the entire restaurant.
Rating given:
Step back in time for a cuppa coffee one lazy afternoon at the colonial styled building where Starbucks resides amidst the greenery and the squeaky insects calling. This is the most charming Starbucks outlet i've ever came across in Singapore. The location is kinda on a low hill and is almost too perfect except being obscured by the other higher buildings built in front of it.
Flushed in white with the prominent dark Starbuck's Green showing up in logos and gazebos, this is not a small outlet with plenty of seats indoor and outdoors for people who love to enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee and a book. Outdoor decked seats kept cool with some fan and the green surroundings while the indoor air-conditioned cushioned seats is just like a huge living room. Head up to the second floor and find yourself in a huge lounging living room as though an excerpt from your english novel (the gentlemen's card room). Lots of seats with various comfort level and well arranged space for easy moving around. There is also a non-aircon balcony area which overlooks the green surrounding down the hill which is the favorite spot for many. There are ample powerpoints if you need to charge your phones or power for laptops and seats are pretty mobile except for the lounging sofas, great for big groups. Noise is not very well contained with the high ceilings, so its important not to speak too loudly.
We find more food choices here as with the other outlets with lots of hot dishes to choose from such as lasagna, hot sandwiches and of course the regular cakes, biscuits, muffins and other coffee pairing desserts. The coffee menu is the standard menu like every outlet while I always love a good cuppa cappuccino with a coffee chiffon cake and a fantasy book for my weekend afternoons. Most cakes served in coffee delis are usually cheese or chocolate fudge cakes which is heavy and usually served cold rather I was surprised that their coffee chiffon cake is a good balance of a lightweight chiffon mildly coffee scented with a buttery cream top and walnuts that brings a soothing nutty taste without the crunch. The entire cake is soft but not limp, mildly flavored but not blend, eventful but not rich, the taste and texture blended very well and is tantalizing but not overpowering. Really good cake I must say.
This is going to be my secret haunt, though already home for many, I'm joining in the gang. Really exceptionally charming location. By the way, service was fast and friendly with large smiles and accented english everywhere however, it takes a little more effort to clear the tables and to keep the cafe clean :)
Rating given:
It was the F1 weekend again and we didn't fancy going into town for our dim sum fix. And so we decided on Ba Xian, the flagship Chinese restaurant at Tower Club. It helped that they were offering a 50% discount on dim sum for weekends only.
The lifts take you up to the entrance of Tower Club on the 62nd floor. From there, you take an internal lift from the club's lobby to the 63rd floor where Ba Xian is located. The furnishing is plush with full length windows that look out into the South China Sea. There are capsule like seats for 2 that offer a somewhat quirky dining experience.
Crispy Cuttlefish - Nicely seasoned but the flour coating was a tad too thick for my liking and so was the oil content. Makes you sick after a while.
Pork Belly Char Siew - The BBQ pork belly had a proportionate fat to meat ratio which made for great texture. However, the meat was rather bland and lacked any sweetness that I would usually associate with char siew.
Roasted Pork Belly - Although I love my sio bak, this was honestly a little hard to stomach and both of us were struggling to finish all 12 cubes of it. Sure, the skin was crispy but it was a tad too thick and dry for my liking. Also, as with the char siew, the meat was almost tasteless. A little more salt perhaps?
Pork & Century Egg Congee - Apart from the sticky texture of porridge that I personally like, this dish was average tasting with quantity of ingredients bordering on miserly.
Prawn with Crab Meat - Generous serving of prawns and crab meat stuffed within the crispy deep fried shell but strangely enough, there was a rather strong ginger aftertaste which I didn't like. Thank god for mayonnaise.
Sweet Corn Cake - This was the first time seeing sweet corn cake on a dim sum menu so thought it would be interesting to give it a go. Alas, it tasted like normal carrot cake with sweet corn and tiny bits of Chinese sausage embedded within. Texture wasn't exactly smooth but overall still palatable.
Chee Cheong Fun -The chee cheong fun came in 3 varieties of filling - char siew, scallop and prawn. For starters, the cheong fun was a little too thick but I was impressed by the generous amounts of scallop and char siew within. This was one of the rare occasions where I could actually make out the texture and taste of the scallop wrapped within. That said, the prawn filling was rather underwhelming though.
Siew Mai - Served with a slice of topshell, the siew mai was decent without coming across as too oily.
Har Gao - Instead of the de facto prawn taste that I was expecting, the har gao tasted overwhelming of vegetables instead. And the thicker than expected skin didn't help matters.
Mini Egg Tartlets - After the repertoire of dismal dim sum items, we almost gave up but decided to give the egg tarts a shot. It was decent without the custard being cloyingly sweet whilst the pastry had a nice flaky texture but lacked the oven baked taste that I personally like.
Even with 7 items at 50% off, the two of us still managed to chalk up a bill of $94, which is terribly expensive for the quality of food. Service and ambience is great but that hardly justifies the ridiculous price tag. So much for the positive online reviews.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Ever wondered why Cordon Bleu is a chicken dish? I was puzzled when the friendly server kept asking me if I wanted that.. I always associated Cordon Bleu with a spirited drink and perhaps an alcohol laced dish, but this is neither.
We wanted to eat at a queueless place and this is all we got on a weekday evening. Though the space is large and seats plentiful, staff is low as such service is rather draggy, though we could understand and with good control of our hunger pangs and some patience, we managed to get a seat after waiting for about 10 mins. The place was large and there are plenty seats but the staff is but 2 lady and a guy yet, the lady who served us with super huge eyes is efficient, friendly and speaks very fast.
We ordered their speciality, fish and chips and cordon bleu chicken as promoted to us by the big eyed girl! It was a set meal and we both had fizzy peach to go with our meals. The soup of the day, a savoury and creamy mushroom soup with bits of mushrooms is yummy and smooth.
Shortly the cordon bleu chicken arrived. The chicken is a cheese and ham sandwiched breast meat of 2 pieces of chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes with sauteed mushroom and picked radish by the side complete with a bed of tossed greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar. The meat is a little too tough for my taste as I expected the filling to be more tender and juicy but it ain't. The mash is yummy and mushroom appetizing.
Fish and chip is served over tossed greens drizzled with the ever yummy balsamic vinegar. Though I hope they used less batter and more fish, the fish is tender and fresh with no fishy breaths.
The meal ended with a good note of the staff quickly clearing our table and topping up our ice water. It was a good experience and price is pretty worth for the portion. The seats are comfy and spacious able to house big groups however situated kindoff in the middle of nowhere, there is not much privacy, rather great for casual chit chats. Dessert choices were very few and the menu is rather confusing to read as its kinda in the form of a newsletter. So always ask the opinion of the staff on what is nice and they usually serve up a good meal for you.
Rating given:
The photos are all very dark... I Know... That is because it is really a very dark place, I mean its huge, on a rooftop and people are lazing on the super comfy sofas whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. It would be too rude for me to turn on my super bright flash and post a picture of many shocked stares and pissed looking faces here.
Its a cosy place, great for huge groups as the seats are easily low (great for the short guy, i mean whats with the high chairs?) and casual rooftop lazing couches, just like an alfresco living room at your roof top serving the chic drinks and you get to peep at hot looking strangers with the skirts riding way.... too high!
I mean you even have a personal lift that brings you up to the 3rd level which is also the highest on Odeon Towers (how inappropriately tower like). Piped music was a soothing modern jazz mix of instrumental beats and running bass, while the lightings somewhat reminded me of streetlights and a hue of orange and low riding yellows with trees and vegetations all around keeping the atmosphere moist and cool with a sense of obscurity.
We prayed that it didn't rain and it didn't, while we forgot to pray for seats, as such we ended up in a very cool indoor seating area which is a short corridor with huge glass windows overlooking the low buildings all the way till Marina Bay Sands, though the next door building blocked much of the view, yet I guess its a great location to view some fireworks during the celebratory seasons. Wowed by the privy cubicle like seating (that is a max for 5 persons) and the creatively posh seat arrangements utilizing every small space available. Comfy, posh yet private, its really a good design.
Drinks are a tad pricey, yet they serve up a good variety of classical whiskeys, gin, cognac and mostly bottled beers except for Asahi on the tap. $11 for a house pour, $15 for a shot of black label on ice, $16 for a bottle of erdinger, the drinks menu is substantial. Snacks and food are served and quite yummy with loads of choices and the occasional worry of Bird Shit, so eat it up fast.
Its a nice place, view is great, setting wonderful and location so convenient. Great place to chill alone or with friends. By the way, the waiters are just too too too cute of course not to mention friendly :)
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Stylish outfits at a fraction of the price is what NewLook is offering. Always love their very stretchy and reasonably priced jeans as well as basic tanks and funky t-shirts. Love their wide ranged sizes as well as fanciful and bold coloured merchandises. Though this outlet is not their bigger outlet, it managed to still carry some accessories such as belts, necklaces, bracelets, clutches and other nick knacks to complete your look
Also do check out the footwear section that has endless display of heels, flats and other kind of shoes or sandles, matter of fact they have a wide array of sizes to fit all shape and sized women :) Stores on the linkway usually do not have much space for changing rooms yet the changing rooms here are spacious and plentiful. If you like something, simply head on to the changing room and i'm sure you could get a space and could spend some quality time identifying the item you need.
Service is usually smiley and friendly, not to forget the efficient cash counter that not only impressed me with their fast hands, but also their friendly disposition and no fail in asking me if i'm a member, introduce me the membership and the perks in a non-pushy way. Matter of fact I get that almost everytime when i purchase something at NEWLOOK. I personally find the sales of a better deal then paying the regular price with the discount card, however you might not get the sizing that you want. So far not yet any issues with the merchandisez I brought back so really good products, QC, return policy and service. (Fingers Crossed) very satisfied.
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We were glad we chose to dine here as we were shown to a fairly large sitting area laced with wooden separators for privacy and comfy seats with ample space for our bags. Yes we girls do carry a little more than a kitchen sink in our little expensive handbags...
The menu was impressive with a good choice of raw, grilled, soup, boiled, skewered and pan fried items complete with a one for one deal on Sapporo draft beers and set meals. We took quite a while to decide and the friendly staff was kind enough to wait on us with patience (You know Girls and their Girlie talk...). So we decided to go for a omelette don set, one sashimi on rice set ($23.90) and two ladies (24.90) set which like us, is a little of everything, pretty, petite yet fulfilling. While we were told we actually qualify for a free 3 types sashimi, the girls became ecstatically happy... (you know squealing girl kinda happy).
So while we gladly chatter on a competition to the other tables of girls on our right, I realised the sound containment was pretty good. We could never hear what other tables were talking about, perhaps just the occasional exclaiming squeals of Joy. The deco was really nice, a mix of modern designs using traditional materials like wood and bamboo, recreating a traditional japanese cottage. While we appreciated every small detail of the deco entangled with bits and pieces of our life, the food arrived. First the free sashimi platter which was beautiful placed in a bowl the shape of an ingot (how auspicious) atop shaved ice and radish, then the sets. Beautifully designed with lots of little side dishes.
The sashimi is fresh, succulent and juicy while the omelate rice tasty and creamy. I love the sides the best. Each set came with a small portion of grilled boneless fish in teriyaki sauce which was extremely yummy. The ladies set ($23.90)is a pretty big set with a fruit jelly as dessert. Small petite dishes that contained a few sushi, some takoyaki, some grilled fish and a little bit of rice.
While we were about to finish our set, the staff was eager to remove our plates and bowls. I must say the service was really quick but rather we felt rushed to finish our food. Refilling of tea was a quick and prompt affair with frequent rounds made, we were very pleased with the service. Efficient and Friendly. 4 Set meals for 4 ladies cost us a total of $110. Which was pretty worth it as compared to the nice environment and free sashimi.
Good dining place for big groups as well.
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The spanking new Suntec Fountain Makan zone has got an incredible addition. Right opposite the Food Republic Food Court is this new concept called the BreadTalk Cafe. As the name suggested... Its a menu full of yummilicious baked stuffs, delicately designed cakes and pastries, not forgetting the ever so famous coffee. Its something like the toast box yet more english cultured and serves cafe like selections for your all day dining.
Loved the entrance to the cafe, instead of waiting to be seated, you could just easily grab a spot near the large glass wall facing the fountain. The seatees were poshed, lavishly cushioned and dimly lit for a dose of warm sunlight otherwise a romantic rainy afternoon tea.
The Portobello Party was one of my favourite appetizer which is a grilled portobello on a bed of greens garnished with savoury streaky bacons. Pumpkin soup was creamy and yummy while the prawn cake on toast is something deliciously special that I've never tried it elsewhere. Serving size was great for sharing as there is quite a few interesting selection on the menu but we wanted to leave space for dessert.
We ordered a brownie overload which we thought could be more exciting, yet it wasn't. The brownie was not as moist as it should be and the ice-cream placed at the side didn't look delectable at all. I always thought ice cream with brownie should be heaped into a superb mess of yumminess.
The entire meal here was nothing short of interesting. Love the seats, the location by the walkway yet the scenic view of the fountain, the menu selections were great and service was just so so though. Food was pretty much yummy though i expected for something with more of a WOW factor which I didn't get in the end. Pricing is pretty okay as the portion was good for 2 lady diners. We might come back for occasional afternoon teas as I still didn't manage to try anything from the cake displays.
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Love the concept of this restaurant. You may order a main course which is mostly a bento set and you get to enjoy a free flow of appetizers, on top of that you could opt from free flow of drinks or one beer with a top up.
The seats were plenty and the ambience a casual jap restaurant, nothing fanciful with just table and chairs of ample space and lots of diners. I never had a chance as I was always put off by the long queue, however on this faithful day, i was earlier then usual and manage to secure a good seat for all the other babes that were coming.
We were shown to a seat that we could look down the mall and it was roomy yet private, great for discussing secrets. Shortly after we settled in, the menu was presented messily on the table. The menu was not much, some 34 main courses mostly repetitive, somewhat similar stuffs with different meats. I ended up with a sukiyaki beef which could never go wrong and yes, it arrived yummy as usual yet i wish there were more beef to go along. The rice was yummy and i was surprised! Well made with the right softness and stickiness, I must say pretty good rice. The curry chicken which my pal ordered was also yummy, curry of the right texture and taste while a huge drumstick sticks out of her claypot bowl made her very happy.
The free flow appetizers placed on a small island near the entrance comprises of a good choice, though not many varieties and the stuffs we love would be:
1) Fried Sweet Potato coated with brown sugar - crispy and tasty, imagine french fries but sweet and crunchy
2) Chawarmushi - Smooth, soft and tasty steam egg mix
3) Double boiled radish in miso with baby shrimps - radish is sweet and crunchy
4) Green tea dessert with powdery tang yuan - very matcha with tasty chewy balls
The free flow drinks serves up a good variety of soft drinks like ginger ale, ice lemon tea, coke, grape as well as freshly brewed coffee, many varieties of tea and warm water.
The place is casual and priced extremely well. Main courses are priced between $13.99 - $24.99 and additional of drinks with $2.99.
We talked and ate the free flows all the way till closing and before the closing of the appetizer bar, we were asked if we needed the last helping. I must say pretty good service. Will come back...
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High Tea are important part of the entire shopping trip. While you splurge on the Christmas presents and almost anything your eyes takes fancy, you have got to seat and rest, chalk up the gossip scales and have a moment of guilt for not being the item you've seen previously and liked.
Situated right next to the escalator, this outlet serves up a good chinese, western fusion affair. The menu has confusing lots of yummy stuffs and extremely hongkonger dishes like instant noodles with SPAM or tea with coffee (yuan yang). Best of all, no queue and lots of seats to choose from. We managed to secure a nice cushion seat 2 for our bums and 2 for our shopping bags. Ordering is fast and the food arrived as quickly. I must say.... just like when I'm in HK.
We ordered a noodle with SPAM, which is pretty healthy and lots of veg, a side dish of something that looked like spring roll, which is a tad too oily for me, a french toast whom I find really special yummy and again Sinful.
The french toast I must eleborate. It is a cube of bread soaked in egg and deep fried. Served beautifully with maple syrup and a thick slice of butter melting on top. Eating this is a little messy and it is definitely good to share. The inside of the bread is soft and the extra butter makes it rich and creamier.
For desserts, we ordered a yuan yang which is something that gave my tastebuds a surprising confusion. Its a mixture of tea and coffee and tasted something I wouldn't know how to describe. The mango and pomelo dessert is also a clash of sweet and extreme sour. Sweet from the mango ice cream and the bits of pomelo is extremely sourish. They have these transparent balls that burst in your mouth, coating it with a layer of sourish something.
The overall experience was pleasant, it is a noisy place so good for gossiping about anything. Service is fast and price is reasonable. Great place if you enjoy eating food HK style
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