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Arts & Entertainment
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Met up with my former classmates for a long awaited dinner at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck (ITSPD for short), a branch of the esteemed chain of restaurants which I personally like. As the name suggests, the restaurant is well known for what else but its peking duck. I do think that the name could be a little more polished though as the current one sounds downright cheesy. But that's just me.
The interior has a dated elegance to it and a portion of the sitting area consists of semi private partitioned areas linked by a common corridor which can comfortably fit a table of 4. Lighting is dim but adequate and the whole atmosphere has a somber tone to it, perfect for a business gathering.
Appetiser - The glazed cashew nuts were a nice start to the dinner. Crunchy and fresh without the rancid oil taste and topped with a smattering of sesame seeds.
Asparagus with Garlic - A simple dish yet well executed with the asparagus crunchy and fried alongside diced garlic. Fragrant and tasty.
Peking Duck - The signature dish of ITSPD - Peking duck. Honestly I wasn't very wowed by it, seeing that the skin, though crisp to a certain extent, did seem a little limp. Best eaten with sugar. Crepes were provided for the loose slivers of skin and meat but they were a little too thick for my liking. I personally liked the plain and simple chunks of duck served up in a swan like platter - no frills, just juicy and tender and probably the sole saving grace.
We opted to use the remaining duck to do a noodle dish and well, let's just say it was very decent but not something that I personally would have gone for.
Sauteed Scallops with Italian White Truffle Oil - One of my must order dishes whenever I visit any Imperial Treasure outlet (provided they carry it of course!), ITSPD's rendition of the scallops with white truffle oil was a wee bit lacklustre as compared to its cousin at Crowne Plaza Hotel. That's not to say it wasn't any good though. As a matter of fact, the scallops were fragrant from the aromatic truffle oil and tasty to say the least. The only gripe I had was that they seemed a little too soft. Still the pièce de résistance nonetheless.
Sauteed Beancurd with Mushrooms - Smooth but not exactly savoury, the beancurd was decent and I liked the generous topping of mushrooms - comfort food for the soul.
Steamed Custard Bun - This is usually a dim sum item but apparently it's so popular that they stock up some for dinner as well. Having eaten this quite a few times, I am still of the opinion that Peach Garden does a better rendition (at least they used to!), but Imperial Treasure's offering comes in a close second with its oozing sinful custard infused with egg yolk sediment.
Durian Pudding - The moment I set my eyes upon the durian pudding, I had a hunch it wasn't going to turn out well. And I was right. The pudding wasn't rich enough and tasted way too gelatin for my liking. More durian please.
The 4 of us spent a total of $204 for dinner, which isn't too expensive considering the decent quality of food and the reasonably good service. I personally like the privacy that the restaurant offers and I'm sure ITSPD will give nearby Crystal Jade Golden Palace a run for it's money.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
In 1865, Lewis Carroll published the widely popular Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. To this date, this fictional story lives on in literature, movies and memorabilia. There is even a restaurant whose theme is based loosely on one of the memorable characters in the novel - The white rabbit, whom Alice follows down the rabbit hole.
Hidden in the secluded enclave of Dempsey Village, The White Rabbit (TWR for short) is a restaurant cum watering hole that is housed in a beautifully restored church. The interior is sparse yet cosy with booth seats lining the edges of the restaurant. Natural sunlight (if you go in the day) flitters in through the huge arched shaped windows and creates a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. It definitely helped that the place wasn't operating at full capacity. As a matter of fact, it was probably only a quarter full on a Saturday morning.
Complimentary Bread - The complimentary bread was served warm and served as a nice hunger management tool while we patiently waited for our orders.
Truffle Mac & Cheese - Apparently this is one of the signature dishes of TWR and I am most inclined to agree. The Mac & Cheese was probably one of the best I've had in ages. What stood out was the topmost layer of cheese, which was baked till a nice crisp, oozing a strong cheesy taste. This dish also featured bits of black truffle intermixed with the cheese and slivers of asparagus to combat any "over cheesiness". In short, excellent!
Wagyu Quarter Pounder - Although I've always reiterated that it is a terrible waste to use wagyu to make beef patties, somehow or rather, I am always tempted to prove my own perception wrong (which usually just ends up in more disappointment). TWR's wagyu patty straddled the fine line between proving me right or wrong. It didn't seem hand chopped because of its smooth texture but brought with it a certain tenderness and flavour, not to mention an overly generous salt influx (just a tad). The bun did seem a little too burnt but was unbelievably crispy with a tinge of sweetness. Nice! Chips were thinly sliced and deep fried with an adequate amount of salt. Another plus point.
Lobster Omelette - What's brunch without eggs? A relatively generous serving of lobster meat entrenched within the moist and smooth omelette that had hints of cheese. Simple yet decadent. Thumbs up to the chips as well.
Mars Bars Souffle - Here's when our brunch started sliding downwards, with the introduction of our first dessert, the Mars Bars Souffle. The souffle wasn't fluffy enough and the sugar residue clung on tightly to my teeth. There was the problem of a overly strong egg taste as well. I did like the ice cream though, which boasted a rich mars bars flavour with bits of mars bars stuffed in it for authenticity.
Profiteroles - The profiteroles continued the dismal slide by coming across as average at best. The pastry was too hard and the chocolate sauce, hardly sufficient. Sandwiched between was vanilla bean ice cream that did seem a little too creamy for my liking.
Belgian Waffles - I found the waffles rather dense and chewy, which wasn't exactly my cup of tea as I personally prefer lighter and crispier waffles. The maple syrup was a little runny as well.
At $155 for a 2 pax brunch, it certainly isn't cheap. Mains were of a certain standard but desserts didn't quite make the mark in my humble opinion. Throw in decent service, a great environment and chances are, I'll return for the food, minus the desserts of course.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
We were a little weary of always having to travel to Changi Airport to eat at Imperial Treasure Cantonese so decided to give the other outlet at Great World City a shot, seeing that it was nearer to us.
Located in a corner on the 2nd floor of Great World City, it honestly didn't ooze as much finesse as its cousin in Changi in my humble opinion. And being a Sunday afternoon, it was packed so reservations are highly recommended.
Roasted Pork - What was to have been the highlight of our meal fell short of expectations with an overdose of fat meat. It was literally 50% fat, 50% meat. Sure, the skin was crisp with nary a hint of salt but did seem a little too thick for my liking. Portions were ridiculously tiny as well.
Shark Bone Soup with Fish Maw - Aside from the crunchy pieces of fish maw, I couldn't find any reason to like this soup. It was a little too coagulated which left an uncomfortable residue on the tongue and it lacked any oomph. So disappointing that I gave up after a few mouthfuls.
Deep Fried Beancurd Skin - The beancurd skin was light and crisp with a nice smooth filling of prawn paste. However, it was drenched in oil which did come across as quite a turn off honestly.
Roasted Goose - I was eagerly anticipating this dish as my previous experiences with it had been nothing short of excellent. Alas, it wasn't as good as we envisioned it to be. To be fair, the roast goose here was meaty with a thin layer of crisp skin sans the overwhelming foul taste. However, the meat was a little too dry, which marred the experience a little.
Steamed Minced Pork Dumpling - It's the first time I'm having xiao long bao at Imperial Treasure and I must say that its really quite decent. Smooth and silky skin enveloping a generous amount of stock and a pork filling that was fairly mild on the hog taste. Just watch out for the high salt content.
Deep Fried Pig's Intestines - I am a big fan of deep fried pig intestines so naturally I was delighted to see it on the menu. However delight turned to disappointment when I realised that the intestines were a little too oily and tasteless. The crisp exterior did nothing to salvage this dish.
BBQ Pork Pastry - Flaky but lacking the buttery goodness that I personally like. The char siew filling wasn't sweet or starchy though.
Bo Lo Bao - Another disappointment, the bo lo bao had a crusty top with a chewy and soft base. However, the fragrance was sorely lacking and the char siew filling was rather bland.
Claypot Goose Web - The claypot goose web was the only dish which I thought was comparable to what I had at the Changi Airport outlet previously. Done up Thai style, the vermicelli was very flavourful with a rather heavy dose of Szechuan and black pepper for good measure. Not recommended if you are allergic to too much oil and salt though.
Fried Kailan - How bad can stir fried vegetables get? Flavoured with a light touch of salt without being overcooked. Nice and simple.
Steamed Custard Bun - Soft and fluffy bun coupled with salty sweet custard egg yolk filling - very good. Pity about the lack of yolk sediment though.
Durian Pudding - Too coagulated was the first thing that hit me as I sampled a spoonful of what I had expected to be a delightful ending to our lunch. The whole pudding felt stiff and overly sweet. Thankfully the durian taste was still quite prominent. Palatable but not very nice.
A rather disappointing lunch cost us just shy of $285 for 5 pax, which was definitely not worth the money in my humble opinion. The disparity between the food quality at the Changi Airport outlet and the Great World City outlet is just too huge to ignore and I really wonder why. Nonetheless, moving forward, I'll definitely be giving Imperial Treasure Great World City a miss.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Hidden in the lively district of Arab street, which is touted as an alternative to the hip Dempsey enclave, is a small cafe that goes by the name of B Bakery. We were attracted by the somewhat cosy facade it portrayed and decided to drop in for dinner.
The air conditioned interior is smallish but rather simple and homely. For those who prefer the open spaces, there is a small al fresco sitting area just outside the cafe along the side of a road, which allows you to soak you in the vibrancy of the area. Do note that it can get quite warm though.
Rosemary Chicken - Apparently one of the highlights of B Bakery, the rosemary chicken was honestly quite decent. The meat was tender and juicy with a strong hint of rosemary, which definitely helped to accentuate the taste. The only thing that bugged me was the pool of oil the chicken was sitting in. Yes, it's olive oil but somehow there is still a nagging doubt about the health implications somewhere at the back of my head.
Penne, Prawns, Tomato Sauce Cream, Vodka - The penne was al dente with the tomato base lightly tart. I counted 9 average sized prawns which was really quite generous but on the flipside, they weren't exactly fresh.
Chocolate Fudge - Plain old chocolate fudge. Sweet but not very rich and topped with a petite, poor excuse of a macaron. Void of any characteristics worth mentioning. Palatable though.
Tiramisu - A teetotaler version of one of my favourite desserts, the tiramisu carried a rather strong coffee presence in between alternating layers of rather dry sponge and light mascarpone. Decent but not really my cup of tea.
Dinner for 2 stood at $45, which stood somewhere in the overlapping pricing zones of reasonable and expensive. Quality of food is decent but I wouldn't make the trip down just to eat here. Service was acceptable but a little spotty at times.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Clifford Pier, which used to be a landing point for immigrants and sea passengers in its heyday, has seen a huge transformation in recent times into what is now known as the Fullerton Bay Hotel. In it houses Clifford, a swanky French American restaurant that is aptly named after this iconic Singapore landmark.
The hotel is beautiful, with vast sea views through windows that seem to stretch on forever. And the restaurant itself is no exception. Designed by Andre Fu, who is apparently one of Asia's highly sought after architect, the interior boasts high columns and ceilings, tall drapery and classic wood furnishing. In two words, awe inspiring. Throw in views of the sea and you are all set for a wonderful atmosphere.
Complimentary Bread - Imagine my surprise when our complimentary bread came with a small dish of pork rillette. Though not as moist or exquisite as Aronia De Takazawa's Okinawan pork rendition, it was still much appreciated, especially with the warm, crusty and chewy baguette. Very good start.
3 Hr Homemade Duck Confit - You get a choice of either truffle mashed potatoes or pommes sarladaise (potatoes sauteed in duck fat and garlic). I chose the former although it is said that the latter goes best with duck confit. No regrets though as the mashed potato was very smooth with a nice truffle taste and fragrance at the top layer. The duck confit was of the crisp variant and I must say I enjoyed it quite a fair bit. Crispy roasted skin and tender meat without the excessive salt. But as you know, duck confit is essentially duck cooked in its own fat, so watch out for the oil.
Truffle Fries - At $9 a pop (we ordered 2), this is some seriously expensive fries for its portion size (imagine a packet of small fries from MacDonalds). But hey, anything with truffle is nice (I'm biased!) and the fries went like hotcakes (proves my point). It definitely helped that the fries were fresh and not reeking of rancid oil.
Dessert Sample - There is a grand total of 5 desserts on the menu and if you are hard pressed to pick one or are dying to try everything, just go for the dessert sample, which includes a sample of everything - namely, Dark Chocolate Fondant, Passion Fruit Rum Baba, Sugar Crusted Profiteroles, Creme Brulee and Lemon Tart.
The chocolate fondant had a nice crisp shell that crumbled under pressure from a spoon, revealing a rather thin and not too viscous filling of molten chocolate. However, the chocolate was surprisingly quite rich and overall, I thought it was quite good.
This is honestly my first time eating rum baba (a small yeast cake soaked in rum) and I liked it quite a fair bit. Soft, moist and rather sourish(from the infusion of passion fruit) with a very strong rum taste. Served up with mango tartar and yogurt sorbert, with the latter being sublimely smooth and good.
I like my profiteroles drenched in molten chocolate sauce and this one met that criteria, well almost. The pastry held up well against the chocolate sauce and didn't come across as limp. Quite good.
Beautifully torched on the surface, coupled with a smooth and creamy texture, the creme brulee had nothing going against it. Well, maybe except for the less than generous use of vanilla beans.
Last but not least, the lemon tart, which was surprisingly quite good to me, given that I am not exactly a big fan of sour stuff. The tart base was nice and crumbly with a wholesome baked taste attached to it but more importantly (to me at least), the tartness of the lemon filling was pleasantly mild.
Petit Fours - A nice simple gesture to end off our meal. But how are we suppose to split 2 pieces of cookies and marshmallows between the 5 of us?
With 2 bottles of still water, the bill for the 5 of us came up to about $318, which isn't too expensive if you ask me. Especially when the food is decent and the ambience, great. Service could have been better as the wait staff did seem a little withdrawn and cold though executing their duties perfectly. I would love to be back, especially for dinner. And yes, they do serve ice water. ;)
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
The opportunity to visit 1TwentySix presented itself one humid weekday evening, in the guise of a voucher, courtesy of the management. I can't say that I've been eager to try out this sister outfit of One Rochester @ Rochester Park, not after the bad reviews I've heard about it so far.
Located along the inner fringe of Big Splash towards the sea, 1TwentySix boasts an al fresco sitting area that is rich in nature and certainly great for chilling out. The "air conditioned" interior is actually a small area with some form of feeble air conditioning. The problem is, the area isn't enclosed and there is no air curtain to stop the cool air from escaping. There is a huge glass partition but it is apparently only used in the afternoons. And yes, it did get a little too warm that evening.
Complimentary Bread - Crusty exterior with bits of wheat and corn amidst the soft and warm dough - good bread never fails to start a meal off on the right foot.
Tuna Nicoise in Two Styles, Seared Tuna Tataki and Tuna Confit with French Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Soft Boiled Quails Eggs - The tuna tataki was good - well seared on the outside while retaining its smooth yet firm texture on the inside. A lingering smokey taste accompanied by a dash of saltiness. Can't really fault it.
The tuna confit, on the other hand, was lost amongst the salad, masked by a rather saline solution. I could still make out the tuna though, but barely.
Tartare of Scallop, Ocean Trout and Tuna Loin with Foie Gras Parfait and Caramelised Shallots - I had thought that the tartare of scallop, ocean trout and tuna loin would certainly be a very fishy combination, but I was wrong. It was actually nice and to a certain extent, refreshing, without coming across as overly raw. Topped with a raw egg.
Please let me qualify that even though I like foie gras, I am not a big fan of it done parfait (75% foie gras) or pate (50% foie gras) style simply because I like my liver whole. So the chilled, smooth foie gras parfait simply didn't appeal to me.
150 Day Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin with Roast Bone Marrow with Chilli and Shallots -
Although 1TwentySix's menu seemingly focuses on produce from the sea, I took a gamble and went with the 150 day grain fed tenderloin. And I was suitably impressed. The tenderloin was nicely char grilled on the surface and done to a perfect medium rare. Add to the fact that the meat was tender and flavourful and you have a clear winner. One thing odd was the mushroom sauce, which had a strong mushroom taste but did seem a little overly sweet.
The side of fries were decent and didn't turn soggy when cold. What I thought was interesting was the broccolini, which was cooked with garlic and ginger - a very Chinese style of cooking, just way too oily.
Black Cod Fillet with Fennel, Blood Orange and Pistachio Salad served with Beaujolais Sauce - Fresh, firm yet flaky but outright bland. The fish wasn't sweet nor the sauce flavourful. All I could make out was a faint taste of fish and an initial sugar induced sweetness. Decent by any standards but could have been a lot better.
Frozen 'Deconstructed' Strawberry Shortcake with Home Churned Strawberry Ice Cream -
A recommendation from our waitress, I didn't quite take to the strawberry shortcake at first due to the seemingly excessive strawberry ice cream. However, as I dug deeper, I could make out a mish mash of sponge and flaky pastry, making the dessert quite enjoyable after all. If only I had 2 stomachs.
Valrhona Dark & White Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Praline Ice Cream - Most chocolate fondants come in only the dark variant, but 1TwentySix's offering combines both white and dark chocolate. Rather gimmicky if you ask me, because its just white chocolate oozing out together with the dark chocolate when you crack open the surface. But something different nonetheless. Texture wise, the crust was a little soft but at least it wasn't gelatin like. Coupled with a rich viscous chocolate filling and a creamy coconut ice cream, this dessert held promise for a sweet ending.
Fine Apple and Frangipane Tart with Calvados Ice Cream - The tart had a thin, flaky and crisp base with a nice oven baked taste to it. The apple slices weren't overly tart and I could make out a tinge of sweetness from the frangipane (sweet almond filling). It probably helped that the tart was sprinkled with icing sugar. The calvados (French apple brandy) ice cream didn't really make an impact though. Easily forgettable.
I would have had a wonderful meal if not for the less than cool dining environment. And the price for such an indulgence? Approximately $202 (before the use of discount voucher). Expensive? Arguably yes. But with very few other "fine dining" options in the east, 1TwentySix could probably be a consideration for your next special occasion or celebration.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Liang Kee used to be housed in the now defunct Ellenborough market and known for its Teochew cuisine. After the death of its founder, 3 variants of the Liang Kee brand name have popped up, giving rise to theconfusion as to which is the original and "authentic" outlet. If you are interested in reading more, see here.
We chose to patronise the newly opened outlet at Whampoa, which moved from Robertson Quay, because of practical reasons - it was the closest one to our area and we had walked past it on our previous visit to Ban Heng.
The air conditioned interior has limited seating and reservations on a weekend are necessary, or you risk either sitting outside in Singapore's humid weather or a long wait for a table to free up.
Teochew Braised Duck - I am not sure if geese is still in shortage but we had to make do with duck. And what a huge duck it was, going by the breadth of the meat slices. I did think that the duck was a wee bit too dry but at least it had a mildly rough texture that made for better chewing. The gravy was fragrant which did help to enhance the flavour of the duck.
Stir Fried Kailan with Prawn - This dish had a nice wok hei tint to it and the addition of ti po (crispy fried sole fish) accentuated the taste and texture. To top it all, the prawns were fresh and crunchy, making for a simple yet enjoyable vegetable dish.
Prawn Rolls - Crisp on the outside, the prawn rolls were moist on the inside but a little overloaded on the fatty meat. And ironically, I couldn't quite make out any prawn taste even though it was called prawn roll. Palatable but could have been better.
Liang Kee Beancurd - It seems like every mom and pop stall is making their own beancurd nowadays and Liang Kee, being an established brand, is no exception. The beancurd wasn't silky and had a strong egg taste coupled with a sublime savouriness, which I personally like. But the deal clincher was the minced pork gravy with dried shrimp that almost engulfed the slabs of beancurd. Very nice!
Pumpkin Yam Paste - An all time favourite of mine, the orh nee was nothing short of wonderful in my humble opinion. Fragrant with the smell of yam and smooth without being too oily or sweet. A perfect
balance of texture and taste, allowing Liang Kee to catapult into my list of favourite orh nee places.
For the quality of food, $74 for 3 pax for dinner leans towards the value for money category, especially if you factor in the amount of food we ordered. Service was a little spotty but at least the lady boss (I presume) was nice enough. With Ban Heng, Guan Hin and Liang Kee all located in one stretch, it will be interesting to see how the competition heats up.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
I know it seems like I am always scheming and teasing to get you hungry, but trust me: everything that I do is for your own good. Today is Sunday. And as my favorite saying goes: Sunday is made for brunch.
Epicurious Cafe has always been well known for their weekend brunch. It’s almost impossible to get a table without waiting if you reach after twelve noon, and here’s the good news – Epicurious has recently opened a new branch at Railmall. And the best part? The breakfast menu at railmall is exactly the same as the one at Robertson Quay.
Sharon the co-owner of Epicurious Cafe recommended me to go for the Baked Eggs with Toast Soldiers ($6.50 for 1) and I agreed that it’s absolutely divine! Eggs and bacons are the best couple in this world. The latter always makes eggs become so much better!
When the trio of eggs, bacon, and cheese are baked together, there’s only a word to describe everything – magic!
Having tried the Eggs Benedict on my previous visit, I decided to go for the Ratatouille Omelette ($12). Tomatoes and eggplant added color and contrasting texture to the smooth and silky egg. If I may add, the side potatoes were really tasty, and I like the combination of the slightly sourish fillings with the omelette.
Breakfast is all about eggs and pancakes. And the pancakes ($7 for 3) here are definitely one of the most value-for-money.
For desserts, we had the Apple Crumble and a slice of carrot cake. The apple tart was lovely. Warm and soft and tart, it had a very appley flavor, with a scoop of cold ice cream – this was the perfect fairytale ending to our wholesome breakfast.
* * *
Epicurious Cafe is my favorite place for brunch. If you are one of those who have problems waking up early for breakfast and never seem to be able to get a table at Epicurious Robertson Quay; dude, it’s time to go to the Rail Mall branch.
Long story short, if you like my review please do come by ladyironchef . . . for the delicious in you
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Most people think of Changi Village as a rustic spot still relatively untouched by modernisation, with its lush greenery and long sandy beach. What most people don't know is the existence of an Italian semi fine dining restaurant, La Cantina, at the only "modern" building there - Changi Village Hotel.
Hidden from sight on level 8 of the hotel, La Cantina offers a splendid view of the ocean as well the surrounding greenery through the vast windows that stretches all the way up to the second floor, which incidentally happens to be the private dining area I believe. The decor revolves around simplicity with a touch of Victorian elegance through the addition of Roman pillars and crafted figurines. For people who prefer the outdoors, there's the more romantic (but warmer) al fresco option as well.
I didn't think too much of the Bruschetta, which was decent but not the least bit outstanding. It was essentially garlic bread with diced tomatoes on top, in which case the tomatoes looked a tad tired but managed to retain its juiciness fortunately.
Billed as the specialty for the week, the grilled scampi was nice with a smoky grilled taste but did come across as a tad too salty for my liking. Another grouse was that the meat was minimal. And at $29, it certainly didn't come cheap.
Linguine Al Granchio - Crabmeat Linguine in Creamy Tomato Sauce -
A most decent dish save for the fact that the creamy tomato sauce overwhelmed the taste of the crab, which was a pity really. They could have added chicken and there would be minimal differences except for the texture. Pasta was al dente however and overall the dish didn't come across as too heavy on the palate.
Quattro Stagioni - Pomodoro, Mozzarella, Ham, Artichoke, Mushroom & Olive -
First looks, the pizza looked huge and was literally spilling off the sides of the plate. However it was more of an eye full than anything else. The crust was a little limp and not the least bit crispy, while the ingredients tasted rather bland with neither cohesion nor contrast of flavours.
Coffee Creme Brulee - I had thought the coffee creme brulee would have been an interesting dessert but it didn't really live up to expectations. The creme brulee was very sweet on the first mouth but slowly became better. The coffee taste was unique but a tad too strong for my liking.
Chocolate Bitter Tart - Contrary to its drooling inducing appearance, the chocolate tart was merely average with its crust being too hard and the chocolate not being rich enough. Never ever judge a dish by its appearance.
Chocolate Souffle - Probably the best dessert of the evening, the chocolate souffle was not too sweet but small and didn't come with ice cream which would have complemented it very well. The crust could have been a little firmer as well but no complains about the oozing chocolate though. I would say its a slightly above average rendition.
Dinner for 2 cost almost $125, which isn't too expensive considering the quantity of food we ordered. Sure, the quality isn't top notch but its still decent Italian fare with huge portions to boot. Throw in the excellent ambience and service and there's no question if a revisit is on the cards.
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Rating given:
Suburbia - A residential district located on the outskirts of a city. A most interesting name for a restaurant, but decidedly apt considering its location. Opened just 2 weeks ago, Suburbia is a newcomer to the uppity culinary scene of Sentosa and is touted as the place for good food and wine - a claim supported by the fact that it is managed by Wine Network.
Housed in a former monorail station (Fiscus station), Suburbia glistens in the dark skylight with its orangey hues and bluish overtones. The place is divided into 2 levels, with the al fresco dining section located on the first level, overlooking lush green lawns on one side and the Fiscus tree aka "Marriage Tree" on the other. The second level is air conditioned and employs a "classroom" look through the use of louver windows, which does seem to clash with the modern chic vibe that the place oozes. Tables are limited on the second floor, probably squeezing in about 15 four seater tables, which did seem a little too close for comfort although I wouldn't have been able to give a fair judgement given that we had the whole place to ourselves.
Complimentary Bread - Very few places serve up noteworthy bread and Suburbia falls into that minority. Served up in a glass vase, the assortment of bread was moist, warm and tasty. The butter was different as well, smooth and lightly sweet with a rather strong hint of orange flavouring. Appropriately named Orange Butter.
Crab Meat Waldorf Salad - First looks, I was petrified at the size of it, or lack of for that matter. I could have probably stuffed the whole thing down my mouth at one go without breaking a sweat. Taste wise, it was above average but nothing too outstanding. The rather diluted crab meat was sandwiched between layers of thinly sliced crunchy green apples, which acted as a counter balance to the rawness of the crab. Lightly sweet with a dash of saltiness and rawness.
Beef Tenderloin I'infusion De Poivre Noir - Weighing in at a mere 200g, I must say that the tenderloin was a tad too small for the price ($38). Grilled to my specification of medium rare, the meat retained its natural flavours without being too chewy or limp. Topped with mushroom sauce, it was a dish to slowly savour and relish save for the fact that the meat was a little too soft at some places.
Tiramisu - Interestingly, crushed cookie bits were sprinkled atop the tiramisu instead of the de facto cocoa powder. This gave it a different texture altogether and eliminated the risk of me choking on the fine cocoa powder. Light and fluffy, the tiramisu didn't come across as too wet or soggy but I couldn't make out any liquor taste in the sponge fingers - a must have in any good tiramisu.
Belgium Marquise - The Belgium Marquise wasn't too sweet or rich with a nice wafer texture in between. It had a slightly chewy texture which reminded me a little of chewing on mudpies. I didn't think too much of the ice cream and sesame brandy snap basket though, with the latter tasting almost exclusively of sesame.
$108($86 after 20% soft launch discount) for an appetiser, a main, 2 desserts and a glass of wine earns Suburbia a spot among the ranks of mid range pricing restaurants. However in this case, the price does seem a tad over the hill(without discount) especially when the food, though good, isn't particularly outstanding. There is hope yet as I understand from my friends, who were there as well, that the rack of lamb was good and that, coupled with a rather comprehensive wine list and a lovely ambience, might just be enough to entice me to return.
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Rating given: