Frankly, I'm surprised that no one has thus far done a review on Big Fish.
The missus & I popped in during one of our regular forays to Siglap, & have never regretted doing so. If asked to describe Big Fish in as few words as possible, I'd say, 'Think of it as a classier, tastier, slightly more upmarket Fish & Co.'.
I've never been fond of eating food that comes with atas garnishing & condiments, I mean, if the dish tastes great by itself, wherein lies the necessity for such pretty embellishments?
Big Fish converted me into a believer... & at a pretty affordable price too.
The joint's a tad small, so it may be wise to make a reservation beforehand, especially during peak periods. If your group happens to be overly large, the partitions can be easily removed to join several tables together. Parking's fairly limited, but there's a sizeable public carpark nearby for those who don't mind walking a bit.
Their Seafood Chowder's a sure winner, especially considering how fresh the shellfish are. The Lobster Bisque is a safe bet as well, though it is only offered as a Soup of the Day, so do call ahead to avoid any disappointment.
If you're hankering for some greenery, order the Warm Mushroom Salad; their choice of condiments really brings out the best of this little beaut.
For 'Big Fish' Signature Dishes, be sure to try out their Fish & Chips (fresher than fresh, & not too oily to boot), Spaghetti with Lobster Ragout (Slipper Lobster, really, & tends to be quite gelat, so it's a good idea to share), & Grilled Hot Seafood Platter (somewhat similar to Fish & Co.’s Seafood Platter, but with the addition of Scallops & Morton Bay Bugs, & the rice is lot less oily).
I wouldn't recommend the Spicy Seafood Cioppino though, simply because the portion's waaay too modest for me. But if you're a small eater, then by all means go ahead.
& for those of you highly susceptible to having fish bones stuck in your throat, beware the Whole Rainbow Trout.
Their staff are pretty friendly & helpful, 'cept for one huge Malay fella who could perhaps practice smiling a bit more (not say what lah, but a quick flash of a grin once in a while would've been nice). Be aware that they can be overly zealous at times; I once had my half-finished Seafood Chowder cleared when I accompanied my daughter to the restroom but for a moment.
Their recommendations can usually be trusted, though I was sorely disappointed with the Grilled Swordfish Collar; it came out very dry, which totally killed the taste. To give them the benefit of a doubt, it might have been a one-off thing. I'll give it another shot when I've overcome the trauma.
Ultimately, if you’re out for a night of fine - yet affordable - dining, you may very well give Big Fish a try.
I used to be an avid regular of this particular branch for their high-tea buffet, & if this review was written a year or so ago, I'd have given them 5 stars.
Not any more.
They used to offer Kajiki Sashimi, which is one of my all-time favourites, but it was replaced it with another variety of fish which tastes rather dodgy (& not to mention cheap).
Initially, they explained it away by saying that they ran out of stock. But after several weeks of almost daily calling in to check if fresh stock had arrived, I finally gave up.
As it that wasn't insult enough, they recently started using the kind of mini-octopi one regularly sees in Chinese cold dishes for their 'version' of Tako Sashimi (which happens to be #2 on my list of Sashimi to die for).
I'd much rather that they increase their prices slightly, than to compromise on food quality/selection which only serves to disgruntle & alienate regular patrons.
I once adored you passionately, but I'm afraid that now I have to bid you adieu.
Frankly, the only reason why I frequent Sam's is simply 'cos of convenience; it's the most accessible pet/aquarium shop from where I reside, & I regularly pop in since I happen to be in the area.
They do stock a goodly number of different fish species; on rare occasions they bring in some of which may be pretty uncommon, though it's more of a one off thing.
More often than not, you'd probably come face to face with a dead fish or two in one of their tanks... & you'd be just as likely to see their compadres feeding off the poor blighters (a tad gross, but it helps save on the fish food, I suppose).
Needless to say, the healths of their stocks are pretty suspect; about 2 months back they brought in some Panda Corys, a significant fraction of which kicked the bucket on the same day. It doesn't help that the fishes tend to be quite young & fragile, thereby being at a higher risk of biting the dust from all the stress of moving.
So it's a good idea to wait a couple of days before purchasing any new arrivals to their store... & to be on the safe side, quarantine the new additions for a couple more days as well.
The part time staff can be pretty ignorant; on an occasion, one fella didn't even know what species of fish I was requesting for. The full time ones are fine, though they could perhaps smile a bit more. Don't try asking for a specific fish in the tank, unless you're willing to roll up your sleeves & do it yourself.
I find their items fairly overpriced, but still shop for sundry stuff there as the travelling time/cost to other aquariums tends to outweigh the potential savings.
I won’t touch on the other animals that they exploit, I mean sell, since I don’t support the companion animal trade (all of my felines-in-residence are rescued strays). But I must add that the Shih Tzu they indiscriminately sold to a relative of mine isn’t getting the basic quality of life that he ought to enjoy.
Andersen's is undoubtedly my favourite place to satisfy the occasional ice cream craving.
For sure, there's Ben & Jerry's as well as Häagen-Dazs, but neither of them hits my sweet spot as well as Andersen's does. Just the mere mention of Belgian Chocolate Chip sends one into throes of ecstasy.
As if their delectable range of ice cold confections weren't enough, their menu offers gorgeous combinations of ice cream & various tasty peripherals at awesome prices.
Affordable/scrummy ice cream in a comfortable setting (so long as you ignore the voyeurs), what more could one ask for?
My only complaint is that their policy of take-away/dine-in isn't clearly stipulated; twice thus far have I witnessed people being shooed from the premises just because they weren't informed beforehand of this particular policy.
A simple signboard would've sufficed to avoid such embarrassment.
Central Hong Kong Cafe's Parkway Parade & Tampines Mall branches are both offering a Teatime Special promotion during weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 3pm to 6pm.
Order any food item & get any one of your favourite drink for SGD 0.30 only, which is a bargain since their drinks cost upwards of SGD 2.
The proliferation of HK-style eateries is somewhat both a blessing & a boon, as the missus is a BNO by birth; we tend to find it distressing when the food served comes out somewhat substandard.
For one thing, I can never understand why one has to pay an extra SGD 0.50 for cold drinks. That much for a few ice cubes sounds a bit dodgy, on top of which the drink ends up horribly diluted if left overly long.
Then again, I'm probably too spoilt; a restaurant that we regularly frequent in HK places the hot glass of 奶茶 in a bowl of ice cubes, eliminating the problem of dilution. Now that is service worth paying a little more for.
I digress.
PP's Central serves a pretty fine Claypot Stew Beef Brisket; the tender bits practically slides down one's throat, & the gravy goes really well with rice, as my daughter would attest. Sadly, now & then a tough chunk of meat with the consistency of old leather pops out & spoils what would've been an otherwise perfect dish.
If those were thrown in as a filler, I'd rather do without.
Their Milk Tea is passable, but nothing near what an authentic 奶茶 tastes like. Alas, when nostalgia sets in, we make do with what we can.
But I must admit that they do know their instant noodles (出前一丁 aka 清仔面) served up in a variety of ways; those come pretty close to that which we know & love. If you can't decide on what to order, that's probably your safest bet.
Service-wise, there isn't really much to critique; the food gets served rather quickly, & the fact that the staffs are able to speak Cantonese is a nice touch.
Central isn't a place that we'd frequent, but the occasional bite still fits the schedule.
1=SGD 0.0587
The missus & I popped in during one of our regular forays to Siglap, & have never regretted doing so. If asked to describe Big Fish in as few words as possible, I'd say, 'Think of it as a classier, tastier, slightly more upmarket Fish & Co.'.
I've never been fond of eating food that comes with atas garnishing & condiments, I mean, if the dish tastes great by itself, wherein lies the necessity for such pretty embellishments?
Big Fish converted me into a believer... & at a pretty affordable price too.
The joint's a tad small, so it may be wise to make a reservation beforehand, especially during peak periods. If your group happens to be overly large, the partitions can be easily removed to join several tables together. Parking's fairly limited, but there's a sizeable public carpark nearby for those who don't mind walking a bit.
Their Seafood Chowder's a sure winner, especially considering how fresh the shellfish are. The Lobster Bisque is a safe bet as well, though it is only offered as a Soup of the Day, so do call ahead to avoid any disappointment.
If you're hankering for some greenery, order the Warm Mushroom Salad; their choice of condiments really brings out the best of this little beaut.
For 'Big Fish' Signature Dishes, be sure to try out their Fish & Chips (fresher than fresh, & not too oily to boot), Spaghetti with Lobster Ragout (Slipper Lobster, really, & tends to be quite gelat, so it's a good idea to share), & Grilled Hot Seafood Platter (somewhat similar to Fish & Co.’s Seafood Platter, but with the addition of Scallops & Morton Bay Bugs, & the rice is lot less oily).
I wouldn't recommend the Spicy Seafood Cioppino though, simply because the portion's waaay too modest for me. But if you're a small eater, then by all means go ahead.
& for those of you highly susceptible to having fish bones stuck in your throat, beware the Whole Rainbow Trout.
Their staff are pretty friendly & helpful, 'cept for one huge Malay fella who could perhaps practice smiling a bit more (not say what lah, but a quick flash of a grin once in a while would've been nice). Be aware that they can be overly zealous at times; I once had my half-finished Seafood Chowder cleared when I accompanied my daughter to the restroom but for a moment.
Their recommendations can usually be trusted, though I was sorely disappointed with the Grilled Swordfish Collar; it came out very dry, which totally killed the taste. To give them the benefit of a doubt, it might have been a one-off thing. I'll give it another shot when I've overcome the trauma.
Ultimately, if you’re out for a night of fine - yet affordable - dining, you may very well give Big Fish a try.
- 1 more comment »
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31 Oct 2007 at 12:52 pm
Oh hey, i've heard of the place but yet to really try it. How much did it cost? Nice review btw.
02 Dec 2007 at 9:41 am
Thanks! As I recall, a set dinner for one costs SGD 39 .
18 Jan 2008 at 11:50 pm
Not any more.
They used to offer Kajiki Sashimi, which is one of my all-time favourites, but it was replaced it with another variety of fish which tastes rather dodgy (& not to mention cheap).
Initially, they explained it away by saying that they ran out of stock. But after several weeks of almost daily calling in to check if fresh stock had arrived, I finally gave up.
As it that wasn't insult enough, they recently started using the kind of mini-octopi one regularly sees in Chinese cold dishes for their 'version' of Tako Sashimi (which happens to be #2 on my list of Sashimi to die for).
I'd much rather that they increase their prices slightly, than to compromise on food quality/selection which only serves to disgruntle & alienate regular patrons.
I once adored you passionately, but I'm afraid that now I have to bid you adieu.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
They do stock a goodly number of different fish species; on rare occasions they bring in some of which may be pretty uncommon, though it's more of a one off thing.
More often than not, you'd probably come face to face with a dead fish or two in one of their tanks... & you'd be just as likely to see their compadres feeding off the poor blighters (a tad gross, but it helps save on the fish food, I suppose).
Needless to say, the healths of their stocks are pretty suspect; about 2 months back they brought in some Panda Corys, a significant fraction of which kicked the bucket on the same day. It doesn't help that the fishes tend to be quite young & fragile, thereby being at a higher risk of biting the dust from all the stress of moving.
So it's a good idea to wait a couple of days before purchasing any new arrivals to their store... & to be on the safe side, quarantine the new additions for a couple more days as well.
The part time staff can be pretty ignorant; on an occasion, one fella didn't even know what species of fish I was requesting for. The full time ones are fine, though they could perhaps smile a bit more. Don't try asking for a specific fish in the tank, unless you're willing to roll up your sleeves & do it yourself.
I find their items fairly overpriced, but still shop for sundry stuff there as the travelling time/cost to other aquariums tends to outweigh the potential savings.
I won’t touch on the other animals that they exploit, I mean sell, since I don’t support the companion animal trade (all of my felines-in-residence are rescued strays). But I must add that the Shih Tzu they indiscriminately sold to a relative of mine isn’t getting the basic quality of life that he ought to enjoy.
Sigh.
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For sure, there's Ben & Jerry's as well as Häagen-Dazs, but neither of them hits my sweet spot as well as Andersen's does. Just the mere mention of Belgian Chocolate Chip sends one into throes of ecstasy.
As if their delectable range of ice cold confections weren't enough, their menu offers gorgeous combinations of ice cream & various tasty peripherals at awesome prices.
Affordable/scrummy ice cream in a comfortable setting (so long as you ignore the voyeurs), what more could one ask for?
My only complaint is that their policy of take-away/dine-in isn't clearly stipulated; twice thus far have I witnessed people being shooed from the premises just because they weren't informed beforehand of this particular policy.
A simple signboard would've sufficed to avoid such embarrassment.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Order any food item & get any one of your favourite drink for SGD 0.30 only, which is a bargain since their drinks cost upwards of SGD 2.
The proliferation of HK-style eateries is somewhat both a blessing & a boon, as the missus is a BNO by birth; we tend to find it distressing when the food served comes out somewhat substandard.
For one thing, I can never understand why one has to pay an extra SGD 0.50 for cold drinks. That much for a few ice cubes sounds a bit dodgy, on top of which the drink ends up horribly diluted if left overly long.
Then again, I'm probably too spoilt; a restaurant that we regularly frequent in HK places the hot glass of 奶茶 in a bowl of ice cubes, eliminating the problem of dilution. Now that is service worth paying a little more for.
I digress.
PP's Central serves a pretty fine Claypot Stew Beef Brisket; the tender bits practically slides down one's throat, & the gravy goes really well with rice, as my daughter would attest. Sadly, now & then a tough chunk of meat with the consistency of old leather pops out & spoils what would've been an otherwise perfect dish.
If those were thrown in as a filler, I'd rather do without.
Their Milk Tea is passable, but nothing near what an authentic 奶茶 tastes like. Alas, when nostalgia sets in, we make do with what we can.
But I must admit that they do know their instant noodles (出前一丁 aka 清仔面) served up in a variety of ways; those come pretty close to that which we know & love. If you can't decide on what to order, that's probably your safest bet.
Service-wise, there isn't really much to critique; the food gets served rather quickly, & the fact that the staffs are able to speak Cantonese is a nice touch.
Central isn't a place that we'd frequent, but the occasional bite still fits the schedule.
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