Labelled as the chic, elegant bistro-dining place essential for ladies (or Tai Tais) to meet, the Marmalade Group opens its 3rd branch (after Palais Renaissance & Hitachi Tower) of Marmalade Pantry at Holland Village.
Located right next to Aburiya along Lorong Liput, this outlet features the same modern interior design (in white furnishing this time) as the rest of the other two outlets.
We were there for their dessert after our brunch and we promptly decided on the Chocolate Deluxe Cupcake and Cherry Crumble Tart.
As I wanted something sweet and chocolaty that day, the cupcake certainly lives up to its tag of “The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake”. However, perhaps it is an inexperienced me eating a cupcake for the first time, but I do find the cupcake slightly hard – perhaps someone can educate me on it’s supposedly texture.
The Cherry Crumble Tart however is a fine piece of art. Full of cherry flavour and soft in its texture, the taste did not come off to sweet either.
Service was prompt and staff were pretty friendly, but it does comes off a bit noisy to be called a perfect Sunday brunch experience.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Nestled in the midst of Holland Village, Foster – The English Rose Café is the place you would love to spend a lazy afternoon having a heart-to-heart talk with your friends over a cup of piping hot tea. Served from 3pm to 6pm daily, they are famous for its Devonshire Cream Tea that consisted of its signature oven hot Scones, coupled with cake and finger sandwiches and a choice of coffee or tea of your choice.
The good vibe about it lies in the Butter, Homemade Strawberry Preserve and Fresh Cream spread for the scones. Sinful yet delightful, I love the fresh cream with the scones best. The décor and ambience of the place also gets top marks from me, as the old English cottage-styled setting charms one.
But with the pros comes the minuses –the Fruitcake and Sandwiches that come with the set are simply laughable. The cake is similar to those night snack rations the army dishes out and the sandwiches are plain tuna and cheese between two pieces of dry bread.
Where we were seated, the air was also stuffy to the extent warm, and we suspected that they are tight-fisted on their electric bills. Level of service was also found wanting as the waitress did not seem to enthusiastic to serve us.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
For those who craved for the once popular A&W Fried Chicken and it’s nostalgic fixed-stool-table, you can look no further than Waffletown at Balmoral Plaza. This old school American diner charm was once located at the basement of Bukit Timah Plaza and has since assembled a loyal following.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon and the outlet was fully packed with families and students. We ordered a 2 Piece Chicken Meal, coupled with Mash Potato and Coleslaw. Visually, the set did not look appetising at all in its presentation. But after sinking my teeth into the meat, it sets to dispel the notion that the dish is poorly executed. Its no frills approach ensure that the experience you get is one of “homely” feeling and not that of the commercialise KFC. I personally also like the coleslaw, which is not finely chopped – ensuring that every bite comes with a crunch of the cabbage.
However, the mash potato left much to be desired – it is made from powdered mix that does not give one the full-bodied experience of a potato. And if you wondered why we shared a 2-piece set, it is because as the name suggest, they also specialise in Waffles. I have to commend that this is the best waffle that I have tasted for a very long time.
It was freshly made, dished up hot and crisp, served with the opted Vanilla Ice Cream, Whip Cream and Blueberry Puree. The blueberry topping was very well executed – intense in flavour yet not too sweet. Like every wonderful finale to a dining experience, we left the place with a huge smirk on our face - Hmmmmmmm……
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Being located in District 9 but nestled on a hill away from Orchard Road nearby gives Wild Rocket the advantage of being accessible yet far away from it all. But most importantly, Wild Rocket serves what Will and his friends like to eat - basic, fuss-free cooking – simple good food with the best ingredients possible. The meal was kick-started with the complementary bread. Despite being served warm, I felt that the serving was pathetic, and also the lack of Balsamic Vinaigrette to the olive oil dip, disappointing.
I opted for the Salmon Carpaccio with Wasabi Sauce & Ebiko for my starter and I was impressed – the fish was lovely sliced into thin sheets and goes well with the Mayonnaises Sauce, but what I found absent was the lack of wasabi flavour which was pretty much non-existence in this dish.
Having heard so much about it, I naturally choose its signature Wild Rocket Burger with Sun-Dried Tomato Relish as my main dish and boy was I sold. The Beef Patty was excellent – nicely mashed and chopped up, the texture was just right and what’s more it was enormous! Moreover, the sun-dried tomato relish complemented perfectly with the beef – producing a harmonise flavour of salty, sweet and sour all in one bite.
For dessert, I selected the Vanilla Ice Cream with Roasted Black Sesame Sauce – highly recommended by one of my colleagues – and once again, I was amazed by how such a simple combination could produce an excellent dessert. The texture of the sesame sauce was finely grind and produces an amazing flavour, and it was not too sweet which goes extremely well with the vanilla ice cream.
Overall, I will highly recommend this venue for a business lunch.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Located a stone throw away from their flagship outlet, Astons Specialities, sits Astons Prime – a more Atas, or upmarket version of their sister outlet that cater a wider range of premium meat cuts – with bookings and reservations accepted.
The meal started off with the complimentary bread and homemade garlic spread, which my dad and I like it pretty much. While some might argue that the spread was bland and tasteless, I like it for its fragrant while finding some strong tasting ones overpowering, to the point artificial. Unfortunately, that is as good as it goes for the night. The Wild Mushroom Soup although generous with the shrooms, tasted just like any canned soup, and there is really nothing wild about it since the mushrooms used are nothing special. A case of misleading advertising? You tell me.
The main course was the USDA Certified Angus Beef Ribeye Choice Cut that is known for their propensity to produce tender, flavourful beef. They have just the right amount of marbling to insure a juicy, incredible full-bodied flavoured steak. When it finally arrived after a long wait, I was so hungry that any dish you serve me should taste good, but what do you know – first cut to the meat and there was no blood to be seen for a medium rare steak. A second cut that halves the steak shows the same result although mine was slightly better than my dad’s – at least my meat came with a hint of pink on the inside, while my dad's steak came well-done. Thank goodness we did not ordered the Grade 9 Wagyu Beef, which would have been a waste if it was cooked this way.
But more drama was to unfold as halfway through our dinner, we realised that my mum’s Fillet Mignon has not arrived. We checked with the staffs not once, but twice and the response we got was “Sorry but the grill is full, you would have to wait”. I was left wondering for a second whether the staff is implying that it is our problem that their grill is full? It is obviously an oversight that the kitchen has forgotten the order since 5 of us are already halfway through our mains. I wouldn’t be half as angry if he had proceeded to say that he would tell the kitchen to expedite the order, but instead he goes on to mention “other table is also waiting for their steak”. That really left me speechless – What has another table waiting for their steak got to do with us? Is the supposedly "you are not alone" statement suppose to make us feel any better? The manager tried to diffuse the situation by apologising and offered a complimentary oil soaked Chicken Quesadilla, which my bro-in-law had a bite and spit it out saying that it tasted funky. Badly trained staffs coupled with lousy service recovery methods, all these which can only be found Uniquely in Singapore.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
I always have a fixation for things nostalgic. Perhaps it was the way I grew up where quaint kopitiams flourishes, and a notion that food courts serve sucky food for pampered people who do not know their food any better. It was no wonder why I am so excited when I discovered YY Kafei Dian – known for their Hainanese cuisine.
The Hainanese Chicken Rice was good by any standard. The rice seems a tad yellowish, probably from the chicken oil - pretty fragrant but could be tastier. The chicken though was of good texture. It was cooked in such a way that there is a nice layer of gelatine under the skin – and this could only be achieved by dipping the whole chicken into a pail of ice water prior to serving – as such, some may tend to find the chicken too cold for consumption.
The other favourite dish among the office crowd was the Char Siew Wanton Noodles. The noodle was tangy and ingredients were generous, but above that, there is nothing noteworthy to mention.
However, what YY Kafei Dian is probably most famous for is their Soft Kaya Buns. The buns are baked and toasted on the premises, and no one could ever dispute the fact that the texture of the bun is amazing – crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Although I felt that Killiney’s kaya and butter combination is better, one should definitely try their peanut butter version, along with a cup of aromatic Hainanese Coffee...awwww!!!
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
When we arrived, it was fully packed – not a place conducive for conversations over dinner. However, with over 100 items to choose from, patrons will definitely be spoilt for choice.
We started with the Sashimi, and it was excellent. It was fresh and the serving was generous – definitely bettered that of Ikoi’s – no wonder another friend of mine has been urging me to visit them for their sashimi.
The Mixed Tempura was also of pretty good standard. I like for the fact that it is thinly coated with flour and served piping hot – it is simply enjoyable to consume them.
However, the Sushi Handroll could definitely be better. I totally despise seaweed used for sushi not being crispy – an indication that it is not fresh and has been left in the open for too long – no matter how good the ingredients are inside the sushi, mushy seaweed just does not cut it.
Overall, Hanabi is ideal for non-fussy Singaporeans who delight themselves in Japanese cuisine. With a wide menu range, this restaurant certainly appeals to them with the quality of food – in my opinion, definitely a better bet than Ikoi. Service was found wanting at times especially when it comes to topping up of tea and taking orders. Service staffs are mainly non-Singaporeans so communication could also prove challenging at times.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
To make the Tanglin outlet resemble a BBQ place in the South, many of the tables and chairs have been replaced with six-seat cosy booths. Although more famous for their Buffalo Wings, Baby Back Pork Ribs, and Prime Rib Cut Steaks, we opted for Fish & Chips as the main for the $10 set lunch and was greeted with a generous portion of Fillet accompanied by Potato Wedges and Coleslaw.
With a wrench of the lemon and a dip in the tartar sauce, this is one of the better Fish & Chips I have eaten – it was crispy on the outside yet not too oily. However, it seems that only the batter is seasoned but not the fish itself. Upon scrutiny, you will realise that the meat itself is pretty bland and tasteless. While we gave the more famous mains a missed, what you definitely should NOT miss is the Deep Fried Button Mushrooms as a starter to go with it.
Huge and fresh battered fried mushrooms delivered by Everbloom Mushrooms – dip them in the tartar sauce and you will realised that you had every urge to order another portion to satisfy those cravings. Every bite produces a bursting sensation from the supposedly butter giving you a truly orgasmic experience. Overall, Jerry’s Barbeque & Grill is a great diner to escape to for a few hours of great tasting All American food and beer. With a relax and cosy feel, Jerry’s is a nice respite from many downtown Singapore eateries.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Having read a few rave reviews about Friends @ Jelita, and armed with their $50 voucher (for every $150 spend), I was looking forward to spend a wonderful evening with a few of my friends. We were surprised to find the restaurant empty on a Thursday evening when we arrived. After ordering, we were served the complimentary bread, and unlike the dip I had @ Wild Rocket, this one comes with Balsamic Vinaigrette along with olive oil.
However, the food took surprisingly long to arrive considering that there were only 2 other tables that arrived after us. After 40 minutes, the starter of Pan-fried Corn Fed Duck Liver paired with Rhubarb & Apple Coulis finally arrived. The combination created a remarkable and appealing contrast in tang – the slightly sweet and sour sauce counterbalance the creamy well fried duck liver – giving this dish a invigorating twist. This was definitely the best dish for the evening.
The next dish that came along was the Timbale of Salmon Tartare, Guacamole and Caviar. I liked the fact that salmon was not too fine, giving the tartare a bite and the creamy taste of the guacamole also complements well, but somehow the salmon tasted fishy and my friends suspected it wasn’t fresh.
We waited a further more for the mains to arrived and I opted the Grilled 100 Days Grain-Fed Ribeye Steak served with Garlic Waffles, Sautéed Vegetables & Veal Jus. However, when I thought the “medium rare” Ribeye I had at Aston Prime was bad, this was absolutely ridiculous! I did my usual first cut at the side and it was done well – the second cut right in the middle of the steak followed and not a hint of pink was in sight. My right mind would have told me to return the steak back to the kitchen, but considering that we waited so long for the mains, I decided to stuff the piece of tough meat down my throat just to satisfy my hunger.
Dessert was Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake served with Ice Cream. Even though I was pretty appalled that the strawberries that came with the dessert was more yellow and white rather than red, the chocolate cake on the whole still looks delicious especially when it’s being halved, with the molten chocolate gushing and oozing out. Although the dessert is made fresh upon ordered, the chocolate that was used taste seemingly low grade, leaving a bad aftertaste at the end.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed with this place as I expected the food to be much better. Service wise wasn’t as fantastic, but the only aspect that won me over was the fact that it is a great place to gather for a small group of friends for a nice quiet dinner.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
I started to have interest in this place when I read a review for this place in the papers. I made a point that I will visit this place soon enough. Soon enough, I got the chance when I was in Raffles City looking for a place for dinner. Not to mention that I visited this place twice in a week. Haha….
I was expecting to see a long queue as someone had posted a long queue photo on STOMP a few days ago. Wahahaha…….. Surprise! Surprise! There was no queue at all. Maybe we were early, about 6.30pm on a Tuesday, or we were just plain lucky. Hee…. However by the time we left the place around 7.15pm, the queue is there and it went all the way to the escalator! It was the same on a second visit, on a Sunday, there was no queue as well. Since then I just think that I am plain lucky. Wahaha…… So lesson learnt, to beat the queue, arrive before 7pm.
Since it was my first time there, the waitress at the entrance, explaining how the restaurant works. This place works like Marche. Each of the customers is given a card. This card will record what food or dish that you have ordered. Before leaving the place, the card will be given to the cashier then pay for the food. You will be also given a reserved table tag that you can place it on your table, so that other people know that the table is being reserved, no need to use a packet of tissue paper any more.
However, you can find your own seats. Good and bad about this point, cos you can seat wherever you like, but there will be some people who seem selfish, 2 people would seat at a table where the table is meant for 6 people. Sigh…. Meantime looking for a table is the easy thing, if not the staff there can help out. It would be better if they could have designated seats at the door instead. Hee…. There are both cushion sofa seats and normal chairs as well for you to choose from.
The interior of the place is huge and the decoration is quite simple as well with a bit of fusion going on, same as their food as well. The walkways are wide enough for a crowd but their queuing system could be better. The stalls are quite well allocated as well; means are the same type of food is grouped together. This means starters all at one location, mains at one location then desserts are another location etc.
Now to the food, they offer a variety of Japanese and fusion food. From sashimi, sushi, BBQ skewers, Japanese steamboat (nabe) to rosti and burgers. They have it all.
Omelette @ $5.80: There are different fillings for this Japanese style omelette, from plain, cheese and mushroom to crab meat. I have tasted their mushroom and cheese omelette and I loved it! Their omelette is unique in a shape of rectangle and it is made fresh when ordered. You can see the chef patiently preparing it. It is done layered with the fillings inside. It is soft and fluffy. The taste is very good as well. It is a must try worth every cent for it!
Assorted Tempera @ $10.80: Assorted tempera which includes two prawns, fish, golden mushroom, egg plant and mushroom. This one also prepared when you ordered. The batter is thin and crispy, not overwhelming or oily. The only things that disappoint me are the size of everything, quite small, even the prawns. I did not know golden mushroom can be used for tempera but it does not taste good as it became very dry after deep frying.
Garlic Fried Rice @ $5.80: This one is a disappointment as the fried rice is pre-fried and garlic is added to it when you ordered. Nothing to shout out for this fried rice. Not worth the money!
Shabu Shabu @ $8.80: This one is just soup in a steamboat. The soup tastes like plain water but there are a lot of different vegetables and a few slices of meat. in the soup. They are all put inside the pot and cooked over hot fire when ordered. For this, the most important thing is the soup base, and it failed terrible. Totally not worth the money.
Chicken and Egg Rice Set @ $6.80: This one is they used cooked chucks of chicken put in a pan with some soy sauce, then put over hot fire. After a while, add some egg on top, cook for a little more time, then place the whole thing on top of some rice, added a few pieces of seaweed. Wala! Done. Another disappointment, very normal dish that I could get in any other food court at a cheaper price. The chicken is tasteless, some like rubber. Not worth the money.
Assorted Sushi: The sushi came with a very nice presentation, all placed on top of a wooden board. However the sushi is a disappointment, the rice is not packed as a whole, and it will crumple when picked up with chopstick, the rice is not sticky enough. Although, the piece of fish on top of the rice is a fairly large piece but then rice fails the test.
Rosti: This is a western food right? However they are serving it? That is what I thought in the first place. I was a bit apprehending to order this but then the dish surprised me. It is good, in fact very good. The rosti portion is not that big but it came hot and crispy! So crispy on the outer layer but soft on the inside, not dry at all. Combined with sour cream, it is simply wonderful. This is also a must try!
Green tea ice-cream and red beans fillings crepe @ $6.80: This crepe is not the usual thin crepe, this one came quite thick and tasted like pancake instead. The ice cream is normal green tea ice cream but the red beans are those whole red beans which I like. It is an average dessert for me nothing to wow about.
The service is quite slow as the food are only prepared when you ordered, so be prepared to wait for your food. The place can get quite noisy especially when you seat next to big groups. The servers are quite on the ball to remove empty plates from the tables.
Be prepared to queue when you get in and be prepared to queue when you are going out to pay for you bill as well. They got four cashiers but only two were functions when I was there on two different occasions.
The overall experience is quite ok for me. The food does not really attract me that much to go back again. I dun really think I will go back unless my friends want to go and try it out. ON the average I think each person will cost around $20 to $40.
Oh yah! They got two neo prints machines in the middle of the restaurant. Something special. Looks fun when you can eat and take pictures with your food at the same time. Good idea! Wahahaha….. I think I will do that next time!
1=SGD 0.0587
Labelled as the chic, elegant bistro-dining place essential for ladies (or Tai Tais) to meet, the Marmalade Group opens its 3rd branch (after Palais Renaissance & Hitachi Tower) of Marmalade Pantry at Holland Village.
Located right next to Aburiya along Lorong Liput, this outlet features the same modern interior design (in white furnishing this time) as the rest of the other two outlets.
We were there for their dessert after our brunch and we promptly decided on the Chocolate Deluxe Cupcake and Cherry Crumble Tart.
As I wanted something sweet and chocolaty that day, the cupcake certainly lives up to its tag of “The Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake”. However, perhaps it is an inexperienced me eating a cupcake for the first time, but I do find the cupcake slightly hard – perhaps someone can educate me on it’s supposedly texture.
The Cherry Crumble Tart however is a fine piece of art. Full of cherry flavour and soft in its texture, the taste did not come off to sweet either.
Service was prompt and staff were pretty friendly, but it does comes off a bit noisy to be called a perfect Sunday brunch experience.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Nestled in the midst of Holland Village, Foster – The English Rose Café is the place you would love to spend a lazy afternoon having a heart-to-heart talk with your friends over a cup of piping hot tea. Served from 3pm to 6pm daily, they are famous for its Devonshire Cream Tea that consisted of its signature oven hot Scones, coupled with cake and finger sandwiches and a choice of coffee or tea of your choice.
The good vibe about it lies in the Butter, Homemade Strawberry Preserve and Fresh Cream spread for the scones. Sinful yet delightful, I love the fresh cream with the scones best. The décor and ambience of the place also gets top marks from me, as the old English cottage-styled setting charms one.
But with the pros comes the minuses –the Fruitcake and Sandwiches that come with the set are simply laughable. The cake is similar to those night snack rations the army dishes out and the sandwiches are plain tuna and cheese between two pieces of dry bread.
Where we were seated, the air was also stuffy to the extent warm, and we suspected that they are tight-fisted on their electric bills. Level of service was also found wanting as the waitress did not seem to enthusiastic to serve us.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
For those who craved for the once popular A&W Fried Chicken and it’s nostalgic fixed-stool-table, you can look no further than Waffletown at Balmoral Plaza. This old school American diner charm was once located at the basement of Bukit Timah Plaza and has since assembled a loyal following.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon and the outlet was fully packed with families and students. We ordered a 2 Piece Chicken Meal, coupled with Mash Potato and Coleslaw. Visually, the set did not look appetising at all in its presentation. But after sinking my teeth into the meat, it sets to dispel the notion that the dish is poorly executed. Its no frills approach ensure that the experience you get is one of “homely” feeling and not that of the commercialise KFC. I personally also like the coleslaw, which is not finely chopped – ensuring that every bite comes with a crunch of the cabbage.
However, the mash potato left much to be desired – it is made from powdered mix that does not give one the full-bodied experience of a potato. And if you wondered why we shared a 2-piece set, it is because as the name suggest, they also specialise in Waffles. I have to commend that this is the best waffle that I have tasted for a very long time.
It was freshly made, dished up hot and crisp, served with the opted Vanilla Ice Cream, Whip Cream and Blueberry Puree. The blueberry topping was very well executed – intense in flavour yet not too sweet. Like every wonderful finale to a dining experience, we left the place with a huge smirk on our face - Hmmmmmmm……
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Being located in District 9 but nestled on a hill away from Orchard Road nearby gives Wild Rocket the advantage of being accessible yet far away from it all. But most importantly, Wild Rocket serves what Will and his friends like to eat - basic, fuss-free cooking – simple good food with the best ingredients possible. The meal was kick-started with the complementary bread. Despite being served warm, I felt that the serving was pathetic, and also the lack of Balsamic Vinaigrette to the olive oil dip, disappointing.
I opted for the Salmon Carpaccio with Wasabi Sauce & Ebiko for my starter and I was impressed – the fish was lovely sliced into thin sheets and goes well with the Mayonnaises Sauce, but what I found absent was the lack of wasabi flavour which was pretty much non-existence in this dish.
Having heard so much about it, I naturally choose its signature Wild Rocket Burger with Sun-Dried Tomato Relish as my main dish and boy was I sold. The Beef Patty was excellent – nicely mashed and chopped up, the texture was just right and what’s more it was enormous! Moreover, the sun-dried tomato relish complemented perfectly with the beef – producing a harmonise flavour of salty, sweet and sour all in one bite.
For dessert, I selected the Vanilla Ice Cream with Roasted Black Sesame Sauce – highly recommended by one of my colleagues – and once again, I was amazed by how such a simple combination could produce an excellent dessert. The texture of the sesame sauce was finely grind and produces an amazing flavour, and it was not too sweet which goes extremely well with the vanilla ice cream.
Overall, I will highly recommend this venue for a business lunch.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Located a stone throw away from their flagship outlet, Astons Specialities, sits Astons Prime – a more Atas, or upmarket version of their sister outlet that cater a wider range of premium meat cuts – with bookings and reservations accepted.
The meal started off with the complimentary bread and homemade garlic spread, which my dad and I like it pretty much. While some might argue that the spread was bland and tasteless, I like it for its fragrant while finding some strong tasting ones overpowering, to the point artificial. Unfortunately, that is as good as it goes for the night. The Wild Mushroom Soup although generous with the shrooms, tasted just like any canned soup, and there is really nothing wild about it since the mushrooms used are nothing special. A case of misleading advertising? You tell me.
The main course was the USDA Certified Angus Beef Ribeye Choice Cut that is known for their propensity to produce tender, flavourful beef. They have just the right amount of marbling to insure a juicy, incredible full-bodied flavoured steak. When it finally arrived after a long wait, I was so hungry that any dish you serve me should taste good, but what do you know – first cut to the meat and there was no blood to be seen for a medium rare steak. A second cut that halves the steak shows the same result although mine was slightly better than my dad’s – at least my meat came with a hint of pink on the inside, while my dad's steak came well-done. Thank goodness we did not ordered the Grade 9 Wagyu Beef, which would have been a waste if it was cooked this way.
But more drama was to unfold as halfway through our dinner, we realised that my mum’s Fillet Mignon has not arrived. We checked with the staffs not once, but twice and the response we got was “Sorry but the grill is full, you would have to wait”. I was left wondering for a second whether the staff is implying that it is our problem that their grill is full? It is obviously an oversight that the kitchen has forgotten the order since 5 of us are already halfway through our mains. I wouldn’t be half as angry if he had proceeded to say that he would tell the kitchen to expedite the order, but instead he goes on to mention “other table is also waiting for their steak”. That really left me speechless – What has another table waiting for their steak got to do with us? Is the supposedly "you are not alone" statement suppose to make us feel any better? The manager tried to diffuse the situation by apologising and offered a complimentary oil soaked Chicken Quesadilla, which my bro-in-law had a bite and spit it out saying that it tasted funky. Badly trained staffs coupled with lousy service recovery methods, all these which can only be found Uniquely in Singapore.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
I always have a fixation for things nostalgic. Perhaps it was the way I grew up where quaint kopitiams flourishes, and a notion that food courts serve sucky food for pampered people who do not know their food any better. It was no wonder why I am so excited when I discovered YY Kafei Dian – known for their Hainanese cuisine.
The Hainanese Chicken Rice was good by any standard. The rice seems a tad yellowish, probably from the chicken oil - pretty fragrant but could be tastier. The chicken though was of good texture. It was cooked in such a way that there is a nice layer of gelatine under the skin – and this could only be achieved by dipping the whole chicken into a pail of ice water prior to serving – as such, some may tend to find the chicken too cold for consumption.
The other favourite dish among the office crowd was the Char Siew Wanton Noodles. The noodle was tangy and ingredients were generous, but above that, there is nothing noteworthy to mention.
However, what YY Kafei Dian is probably most famous for is their Soft Kaya Buns. The buns are baked and toasted on the premises, and no one could ever dispute the fact that the texture of the bun is amazing – crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Although I felt that Killiney’s kaya and butter combination is better, one should definitely try their peanut butter version, along with a cup of aromatic Hainanese Coffee...awwww!!!
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
When we arrived, it was fully packed – not a place conducive for conversations over dinner. However, with over 100 items to choose from, patrons will definitely be spoilt for choice.
We started with the Sashimi, and it was excellent. It was fresh and the serving was generous – definitely bettered that of Ikoi’s – no wonder another friend of mine has been urging me to visit them for their sashimi.
The Mixed Tempura was also of pretty good standard. I like for the fact that it is thinly coated with flour and served piping hot – it is simply enjoyable to consume them.
However, the Sushi Handroll could definitely be better. I totally despise seaweed used for sushi not being crispy – an indication that it is not fresh and has been left in the open for too long – no matter how good the ingredients are inside the sushi, mushy seaweed just does not cut it.
Overall, Hanabi is ideal for non-fussy Singaporeans who delight themselves in Japanese cuisine. With a wide menu range, this restaurant certainly appeals to them with the quality of food – in my opinion, definitely a better bet than Ikoi. Service was found wanting at times especially when it comes to topping up of tea and taking orders. Service staffs are mainly non-Singaporeans so communication could also prove challenging at times.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
To make the Tanglin outlet resemble a BBQ place in the South, many of the tables and chairs have been replaced with six-seat cosy booths. Although more famous for their Buffalo Wings, Baby Back Pork Ribs, and Prime Rib Cut Steaks, we opted for Fish & Chips as the main for the $10 set lunch and was greeted with a generous portion of Fillet accompanied by Potato Wedges and Coleslaw.
With a wrench of the lemon and a dip in the tartar sauce, this is one of the better Fish & Chips I have eaten – it was crispy on the outside yet not too oily. However, it seems that only the batter is seasoned but not the fish itself. Upon scrutiny, you will realise that the meat itself is pretty bland and tasteless. While we gave the more famous mains a missed, what you definitely should NOT miss is the Deep Fried Button Mushrooms as a starter to go with it.
Huge and fresh battered fried mushrooms delivered by Everbloom Mushrooms – dip them in the tartar sauce and you will realised that you had every urge to order another portion to satisfy those cravings. Every bite produces a bursting sensation from the supposedly butter giving you a truly orgasmic experience. Overall, Jerry’s Barbeque & Grill is a great diner to escape to for a few hours of great tasting All American food and beer. With a relax and cosy feel, Jerry’s is a nice respite from many downtown Singapore eateries.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Having read a few rave reviews about Friends @ Jelita, and armed with their $50 voucher (for every $150 spend), I was looking forward to spend a wonderful evening with a few of my friends. We were surprised to find the restaurant empty on a Thursday evening when we arrived. After ordering, we were served the complimentary bread, and unlike the dip I had @ Wild Rocket, this one comes with Balsamic Vinaigrette along with olive oil.
However, the food took surprisingly long to arrive considering that there were only 2 other tables that arrived after us. After 40 minutes, the starter of Pan-fried Corn Fed Duck Liver paired with Rhubarb & Apple Coulis finally arrived. The combination created a remarkable and appealing contrast in tang – the slightly sweet and sour sauce counterbalance the creamy well fried duck liver – giving this dish a invigorating twist. This was definitely the best dish for the evening.
The next dish that came along was the Timbale of Salmon Tartare, Guacamole and Caviar. I liked the fact that salmon was not too fine, giving the tartare a bite and the creamy taste of the guacamole also complements well, but somehow the salmon tasted fishy and my friends suspected it wasn’t fresh.
We waited a further more for the mains to arrived and I opted the Grilled 100 Days Grain-Fed Ribeye Steak served with Garlic Waffles, Sautéed Vegetables & Veal Jus. However, when I thought the “medium rare” Ribeye I had at Aston Prime was bad, this was absolutely ridiculous! I did my usual first cut at the side and it was done well – the second cut right in the middle of the steak followed and not a hint of pink was in sight. My right mind would have told me to return the steak back to the kitchen, but considering that we waited so long for the mains, I decided to stuff the piece of tough meat down my throat just to satisfy my hunger.
Dessert was Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake served with Ice Cream. Even though I was pretty appalled that the strawberries that came with the dessert was more yellow and white rather than red, the chocolate cake on the whole still looks delicious especially when it’s being halved, with the molten chocolate gushing and oozing out. Although the dessert is made fresh upon ordered, the chocolate that was used taste seemingly low grade, leaving a bad aftertaste at the end.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed with this place as I expected the food to be much better. Service wise wasn’t as fantastic, but the only aspect that won me over was the fact that it is a great place to gather for a small group of friends for a nice quiet dinner.
You can view the photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
I started to have interest in this place when I read a review for this place in the papers. I made a point that I will visit this place soon enough. Soon enough, I got the chance when I was in Raffles City looking for a place for dinner. Not to mention that I visited this place twice in a week. Haha….
I was expecting to see a long queue as someone had posted a long queue photo on STOMP a few days ago. Wahahaha…….. Surprise! Surprise! There was no queue at all. Maybe we were early, about 6.30pm on a Tuesday, or we were just plain lucky. Hee…. However by the time we left the place around 7.15pm, the queue is there and it went all the way to the escalator! It was the same on a second visit, on a Sunday, there was no queue as well. Since then I just think that I am plain lucky. Wahaha…… So lesson learnt, to beat the queue, arrive before 7pm.
Since it was my first time there, the waitress at the entrance, explaining how the restaurant works. This place works like Marche. Each of the customers is given a card. This card will record what food or dish that you have ordered. Before leaving the place, the card will be given to the cashier then pay for the food. You will be also given a reserved table tag that you can place it on your table, so that other people know that the table is being reserved, no need to use a packet of tissue paper any more.
However, you can find your own seats. Good and bad about this point, cos you can seat wherever you like, but there will be some people who seem selfish, 2 people would seat at a table where the table is meant for 6 people. Sigh…. Meantime looking for a table is the easy thing, if not the staff there can help out. It would be better if they could have designated seats at the door instead. Hee…. There are both cushion sofa seats and normal chairs as well for you to choose from.
The interior of the place is huge and the decoration is quite simple as well with a bit of fusion going on, same as their food as well. The walkways are wide enough for a crowd but their queuing system could be better. The stalls are quite well allocated as well; means are the same type of food is grouped together. This means starters all at one location, mains at one location then desserts are another location etc.
Now to the food, they offer a variety of Japanese and fusion food. From sashimi, sushi, BBQ skewers, Japanese steamboat (nabe) to rosti and burgers. They have it all.
Omelette @ $5.80: There are different fillings for this Japanese style omelette, from plain, cheese and mushroom to crab meat. I have tasted their mushroom and cheese omelette and I loved it! Their omelette is unique in a shape of rectangle and it is made fresh when ordered. You can see the chef patiently preparing it. It is done layered with the fillings inside. It is soft and fluffy. The taste is very good as well. It is a must try worth every cent for it!
Assorted Tempera @ $10.80: Assorted tempera which includes two prawns, fish, golden mushroom, egg plant and mushroom. This one also prepared when you ordered. The batter is thin and crispy, not overwhelming or oily. The only things that disappoint me are the size of everything, quite small, even the prawns. I did not know golden mushroom can be used for tempera but it does not taste good as it became very dry after deep frying.
Garlic Fried Rice @ $5.80: This one is a disappointment as the fried rice is pre-fried and garlic is added to it when you ordered. Nothing to shout out for this fried rice. Not worth the money!
Shabu Shabu @ $8.80: This one is just soup in a steamboat. The soup tastes like plain water but there are a lot of different vegetables and a few slices of meat. in the soup. They are all put inside the pot and cooked over hot fire when ordered. For this, the most important thing is the soup base, and it failed terrible. Totally not worth the money.
Chicken and Egg Rice Set @ $6.80: This one is they used cooked chucks of chicken put in a pan with some soy sauce, then put over hot fire. After a while, add some egg on top, cook for a little more time, then place the whole thing on top of some rice, added a few pieces of seaweed. Wala! Done. Another disappointment, very normal dish that I could get in any other food court at a cheaper price. The chicken is tasteless, some like rubber. Not worth the money.
Assorted Sushi: The sushi came with a very nice presentation, all placed on top of a wooden board. However the sushi is a disappointment, the rice is not packed as a whole, and it will crumple when picked up with chopstick, the rice is not sticky enough. Although, the piece of fish on top of the rice is a fairly large piece but then rice fails the test.
Rosti: This is a western food right? However they are serving it? That is what I thought in the first place. I was a bit apprehending to order this but then the dish surprised me. It is good, in fact very good. The rosti portion is not that big but it came hot and crispy! So crispy on the outer layer but soft on the inside, not dry at all. Combined with sour cream, it is simply wonderful. This is also a must try!
Green tea ice-cream and red beans fillings crepe @ $6.80: This crepe is not the usual thin crepe, this one came quite thick and tasted like pancake instead. The ice cream is normal green tea ice cream but the red beans are those whole red beans which I like. It is an average dessert for me nothing to wow about.
The service is quite slow as the food are only prepared when you ordered, so be prepared to wait for your food. The place can get quite noisy especially when you seat next to big groups. The servers are quite on the ball to remove empty plates from the tables.
Be prepared to queue when you get in and be prepared to queue when you are going out to pay for you bill as well. They got four cashiers but only two were functions when I was there on two different occasions.
The overall experience is quite ok for me. The food does not really attract me that much to go back again. I dun really think I will go back unless my friends want to go and try it out. ON the average I think each person will cost around $20 to $40.
Oh yah! They got two neo prints machines in the middle of the restaurant. Something special. Looks fun when you can eat and take pictures with your food at the same time. Good idea! Wahahaha….. I think I will do that next time!
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