When I first ate at Canton Wok some 2 years ago, it was housed in a non air conditioned coffeeshop in Serangoon and prices were relatively reasonable. 2 years on, we are at its new premises along Joo Chiat Road for dinner. Canton Wok is now housed in a refurbished old bungalow which can seat more people than its previous shop space at Serangoon. Its air conditioned too by the way, unless you opt to sit outside together with the cars. After a quick browse of the menu, we ordered the Bacon Prawn Rolls with Mayonnaise Cream, Beancurd with Scallops, Double Taste Pork Ribs and the Stir Fried Xiao Bai Miao(?)(someone please ID this vegetable for me, I forgot the name. Thanks!), which wasn't in the menu.
The Bacon Prawn Rolls with Mayonnaise Cream was essentially prawns wrapped in bacon with mayonnaise added to it. Nothing too special about it, but I liked it because the mayonnaise made the whole dish a little creamy and complemented the saltiness of the bacon. A pity about the small prawns used and the ridiculously small portion. Next up was the Beancurd with Scallops, which was soft and silky, but it had quite a strong raw taste due to the scallops. Which leads me to the scallops. There were but a few strands present in the gravy, which I didn't notice until we had finished all the tofu.
The Double Taste Pork Ribs sounded interesting, but it was merely one small serving of Coffee Pork Ribs and another small serving of your normal Pork Ribs. Both renditions were very well done though. Of notable mention is the Coffee Pork Ribs, which was very well seasoned and had a strong coffee taste, unlike the one I had at Szechuan Court. The meat was also tender and cooked to perfection. Our greens for the day was the Stir Fried Xiao Bai Miao(?)(As above, someone please ID this vegetable for me, I forgot the name. Thanks!) It was particularly fragrant and the gravy exceptionally tasty, so much so that all of us suspected that it had been fried in pork lard, although we couldn't visually detect any traces of it. So if you are health conscious, you might just want to steer clear.
Dinner for 4 pax came up to $60.06 after a 20% discount, which isn't very expensive, but the portions were a tad dainty for 4. 3 pax would have been a better bet. Although the food is good, I don't think I'll be back in the absence of the 20% discount unless I'm feeling rich.
If you ever take a stroll down Telok Ayer Street on a quiet Sunday evening when most of the shops are closed, you will notice a small shop with a brightly lighted blue signboard which is packed with people. The signboard reads Bee Heong Palace Restaurant. Known to many of the older generation as one of the finer Hokkien restaurants around, it used to be located at PIL building along Cecil Street for quite a number of years, but has since shifted to its current smaller premises. On this sleepy evening, we were lucky to get a table without making reservations.
As mentioned earlier, the place is small. And by that, I mean cramp. You probably can fit about 30 people indoors and thats already a very generous estimate. I understand that they do have tables upstairs, but I didn't get a chance to go up, so no comments.
Haer Zhor - Prawn Rolls - This was probably one of the better dishes of the night. The skin was crispy and the filling had lots of bite due to the high proportion of minced meat. Here comes the problem. There was so much meat in the filling that I couldn't really make out any prawns except for small bits of shrimps hidden within the filling. Why call it Haer Zhor or Prawn Rolls when there hardly seem to be any prawns around?
Hokkien Mee - As the name of this dish suggests, its a must order when having Hokkien cuisine. The gravy appeared quite thick and starchy at first sight, but was in fact rather watery and tasted quite bland. The noodles tasted rather flat and didn't have the slight bitter aftertaste that I personally prefer. An above average rendition, but maybe I've eaten more than my fair share of Hokkien Mee to not be impressed by it.
Stir Fried Baby Kailan - The simplest dish, yet the dish I liked the best. Green and bursting with freshness, the Kailian was stir fried just right with oyster sauce, fried onions and garlic. A no frills yet delightful dish.
Fish Maw Soup - he soup was easy on the starch but tasted quite normal. There were but a few slices of Fish Maw, but then again, what do you expect for a $3 a bowl soup? However, I would have liked it better if the slices of Fish Maw were slightly crispy, like the one I had at Beng Hiang.
Kong Ba Pao - The key to increasing your cholesterol level and waistline served in the disguise of a soft and fluffy Pao. We had a small serving of it and was disgusted. First of all, the meat was ridiculously fatty. I estimated about 75% of the meat was fats. 50% is still marginally acceptable, but 75%? I really don't wish to die of a heart attack before I'm 30. Secondly, the gravy, which plays a pivotal role in this dish, was bland. No matter how much gravy I splashed onto the Pao, the taste was still very sublime.
Dinner didn't cost us a cent because it was a treat from my mum's boss(many thanks!) who we happened to bump into at the restaurant, but judging from the listed prices in the menu, it would have come up to about $40 for 3 pax, which is rather inexpensive. To be fair, the food wasn't really up to standard, but I would probably give it another chance(I'll order other dishes of course) since it comes highly recommended by my mum, who has dined there quite a few times.
Decided to try some traditional Hokkien cuisine and where better to try it than the famous Beng Hiang Restaurant. It is renowned for it's excellent culinary skills in Hokkien fare and it is no secret that even UOB's chairman and CEO, Mr Wee Cho Yaw, dines there frequently. We made a reservation for 2000hrs and got there about 5 mins late and believe me when I say this, the place was packed to the brim with people and the place had at least 40 tables! Thank goodness we had a reservation.
Our orders were taken promptly and we had most of their signature dishes, (We would have liked to try more, but our stomachs and pockets were constrained)which included - Ngo Hiang with Har Cho, Hokkien Mee, Oyster Omelette, Kong Ba Pao and Fish Maw Soup.
The Ngo Hiang with Har Cho was very good. The Ngo Hiang was very cripsy and crunchy while the Har Cho was crispy and filled with shrimps. The Har Cho went well with the plum sauce provided. Very fresh with no taste of reused oil at all, unlike others that I have tried. The Hokkien Mee was tasty with the gravy a little starchy and the Mee chewy and eggy. This is something different from the usual Hokkien Mee which is often very oily. Oyster Omelettes are usually soft, so it came as a surprise when the Oyster Omelette served was thin and crispy which was just heavenly. The oysters were also larger than the small ones you get outside.
Delicious doesn't even begin to describe the Fish Maw Soup. It looked and tasted a little like sharks fin soup except that it had fish maw and egg in it. Thick, marginally starchy and full of flavour. This is one thing you definitely have to try. The Kong Ba Pao was also nicely done. The Kong Ba was evenly layered and it was melt in your mouth kind of tender. I usually have reservations about eating such high cholesteral food, but now I'm a convert!
Overall it cost us about $80 for 5 pax, which all of us unanimously agreed that it was worth the money and that the food was good. Don't bring your date for a romantic dinner though, because it's heck of a noisy there, unless the both of you are just looking for good food. I will unbashedly declare that I'll be back to try the other dishes, namely the suckling pig. And oh yes, there's no service charge as well, which is a plus. Try this place out, you won't regret it.
Twas the night before Christmas and most restaurants were fully booked for the yuletide season. I got lucky and managed to squeeze in a table at IL Lido, which incidentally was the venue of my last Christmas dinner. To see my previous writeup on IL Lido, click here. On a side note, I realised that there was a downsizing in the number of courses from 5 last year to 4 this year. So much for inflation.
The interior was as I had remembered it to be, simple yet oozing unadulterated chic. I did find the spacing between tables a lot narrower now (maybe I just expanded horizontally), which made eavesdropping an interesting after dinner pastime (pun intended). The outdoor seating promises a view of the Singapore Straits and if you are lucky, some cooling breeze. The interior on the other hand, is filled with nice cool air but comes without much of a view.
Complimentary Bread - I am pleased to say that the complimentary bread was still up to standard. Thin and crispy with lots of bite, it helped us quash our hunger as we waited for the dishes to be served.
Home Made Tagliolini with Live Lobster and Green Asparagus Tips - I wasn't too impressed by this dish as the texture of the Taglionlini tasted like wanton noodles to me. That's not to say that it wasn't good though, coming across as springy, full of bite and light on the palate. Something could be done about the sweetness of the lobster though.
Goose Liver with Pears and Marsala Wine Sauce - I'm no expert in foie gras but I do feel that it could have been more quivery and smooth. However, on a lighter note, it went very well with the pear and marsala wine sauce, which by nature was fairly sweet.
Roast Turkey Stuffed with Pancetta and Truffle, Apple and Chestnut Puree - For mains, you either get the turkey or the cod and since I'm not a fan of fish, I chose the former. The turkey was a delight if I may say so, with the meat tender and juicy and the stuffing of pancetta, truffle, apple and chestnut puree adding a nice touch of sweetness and texture. Pity about the small serving.
Pan Roasted Atlantic Cod with Porcini Mushrooms and Potato Cream - This was probably one of the weirdest cod fish that I've ever tasted to date. Firstly, it reeked of the raw fish taste that I personally dislike and secondly, the flesh tasted very soft and mashed up, which together with the equally soft potato cream, made me nauseous.
Chocolate Souffle with Wild Berries and Caramel Sauce - Aesthetically pleasing, the chocolate souffle came served under an intricate red basket made of sugar. The crust of the souffle was a little soft and pudding like, which was quite a bummer but as I broke into it, mounds of chocolate oozed out. Simply decadent!
I would have hoped that with the parring down of the menu for the same price, food quality would have stayed consistent or even gone up a notch. However, this was obviously not the case, with dinner merely slightly above average and weighing in at $245 with a glass of dessert wine. I'll probably be trying somewhere else next year.
Vansh is an Indian Restaurant that combines the traditional Indian food with modern dining concepts. With a neon-green open kitchen in the centre that has glass surrounding it, there are even bar seats where you can watch your food being prepared up close. If you're worried about getting "smoked" or smelling like you've just stepped out of a BBQ party, don't worry as the real cooking is done in the regular kitchen nearby. If bar seats are not your fancy, you can choose to have the indoor couches or the al fresco seats. Dimly lit, it's a great place to chill, but not quite for photo-taking. (as you can see from my pictures)
We dropped in without a reservation on Christmas Eve. Luckily we were pretty early and the place was quite empty when we got there. The wierd thing was that it got filled with family-types close to 9pm.
The staff were mostly native Indian and were very polite. I liked the ambience very much. It was cosy and still had an Indian flavour to it.
There was quite a selection of food and we took some time to decide. We were also given complimentary rolls (I don't know what they are called) and a variety of dips as starters. We certainly enjoyed trying all the dips.
Food Ordered:
Honey Kulzza $9 This was a a pizza like bread covered with honey, tomatoes, coriander and onion seeds. I liked it very much. It wasn't overly sweet. This alone could be a meal for a small-eater as it was enough for the two of us to share.
Tandoori Mushroom $13 These are fresh button mushrooms covered in herbed cheese marinade. Honestly? They did look quite ugly on the plate. But once they are in your mouth, it's very nice. Despite looking very dry, the button mushroom is still juicy and chewy, which gives it a different texture from its outer covering.
Chicken Tikka Masala $18 Recommended by the staff, this consists of tandoori marinated chicken cooked with capsicum in a flavourful tomato masala. MMmM I'm still thinking of this one... it was spicy but not the kind to make your hair stand. The chicken was still tender. The masala was perfect for us to dip our naans in.
Plain (X1) and Butter naans (X1) $4 each The naans were thick and fluffy, served nicely in a basket. Actually the plain one was enough for the two of us. But we had so much masala left we ordered the garlic one too! The Butter one was more oily than the plain one (obviously) and I think I would have rather stuck to the plain one.
Virgin Colada $9 My companion had no complaints about this drink. It was just a little overly sourish but there was a strong coconut flavour which appealed.
Tulsi Sherbet $9 A mix of basil, lemon, ginger and spices all blended to give a delightfully sourish drink. I'd say this drink was a good accompaniment to the food. I wouldn't order this if I weren't eating though.
Good service throughout our time there. When I dropped the naan on my lap the staff was alert enough to hurry over quickly and offer me another napkin. We were also given little party sets since it was Christmas Eve.
So good service, good food and good ambience. All for $78, inclusive of service charge and GST. I wouldn't say it was expensive, but it is above average. I would have given it 5-stars if it were more convenient. But the waterfront location made it quite romantic to have a leisurely walk after dinner. Worth a try definitely.
I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered: Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy. Tapioca for Dessert About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be. Lemongrass Drink Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Another dining location to spring up in the heartlands, this time in Bedok. What used to be a provision shop (???) or something to my vague memory, it is now transformed to a cosy restaurant serving reasonably priced food, both western and oriental.
Upon stepping into the restaurant, one can sense that it has been impeccably renovated with a modern touch. It also has a function room on the 2nd level where you can host events of up to 30-40 people, together with catered food.
While dining here, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a HDB estate and that next door is a traditional provision shop. The lighting and the whole ambience is just right.
The menu was simple but presentable, not like some others that reminded you of your school days. Food selection was wide, with a variety of courses to choose from. We settled for the J's classic Combo, Chicken Chimichagas, Sizzling Sirloin, Roast Beef Balsamico and the Hainan Chickenn Chop.
J's Classic Combo ($17.90) - This can easily serve 2 persons, with the combination of beef, lamb and chicken. Presentation was impressive and the food tasted just as good. Portions of the meat were done just right and slicing of the beef was effortless.
Chicken Chimichages ($9.90) - Lovers of crispy stuff will like this dish. Imagine bits of spicy and tender chicken cubes wrapped with a layer of fried golden brown batter. All delectably done up. It is sort of a cross between fish and chips and curry puff, if this description is suitable at all. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable dish to savor again.
Roast Beef Balsamico ($9.90) - Tender and juicy was the first impression. Done and grilled to medium well, the beef feels like it melts in your mouth. Together with the sweet and not so overpowering sauce, it all tasted just right. Recommended dish to try apart from the traditional sirloin steaks.
Hainan Chicken Chop ($8.90) - The juices were well kept within the chicken and as it was sliced up, we could see it dripping out from the chicken. It was perfectly done and not dry like some others. The seasoning was not overpowering and the taste of the chicken was preserved. The chicken was topped with just a fried egg and to me this was appetizing. It shows that you do not need to resort to fanciful means to whet the appetite (perhaps to me). Simple pleasures in life can be enjoyable.
Sizzling Sirloin ($9.90) - As like all the other steaks, this was done medium well and tucking into it was effortless. The meat was juicy and tender and had an aftertaste that lingered in your mouth causing you to want more.
The total bill came up to be about $70 for 6 persons and really makes this an affordable and practical meal. Service is also excellent. Although the restaurant was packed with weekend diners the service staff were attentive to our needs and promptly responded. Interestingly, the bill shows no additional service charges only GST.
The owner of the restaurant Mr Hasni Abdullah was a friendly chap. He explained to us how the restaurant got started and his decision to open one in the heartlands. He also made sure we had our meals served all at once (a basic service etiquette lacking in most restaurants).
Overall a pleasant dining experience and recommended for its food, price and service quality.
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90) It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90) A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry. Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90) It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
Cafe de Amigo relocated to Funan in 2006. Chef Foo Wah Ann is the man behind this very nice place. Having heard about him when he was at the renown La Brasserie (Marco Polo Hotel), we thought a visit to this place was a must. The ambience is pretty cosy. There is a live band singing jazzy tunes throughout the night. The crowd there is consists largely of those working in the area.
Food Ordered:
Deep-fried Cheese - 3pc ($16.50) 3 types of cheese melted together and deep fried, served with fresh basil and tomato sauce. I like the cheese which was firm and not oozing out of its shell. Soft Shell Crab ($13.50) The batter was a little too light and it was too oily for my taste. Small serving just enough for one person.
Escargot A la Bourguignon (6 for $16.50) Served in a garlic and butter sauce, I found nothing spectacular about this dish. If anything, the serving was really small. Lobster Bisque ($9.50) "Bisque of Bisques" was its description in the menu. Thus we had to try this. It was flavourful however it's pretty hard to find lobster nor taste any lobster in this dish.
Not the same Potato ($7.50) It is actually supposed to be creamy potato soup but the taste of potato was weak and overpowered by the cheese that was blended into it.
Salad de Amis ($14.50) A huge serving of salad which you'll be able to see anywhere, served with olive oil vinegar dressing. Which I think wasn't enough as it was dry and a little bland.
Chicken chop ($20.50) Grilled boneless chicken drumstick served in black pepper sauce and fries. Sadly you can get a good taste of this dish at hawker centres at a quarter of its price. Although boneless, the chicken had a fair share of fatty bits and it wasn't as succulent as I had expected. The black pepper sauce wasn't thick enough too.
Ox-Tail ($24.50) One of the inhouse specialties. A generous serving of stewed oxtail served with boiled potato and broccoli. My companion commented that it was very tender and juicy. I did think that it was the one of the best dishes on the table that night Duck Breast ($26.50) Also one of the recommended dishes. Roasted duck slices in red wine sauce, served with boiled spinach. The combination seemed a little odd to me at first. But my companion has full of compliments for it so I guess it was really good.
Normandy Apple Pie ($7.50) One of the recommended desserts. It was served with wild honey and vanilla ice-cream. I loved the crumbly crust which was light and tasty. One would find it hard to be sick of this. The inside was not overly sweet. Frezzie Tiramisu ($7.90) It was a regular ice cream cake. Certainly not worth the money.
The presentation of the food was not good. More like they were all haphazardly put together. The service is alright. I don't think I will be back anytime soon...
1=SGD 0.0587
When I first ate at Canton Wok some 2 years ago, it was housed in a non air conditioned coffeeshop in Serangoon and prices were relatively reasonable. 2 years on, we are at its new premises along Joo Chiat Road for dinner. Canton Wok is now housed in a refurbished old bungalow which can seat more people than its previous shop space at Serangoon. Its air conditioned too by the way, unless you opt to sit outside together with the cars. After a quick browse of the menu, we ordered the Bacon Prawn Rolls with Mayonnaise Cream, Beancurd with Scallops, Double Taste Pork Ribs and the Stir Fried Xiao Bai Miao(?)(someone please ID this vegetable for me, I forgot the name. Thanks!), which wasn't in the menu.
The Bacon Prawn Rolls with Mayonnaise Cream was essentially prawns wrapped in bacon with mayonnaise added to it. Nothing too special about it, but I liked it because the mayonnaise made the whole dish a little creamy and complemented the saltiness of the bacon. A pity about the small prawns used and the ridiculously small portion. Next up was the Beancurd with Scallops, which was soft and silky, but it had quite a strong raw taste due to the scallops. Which leads me to the scallops. There were but a few strands present in the gravy, which I didn't notice until we had finished all the tofu.
The Double Taste Pork Ribs sounded interesting, but it was merely one small serving of Coffee Pork Ribs and another small serving of your normal Pork Ribs. Both renditions were very well done though. Of notable mention is the Coffee Pork Ribs, which was very well seasoned and had a strong coffee taste, unlike the one I had at Szechuan Court. The meat was also tender and cooked to perfection. Our greens for the day was the Stir Fried Xiao Bai Miao(?)(As above, someone please ID this vegetable for me, I forgot the name. Thanks!) It was particularly fragrant and the gravy exceptionally tasty, so much so that all of us suspected that it had been fried in pork lard, although we couldn't visually detect any traces of it. So if you are health conscious, you might just want to steer clear.
Dinner for 4 pax came up to $60.06 after a 20% discount, which isn't very expensive, but the portions were a tad dainty for 4. 3 pax would have been a better bet. Although the food is good, I don't think I'll be back in the absence of the 20% discount unless I'm feeling rich.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
If you ever take a stroll down Telok Ayer Street on a quiet Sunday evening when most of the shops are closed, you will notice a small shop with a brightly lighted blue signboard which is packed with people. The signboard reads Bee Heong Palace Restaurant. Known to many of the older generation as one of the finer Hokkien restaurants around, it used to be located at PIL building along Cecil Street for quite a number of years, but has since shifted to its current smaller premises. On this sleepy evening, we were lucky to get a table without making reservations.
As mentioned earlier, the place is small. And by that, I mean cramp. You probably can fit about 30 people indoors and thats already a very generous estimate. I understand that they do have tables upstairs, but I didn't get a chance to go up, so no comments.
Haer Zhor - Prawn Rolls - This was probably one of the better dishes of the night. The skin was crispy and the filling had lots of bite due to the high proportion of minced meat. Here comes the problem. There was so much meat in the filling that I couldn't really make out any prawns except for small bits of shrimps hidden within the filling. Why call it Haer Zhor or Prawn Rolls when there hardly seem to be any prawns around?
Hokkien Mee - As the name of this dish suggests, its a must order when having Hokkien cuisine. The gravy appeared quite thick and starchy at first sight, but was in fact rather watery and tasted quite bland. The noodles tasted rather flat and didn't have the slight bitter aftertaste that I personally prefer. An above average rendition, but maybe I've eaten more than my fair share of Hokkien Mee to not be impressed by it.
Stir Fried Baby Kailan - The simplest dish, yet the dish I liked the best. Green and bursting with freshness, the Kailian was stir fried just right with oyster sauce, fried onions and garlic. A no frills yet delightful dish.
Fish Maw Soup - he soup was easy on the starch but tasted quite normal. There were but a few slices of Fish Maw, but then again, what do you expect for a $3 a bowl soup? However, I would have liked it better if the slices of Fish Maw were slightly crispy, like the one I had at Beng Hiang.
Kong Ba Pao - The key to increasing your cholesterol level and waistline served in the disguise of a soft and fluffy Pao. We had a small serving of it and was disgusted. First of all, the meat was ridiculously fatty. I estimated about 75% of the meat was fats. 50% is still marginally acceptable, but 75%? I really don't wish to die of a heart attack before I'm 30. Secondly, the gravy, which plays a pivotal role in this dish, was bland. No matter how much gravy I splashed onto the Pao, the taste was still very sublime.
Dinner didn't cost us a cent because it was a treat from my mum's boss(many thanks!) who we happened to bump into at the restaurant, but judging from the listed prices in the menu, it would have come up to about $40 for 3 pax, which is rather inexpensive. To be fair, the food wasn't really up to standard, but I would probably give it another chance(I'll order other dishes of course) since it comes highly recommended by my mum, who has dined there quite a few times.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Decided to try some traditional Hokkien cuisine and where better to try it than the famous Beng Hiang Restaurant. It is renowned for it's excellent culinary skills in Hokkien fare and it is no secret that even UOB's chairman and CEO, Mr Wee Cho Yaw, dines there frequently. We made a reservation for 2000hrs and got there about 5 mins late and believe me when I say this, the place was packed to the brim with people and the place had at least 40 tables! Thank goodness we had a reservation.
Our orders were taken promptly and we had most of their signature dishes, (We would have liked to try more, but our stomachs and pockets were constrained)which included - Ngo Hiang with Har Cho, Hokkien Mee, Oyster Omelette, Kong Ba Pao and Fish Maw Soup.
The Ngo Hiang with Har Cho was very good. The Ngo Hiang was very cripsy and crunchy while the Har Cho was crispy and filled with shrimps. The Har Cho went well with the plum sauce provided. Very fresh with no taste of reused oil at all, unlike others that I have tried. The Hokkien Mee was tasty with the gravy a little starchy and the Mee chewy and eggy. This is something different from the usual Hokkien Mee which is often very oily. Oyster Omelettes are usually soft, so it came as a surprise when the Oyster Omelette served was thin and crispy which was just heavenly. The oysters were also larger than the small ones you get outside.
Delicious doesn't even begin to describe the Fish Maw Soup. It looked and tasted a little like sharks fin soup except that it had fish maw and egg in it. Thick, marginally starchy and full of flavour. This is one thing you definitely have to try. The Kong Ba Pao was also nicely done. The Kong Ba was evenly layered and it was melt in your mouth kind of tender. I usually have reservations about eating such high cholesteral food, but now I'm a convert!
Overall it cost us about $80 for 5 pax, which all of us unanimously agreed that it was worth the money and that the food was good. Don't bring your date for a romantic dinner though, because it's heck of a noisy there, unless the both of you are just looking for good food. I will unbashedly declare that I'll be back to try the other dishes, namely the suckling pig. And oh yes, there's no service charge as well, which is a plus. Try this place out, you won't regret it.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Twas the night before Christmas and most restaurants were fully booked for the yuletide season. I got lucky and managed to squeeze in a table at IL Lido, which incidentally was the venue of my last Christmas dinner. To see my previous writeup on IL Lido, click here. On a side note, I realised that there was a downsizing in the number of courses from 5 last year to 4 this year. So much for inflation.
The interior was as I had remembered it to be, simple yet oozing unadulterated chic. I did find the spacing between tables a lot narrower now (maybe I just expanded horizontally), which made eavesdropping an interesting after dinner pastime (pun intended). The outdoor seating promises a view of the Singapore Straits and if you are lucky, some cooling breeze. The interior on the other hand, is filled with nice cool air but comes without much of a view.
Complimentary Bread - I am pleased to say that the complimentary bread was still up to standard. Thin and crispy with lots of bite, it helped us quash our hunger as we waited for the dishes to be served.
Home Made Tagliolini with Live Lobster and Green Asparagus Tips - I wasn't too impressed by this dish as the texture of the Taglionlini tasted like wanton noodles to me. That's not to say that it wasn't good though, coming across as springy, full of bite and light on the palate. Something could be done about the sweetness of the lobster though.
Goose Liver with Pears and Marsala Wine Sauce - I'm no expert in foie gras but I do feel that it could have been more quivery and smooth. However, on a lighter note, it went very well with the pear and marsala wine sauce, which by nature was fairly sweet.
Roast Turkey Stuffed with Pancetta and Truffle, Apple and Chestnut Puree - For mains, you either get the turkey or the cod and since I'm not a fan of fish, I chose the former. The turkey was a delight if I may say so, with the meat tender and juicy and the stuffing of pancetta, truffle, apple and chestnut puree adding a nice touch of sweetness and texture. Pity about the small serving.
Pan Roasted Atlantic Cod with Porcini Mushrooms and Potato Cream - This was probably one of the weirdest cod fish that I've ever tasted to date. Firstly, it reeked of the raw fish taste that I personally dislike and secondly, the flesh tasted very soft and mashed up, which together with the equally soft potato cream, made me nauseous.
Chocolate Souffle with Wild Berries and Caramel Sauce - Aesthetically pleasing, the chocolate souffle came served under an intricate red basket made of sugar. The crust of the souffle was a little soft and pudding like, which was quite a bummer but as I broke into it, mounds of chocolate oozed out. Simply decadent!
I would have hoped that with the parring down of the menu for the same price, food quality would have stayed consistent or even gone up a notch. However, this was obviously not the case, with dinner merely slightly above average and weighing in at $245 with a glass of dessert wine. I'll probably be trying somewhere else next year.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Vansh is an Indian Restaurant that combines the traditional Indian food with modern dining concepts. With a neon-green open kitchen in the centre that has glass surrounding it, there are even bar seats where you can watch your food being prepared up close. If you're worried about getting "smoked" or smelling like you've just stepped out of a BBQ party, don't worry as the real cooking is done in the regular kitchen nearby. If bar seats are not your fancy, you can choose to have the indoor couches or the al fresco seats. Dimly lit, it's a great place to chill, but not quite for photo-taking. (as you can see from my pictures)
We dropped in without a reservation on Christmas Eve. Luckily we were pretty early and the place was quite empty when we got there. The wierd thing was that it got filled with family-types close to 9pm.
The staff were mostly native Indian and were very polite. I liked the ambience very much. It was cosy and still had an Indian flavour to it.
There was quite a selection of food and we took some time to decide. We were also given complimentary rolls (I don't know what they are called) and a variety of dips as starters. We certainly enjoyed trying all the dips.
Food Ordered:
Honey Kulzza $9
This was a a pizza like bread covered with honey, tomatoes, coriander and onion seeds. I liked it very much. It wasn't overly sweet. This alone could be a meal for a small-eater as it was enough for the two of us to share.
Tandoori Mushroom $13
These are fresh button mushrooms covered in herbed cheese marinade. Honestly? They did look quite ugly on the plate. But once they are in your mouth, it's very nice. Despite looking very dry, the button mushroom is still juicy and chewy, which gives it a different texture from its outer covering.
Chicken Tikka Masala $18
Recommended by the staff, this consists of tandoori marinated chicken cooked with capsicum in a flavourful tomato masala. MMmM I'm still thinking of this one... it was spicy but not the kind to make your hair stand. The chicken was still tender. The masala was perfect for us to dip our naans in.
Plain (X1) and Butter naans (X1) $4 each
The naans were thick and fluffy, served nicely in a basket. Actually the plain one was enough for the two of us. But we had so much masala left we ordered the garlic one too! The Butter one was more oily than the plain one (obviously) and I think I would have rather stuck to the plain one.
Virgin Colada $9
My companion had no complaints about this drink. It was just a little overly sourish but there was a strong coconut flavour which appealed.
Tulsi Sherbet $9
A mix of basil, lemon, ginger and spices all blended to give a delightfully sourish drink. I'd say this drink was a good accompaniment to the food. I wouldn't order this if I weren't eating though.
Good service throughout our time there. When I dropped the naan on my lap the staff was alert enough to hurry over quickly and offer me another napkin. We were also given little party sets since it was Christmas Eve.
So good service, good food and good ambience. All for $78, inclusive of service charge and GST. I wouldn't say it was expensive, but it is above average. I would have given it 5-stars if it were more convenient. But the waterfront location made it quite romantic to have a leisurely walk after dinner. Worth a try definitely.
Rating given:
I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered:
Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts
The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah
I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise
This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean
A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy.
Tapioca for Dessert
About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be.
Lemongrass Drink
Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Rating given:
Another dining location to spring up in the heartlands, this time in Bedok. What used to be a provision shop (???) or something to my vague memory, it is now transformed to a cosy restaurant serving reasonably priced food, both western and oriental.
Upon stepping into the restaurant, one can sense that it has been impeccably renovated with a modern touch. It also has a function room on the 2nd level where you can host events of up to 30-40 people, together with catered food.
While dining here, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a HDB estate and that next door is a traditional provision shop. The lighting and the whole ambience is just right.
The menu was simple but presentable, not like some others that reminded you of your school days. Food selection was wide, with a variety of courses to choose from. We settled for the J's classic Combo, Chicken Chimichagas, Sizzling Sirloin, Roast Beef Balsamico and the Hainan Chickenn Chop.
J's Classic Combo ($17.90) - This can easily serve 2 persons, with the combination of beef, lamb and chicken. Presentation was impressive and the food tasted just as good. Portions of the meat were done just right and slicing of the beef was effortless.
Chicken Chimichages ($9.90) - Lovers of crispy stuff will like this dish. Imagine bits of spicy and tender chicken cubes wrapped with a layer of fried golden brown batter. All delectably done up. It is sort of a cross between fish and chips and curry puff, if this description is suitable at all. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable dish to savor again.
Roast Beef Balsamico ($9.90) - Tender and juicy was the first impression. Done and grilled to medium well, the beef feels like it melts in your mouth. Together with the sweet and not so overpowering sauce, it all tasted just right. Recommended dish to try apart from the traditional sirloin steaks.
Hainan Chicken Chop ($8.90) - The juices were well kept within the chicken and as it was sliced up, we could see it dripping out from the chicken. It was perfectly done and not dry like some others. The seasoning was not overpowering and the taste of the chicken was preserved. The chicken was topped with just a fried egg and to me this was appetizing. It shows that you do not need to resort to fanciful means to whet the appetite (perhaps to me). Simple pleasures in life can be enjoyable.
Sizzling Sirloin ($9.90) - As like all the other steaks, this was done medium well and tucking into it was effortless. The meat was juicy and tender and had an aftertaste that lingered in your mouth causing you to want more.
The total bill came up to be about $70 for 6 persons and really makes this an affordable and practical meal. Service is also excellent. Although the restaurant was packed with weekend diners the service staff were attentive to our needs and promptly responded. Interestingly, the bill shows no additional service charges only GST.
The owner of the restaurant Mr Hasni Abdullah was a friendly chap. He explained to us how the restaurant got started and his decision to open one in the heartlands. He also made sure we had our meals served all at once (a basic service etiquette lacking in most restaurants).
Overall a pleasant dining experience and recommended for its food, price and service quality.
Rating given:
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90)
It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90)
A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry.
Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90)
It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Rating given:
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Cafe de Amigo relocated to Funan in 2006. Chef Foo Wah Ann is the man behind this very nice place. Having heard about him when he was at the renown La Brasserie (Marco Polo Hotel), we thought a visit to this place was a must. The ambience is pretty cosy. There is a live band singing jazzy tunes throughout the night. The crowd there is consists largely of those working in the area.
Food Ordered:
Deep-fried Cheese - 3pc ($16.50)
3 types of cheese melted together and deep fried, served with fresh basil and tomato sauce. I like the cheese which was firm and not oozing out of its shell.
Soft Shell Crab ($13.50)
The batter was a little too light and it was too oily for my taste. Small serving just enough for one person.
Escargot A la Bourguignon (6 for $16.50)
Served in a garlic and butter sauce, I found nothing spectacular about this dish. If anything, the serving was really small.
Lobster Bisque ($9.50)
"Bisque of Bisques" was its description in the menu. Thus we had to try this. It was flavourful however it's pretty hard to find lobster nor taste any lobster in this dish.
Not the same Potato ($7.50)
It is actually supposed to be creamy potato soup but the taste of potato was weak and overpowered by the cheese that was blended into it.
Salad de Amis ($14.50)
A huge serving of salad which you'll be able to see anywhere, served with olive oil vinegar dressing. Which I think wasn't enough as it was dry and a little bland.
Chicken chop ($20.50)
Grilled boneless chicken drumstick served in black pepper sauce and fries. Sadly you can get a good taste of this dish at hawker centres at a quarter of its price. Although boneless, the chicken had a fair share of fatty bits and it wasn't as succulent as I had expected. The black pepper sauce wasn't thick enough too.
Ox-Tail ($24.50)
One of the inhouse specialties. A generous serving of stewed oxtail served with boiled potato and broccoli. My companion commented that it was very tender and juicy. I did think that it was the one of the best dishes on the table that night
Duck Breast ($26.50)
Also one of the recommended dishes. Roasted duck slices in red wine sauce, served with boiled spinach. The combination seemed a little odd to me at first. But my companion has full of compliments for it so I guess it was really good.
Normandy Apple Pie ($7.50)
One of the recommended desserts. It was served with wild honey and vanilla ice-cream. I loved the crumbly crust which was light and tasty. One would find it hard to be sick of this. The inside was not overly sweet.
Frezzie Tiramisu ($7.90)
It was a regular ice cream cake. Certainly not worth the money.
The presentation of the food was not good. More like they were all haphazardly put together. The service is alright. I don't think I will be back anytime soon...
Rating given: