Was recommended this place by a good friend and this was the 1st time I've heard of it despite living in the neighbouring estate. I don't have a good impression of Jack's Place and knowing this is under the same management made me hesitate for a bit, but you'll never know until you try right?
I have to warn that the older versions of the street directory (2007 and before) printed the location of Anchorvale CC wrongly. It is shown as located opposite Compass Point at Sengkang MRT (NE line) but it is actually 2 LRT stops away from that, at Farmway LRT (a short walk away from the station). If driving, please use the Sengkang Sports Complex as a landmark as it is next to the CC, or just use the road name. Parking can be a problem as the parking in the CC is limited but there are also public lots along the CC itself.
Once you reach the CC, you are on the ground level, which is level 2, so you have to take the stairs down to level 1 and walk straight. You'll see a banner on level 2 but no arrow of direction signs that you need to go down 1 level.
It was a sparsely populated Tuesday night, and outdoor seats seem to be more popular despite the heat. Service staff was a young team which explains the lacklustre service but the food first:
Crispy Sampler Platter (for two) ($13.00) - Combination of chicken pockets, oriental chicken wings, spring rolls, onion and calamari rings - the calamari had a very light batter and chicken wings nicely marinated. Spring rolls were disappointingly soft and the onion rings too let down by a thick tasteless batter. Didnt try the chicken pockets which looked like the chinese coin bags you see in some restaurants.
Lobster and Crab stuffed Mushrooms ($10.80) - Mixture of slipper lobster and crab meat, baked with Chef’s seasoning and stuffed into button mushrooms. Topped with cheese. - The presentation made it look like escargots and I liked it being served in a hot pan. While the button mushrooms were good, the combination of crab meat and slipper lobster made it impossible to taste the freshness of either (if any) which I thought was a waste. The melted cheese did made the dish more palatable though.
Slipper Lobster & Chicken ($18.00) - Slipper lobster & boneless chicken topped with fried garlic - this was my main course which I thought was not too bad! The boneless chicken was chicken-chop like and came nicely browned and a good layer of skin which I took out. The fries and carrots that came on the side was a good touch. The lobster could have been fresher though. And I have no idea what was the accompanying sauce that came with it and did not bother to find out as it was not good.
Grilled Cod Fish Fillet ($19.80) - Boneless fillet of cod fish grilled to perfection and served with potato and seasonal vegetables - didnt try this but looked good.
Silver Fern Farm N.Z. Tenderloin ($24.50) - The most tender and lean cut of beef, char broiled to your liking - didnt try this but the request for medium looked like it was done well.
American Black Coffee ($2.50) - A light black coffee with percolated creamer on the side - didnt try this as well but it looked like it was done properly with the coffee creamer evident in the cup.
Australian Long Black ($2.90) - A serving of espresso, lengthened to produce a regular cuppa. Boasts of a silky smoothness with a wonderful elegant aroma. - the staff couldnt tell me the difference between this and the american black coffee except that it was a bigger cup, and it was. Much bigger. Taste wise was not bad coffee but probably too diluted.
Some may just settle for the set meal instead of ala carte but I decided against it when I realised the 'soup of the day' was watercress and 'day's dessert' was just a scoop of ice cream. Hiring a young staff team does make the place more 'vibrant' but there is a need to really train them well, which Brewbaker's unfortunately does not.
The young chaps gather around to chat when they think there is no need for service. So they missed a few of our attempts for attention even though we were only the 4th or 5th indoor table occupied.
Then they got 1 order wrong, after they've repeated the correct order.
And for a place which has a rather impressive list of wines, they really do need to to train staff on how to serve them. We ordered a bottle of house red, which never came. And when we asked to check on it, a young girl brought a glass to our table, and asked "did you all order 1 glass or 1 bottle"? My friend gave up and told her to just give him that glass. If unsure, ask BEFORE you bring the one glass over. And it makes me wonder if we had still insisted on 1 bottle, would she have put the glass down and told us she'll bring the remaining of our bottle over?
The bill came up to $100 for 3 pax which was average i think. I'll still grade this higher than Jack's Place~
My companion kept raving about Awfully Chocolate that it made it impossible for me not to try. We went about looking for an outlet but realised the one at Katong had closed and all that was left was an office above Everything with Fries (which is also great btw).
So we dropped by at the itsy bitsy outlet tucked away in a corner of Vivo City. The first thing that occurred to me was.. HUH two tables only? They only had two high tables and about 3 chairs per table. They had a nice glass counter display which lined two walls, making an L-shape so it was pretty cramped. But well it is a specialty shop and most places like this don't even have seats at all. And we were there for the ice cream so there is hardly a need for seats.
They had ice cream (1 flavour - HEI which means black), chocolate bars and chocolate cake and cupcakes for sale. The ice cream went for $3.80 for a single scoop, $6.20 for a double scoop and $11.80 for a pint. The chocolate cupcake was $4.90 and the stacked chocolate cake was $6.50 per 100g. Truffles were $13 for 100g.
They had iced water in a jug set aside for customers and provided plastic cups, so that even if you had to do a takeaway you could grab a cup of water, which is great.
So we got our double scoop ice cream from the cheery girls behind the counters and sat on the mall's seats just outside the store.
The ice cream was fantastic. It rich and creamy and I love the dark chocolate taste. Definitely not for sweet chocolate lovers. The spoons we had were really cute and perfect for spooning the ice cream into our mouths.
Since then, I've had it three times and am still lemming for it. :)
The opportunity to visit 1TwentySix presented itself one humid weekday evening, in the guise of a voucher, courtesy of the management. I can't say that I've been eager to try out this sister outfit of One Rochester @ Rochester Park, not after the bad reviews I've heard about it so far.
Located along the inner fringe of Big Splash towards the sea, 1TwentySix boasts an al fresco sitting area that is rich in nature and certainly great for chilling out. The "air conditioned" interior is actually a small area with some form of feeble air conditioning. The problem is, the area isn't enclosed and there is no air curtain to stop the cool air from escaping. There is a huge glass partition but it is apparently only used in the afternoons. And yes, it did get a little too warm that evening.
Complimentary Bread - Crusty exterior with bits of wheat and corn amidst the soft and warm dough - good bread never fails to start a meal off on the right foot.
Tuna Nicoise in Two Styles, Seared Tuna Tataki and Tuna Confit with French Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Soft Boiled Quails Eggs - The tuna tataki was good - well seared on the outside while retaining its smooth yet firm texture on the inside. A lingering smokey taste accompanied by a dash of saltiness. Can't really fault it. The tuna confit, on the other hand, was lost amongst the salad, masked by a rather saline solution. I could still make out the tuna though, but barely.
Tartare of Scallop, Ocean Trout and Tuna Loin with Foie Gras Parfait and Caramelised Shallots - I had thought that the tartare of scallop, ocean trout and tuna loin would certainly be a very fishy combination, but I was wrong. It was actually nice and to a certain extent, refreshing, without coming across as overly raw. Topped with a raw egg. Please let me qualify that even though I like foie gras, I am not a big fan of it done parfait (75% foie gras) or pate (50% foie gras) style simply because I like my liver whole. So the chilled, smooth foie gras parfait simply didn't appeal to me.
150 Day Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin with Roast Bone Marrow with Chilli and Shallots - Although 1TwentySix's menu seemingly focuses on produce from the sea, I took a gamble and went with the 150 day grain fed tenderloin. And I was suitably impressed. The tenderloin was nicely char grilled on the surface and done to a perfect medium rare. Add to the fact that the meat was tender and flavourful and you have a clear winner. One thing odd was the mushroom sauce, which had a strong mushroom taste but did seem a little overly sweet. The side of fries were decent and didn't turn soggy when cold. What I thought was interesting was the broccolini, which was cooked with garlic and ginger - a very Chinese style of cooking, just way too oily.
Black Cod Fillet with Fennel, Blood Orange and Pistachio Salad served with Beaujolais Sauce - Fresh, firm yet flaky but outright bland. The fish wasn't sweet nor the sauce flavourful. All I could make out was a faint taste of fish and an initial sugar induced sweetness. Decent by any standards but could have been a lot better.
Frozen 'Deconstructed' Strawberry Shortcake with Home Churned Strawberry Ice Cream - A recommendation from our waitress, I didn't quite take to the strawberry shortcake at first due to the seemingly excessive strawberry ice cream. However, as I dug deeper, I could make out a mish mash of sponge and flaky pastry, making the dessert quite enjoyable after all. If only I had 2 stomachs.
Valrhona Dark & White Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Praline Ice Cream - Most chocolate fondants come in only the dark variant, but 1TwentySix's offering combines both white and dark chocolate. Rather gimmicky if you ask me, because its just white chocolate oozing out together with the dark chocolate when you crack open the surface. But something different nonetheless. Texture wise, the crust was a little soft but at least it wasn't gelatin like. Coupled with a rich viscous chocolate filling and a creamy coconut ice cream, this dessert held promise for a sweet ending.
Fine Apple and Frangipane Tart with Calvados Ice Cream - The tart had a thin, flaky and crisp base with a nice oven baked taste to it. The apple slices weren't overly tart and I could make out a tinge of sweetness from the frangipane (sweet almond filling). It probably helped that the tart was sprinkled with icing sugar. The calvados (French apple brandy) ice cream didn't really make an impact though. Easily forgettable.
I would have had a wonderful meal if not for the less than cool dining environment. And the price for such an indulgence? Approximately $202 (before the use of discount voucher). Expensive? Arguably yes. But with very few other "fine dining" options in the east, 1TwentySix could probably be a consideration for your next special occasion or celebration.
Friend picked this place as it looked nice and a good enough spot to catch up; plus he said he has dined there before. So of the 4 of us went, and took the last couch seat available. The couch seats number around 8, with plenty of other proper dining tables scattered in the main dining hall. Each couch seat sits 4 comfortable, although 6 is possible with a tiny squeeze.
The place has a good view and location of looking out towards the sea towards Sentosa, but it also means you get a lot of the ongoing construcion view too. Its semi-alfresco as they open up a few panels of its sliding glass to create the alfresco feel for the entire place, but this means the seats closer to the opened doors are abit warm despite the aircon and the meek few fans whirling above. But beware of which couch you choose as some have the aircon vents directly above which was leaking when we went, and luckily another couch seat was vacated soon after.
With 3 if us dining there for the 1st time, we asked for recommendations and went ahead half excited about trying out Spanish food for a change:
Calamares a la plancha ($13) - "the natural taste of freshly grilled squid" - we picked this against the fried squid as we thought the wedges were already fried. The portion was small and the chunks of squid too big; it was also deliberately done slightly undercooked which I did not take to. It was served with 2 dry pieces of bread which I guess is supposed to help mop up the sauce it came in, which tasted like a marriage of squid ink and vinegrette. Not my cup of tea. Wedges with home-made curry sauce ($10) - This was one of the 2 best dishes of the evening unfortunately. The wedges were piping hot and came with their home-made curry sauce which was very good. Tasted a bit like McDonald's curry sauce but more tasty and less 'chemical'.
Ensalada de Pescado ($12) in sherry vinnegrette or olive oil vinegrette - "grilled dory fish in the nest of vegetable salad, potatoes, eggs and parmesan cheesese" - Didnt try this but it looked under-portioned for the price.
Salmon Papillote ($30) - "baked salmon with julienne vegetable and fresh herb serv with mashed potato and cherry confit" - the disappointment of the night. The mashed potato was bland, the fish was bland, the vegetables were bland.
Paella Valenciana ($40 for 2pax) - "saffron, chicken, Spanish chorizo, tiger prawns, squid, half shell mussels, rice" - The other best dish of the evening. Although I think the portion can be larger, the saffron infused rice was really good, with the seafood very fresh and in good numbers. Orders take 30mins to arrive as it is apparently cooked only when ordered, which I appreicated.
House red ($56) - Dont know too much about wine but I have always thought Spanish wines are good, and this was not too bad.
Service was quite good, with more than sufficient staff hovring around and water refilled quite quickly. They also had the same 'still or sparkling?' reply when I asked for some water. The staff who took our order also took the trouble to come over and ask how was the food.
I feel the dishes esp the salmon and paella was overpriced, resulting in a hefty bill of $176 for 4pax. With only the paella being good and wedges memorable (but I can get good wedges elsewhere too), I will probably not return. Too expensive for me for a normal dinner without any special occassion.
It was a re-visit to a familiar place but at a different outlet. It helped that they were having the 1-for-2 promotion - for every main course or pasta ordered, you get another plus a coffee / tea (the course with the lower value is free). If you do not want to settle for just a normal coffee / tea, you can pick any drinks on the menu and they'll deduct $4.80 off that drink. Cool promotion~
Wild Garden Salad - a mix of greens, tomatoes, mushrooms topped off with what tasted like deep fried soba strips. Fresh and tossed in a nice clean vinegrette, it was a good choice if you want to whet your appetite.
Spicy-hot Wings - 5 medium size wings deep fried in a marinate that is suspiciously close to curry. Nice to not have them too oily and yet fragrant and tasty sufficiently.
Pan-seared Chicken Breast with Shogayaki Sauce - the chicken was fresh but the sauce was way too strong and very tiriing for the tastebuds. The lotus root slices lends a good crunch but didnt seem to go too well with the sauce. Cooked onion slices was quite an extra sidekick to the whole dish.
Sea Perch with Wasabi Vinaigrette - the fish was good but except for me, the others couldnt quite get used to wasabi vinegrette, an aquired taste. The broccoli provided some colour to the otherwise dull-looking dish. Potato medallions were average as well.
Seafood Aglio Olio - I thought this was the best main of the dinner. Medium portion of the pasta done al dente, with good-sized prawns and scallops seared nicely.
Chilli Beef Lasagne - didnt try this but looked okay.
Iced Kaffello Latte - the refreshing caffeine kick was dampened by the soggy coffee jelly inside the drink. Too bad.
The place was packed on a Saturday night at 730pm, perhaps because other people knew of the deal too. Food came quite quickly despite the crowd, but staff manning tables seemed to be a but shorthanded esp when the queue for tables starting filling out. They didnt remember to deduct $4.80 off my 2 drinks when the initial bill came, but that was rectified very quickly.
The staff was unsure when the promotion will end but my suggestion is go soon. I'm not sure if the promotion is valid across the island, but I remember the bugis outlet having the same banner. Food is not fantastic obviously but for the comfort and all that, its worth a shot with this promotion.
Liang Kee used to be housed in the now defunct Ellenborough market and known for its Teochew cuisine. After the death of its founder, 3 variants of the Liang Kee brand name have popped up, giving rise to theconfusion as to which is the original and "authentic" outlet. If you are interested in reading more, see here.
We chose to patronise the newly opened outlet at Whampoa, which moved from Robertson Quay, because of practical reasons - it was the closest one to our area and we had walked past it on our previous visit to Ban Heng. The air conditioned interior has limited seating and reservations on a weekend are necessary, or you risk either sitting outside in Singapore's humid weather or a long wait for a table to free up.
Teochew Braised Duck - I am not sure if geese is still in shortage but we had to make do with duck. And what a huge duck it was, going by the breadth of the meat slices. I did think that the duck was a wee bit too dry but at least it had a mildly rough texture that made for better chewing. The gravy was fragrant which did help to enhance the flavour of the duck.
Stir Fried Kailan with Prawn - This dish had a nice wok hei tint to it and the addition of ti po (crispy fried sole fish) accentuated the taste and texture. To top it all, the prawns were fresh and crunchy, making for a simple yet enjoyable vegetable dish.
Prawn Rolls - Crisp on the outside, the prawn rolls were moist on the inside but a little overloaded on the fatty meat. And ironically, I couldn't quite make out any prawn taste even though it was called prawn roll. Palatable but could have been better.
Liang Kee Beancurd - It seems like every mom and pop stall is making their own beancurd nowadays and Liang Kee, being an established brand, is no exception. The beancurd wasn't silky and had a strong egg taste coupled with a sublime savouriness, which I personally like. But the deal clincher was the minced pork gravy with dried shrimp that almost engulfed the slabs of beancurd. Very nice!
Pumpkin Yam Paste - An all time favourite of mine, the orh nee was nothing short of wonderful in my humble opinion. Fragrant with the smell of yam and smooth without being too oily or sweet. A perfect balance of texture and taste, allowing Liang Kee to catapult into my list of favourite orh nee places.
For the quality of food, $74 for 3 pax for dinner leans towards the value for money category, especially if you factor in the amount of food we ordered. Service was a little spotty but at least the lady boss (I presume) was nice enough. With Ban Heng, Guan Hin and Liang Kee all located in one stretch, it will be interesting to see how the competition heats up.
A grabbing standing banner that read "40min foot massage foot herbal bath" for $18 got my attention when I walked past. It sounded like too good a deal to pass up, so went with a friend one Monday evening.
The tiny set up of about 8 foot massage and 3 back massage chairs were quite filled up when we reached at 7:30pm. You take off your shoes and wear their plastic gigantic slippers to go in.
The foot bath is fitted right below the massage chair for your convenience. I actually dont know what herbs there was as all I could see was a pool of murkey brown water; kept very warm (the temperature may be too hot for some). But was good of the masseurs to ask hows the temperture and they adjust for you if need be.
After about 15mins of soaking, they dry your feet and proceeded with the massage proper. The petite chuerbic lady who was my masseur was really good! The right amount of strength plus all the right technics; it was a blissful 40mins of massage for my tired feet. But of course they can adjust their strength depending on whether you're seasoned or a foot massage virgin.
I didnt get her name but I will look out for her the next time I go, which I surely will.
And to think I didnt expect much when I first decided to try it out. Reservations are advised.
Popped by for a quick lunch on a quiet Saturday afternoon at about 2pm and there was only 1 indoor table occupied. They have quite a comprehensive choice of starters, mains, and desserts for the 3-course set lunch ($38 per pax), but note that a fair number of them require a 'supplementary' $8 or $10.
Bread basket - 3 types of bread which was served barely warm. Other than the brown walnut bread, the others were sliced white bread and normal bread roll - not impressed for Novus's standards. The basket was served with herb butter but didnt qujte taste the herb.
They served a complimentary mango sorbet with beetroot after the bread basket, which was only average I feel.
Short seared yellowtin tuna with tomato marmalade: pistachio, tomato cubes, ginger foam, black & white sea salt - done just nice with the centre of the fish nicely pink. The tomato provided a very refreshing crunch, and the ginger foam was mild and not too bad, although I didnt quite figure out where it came in in the dsh.
Crispy snapper fillet and octopus: marinated granny smith apples, puree of granny smith apples, sliced fennel, cider foam - The fish was very fresh but the chef was too heavy handed with the salt, so much so I ate probably about 1/4 of it. The octopus, think just blanched without any seasoning, was very fresh too, but it came in 2 huge chunks which made cutting it up and finishing it really tricky. The apples were tasty!
Walnut Genoise: Walnut Genoise, banana ice cream, chocolate cloud, mini banana chip - genoise is an italian cake which is supposed to be light but didnt quite taste like it. I liked the banana ice cream which did not have the very 'chemical' banana taste in most cakes or ice cream. The chocolate cloud was typical, and the banana chip was really just one chip.
My lunch mate had a sorbet with tapioca pearls as her choice of dessert, but it was utterly disappointly bland and presentation haphazard.
Coffee - decent coffee that was served with a cracked macaroon, which was way too sweet as well.
Service was quite good but perhaps because we were the 2nd occupied table. Requests for vinegrette and balsamic vinegar was accommodated quite quickly. I was also pleasantly surprised that they actually have small place cards to show what each of your choice of dish includes, with nuggets of info ahout some of the ingredients. That was quite cute, and you dont have to keep guessing what's on your dish anymore.
Ambience was very good, and I would assume it will have a more romantic feel come evenings. The food surprised me because I had expected more usual set lunch stuff instead of the slight slant towards molecular cuisine, although it could be better.
I find $38 a tad pricey for me so even though ambience and all others were not too bad, I'll probably think about it before I return.
I know it seems like I am always scheming and teasing to get you hungry, but trust me: everything that I do is for your own good. Today is Sunday. And as my favorite saying goes: Sunday is made for brunch.
Epicurious Cafe has always been well known for their weekend brunch. It’s almost impossible to get a table without waiting if you reach after twelve noon, and here’s the good news – Epicurious has recently opened a new branch at Railmall. And the best part? The breakfast menu at railmall is exactly the same as the one at Robertson Quay.
Sharon the co-owner of Epicurious Cafe recommended me to go for the Baked Eggs with Toast Soldiers ($6.50 for 1) and I agreed that it’s absolutely divine! Eggs and bacons are the best couple in this world. The latter always makes eggs become so much better!
When the trio of eggs, bacon, and cheese are baked together, there’s only a word to describe everything – magic!
Having tried the Eggs Benedict on my previous visit, I decided to go for the Ratatouille Omelette ($12). Tomatoes and eggplant added color and contrasting texture to the smooth and silky egg. If I may add, the side potatoes were really tasty, and I like the combination of the slightly sourish fillings with the omelette.
Breakfast is all about eggs and pancakes. And the pancakes ($7 for 3) here are definitely one of the most value-for-money.
For desserts, we had the Apple Crumble and a slice of carrot cake. The apple tart was lovely. Warm and soft and tart, it had a very appley flavor, with a scoop of cold ice cream – this was the perfect fairytale ending to our wholesome breakfast.
* * *
Epicurious Cafe is my favorite place for brunch. If you are one of those who have problems waking up early for breakfast and never seem to be able to get a table at Epicurious Robertson Quay; dude, it’s time to go to the Rail Mall branch.
Long story short, if you like my review please do come by ladyironchef . . . for the delicious in you
Never knew this existed until we saw it while choosing a placeat the Seafood Centre to dine with family. Crystal Jade has its reputation of being trusty on its quality of food so it was a natural decision for us.
The weather was breezy when we went, so outdoor seats was good. The indoor sheltered seats was quite warm as the place has no air condition.
The menu was bright and easy to choose from - things like prawns you tell them how many grams you would like (min. 300g) and the menu lists the different way you can have it cooked. Same goes for vegetables - they list with pictures the different types of vegetables and you choose the way you want it cooked.
6 of us ordered conservatively:
Prawns sauteed with rice wine and herb ($21 @ $7 oer 100g) - 300g gave us 9-10 prawns which was much lesser than I expected. For this method of cooking, they cook the prawns at your table side and serve immediately thereafter. The whole cooking process was entertaining for the kids, but they served it by just throwing it onto the plate without even trying to sort of making it presentable.
Baby kailan in oyster sauce - although the kailan was not overcooked, it lacked the 'wok hei' that could have made the dish stand out. I felt there was way too much oyster sauce as well, but thankfully no overdose on the salt.
Deep fried tofu ($6) - a favourite with us; this is also on the other crystal jade menus. Small cubes of fluffy tofu deep fried to be crispy outside and soft inside, dusted with pepper and salt. Very good.
Fried rice - Cant remember what fried rice this was and only took a spoonful but there were egg and cabbage in it, and thankfully not oily although lacking the wok hei too.
Chilli crab ($76) - the star of the dinner. It came in a huge bowl with the crab flooded in the sauce. It was a huge crab they gave - 1.9kg thus the price. The sauce was quite good, although less spicy than some people would have preferred. The mantou was charged at $1 per piece, a bit pricey but the steamed ones tasted really home-made which was a bonus point for them.
Other little items we ordered was beer, young coconut, lime juice, organge juice, coke etc. Nuts, towels etc were also charged. The total bill was $236, which shocked me - I was expecting between $150-$200. Perhaps because we werent told the weight of the crab before hand which I felt was something they should have done.
Service was excellent though. Plates were changed very regularly and plain water was served without asking when they saw my lime juice was finished. Staff were all polite although sometimes because the place was not very busy, a few times I saw they tend to chat within themselves and didnt see some waving of hands signaling for service.
It would have been a much better experience without the shock of the bill I guess, and because the competition is so stiff, I'm really not sure if I'll be back.
1=SGD 0.0587
Was recommended this place by a good friend and this was the 1st time I've heard of it despite living in the neighbouring estate. I don't have a good impression of Jack's Place and knowing this is under the same management made me hesitate for a bit, but you'll never know until you try right?
I have to warn that the older versions of the street directory (2007 and before) printed the location of Anchorvale CC wrongly. It is shown as located opposite Compass Point at Sengkang MRT (NE line) but it is actually 2 LRT stops away from that, at Farmway LRT (a short walk away from the station). If driving, please use the Sengkang Sports Complex as a landmark as it is next to the CC, or just use the road name. Parking can be a problem as the parking in the CC is limited but there are also public lots along the CC itself.
Once you reach the CC, you are on the ground level, which is level 2, so you have to take the stairs down to level 1 and walk straight. You'll see a banner on level 2 but no arrow of direction signs that you need to go down 1 level.
It was a sparsely populated Tuesday night, and outdoor seats seem to be more popular despite the heat. Service staff was a young team which explains the lacklustre service but the food first:
Crispy Sampler Platter (for two) ($13.00) - Combination of chicken pockets, oriental chicken wings, spring rolls, onion and calamari rings - the calamari had a very light batter and chicken wings nicely marinated. Spring rolls were disappointingly soft and the onion rings too let down by a thick tasteless batter. Didnt try the chicken pockets which looked like the chinese coin bags you see in some restaurants.
Lobster and Crab stuffed Mushrooms ($10.80) - Mixture of slipper lobster and crab meat, baked with Chef’s seasoning and stuffed into button mushrooms. Topped with cheese. - The presentation made it look like escargots and I liked it being served in a hot pan. While the button mushrooms were good, the combination of crab meat and slipper lobster made it impossible to taste the freshness of either (if any) which I thought was a waste. The melted cheese did made the dish more palatable though.
Slipper Lobster & Chicken ($18.00) - Slipper lobster & boneless chicken topped with fried garlic - this was my main course which I thought was not too bad! The boneless chicken was chicken-chop like and came nicely browned and a good layer of skin which I took out. The fries and carrots that came on the side was a good touch. The lobster could have been fresher though. And I have no idea what was the accompanying sauce that came with it and did not bother to find out as it was not good.
Grilled Cod Fish Fillet ($19.80) - Boneless fillet of cod fish grilled to perfection and served with potato and seasonal vegetables - didnt try this but looked good.
Silver Fern Farm N.Z. Tenderloin ($24.50) - The most tender and lean cut of beef, char broiled to your liking - didnt try this but the request for medium looked like it was done well.
American Black Coffee ($2.50) - A light black coffee with percolated creamer on the side - didnt try this as well but it looked like it was done properly with the coffee creamer evident in the cup.
Australian Long Black ($2.90) - A serving of espresso, lengthened to produce a regular cuppa. Boasts of a silky smoothness with a wonderful elegant aroma. - the staff couldnt tell me the difference between this and the american black coffee except that it was a bigger cup, and it was. Much bigger. Taste wise was not bad coffee but probably too diluted.
Some may just settle for the set meal instead of ala carte but I decided against it when I realised the 'soup of the day' was watercress and 'day's dessert' was just a scoop of ice cream.
Hiring a young staff team does make the place more 'vibrant' but there is a need to really train them well, which Brewbaker's unfortunately does not.
The young chaps gather around to chat when they think there is no need for service. So they missed a few of our attempts for attention even though we were only the 4th or 5th indoor table occupied.
Then they got 1 order wrong, after they've repeated the correct order.
And for a place which has a rather impressive list of wines, they really do need to to train staff on how to serve them. We ordered a bottle of house red, which never came. And when we asked to check on it, a young girl brought a glass to our table, and asked "did you all order 1 glass or 1 bottle"? My friend gave up and told her to just give him that glass. If unsure, ask BEFORE you bring the one glass over. And it makes me wonder if we had still insisted on 1 bottle, would she have put the glass down and told us she'll bring the remaining of our bottle over?
The bill came up to $100 for 3 pax which was average i think. I'll still grade this higher than Jack's Place~
Rating given:
My companion kept raving about Awfully Chocolate that it made it impossible for me not to try. We went about looking for an outlet but realised the one at Katong had closed and all that was left was an office above Everything with Fries (which is also great btw).
So we dropped by at the itsy bitsy outlet tucked away in a corner of Vivo City. The first thing that occurred to me was.. HUH two tables only? They only had two high tables and about 3 chairs per table. They had a nice glass counter display which lined two walls, making an L-shape so it was pretty cramped. But well it is a specialty shop and most places like this don't even have seats at all. And we were there for the ice cream so there is hardly a need for seats.
They had ice cream (1 flavour - HEI which means black), chocolate bars and chocolate cake and cupcakes for sale. The ice cream went for $3.80 for a single scoop, $6.20 for a double scoop and $11.80 for a pint. The chocolate cupcake was $4.90 and the stacked chocolate cake was $6.50 per 100g. Truffles were $13 for 100g.
They had iced water in a jug set aside for customers and provided plastic cups, so that even if you had to do a takeaway you could grab a cup of water, which is great.
So we got our double scoop ice cream from the cheery girls behind the counters and sat on the mall's seats just outside the store.
The ice cream was fantastic. It rich and creamy and I love the dark chocolate taste. Definitely not for sweet chocolate lovers. The spoons we had were really cute and perfect for spooning the ice cream into our mouths.
Since then, I've had it three times and am still lemming for it. :)
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The opportunity to visit 1TwentySix presented itself one humid weekday evening, in the guise of a voucher, courtesy of the management. I can't say that I've been eager to try out this sister outfit of One Rochester @ Rochester Park, not after the bad reviews I've heard about it so far.
Located along the inner fringe of Big Splash towards the sea, 1TwentySix boasts an al fresco sitting area that is rich in nature and certainly great for chilling out. The "air conditioned" interior is actually a small area with some form of feeble air conditioning. The problem is, the area isn't enclosed and there is no air curtain to stop the cool air from escaping. There is a huge glass partition but it is apparently only used in the afternoons. And yes, it did get a little too warm that evening.
Complimentary Bread - Crusty exterior with bits of wheat and corn amidst the soft and warm dough - good bread never fails to start a meal off on the right foot.
Tuna Nicoise in Two Styles, Seared Tuna Tataki and Tuna Confit with French Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Soft Boiled Quails Eggs - The tuna tataki was good - well seared on the outside while retaining its smooth yet firm texture on the inside. A lingering smokey taste accompanied by a dash of saltiness. Can't really fault it.
The tuna confit, on the other hand, was lost amongst the salad, masked by a rather saline solution. I could still make out the tuna though, but barely.
Tartare of Scallop, Ocean Trout and Tuna Loin with Foie Gras Parfait and Caramelised Shallots - I had thought that the tartare of scallop, ocean trout and tuna loin would certainly be a very fishy combination, but I was wrong. It was actually nice and to a certain extent, refreshing, without coming across as overly raw. Topped with a raw egg.
Please let me qualify that even though I like foie gras, I am not a big fan of it done parfait (75% foie gras) or pate (50% foie gras) style simply because I like my liver whole. So the chilled, smooth foie gras parfait simply didn't appeal to me.
150 Day Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin with Roast Bone Marrow with Chilli and Shallots -
Although 1TwentySix's menu seemingly focuses on produce from the sea, I took a gamble and went with the 150 day grain fed tenderloin. And I was suitably impressed. The tenderloin was nicely char grilled on the surface and done to a perfect medium rare. Add to the fact that the meat was tender and flavourful and you have a clear winner. One thing odd was the mushroom sauce, which had a strong mushroom taste but did seem a little overly sweet.
The side of fries were decent and didn't turn soggy when cold. What I thought was interesting was the broccolini, which was cooked with garlic and ginger - a very Chinese style of cooking, just way too oily.
Black Cod Fillet with Fennel, Blood Orange and Pistachio Salad served with Beaujolais Sauce - Fresh, firm yet flaky but outright bland. The fish wasn't sweet nor the sauce flavourful. All I could make out was a faint taste of fish and an initial sugar induced sweetness. Decent by any standards but could have been a lot better.
Frozen 'Deconstructed' Strawberry Shortcake with Home Churned Strawberry Ice Cream -
A recommendation from our waitress, I didn't quite take to the strawberry shortcake at first due to the seemingly excessive strawberry ice cream. However, as I dug deeper, I could make out a mish mash of sponge and flaky pastry, making the dessert quite enjoyable after all. If only I had 2 stomachs.
Valrhona Dark & White Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Praline Ice Cream - Most chocolate fondants come in only the dark variant, but 1TwentySix's offering combines both white and dark chocolate. Rather gimmicky if you ask me, because its just white chocolate oozing out together with the dark chocolate when you crack open the surface. But something different nonetheless. Texture wise, the crust was a little soft but at least it wasn't gelatin like. Coupled with a rich viscous chocolate filling and a creamy coconut ice cream, this dessert held promise for a sweet ending.
Fine Apple and Frangipane Tart with Calvados Ice Cream - The tart had a thin, flaky and crisp base with a nice oven baked taste to it. The apple slices weren't overly tart and I could make out a tinge of sweetness from the frangipane (sweet almond filling). It probably helped that the tart was sprinkled with icing sugar. The calvados (French apple brandy) ice cream didn't really make an impact though. Easily forgettable.
I would have had a wonderful meal if not for the less than cool dining environment. And the price for such an indulgence? Approximately $202 (before the use of discount voucher). Expensive? Arguably yes. But with very few other "fine dining" options in the east, 1TwentySix could probably be a consideration for your next special occasion or celebration.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Overpriced.
Friend picked this place as it looked nice and a good enough spot to catch up; plus he said he has dined there before. So of the 4 of us went, and took the last couch seat available. The couch seats number around 8, with plenty of other proper dining tables scattered in the main dining hall. Each couch seat sits 4 comfortable, although 6 is possible with a tiny squeeze.
The place has a good view and location of looking out towards the sea towards Sentosa, but it also means you get a lot of the ongoing construcion view too. Its semi-alfresco as they open up a few panels of its sliding glass to create the alfresco feel for the entire place, but this means the seats closer to the opened doors are abit warm despite the aircon and the meek few fans whirling above. But beware of which couch you choose as some have the aircon vents directly above which was leaking when we went, and luckily another couch seat was vacated soon after.
With 3 if us dining there for the 1st time, we asked for recommendations and went ahead half excited about trying out Spanish food for a change:
Calamares a la plancha ($13) - "the natural taste of freshly grilled squid" - we picked this against the fried squid as we thought the wedges were already fried. The portion was small and the chunks of squid too big; it was also deliberately done slightly undercooked which I did not take to. It was served with 2 dry pieces of bread which I guess is supposed to help mop up the sauce it came in, which tasted like a marriage of squid ink and vinegrette. Not my cup of tea.
Wedges with home-made curry sauce ($10) - This was one of the 2 best dishes of the evening unfortunately. The wedges were piping hot and came with their home-made curry sauce which was very good. Tasted a bit like McDonald's curry sauce but more tasty and less 'chemical'.
Ensalada de Pescado ($12) in sherry vinnegrette or olive oil vinegrette - "grilled dory fish in the nest of vegetable salad, potatoes, eggs and parmesan cheesese" - Didnt try this but it looked under-portioned for the price.
Salmon Papillote ($30) - "baked salmon with julienne vegetable and fresh herb serv with mashed potato and cherry confit" - the disappointment of the night. The mashed potato was bland, the fish was bland, the vegetables were bland.
Paella Valenciana ($40 for 2pax) - "saffron, chicken, Spanish chorizo, tiger prawns, squid, half shell mussels, rice" - The other best dish of the evening. Although I think the portion can be larger, the saffron infused rice was really good, with the seafood very fresh and in good numbers. Orders take 30mins to arrive as it is apparently cooked only when ordered, which I appreicated.
House red ($56) - Dont know too much about wine but I have always thought Spanish wines are good, and this was not too bad.
Service was quite good, with more than sufficient staff hovring around and water refilled quite quickly. They also had the same 'still or sparkling?' reply when I asked for some water. The staff who took our order also took the trouble to come over and ask how was the food.
I feel the dishes esp the salmon and paella was overpriced, resulting in a hefty bill of $176 for 4pax. With only the paella being good and wedges memorable (but I can get good wedges elsewhere too), I will probably not return. Too expensive for me for a normal dinner without any special occassion.
Rating given:
Not too bad a deal for average food~
It was a re-visit to a familiar place but at a different outlet. It helped that they were having the 1-for-2 promotion - for every main course or pasta ordered, you get another plus a coffee / tea (the course with the lower value is free). If you do not want to settle for just a normal coffee / tea, you can pick any drinks on the menu and they'll deduct $4.80 off that drink. Cool promotion~
Wild Garden Salad - a mix of greens, tomatoes, mushrooms topped off with what tasted like deep fried soba strips. Fresh and tossed in a nice clean vinegrette, it was a good choice if you want to whet your appetite.
Spicy-hot Wings - 5 medium size wings deep fried in a marinate that is suspiciously close to curry. Nice to not have them too oily and yet fragrant and tasty sufficiently.
Pan-seared Chicken Breast with Shogayaki Sauce - the chicken was fresh but the sauce was way too strong and very tiriing for the tastebuds. The lotus root slices lends a good crunch but didnt seem to go too well with the sauce. Cooked onion slices was quite an extra sidekick to the whole dish.
Sea Perch with Wasabi Vinaigrette - the fish was good but except for me, the others couldnt quite get used to wasabi vinegrette, an aquired taste. The broccoli provided some colour to the otherwise dull-looking dish. Potato medallions were average as well.
Seafood Aglio Olio - I thought this was the best main of the dinner. Medium portion of the pasta done al dente, with good-sized prawns and scallops seared nicely.
Chilli Beef Lasagne - didnt try this but looked okay.
Iced Kaffello Latte - the refreshing caffeine kick was dampened by the soggy coffee jelly inside the drink. Too bad.
The place was packed on a Saturday night at 730pm, perhaps because other people knew of the deal too. Food came quite quickly despite the crowd, but staff manning tables seemed to be a but shorthanded esp when the queue for tables starting filling out. They didnt remember to deduct $4.80 off my 2 drinks when the initial bill came, but that was rectified very quickly.
The staff was unsure when the promotion will end but my suggestion is go soon. I'm not sure if the promotion is valid across the island, but I remember the bugis outlet having the same banner. Food is not fantastic obviously but for the comfort and all that, its worth a shot with this promotion.
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Liang Kee used to be housed in the now defunct Ellenborough market and known for its Teochew cuisine. After the death of its founder, 3 variants of the Liang Kee brand name have popped up, giving rise to theconfusion as to which is the original and "authentic" outlet. If you are interested in reading more, see here.
We chose to patronise the newly opened outlet at Whampoa, which moved from Robertson Quay, because of practical reasons - it was the closest one to our area and we had walked past it on our previous visit to Ban Heng.
The air conditioned interior has limited seating and reservations on a weekend are necessary, or you risk either sitting outside in Singapore's humid weather or a long wait for a table to free up.
Teochew Braised Duck - I am not sure if geese is still in shortage but we had to make do with duck. And what a huge duck it was, going by the breadth of the meat slices. I did think that the duck was a wee bit too dry but at least it had a mildly rough texture that made for better chewing. The gravy was fragrant which did help to enhance the flavour of the duck.
Stir Fried Kailan with Prawn - This dish had a nice wok hei tint to it and the addition of ti po (crispy fried sole fish) accentuated the taste and texture. To top it all, the prawns were fresh and crunchy, making for a simple yet enjoyable vegetable dish.
Prawn Rolls - Crisp on the outside, the prawn rolls were moist on the inside but a little overloaded on the fatty meat. And ironically, I couldn't quite make out any prawn taste even though it was called prawn roll. Palatable but could have been better.
Liang Kee Beancurd - It seems like every mom and pop stall is making their own beancurd nowadays and Liang Kee, being an established brand, is no exception. The beancurd wasn't silky and had a strong egg taste coupled with a sublime savouriness, which I personally like. But the deal clincher was the minced pork gravy with dried shrimp that almost engulfed the slabs of beancurd. Very nice!
Pumpkin Yam Paste - An all time favourite of mine, the orh nee was nothing short of wonderful in my humble opinion. Fragrant with the smell of yam and smooth without being too oily or sweet. A perfect
balance of texture and taste, allowing Liang Kee to catapult into my list of favourite orh nee places.
For the quality of food, $74 for 3 pax for dinner leans towards the value for money category, especially if you factor in the amount of food we ordered. Service was a little spotty but at least the lady boss (I presume) was nice enough. With Ban Heng, Guan Hin and Liang Kee all located in one stretch, it will be interesting to see how the competition heats up.
See all my pictures here.
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Foot Massage!
A grabbing standing banner that read "40min foot massage foot herbal bath" for $18 got my attention when I walked past. It sounded like too good a deal to pass up, so went with a friend one Monday evening.
The tiny set up of about 8 foot massage and 3 back massage chairs were quite filled up when we reached at 7:30pm. You take off your shoes and wear their plastic gigantic slippers to go in.
The foot bath is fitted right below the massage chair for your convenience. I actually dont know what herbs there was as all I could see was a pool of murkey brown water; kept very warm (the temperature may be too hot for some). But was good of the masseurs to ask hows the temperture and they adjust for you if need be.
After about 15mins of soaking, they dry your feet and proceeded with the massage proper. The petite chuerbic lady who was my masseur was really good! The right amount of strength plus all the right technics; it was a blissful 40mins of massage for my tired feet. But of course they can adjust their strength depending on whether you're seasoned or a foot massage virgin.
I didnt get her name but I will look out for her the next time I go, which I surely will.
And to think I didnt expect much when I first decided to try it out. Reservations are advised.
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Decent service but a tad too overpriced?
Popped by for a quick lunch on a quiet Saturday afternoon at about 2pm and there was only 1 indoor table occupied. They have quite a comprehensive choice of starters, mains, and desserts for the 3-course set lunch ($38 per pax), but note that a fair number of them require a 'supplementary' $8 or $10.
Bread basket - 3 types of bread which was served barely warm. Other than the brown walnut bread, the others were sliced white bread and normal bread roll - not impressed for Novus's standards. The basket was served with herb butter but didnt qujte taste the herb.
They served a complimentary mango sorbet with beetroot after the bread basket, which was only average I feel.
Short seared yellowtin tuna with tomato marmalade: pistachio, tomato cubes, ginger foam, black & white sea salt - done just nice with the centre of the fish nicely pink. The tomato provided a very refreshing crunch, and the ginger foam was mild and not too bad, although I didnt quite figure out where it came in in the dsh.
Crispy snapper fillet and octopus: marinated granny smith apples, puree of granny smith apples, sliced fennel, cider foam - The fish was very fresh but the chef was too heavy handed with the salt, so much so I ate probably about 1/4 of it. The octopus, think just blanched without any seasoning, was very fresh too, but it came in 2 huge chunks which made cutting it up and finishing it really tricky. The apples were tasty!
Walnut Genoise: Walnut Genoise, banana ice cream, chocolate cloud, mini banana chip - genoise is an italian cake which is supposed to be light but didnt quite taste like it. I liked the banana ice cream which did not have the very 'chemical' banana taste in most cakes or ice cream. The chocolate cloud was typical, and the banana chip was really just one chip.
My lunch mate had a sorbet with tapioca pearls as her choice of dessert, but it was utterly disappointly bland and presentation haphazard.
Coffee - decent coffee that was served with a cracked macaroon, which was way too sweet as well.
Service was quite good but perhaps because we were the 2nd occupied table. Requests for vinegrette and balsamic vinegar was accommodated quite quickly. I was also pleasantly surprised that they actually have small place cards to show what each of your choice of dish includes, with nuggets of info ahout some of the ingredients. That was quite cute, and you dont have to keep guessing what's on your dish anymore.
Ambience was very good, and I would assume it will have a more romantic feel come evenings. The food surprised me because I had expected more usual set lunch stuff instead of the slight slant towards molecular cuisine, although it could be better.
I find $38 a tad pricey for me so even though ambience and all others were not too bad, I'll probably think about it before I return.
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I know it seems like I am always scheming and teasing to get you hungry, but trust me: everything that I do is for your own good. Today is Sunday. And as my favorite saying goes: Sunday is made for brunch.
Epicurious Cafe has always been well known for their weekend brunch. It’s almost impossible to get a table without waiting if you reach after twelve noon, and here’s the good news – Epicurious has recently opened a new branch at Railmall. And the best part? The breakfast menu at railmall is exactly the same as the one at Robertson Quay.
Sharon the co-owner of Epicurious Cafe recommended me to go for the Baked Eggs with Toast Soldiers ($6.50 for 1) and I agreed that it’s absolutely divine! Eggs and bacons are the best couple in this world. The latter always makes eggs become so much better!
When the trio of eggs, bacon, and cheese are baked together, there’s only a word to describe everything – magic!
Having tried the Eggs Benedict on my previous visit, I decided to go for the Ratatouille Omelette ($12). Tomatoes and eggplant added color and contrasting texture to the smooth and silky egg. If I may add, the side potatoes were really tasty, and I like the combination of the slightly sourish fillings with the omelette.
Breakfast is all about eggs and pancakes. And the pancakes ($7 for 3) here are definitely one of the most value-for-money.
For desserts, we had the Apple Crumble and a slice of carrot cake. The apple tart was lovely. Warm and soft and tart, it had a very appley flavor, with a scoop of cold ice cream – this was the perfect fairytale ending to our wholesome breakfast.
* * *
Epicurious Cafe is my favorite place for brunch. If you are one of those who have problems waking up early for breakfast and never seem to be able to get a table at Epicurious Robertson Quay; dude, it’s time to go to the Rail Mall branch.
Long story short, if you like my review please do come by ladyironchef . . . for the delicious in you
Rating given:
More expensive than expected...
Never knew this existed until we saw it while choosing a placeat the Seafood Centre to dine with family. Crystal Jade has its reputation of being trusty on its quality of food so it was a natural decision for us.
The weather was breezy when we went, so outdoor seats was good. The indoor sheltered seats was quite warm as the place has no air condition.
The menu was bright and easy to choose from - things like prawns you tell them how many grams you would like (min. 300g) and the menu lists the different way you can have it cooked. Same goes for vegetables - they list with pictures the different types of vegetables and you choose the way you want it cooked.
6 of us ordered conservatively:
Prawns sauteed with rice wine and herb ($21 @ $7 oer 100g) - 300g gave us 9-10 prawns which was much lesser than I expected. For this method of cooking, they cook the prawns at your table side and serve immediately thereafter. The whole cooking process was entertaining for the kids, but they served it by just throwing it onto the plate without even trying to sort of making it presentable.
Baby kailan in oyster sauce - although the kailan was not overcooked, it lacked the 'wok hei' that could have made the dish stand out. I felt there was way too much oyster sauce as well, but thankfully no overdose on the salt.
Deep fried tofu ($6) - a favourite with us; this is also on the other crystal jade menus. Small cubes of fluffy tofu deep fried to be crispy outside and soft inside, dusted with pepper and salt. Very good.
Fried rice - Cant remember what fried rice this was and only took a spoonful but there were egg and cabbage in it, and thankfully not oily although lacking the wok hei too.
Chilli crab ($76) - the star of the dinner. It came in a huge bowl with the crab flooded in the sauce. It was a huge crab they gave - 1.9kg thus the price. The sauce was quite good, although less spicy than some people would have preferred. The mantou was charged at $1 per piece, a bit pricey but the steamed ones tasted really home-made which was a bonus point for them.
Other little items we ordered was beer, young coconut, lime juice, organge juice, coke etc. Nuts, towels etc were also charged. The total bill was $236, which shocked me - I was expecting between $150-$200. Perhaps because we werent told the weight of the crab before hand which I felt was something they should have done.
Service was excellent though. Plates were changed very regularly and plain water was served without asking when they saw my lime juice was finished. Staff were all polite although sometimes because the place was not very busy, a few times I saw they tend to chat within themselves and didnt see some waving of hands signaling for service.
It would have been a much better experience without the shock of the bill I guess, and because the competition is so stiff, I'm really not sure if I'll be back.
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