Crystal Jade has been given a second chance by me after its off shoot failed to impress. And it marks my first treat to an old friend. After all, he was the one who treated me to Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, so i felt it right to return the favor.
Signature Beancurd with Mincemeat and Chili Sauce ($9.80) - I can't help ordering this item. Bean curd is simply one of my favorite items of choice and as with all food outlets, i want to try out their signature bean curds to see if there is indeed something special about them. This rendition is simple, bean curd in batter deep fried till golden brown and served with minced meat and chili dip. I found it too spicy for my liking but the batter was pretty light and extremely crispy. The bean curd itself contains some herbs which added to its fragrance but didn't quite appeal to my friends since it made the bean curd bumpy and less smooth.
Fried Hor Fan With SeaFood ($13.80) - Oily yet fragrant and tasty. The seafood is minimal which is a shame but there really isn't much distinguishing factors between this version and those found in hawkers outside.
E-fu noodles with shrimp roe ($9.80) - My gf ordered this thinking it was filled with shrimp but that was not to be. Instead it was E-fu noodles with shrimp roe. Very important to note the difference since there were only a few pieces of mushrooms in this dish to act as additional ingredients. Not to say that it tasted bad. The noodles were springy and tasted slightly salty from the roe which gave it a good texture. Not that i recommend ordering again however.
Yang Zhou Fried Rice ($9.50) - Eggs, roast pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. Simple ingredients for a wonderfully fragrant plate of fried rice. Now this was my order and the reason behind it is to ascertain my friend's claim that the friend rice in Crystal Jade is much better then its offshoot. I'm inclined to agree that it indeed tasted better and more fragrant but not inclined to say its the best i've ever had. In fact, i found that the rice was not done homogeneously with certain parts being overly dry while others undercooked. The generous serving of shrimp is a plus however.
Deep Fried Dumpling With Salad Sauce ($9.30) - Expensive is the first word. For its price, there were surprisingly little dumplings to go around, i counted 5. So each dumpling is effectively $2 (!!!) which is a little over the top for shrimp dumplings that were deep fried. Sure, it was very nicely done, fresh and the salad sauce complemented it well, but for the same price, i could have gotten much much more elsewhere.
The final bill came up to $64.38 for 3 people which is a little too much for the quality of food we had.
Sad to say, i have to maintain my stand that Crystal Jade is grossly overrated and not exactly a place i would recommend to everyone. The food is average but the price belongs to a whole different category which they unfortunately still do not provide. Much improvement needed in my book.
This is Singapore after all so what would food be without the normal coffee shop zhi ca (literally cook and fry)? Of course, as with everything else in the world, there are good and bad offerings for this as well. Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to one of these little cook spots found in the East. (I went twice and thats why you'll see both visits here)
Its a coffee shop, so forget about ambiance, forget about anything close to atas. This is ground zero, what the masses have and so the very truth of what Singaporeans are used to having on weekend eat outs (with exceptions when bonus and such niceties occur of course)
Fried Fritters with Squid Paste ($8) - One of my favorite dishes to order is sadly, not one of the better dishes to have. Unless meticulous care is taken in preparing the paste and further such action is taken for the fritters, what you get is a tasteless fried dough stick with nothing much to go for it. This rendition is pretty standard but has its merits in being served hot and being cut into nice little bite sized pieces. The squid paste isn't anything to shout about but was saved by the mayonnaise it came with. Pretty standard stuff but nothing good for health here.
Thai Style Chicken Cutlet ($8) - Simple dish but this time, this is executed very well indeed. The radish and sliced cucumbers used are fresh and cold which gave the thai sauce a different feel indeed. The sauce itself is sweet and sour with a dash of spice which gave it good balance. The chicken itself is fried well which means it retained the juices and wasn't overly dry. It was also served hot and contrasted with the cold sauce so well, i simply have to recommend it. Good stuff.
Stir Fried Broccoli ($8) - imple stir fried broccoli with a little soy sauce. Who would have imagined something so simple could taste this good? Fresh, a little salty and very appetizing. The broccoli is soft while retaining its crunchiness and even had a little sweetness in it. Simple, but good all the same.
Yi Pin Guo or Seafood Pot ($18) - The most expensive of the lot that day, this dish contained 4- 5 prawns, a generous helping of fish maw and the aforementioned tasty broccoli. It was a little to salty for my tastes but the combination did taste pleasant when complimented with rice. I wouldn't exactly term it as value for money in this case though.
The total bill came up to $44 for 4 people. $2 went to 4 bowls of rice and thus the average per person is $11 for a filling and generally fulfilling meal.
The following is the second visit.
Crab Bee Hoon ($32) - This time when we returned, we were determined to try the signature dishes that they recommended and this is what you see above. Billed as the main signature dish for the restaurant, i was expecting alot from it and i will say it up front, i was a little disappointed in the dish. The serving was generous with lots of bee hoon or vermicelli piled beneath the 800 gram crab. In its defense, the crab meat is firm and sweet but i still felt it over priced. The vermicelli was soaked in crab juices and sauce which gave it a uniquely raw taste which might not please everyone. Overall, i still like my crabs with lots of chilli, pepper or butter. This doesn't quite fit the bill as a favorite for me.
Signature Beancurd ($8) - The bean curd had a pretty thick skin and didn't break easily but i didn't like it. I prefer bean curd soft and yet firm. This was also of the egg variety which adds to the taste but doesn't quite bring it anywhere. And the last gripe i had was how similar these bean curds are to one another. I mean, i've tried HTL versions and other versions from Chinese restaurants and strangely, they all have the same kind of ingredients, pork, spring onions and the like which really doesn't distinguish themselves. This version really put me off though, because it was way below average.
Sambal Fan Shu Ye (Sweet Potato Leaf) ($8) - Average and a little too spicy for me, i'm unfortunately not able to say the same good things for this as the broccoli i had the previous time.
Steamed Fish HK Style($30) - Why do i call it steamed fish? Because i can't remember what kind of fish this is. Sorry. Anyhow, this fish is steamed Hong Kong style according to the waitress and is one of my favorite ways to prepare said fish. Fragrant, fresh and sweet. I can't think of anything bad to say about it except maybe it was too small and too expensive. Good nonetheless.
Total bill for second visit hit all time high of $88. Which really is a bit too much even for 5 people as the quality has taken a sharp nose dive this time around.
The food offered here is of a certain quality but it really depends on which day you came and what you order. For me, i have to say the signature dishes are not worth the money while the simpler offerings appeal to me more. Maybe i just prefer simple food but thats what i feel. No crabs or bean curd for me from this stall.
A long overdue post, this was during the period of time before Christmas and our wonderful boss brought us to Carousel for lunch and gift exchange cum grilling session for some weird questions which will not be repeated here. I've never noticed much on Halal buffets because i've never had to search for one so this time was an eye opening experience for me. First and foremost, thanks boss!
The pictures above should give you a good indication of the place. Bright and colorful amidst a myriad of food selections. The lunch buffet ranged between $30 to $40 per person. Buffet lunch is from 12pm to 2.30pm, after which you will be informed politely that you should leave.
My First 2 Helpings - Cha soba, sashimi, prawns, mussels, scallops and cold cut duck meat are just the few appetiser dishes you can find at the buffet. I found the ingredients reasonably fresh and sweet. In particular, i found the prawns crunchy and sweet especially when you add some of the sauces on selection. Not too bad overall.
Third and Fourth Helpings - Next up, more food! You can see the prawns i mentioned again along with some beancurd, sushi, more duck meat, chicken, a big piece of mutton, a big piece of sea bass, some eggs and some roast beef. Despite the large selection, it tasted average at best. Maybe it was just a case of too much meat. The only thing that felt distinguished was the chicken which was roasted with ground pepper and honey. The meat was a little too tough though.
Dessert and final helpings - Even more food! The selection is quite astonishing. Even to this point, i've not had everything they had to offer. Chicken, crackers and roast beef round out the mains, while the dessert corner housed a few excellent selections. The log cakes in the dessert corner is excellent. Soft, sweet and mildly fluffy, this is one of the better log cakes i've had so far. It certainly helped that there were different selections of log cakes to try and the same excellence go for the other dessert helpings. With the exception of the chocolate fondue which was a little too thick and too bitter for my tastes. Otherwise, great dessert.
Nice environment, huge selection and loads of great dessert. Although the huge selection of food are generally hit and misses, the dessert section is a league on its on. Good enough to recommend purchasing desserts from the restaurant. I'm frankly quite surprised that the food here is above average. Once again, thanks boss!
I believe this place needs no introduction. So lets get straight to the point.
The soup is reminiscent of Campbell's and we got it by adding about $4 for a soup, some bread and a drink.
Seafood Combo ($49.30 after adding 3 meals) - The seafood combo came is portions of 3 generally, garlic butter and cheese baked mussels, cross cut fries, 5 to 6 fried shrimps, calamari rings and one big piece of dory fillet. And believe or not, the serving managed to feed 4 full grown adults pretty well. The mussels were quite a let down actually, nothing too special about them. The fillet was thick and sweet. The fish meat was piping hot and fine as well. I didn't like the shrimp too much as its overly fried, as is the calamari rings. However, all these were made up for with its wasabi mayonnaise sauce which made everything more palatable even though its not.
Tiramisu ($2.30 after discount) - We actually sat and waited till 9.30 pm to get the cake at half price but honestly, it wasn't worth the wait at all. Dry and lacking any rum taste whatsoever, this is hardly noticeable as tiramisu apart from its looks. Not recommended.
Eastside Brownie ($6.50) - Yet again, the dessert of choice. This time however, the brownie tasted a little too bitter and was not heated properly before it was brought out which dampened spirits a little. Still, decent when paired together with its vanilla ice cream.
Total bill for 4 people reached $56.20 after a further 10% student discount from my friend.
Definitely not somewhere for fine dining but it gets the job done. Atmosphere is as relaxed as ever and nobody chases you off at this outlet. Service is tolerable but furniture placement is still a pain as everything is still cramped. Calls for more sauce were met with slow service as well. Improvement in order but the place is still function able as a place for junk food and small gatherings.
A former humble restaurant with its roots in China town, serving home cooked Cantonese fare, has since evolved into a chain restaurant that can be found in major department stores and even the heart of town. Based upon the Samsui Women, women in red berets, who helped better the lives of Singapore by working for the people, the food has an earthly appeal to culture poor Singapore as it serves as an icon of sorts.
After queuing for close to 15 minutes, i finally made it past the fake wooden doors to get a seat within the restaurant. I guess queuing is the norm since dinner time is usually peak season and everybody seems to be clamoring for any restaurant they can get their hands on.
I guess the first thing i noticed about the place is how incredibly expensive the items are. Expensive is relative in this case because i'd came with the impression i can pay very little for the meal, but that seems a faraway dream.
Peanuts ($2) - $2 for a small bowl of peanuts is pretty interesting. Interestingly expensive of course! To its credit, the peanuts are of the soft variety which may or may not appeal to everyone. Regardless of its appetizing fragrance and taste, this is still overcharged.
Samsui Ginger Chicken ($13) - The chicken bearing the namesake of the restaurant. It is said that no visit to Soup Restaurant is complete without ordering the chicken. Honestly, i am inclined to agree. The serving was quite big which makes me believe there should be half a chicken on that plate. The majority is made of boneless servings of the thigh and breast, both of which were nicely tender and slightly salty due to the soy sauce used. The combination of cucumber, chicken, ginger and lettuce wrapped was fresh and very appetizing. The 2 of us managed to finish the entire dish so that says something.
Hometown Tofu ($8) - The tofu was not very smooth and is of the egg variety. There were pockets of air in it when cut that doesn't leave me with a very good impression. The sauce was soy based and a little salty but managed to be balanced out by the bland tasting tofu. My overall experience with it was alright but nothing eye opening.
Tian Chee With Chicken Soup ($6) - Well, this is a soup restaurant so how can a visit be complete without ordering their soup. How did the soup fare? Bland. I couldn't taste much in it at all. At the very least, it didn't feel like a manufactured soup like so many other restaurants. Still, never ordering this again.
Did the above feel justified for the price tag of $40.50 you see here? I'll leave it up to you to decide.
Of all the things i had that day, the chicken alone was worth the visit while every other thing is just chicken fodder (pardon the pun). I wouldn't say i agree with the crowds that throng the place every night since its easy enough to create the chicken on your own outside. Buy some chicken meat, get lettuce and cucumber and some ginger soaked in soy sauce and vinegar and you pretty much get the same thing. Apart from that, i don't think the price is justified for such a humble place. I don't dislike it but i'm not happy enough with it to return either.
1=SGD 0.0587
Signature Beancurd with Mincemeat and Chili Sauce ($9.80) - I can't help ordering this item. Bean curd is simply one of my favorite items of choice and as with all food outlets, i want to try out their signature bean curds to see if there is indeed something special about them. This rendition is simple, bean curd in batter deep fried till golden brown and served with minced meat and chili dip. I found it too spicy for my liking but the batter was pretty light and extremely crispy. The bean curd itself contains some herbs which added to its fragrance but didn't quite appeal to my friends since it made the bean curd bumpy and less smooth.
Fried Hor Fan With SeaFood ($13.80) - Oily yet fragrant and tasty. The seafood is minimal which is a shame but there really isn't much distinguishing factors between this version and those found in hawkers outside.
E-fu noodles with shrimp roe ($9.80) - My gf ordered this thinking it was filled with shrimp but that was not to be. Instead it was E-fu noodles with shrimp roe. Very important to note the difference since there were only a few pieces of mushrooms in this dish to act as additional ingredients. Not to say that it tasted bad. The noodles were springy and tasted slightly salty from the roe which gave it a good texture. Not that i recommend ordering again however.
Yang Zhou Fried Rice ($9.50) - Eggs, roast pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. Simple ingredients for a wonderfully fragrant plate of fried rice. Now this was my order and the reason behind it is to ascertain my friend's claim that the friend rice in Crystal Jade is much better then its offshoot. I'm inclined to agree that it indeed tasted better and more fragrant but not inclined to say its the best i've ever had. In fact, i found that the rice was not done homogeneously with certain parts being overly dry while others undercooked. The generous serving of shrimp is a plus however.
Deep Fried Dumpling With Salad Sauce ($9.30) - Expensive is the first word. For its price, there were surprisingly little dumplings to go around, i counted 5. So each dumpling is effectively $2 (!!!) which is a little over the top for shrimp dumplings that were deep fried. Sure, it was very nicely done, fresh and the salad sauce complemented it well, but for the same price, i could have gotten much much more elsewhere.
The final bill came up to $64.38 for 3 people which is a little too much for the quality of food we had.
Sad to say, i have to maintain my stand that Crystal Jade is grossly overrated and not exactly a place i would recommend to everyone. The food is average but the price belongs to a whole different category which they unfortunately still do not provide. Much improvement needed in my book.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Its a coffee shop, so forget about ambiance, forget about anything close to atas. This is ground zero, what the masses have and so the very truth of what Singaporeans are used to having on weekend eat outs (with exceptions when bonus and such niceties occur of course)
Fried Fritters with Squid Paste ($8) - One of my favorite dishes to order is sadly, not one of the better dishes to have. Unless meticulous care is taken in preparing the paste and further such action is taken for the fritters, what you get is a tasteless fried dough stick with nothing much to go for it. This rendition is pretty standard but has its merits in being served hot and being cut into nice little bite sized pieces. The squid paste isn't anything to shout about but was saved by the mayonnaise it came with. Pretty standard stuff but nothing good for health here.
Thai Style Chicken Cutlet ($8) - Simple dish but this time, this is executed very well indeed. The radish and sliced cucumbers used are fresh and cold which gave the thai sauce a different feel indeed. The sauce itself is sweet and sour with a dash of spice which gave it good balance. The chicken itself is fried well which means it retained the juices and wasn't overly dry. It was also served hot and contrasted with the cold sauce so well, i simply have to recommend it. Good stuff.
Stir Fried Broccoli ($8) - imple stir fried broccoli with a little soy sauce. Who would have imagined something so simple could taste this good? Fresh, a little salty and very appetizing. The broccoli is soft while retaining its crunchiness and even had a little sweetness in it. Simple, but good all the same.
Yi Pin Guo or Seafood Pot ($18) - The most expensive of the lot that day, this dish contained 4- 5 prawns, a generous helping of fish maw and the aforementioned tasty broccoli. It was a little to salty for my tastes but the combination did taste pleasant when complimented with rice. I wouldn't exactly term it as value for money in this case though.
The total bill came up to $44 for 4 people. $2 went to 4 bowls of rice and thus the average per person is $11 for a filling and generally fulfilling meal.
The following is the second visit.
Crab Bee Hoon ($32) - This time when we returned, we were determined to try the signature dishes that they recommended and this is what you see above. Billed as the main signature dish for the restaurant, i was expecting alot from it and i will say it up front, i was a little disappointed in the dish. The serving was generous with lots of bee hoon or vermicelli piled beneath the 800 gram crab. In its defense, the crab meat is firm and sweet but i still felt it over priced. The vermicelli was soaked in crab juices and sauce which gave it a uniquely raw taste which might not please everyone. Overall, i still like my crabs with lots of chilli, pepper or butter. This doesn't quite fit the bill as a favorite for me.
Signature Beancurd ($8) - The bean curd had a pretty thick skin and didn't break easily but i didn't like it. I prefer bean curd soft and yet firm. This was also of the egg variety which adds to the taste but doesn't quite bring it anywhere. And the last gripe i had was how similar these bean curds are to one another. I mean, i've tried HTL versions and other versions from Chinese restaurants and strangely, they all have the same kind of ingredients, pork, spring onions and the like which really doesn't distinguish themselves. This version really put me off though, because it was way below average.
Sambal Fan Shu Ye (Sweet Potato Leaf) ($8) - Average and a little too spicy for me, i'm unfortunately not able to say the same good things for this as the broccoli i had the previous time.
Steamed Fish HK Style($30) - Why do i call it steamed fish? Because i can't remember what kind of fish this is. Sorry. Anyhow, this fish is steamed Hong Kong style according to the waitress and is one of my favorite ways to prepare said fish. Fragrant, fresh and sweet. I can't think of anything bad to say about it except maybe it was too small and too expensive. Good nonetheless.
Total bill for second visit hit all time high of $88. Which really is a bit too much even for 5 people as the quality has taken a sharp nose dive this time around.
The food offered here is of a certain quality but it really depends on which day you came and what you order. For me, i have to say the signature dishes are not worth the money while the simpler offerings appeal to me more. Maybe i just prefer simple food but thats what i feel. No crabs or bean curd for me from this stall.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
The pictures above should give you a good indication of the place. Bright and colorful amidst a myriad of food selections. The lunch buffet ranged between $30 to $40 per person. Buffet lunch is from 12pm to 2.30pm, after which you will be informed politely that you should leave.
My First 2 Helpings - Cha soba, sashimi, prawns, mussels, scallops and cold cut duck meat are just the few appetiser dishes you can find at the buffet. I found the ingredients reasonably fresh and sweet. In particular, i found the prawns crunchy and sweet especially when you add some of the sauces on selection. Not too bad overall.
Third and Fourth Helpings - Next up, more food! You can see the prawns i mentioned again along with some beancurd, sushi, more duck meat, chicken, a big piece of mutton, a big piece of sea bass, some eggs and some roast beef. Despite the large selection, it tasted average at best. Maybe it was just a case of too much meat. The only thing that felt distinguished was the chicken which was roasted with ground pepper and honey. The meat was a little too tough though.
Dessert and final helpings - Even more food! The selection is quite astonishing. Even to this point, i've not had everything they had to offer. Chicken, crackers and roast beef round out the mains, while the dessert corner housed a few excellent selections. The log cakes in the dessert corner is excellent. Soft, sweet and mildly fluffy, this is one of the better log cakes i've had so far. It certainly helped that there were different selections of log cakes to try and the same excellence go for the other dessert helpings. With the exception of the chocolate fondue which was a little too thick and too bitter for my tastes. Otherwise, great dessert.
Nice environment, huge selection and loads of great dessert. Although the huge selection of food are generally hit and misses, the dessert section is a league on its on. Good enough to recommend purchasing desserts from the restaurant. I'm frankly quite surprised that the food here is above average. Once again, thanks boss!
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
The soup is reminiscent of Campbell's and we got it by adding about $4 for a soup, some bread and a drink.
Seafood Combo ($49.30 after adding 3 meals) - The seafood combo came is portions of 3 generally, garlic butter and cheese baked mussels, cross cut fries, 5 to 6 fried shrimps, calamari rings and one big piece of dory fillet. And believe or not, the serving managed to feed 4 full grown adults pretty well. The mussels were quite a let down actually, nothing too special about them. The fillet was thick and sweet. The fish meat was piping hot and fine as well. I didn't like the shrimp too much as its overly fried, as is the calamari rings. However, all these were made up for with its wasabi mayonnaise sauce which made everything more palatable even though its not.
Tiramisu ($2.30 after discount) - We actually sat and waited till 9.30 pm to get the cake at half price but honestly, it wasn't worth the wait at all. Dry and lacking any rum taste whatsoever, this is hardly noticeable as tiramisu apart from its looks. Not recommended.
Eastside Brownie ($6.50) - Yet again, the dessert of choice. This time however, the brownie tasted a little too bitter and was not heated properly before it was brought out which dampened spirits a little. Still, decent when paired together with its vanilla ice cream.
Total bill for 4 people reached $56.20 after a further 10% student discount from my friend.
Definitely not somewhere for fine dining but it gets the job done. Atmosphere is as relaxed as ever and nobody chases you off at this outlet. Service is tolerable but furniture placement is still a pain as everything is still cramped. Calls for more sauce were met with slow service as well. Improvement in order but the place is still function able as a place for junk food and small gatherings.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
After queuing for close to 15 minutes, i finally made it past the fake wooden doors to get a seat within the restaurant. I guess queuing is the norm since dinner time is usually peak season and everybody seems to be clamoring for any restaurant they can get their hands on.
I guess the first thing i noticed about the place is how incredibly expensive the items are. Expensive is relative in this case because i'd came with the impression i can pay very little for the meal, but that seems a faraway dream.
Peanuts ($2) - $2 for a small bowl of peanuts is pretty interesting. Interestingly expensive of course! To its credit, the peanuts are of the soft variety which may or may not appeal to everyone. Regardless of its appetizing fragrance and taste, this is still overcharged.
Samsui Ginger Chicken ($13) - The chicken bearing the namesake of the restaurant. It is said that no visit to Soup Restaurant is complete without ordering the chicken. Honestly, i am inclined to agree. The serving was quite big which makes me believe there should be half a chicken on that plate. The majority is made of boneless servings of the thigh and breast, both of which were nicely tender and slightly salty due to the soy sauce used. The combination of cucumber, chicken, ginger and lettuce wrapped was fresh and very appetizing. The 2 of us managed to finish the entire dish so that says something.
Hometown Tofu ($8) - The tofu was not very smooth and is of the egg variety. There were pockets of air in it when cut that doesn't leave me with a very good impression. The sauce was soy based and a little salty but managed to be balanced out by the bland tasting tofu. My overall experience with it was alright but nothing eye opening.
Tian Chee With Chicken Soup ($6) - Well, this is a soup restaurant so how can a visit be complete without ordering their soup. How did the soup fare? Bland. I couldn't taste much in it at all. At the very least, it didn't feel like a manufactured soup like so many other restaurants. Still, never ordering this again.
Did the above feel justified for the price tag of $40.50 you see here? I'll leave it up to you to decide.
Of all the things i had that day, the chicken alone was worth the visit while every other thing is just chicken fodder (pardon the pun). I wouldn't say i agree with the crowds that throng the place every night since its easy enough to create the chicken on your own outside. Buy some chicken meat, get lettuce and cucumber and some ginger soaked in soy sauce and vinegar and you pretty much get the same thing. Apart from that, i don't think the price is justified for such a humble place. I don't dislike it but i'm not happy enough with it to return either.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!