The Manhatten Fish Market (Bishan Junction 8)

Reservations The phone rings and rings, and no one picks up. We gave up after four tried. You queue and queue at the door and no one approaches you to see you to a table. Took us twenty minutes to get seated, although there were a few tables available.

Ambience Being a Sunday, it was noisy with kids screaming and everyone talking loudly. Harried staff were rushing around trying to attend to all the customers' orders (explains no one picking up the phone...)

Appetisers Crispy Whitebait ($6.95): A handful of deep-fried crispy whitebait scattered on top of a bed of coleslaw gives very interesting contrasts in texture and taste.

Garlic Herb Mussels ($7.95): About eight smallish mussels are served in a deepdish. Bit disappointing value for money. However the cream herb sauce was quite enjoyable, and we sopped it all up with the accompanying toasted baguette.

Mains Grilled Salmon Fillet ($17.95): Don't let the menu photo fool you. In it, the nicely grilled salmon fillet sits atop a layer of sauteed vegetables and a layer of carmelised potatoes and sweet potatoes. In actual fact, the dish is served in a haphazard mess on the plate. Salmon was tasty but dry, and the potatoes were undercooked and hard to bite through.

Small Grill ($19.95): Moderate portions of grilled tiger prawns (medium-sized), dory fillet and calamari rings are served with daily vegetable sides. Herb rice and fries provide carbohydrates which make for a filling dish.

Mediterranean Baked Fish ($15.95): The best-tasting dish we ordered, the dory fillet was marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, then "baked" in foil. The resulting product was moist and juicy, although the juices were too salty. Served with (overcooked) mushy broccoli and carrots and a bland herb rice.

Beverage MFM's signature drink Citrus Mint ($5.50) is a nice cooler (on the menu it states that it's a smoothie) perfect for a hot day. Just the right balance of tartness from the lemons and spiciness from the mint. Add iced water to prolong your enjoyment!

Service Service was slow, although some servers tried to make up for it by trying to be attentive and pleasant. Might be better to visit on a quiet weekday.