Vilage (Heeren)

Went to Vil''age (pronounced "V-Lah-J") for dinner with my friends some time back. Upon entering the restaurant, we were given a bar-code ticket which was being used to scan for any food or drinks purchase.

This idea of using a bar-code can be good or bad; good because we can pay upon leaving for what we actually selected from the freshly produced products available at the many market stalls, giving us the freedom at eating in a peaceful mind, and bad because we will end up losing control, because it is simply very easy to just scan your card without thinking of the price.

I ordered a pork chop with potato mash which comes at 8.80. I found the price to be rather reasonable although the servings are rather small and not filling. One of my friend ordered steak which has salad with it. The steak is so small that it is not bigger than my palm, i kid u not.

My other friends ordered sausages, pizza which turn out to be quite decent, but of course it came with a price.

Overall, Világe provides a new eating experience, dining in Vila'ge is like sitting in an old European Village outdoors and eating direct from the Farm fresh market stalls on a Saturday market. The environment and atmosphere is pretty good, but if only they provide a bigger serving. "

" ladyironchef.wordpress "

At first glance, we thought that Marche had changed their name to Vilage, pronounced as vee-lah-jay. The ordering system was the same, food was also the same and everything else looked similar. Vilage was also occupying the same place as Marche at the basement of Heeren. What can we say but good marketing move to open a similar styled restaurant occupying the same premise as your competitor.

We dined at Marche a few times and the experience at Vilage was no difference. We went for our personal favourite... the rosti. Looked and tasted the same. Only later did we realise that about 10 of Vilage's pioneering staff were from Marche. They crossed over together with Marche's former kitchen and operating manager.

Does that explain the similarities in the mascot also?

We had the Baked Cod fish $14.50 and that was all it was on the plate. One piece of baked cod fish. Side dishes were no where in sight. The taste and texture of the fish was nothing to shout about. It was creamy and juicy and tasted like the one we cooked ourselves, except that the fish we cooked was larger in size. :)

Perhaps there is something different in the Vilage with Marche. Most of the portions have shrunked - rosti, pasta, pizza, etc, except the Erdinger Beer. haha.

Our total bill came up to $45 for 2 persons and we were still hungry. Maybe must eat more.