Ambience - cosy with warm lighting, suitable for couples/ families and large groups.
Staff - Warm, friendly, alert and have initiative
Food - Lip-smackingly delicious (list of food ordered below)
Time taken to serve - Super speed
Prices - reasonable
******************************
My companion and I had an hour planned to have dinner at Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) yesterday. Thinking that 1 hour was sufficient, we strolled to MFM only to be confronted by a queue (on a weekday?!!) Sigh... we panicked for a bit as we had a movie in an hour. But the staff assured us that there was enough time so we lined up. We were pleasantly surprised when they handed everyone in the queue a menu so that the process of ordering will be sped up.
Amazingly we were seated in 10 minutes and had our orders taken immediately.
Our Order 2 Soups of the day - Cream of Mushroom Garlic Bread Fried Country Mushrooms Garlic Lemon Mussels Manhattan Fish & Chips Mango Juice
Seeing a full restaurant we were afraid that our food would take some time... but the soup arrived before we could whip out our camera! The soup was fine. Not diluted like some places I know. Just nice for a cream soup but it does not have additional ingredients. The garlic bread which was served just minutes after the soup was great. It was done with real garlic not just the butter kind you find at NTUC. Very tasty indeed.
The Mushrooms and Mussels came next, just 3 minutes after the bread. The Mussels came in a creamy sauce and was served with more bread for us to dip in the sauce. The mussels were fresh and the sauce was just right. Not overly creamy. The highlight was the mushrooms. At first glance, they weren't very much to look at... fried little things... but when you bite down... the mushrooms were SO JUICY! It was amazing! I love mushrooms and would definitely order them if they were available everywhere i go and this is by far the most delicious mushroom dish I've ever tasted. A Must-Order!
Then came our Fish and Chips... One look and I knew it would be good. The light batter melted in my mouth thus wasn't too thick. The fish was a light pink with great texture and no fishy smell. The fries were well seasoned, not just with salt but some other spice which I couldn't make out. And they were the thick sort which I love and were not covered in oil. A great deal at $9.90 really.
Throughout the meal, our iced water was constantly topped up and when we finally managed to whip out our camera, one of the servers magically appeared to offer to take the picture for us. They had smiles on their faces throughout despite being so busy. It was a fantastic experience.
We paid $52 for the two of us (we ordered a lot le), got out of the restaurant in 35 minutes (in good time for our movie).
** My companion was full of praises for this place and mind you he would normally reject 9 out of 10 new places we try. :) Don't I deserve something for such a fantastic review written? hehe
If you like Jazz, Jazz at southbridge is the place to go.
It is just situated above coffee bean near the underpass crossing. You could see a small door and a stairway, walk up and you will reach a beautiful and cosy hall. It really gives you a colonial ambience and the spacious environment with comtemporary interiors designs is hip yet with a tinge of history.
If you are there earlier in the evening, you might want to sit and chill with a pint of ice cold beer while enjoying the top down view watching padestrians straddle along the side walk near the river.
But if you can wait till the band starts, thats where the action really is. The band is usually made up by well known experienced musicians playing as sessionist. The house band is also made up by a group of very experienced and talented musicians. It is really good quality music while you could see the mischievous look on the musician's faces, they are only leisurely JAMMING...
Very good music i should say and wonderful ambience. Be it with clients, friends or loved ones, it is really a very good place to chill out and catch up with them. Tehe beverages are not too pricey and there is no cover charge. The snacks are very good, fresh and crunchy. You might wanna ask for more MARUKU......
Definitely a NONO for big noisy groups.....
Music so good.... It is definitely a MUST RECOMMEND.......
If you like perfume and everything else, you should come to SASA. A mini version of the beauty hall of tangs and robinsons. The carry the most glorious brands like SKII, Elizebeth Arden to HDB tai tai's brand.
The beauty of SASA is that they offer branded beauty products at value for money prices. I always love to shop at SASA, especially during the storewide sales. I realise the prices are much lower then what i can get at the duty free shop in the airport. You can buy not one but various brands of 100ml fragrances at $50.
You will be pampered for choices when you are there...
Various skin care products for your review and trial. The friendly staff can share with you their professional views and introduce you some really good products if you do not know what you are looking for. These friendly staffs are equipped with some good knowledge on skin care products and i find them of good consultation and not pushy for you to buy their products. Unlike some departmental stalls, some counter assitant are very pushy with their product range.
You can also find some really cheap and nice nail polish at SASA. Though the colour scale is not that large, but its good enough for the normal working day.
There are also some new products that you can only find in SASA. For example some Korean Beauty Care Brands, and I came across this very interesting the last time i was there. It was called soap sheets....
It looked like a oil blotting paper plastic dispenser but the paper inside are soap sheets. Really good for travellers and children. Matter of fact that oral ingestion is one of the avenue that invited most diseases, why not wash our hands with handy soap.
For good variety and prices... It is tough not to recommend....
I hate living in Woodlands because it is so far from everywhere but luckily, there are some form of compensation (or comfort they called it) when it comes to food.
Zai Lai (再来) Minced Pork Noodles can be found in S11 Coffeeshop situated at Blk 304 Woodlands Ave 1. It is one of the few stalls around Woodlands that dishes out minced pork noodles 24hrs a day. It has provided me an extra option apart from the prata 5mins away from me. It is also not hard to see why shift workers from Senoko, Marsiling and Kranji industrial estate often flock to this stall for their supper.
(Let's just call minced pork noodles as bah chor mee - BCM)
Their noodles have evolved over the years. Nowadays, the BCM are darker than what I used to get. The reason for this is due to more dark sauce being used instead of the normal soya sauce. It is also a little soupy than it used to be, but not to the extend like the mutant you find at Bedok 85. (I hate that soupy BCM to the core.) Much to the delight of a meat lover like me, they give alot more minced pork too!
One reason why I absolutely love their BCM, they cook their pork only upon ordering. I have tried BCM, and I realised quite a handful of stalls pre-cooked their pork. The problem is, pre-cooked pork tend to harden up and that doesn't taste good. This is something I don't get here, where the pork are nicely soaked in the boiling water. Tender... and fresh. Why fresh? They only take out a small bowl of minced pork every now and then to prevent over-exposure of the raw meat, I was told by the auntie.
There are other noodles too, for example their Teochew Dumplings Noodles, which is a little different from the usual Wanton Noodles you eat.
Is this the best BCM we can find around, let me be honest and say - NO! This is definitely not the best stall. Afterall, they have a morning cook and a night cook, sometimes their standards differ. I still prefer the good old traditional BCM which is dry. I find it a little soggy currently and next time I might ask for a little lesser sauce in my noodles.
My verdict? It's a tough call between Good and Average. Sorta dangling in between both.
No doubt it's not the best BCM around, I must admit that it is one of the better quick fix when one goes hungry in the wee hours. If you happen to go hungry around Woodlands, you know where to go and what to eat. This stall is definitely better than the other located at the infamous Woodlands 888. Zai Lai has a branch in Ang Mo Kio too, but I ain't sure where exactly.
Hint: I just took a 10mins walk at 3.30am to get myself BCM, and I have no qualms about it. It's worth the walk. I'm enjoying it while I post up this review. Yummylicious~
Noticed that small entrance flanked by the winding stairs and faced with a beautiful fountain? What goes on inside is not small, I assure you. I am not a regular at that place, but yet BarCelona is always the top choice automatically whenever friends and associates ask for suggestions.
Besides good companionship, what do I look for in a wine bar? BarCelona answers that part of my demands perfectly. All of these demands lies in the ambience, music, service, food, comfort and more. Is it really possible for BarCelona to provide all of these?
The friendly staffs are very good ambassadors to this bar. Unlike in some dance clubs, they are very attentive. The bar managers take a significant effort to chat up with customers and build a rapport with them. I think that's one of the main reasons why it is not difficult to spot the same few faces of returning customers.
And yes, for once you do not need to scream into the ears of your pal given the loud music elsewhere. So it's not hard to see why I still prefer BarCelona among the many.
Ambience wise, you can really let your hair down and chill out for the night. It's not one of those high society bars, so do away with the formalities. One one side, pool players like myself enjoy a good game while on the other, most would laze back on their chair and relax. Don't worry, no matter where you are the music can be heard loud and clear. I have forgotten to mention too, a few tournament pool players enjoy playing at BarCelona too.
Being al-fresco, how can we forget about the food? I just can't hold myself back from their Baked Mussels and Calamari Rings. The Spicy Topshell and BarCelona Fries (in-house menu) are also big attractions to me. One thing that impresses me the most is the Grilled Mixed Sausages. I ain't a big fan of grilled food because most that I've tried are often too dry and hard for my liking. That's not really the case for their sausages.
Years ago when I first stepped foot into BarCelona, there were plenty of blues music. I still remember Jack who used to play his guitar along with his wicked vocals. That's like 8 or 9 years ago? Nowadays, we see a little rock music action in BarCelona which does not really appeal to me that much. I still prefer that good old blues and jazz in such a lovely setting, without being distracted by the human traffic outside.
Additional tips? They don't charge exorbitant prices.
My verdict? Love it you must. Be it with a bunch of friends, or an evening date... However, I'll stick to 4 stars due to the music factor.
The muffins from Chocolat N' Spice are fabulous. My dad can gobble up 4 at one time and he only love the CHEESE one.
Creamy lumps of cheese embedded in soft moist muffin with a crispy crust is simply too irrisistable. The other flavours like double chocolate, chocolate chip, banana, blue berry, orange peel, raspberry and pumpkin are nice too.
I personally also like the banana and pumpkin flavour. They do not use essence rather the actualy fruit to make the muffins and that made it exceptionally delicious.
The queue is always very long and sometimes we got to wait any extra 15 to 20 mins to get the muffins we want. But one thing i don't like is that you need to buy 6 to get a box. What if you only want to buy 4 as a gift to a friend. It only looks right if its in a box and the shop keepers insist you must buy 6 to get a box. I mean that unfair. Ain't that a little unfriendly to the customers...
Though the muffins are yummy, but the service is only so so.....
If you like pastries especially cheesy, creamy and rich kind, you must come to IKADA.
Humble looking bakery with exceptionally wonderful tasting pastries. I'm especially attracted to the blueberry cheese tart. FULL, RICH, CREAMY cheese fillings are the best I can never find anywhere else. The pastry is so crunchy yet crumbles apart when you bite into it softly. Buttery and oven baked till perfection for your enjoyment.
They have blueberry and chocolate versions of these tarts. Both taste sooo good, you can never be satisfied with one. Simply melts in your mouth.
The other products like breads and pies are very nice too. Fresh and just the right taste, neither too sweet nor too salty. The sweet potato bread is also very unique and tasty. Its just plain bread with fresh sweet potato creamy. You can still see the fibers but you can't taste the stringiness of the fibers. Its smooth and natural sweet. Very appetizing.
They also have eastern delights like piahs and moon cakes and other traditional pastries.
Sakuraya Fish Mart located at the basement in the "new" section at the far end near Coffee Bean. It's a small shop selling authentic Japanese products and fresh food. There is a small seating area for about 15 people at the back of the shop.
Here you can find the usual sashimi fare and some premium sushi. My companion and I had fresh salmon picked and then the staff sliced it for us. We also ordered California Maki and Handroll, some miso soup and Ocha. The miso soup was not too diluted and tasted just right. The Maki and Handroll was acceptable. The salmon was very fresh and just the way we liked it.
There were also native Japanese dining there, and I always believe that if you find native Japanese at a particular Jap Joint then the place must be fantastic. And it was good. Although not as good as some of the joints you find at Taka but it's also not as expensive. The two of us paid $30 for our food which was reasonable for its quality. Recommended.
Andersen's of Denmark has been in the basement of Parkway for as long as I can remember. It used to just be a counter where you had to buy and have your ice cream on the go. But it recently revamped (along with the rest of Parkway) and now has some sitting area which is both interesting (for people watching) and annoying (when people peep over your shoulder to see your food).
Last week, I visited the place with friends on a quiet weekday afternoon. Parkway was still bustling with activity so there were people sneaking glances at our food. It's alright if you aren't the conscious type but if you are I would suggest to order takeaway.
Anyway we had the couple fondue. There were 3 of us and we couldn't finish it after a meal at Sakae... it was our dessert and one which was nice. The chocolate tasted good. There were 5 small scoops of icecream but there wasn't many flavours to choose from. There was a variety of fruits, wafer, marshmallows, etc.
It was cheap at $17, compared to some places that charge $25-$40 for the same serving.
If you haven't heard of the King of Pig Organ Soup, you have lose out a great deal.
The name Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup King - 正文志记猪杂汤大王 - fits this stall perfectly. Didn't our Taiwanese friends always say the good food are often hidden in the small lanes? True enough, that is very much the case for this stall.
Cheng Mun Chee Kee (CMCK) is situated in a humble coffeeshop along Foch Road. If you have problems locating this coffeeshop despite the big signboard along the roadside, just remember it is directly opposite Lavendar Hawker Centre & Hotel 81 - Elegance.
One of the most important aspects of Pig Organ Soup is the freshness of the organs. CMCK seems to score well in that, for all the times I ate there I smell nothing bad. I tried to spy on the cooking on how they manage to keep their innards and pork so tender, but I can't seem to spot anything. Perhaps, I am just not cut out to be a chef.
The chilli that comes along also plays a big role. I have tried stalls which gave me normal sliced chilli with light soya sauce, chilli padi, pepper powder... but nothing comes close to theirs. Sliced chilli with DARK SOYA SAUCE! That's what I call the authentic chilli for Pig Organ Soup.
Not enough soup? Craving for more? CMCK is more than happy to refill your soup FOC. Being a soup person, that is double thumbs up! If you want a refill, just bring your bowl to the side of the stall and your bowl will be topped up with soup in a jiffy. The uncle even told me with a smiley face, "not enough soup come back for more..." As I see it, he takes alot of pride not only in how the organs are cooked, and also the quality of the soup base. Can you imagine that feeling I get for each tablespoon of soup that goes down my throat? Only one expression is appropriate... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... SHIOK!
1=SGD 0.0587
Manhattan Fish Market at PS
Ambience - cosy with warm lighting, suitable for couples/ families and large groups.
Staff - Warm, friendly, alert and have initiative
Food - Lip-smackingly delicious (list of food ordered below)
Time taken to serve - Super speed
Prices - reasonable
******************************
My companion and I had an hour planned to have dinner at Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) yesterday. Thinking that 1 hour was sufficient, we strolled to MFM only to be confronted by a queue (on a weekday?!!) Sigh... we panicked for a bit as we had a movie in an hour. But the staff assured us that there was enough time so we lined up. We were pleasantly surprised when they handed everyone in the queue a menu so that the process of ordering will be sped up.
Amazingly we were seated in 10 minutes and had our orders taken immediately.
Our Order
2 Soups of the day - Cream of Mushroom
Garlic Bread
Fried Country Mushrooms
Garlic Lemon Mussels
Manhattan Fish & Chips
Mango Juice
Seeing a full restaurant we were afraid that our food would take some time... but the soup arrived before we could whip out our camera! The soup was fine. Not diluted like some places I know. Just nice for a cream soup but it does not have additional ingredients. The garlic bread which was served just minutes after the soup was great. It was done with real garlic not just the butter kind you find at NTUC. Very tasty indeed.
The Mushrooms and Mussels came next, just 3 minutes after the bread. The Mussels came in a creamy sauce and was served with more bread for us to dip in the sauce. The mussels were fresh and the sauce was just right. Not overly creamy. The highlight was the mushrooms. At first glance, they weren't very much to look at... fried little things... but when you bite down... the mushrooms were SO JUICY! It was amazing! I love mushrooms and would definitely order them if they were available everywhere i go and this is by far the most delicious mushroom dish I've ever tasted. A Must-Order!
Then came our Fish and Chips... One look and I knew it would be good. The light batter melted in my mouth thus wasn't too thick. The fish was a light pink with great texture and no fishy smell. The fries were well seasoned, not just with salt but some other spice which I couldn't make out. And they were the thick sort which I love and were not covered in oil. A great deal at $9.90 really.
Throughout the meal, our iced water was constantly topped up and when we finally managed to whip out our camera, one of the servers magically appeared to offer to take the picture for us. They had smiles on their faces throughout despite being so busy. It was a fantastic experience.
We paid $52 for the two of us (we ordered a lot le), got out of the restaurant in 35 minutes (in good time for our movie).
** My companion was full of praises for this place and mind you he would normally reject 9 out of 10 new places we try. :) Don't I deserve something for such a fantastic review written? hehe
Rating given:
If you like Jazz, Jazz at southbridge is the place to go.
It is just situated above coffee bean near the underpass crossing. You could see a small door and a stairway, walk up and you will reach a beautiful and cosy hall. It really gives you a colonial ambience and the spacious environment with comtemporary interiors designs is hip yet with a tinge of history.
If you are there earlier in the evening, you might want to sit and chill with a pint of ice cold beer while enjoying the top down view watching padestrians straddle along the side walk near the river.
But if you can wait till the band starts, thats where the action really is. The band is usually made up by well known experienced musicians playing as sessionist. The house band is also made up by a group of very experienced and talented musicians. It is really good quality music while you could see the mischievous look on the musician's faces, they are only leisurely JAMMING...
Very good music i should say and wonderful ambience. Be it with clients, friends or loved ones, it is really a very good place to chill out and catch up with them. Tehe beverages are not too pricey and there is no cover charge. The snacks are very good, fresh and crunchy. You might wanna ask for more MARUKU......
Definitely a NONO for big noisy groups.....
Music so good.... It is definitely a MUST RECOMMEND.......
Rating given:
If you like perfume and everything else, you should come to SASA. A mini version of the beauty hall of tangs and robinsons. The carry the most glorious brands like SKII, Elizebeth Arden to HDB tai tai's brand.
The beauty of SASA is that they offer branded beauty products at value for money prices. I always love to shop at SASA, especially during the storewide sales. I realise the prices are much lower then what i can get at the duty free shop in the airport. You can buy not one but various brands of 100ml fragrances at $50.
You will be pampered for choices when you are there...
Various skin care products for your review and trial. The friendly staff can share with you their professional views and introduce you some really good products if you do not know what you are looking for. These friendly staffs are equipped with some good knowledge on skin care products and i find them of good consultation and not pushy for you to buy their products. Unlike some departmental stalls, some counter assitant are very pushy with their product range.
You can also find some really cheap and nice nail polish at SASA. Though the colour scale is not that large, but its good enough for the normal working day.
There are also some new products that you can only find in SASA. For example some Korean Beauty Care Brands, and I came across this very interesting the last time i was there. It was called soap sheets....
It looked like a oil blotting paper plastic dispenser but the paper inside are soap sheets. Really good for travellers and children. Matter of fact that oral ingestion is one of the avenue that invited most diseases, why not wash our hands with handy soap.
For good variety and prices... It is tough not to recommend....
Rating given:
Who says one can't find good food in coffeeshops?
I hate living in Woodlands because it is so far from everywhere but luckily, there are some form of compensation (or comfort they called it) when it comes to food.
Zai Lai (再来) Minced Pork Noodles can be found in S11 Coffeeshop situated at Blk 304 Woodlands Ave 1. It is one of the few stalls around Woodlands that dishes out minced pork noodles 24hrs a day. It has provided me an extra option apart from the prata 5mins away from me. It is also not hard to see why shift workers from Senoko, Marsiling and Kranji industrial estate often flock to this stall for their supper.
(Let's just call minced pork noodles as bah chor mee - BCM)
Their noodles have evolved over the years. Nowadays, the BCM are darker than what I used to get. The reason for this is due to more dark sauce being used instead of the normal soya sauce. It is also a little soupy than it used to be, but not to the extend like the mutant you find at Bedok 85. (I hate that soupy BCM to the core.) Much to the delight of a meat lover like me, they give alot more minced pork too!
One reason why I absolutely love their BCM, they cook their pork only upon ordering. I have tried BCM, and I realised quite a handful of stalls pre-cooked their pork. The problem is, pre-cooked pork tend to harden up and that doesn't taste good. This is something I don't get here, where the pork are nicely soaked in the boiling water. Tender... and fresh. Why fresh? They only take out a small bowl of minced pork every now and then to prevent over-exposure of the raw meat, I was told by the auntie.
There are other noodles too, for example their Teochew Dumplings Noodles, which is a little different from the usual Wanton Noodles you eat.
Is this the best BCM we can find around, let me be honest and say - NO! This is definitely not the best stall. Afterall, they have a morning cook and a night cook, sometimes their standards differ. I still prefer the good old traditional BCM which is dry. I find it a little soggy currently and next time I might ask for a little lesser sauce in my noodles.
My verdict? It's a tough call between Good and Average. Sorta dangling in between both.
No doubt it's not the best BCM around, I must admit that it is one of the better quick fix when one goes hungry in the wee hours. If you happen to go hungry around Woodlands, you know where to go and what to eat. This stall is definitely better than the other located at the infamous Woodlands 888. Zai Lai has a branch in Ang Mo Kio too, but I ain't sure where exactly.
Hint: I just took a 10mins walk at 3.30am to get myself BCM, and I have no qualms about it. It's worth the walk. I'm enjoying it while I post up this review. Yummylicious~
Rating given:
Noticed that small entrance flanked by the winding stairs and faced with a beautiful fountain? What goes on inside is not small, I assure you. I am not a regular at that place, but yet BarCelona is always the top choice automatically whenever friends and associates ask for suggestions.
Besides good companionship, what do I look for in a wine bar? BarCelona answers that part of my demands perfectly. All of these demands lies in the ambience, music, service, food, comfort and more. Is it really possible for BarCelona to provide all of these?
The friendly staffs are very good ambassadors to this bar. Unlike in some dance clubs, they are very attentive. The bar managers take a significant effort to chat up with customers and build a rapport with them. I think that's one of the main reasons why it is not difficult to spot the same few faces of returning customers.
And yes, for once you do not need to scream into the ears of your pal given the loud music elsewhere. So it's not hard to see why I still prefer BarCelona among the many.
Ambience wise, you can really let your hair down and chill out for the night. It's not one of those high society bars, so do away with the formalities. One one side, pool players like myself enjoy a good game while on the other, most would laze back on their chair and relax. Don't worry, no matter where you are the music can be heard loud and clear. I have forgotten to mention too, a few tournament pool players enjoy playing at BarCelona too.
Being al-fresco, how can we forget about the food? I just can't hold myself back from their Baked Mussels and Calamari Rings. The Spicy Topshell and BarCelona Fries (in-house menu) are also big attractions to me. One thing that impresses me the most is the Grilled Mixed Sausages. I ain't a big fan of grilled food because most that I've tried are often too dry and hard for my liking. That's not really the case for their sausages.
Years ago when I first stepped foot into BarCelona, there were plenty of blues music. I still remember Jack who used to play his guitar along with his wicked vocals. That's like 8 or 9 years ago? Nowadays, we see a little rock music action in BarCelona which does not really appeal to me that much. I still prefer that good old blues and jazz in such a lovely setting, without being distracted by the human traffic outside.
Additional tips? They don't charge exorbitant prices.
My verdict? Love it you must. Be it with a bunch of friends, or an evening date... However, I'll stick to 4 stars due to the music factor.
Rating given:
The muffins from Chocolat N' Spice are fabulous. My dad can gobble up 4 at one time and he only love the CHEESE one.
Creamy lumps of cheese embedded in soft moist muffin with a crispy crust is simply too irrisistable. The other flavours like double chocolate, chocolate chip, banana, blue berry, orange peel, raspberry and pumpkin are nice too.
I personally also like the banana and pumpkin flavour. They do not use essence rather the actualy fruit to make the muffins and that made it exceptionally delicious.
The queue is always very long and sometimes we got to wait any extra 15 to 20 mins to get the muffins we want. But one thing i don't like is that you need to buy 6 to get a box. What if you only want to buy 4 as a gift to a friend. It only looks right if its in a box and the shop keepers insist you must buy 6 to get a box. I mean that unfair. Ain't that a little unfriendly to the customers...
Though the muffins are yummy, but the service is only so so.....
Rating given:
If you like pastries especially cheesy, creamy and rich kind, you must come to IKADA.
Humble looking bakery with exceptionally wonderful tasting pastries. I'm especially attracted to the blueberry cheese tart. FULL, RICH, CREAMY cheese fillings are the best I can never find anywhere else. The pastry is so crunchy yet crumbles apart when you bite into it softly. Buttery and oven baked till perfection for your enjoyment.
They have blueberry and chocolate versions of these tarts. Both taste sooo good, you can never be satisfied with one. Simply melts in your mouth.
The other products like breads and pies are very nice too. Fresh and just the right taste, neither too sweet nor too salty. The sweet potato bread is also very unique and tasty. Its just plain bread with fresh sweet potato creamy. You can still see the fibers but you can't taste the stringiness of the fibers. Its smooth and natural sweet. Very appetizing.
They also have eastern delights like piahs and moon cakes and other traditional pastries.
Good Variety and value for money...
Plus very very SHIOK CHEESY TARTs.....
SUPERB!!!!!
Rating given:
Sakuraya Fish Mart located at the basement in the "new" section at the far end near Coffee Bean. It's a small shop selling authentic Japanese products and fresh food. There is a small seating area for about 15 people at the back of the shop.
Here you can find the usual sashimi fare and some premium sushi. My companion and I had fresh salmon picked and then the staff sliced it for us. We also ordered California Maki and Handroll, some miso soup and Ocha. The miso soup was not too diluted and tasted just right. The Maki and Handroll was acceptable. The salmon was very fresh and just the way we liked it.
There were also native Japanese dining there, and I always believe that if you find native Japanese at a particular Jap Joint then the place must be fantastic. And it was good. Although not as good as some of the joints you find at Taka but it's also not as expensive. The two of us paid $30 for our food which was reasonable for its quality. Recommended.
Rating given:
Andersen's of Denmark has been in the basement of Parkway for as long as I can remember. It used to just be a counter where you had to buy and have your ice cream on the go. But it recently revamped (along with the rest of Parkway) and now has some sitting area which is both interesting (for people watching) and annoying (when people peep over your shoulder to see your food).
Last week, I visited the place with friends on a quiet weekday afternoon. Parkway was still bustling with activity so there were people sneaking glances at our food. It's alright if you aren't the conscious type but if you are I would suggest to order takeaway.
Anyway we had the couple fondue. There were 3 of us and we couldn't finish it after a meal at Sakae... it was our dessert and one which was nice. The chocolate tasted good. There were 5 small scoops of icecream but there wasn't many flavours to choose from. There was a variety of fruits, wafer, marshmallows, etc.
It was cheap at $17, compared to some places that charge $25-$40 for the same serving.
Rating given:
If you haven't heard of the King of Pig Organ Soup, you have lose out a great deal.
The name Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup King - 正文志记猪杂汤大王 - fits this stall perfectly. Didn't our Taiwanese friends always say the good food are often hidden in the small lanes? True enough, that is very much the case for this stall.
Cheng Mun Chee Kee (CMCK) is situated in a humble coffeeshop along Foch Road. If you have problems locating this coffeeshop despite the big signboard along the roadside, just remember it is directly opposite Lavendar Hawker Centre & Hotel 81 - Elegance.
One of the most important aspects of Pig Organ Soup is the freshness of the organs. CMCK seems to score well in that, for all the times I ate there I smell nothing bad. I tried to spy on the cooking on how they manage to keep their innards and pork so tender, but I can't seem to spot anything. Perhaps, I am just not cut out to be a chef.
The chilli that comes along also plays a big role. I have tried stalls which gave me normal sliced chilli with light soya sauce, chilli padi, pepper powder... but nothing comes close to theirs. Sliced chilli with DARK SOYA SAUCE! That's what I call the authentic chilli for Pig Organ Soup.
Not enough soup? Craving for more? CMCK is more than happy to refill your soup FOC. Being a soup person, that is double thumbs up! If you want a refill, just bring your bowl to the side of the stall and your bowl will be topped up with soup in a jiffy. The uncle even told me with a smiley face, "not enough soup come back for more..." As I see it, he takes alot of pride not only in how the organs are cooked, and also the quality of the soup base. Can you imagine that feeling I get for each tablespoon of soup that goes down my throat? Only one expression is appropriate... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... SHIOK!
Sure or not? Really that good? If a top chef in a 5-star hotel gives his full thumbs up for this humble little stall, what do you think?
My verdict? Miss it, and you'll regret for the rest of your life!
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