Stepping into the restaurant, my colleagues and I were greeted by the friendly wait staff. We were very impressed with the interior decor and its laid back ambience. A definite far cry from the hustle and bustle outside of the restaurant.
We could see the chef at work through a glass window, tending to his creations with care as they sizzled over the charcoal grill.
The well-trained wait staff easily impressed us with their attentiveness and quick response to every minor detail. Glasses and cups were always refilled with corresponding beverages even without prompting.
We ordered the set meals as it looked like it was value for money. I settled for the restaurant's signature set meal which was supposed to have all their recommended stuff, mainly consisting of charcoal-grilled skewers or kushiyaki.
I was pretty impressed by the taste of each of the items in my set meal. The difference in taste and texture is so well-defined in very bite, it is almost mind-blowing. I could literally taste every facet of the skewer. First, the marinade covering the food spreads through the palate. Then, the bite and texture of the ingredients, the tenderness of the meat, the crunchiness of the prawn, the crispiness of the asparagus and the juices and oil in between the flesh and skin of the grilled fish. Finally, the unique taste that can only be created by a charcoal fire.
A meal for 2 here would probably set you back by $70 to $80. I can't say it affordable by my standards, but it is definitely worth the whole experience of dining.
Here at Geylang Prawn Noodle, they like to do it this way:
The soup has a robust body without being overpowering, full of flavour without the need for any MSG.
The ingredients are cooked just right. Prawns cooked to the right texture and bite, the pork to be ribs soft, tender and easily slips off the bone and the pig's tail cooked long enough to be soft and chewy.
The noodles come soaked in the soup variety or laid on a pool of potent blend of their signature chilli, ready to be mixed. I particularly like the texture of the vermicelli (bee hoon) they use as it comes in a unique thickness.
On top of all that, the bowl of prawn noodle must come with some chilli powder ready to be sprinkled on according to the fancy of the consumer. Fresh cut chilli option is also available.
A novelty they have at the tables is a stack of origami boxes made with magazine pages for collecting the prawn shells and bones. It's a great idea as it makes it easier for clearing up.
The place also serves ngoh hiang. However, I would not recommend it as the items tend to come soaked in oil.
The crowd is manageable during lunchtime on weekdays, but I am not certain if it is the same on weekends.
I received this eDM (electronic Direct Mailer) in my mailbox. From the design, I thought it was an atas club with nice stylo-mylo oriental music, possibly nostalgic and even some Shanghai Jazz too, interior decor that would make Shanghai Tang really proud and service that would come from a team of waitresses dressed in ankle length cheongsam.
So when Lunar opened, I got the girlfriend along with her friends to check the place out. Like all club openings, the place was packed and music booming.
Once we entered, the attention was on the large screen which was screening Rain's concert, with fans screaming in the background. There was hardly any room and on the first level, we decided to move up to the second floor. I was quite impressed by the lift and the waitress team that played lift attendants. Judging from their looks and grasp of English language, they were all our foreign talent directly from China. Good and Bad. Good because it sort of upped the kinky fantasies quotient. Bad because, well, you know how the locals think about foreign talent... Since we are on the topic of the waitresses, their uniform was functional, especially the striking bob wig, which makes for easy identification in the dimmed environment. The whole package with the short cheongsam dress, stockings and boots however reignites the debate of whether Singapore's very own Annabelle Chong should be considered trailer trash or local pop culture icon. There was hardly any standing room and it was rather difficult snaking through the crowd. When we managed to find an available spot to rest at, the live music started. The first reaction by the ladies was, "Bad singing of even worse songs." A quick inspection and we realized it was a live band on stage. The female vocalists only scored in the looks department, singing wasn't great and failed to carry the feeling of the songs. Their attempts on interpretation failed spectacularly. Male vocalists weren't any better and looked liked the sharpei (Peking bulldog). Just when I thought the music could get any worse, the band got off stage and house music resumed... Guess what? They spun Afro-American Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B. Tak match to the extreme can!
Even though a waitress had previously taken our order, the drinks never came. Due to the crowds and the demand for the free drinks, we only managed to get one drink each after lots of pushing and shoving. I was pleasantly surprised by a quiet but friendly bartender who diligent served up requests of drinks.
We took our time to finish our drinks. One of the ladies wanted to hit the dance floor but was promptly discouraged by its emptiness. We decided to take our leave but also have a good look at the interior decor which was really nicely done up.
Some rather nice paintings too. There were also some racier ones on the ceiling, but I missed out taking photos of them. Guys, don't hate me for depriving you of those artistic paintings.
The ladies particularly liked this throne and spontaneously hammed it up there...
And the same pictures with some styling...
And just as we thought the first band couldn't get any worse, another ensemble took the the stage...
We waited for their first piece only to be disappointed and appalled yet again by the quality of sound made. It likened to the ad-hoc performances in Chinatown which employed Mainland Chinese ladies prancing around on stage looking as if they played the Chinese instrument.
So Lunar seemed to know nuts about Oriental music. Perhaps they should consult the Esplanade's producer for Huayi Festival for its musical direction. Seriously, the concerts there are much more happening.
Pharquesaid: nah, don't be too harsh on the servers there, I bet it was because the opening night had an extreme flood of orders that bartenders didn't prepare. Hencewhy. 05 Jan 2008 at 5:46 am
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And I'm not talking about chains like Mrs Fields and Famous Amos, those are just too sweet for my liking. Neither are they able to tweak their recipes to reduce the tons of sugar they put in.
So it is a great to find an independent shop like Wooden Spoon which makes uniquely great muffins that are moist, dense but fluffy and full of flavor. Plus, it tastes of less sugar and more of the ingredients. The sweetness comes mainly from natural ingredients like raisins and bananas, just the way the health conscious would like them. No more having to deal with muffins loaded with tons of sugar! Another feature I like is the absence of the paper cups, so no more peeling off those cups and you can just eat everything.
Particularly, their banana walnut muffins, when broken open, reveals the generous amount of banana mashed into the little package, like banana walnut bread.
Also try the scones. Bite onto the crunchy exterior to reveal the buttery and soft insides with a zap of natural sugar from the raisins baked into it. Goes perfectly with your favorite warm, caffeine-laced drinks.
Besides their muffins and scones, Wooden Spoon also makes a variety of cookies, brownies, cakes and so on. However, note that everything here is produced in limited numbers and they will close shop once everything is sold out. It was already closed when I came by just past 6pm on a weekday. So if you are interested, do come by earlier for a true homemade fix.
I didn't pay for the food here. My friend who got engaged did. But since it's under Tung Lok Group, it's got to burn a hole in the pocket.
Anyway, it is quite refreshing here. It's sort of a Chinese fusion fine dining experience at this restaurant. Everyone at thee tables were fascinated by the way they served the salad. The ingredients came in large cylindrical flasks. Then the dressing is poured into the flasks and shaken by the waitresses. Once well-mixed, the contents are poured into a large bowl and served to everyone. Call me "swakoo" if you want, but I was fascinated by the combination of strawberries, mushrooms and greens.
They served many other ice-breaker dishes as well. Like the spinach soup which was so green you would swear that you would turn into either Popeye or The Incredible Hulk. (Un)fortunately, it tasted more refreshing than radioactive.
The restaurant hardly serves gluten here, but that could be due to my friend's choice of dishes. But that's a good thing nonetheless. Mushrooms, nuts, fruits, spinach and other exotic aquatic and marine plants are the main ingredients here.
I give this place highest ratings for the refreshing menu and superior service, though that's because we were in a VIP dining area.
1=SGD 0.0587
Stepping into the restaurant, my colleagues and I were greeted by the friendly wait staff. We were very impressed with the interior decor and its laid back ambience. A definite far cry from the hustle and bustle outside of the restaurant.
We could see the chef at work through a glass window, tending to his creations with care as they sizzled over the charcoal grill.
The well-trained wait staff easily impressed us with their attentiveness and quick response to every minor detail. Glasses and cups were always refilled with corresponding beverages even without prompting.
We ordered the set meals as it looked like it was value for money. I settled for the restaurant's signature set meal which was supposed to have all their recommended stuff, mainly consisting of charcoal-grilled skewers or kushiyaki.
I was pretty impressed by the taste of each of the items in my set meal. The difference in taste and texture is so well-defined in very bite, it is almost mind-blowing. I could literally taste every facet of the skewer.
First, the marinade covering the food spreads through the palate.
Then, the bite and texture of the ingredients, the tenderness of the meat, the crunchiness of the prawn, the crispiness of the asparagus and the juices and oil in between the flesh and skin of the grilled fish.
Finally, the unique taste that can only be created by a charcoal fire.
A meal for 2 here would probably set you back by $70 to $80. I can't say it affordable by my standards, but it is definitely worth the whole experience of dining.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!Hmm that price for 2 is still ok ba :) esp since there's quality. :)
05 Jan 2008 at 1:13 pm
Anyone wants go try this place out?
05 Jan 2008 at 1:32 pm
Here at Geylang Prawn Noodle, they like to do it this way:
The soup has a robust body without being overpowering, full of flavour without the need for any MSG.
The ingredients are cooked just right. Prawns cooked to the right texture and bite, the pork to be ribs soft, tender and easily slips off the bone and the pig's tail cooked long enough to be soft and chewy.
The noodles come soaked in the soup variety or laid on a pool of potent blend of their signature chilli, ready to be mixed. I particularly like the texture of the vermicelli (bee hoon) they use as it comes in a unique thickness.
On top of all that, the bowl of prawn noodle must come with some chilli powder ready to be sprinkled on according to the fancy of the consumer. Fresh cut chilli option is also available.
A novelty they have at the tables is a stack of origami boxes made with magazine pages for collecting the prawn shells and bones. It's a great idea as it makes it easier for clearing up.
The place also serves ngoh hiang. However, I would not recommend it as the items tend to come soaked in oil.
The crowd is manageable during lunchtime on weekdays, but I am not certain if it is the same on weekends.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!Whoa... Sounds very good. a little like the Beach Road one last time. Thanks for the recommendation!
05 Jan 2008 at 12:34 pm
For more photos taken at Lunar, click here.
I received this eDM (electronic Direct Mailer) in my mailbox. From the design, I thought it was an atas club with nice stylo-mylo oriental music, possibly nostalgic and even some Shanghai Jazz too, interior decor that would make Shanghai Tang really proud and service that would come from a team of waitresses dressed in ankle length cheongsam.
So when Lunar opened, I got the girlfriend along with her friends to check the place out. Like all club openings, the place was packed and music booming.
Once we entered, the attention was on the large screen which was screening Rain's concert, with fans screaming in the background. There was hardly any room and on the first level, we decided to move up to the second floor. I was quite impressed by the lift and the waitress team that played lift attendants. Judging from their looks and grasp of English language, they were all our foreign talent directly from China. Good and Bad. Good because it sort of upped the kinky fantasies quotient. Bad because, well, you know how the locals think about foreign talent...
Since we are on the topic of the waitresses, their uniform was functional, especially the striking bob wig, which makes for easy identification in the dimmed environment. The whole package with the short cheongsam dress, stockings and boots however reignites the debate of whether Singapore's very own Annabelle Chong should be considered trailer trash or local pop culture icon.
There was hardly any standing room and it was rather difficult snaking through the crowd. When we managed to find an available spot to rest at, the live music started. The first reaction by the ladies was, "Bad singing of even worse songs."
A quick inspection and we realized it was a live band on stage. The female vocalists only scored in the looks department, singing wasn't great and failed to carry the feeling of the songs. Their attempts on interpretation failed spectacularly. Male vocalists weren't any better and looked liked the sharpei (Peking bulldog).
Just when I thought the music could get any worse, the band got off stage and house music resumed...
Guess what? They spun Afro-American Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B. Tak match to the extreme can!
Even though a waitress had previously taken our order, the drinks never came. Due to the crowds and the demand for the free drinks, we only managed to get one drink each after lots of pushing and shoving. I was pleasantly surprised by a quiet but friendly bartender who diligent served up requests of drinks.
We took our time to finish our drinks. One of the ladies wanted to hit the dance floor but was promptly discouraged by its emptiness. We decided to take our leave but also have a good look at the interior decor which was really nicely done up.
Some rather nice paintings too. There were also some racier ones on the ceiling, but I missed out taking photos of them. Guys, don't hate me for depriving you of those artistic paintings.
The ladies particularly liked this throne and spontaneously hammed it up there...
And the same pictures with some styling...
And just as we thought the first band couldn't get any worse, another ensemble took the the stage...
We waited for their first piece only to be disappointed and appalled yet again by the quality of sound made. It likened to the ad-hoc performances in Chinatown which employed Mainland Chinese ladies prancing around on stage looking as if they played the Chinese instrument.
So Lunar seemed to know nuts about Oriental music. Perhaps they should consult the Esplanade's producer for Huayi Festival for its musical direction. Seriously, the concerts there are much more happening.
My Parting Note on Lunar
Lunar to me is pretty much like Café Del Mar (Sentosa) where the music failed to fit its image. The management probably didn't think the crowds would appreciate anything that is non-mainstream. Great effort in the decor, but it fails spectacularly by missing the complete experience by miles.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!nah, don't be too harsh on the servers there, I bet it was because the opening night had an extreme flood of orders that bartenders didn't prepare. Hencewhy.
05 Jan 2008 at 5:46 am
How about homemade muffins and scones?
And I'm not talking about chains like Mrs Fields and Famous Amos, those are just too sweet for my liking. Neither are they able to tweak their recipes to reduce the tons of sugar they put in.
So it is a great to find an independent shop like Wooden Spoon which makes uniquely great muffins that are moist, dense but fluffy and full of flavor. Plus, it tastes of less sugar and more of the ingredients. The sweetness comes mainly from natural ingredients like raisins and bananas, just the way the health conscious would like them. No more having to deal with muffins loaded with tons of sugar! Another feature I like is the absence of the paper cups, so no more peeling off those cups and you can just eat everything.
Particularly, their banana walnut muffins, when broken open, reveals the generous amount of banana mashed into the little package, like banana walnut bread.
Also try the scones. Bite onto the crunchy exterior to reveal the buttery and soft insides with a zap of natural sugar from the raisins baked into it. Goes perfectly with your favorite warm, caffeine-laced drinks.
Besides their muffins and scones, Wooden Spoon also makes a variety of cookies, brownies, cakes and so on. However, note that everything here is produced in limited numbers and they will close shop once everything is sold out. It was already closed when I came by just past 6pm on a weekday. So if you are interested, do come by earlier for a true homemade fix.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!The muffins looks so fluffy and delicious! Almost bite my screen off just looking at it!!
20 Sep 2007 at 2:18 pm
Hmm... Looks good! Shoudl give it a try soon!
05 Oct 2007 at 2:32 pm
I didn't pay for the food here. My friend who got engaged did. But since it's under Tung Lok Group, it's got to burn a hole in the pocket.
Anyway, it is quite refreshing here. It's sort of a Chinese fusion fine dining experience at this restaurant. Everyone at thee tables were fascinated by the way they served the salad. The ingredients came in large cylindrical flasks. Then the dressing is poured into the flasks and shaken by the waitresses. Once well-mixed, the contents are poured into a large bowl and served to everyone. Call me "swakoo" if you want, but I was fascinated by the combination of strawberries, mushrooms and greens.
They served many other ice-breaker dishes as well. Like the spinach soup which was so green you would swear that you would turn into either Popeye or The Incredible Hulk. (Un)fortunately, it tasted more refreshing than radioactive.
The restaurant hardly serves gluten here, but that could be due to my friend's choice of dishes. But that's a good thing nonetheless. Mushrooms, nuts, fruits, spinach and other exotic aquatic and marine plants are the main ingredients here.
I give this place highest ratings for the refreshing menu and superior service, though that's because we were in a VIP dining area.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!They got dinner buffet as well during weekdays. A large variety to choose from. Price reasonable also.
05 Oct 2007 at 2:34 pm