I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered: Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy. Tapioca for Dessert About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be. Lemongrass Drink Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Another dining location to spring up in the heartlands, this time in Bedok. What used to be a provision shop (???) or something to my vague memory, it is now transformed to a cosy restaurant serving reasonably priced food, both western and oriental.
Upon stepping into the restaurant, one can sense that it has been impeccably renovated with a modern touch. It also has a function room on the 2nd level where you can host events of up to 30-40 people, together with catered food.
While dining here, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a HDB estate and that next door is a traditional provision shop. The lighting and the whole ambience is just right.
The menu was simple but presentable, not like some others that reminded you of your school days. Food selection was wide, with a variety of courses to choose from. We settled for the J's classic Combo, Chicken Chimichagas, Sizzling Sirloin, Roast Beef Balsamico and the Hainan Chickenn Chop.
J's Classic Combo ($17.90) - This can easily serve 2 persons, with the combination of beef, lamb and chicken. Presentation was impressive and the food tasted just as good. Portions of the meat were done just right and slicing of the beef was effortless.
Chicken Chimichages ($9.90) - Lovers of crispy stuff will like this dish. Imagine bits of spicy and tender chicken cubes wrapped with a layer of fried golden brown batter. All delectably done up. It is sort of a cross between fish and chips and curry puff, if this description is suitable at all. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable dish to savor again.
Roast Beef Balsamico ($9.90) - Tender and juicy was the first impression. Done and grilled to medium well, the beef feels like it melts in your mouth. Together with the sweet and not so overpowering sauce, it all tasted just right. Recommended dish to try apart from the traditional sirloin steaks.
Hainan Chicken Chop ($8.90) - The juices were well kept within the chicken and as it was sliced up, we could see it dripping out from the chicken. It was perfectly done and not dry like some others. The seasoning was not overpowering and the taste of the chicken was preserved. The chicken was topped with just a fried egg and to me this was appetizing. It shows that you do not need to resort to fanciful means to whet the appetite (perhaps to me). Simple pleasures in life can be enjoyable.
Sizzling Sirloin ($9.90) - As like all the other steaks, this was done medium well and tucking into it was effortless. The meat was juicy and tender and had an aftertaste that lingered in your mouth causing you to want more.
The total bill came up to be about $70 for 6 persons and really makes this an affordable and practical meal. Service is also excellent. Although the restaurant was packed with weekend diners the service staff were attentive to our needs and promptly responded. Interestingly, the bill shows no additional service charges only GST.
The owner of the restaurant Mr Hasni Abdullah was a friendly chap. He explained to us how the restaurant got started and his decision to open one in the heartlands. He also made sure we had our meals served all at once (a basic service etiquette lacking in most restaurants).
Overall a pleasant dining experience and recommended for its food, price and service quality.
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90) It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90) A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry. Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90) It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
I went there once after reading a over rated female magazine review.
I went on the weekday afternoon hence no appointment was needed. I was on a try my luck mood...
Anyway was my virgin wax... According to reviews, they are supposed to be friendly and skillful... However the malay girl who looks superb young it's NOT skillful....
And you expect to relax there with the light music... But can you imagine the girls are talking/screaming to one another in different rooms in malay?
Absolutely no communication with me at all.... Once is enough for me...
Cafe de Amigo relocated to Funan in 2006. Chef Foo Wah Ann is the man behind this very nice place. Having heard about him when he was at the renown La Brasserie (Marco Polo Hotel), we thought a visit to this place was a must. The ambience is pretty cosy. There is a live band singing jazzy tunes throughout the night. The crowd there is consists largely of those working in the area.
Food Ordered:
Deep-fried Cheese - 3pc ($16.50) 3 types of cheese melted together and deep fried, served with fresh basil and tomato sauce. I like the cheese which was firm and not oozing out of its shell. Soft Shell Crab ($13.50) The batter was a little too light and it was too oily for my taste. Small serving just enough for one person.
Escargot A la Bourguignon (6 for $16.50) Served in a garlic and butter sauce, I found nothing spectacular about this dish. If anything, the serving was really small. Lobster Bisque ($9.50) "Bisque of Bisques" was its description in the menu. Thus we had to try this. It was flavourful however it's pretty hard to find lobster nor taste any lobster in this dish.
Not the same Potato ($7.50) It is actually supposed to be creamy potato soup but the taste of potato was weak and overpowered by the cheese that was blended into it.
Salad de Amis ($14.50) A huge serving of salad which you'll be able to see anywhere, served with olive oil vinegar dressing. Which I think wasn't enough as it was dry and a little bland.
Chicken chop ($20.50) Grilled boneless chicken drumstick served in black pepper sauce and fries. Sadly you can get a good taste of this dish at hawker centres at a quarter of its price. Although boneless, the chicken had a fair share of fatty bits and it wasn't as succulent as I had expected. The black pepper sauce wasn't thick enough too.
Ox-Tail ($24.50) One of the inhouse specialties. A generous serving of stewed oxtail served with boiled potato and broccoli. My companion commented that it was very tender and juicy. I did think that it was the one of the best dishes on the table that night Duck Breast ($26.50) Also one of the recommended dishes. Roasted duck slices in red wine sauce, served with boiled spinach. The combination seemed a little odd to me at first. But my companion has full of compliments for it so I guess it was really good.
Normandy Apple Pie ($7.50) One of the recommended desserts. It was served with wild honey and vanilla ice-cream. I loved the crumbly crust which was light and tasty. One would find it hard to be sick of this. The inside was not overly sweet. Frezzie Tiramisu ($7.90) It was a regular ice cream cake. Certainly not worth the money.
The presentation of the food was not good. More like they were all haphazardly put together. The service is alright. I don't think I will be back anytime soon...
Was searching for a decent caterer for the first party Yebber is throwing. And recalled the great spread of food catered at my previous workplace, so I decided to give them a try.
These were served at the Yebber's party... Tossed Garden Greens with Baby Potatoes Butter Tiger Prawn with Oatmeal Hawaiian Chicken Cutlet with Pineapple Thai Style Mango Fish Fresh Broccoli with Assortment Pacific Clams Sausages & Papadem with Cheese & Thai Dip *HOT Sunny Pilaf with Cashew Nuts Petite French Pastries *HOT Festive Punch
I'm posting these up with photos first tonite. Will review it when I'm sober. Time to crash...
Review to be continued...
Let me get down to business with this caterer's review... First the presentation - Its one of the better ones that I've seen. Instead of placing everything on the same level with simple plain white table cloth, Harvest has got boxes below the cloth to make the presentation nicely, placing dishes on different levels. And they created a feel of class with the gold and silver cloth. Their sauces was also served in nice white soup bowl instead of plastic bowls. Food was nicely placed and the presentation is welcoming. Makes you want to grab more food.
The Food - This was a Season special menu at $16/pax. Tossed Garden Greens with Baby Potatoes Just like any other salads. Fresh greens and nicely halved baby potatoes. If they'd provided more sauces, it'll be even better. The one that came with it was Thousand Island. Not so friendly for those ladies watching the diet.
Butter Tiger Prawn with Oatmeal - Photo This was the one that looks the most appetizing. While the man was setting up, everyone was eyeing on the prawns! It looks big and delicious. When we finally get our hands on the prawns, its was good. But it would have been better if it was warm. You can taste the butter and the oatmeal was kinda soggy after being wrapped up in foil. This was one of the better dish that night.
Hawaiian Chicken Cutlet with Pineapple - Photo The looks of this dish makes one want to give it a miss. The pineapple dressings on the chicken has almost blended into the used-to-be-crispy chicken skin. The chicken skin was soggy and the taste of the supposed to be Hawaiian taste wasn't present. Kind of disappointed with this one.
Thai Style Mango Fish After the entire night, than I realised one thing. We should have poured the bowl of salsa sauce lookalike onto the fish before we eat them! I was puzzled when there's this extra bowl of vegetables on the table, but thought it could have been complimentary or something. Hope some of you did know that the sauce was for the fish and had put some over the fish before you eat it. So silly of me!
The fish (w/o the salsa sauce) tasted plain. There was a little fishy smell and again the fish was soggy. But still edible. Guess the caterer should try to find a way to prevent their food to turn soggy during the delivery process. The warmer provided was insufficient to really heat up the food. Perhaps an additional warmer per dish might help better.
Fresh Broccoli with Assortment Pacific Clams - Photo Nicely cooked broccoli with not-so-fresh pacific clams. It might just be my taste bud, but the clams had a strong smell. I love clams but this one I didn't even wanted to have a second helping. Still this dish was well presented. I still enjoyed the broccolis and mushrooms.
Sausages & Papadem with Cheese & Thai Dip *HOT - Photo This must be the hottest item that night. Nacho Papadem with cheese! I can't imagine eating this combi before that night. But now I'm craving for it! The Papadem was fresh and crispy. Dipped into the cheese dip and yummy! Perfecto! Love it! The sausages were normal chicken sausages, as usual, this is the easiest to eat finger food. The thai dip and cheese makes it even better.
Sunny Pilaf with Cashew Nuts As usual, the rice for all catering is always the least favorite. There were plenty left after that night. Not sure if anyone else notice, there were shrimps cooked with the rice. We should have mixed the rice a little before eating, cos I think most of the shrimps were hidden at the bottom of the rice. The obvious ingredients was the cashew nuts and raisins. This one still not bad, rice was a little fragrant and the shrimps used was fresh. Definitely better than most of the fried rice I had at other catered meals.
Petite French Pastries *HOT - Photo Too little of these were served! Pastries were nicely made and it was not too sweet. Chilled at the right temperature that doesn't cos the pastries to become too soft. Didn't get to try the cream puffs as they were gone when I went back wanting to try one. Had couple of the chocolate ones, and it was gone when I wanted more. Will surely order this again the next time.
Overall, I still like and enjoyed the food by Harvest. Will probably order from them again for my future events. Value-for-money.
On a sidenote, you might want to get them to set-up an hour prior to your event. That night, the guy came late and he took quite awhile to set-up on his own. I was quite nervous when guests started coming in when he was still setting up. And the food had to be heated up before consuming. So it's advisable to plan way ahead for them to set-up and allow sufficient time for the food to heat up.
This place is jz outside the gym which I am going so it makes a great place for dinner after that. No need to walk that much also Haa...
Since we are there almost near to their closing time, it is peaceful and quiet. A nice relaxing place to have dinner and chit chat at the same time. Seems like others who jz knocked off or jz looking for a quiet place to have dinner also go there.
There are indoor and outdoor seats (under shelter), as it is near to closing time, they had closed the indoor seats, so we only got outdoor seats. Their seats are like those little jap seats with a cushion on it. The seats are a bit low, feels like a little kid seating in those little chairs. Haa....
Since it was after office hours, so there was not much of a crowd. we ordered:
1. Teriyaki Chicken Ramen: The soup is nice and creamy, with the addition of corn and seaweed does make the whole soup taste even better. The noodles are very chewy and tasty as it managed to absorb the soup. Good.
The teriyaki chicken is serves hot on a seperate plate. It is crispy hot, yet tender and juicy inside. The sauce is sweet and fragant and makes the chicken more tasty than ever. I thought it is supposed to be fried but seems like theirs came in the formed of fried chicken cutlet.
2. Takoyaki: This one also came pipping hot but the disappointment is did not taste the octopus as the mince it instead of leaving a chunk in the middle of the ball. It came with lots of mayo and the fish skin flakes which I like it!
3. Mayo Prawn: Came off the fryer and crispy with mayo and black seasme seeds. The prawn seem a little flat or no meat but it is very juicy inside and crispy on the outer as well.
The good thing thing is all dishes came to us very hot and fresh as well.
The cost of the dinner is only $27 including drinks (one orange juice and one ice green tea with lemon) and the service is good and fast as they dun have much customers anyway.
Surprisingly, that they actually shared the place with a thai resturant next door as well. So they served both jap and thai food. They will give you 2 sets of menus. Good way to make customer confused to order more food. Haa.... Think will try their thai food soon. Haa.....
This is one of the Hong Kong cafes that pops up out of no where and it is always crowded as well. The queue there used to be longer, however I know their off peak hours and Had a few tea breaks there and found the food there quite good.
1. Mini drumlets: Came in a hot plate, with the meat of the drumlet pushed to the front, so that the bone can be used to hold. It is very tasty yet not really oily. The seasoning of the drumlets is done to prefection, not to sweet and not too salty and all the seasoning went into the meat.
2. HK style cheese bakes rice with chick chop: I personally dun really like cheese, but this dish is a bit surprise for me as it is not that cheesey and the rice is all soft and not hard from the baking. The cheese is soft and hot when served, it does not really harden up when I am eating as well. They got a layer of sauce that is on top of the rice which is quite good.
3. French Toast: I used to think this is sinful as it is deep fried, so full of oil! However this is not oily, and it came in a very thick piece, with a layer of peanut butter inside! Very nice! The thickness of the toast did surprised us at first, as this is the 1st time we saw such thick piece. The combination of the peanut butter in the toast is a very good one! Tasty!
4. Fresh Lemon Honey with Aloe Vera: I loved anything with aloe vera and have to say this is refreshing. The aloe vera are cut in big cubes, very crunchy, it is not bitter at all. For the drink itself it is not too sweet.
The service there is ok but my last visit they served a few dishes to our table which we did not order. Hee.... Should have accpeted it.
If not their service are quite ok, once ur hands are slightly rasied, they will have at least 2 people rushing to your table as well. Once seated they will also served the curtlerys in a small little tray.
The seats arrangement can be quite squeezed at times, close enough to hear what the other table is talking about. However they also got seats are are isolated as well. A bit nosiy when the palced is packed and at times have kids running ard as well. Dangerous though, dunno what the parents are thinking anyway.
I think I will only go to this place if I am ard vivocity and in the mood for some hongkong food, would prefer them to expand their menu to include more dim sum though.
Went ot waraku and have dinner a few days ago. Afraid that the queue is very long but it turns out that there is no queue and we were ushered to a table fast. I am surprised as it is dinner time.
I think I am lucky cos less than 5 mins I am seated, the queue is already forming at the table outside. Lucky us. Haa...
It is also a good idea to make reservation however even with that be prepared to wait for a while.
We ordered
1. Mixed Yakitori: It got chicken, chicken meatballs, mushroom, bacon etc. Together with the sauce, it is good. I loved it. Plus it came on a hot plate with a flame below keeping it hot.
2. Tonpei Yaki: This is egg and bacon over a bed of lettuce. It is not oily and light. Makes it good to eat.
3. Age Dashi Tofu: The tofu is done prefectly, cripy outside and soft inside. The sauce is also not too salty. The only thing is do they need to serve 4 pcs of tofu in such a big bowl?
4. Tori Kaminabe: I like to eat these soup base "steamboat. This one does not disappoint me as well. The miso soup base is not salty as expected.
5. Teriyaki Chicken Don: This one is eaten by my fren. Formt he looks of it, must have been good cos he did not leave a single grain of rice in the bowl. Hee...
The service there is quite attentive however it sook sometime for the bill to come, so i walked over to the cashier to settle the bill instead.
The cost of the meal comes up to $58, Consider good and cheap as the portion are quite big as well.
Think if not of the queue, I might go there for my jap food more often!
1=SGD 0.0587
I watched the restaurant renovate with anticipation, excited that there would be a new place in the area for me to try. That day my companion and I wanted to try another place down the road but it was closed so we trot over to Tuk Tuk which is just across from Aston's Specialties, next to Glory Catering. You can't miss the actual Tuk Tuk (yes the vehicle) outside the restaurant.
Once you step into this bright family restaurant, you'll be greeted by equally bright smiles. The place looks modern and can seat about 70 people.
Settling down, I gladly let my friend have the menu as there were a number of words there that I didn't understand, translations from Thai. There were also English descriptions though and the pictures in the menu were quite enticing I must say.
Food Ordered:
Olive Rice with Cashew Nuts
The rice was very fragrant... and it was more than enough for two of us to share. I enjoyed the crunchy texture the nuts added to the dish.
Thai-Style Otah
I was surprised when the otah came. I'm too used to the conventional style where it is flat and long. This one is like a kueh-kueh, a little cube of otah encased in the leaf. It was less spicy than I had expected but it was also more fishy than normal.
Lemon Chicken with Mayonnaise
This was the dish which was quite disappointing really. There was too much mayonnaise covering the chicken bits. Although the serving was quite big, the chicken was too dry which made it a little too chewy.
Sambal Long Bean
A common dish where you could find anywhere. No complaints about this dish though. It was tasty and not overly spicy. The long beans were not overdone and were still crunchy, retaining all its nutrients so it felt really healthy.
Tapioca for Dessert
About 6 pieces of Tapioca were served for $2. They were a little dry(hard) and milk served with it was not as sweet as I expected it to be.
Lemongrass Drink
Only if you have a sweet tooth. And Luckily I do. I loved the sweetness of the drink and it had a nice tea-like smell thanks for the lemongrass.
The service there is very good and everyone was very polite. Although some of the ladies do seem to have problems with English (they are all from thailand), but they were able to cope.
We spent about $40 for the 2 of us. I'm sorry I can't give the actual amount because I have misplaced the receipt. But the food we ordered could feed three people... so I find it pretty good value for money. Definitely worth another visit. :)
Rating given:
Another dining location to spring up in the heartlands, this time in Bedok. What used to be a provision shop (???) or something to my vague memory, it is now transformed to a cosy restaurant serving reasonably priced food, both western and oriental.
Upon stepping into the restaurant, one can sense that it has been impeccably renovated with a modern touch. It also has a function room on the 2nd level where you can host events of up to 30-40 people, together with catered food.
While dining here, you tend to forget that you are in the middle of a HDB estate and that next door is a traditional provision shop. The lighting and the whole ambience is just right.
The menu was simple but presentable, not like some others that reminded you of your school days. Food selection was wide, with a variety of courses to choose from. We settled for the J's classic Combo, Chicken Chimichagas, Sizzling Sirloin, Roast Beef Balsamico and the Hainan Chickenn Chop.
J's Classic Combo ($17.90) - This can easily serve 2 persons, with the combination of beef, lamb and chicken. Presentation was impressive and the food tasted just as good. Portions of the meat were done just right and slicing of the beef was effortless.
Chicken Chimichages ($9.90) - Lovers of crispy stuff will like this dish. Imagine bits of spicy and tender chicken cubes wrapped with a layer of fried golden brown batter. All delectably done up. It is sort of a cross between fish and chips and curry puff, if this description is suitable at all. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable dish to savor again.
Roast Beef Balsamico ($9.90) - Tender and juicy was the first impression. Done and grilled to medium well, the beef feels like it melts in your mouth. Together with the sweet and not so overpowering sauce, it all tasted just right. Recommended dish to try apart from the traditional sirloin steaks.
Hainan Chicken Chop ($8.90) - The juices were well kept within the chicken and as it was sliced up, we could see it dripping out from the chicken. It was perfectly done and not dry like some others. The seasoning was not overpowering and the taste of the chicken was preserved. The chicken was topped with just a fried egg and to me this was appetizing. It shows that you do not need to resort to fanciful means to whet the appetite (perhaps to me). Simple pleasures in life can be enjoyable.
Sizzling Sirloin ($9.90) - As like all the other steaks, this was done medium well and tucking into it was effortless. The meat was juicy and tender and had an aftertaste that lingered in your mouth causing you to want more.
The total bill came up to be about $70 for 6 persons and really makes this an affordable and practical meal. Service is also excellent. Although the restaurant was packed with weekend diners the service staff were attentive to our needs and promptly responded. Interestingly, the bill shows no additional service charges only GST.
The owner of the restaurant Mr Hasni Abdullah was a friendly chap. He explained to us how the restaurant got started and his decision to open one in the heartlands. He also made sure we had our meals served all at once (a basic service etiquette lacking in most restaurants).
Overall a pleasant dining experience and recommended for its food, price and service quality.
Rating given:
I was here 3 years ago when it first opened. That time the staff was very inexperienced and I waited 45 minutes for iced water and 2 hours for my Fish and Chips.
Finally gathering enough courage, I went again recently with another friend. The previous ones were too disappointed the first time to visit with me again.
We were there on a weekday afternoon so we were the only ones in the restaurant. So we were served promptly.
Food Ordered:
Wild Mushroom Soup ($4.90)
It's obviously Mushroom Soup, served with garlic toast. It was thick and creamy, which was a nice surprise.
Seafood Platter ($13.90)
A good serving of fish, chips, calamari and prawn, served with salad. I liked the fish a lot. The flesh was light and tasted great. The batter was not too heavy so I didn't feel too sick eating it all up. It was quite a large serving for a girl but I was really hungry.
Ribeye Steak - Gentlemen's cut ($19.90)
It came sizzling and did look presentable. However my companion commented that it was mediocre and was not as done as he wanted it.
The funny thing about it was that we were quite busy chatting when the food arrived so it was left alone a bit then the waiter came back 5 minutes later to remind us to have it while it's warm. so cute.
Service has improved tremendously. It cost $43.60 for both of us... so it was alright I guess. I'll visit again just not order the steak. :)
Rating given:
Privé, or private in French, is the latest entry to the rapidly growing waterfront dining scene in Singapore. Opened just a few weeks back, Privé boasts an intimate and exclusive dining experience sans the toll charges (think Sentosa).
Hidden within the exclusive Marina at Keppel Bay which is linked only via a newly constructed suspension bridge, Privé houses a New York style modern fine dining restaurant, an outdoor gastrobar along the marina edge for drinks and a bakery selling pastries and desserts. Decor in the restaurant is simple yet classy and cosy, with its carpeted floors and dark wooden finishings. For those who prefer a view of the sea or the surroundings, the gastrobar would be a much better choice but do note that its solely for drinks only.
The amuse bouche came complimentary and was a cod and potato mussolini. Smooth and hinted more of potato then cod but overall a nice starter, albeit of small proportions.
Bay Scallop Carpaccio - The scallops were thinly sliced and topped with caviar. Very decent without the overwhelming raw taste of scallops. Not exactly bang for the buck though as there was just a few slices for $28.
Striploin - I am not one for praises but the striploin really was excellent. Throughly seasoned and well grilled on the outside yet medium rare on the inside, each bite was greeted with a burst of flavour. You do not have to worry about the serving size as well because it is a respectable 10oz (340g), which is more than enough for the average person. The only minor gripe I had was that it did come across as a tad too salty for my liking.
Chocolate Dessert Platter - This decadent dessert came with 3 items, namely the chocolate fondant, tart and ice cream. I personally found the ice cream quite of a delight due to its smooth texture and chocolate chips within. It did help that it came atop a thin wafer base.
The chocolate souffle was really one of the best I have had in months - a tad hard on the outside, unlike the soft pudding like ones I've had recently and with rich chocolate oozing forth with the breaking of the crust.
Probably the only disappointment in this platter was the chocolate tart. Granted, the chocolate was rich and smooth but the tart itself tasted flat and crumbled too easily. If only the base was a little harder with an oven baked taste. Now that would be nice!
Bourbon Madagascan Vanilla Creme Brulee - Fanciful as it may sound, the creme brulee wasn't exactly out of this world. Soft and quivery with a tinge of bitterness, the interesting thing was that the vanilla beans were grown from plants located in countries in the Indian Ocean, hence the term Bourbon Madagascan. A pity the layer of sugar atop wasn't homogeneously burnt, which resulted in some parts being charred.
$146 for 1 appetiser, 1 main and 2 desserts isn't cheap. Period. However, I am suitably impressed with the quality of food. Service is excellent and reservations are recommended because the place was full by the time I finished my dinner. On a side note, the suspended bridge linking the "main land" to Keppel Bay will be officially opened on 3rd Jan 08 whereas the club will have its launch on the 8th. If you want to beat the crowds, it would be best to visit from now till then.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
I went there once after reading a over rated female magazine review.
I went on the weekday afternoon hence no appointment was needed. I was on a try my luck mood...
Anyway was my virgin wax... According to reviews, they are supposed to be friendly and skillful... However the malay girl who looks superb young it's NOT skillful....
And you expect to relax there with the light music... But can you imagine the girls are talking/screaming to one another in different rooms in malay?
Absolutely no communication with me at all.... Once is enough for me...
Rating given:
Cafe de Amigo relocated to Funan in 2006. Chef Foo Wah Ann is the man behind this very nice place. Having heard about him when he was at the renown La Brasserie (Marco Polo Hotel), we thought a visit to this place was a must. The ambience is pretty cosy. There is a live band singing jazzy tunes throughout the night. The crowd there is consists largely of those working in the area.
Food Ordered:
Deep-fried Cheese - 3pc ($16.50)
3 types of cheese melted together and deep fried, served with fresh basil and tomato sauce. I like the cheese which was firm and not oozing out of its shell.
Soft Shell Crab ($13.50)
The batter was a little too light and it was too oily for my taste. Small serving just enough for one person.
Escargot A la Bourguignon (6 for $16.50)
Served in a garlic and butter sauce, I found nothing spectacular about this dish. If anything, the serving was really small.
Lobster Bisque ($9.50)
"Bisque of Bisques" was its description in the menu. Thus we had to try this. It was flavourful however it's pretty hard to find lobster nor taste any lobster in this dish.
Not the same Potato ($7.50)
It is actually supposed to be creamy potato soup but the taste of potato was weak and overpowered by the cheese that was blended into it.
Salad de Amis ($14.50)
A huge serving of salad which you'll be able to see anywhere, served with olive oil vinegar dressing. Which I think wasn't enough as it was dry and a little bland.
Chicken chop ($20.50)
Grilled boneless chicken drumstick served in black pepper sauce and fries. Sadly you can get a good taste of this dish at hawker centres at a quarter of its price. Although boneless, the chicken had a fair share of fatty bits and it wasn't as succulent as I had expected. The black pepper sauce wasn't thick enough too.
Ox-Tail ($24.50)
One of the inhouse specialties. A generous serving of stewed oxtail served with boiled potato and broccoli. My companion commented that it was very tender and juicy. I did think that it was the one of the best dishes on the table that night
Duck Breast ($26.50)
Also one of the recommended dishes. Roasted duck slices in red wine sauce, served with boiled spinach. The combination seemed a little odd to me at first. But my companion has full of compliments for it so I guess it was really good.
Normandy Apple Pie ($7.50)
One of the recommended desserts. It was served with wild honey and vanilla ice-cream. I loved the crumbly crust which was light and tasty. One would find it hard to be sick of this. The inside was not overly sweet.
Frezzie Tiramisu ($7.90)
It was a regular ice cream cake. Certainly not worth the money.
The presentation of the food was not good. More like they were all haphazardly put together. The service is alright. I don't think I will be back anytime soon...
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Was searching for a decent caterer for the first party Yebber is throwing. And recalled the great spread of food catered at my previous workplace, so I decided to give them a try.
These were served at the Yebber's party...
Tossed Garden Greens with Baby Potatoes
Butter Tiger Prawn with Oatmeal
Hawaiian Chicken Cutlet with Pineapple
Thai Style Mango Fish
Fresh Broccoli with Assortment Pacific Clams
Sausages & Papadem with Cheese & Thai Dip *HOT
Sunny Pilaf with Cashew Nuts
Petite French Pastries *HOT
Festive Punch
I'm posting these up with photos first tonite. Will review it when I'm sober. Time to crash...
Review to be continued...
Let me get down to business with this caterer's review...
First the presentation - Its one of the better ones that I've seen. Instead of placing everything on the same level with simple plain white table cloth, Harvest has got boxes below the cloth to make the presentation nicely, placing dishes on different levels. And they created a feel of class with the gold and silver cloth. Their sauces was also served in nice white soup bowl instead of plastic bowls. Food was nicely placed and the presentation is welcoming. Makes you want to grab more food.
The Food - This was a Season special menu at $16/pax.
Tossed Garden Greens with Baby Potatoes
Just like any other salads. Fresh greens and nicely halved baby potatoes. If they'd provided more sauces, it'll be even better. The one that came with it was Thousand Island. Not so friendly for those ladies watching the diet.
Butter Tiger Prawn with Oatmeal - Photo
This was the one that looks the most appetizing. While the man was setting up, everyone was eyeing on the prawns! It looks big and delicious. When we finally get our hands on the prawns, its was good. But it would have been better if it was warm. You can taste the butter and the oatmeal was kinda soggy after being wrapped up in foil. This was one of the better dish that night.
Hawaiian Chicken Cutlet with Pineapple - Photo
The looks of this dish makes one want to give it a miss. The pineapple dressings on the chicken has almost blended into the used-to-be-crispy chicken skin. The chicken skin was soggy and the taste of the supposed to be Hawaiian taste wasn't present. Kind of disappointed with this one.
Thai Style Mango Fish
After the entire night, than I realised one thing. We should have poured the bowl of salsa sauce lookalike onto the fish before we eat them! I was puzzled when there's this extra bowl of vegetables on the table, but thought it could have been complimentary or something. Hope some of you did know that the sauce was for the fish and had put some over the fish before you eat it. So silly of me!
The fish (w/o the salsa sauce) tasted plain. There was a little fishy smell and again the fish was soggy. But still edible. Guess the caterer should try to find a way to prevent their food to turn soggy during the delivery process. The warmer provided was insufficient to really heat up the food. Perhaps an additional warmer per dish might help better.
Fresh Broccoli with Assortment Pacific Clams - Photo
Nicely cooked broccoli with not-so-fresh pacific clams. It might just be my taste bud, but the clams had a strong smell. I love clams but this one I didn't even wanted to have a second helping. Still this dish was well presented. I still enjoyed the broccolis and mushrooms.
Sausages & Papadem with Cheese & Thai Dip *HOT - Photo
This must be the hottest item that night.
NachoPapadem with cheese! I can't imagine eating this combi before that night. But now I'm craving for it! The Papadem was fresh and crispy. Dipped into the cheese dip and yummy! Perfecto! Love it! The sausages were normal chicken sausages, as usual, this is the easiest to eat finger food. The thai dip and cheese makes it even better.Sunny Pilaf with Cashew Nuts
As usual, the rice for all catering is always the least favorite. There were plenty left after that night. Not sure if anyone else notice, there were shrimps cooked with the rice. We should have mixed the rice a little before eating, cos I think most of the shrimps were hidden at the bottom of the rice. The obvious ingredients was the cashew nuts and raisins. This one still not bad, rice was a little fragrant and the shrimps used was fresh. Definitely better than most of the fried rice I had at other catered meals.
Petite French Pastries *HOT - Photo
Too little of these were served! Pastries were nicely made and it was not too sweet. Chilled at the right temperature that doesn't cos the pastries to become too soft. Didn't get to try the cream puffs as they were gone when I went back wanting to try one. Had couple of the chocolate ones, and it was gone when I wanted more. Will surely order this again the next time.
Overall, I still like and enjoyed the food by Harvest. Will probably order from them again for my future events. Value-for-money.
On a sidenote, you might want to get them to set-up an hour prior to your event. That night, the guy came late and he took quite awhile to set-up on his own. I was quite nervous when guests started coming in when he was still setting up. And the food had to be heated up before consuming. So it's advisable to plan way ahead for them to set-up and allow sufficient time for the food to heat up.
Rating given:
This place is jz outside the gym which I am going so it makes a great place for dinner after that. No need to walk that much also Haa...
Since we are there almost near to their closing time, it is peaceful and quiet. A nice relaxing place to have dinner and chit chat at the same time. Seems like others who jz knocked off or jz looking for a quiet place to have dinner also go there.
There are indoor and outdoor seats (under shelter), as it is near to closing time, they had closed the indoor seats, so we only got outdoor seats. Their seats are like those little jap seats with a cushion on it. The seats are a bit low, feels like a little kid seating in those little chairs. Haa....
Since it was after office hours, so there was not much of a crowd. we ordered:
1. Teriyaki Chicken Ramen: The soup is nice and creamy, with the addition of corn and seaweed does make the whole soup taste even better. The noodles are very chewy and tasty as it managed to absorb the soup. Good.
The teriyaki chicken is serves hot on a seperate plate. It is crispy hot, yet tender and juicy inside. The sauce is sweet and fragant and makes the chicken more tasty than ever. I thought it is supposed to be fried but seems like theirs came in the formed of fried chicken cutlet.
2. Takoyaki: This one also came pipping hot but the disappointment is did not taste the octopus as the mince it instead of leaving a chunk in the middle of the ball. It came with lots of mayo and the fish skin flakes which I like it!
3. Mayo Prawn: Came off the fryer and crispy with mayo and black seasme seeds. The prawn seem a little flat or no meat but it is very juicy inside and crispy on the outer as well.
The good thing thing is all dishes came to us very hot and fresh as well.
The cost of the dinner is only $27 including drinks (one orange juice and one ice green tea with lemon) and the service is good and fast as they dun have much customers anyway.
Surprisingly, that they actually shared the place with a thai resturant next door as well. So they served both jap and thai food. They will give you 2 sets of menus. Good way to make customer confused to order more food. Haa.... Think will try their thai food soon. Haa.....
Rating given:
This is one of the Hong Kong cafes that pops up out of no where and it is always crowded as well. The queue there used to be longer, however I know their off peak hours and Had a few tea breaks there and found the food there quite good.
1. Mini drumlets: Came in a hot plate, with the meat of the drumlet pushed to the front, so that the bone can be used to hold. It is very tasty yet not really oily. The seasoning of the drumlets is done to prefection, not to sweet and not too salty and all the seasoning went into the meat.
2. HK style cheese bakes rice with chick chop: I personally dun really like cheese, but this dish is a bit surprise for me as it is not that cheesey and the rice is all soft and not hard from the baking. The cheese is soft and hot when served, it does not really harden up when I am eating as well. They got a layer of sauce that is on top of the rice which is quite good.
3. French Toast: I used to think this is sinful as it is deep fried, so full of oil! However this is not oily, and it came in a very thick piece, with a layer of peanut butter inside! Very nice! The thickness of the toast did surprised us at first, as this is the 1st time we saw such thick piece. The combination of the peanut butter in the toast is a very good one! Tasty!
4. Fresh Lemon Honey with Aloe Vera: I loved anything with aloe vera and have to say this is refreshing. The aloe vera are cut in big cubes, very crunchy, it is not bitter at all. For the drink itself it is not too sweet.
The service there is ok but my last visit they served a few dishes to our table which we did not order. Hee.... Should have accpeted it.
If not their service are quite ok, once ur hands are slightly rasied, they will have at least 2 people rushing to your table as well. Once seated they will also served the curtlerys in a small little tray.
The seats arrangement can be quite squeezed at times, close enough to hear what the other table is talking about. However they also got seats are are isolated as well. A bit nosiy when the palced is packed and at times have kids running ard as well. Dangerous though, dunno what the parents are thinking anyway.
I think I will only go to this place if I am ard vivocity and in the mood for some hongkong food, would prefer them to expand their menu to include more dim sum though.
Rating given:
Went ot waraku and have dinner a few days ago. Afraid that the queue is very long but it turns out that there is no queue and we were ushered to a table fast. I am surprised as it is dinner time.
I think I am lucky cos less than 5 mins I am seated, the queue is already forming at the table outside. Lucky us. Haa...
It is also a good idea to make reservation however even with that be prepared to wait for a while.
We ordered
1. Mixed Yakitori: It got chicken, chicken meatballs, mushroom, bacon etc. Together with the sauce, it is good. I loved it. Plus it came on a hot plate with a flame below keeping it hot.
2. Tonpei Yaki: This is egg and bacon over a bed of lettuce. It is not oily and light. Makes it good to eat.
3. Age Dashi Tofu: The tofu is done prefectly, cripy outside and soft inside. The sauce is also not too salty. The only thing is do they need to serve 4 pcs of tofu in such a big bowl?
4. Tori Kaminabe: I like to eat these soup base "steamboat. This one does not disappoint me as well. The miso soup base is not salty as expected.
5. Teriyaki Chicken Don: This one is eaten by my fren. Formt he looks of it, must have been good cos he did not leave a single grain of rice in the bowl. Hee...
The service there is quite attentive however it sook sometime for the bill to come, so i walked over to the cashier to settle the bill instead.
The cost of the meal comes up to $58, Consider good and cheap as the portion are quite big as well.
Think if not of the queue, I might go there for my jap food more often!
Rating given: