Been there only once or twice. Although they serves a variety of food there, so called Jap Fusion food, find their food below average. I could have got better jap food from the food court upastairs.
Like what genzo had mentioned, they work on a self service method, so have to go to the counter to order. So they better dun charge me any service charge. The food is served in a prompt manner.
The aunties there also very hardworking once you have finished the food, they will clear the tray from the table. Telling you in a silent way that:" You have finished eating. Time to get out of here!"
Dun think I will go and eat there if given the choice.
The flea market jz happens out PF (China Sq). It alwasy attracts a crowd of people to go there see see look look.
Since I am there on Sundays for gym, I will walk around to see if there is anything good to buy.
Most of the people that set up stalls there are old people with a wide variety of both old (very old!) stuff or slightly newer things. Like Claudia had mentioned, you can find all the old toys, CD, even clothings there. Mostly 2nd hand stuff.
I am always on the look out for old toys, especially those that I had been playing since I was young. Those really bring back good memories.
Like all flea markets (I think), you can bargain with the seller for good price.
I am a big fan of La Mian & Xiao Long Bao from Crystal Jade. Once I feel like eating them, I will always think of Crystal Jade first. I have been to the Jurong Point outlet a few times and always find it crowded with people same as other outlets as well but to me the wait is worth it.
The few usual dishes that I like are
1. Xiao Long Bao. Their star. Big and Juicy. The skin is not too thick or thin. The soup inside is sweet. The meat is tender.
2. They offer a lot of la mian but my fav will be always La Mian with Fried Pork Cutlets. (Wonder I got it right?) The pork slices are fried but not oily, tender and juicy.
3. Fried rice. Their fried rice are ok with me but I fine them a bit on the oily side at times.
4. Side dishes like chicken in wine, their vegetatrian goose meat, I like, especially the last one. Although it is not the crispy type but it is full of flavour.
5. Dishes. I like their huge kailan. It is really good and crunchy. They got a dish crabmeat with egg white then add a raw egg yolk on top. I like it as well.
6. Dessert. I loved their mango pudding so much that I can have 2 servings at one go. Haa... Nice mango taste with real mango meat inside, mixed with a lot of condense milk. Yum Yum! It is always good to end the meal with one.
Most of the outlets I went to, find that their service are up to par and swift. Friendly most of the times.
Find the place always a bit too cramped and they try to squeeze in as many tables in as possible. Not able to hold a private conversation, but good to see what other people are eating though. Haa....
The place is always like those Hong Kong eateries noisy at time as well.
Overall, I like the food too much and able to overlook all the small little flaws they have. At time, they do have certain credit card promotions, so always ask before ordering.
Asia Grand Restaurant has reopened with much fanfare at the former premises of Chef Chan at Oden Towers. Formerly from Asia Grand Hotel, Asia Grand Restaurant was set up by the original owners of the popular Tsui Hang chain of restaurants, which has since closed down.
A brightly lighted interior greets you as you step into the rather cramp restaurant, which incidentally, was packed with people. Floor to ceiling windows offer a clear view of passers by at ground level, seperated only by thin veiled curtains. The lack of privacy is further enhanced by the closely placed tables which makes it hard not to eavesdrop.
The appetizer was a mixture of Capsicum, fish cakes and bell peppers, which was rather intriguing given that I've never tried anything like it. The fishcake cubes took on a slight tinge of the bell pepper taste and proved to be a nice way to start dinner rolling.
Braised Shark's Fin Soup with Shredded Chicken & Bamboo Pith - Honestly, for a restaurant such as Asia Grand, I would have expected better shark's fin soup. Not just quality of fins wise, but overall preparation of the soup as well. The soup was way too starchy and oily by any measure. The fins were of rather inferior quality but portions were still decent. Overall an average dish and no more.
Peking Duck - Our unanimous star of the evening - the humble Peking duck. With crackling crispy skin thats almost fat free wrapped in thin yet chewy egg crepes, you will be hard pressed to find any substitutes with similar quality at such a low price of $28 a duck (ongoing promotion).
Baked Lobster with Egg Yolk - The lobster got me all excited and was one of the reasons why we chose to order the set menu instead of going ala carte. My hopes shattered when I saw the size of the lobsters. They were tiny, weighing in at most the size of a huge prawn. The meat was barely a spoonful, which was absolutely pathetic. Berates aside, I must admit that the lobster was quite tasty, with the saltiness from the egg yolk complementing the slightly sweet lobster flesh. However, the egg yolk could have been saltier to further bring out the contrast.
Duck Fried Rice - Wondering what happened to the meat from the Peking duck? Well, you have your answer. The rice was moist and rather well fried together with the fibrous yet tender duck meat. However, it did get rather bland after a while. I mean, how tasty can it get when its just diced duck with rice and egg with no gravy whatsoever?
Steamed Pa Ting fish with Olive, Chilli & Garlic - A most forgettable dish - steamed fish at its most uninspiring. The fish was fresh but not particularly sweet. It didn't help that the fish was rather small as well.
Sauteed Fresh Scallop with Assorted Mushroom - The scallops were supposed to be the main focal point in this dish, but ironically I preferred the mushrooms better. Tasty, juicy and the direct opposite of the scallops, which were a tad too soft without much bite and rather bland. Portions are pathetic as well and we had to limit everyone to 2 scallops each. Talk about rationing.
$61.50/pax is rather expensive for such an average repertoire of food, the Peking duck withstanding. Service is excellent and all of the wait staff are attentive and friendly. After doing my math, I reckon I'll be back just for the $28 Peking duck. No more, no less.
Spotted this outlet at East Coast after seeing the long long long queue at Astons. Just wonder why so long...seems almost eternity to queue for Steaks at Astons. So we gave up on Astons and drove further down towards Katong Shopping Centre.
We spotted Black Canyon and decided to give it a try. Looking at their menu, they have quite a wide selection of Specialty coffee from Mexico, Austria, Italy, Thailand and the standard coffee. I tried the Black Canyon Coffee Frost and the effect of the coffee lasted the whole night - could not sleep until do not know when. So if you need to burn the midnight oil and have a paper to study for, this is the coffee to take!
Since we were there for a meal, we opted for the Sesame Crusted Fish Rice and the Special Chicken Basil Rice. Servings were just right and food on the whole was average.
The food menu is typically Thai. Do not know if I am wrong, but most of the staff might also be Thai (did not pay much attention to their accent). They also serve some fusion dishes like Tom Yum Soup with Pasta and Chicken Green curry with Pasta. Maybe will try this the next time. But the thought of To Yum with Pasta does not seem appetizing. :)
Would surely visit this place again to try out the different types of coffee and perhaps drop by after dinner.
Nice cosy atmosphere and seating is also plentiful. The only problem is parking....parking along East Coast Road is a perpetual problem.
If you're looking for unique and pretty accessories for your girlfriends or yourself, go take a peep at Petalthots. The lady behind this has got a pair of creative hands and pretty mind. She creates the cutest and most unique accessories.
She is very popular at bazaars and flea markets. Very often, her creations are sold out almost immediately after releasing it online! So you've got to be quick if you want to get the pretty pieces you desire.
If you need something that's out of the usual, she does customisation too. Just let her know your requests and she'll be able to create the most special piece of art for you to wear!
Been there. And am going again, next one at Suntec!
A friend of mine told me about this mini fashion bazaar that's set within a cafe environment. Which at that point of time, I felt it was pretty neat. There were very cool stuff that's oh-so-lovely for the ladies. I remember there were many stalls selling one-of-a-kind handmade accessories, and there was one selling pretty cute little felt badges. Sad it was only for that one day. Cos some of my friends couldn't make it on that day.
But we're sure not going to miss the next one. Saw in the newsletter that there's one coming up in November and this time at Suntec City! Bigger and more comfortable shopping experience for those who loves the unique, hip and uber cool stylish fashion and accessories! Looking forward to November!
Have heard about this bazaar happening at Clarke Quay awhile back, but never had the chance to go check it out till 2 weeks ago. Boy was I shocked to see the crowd at the bazaar.
That bazaar is held at the center fountain of Clarke Quay and more than 20 or so vendors had booths set-up. As it was very dark, all the vendors' stalls were lighted only with their own personal table lamps, which for some were aren't powerful enough. Had quite a hard time looking at the goodies on sale.
Quite a good spread of products were available. This may be one of those bazaars/flea markets that you'll want to bring your friends to. But sad to say, it was their last one at Clarke Quay when I visited. (A lady with a stall told me so.)
The tour of trying out far flung food places continues with a visit to Villa Seafood Galleria. As with Made In China and Pier Eleven, Villa Seafood Galleria is owned and operated by the Singapore Explorer group, which has a knack for sourcing out isolated places to set up restaurants. I mean that as a compliment by the way.
Sitting pretty at the top of Labrador nature reserve overlooking the sea, Villa Seafood Galleria is a little paradise all by itself, shrouded in greenery. The private dining room was set amongst a pool and oozed pure class through its fall to ceiling windows. The air conditioned common dining room, however, didn't impress that much but was spacious and comfortable with yes, floor to ceiling windows as well.
less than interesting name, a less than interesting dish. The Crispy Almond Chicken was essentially chicken coated with almond on the skin and baked. The skin was nice and crunchy from all the almonds but the meat was a little on the dry side. Ironically, for a name like Almond Chicken, there wasn't the faintest taste of almond at all, at least not that I could detect. However, the biggest gripe about this dish was that some pieces of chicken had a slight oil residue, which is a big no no.
Fish noodles usually come in soup so this variation of Fried Noodle with Seafood came as something new to me. Not that I'm complaining though. The noodles were slimmer and more springy, with the extra bite evident. However, I did find it a little too oily though, which made it almost unpalatable when cold. On a positive note, the toppings of prawns and scallops were plentiful, making the dish all the more enjoyable.
You can't really go wrong with vegetables and the Kailan with Scallops and Crab Meat was well, simple yet tasty. Fresh and crunchy, the vegetables were topped with generous servings of crab meat and gravy.
Huge prawns which were a little crisp along the edges yet succulent and full of bite topped with a thin layer of wasabi and mayonnaise. Now who wouldn't like that? The wasabi sauce honestly didn't look like much but it got really strong after a while. The small slices of cut fruit, though nothing fantastic, were a nice complement to the prawns.
Another first for me, the pumpkin sago was smooth yet not too starchy. Coming across as sweet and refreshing with the fruits and grass jelly in it, it was a little small for the price though. It helped that the sago was served really chilled as well.
I would say that the food at Villa Seafood Galleria tends towards the finer side as compared to its sister restaurant, Made In China, but of course prices are steeper and portions are smaller as well. $113 for 2 pax does seem a little on the high side but the ambience and service more than makes up for it. If you have a big group (10-20pax), you must go for the private dining room by the poolside.
Happened to be at Bugis Junction with my gf and chanced upon this Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Actually it was the only restaurant that didn't have a queue at 730pm on a weekday evening. They are supposedly a very well known outfit in Shanghai, so expectations were rather high.
The interior was rather cramp, evidently with the restaurant trying to squeeze as many tables as possible in the relatively small room, resulting in a less than comfortable boxy looking dining area. I could easily overhear the adjourning table's conversation, not that I wanted to though. I guess that gives you an idea how close the tables were.
Have you ever tried pork rib noodles that were sweet? I for one, have not. Thats why Nanxiang's rendition came as quite a surprise (or was it shock?). The broth was sweet, not the MSG kind of sweet but literally sugar sweet. The pork ribs were sweet as well, which was rather weird, considering that I had expected the entire dish to be salty. The noodles were rather springy though and appeared to be the only thing that was "normal". Sorry but sweet broth and pork ribs just don't cut it for me.
For $8.50, I had expected better. The Yang Zhou Fried Rice was a joke and I'm not kidding. Served in a rounded symmetrical form, the rice looked like it had been pre-prepared and scooped from a container using a bowl (I'm just guessing). The de facto Char Siew was replaced by luncheon meat which is a poor substitute in my humble opinion. The rice lacked taste and came across as rather bland. Probably the only thing that I liked about this dish was the homogeneity of colours.
The Fried Prawns with Salted Egg came piping hot, with the gravy still bubbling and frothing. The relatively fresh prawns were of average size and overall tasted decent with the gravy buttery and a little coarse, probably due to the bits of egg yolk. However, this dish is best eaten hot as the gravy tends to harden as it cools and things get really gross from there.
The baked mini puffs looked like your normal curry puff, but break it open to find pork, mushroom and bamboo. Supposedly of course. Truth is, I only found pathetic bits of mushroom in it with what seemed to be scrap morsels of minced meat. It was like eating the pastry more than anything else. Not that it tasted good by the way.
Steamed Soup Bun with Crab Roe and Pork Filling - Purportedly Nanxiang's signature dish - the Xiao Long Bao (XLB). I honestly wasn't the least bit impressed. The skin was way too thick and I had to literally tear it apart before I could take a snapshot of the filling. And there is something about the QC of their XLB. Some had loads of fluids contained within, some had minimal. Talk about consistency.
I have never tried Pan Fried Pumpkin Cake before and I don't think I ever want to try it again, at least not at Nanxiang. The cake was soaking in oil but tasted decent though, a little sweet and crispy on the outside.
$59 for such mediocre quality food is plain absurd. The only redeeming factor was the reasonably good service but I don't think thats enough to make me go back.
1=SGD 0.0587
Been there only once or twice. Although they serves a variety of food there, so called Jap Fusion food, find their food below average. I could have got better jap food from the food court upastairs.
Like what genzo had mentioned, they work on a self service method, so have to go to the counter to order. So they better dun charge me any service charge. The food is served in a prompt manner.
The aunties there also very hardworking once you have finished the food, they will clear the tray from the table. Telling you in a silent way that:" You have finished eating. Time to get out of here!"
Dun think I will go and eat there if given the choice.
Rating given:
The flea market jz happens out PF (China Sq). It alwasy attracts a crowd of people to go there see see look look.
Since I am there on Sundays for gym, I will walk around to see if there is anything good to buy.
Most of the people that set up stalls there are old people with a wide variety of both old (very old!) stuff or slightly newer things. Like Claudia had mentioned, you can find all the old toys, CD, even clothings there. Mostly 2nd hand stuff.
I am always on the look out for old toys, especially those that I had been playing since I was young. Those really bring back good memories.
Like all flea markets (I think), you can bargain with the seller for good price.
Rating given:
I am a big fan of La Mian & Xiao Long Bao from Crystal Jade. Once I feel like eating them, I will always think of Crystal Jade first. I have been to the Jurong Point outlet a few times and always find it crowded with people same as other outlets as well but to me the wait is worth it.
The few usual dishes that I like are
1. Xiao Long Bao. Their star. Big and Juicy. The skin is not too thick or thin. The soup inside is sweet. The meat is tender.
2. They offer a lot of la mian but my fav will be always La Mian with Fried Pork Cutlets. (Wonder I got it right?) The pork slices are fried but not oily, tender and juicy.
3. Fried rice. Their fried rice are ok with me but I fine them a bit on the oily side at times.
4. Side dishes like chicken in wine, their vegetatrian goose meat, I like, especially the last one. Although it is not the crispy type but it is full of flavour.
5. Dishes. I like their huge kailan. It is really good and crunchy. They got a dish crabmeat with egg white then add a raw egg yolk on top. I like it as well.
6. Dessert. I loved their mango pudding so much that I can have 2 servings at one go. Haa... Nice mango taste with real mango meat inside, mixed with a lot of condense milk. Yum Yum! It is always good to end the meal with one.
Most of the outlets I went to, find that their service are up to par and swift. Friendly most of the times.
Find the place always a bit too cramped and they try to squeeze in as many tables in as possible. Not able to hold a private conversation, but good to see what other people are eating though. Haa....
The place is always like those Hong Kong eateries noisy at time as well.
Overall, I like the food too much and able to overlook all the small little flaws they have. At time, they do have certain credit card promotions, so always ask before ordering.
Enjoy!
Rating given:
Asia Grand Restaurant has reopened with much fanfare at the former premises of Chef Chan at Oden Towers. Formerly from Asia Grand Hotel, Asia Grand Restaurant was set up by the original owners of the popular Tsui Hang chain of restaurants, which has since closed down.
A brightly lighted interior greets you as you step into the rather cramp restaurant, which incidentally, was packed with people. Floor to ceiling windows offer a clear view of passers by at ground level, seperated only by thin veiled curtains. The lack of privacy is further enhanced by the closely placed tables which makes it hard not to eavesdrop.
The appetizer was a mixture of Capsicum, fish cakes and bell peppers, which was rather intriguing given that I've never tried anything like it. The fishcake cubes took on a slight tinge of the bell pepper taste and proved to be a nice way to start dinner rolling.
Braised Shark's Fin Soup with Shredded Chicken & Bamboo Pith -
Honestly, for a restaurant such as Asia Grand, I would have expected better shark's fin soup. Not just quality of fins wise, but overall preparation of the soup as well. The soup was way too starchy and oily by any measure. The fins were of rather inferior quality but portions were still decent. Overall an average dish and no more.
Peking Duck - Our unanimous star of the evening - the humble Peking duck. With crackling crispy skin thats almost fat free wrapped in thin yet chewy egg crepes, you will be hard pressed to find any substitutes with similar quality at such a low price of $28 a duck (ongoing promotion).
Baked Lobster with Egg Yolk - The lobster got me all excited and was one of the reasons why we chose to order the set menu instead of going ala carte. My hopes shattered when I saw the size of the lobsters. They were tiny, weighing in at most the size of a huge prawn. The meat was barely a spoonful, which was absolutely pathetic. Berates aside, I must admit that the lobster was quite tasty, with the saltiness from the egg yolk complementing the slightly sweet lobster flesh. However, the egg yolk could have been saltier to further bring out the contrast.
Duck Fried Rice - Wondering what happened to the meat from the Peking duck? Well, you have your answer. The rice was moist and rather well fried together with the fibrous yet tender duck meat. However, it did get rather bland after a while. I mean, how tasty can it get when its just diced duck with rice and egg with no gravy whatsoever?
Steamed Pa Ting fish with Olive, Chilli & Garlic - A most forgettable dish - steamed fish at its most uninspiring. The fish was fresh but not particularly sweet. It didn't help that the fish was rather small as well.
Sauteed Fresh Scallop with Assorted Mushroom - The scallops were supposed to be the main focal point in this dish, but ironically I preferred the mushrooms better. Tasty, juicy and the direct opposite of the scallops, which were a tad too soft without much bite and rather bland. Portions are pathetic as well and we had to limit everyone to 2 scallops each. Talk about rationing.
$61.50/pax is rather expensive for such an average repertoire of food, the Peking duck withstanding. Service is excellent and all of the wait staff are attentive and friendly. After doing my math, I reckon I'll be back just for the $28 Peking duck. No more, no less.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Spotted this outlet at East Coast after seeing the long long long queue at Astons. Just wonder why so long...seems almost eternity to queue for Steaks at Astons. So we gave up on Astons and drove further down towards Katong Shopping Centre.
We spotted Black Canyon and decided to give it a try. Looking at their menu, they have quite a wide selection of Specialty coffee from Mexico, Austria, Italy, Thailand and the standard coffee. I tried the Black Canyon Coffee Frost and the effect of the coffee lasted the whole night - could not sleep until do not know when. So if you need to burn the midnight oil and have a paper to study for, this is the coffee to take!
Since we were there for a meal, we opted for the Sesame Crusted Fish Rice and the Special Chicken Basil Rice. Servings were just right and food on the whole was average.
The food menu is typically Thai. Do not know if I am wrong, but most of the staff might also be Thai (did not pay much attention to their accent). They also serve some fusion dishes like Tom Yum Soup with Pasta and Chicken Green curry with Pasta. Maybe will try this the next time. But the thought of To Yum with Pasta does not seem appetizing. :)
Would surely visit this place again to try out the different types of coffee and perhaps drop by after dinner.
Nice cosy atmosphere and seating is also plentiful. The only problem is parking....parking along East Coast Road is a perpetual problem.
Sorry about the pictures...use camera phone lah.
Rating given:
If you're looking for unique and pretty accessories for your girlfriends or yourself, go take a peep at Petalthots. The lady behind this has got a pair of creative hands and pretty mind. She creates the cutest and most unique accessories.
She is very popular at bazaars and flea markets. Very often, her creations are sold out almost immediately after releasing it online! So you've got to be quick if you want to get the pretty pieces you desire.
If you need something that's out of the usual, she does customisation too. Just let her know your requests and she'll be able to create the most special piece of art for you to wear!
Go check out her blogshop today!
Rating given:
Been there. And am going again, next one at Suntec!
A friend of mine told me about this mini fashion bazaar that's set within a cafe environment. Which at that point of time, I felt it was pretty neat. There were very cool stuff that's oh-so-lovely for the ladies. I remember there were many stalls selling one-of-a-kind handmade accessories, and there was one selling pretty cute little felt badges. Sad it was only for that one day. Cos some of my friends couldn't make it on that day.
But we're sure not going to miss the next one. Saw in the newsletter that there's one coming up in November and this time at Suntec City! Bigger and more comfortable shopping experience for those who loves the unique, hip and uber cool stylish fashion and accessories! Looking forward to November!
Rating given:
It was my first. And also my last...
Have heard about this bazaar happening at Clarke Quay awhile back, but never had the chance to go check it out till 2 weeks ago. Boy was I shocked to see the crowd at the bazaar.
That bazaar is held at the center fountain of Clarke Quay and more than 20 or so vendors had booths set-up. As it was very dark, all the vendors' stalls were lighted only with their own personal table lamps, which for some were aren't powerful enough. Had quite a hard time looking at the goodies on sale.
Quite a good spread of products were available. This may be one of those bazaars/flea markets that you'll want to bring your friends to. But sad to say, it was their last one at Clarke Quay when I visited. (A lady with a stall told me so.)
Rating given:
The tour of trying out far flung food places continues with a visit to Villa Seafood Galleria. As with Made In China and Pier Eleven, Villa Seafood Galleria is owned and operated by the Singapore Explorer group, which has a knack for sourcing out isolated places to set up restaurants. I mean that as a compliment by the way.
Sitting pretty at the top of Labrador nature reserve overlooking the sea, Villa Seafood Galleria is a little paradise all by itself, shrouded in greenery. The private dining room was set amongst a pool and oozed pure class through its fall to ceiling windows. The air conditioned common dining room, however, didn't impress that much but was spacious and comfortable with yes, floor to ceiling windows as well.
less than interesting name, a less than interesting dish. The Crispy Almond Chicken was essentially chicken coated with almond on the skin and baked. The skin was nice and crunchy from all the almonds but the meat was a little on the dry side. Ironically, for a name like Almond Chicken, there wasn't the faintest taste of almond at all, at least not that I could detect. However, the biggest gripe about this dish was that some pieces of chicken had a slight oil residue, which is a big no no.
Fish noodles usually come in soup so this variation of Fried Noodle with Seafood came as something new to me. Not that I'm complaining though. The noodles were slimmer and more springy, with the extra bite evident. However, I did find it a little too oily though, which made it almost unpalatable when cold. On a positive note, the toppings of prawns and scallops were plentiful, making the dish all the more enjoyable.
You can't really go wrong with vegetables and the Kailan with Scallops and Crab Meat was well, simple yet tasty. Fresh and crunchy, the vegetables were topped with generous servings of crab meat and gravy.
Huge prawns which were a little crisp along the edges yet succulent and full of bite topped with a thin layer of wasabi and mayonnaise. Now who wouldn't like that? The wasabi sauce honestly didn't look like much but it got really strong after a while. The small slices of cut fruit, though nothing fantastic, were a nice complement to the prawns.
Another first for me, the pumpkin sago was smooth yet not too starchy. Coming across as sweet and refreshing with the fruits and grass jelly in it, it was a little small for the price though. It helped that the sago was served really chilled as well.
I would say that the food at Villa Seafood Galleria tends towards the finer side as compared to its sister restaurant, Made In China, but of course prices are steeper and portions are smaller as well. $113 for 2 pax does seem a little on the high side but the ambience and service more than makes up for it. If you have a big group (10-20pax), you must go for the private dining room by the poolside.
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
Happened to be at Bugis Junction with my gf and chanced upon this Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Actually it was the only restaurant that didn't have a queue at 730pm on a weekday evening. They are supposedly a very well known outfit in Shanghai, so expectations were rather high.
The interior was rather cramp, evidently with the restaurant trying to squeeze as many tables as possible in the relatively small room, resulting in a less than comfortable boxy looking dining area. I could easily overhear the adjourning table's conversation, not that I wanted to though. I guess that gives you an idea how close the tables were.
Have you ever tried pork rib noodles that were sweet? I for one, have not. Thats why Nanxiang's rendition came as quite a surprise (or was it shock?). The broth was sweet, not the MSG kind of sweet but literally sugar sweet. The pork ribs were sweet as well, which was rather weird, considering that I had expected the entire dish to be salty. The noodles were rather springy though and appeared to be the only thing that was "normal". Sorry but sweet broth and pork ribs just don't cut it for me.
For $8.50, I had expected better. The Yang Zhou Fried Rice was a joke and I'm not kidding. Served in a rounded symmetrical form, the rice looked like it had been pre-prepared and scooped from a container using a bowl (I'm just guessing). The de facto Char Siew was replaced by luncheon meat which is a poor substitute in my humble opinion. The rice lacked taste and came across as rather bland. Probably the only thing that I liked about this dish was the homogeneity of colours.
The Fried Prawns with Salted Egg came piping hot, with the gravy still bubbling and frothing. The relatively fresh prawns were of average size and overall tasted decent with the gravy buttery and a little coarse, probably due to the bits of egg yolk. However, this dish is best eaten hot as the gravy tends to harden as it cools and things get really gross from there.
The baked mini puffs looked like your normal curry puff, but break it open to find pork, mushroom and bamboo. Supposedly of course. Truth is, I only found pathetic bits of mushroom in it with what seemed to be scrap morsels of minced meat. It was like eating the pastry more than anything else. Not that it tasted good by the way.
Steamed Soup Bun with Crab Roe and Pork Filling - Purportedly Nanxiang's signature dish - the Xiao Long Bao (XLB). I honestly wasn't the least bit impressed. The skin was way too thick and I had to literally tear it apart before I could take a snapshot of the filling. And there is something about the QC of their XLB. Some had loads of fluids contained within, some had minimal. Talk about consistency.
I have never tried Pan Fried Pumpkin Cake before and I don't think I ever want to try it again, at least not at Nanxiang. The cake was soaking in oil but tasted decent though, a little sweet and crispy on the outside.
$59 for such mediocre quality food is plain absurd. The only redeeming factor was the reasonably good service but I don't think thats enough to make me go back.
See all my pictures here
Rating given: