Visited the outlet for a business dinner and discussion and service was quite slow due to a crowd at the restaurant. Still, the staff managed the best they could despite some slip-ups and the female manager was very professional.
Swensen's menu has definitely improved with a wider range of very exciting dishes (at higher prices now) and very creative fusion dishes.
We tried some mains which looked quite good:
Fried Fish with Apricot Mayo Served with a side of fries and coleslaw. An interesting take on the usual fish & chips offering, the apricot mayo actually gave the dish a nice tangy zing. Fish was fresh and flaky, batter was nicely deepfried to a golden brown.
Grilled Fish Sambal The fish fillet was a little small to start off with, and someone in the kitchen obviously forgot to dress it with the seasonal vegetables pictured in the menu. The sambal was milder than we had expected, so the dish fell quite flat on our expectations.
Breaded Chicken Meuniere The chicken cutlet spent too much time in the oil, so the outside was a little too dark, but the inside was still quite juicy. The chilled coleslaw saved the day by balancing off the heat.
We added $5 each to make our mains into sets, comprising beverage/soft drink, soup of the day, soup of ice-cream.
Ambience Decor in the usual modern coffeeshop style of Ya Kun, but the full length windows give the place a nice open, bright look. The typical tables and chairs are complemented by nice comfortable sofa chairs and coffee tables.
Staff Run by a team of very nice and friendly aunties, which gives the place a nice authentic feel.
Food The usual kaya toast fare available at all Ya Kun outlets from $3.80-$4.20 for a set of toast with tea/coffee and two softboiled eggs. Trade up your beverage to a canned softdrink for extra ten cents. Flash your SAFRA card for a 10% discount. Perfect for a light snack before or after your swim.
I must also agree that FR at Vivo is one of the most expensive food courts I have ever eaten at. Perhaps one reason for the high prices is its proximity to the Sentosa Express which no doubt unloads scores of hungry tourists at FR's doorstep?
Relatively speaking though, if you are at Vivo and looking to eat something less fancy, or if all the other harbour view restaurants are full, then FR would be a close alternative.
We like the decor of the place, which resembles an old warehouse or tea tavern. Nice rustic touches such as talismen on the walls, bird cages dangling from hooks, old doors and windows blend with the cacophony of voices and cooking sounds.
Seriously, the only way I can sit and soak up the atmosphere is to order the cheapest snacks from the place, which would be desserts. Home-cooked taste, restaurant prices .. sigh.
Recent encounter at dessert stall: I ordered the mango and pomelo dessert and was asked if I wanted mango flesh (芒果肉) at additional cost. So I asked, isn't there already mango flesh in the mango and pomelo dessert? No she said, only mango juice. Huh? Like the other reviewers, I really didn't want to make a fuss so I paid up for my dessert. And tried to enjoy the costly dessert.
Maybe next time, I should tapow food from elsewhere and eat here. .. or just order a teh-si ... like a warehouse coolie.
Burger King has moved into Hitachi Tower for quite some time already, and I didn't even realise it. It's actually the perfect place for a drink or light snack before gymming at True Fitness upstairs (don't tell my trainer!)
The set-up is very cool, with split level dining area that is furnished with counter tops, traditional BK tables, sofa chairs and drum-roll please - deli booths with ipod docks and speaker domes! You can enjoy your fave songs in the privacy of your booth without disturbing other diners.
I also recently discovered that BK allows you to swop out your fries for onion rings or a healthy salad when you purchase a meal. But please tell them when you order, cos they have to key it in.
I've always loved the BK a4dable meals but hate having to finish the fries, which I don't like. So the idea of swopping for a fresh salad is great for me. What's best, you can choose from two healthy vinaigrette dressings to go with your salad.
Stopped off at Ikea Alexandra for a 'light' meal before the gym, as the outlet is roughly between my workplace and the gym.
The queue at about 6.15pm was not too bad, and we got our food within ten minutes. Finding a table to sit at was also quite easy. Guess we missed the evening crowd.
Ambience Love the large open feel of the restaurant. Looks just like an extension of the furniture showroom itself, spacious, bright and bustling. The layout of the dining area allows for more combinations of diners, including large and small tables for couples, families and bar seating for casual meals. The inclusion of a children's play area is also a nice touch.
Food The variety of cuisines available is quite decent. Besides local and western dishes, Swedish meals such as the herring platter and the famous meatballs and daim cake are also very popular.
We decided on the Chicken Leg ($7.50) and Pasta with Meatballs ($7.50). The nicely roasted chicken was tender and tasty and served with a smooth mashed potato and baby carrots. One of those dishes where you don't actually need additional condiments like chilli sauce. The pasta was a bit soggy, and the tomato sauce was insufficient to our liking, but the meatballs, as usual, saved the day with each firm and flavourful bite.
Both dishes were quite reasonable portions which filled us up pretty much. The refillable softdrink ($1.50) filled up our stomachs.
... we never made it to the gym. Instead, we walked off the meal by wandering around the showroom (and picking up more impulse purchases). Haha, the perils of eating at Ikea.
1=SGD 0.0587
Swensen's menu has definitely improved with a wider range of very exciting dishes (at higher prices now) and very creative fusion dishes.
We tried some mains which looked quite good:
Fried Fish with Apricot Mayo
Served with a side of fries and coleslaw. An interesting take on the usual fish & chips offering, the apricot mayo actually gave the dish a nice tangy zing. Fish was fresh and flaky, batter was nicely deepfried to a golden brown.
Grilled Fish Sambal
The fish fillet was a little small to start off with, and someone in the kitchen obviously forgot to dress it with the seasonal vegetables pictured in the menu. The sambal was milder than we had expected, so the dish fell quite flat on our expectations.
Breaded Chicken Meuniere
The chicken cutlet spent too much time in the oil, so the outside was a little too dark, but the inside was still quite juicy. The chilled coleslaw saved the day by balancing off the heat.
We added $5 each to make our mains into sets, comprising beverage/soft drink, soup of the day, soup of ice-cream.
Very satisfying.
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Decor in the usual modern coffeeshop style of Ya Kun, but the full length windows give the place a nice open, bright look. The typical tables and chairs are complemented by nice comfortable sofa chairs and coffee tables.
Staff
Run by a team of very nice and friendly aunties, which gives the place a nice authentic feel.
Food
The usual kaya toast fare available at all Ya Kun outlets from $3.80-$4.20 for a set of toast with tea/coffee and two softboiled eggs. Trade up your beverage to a canned softdrink for extra ten cents. Flash your SAFRA card for a 10% discount. Perfect for a light snack before or after your swim.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Relatively speaking though, if you are at Vivo and looking to eat something less fancy, or if all the other harbour view restaurants are full, then FR would be a close alternative.
We like the decor of the place, which resembles an old warehouse or tea tavern. Nice rustic touches such as talismen on the walls, bird cages dangling from hooks, old doors and windows blend with the cacophony of voices and cooking sounds.
Seriously, the only way I can sit and soak up the atmosphere is to order the cheapest snacks from the place, which would be desserts. Home-cooked taste, restaurant prices .. sigh.
Recent encounter at dessert stall: I ordered the mango and pomelo dessert and was asked if I wanted mango flesh (芒果肉) at additional cost. So I asked, isn't there already mango flesh in the mango and pomelo dessert? No she said, only mango juice. Huh? Like the other reviewers, I really didn't want to make a fuss so I paid up for my dessert. And tried to enjoy the costly dessert.
Maybe next time, I should tapow food from elsewhere and eat here. .. or just order a teh-si ... like a warehouse coolie.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
The set-up is very cool, with split level dining area that is furnished with counter tops, traditional BK tables, sofa chairs and drum-roll please - deli booths with ipod docks and speaker domes! You can enjoy your fave songs in the privacy of your booth without disturbing other diners.
I also recently discovered that BK allows you to swop out your fries for onion rings or a healthy salad when you purchase a meal. But please tell them when you order, cos they have to key it in.
I've always loved the BK a4dable meals but hate having to finish the fries, which I don't like. So the idea of swopping for a fresh salad is great for me. What's best, you can choose from two healthy vinaigrette dressings to go with your salad.
I'm so hanging out at BK!
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
The queue at about 6.15pm was not too bad, and we got our food within ten minutes. Finding a table to sit at was also quite easy. Guess we missed the evening crowd.
Ambience
Love the large open feel of the restaurant. Looks just like an extension of the furniture showroom itself, spacious, bright and bustling. The layout of the dining area allows for more combinations of diners, including large and small tables for couples, families and bar seating for casual meals. The inclusion of a children's play area is also a nice touch.
Food
The variety of cuisines available is quite decent. Besides local and western dishes, Swedish meals such as the herring platter and the famous meatballs and daim cake are also very popular.
We decided on the Chicken Leg ($7.50) and Pasta with Meatballs ($7.50). The nicely roasted chicken was tender and tasty and served with a smooth mashed potato and baby carrots. One of those dishes where you don't actually need additional condiments like chilli sauce. The pasta was a bit soggy, and the tomato sauce was insufficient to our liking, but the meatballs, as usual, saved the day with each firm and flavourful bite.
Both dishes were quite reasonable portions which filled us up pretty much. The refillable softdrink ($1.50) filled up our stomachs.
... we never made it to the gym. Instead, we walked off the meal by wandering around the showroom (and picking up more impulse purchases). Haha, the perils of eating at Ikea.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!