RichardDTan's Reviews
1=SGD 0.058729 Yebbers Online!
Double Yebber Dollar Category for April:
Arts & Entertainment
Click here for future month
WELCOME TO YEBBER
You can use your Facebook Account to register in Yebber and start reviewing your favourite or least favourite businesses
Please click the login button below and proceed to create a new Yebber ID at the next step.
Price: At a very affordable $6.90 the buffet features more than 20 Indonesian-inspired Chinese dishes, with fresh fruits to end with. Drinks (home-made lemon tea or barley) are separately charged, and are free-flow.
Buffet spread: Unlike the dinner ala carte buffet, the porridge dishes in this self-service buffet are displayed in a heated bain-marie. Dishes range from curry chicken, braised meat, sauteed vegetables to popular accompaniments like salted duck eggs, preserved salted vegetables, beancurd ..etc. Everything is prepared fresh (and replenished regularly) so it all tastes just like it would at home.
Aside from free-flow of sweet potato porridge, other starches provided include fried beehoon and fried rice, in case porridge just doesn't fill you up enough .. :)
Customer service: Being a self-service buffet, you wouldn't expect much table service but the girls still bustle around, clearing dishes, replenishing drinks and keeping the buffet counter clean and tidy. While rushing around, they still find time to stop and exchange snippets of conversations with their regular customers, which probably explains why almost all their clientele are repeat patrons and everyone feels at home here.
Our verdict: Compared to the other food outlets in TBP, this has to be the best value-for-money. And because it is a buffet, we have no qualms about spending the full three hours savouring the food and enjoying tableside conversation. Another regular dining spot!
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Parking: There isn't much kerbside parking and the summon-auntie is quite regular in Geylang, so you'll have to park at the open-air carpark one street before.
Menu: We usually pop by for a quick lunch, so we look out for the really affordable and fast-service two-course set lunches (from $7.90). As it was a hot day, we decided against the deepfried Fish & Chips and settled for the Grilled Chicken set instead, served with soup of the day.
Service: We were served by an polite young man who seated us, presented menus, served iced water, took our orders and served with the professionalism and efficiency of a well-trained server. He was very helpful with our selection, knowledgeable about food offerings and even endured our friendly banter. At billing, he followed up with an enquiry of our meal experience, which was again a very personal touch. Wonderful!
Flavours and Presentation: The mushroom soup was served in a cute ramekin with a sprinkle of herbs on the top. Classy. However, the soup itself was a little watered-down and it wasn't hot. Bit of a let down as the flavours of the soup would have been better appreciated at a higher temperature. Good amount of soup, not too filling.
The mains came arranged carefully on a large platter. There was a generous serve of mixed salad (green and red lettuce with two wedges of tomato) and a large piece of grilled chicken, skin-on. The chicken chop was plump and juicy without being oily, and the grill flavour on the skin was nice and smoky without being overpowering. A home-made mushroom sauce was drizzled over the chicken but fortunately did not detract too much from the grilled flavour. Instead of the usual fries, there were about three large spoonfuls of baked beans (cold from the can) to complete the presentation. Sure to be a hit with carb-free dieters.
Verdict: Affordable, value-for-money set lunches if you want to enjoy conversation with friends and colleagues. There nearby coffeeshops are not as conducive to conversations. Staff interaction makes for a very pleasant experience.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Ambience: Authentic little Japanese cafe, down to the rustic wooden table tops, it looks cramped but is actually very roomy. A glass panel in the middle of the table showcases a range of cute Japanese toys and art. The kitchen runs along the side of the dining area and you can see the cooks and chefs merrily cooking your food. As with other Japanese outlets, everytime someone comes in they happily greet (loudly) together which can be quite disconcerting if you were expecting a quiet dinner. But its all in good fun and you get used to it.
Food: We decided on the Volcano Stone Pots ($18) because they looked really unique. For four adults, we chose a Charsiu and a Seafood pot to share, which worked out really well as the portions are quite big. Chockful of vegetables (carrots, cabbage) and ingredients (tender charsiu pork that falls away from the chopsticks easily; however the cuttlefish was chewy and overcooked). Cooked in flavourful broth, with a good serving of al dente (not chewy) noodles and a bowl of rice per pot. Good amount of food to share. After the novelty of presentation wears off, the stock can be a bit too much to bear (jelak), so sharing was a good idea.
Presentation: The novelty of having your own "volcano" on the table in front of you was very unique and interesting. If anything, that was the main reason we chose the dish. Instructions are pasted on the table, and can be quite intimidating; the staff were more than happy to do all the work for us, down to timing the cooking using an hourglass. Condiments are readily available at the table (DIY crushed garlic, chilli oil/flakes, shoya etc) and providing one hard-boiled egg per person was a nice touch.
Customer Service: Everyone was cheerful, helpful and attentive. Service was prompt both in delivering the main dish and ensuring our water glasses were filled, without prompting. All the wait staff had genuine smiles, which made eating here feel so warm and homely.
Value: definitely value for money, and we will be back!
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!
Parking: Convenient barrier (as opposed to coupon) parking behind the coffeeshop. At 8pm, there was no shortage of empty lots.
Service: Brusque, but quick and efficient. Ordered and paid at the counter and was served first dish within five minutes.
Food: Our fave dishes are the Garoupa Steamboat for the nice soup stock which they automatically replenish for you (unlike the branch in Hougang St 21), the Salted Egg Pork Rib and the Sea Cucumber with Mushrooms. They were out of our usual stir-fried vegetables, so we opted for the Sweet Potato Leaves cooked with sambal which was quite oily.
Verdict: Still our choice for quick affordable home-cooked Chinese dishes
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!Sweet Potato Leaves cooked with sambal is my fav local dish. Whats the pricing like?
29 May 2014 at 11:06 am
Location: Sited in a quiet corner of Bishan Park 2, the spa is surrounded by dense foliage, which gives it a secluded oasis feeling. An attached cafe serves healthy food, but McDonalds is also a five-minute walk across the scenic bridge.
Parking: Coupon parking in front of the spa. Remember to give allowance for extended visits!
Reception: Pleasant girls who are very helpful and courteous. Sadly, it can sometimes be difficult to book a therapist of your choice.
Locker rooms: Tall lockers are provided with combination locks. However, the space inside the lockers is limited so avoid bringing large bags. A robe, towel, disposable brief, shower cap, comb and slippers are provided.
Steam room/sauna: The attached (wet/dry) facilities are small and seldom used.
Shower: Cute, rustic shower stalls made of curved metal pieces, which brings back memories of village showers. Rain shower is very comfortable, good quality body wash and shampoo are provided.
Massage: Skip their signature back rub and go for the Inner Respite, which is a better treatment. Therapists are friendly and accommodating, just tell them where you need different pressures. Treatment rooms are spacious and inviting. They may not always tell you, but you have a choice of scented oils to select from.
Lounge: Before or after your treatment, this is where you are picked up and dropped off after your treatment. Hot pandan ginger tea is served, or lemon-tinged water, together with two choices of biscuits. Nice place to unwind after a long day.
Overall a nice place to hangout at, pre/post massage treatment (remember your car park time!)
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!roughly how much?
22 May 2014 at 2:12 pm