Craving for more Japanese food after Waraku, i brought my sister and gf out for lunch this lazy weekend. And being a lazy weekend, going too far is out of the question. Instead, we opted to try out a Japanese restaurant in the Heartlands @ Compass Point.
Miso Soup - I would have expected better from Wasabi but it was not meant to be, the miso was bland and hardly appetizing. The seaweed came in big pieces however and the tofu is soft and melts in your mouth. Still, the soup just isn't what it could have been.
Beef Don Cold Cha Soba Agedashi Tofu ($15.80) - Beef is teriyaki seasoned as usual and tastes as it should. Chewy, sweet and tender with simple but fragrant Japanese rice. The cold cha soba here is springy and chewy with a slight bitter green tea taste which totally dissipates when you dip it into the accompanying sauce. It then becomes sweet, slightly heady and extremely tasty. Notice the agedashi tofu wasn't shown? Yeah, thats because it wasn't really that good to begin with.
Katsudon ($9) - The first was a wrong order which served beef instead of pork. The second bowl came after we asked a serving lady who kindly helped us correct the issue. The second bowl was the real deal. Pork cutlet was not too crispy due to the egg on top but retained many of the juices that makes it delectable. Guess who ordered this dish? None other then my gf of course.
Soft Shell Crab ($5.50) - The crab came in 2 pieces and was quite small. It was very crispy and hot but lacked sweetness in its meat.
Ebi Curry Don Fried Chicken Cold Soba ($15.80) - I was quite surprised when my sister's order appeared. For the price, i did not expect 2 big prawns to be on the bowl. The prawns were not very sweet tasting however. And the only difference between cold soba and cha soba is the green tea taste. But that difference means everything because this pales in comparison to cha soba. The fried chicken side dish was surprisingly generous and tasted hot, tender and sweet as well.
The total bill came up to $54.25 for 3 people for lunch. Which isn't too much and was reasonably satisfying.
Not too bad a restaurant though you can't compare it to Waraku, Inagiku or Keyaki on the same standing. Still, for a simple Japanese meal, you can't really go wrong with this place.
Met up with Kelvin and Mr Sotong Bao again for dinner along with my gf. Our initial location was supposed to be at either a porridge buffet in Ang Mo Kio or a HDB Tai Tai recommendation called Bermuda Triangle around the area. However, they were not viable options as they were packed and so we traveled around searching for food till we found this place.
Cosy, quiet and small are the words you would use to describe the restaurant. Also to note was that the place was packed when we arrived. A good sign? Not in terms of service thats for sure, we had to wait about 10-15 minutes before our order was taken and table cleared.
Cheese and Tomato Bruschetta ($6.50) - Toasted bread with tomato and cheese. This has got to be a cruel joke since there's practically nothing worth merit on this item and its a complete waste of money. Next!
Haloumi Cheese ($6.50) - Deep fried cheese with tomato pizzaiola sauce. Personally, i've never had this before and after this, i probably will not order it again. Cheese was tasteless and forgettable.
Fish And Chips ($9.50) - The biggest of the lot in terms of main course servings. The owner was kind enough to point out that this is a dish for kids and seldom ordered for adults. The fillet was crispy and batter thin but the meat wasn't fresh and was generally tasteless. A point to note though is that, for a kids meal, the serving was a whole lot more then any of the other adult items we ordered. Maybe kids have it better?
Beef Stew ($19.50) - It came smelling fragrant but won't win any prizes for presentation. Beef was tender and quite sweet tasting but its more like a non spicy rendition of beef rendang. Not too bad but portion was small and definately not worth the money.
Grilled Chicken in Mushroom Sauce ($15) - My gf had this thinking it would be a healthy and light dish but it came swimming in olive oil. From the outset, it was oily and that signed the death warrant for this dish. The grilled chicken was oily AND tasteless. Bad move.
Tiramisu - Madam Q's signature dessert. Tiramisu seems to be a favorite order such that almost any eatery will have it simply to round out their menu. This rendition was at least decent in that it was sweet and the cake was evident though i do not detect much rum. The best item of the day but thats not saying alot since everything else bordered on failing.
$85.80 for a mediocre meal is just one meal too many for me.
Disappointment. For all the good service and nice ambiance going for it. All this places lacks is good food.
feizhusaid: I went back again when there were less people. Food is slightly better than the previous time, but still not up to standard. 21 Nov 2007 at 10:16 am
Lucardiasaid: Haha. So the conclusion is still not to visit again then. 22 Nov 2007 at 8:51 am
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Having heard quite a few good things about this place from friends and fellow bloggers, i was looking forward to my visit for this 'almost guaranteed' winner of a restaurant that has been touted as being reasonably priced and packing in the taste department. And as i was in the vicinity with Lord Thingy, i coerced him into giving me a treat at the place. =) Thanks again for the treat Thingy!!
Chef's Recommendation Hot Plate Xiao Long Bao ($4.80) - Our first item came out looking like a disappointment and it tasted like one too. Unlike the menu which touted it as a chef's recommendation, the picture showed the egg having other tasty ingredients like chili, vegetables and assorted minced meat but ours came looking nothing like the menu. The egg was tasteless apart from the hint of garlic used to fry it. The xiao long bao also did not fare too well as it came across as soggier then usual and broke too easily. The meat also didn't taste too fresh while the gravy within was too salty. Thingy didn't like it much too.
Beef Brisket La Mian ($7) - Another recommendation, this time by the waitress and sadly, another lacklustre item. The soup was practically tasteless which really brought the walls crashing down. Brisket was soft and tender albeit as tasteless as the broth. The la mian was the only redemption as it was springy to the taste. Overall a disappointment.
Golden Pastry ($5.50) - Another recommendation from the waitress (must take note never to trust waitresses), this is a salty pastry which is basically dough flattened and pan fried till its crispy and 'golden' in color with sesame seeds sprinkled over it. To me, all i tasted was flour, salted flour. Case closed.
Fried Rice ($10.50) - Now this item i've heard much about, the fried rice comes with generous amounts of chicken meat, prawns and ham scattered over rice thats fried with eggs and minimal butter. And yet, even this dish didn't pull through as it was a tad too salty and just didn't pack the flavors i've heard so much about. Thingy commented that the main branch served better fried rice then this place.
This unsatisfying, overcrowded and disappointing meal cost only a paltry $35.31 but thats a dollar too many in this case.
As i'm writing this, i can't help but wonder why they have such good reviews by my friends. Maybe i was there at the wrong time but this is simply not acceptable. Unless i'm getting another treat, i'm never forking a cent if this is the best they offer.
Polarbearsaid: I think u order the wrong things to eat. I am a big fan of this outlet and have to say that their food is up to standard. 20 Nov 2007 at 9:11 am
feizhusaid: I never found crystal jade's food good, merely average or slightly above that. 20 Nov 2007 at 9:55 am
Lucardiasaid: Oh, so what should i order then? 20 Nov 2007 at 10:30 am
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Sunday afternoons are known for being wonderful lazy times where i can just sit back, relax and forget having ever been in the Singapore workforce. So it is with this mindset that i met up 2 of my friends for lunch on this simple Sunday afternoon. After a little persuasion, i was brought to this obscure and small corner in Bugis for our little get together.
Getting past the rather obscure and weird location of being in a rather secluded corner of Bugis Junction, the restaurant held a certain laid-back and relaxed charm thats difficult to describe. With the noon sun shining in, the quiet and dimly lit surroundings still had soft lighting on, floral tablecloths adorned the simple wooden tables and antique items peppered the walls. All this creates a relaxed atmosphere which allows patrons like myself to take my own sweet time making orders and idle chit chat with my lunch partners for the day.
Cream Of Mushroom Soup With Salad (Set Lunch $23.50) - A simple rendition of the notorious mushroom soup that almost every restaurant seems to serve. This version had a strong mushroom taste and was lightly salted giving it an even finish when you taste it. My gf seemed to like it quite a bit but there were no mushrooms bits to be found and honestly, after a few more spoonfuls, it resembles campbell's but with more salt.
Hamburger Steak, Egg Wrapped Tomato Rice and Spaghetti Vongole - Presentation-wise, this was an easy winner. 200gm beef patty served with sunny side up, Japanese tomato rice wrapped in scrambled eggs and vongole. 3 radically different items from different origins on the same plate, creative! First up, i liked the tomato rice, possibly because i've never outgrown my love for ketchup and because the rice was Japanese rice, meaning it just tastes better. Not too sticky but full in texture and taste. Scrambled eggs with tomato ketchup and rice could have been a meal on its own for me. The hamburger steak was a new item or rather a new name for an old item in this case. It looked small when it came but start eating it and you'll find that it seems to grow with every bite. The beef was well marinated but salty, as was the accompanying sauce, add the 2 together and it becomes too salty for my liking. Could do well without the sauce. The vongole i had last, so its actually cold when i had it. Still, i liked it because its not oily but otherwise, its very normal. To summarize, this dish as a whole was nice but take any individual on its own and you may be disappointed.
Tonkatsu Set ($19.50) - My gf seems to be attracted to katsu for some reason as this is the second time she's ordered it in a Japanese restaurant. For me though, this is the first time i've ever seen so many ingredients in a miso soup. I was literally shocked when i saw the hidden vegetables in the thick broth. Also the first time i've seen miso with tofu or seaweed for that matter. I had a taste and it was very thick, full bodied and again, salty. Good nonetheless. The katsu was tasty, lightly breaded, has minimal oil residue and firm, juicy meat greets your taste buds. It also helps that the serving was pretty generous. The sauces you see are all for the katsu but i found it better off without the overly salty sauce provided.
Sirloin Steak ($19.50) - My friend ordered this for her lunch and i have to say the serving was small. The steak was served well done and had charred edges which wasn't really my idea of steak. The doneness also means the meat is tough and hard. Surprisingly, it still tastes reasonably decent this way so i'm wondering how it would be like given a medium rare doneness instead of being well done. Still, the portion size is a big no no for big eaters like myself.
The unique key used during payment which has to be brought to the cashier. Interesting concept. If only we could take the keys as souvenirs. =P
Complimentary Ice Cream - My gf had the black sesame ice cream which had a unique taste to it but not something i'd like to have on my own. And our lunch set came with a vanilla ice cream with smatterings of chocolate fudge which really isn't very special.
A very filling lunch for 4 people came up to $101.22 .
Nice place, decent but salty food and affordable price. I may be back because my sister's friend works there and can get us a decent discount the next time we visit. *winks* But otherwise, i would love to tell them to hold the salt instead of filling their items with it.
Japanese food, characterized by fresh ingredients, healthy cooking methods and poignant displays have held a special place in my heart ever since they were introduced into my life. And for one of my small food outings, we chose Waraku as a starting destination for future endeavors to come (also because Alvin had a staff discount of 10% at this place and i'm getting to eat for free. =P)
Agedashi Tofu ($6.80) - The tofu came after about 15-20 minutes from the time we ordered so i expected quite alot from it. The skin was crispy and hot while the sauce was cooler as was the tofu interior. Still, it doesn't quite impress me because it came alot later then necessary.
Ste.Nelge Organic Red Wine ($38) - Old habits die hard i suppose. Ordered this on a whim as i needed a quick wine fix and the fact that i've never had organic red wine before and was wondering about the difference. Well, the fact that i don't really like Sakae played a part too. This wine was easy on the taste palates with less body and minimal spices. Its sweet and very pleasant to drink with a wonderful fruity aftertaste. Perfect for red meats which we had.
Gyu Yanagawa Wazen ($16) - All i can say is, this at $16 is a steal. It comes with an reasonable serving of fresh beef slowly simmered till its cooked with a fresh egg on the side if you decide to put it into the pot. The stock used is sweet and resembled teriyaki sauce but is awesome when paired with the beef. You are also given a bowl of hot soba or udon and sesame rice to go with your beef. A small bowl of potato salad rounds off the package. The soba was decent but the beef stock is the star of this dish. Try it.
Tonkatsu Wazen ($15.50) - Pork cutlet fried to a golden brown in thin batter and bread crumbs. I liked the fact that the cutlet was not as oily as the process sounded and there were many juices still locked in the meat. There was also a lack of fatty layer in the meat which makes it easier to stomach. The udon i did not get to try however.
Kaminabe Wazen ($19.80) - Nicely arranged and served with rice, assorted tempura, salmon sashimi and a paper steamboat holding yet sweet tasting and fresh beef. The soup in this case is more towards those of tradional chinese medicinal chicken soup, only much sweeter and very tasty.
Houba Wazen ($19.80) - Similar to the set above except for the barbeque like set up for the beef and what i would describe as marinate thats tastes a little like Rendang. Still, the beef was fresh and sweet although i did not quite like the sauce.
The final bill came up to $122.77 after 10% discount for a satisfying and fun japanese meal.
Nice, cosy atmosphere and relaxed conversation plus decent and reasonably priced food with good service to boot. This is one place i will be back for seconds and maybe even thirds. However, do note that i only found my order Gyu Yanagawa Wazen very worthwhile due to the portion, price and taste. For the other set meals, some were good but would have fared better at a lower price. Either way, still coming back though.
1=SGD 0.0587
Miso Soup - I would have expected better from Wasabi but it was not meant to be, the miso was bland and hardly appetizing. The seaweed came in big pieces however and the tofu is soft and melts in your mouth. Still, the soup just isn't what it could have been.
Beef Don Cold Cha Soba Agedashi Tofu ($15.80) - Beef is teriyaki seasoned as usual and tastes as it should. Chewy, sweet and tender with simple but fragrant Japanese rice. The cold cha soba here is springy and chewy with a slight bitter green tea taste which totally dissipates when you dip it into the accompanying sauce. It then becomes sweet, slightly heady and extremely tasty. Notice the agedashi tofu wasn't shown? Yeah, thats because it wasn't really that good to begin with.
Katsudon ($9) - The first was a wrong order which served beef instead of pork. The second bowl came after we asked a serving lady who kindly helped us correct the issue. The second bowl was the real deal. Pork cutlet was not too crispy due to the egg on top but retained many of the juices that makes it delectable. Guess who ordered this dish? None other then my gf of course.
Soft Shell Crab ($5.50) - The crab came in 2 pieces and was quite small. It was very crispy and hot but lacked sweetness in its meat.
Ebi Curry Don Fried Chicken Cold Soba ($15.80) - I was quite surprised when my sister's order appeared. For the price, i did not expect 2 big prawns to be on the bowl. The prawns were not very sweet tasting however. And the only difference between cold soba and cha soba is the green tea taste. But that difference means everything because this pales in comparison to cha soba. The fried chicken side dish was surprisingly generous and tasted hot, tender and sweet as well.
The total bill came up to $54.25 for 3 people for lunch. Which isn't too much and was reasonably satisfying.
Not too bad a restaurant though you can't compare it to Waraku, Inagiku or Keyaki on the same standing. Still, for a simple Japanese meal, you can't really go wrong with this place.
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Cosy, quiet and small are the words you would use to describe the restaurant. Also to note was that the place was packed when we arrived. A good sign? Not in terms of service thats for sure, we had to wait about 10-15 minutes before our order was taken and table cleared.
Cheese and Tomato Bruschetta ($6.50) - Toasted bread with tomato and cheese. This has got to be a cruel joke since there's practically nothing worth merit on this item and its a complete waste of money. Next!
Haloumi Cheese ($6.50) - Deep fried cheese with tomato pizzaiola sauce. Personally, i've never had this before and after this, i probably will not order it again. Cheese was tasteless and forgettable.
Fish And Chips ($9.50) - The biggest of the lot in terms of main course servings. The owner was kind enough to point out that this is a dish for kids and seldom ordered for adults. The fillet was crispy and batter thin but the meat wasn't fresh and was generally tasteless. A point to note though is that, for a kids meal, the serving was a whole lot more then any of the other adult items we ordered. Maybe kids have it better?
Beef Stew ($19.50) - It came smelling fragrant but won't win any prizes for presentation. Beef was tender and quite sweet tasting but its more like a non spicy rendition of beef rendang. Not too bad but portion was small and definately not worth the money.
Grilled Chicken in Mushroom Sauce ($15) - My gf had this thinking it would be a healthy and light dish but it came swimming in olive oil. From the outset, it was oily and that signed the death warrant for this dish. The grilled chicken was oily AND tasteless. Bad move.
Tiramisu - Madam Q's signature dessert. Tiramisu seems to be a favorite order such that almost any eatery will have it simply to round out their menu. This rendition was at least decent in that it was sweet and the cake was evident though i do not detect much rum. The best item of the day but thats not saying alot since everything else bordered on failing.
$85.80 for a mediocre meal is just one meal too many for me.
Disappointment. For all the good service and nice ambiance going for it. All this places lacks is good food.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!I went back again when there were less people. Food is slightly better than the previous time, but still not up to standard.
21 Nov 2007 at 10:16 am
Haha. So the conclusion is still not to visit again then.
22 Nov 2007 at 8:51 am
Chef's Recommendation Hot Plate Xiao Long Bao ($4.80) - Our first item came out looking like a disappointment and it tasted like one too. Unlike the menu which touted it as a chef's recommendation, the picture showed the egg having other tasty ingredients like chili, vegetables and assorted minced meat but ours came looking nothing like the menu. The egg was tasteless apart from the hint of garlic used to fry it. The xiao long bao also did not fare too well as it came across as soggier then usual and broke too easily. The meat also didn't taste too fresh while the gravy within was too salty. Thingy didn't like it much too.
Beef Brisket La Mian ($7) - Another recommendation, this time by the waitress and sadly, another lacklustre item. The soup was practically tasteless which really brought the walls crashing down. Brisket was soft and tender albeit as tasteless as the broth. The la mian was the only redemption as it was springy to the taste. Overall a disappointment.
Golden Pastry ($5.50) - Another recommendation from the waitress (must take note never to trust waitresses), this is a salty pastry which is basically dough flattened and pan fried till its crispy and 'golden' in color with sesame seeds sprinkled over it. To me, all i tasted was flour, salted flour. Case closed.
Fried Rice ($10.50) - Now this item i've heard much about, the fried rice comes with generous amounts of chicken meat, prawns and ham scattered over rice thats fried with eggs and minimal butter. And yet, even this dish didn't pull through as it was a tad too salty and just didn't pack the flavors i've heard so much about. Thingy commented that the main branch served better fried rice then this place.
This unsatisfying, overcrowded and disappointing meal cost only a paltry $35.31 but thats a dollar too many in this case.
As i'm writing this, i can't help but wonder why they have such good reviews by my friends. Maybe i was there at the wrong time but this is simply not acceptable. Unless i'm getting another treat, i'm never forking a cent if this is the best they offer.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!I think u order the wrong things to eat. I am a big fan of this outlet and have to say that their food is up to standard.
20 Nov 2007 at 9:11 am
I never found crystal jade's food good, merely average or slightly above that.
20 Nov 2007 at 9:55 am
Oh, so what should i order then?
20 Nov 2007 at 10:30 am
Getting past the rather obscure and weird location of being in a rather secluded corner of Bugis Junction, the restaurant held a certain laid-back and relaxed charm thats difficult to describe. With the noon sun shining in, the quiet and dimly lit surroundings still had soft lighting on, floral tablecloths adorned the simple wooden tables and antique items peppered the walls. All this creates a relaxed atmosphere which allows patrons like myself to take my own sweet time making orders and idle chit chat with my lunch partners for the day.
Cream Of Mushroom Soup With Salad (Set Lunch $23.50) - A simple rendition of the notorious mushroom soup that almost every restaurant seems to serve. This version had a strong mushroom taste and was lightly salted giving it an even finish when you taste it. My gf seemed to like it quite a bit but there were no mushrooms bits to be found and honestly, after a few more spoonfuls, it resembles campbell's but with more salt.
Hamburger Steak, Egg Wrapped Tomato Rice and Spaghetti Vongole - Presentation-wise, this was an easy winner. 200gm beef patty served with sunny side up, Japanese tomato rice wrapped in scrambled eggs and vongole. 3 radically different items from different origins on the same plate, creative! First up, i liked the tomato rice, possibly because i've never outgrown my love for ketchup and because the rice was Japanese rice, meaning it just tastes better. Not too sticky but full in texture and taste. Scrambled eggs with tomato ketchup and rice could have been a meal on its own for me. The hamburger steak was a new item or rather a new name for an old item in this case. It looked small when it came but start eating it and you'll find that it seems to grow with every bite. The beef was well marinated but salty, as was the accompanying sauce, add the 2 together and it becomes too salty for my liking. Could do well without the sauce. The vongole i had last, so its actually cold when i had it. Still, i liked it because its not oily but otherwise, its very normal. To summarize, this dish as a whole was nice but take any individual on its own and you may be disappointed.
Tonkatsu Set ($19.50) - My gf seems to be attracted to katsu for some reason as this is the second time she's ordered it in a Japanese restaurant. For me though, this is the first time i've ever seen so many ingredients in a miso soup. I was literally shocked when i saw the hidden vegetables in the thick broth. Also the first time i've seen miso with tofu or seaweed for that matter. I had a taste and it was very thick, full bodied and again, salty. Good nonetheless. The katsu was tasty, lightly breaded, has minimal oil residue and firm, juicy meat greets your taste buds. It also helps that the serving was pretty generous. The sauces you see are all for the katsu but i found it better off without the overly salty sauce provided.
Sirloin Steak ($19.50) - My friend ordered this for her lunch and i have to say the serving was small. The steak was served well done and had charred edges which wasn't really my idea of steak. The doneness also means the meat is tough and hard. Surprisingly, it still tastes reasonably decent this way so i'm wondering how it would be like given a medium rare doneness instead of being well done. Still, the portion size is a big no no for big eaters like myself.
The unique key used during payment which has to be brought to the cashier. Interesting concept. If only we could take the keys as souvenirs. =P
Complimentary Ice Cream - My gf had the black sesame ice cream which had a unique taste to it but not something i'd like to have on my own. And our lunch set came with a vanilla ice cream with smatterings of chocolate fudge which really isn't very special.
A very filling lunch for 4 people came up to $101.22 .
Nice place, decent but salty food and affordable price. I may be back because my sister's friend works there and can get us a decent discount the next time we visit. *winks* But otherwise, i would love to tell them to hold the salt instead of filling their items with it.
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Agedashi Tofu ($6.80) - The tofu came after about 15-20 minutes from the time we ordered so i expected quite alot from it. The skin was crispy and hot while the sauce was cooler as was the tofu interior. Still, it doesn't quite impress me because it came alot later then necessary.
Ste.Nelge Organic Red Wine ($38) - Old habits die hard i suppose. Ordered this on a whim as i needed a quick wine fix and the fact that i've never had organic red wine before and was wondering about the difference. Well, the fact that i don't really like Sakae played a part too. This wine was easy on the taste palates with less body and minimal spices. Its sweet and very pleasant to drink with a wonderful fruity aftertaste. Perfect for red meats which we had.
Gyu Yanagawa Wazen ($16) - All i can say is, this at $16 is a steal. It comes with an reasonable serving of fresh beef slowly simmered till its cooked with a fresh egg on the side if you decide to put it into the pot. The stock used is sweet and resembled teriyaki sauce but is awesome when paired with the beef. You are also given a bowl of hot soba or udon and sesame rice to go with your beef. A small bowl of potato salad rounds off the package. The soba was decent but the beef stock is the star of this dish. Try it.
Tonkatsu Wazen ($15.50) - Pork cutlet fried to a golden brown in thin batter and bread crumbs. I liked the fact that the cutlet was not as oily as the process sounded and there were many juices still locked in the meat. There was also a lack of fatty layer in the meat which makes it easier to stomach. The udon i did not get to try however.
Kaminabe Wazen ($19.80) - Nicely arranged and served with rice, assorted tempura, salmon sashimi and a paper steamboat holding yet sweet tasting and fresh beef. The soup in this case is more towards those of tradional chinese medicinal chicken soup, only much sweeter and very tasty.
Houba Wazen ($19.80) - Similar to the set above except for the barbeque like set up for the beef and what i would describe as marinate thats tastes a little like Rendang. Still, the beef was fresh and sweet although i did not quite like the sauce.
The final bill came up to $122.77 after 10% discount for a satisfying and fun japanese meal.
Nice, cosy atmosphere and relaxed conversation plus decent and reasonably priced food with good service to boot. This is one place i will be back for seconds and maybe even thirds. However, do note that i only found my order Gyu Yanagawa Wazen very worthwhile due to the portion, price and taste. For the other set meals, some were good but would have fared better at a lower price. Either way, still coming back though.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!Been there once. Quite like the place also.
19 Nov 2007 at 3:09 pm