This restaurant is located along Changi Coast Walk nearby where National Service Resort & Country Club is situated. It is a bit way out for those who dont drive but we understand that there is free 2-way shuttle bus services on weekends to ferry those people going to the resort chalets.
As the restaurant is facing the sea front, there are options to dine indoors or outdoors. As it was a cooling evening, we decided to enjoy the windy breeze on the outdoor front while witnessing the landing of planes in front of our view.
We have ordered the highly recommended signature dishes as recommended :
Gurame Goreng Ikan ( Fried Fish ) - their iconic fish that was deep fried to perfect golden brown that you could even eat the crispy bones. Yummy....
Sate Ayam ( Chicken Satay ) - juicy skewers of chicken thigh meat which are marinated well and grilled to excellent quality. Easy to bite off from skewers without dirtying our fingers or mouths
Udang Bakar ( Grilled Prawn ) - tiger prawns grilled in sweet sauce and sliced for easy removal of shells. Very considerate chef...prawns were fresh and springy
Tahu Kipas ( Fried Beancurb ) - Beancurds stuffed with chunky prawns and bits of vegetables before deep frying. Delicious and easy to eat for children and non spicy friends
Kangkong Udang ( Kangkong with prawns ) - vegetables were fried a bit soggy and not spicy at all but friends love it as they prefer this than those semi-raw taste by zi car stalls
Chendol ( dessert ) - not so sweet with good quality coconut milk and right amount of gula melaka syrup.
Overall, it was a good experience as staff were attentive to clear plates while we enjoy the sunset scenery.
Finding a place to sit and rest our tired legs turned out to be difficult as most of the food outlets are crowded with people standing and queuing for seats.
Spotted this relatively new restaurant that serves some variety of dim sum and food items.
Ordered the following :
- Deep Fried Mango Prawn Roll ( $5.80 ) - quite a disappointment as we hardly taste any mango. Only saw a few thin strips with small bits of prawns.
- Crispy Duck Roll ( $4.80 ) - this item is much better with the soft texture of duck meat and right sauce. It was palatable.
- Yuzu Marmite Chicken ( $15.50 ) - expensive considering that these are bite sized chicken meat but the marmite seasoning was well coated on the semi crispy meat.
- Baby French Beans with Dried Shrimps ( $12.80 ) - another expensive dish but serving was quite a big portion.
Overall, we may visit again for other dim sum items but not the dishes as most of them are over-priced for neighbourhood location.
We were quite fascinated by photos of dim sum varieties on their frontage. Since we are hungry, we dont mind to try some of their signature items.
The signboard displayed as Tea House which comes under the umbrella of Soup Restaurant. No wonder we browse through and realized that some of the food items having similar names and description as Soup Restaurant.
In the end, we decide to go for early dinner since their signature items consist mainly of dishes.
Tofu Prawns ( $18.90 ) - a bit expensive but when the dish arrived, we could see the fat and juicy medium sized prawns. That justified the price. The gravy is similar to chilli crab but abit watery.
Luffa Egg ( $9.90 ) - Luffa is related to cucumber family. Because of its smooth silky texture, it tasted delicious when fried with eggs.
Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish ( $10.90 ) - also a bit expensive considering this is a down to earth dish. Last to be served as their staff claimed that it will be freshly steamed and therefore, we waited almost half hour after finishing all other dishes.
Overall, dishes tasted palatable but price is on the high side. Staff consist mainly of elderly aunties which is admirable as they are friendly, polite and quick to attend to our requests.
Interior deco look retro and more like 60s concept with photos of female singers / actress hanging on the walls.
We were having lunch at Wolfgang Steakhouse, which has outlets in New York, Tokyo, Hawaii and now Singapore. There has been alot of hype surrounding the opening of its Singapore outpost but I've honestly never of it. Apparently Wolfgang used to be the head waiter at the legendary Peter Luger for 40 years before his son convinced him to come out of retirement to open the first Wolfgang Steakhouse in Manhattan.
Seated on the 2nd floor of the relatively new Intercontinental Singapore @ Robertson Quay (which took over the previous Gallery Hotel), the steakhouse exudes class and familiarity with its predominantly wooden interior, leather backed seats and limited views of the surrounding Robertson Quay through full length windows. It can get a little warm during the day though if you sit next to the windows.
Complimentary Bread - The bread basket consisted of baguette and onion bread. The former wasn't warm and came across as rock hard (not even the butter could save it) whilst the latter was fragrant but rather dry; even worse than the recently inferior one from Morton's.
Lobster Mac & Cheese - I think the QC on this was pretty bad. One side of it was overly charred (which gave it a bitter taste), while the other side was nicely done. Overall the non burnt portion was decent; gooey but a tad bland with a few pieces of lobster in it.
Sizzling Bacon - This thick cut of bacon came across as chunky with a good meat to fat ratio and a nice, crispy surface. However not as well done as Peter Luger's in my humble opinion.
Sauteed Mushrooms - Assorted mushrooms with onions and a whole lot of salt.
Pasta Pescatore - Al dente pasta topped with shrimp, lobster, clams and calamari. Unfortunately the marinara sauce tasted a little too watered down and not the least bit spicy (contrary to the description on the menu). Somehow this dish lacked any oomph.
Sirloin - This was part of the Taste of New York Set from the lunch menu. ~320g sirloin (inclusive bone, which worked out to be about 4 very thick slices of meat). The crisp exterior belied a chewy, medium rare center which was tender and juicy. However it was a little too salty for my liking (and trust me, I have a high tolerance for salt). Thankfully the restaurant's special sauce, a cross between BBQ sauce and ketchup, helped masked the saltiness.
Apple Strudel - A rather average dessert with the filo pastry a little too drenched from the sauce and an almost overwhelming taste of cinnamon. The apple slices were on the sourish side but the sweetness from the raisins balanced that out rather well. Nothing in the league of Morton's or Ruth Chris honestly.
New York Cheesecake - This was half a portion of cheesecake and came with the Taste of New York Set. To be honest, this was very good and definitely the best dish of the entire meal. Rich and dense layer at the top with a soft, spongy middle. Not overly sweet and better than alot of cheesecakes I've eaten.
Key Lime Pie - First time trying a Key Lime Pie and it was decent with the lime curd texture a little gelatin like and not too tart, on a crumbly biscuit crust.
Lunch for the 4 of us came up to almost $300, which isn't very expensive for a reputable steakhouse. Unfortunately food in general isn't too spectacular maybe because of the high salt content (we ordered a burger as well but had to send it back to the kitchen because the patty and onion rings were ridiculously salty. To their credit, the replacement dish was alot less salty). On the upside, service was excellent; attentive, friendly and obliging.
Situated in between industrial buildings, this place is not easy to locate unless you are a regular patron of their next door cafe called The Hideout.
We were quite impressed with this fusion cuisine cafe offering restaurant quality food at affordable prices. The menu displayed western food, pasta, sushi & ramen together with some side items and soups. Alcoholic drinks are also available for customers who want to chill out after a hard day's work.
We ordered a few of dishes as recommended by their young service staff and must say that the portion is big for one person.
Pan Seared Cajun Chicken Chop ( $8.80 ) - The chicken was pan fried which makes the skin crispy but the inner meat still tender and juicy. With the mildly spiced black pepper sauce, it was delicious. Generous amount of fries and fresh salad truly make this dish very filling.
Besides this, we also tried their Cajun Pork Chop ( $9.80 ) with the same black pepper sauce. We expected the meat to be tough but surprisingly, the chef has done a good job as the meat was tender and easy to chew.
Their mushroom soup is a bit watery though truffle oil was added but the garlic bread was toasted well as the butter lingers in the air when it is served in front of us.
Overall, this place is worth coming back as their variety of food is fantastic and with piped sentimental music being played while we enjoyed our food, it does bring back old memories.
It's been a while since our last visit to Imperial Treasure Teochew and since then, so much has changed. For starters, they relocated from Ngee Ann City to Ion Orchard and included the word "Fine" in their name. Oh and they recently garnered a Michelin star. Exciting times.
The place is certainly more upclass now and gone are the days of the rather cramp-ish interior with haphazard seating arrangements. Instead tall glass ceilings allow for tons of natural light and coupled with lots of wood, make for a more relaxing and refined dining environment. Do note that if you sit by the windows during the day, be prepared to soak in some heat; a little hot but still bearable.
Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Shark Cartilage - This came across as a little starchy and rather sweet. Not quite a fan honestly and rather pricey at $30 for such a small bowl. The Cantonese restaurants definitely do this better.
Doubled Boiled Pig's Stomach Soup with Salted Vegetables & Peppercorns - The soup was a tad too salty from the salted vegetables but I liked the peppery goodness of the peppercorns. Decent soup overall but I can get a better (and cheaper) rendition from one of the Teochew braised duck stalls that I usually patronise.
Chee Cheong Fun - Just for the kick of having some dim sum - a rather average rendition with the skin less than silky and a lacklustre char siew filling.
Three Kinds of Marinated Combination in Teochew Style - One of the hallmarks of Teochew cuisine, braised meat. We went with duck, pork belly and intestines and it was seriously underwhelming. The duck was thinly sliced and didn't come across as too tough but the gravy was a tad too sweet for my liking. Though the pig intestines were well cleaned, they lacked the crunchiness that I liked and came across as limp. Not to mention the pork belly with its >50% fat to meat ratio that honestly didn't go well with the sauce. The sole saving grace? Silky smooth beancurd slices hidden beneath. Apparently this is the Hong Kong style Teochew braise with its lighter flavours but I've had much better Teochew braise in Hong Kong. ie. Chan Kan Kee or Hung's Delicacies (which I make a point to patronise whenever I depart/transit HKIA).
Deep Fried Cod Fillet with Sauce - I had meant to order the pan fried version but made a mistake. Thankfully it turned out pretty good; crisp on the outside with sweet, flaky flesh on the inside. Ladled with mildly savoury sauce with lots of spring onions. Delicious.
Sauteed Prawn with Egg White in Italian White Truffle Oil - I usually prefer the scallop version but apparently prawns have substituted scallops for good (still can't quite accept that fact). The singular prawn was quite sizable and crunchy and of course the white truffle oil gave the whole dish a rather heady (and amazing) aroma.
Braised Spinach Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms - Now I've rather biased towards beancurd and it was quite delicious - crisp on the outside while soft and eggy on the inside. Topped with lots of mushrooms and sitting on a bed of spinach. Definitely my kind of dish.
Sauteed String Bean & Minced Meat with Preserved Black Olives - The string bean came across as a little too oily but at least it retained its crunchiness without coming across as overly raw. Average dish at best.
Teochew Fried Fish Noodles - Stir fried with beansprouts, chives and egg, the fish noodles had a nice springy texture to it but was way too oily for my liking. It was also a tad lacking in wok hei.
Sweetened Mashed Taro with Ginkgo - And finally, another ubiquitous Teochew dish, the humble but extremely time consuming to make Orh Nee. It looked dry and unappetising on the outside but was actually smooth, fragrant and moist without being too sweet. A great ending to our otherwise underwhelming meal.
With a $100 discount, lunch for the 4 of us came to about $232 (~$339 without discount), which isn't quite worth the money in my humble opinion. Food overall was acceptable but some dishes came across as too oily. Service was good but seemed to be shorthanded at times, especially when the restaurant was at full capacity.
To be honest, even though I'm quite a fan of the Imperial Treasure group (note the number of times I've been to the Cantonese outlet at Crowne Plaza), I fail to understand how this particular outlet is able to achieve 1 Michelin Star.
CUT Marina Bay Sands recently earned a star in the 2017 Michelin Singapore edition and we had elevated expectations of a great steak dinner (hopfully even surpassing that of Morton's in Singapore).
We were seated in a semi private enclave with just a single table at one corner of the dining room. I honestly don't know what to make of the decor except that it struck me as rather clinical, unlike that of Peter Luger Steak House in New York, which had a cosy and inviting feel to it.
Complimentary Bread - There were 3 rounds of complimentary bread; bread sticks, cheese puffs and an assortment of bread from a mobile tray. The sticks were nice - crisp with a strong cheese taste (tasted like goat cheese) while the puffs came across as light, fluffy and mildy cheesey. From the tray I had the pretzel (love the texture - soft, dense yet chewy but extremely salty!) and the onion bread (moist but a touch oily). So much bread to fill you up!
Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Fuji Apple-Yali Pear Salad, Sesame-Orange Dressing - This looked absolutely delicious with a sumptous fat to meat ratio of ~50%. Coupled with a rich layer of sweet maple glaze, it was a sure fire recipe for nausea. Thank god for the sliced apple and pear salad, though sweet, provided a nice refreshing crunch and much needed moisture. I personally think a tarter apple, ie. Granny Smith's, would work better though.
Alaskan King Crab & Shrimp "Louis" Cocktail, Spicy Tomato-Horseradish - This was a half sized portion because the chef split the original portion into 2 for sharing. Although I liked the crustecean combination of king crab and prawn together (with a medley of vegetables thrown in), it wasn't spectacular. I've definitely had better.
Double Thick Iberico Pork Chop, Rhubarb "Moustarda" - I liked how the surface of the pork chop was crisp (a wee bit to burnt though) while the meat (and fat) retained its tenderness and flavour. The meat was also well seasoned with a faint tartness (probably from the rhubarb). Decent but not as good as Gunther's rendition.
Hokkaido "Snow", Tomakomai, Filet Mignon - I had high hopes for this small piece (120g) of premium Japanese steak (heck you would too if it cost $245 ) but unfortunately it was disappointing to say the least. Although the marbling was very good, the meat was a little too soft for my liking at medium doneness and it lacked the beefiness that I personally like.
Cavatappi Pasta "Mac & Cheese", White Cheddar - It was our first experience with cavatappi (helical tube/cockscrew shaped pasta) but it wasn't a good one. The dish came across as very oily with a mild white cheddar cheese taste. We gave up after a couple of mouthfuls. Bird Bird definitely does a much better rendition.
Kaya Baked Alaska - Ironically, the Kaya Baked Alaska was the star of the evening. Reminiscent of a durian shell with its spiky edges, this dessert was essentially coconut cake with pandan ice cream and coconut sorbet encapsulated within a meringue on a crumble base and quickly torched. Deliciously sweet and I love how all the flavours come together to remind me of Kaya. Served with a "side" of coffee crumble.
The both of us spent ~$508 for a rather dissatisfying dinner. Service was good but food in general wasn't great and I fail to see how or why CUT was awarded a Michelin star. At this price point, I am way more inclined to stuff myself silly at Gunther's.
Bird Bird moved to the east a couple of months back and I chanced upon it while dropping by Cedele (a few doors down) one afternoon a few months back. I was hooked and made it a point to visit shortly after. Just for the record, I have been there quite a few times for lunch/brunch ever since.
Bird Bird occupies a corner unit along Frankel Avenue and parking is limited to the private estate behind (however you are free to park anywhere you like as long as you are able to evade the rather frequent patrols by the traffic wardens). The interior is kept simple with cement screed floors and wooden tables.
Cornbread Waffles - At $3 a piece, the cornbread waffles were relatively pricey. But by golly, they were worth it. Mildly sweet with a rather significant corn taste and served with smoked maple syrup. Definitely my kind of carbs. Just watch out - they get cold and limp rather fast so eat them while they are hot/warm.
Black Truffle Mac & Cheese - This was delicious; Al dente macaroni coupled with a light fragrance from the black truffle bits and a not too creamily rich sauce nursing a tinge of zest to keep nausea at bay. Topped with shavings of cheese and croutons for an extra crisp.
Brown Sugar Bacon Chop - I loved this as well. The thick cut bacon chop was seared and coated with a thin, brittle layer of caramalised sugar; sweet with salty undertones. A little different from the renditions of both Peter Luger and Clinton Street Baking, which do without the evident layer of sugar but equally delicious.
Signature Fried Chicken - Our order of half chicken consisted of 5 pcs from wing to breast. It looked absolutely mouth watering but unfortunately I found the seasoning a little underwhelming and not thorough enough. The meat was tender, juicy and moist but the skin was a little bland and lacked the oomph I was hoping for (in this respect, Southern Bird @ Marina Bay Sands does a better job). The signature gravy tasted like runny mashed potato gravy. Maybe the other chickens taste better?
Durian Softie Pie - An absolute crowd pleaser, the toasted milk softie had a light browned taste to it without coming across as too sweet. Topped with a generous scoop of durian pudding, white chocolate, sitting on an almond crust base and drizzled with gula melaka caramel for an added sweetness. Delicious and definitely a great way to end off the meal.
Brunch cost the 2 of us ~ $81, which isn't exactly cheap but I think it's worth the price for the above average quality of food in general. Service is decent but just be aware that the ventilation isn't great so you will walk out of the place smelling like your meal. Weekday lunch sets offer a much better value proposition so it would make better sense to go during lunch (you can even top up $5 for a durian softie!)
We had been meaning to drop by Riders Cafe for the longest time but somehow never managed to get to it until one overcast Saturday morning when we decided to go off the beaten track.
Located at the Bukit Timah Saddle Club in a charming colonial style building, Riders Cafe boasts great ventilation and views of a field and horses (sometimes - not to mention the smells too). Which is great if the weather is cooling (not too common in Singapore though) and you enjoy dining alfresco. The place is a constant buzz so reservations are advisable (I witnessed a few people being turned away without one).
Fried Chicken BLT - The chicken patty was well marinated with spices and came across as mildly sweet but not too dry. Topped with coleslaw, rather weak kimchi mayonnaise and sandwiched between two rather insipid buns. Still palatable though.
Riders Burger - I opted for the works; added mushrooms, bacon rashers and an egg. The Angus beef patty had bits of fat in it which made for a nice chewy texture. However the bovine flavours were a little muted and the bacon, a little limp. I liked the smooth creaminess the egg yolk provided though; a sort of gooey glue that brought everything together. Buns needed more butter and time on the grill in my humble opinion. Decent burger overall but no great shakes.
Death By Chocolate Cake - This was very sinful and oh so good (I'm definitely biased). A luscious slice of moist chocolate cake slathered with mildly viscous chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of ice cream. Watch out for the sweetness overload though.
Salted Caramel Brioche - Salted caramel brioche topped with a scoop of vanilla (not vanilla bean) ice cream and honeycomb. I liked the flavours; salty yet sweet. Unfortunately the brioche was rather inconsistent in texture - some were crisp while others came across as limp and stodgy. A bigger scoop of ice cream would also have been appreciated as towards the end, the brioche got a little too salty and there was no ice cream left to "dilute" it. Still a decent dessert nonetheless.
Our bill came up to ~$74 for 2 burgers and 2 desserts which isn't too expensive but food quality in general hovered a notch above average at best and service, though proficient enough, didn't seem quite friendly. The place is nice but given Singapore's humid weather most of the time, ambience alone isn't a big enough draw for me to return.
This casual dining outlet is located at one small corner of Raffles City basement. Anybody can easily walked pass without noticing if you have no craving for dim sum. We have a hard time trying to find the location as it happened to be a busy and crowded weekend.
We ordered some of their signature items such as :
1. Deep Fried Porcupine Bun with Red Bean Paste ($6.30 for 3 pcs)
The outer crust is crispy with inner lining soft and fluffy. The not-so-sweet red bean filling is just nice for our taste buds.
2. Deep Fried Shrimps Mango Roll ($7.20 for 3 pcs) - A little high priced item but the sweet fresh mango strip goes well with the succulent prawn which was top coated with sesame seeds.
3. Lean Meat Congee ($9.30) - We opt for this porridge without the century egg. The congee was smooth but a bit watery after a few stirs. True to HK style, it has a special aromatic taste.
4. Baked BBQ Pork Pastry ($5.00 for 3 pcs) - When we sliced to share, the crust broke into small bits. We can only eat the generous BBQ meat fillings.
4. Triple Combination BBQ Meat ($24.00) - this is by far the best dish. The BBQ pork (char siew) was grilled to perfection with bits of burnt parts and small areas of fats. The surface of roast meat was super crispy and we could hear cracking sounds when we chewed each piece. The roast duck was well marinated with sweetness and the meat was moist and juicy.
Overall, this place offers good environment and good food but prices are considerably high as compared to other dim sum restaurants. Service was good with attentive staff refilling our tea and water.
1=SGD 0.0587
This restaurant is located along Changi Coast Walk nearby where National Service Resort & Country Club is situated. It is a bit way out for those who dont drive but we understand that there is free 2-way shuttle bus services on weekends to ferry those people going to the resort chalets.
As the restaurant is facing the sea front, there are options to dine indoors or outdoors. As it was a cooling evening, we decided to enjoy the windy breeze on the outdoor front while witnessing the landing of planes in front of our view.
We have ordered the highly recommended signature dishes as recommended :
Gurame Goreng Ikan ( Fried Fish ) - their iconic fish that was deep fried to perfect golden brown that you could even eat the crispy bones. Yummy....
Sate Ayam ( Chicken Satay ) - juicy skewers of chicken thigh meat which are marinated well and grilled to excellent quality. Easy to bite off from skewers without dirtying our fingers or mouths
Udang Bakar ( Grilled Prawn ) - tiger prawns grilled in sweet sauce and sliced for easy removal of shells. Very considerate chef...prawns were fresh and springy
Tahu Kipas ( Fried Beancurb ) - Beancurds stuffed with chunky prawns and bits of vegetables before deep frying. Delicious and easy to eat for children and non spicy friends
Kangkong Udang ( Kangkong with prawns ) - vegetables were fried a bit soggy and not spicy at all but friends love it as they prefer this than those semi-raw taste by zi car stalls
Chendol ( dessert ) - not so sweet with good quality coconut milk and right amount of gula melaka syrup.
Overall, it was a good experience as staff were attentive to clear plates while we enjoy the sunset scenery.
Rating given:
Finding a place to sit and rest our tired legs turned out to be difficult as most of the food outlets are crowded with people standing and queuing for seats.
Spotted this relatively new restaurant that serves some variety of dim sum and food items.
Ordered the following :
- Deep Fried Mango Prawn Roll ( $5.80 ) - quite a disappointment as we hardly taste any mango. Only saw a few thin strips with small bits of prawns.
- Crispy Duck Roll ( $4.80 ) - this item is much better with the soft texture of duck meat and right sauce. It was palatable.
- Yuzu Marmite Chicken ( $15.50 ) - expensive considering that these are bite sized chicken meat but the marmite seasoning was well coated on the semi crispy meat.
- Baby French Beans with Dried Shrimps ( $12.80 ) - another expensive dish but serving was quite a big portion.
Overall, we may visit again for other dim sum items but not the dishes as most of them are over-priced for neighbourhood location.
Rating given:
We were quite fascinated by photos of dim sum varieties on their frontage. Since we are hungry, we dont mind to try some of their signature items.
The signboard displayed as Tea House which comes under the umbrella of Soup Restaurant. No wonder we browse through and realized that some of the food items having similar names and description as Soup Restaurant.
In the end, we decide to go for early dinner since their signature items consist mainly of dishes.
Tofu Prawns ( $18.90 ) - a bit expensive but when the dish arrived, we could see the fat and juicy medium sized prawns. That justified the price. The gravy is similar to chilli crab but abit watery.
Luffa Egg ( $9.90 ) - Luffa is related to cucumber family. Because of its smooth silky texture, it tasted delicious when fried with eggs.
Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Fish ( $10.90 ) - also a bit expensive considering this is a down to earth dish. Last to be served as their staff claimed that it will be freshly steamed and therefore, we waited almost half hour after finishing all other dishes.
Overall, dishes tasted palatable but price is on the high side. Staff consist mainly of elderly aunties which is admirable as they are friendly, polite and quick to attend to our requests.
Interior deco look retro and more like 60s concept with photos of female singers / actress hanging on the walls.
Rating given:
We were having lunch at Wolfgang Steakhouse, which has outlets in New York, Tokyo, Hawaii and now Singapore. There has been alot of hype surrounding the opening of its Singapore outpost but I've honestly never of it. Apparently Wolfgang used to be the head waiter at the legendary Peter Luger for 40 years before his son convinced him to come out of retirement to open the first Wolfgang Steakhouse in Manhattan.
Seated on the 2nd floor of the relatively new Intercontinental Singapore @ Robertson Quay (which took over the previous Gallery Hotel), the steakhouse exudes class and familiarity with its predominantly wooden interior, leather backed seats and limited views of the surrounding Robertson Quay through full length windows. It can get a little warm during the day though if you sit next to the windows.
Complimentary Bread - The bread basket consisted of baguette and onion bread. The former wasn't warm and came across as rock hard (not even the butter could save it) whilst the latter was fragrant but rather dry; even worse than the recently inferior one from Morton's.
Lobster Mac & Cheese - I think the QC on this was pretty bad. One side of it was overly charred (which gave it a bitter taste), while the other side was nicely done. Overall the non burnt portion was decent; gooey but a tad bland with a few pieces of lobster in it.
Sizzling Bacon - This thick cut of bacon came across as chunky with a good meat to fat ratio and a nice, crispy surface. However not as well done as Peter Luger's in my humble opinion.
Sauteed Mushrooms - Assorted mushrooms with onions and a whole lot of salt.
Pasta Pescatore - Al dente pasta topped with shrimp, lobster, clams and calamari. Unfortunately the marinara sauce tasted a little too watered down and not the least bit spicy (contrary to the description on the menu). Somehow this dish lacked any oomph.
Sirloin - This was part of the Taste of New York Set from the lunch menu. ~320g sirloin (inclusive bone, which worked out to be about 4 very thick slices of meat). The crisp exterior belied a chewy, medium rare center which was tender and juicy. However it was a little too salty for my liking (and trust me, I have a high tolerance for salt). Thankfully the restaurant's special sauce, a cross between BBQ sauce and ketchup, helped masked the saltiness.
Apple Strudel - A rather average dessert with the filo pastry a little too drenched from the sauce and an almost overwhelming taste of cinnamon. The apple slices were on the sourish side but the sweetness from the raisins balanced that out rather well. Nothing in the league of Morton's or Ruth Chris honestly.
New York Cheesecake - This was half a portion of cheesecake and came with the Taste of New York Set. To be honest, this was very good and definitely the best dish of the entire meal. Rich and dense layer at the top with a soft, spongy middle. Not overly sweet and better than alot of cheesecakes I've eaten.
Key Lime Pie - First time trying a Key Lime Pie and it was decent with the lime curd texture a little gelatin like and not too tart, on a crumbly biscuit crust.
Lunch for the 4 of us came up to almost $300, which isn't very expensive for a reputable steakhouse. Unfortunately food in general isn't too spectacular maybe because of the high salt content (we ordered a burger as well but had to send it back to the kitchen because the patty and onion rings were ridiculously salty. To their credit, the replacement dish was alot less salty). On the upside, service was excellent; attentive, friendly and obliging.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Situated in between industrial buildings, this place is not easy to locate unless you are a regular patron of their next door cafe called The Hideout.
We were quite impressed with this fusion cuisine cafe offering restaurant quality food at affordable prices. The menu displayed western food, pasta, sushi & ramen together with some side items and soups. Alcoholic drinks are also available for customers who want to chill out after a hard day's work.
We ordered a few of dishes as recommended by their young service staff and must say that the portion is big for one person.
Pan Seared Cajun Chicken Chop ( $8.80 ) - The chicken was pan fried which makes the skin crispy but the inner meat still tender and juicy. With the mildly spiced black pepper sauce, it was delicious. Generous amount of fries and fresh salad truly make this dish very filling.
Besides this, we also tried their Cajun Pork Chop ( $9.80 ) with the same black pepper sauce. We expected the meat to be tough but surprisingly, the chef has done a good job as the meat was tender and easy to chew.
Their mushroom soup is a bit watery though truffle oil was added but the garlic bread was toasted well as the butter lingers in the air when it is served in front of us.
Overall, this place is worth coming back as their variety of food is fantastic and with piped sentimental music being played while we enjoyed our food, it does bring back old memories.
Rating given:
It's been a while since our last visit to Imperial Treasure Teochew and since then, so much has changed. For starters, they relocated from Ngee Ann City to Ion Orchard and included the word "Fine" in their name. Oh and they recently garnered a Michelin star. Exciting times.
The place is certainly more upclass now and gone are the days of the rather cramp-ish interior with haphazard seating arrangements. Instead tall glass ceilings allow for tons of natural light and coupled with lots of wood, make for a more relaxing and refined dining environment. Do note that if you sit by the windows during the day, be prepared to soak in some heat; a little hot but still bearable.
Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Shark Cartilage - This came across as a little starchy and rather sweet. Not quite a fan honestly and rather pricey at $30 for such a small bowl. The Cantonese restaurants definitely do this better.
Doubled Boiled Pig's Stomach Soup with Salted Vegetables & Peppercorns - The soup was a tad too salty from the salted vegetables but I liked the peppery goodness of the peppercorns. Decent soup overall but I can get a better (and cheaper) rendition from one of the Teochew braised duck stalls that I usually patronise.
Chee Cheong Fun - Just for the kick of having some dim sum - a rather average rendition with the skin less than silky and a lacklustre char siew filling.
Three Kinds of Marinated Combination in Teochew Style - One of the hallmarks of Teochew cuisine, braised meat. We went with duck, pork belly and intestines and it was seriously underwhelming. The duck was thinly sliced and didn't come across as too tough but the gravy was a tad too sweet for my liking. Though the pig intestines were well cleaned, they lacked the crunchiness that I liked and came across as limp. Not to mention the pork belly with its >50% fat to meat ratio that honestly didn't go well with the sauce. The sole saving grace? Silky smooth beancurd slices hidden beneath. Apparently this is the Hong Kong style Teochew braise with its lighter flavours but I've had much better Teochew braise in Hong Kong. ie. Chan Kan Kee or Hung's Delicacies (which I make a point to patronise whenever I depart/transit HKIA).
Deep Fried Cod Fillet with Sauce - I had meant to order the pan fried version but made a mistake. Thankfully it turned out pretty good; crisp on the outside with sweet, flaky flesh on the inside. Ladled with mildly savoury sauce with lots of spring onions. Delicious.
Sauteed Prawn with Egg White in Italian White Truffle Oil - I usually prefer the scallop version but apparently prawns have substituted scallops for good (still can't quite accept that fact). The singular prawn was quite sizable and crunchy and of course the white truffle oil gave the whole dish a rather heady (and amazing) aroma.
Braised Spinach Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms - Now I've rather biased towards beancurd and it was quite delicious - crisp on the outside while soft and eggy on the inside. Topped with lots of mushrooms and sitting on a bed of spinach. Definitely my kind of dish.
Sauteed String Bean & Minced Meat with Preserved Black Olives - The string bean came across as a little too oily but at least it retained its crunchiness without coming across as overly raw. Average dish at best.
Teochew Fried Fish Noodles - Stir fried with beansprouts, chives and egg, the fish noodles had a nice springy texture to it but was way too oily for my liking. It was also a tad lacking in wok hei.
Sweetened Mashed Taro with Ginkgo - And finally, another ubiquitous Teochew dish, the humble but extremely time consuming to make Orh Nee. It looked dry and unappetising on the outside but was actually smooth, fragrant and moist without being too sweet. A great ending to our otherwise underwhelming meal.
With a $100 discount, lunch for the 4 of us came to about $232 (~$339 without discount), which isn't quite worth the money in my humble opinion. Food overall was acceptable but some dishes came across as too oily. Service was good but seemed to be shorthanded at times, especially when the restaurant was at full capacity.
To be honest, even though I'm quite a fan of the Imperial Treasure group (note the number of times I've been to the Cantonese outlet at Crowne Plaza), I fail to understand how this particular outlet is able to achieve 1 Michelin Star.
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Rating given:
CUT Marina Bay Sands recently earned a star in the 2017 Michelin Singapore edition and we had elevated expectations of a great steak dinner (hopfully even surpassing that of Morton's in Singapore).
We were seated in a semi private enclave with just a single table at one corner of the dining room. I honestly don't know what to make of the decor except that it struck me as rather clinical, unlike that of Peter Luger Steak House in New York, which had a cosy and inviting feel to it.
Complimentary Bread - There were 3 rounds of complimentary bread; bread sticks, cheese puffs and an assortment of bread from a mobile tray. The sticks were nice - crisp with a strong cheese taste (tasted like goat cheese) while the puffs came across as light, fluffy and mildy cheesey. From the tray I had the pretzel (love the texture - soft, dense yet chewy but extremely salty!) and the onion bread (moist but a touch oily). So much bread to fill you up!
Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Fuji Apple-Yali Pear Salad, Sesame-Orange Dressing - This looked absolutely delicious with a sumptous fat to meat ratio of ~50%. Coupled with a rich layer of sweet maple glaze, it was a sure fire recipe for nausea. Thank god for the sliced apple and pear salad, though sweet, provided a nice refreshing crunch and much needed moisture. I personally think a tarter apple, ie. Granny Smith's, would work better though.
Alaskan King Crab & Shrimp "Louis" Cocktail, Spicy Tomato-Horseradish - This was a half sized portion because the chef split the original portion into 2 for sharing. Although I liked the crustecean combination of king crab and prawn together (with a medley of vegetables thrown in), it wasn't spectacular. I've definitely had better.
Double Thick Iberico Pork Chop, Rhubarb "Moustarda" - I liked how the surface of the pork chop was crisp (a wee bit to burnt though) while the meat (and fat) retained its tenderness and flavour. The meat was also well seasoned with a faint tartness (probably from the rhubarb). Decent but not as good as Gunther's rendition.
Hokkaido "Snow", Tomakomai, Filet Mignon - I had high hopes for this small piece (120g) of premium Japanese steak (heck you would too if it cost $245 ) but unfortunately it was disappointing to say the least. Although the marbling was very good, the meat was a little too soft for my liking at medium doneness and it lacked the beefiness that I personally like.
Cavatappi Pasta "Mac & Cheese", White Cheddar - It was our first experience with cavatappi (helical tube/cockscrew shaped pasta) but it wasn't a good one. The dish came across as very oily with a mild white cheddar cheese taste. We gave up after a couple of mouthfuls. Bird Bird definitely does a much better rendition.
Kaya Baked Alaska - Ironically, the Kaya Baked Alaska was the star of the evening. Reminiscent of a durian shell with its spiky edges, this dessert was essentially coconut cake with pandan ice cream and coconut sorbet encapsulated within a meringue on a crumble base and quickly torched. Deliciously sweet and I love how all the flavours come together to remind me of Kaya. Served with a "side" of coffee crumble.
The both of us spent ~$508 for a rather dissatisfying dinner. Service was good but food in general wasn't great and I fail to see how or why CUT was awarded a Michelin star. At this price point, I am way more inclined to stuff myself silly at Gunther's.
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Rating given:
Bird Bird moved to the east a couple of months back and I chanced upon it while dropping by Cedele (a few doors down) one afternoon a few months back. I was hooked and made it a point to visit shortly after. Just for the record, I have been there quite a few times for lunch/brunch ever since.
Bird Bird occupies a corner unit along Frankel Avenue and parking is limited to the private estate behind (however you are free to park anywhere you like as long as you are able to evade the rather frequent patrols by the traffic wardens). The interior is kept simple with cement screed floors and wooden tables.
Cornbread Waffles - At $3 a piece, the cornbread waffles were relatively pricey. But by golly, they were worth it. Mildly sweet with a rather significant corn taste and served with smoked maple syrup. Definitely my kind of carbs. Just watch out - they get cold and limp rather fast so eat them while they are hot/warm.
Black Truffle Mac & Cheese - This was delicious; Al dente macaroni coupled with a light fragrance from the black truffle bits and a not too creamily rich sauce nursing a tinge of zest to keep nausea at bay. Topped with shavings of cheese and croutons for an extra crisp.
Brown Sugar Bacon Chop - I loved this as well. The thick cut bacon chop was seared and coated with a thin, brittle layer of caramalised sugar; sweet with salty undertones. A little different from the renditions of both Peter Luger and Clinton Street Baking, which do without the evident layer of sugar but equally delicious.
Signature Fried Chicken - Our order of half chicken consisted of 5 pcs from wing to breast. It looked absolutely mouth watering but unfortunately I found the seasoning a little underwhelming and not thorough enough. The meat was tender, juicy and moist but the skin was a little bland and lacked the oomph I was hoping for (in this respect, Southern Bird @ Marina Bay Sands does a better job). The signature gravy tasted like runny mashed potato gravy. Maybe the other chickens taste better?
Durian Softie Pie - An absolute crowd pleaser, the toasted milk softie had a light browned taste to it without coming across as too sweet. Topped with a generous scoop of durian pudding, white chocolate, sitting on an almond crust base and drizzled with gula melaka caramel for an added sweetness. Delicious and definitely a great way to end off the meal.
Brunch cost the 2 of us ~ $81, which isn't exactly cheap but I think it's worth the price for the above average quality of food in general. Service is decent but just be aware that the ventilation isn't great so you will walk out of the place smelling like your meal. Weekday lunch sets offer a much better value proposition so it would make better sense to go during lunch (you can even top up $5 for a durian softie!)
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Rating given:
We had been meaning to drop by Riders Cafe for the longest time but somehow never managed to get to it until one overcast Saturday morning when we decided to go off the beaten track.
Located at the Bukit Timah Saddle Club in a charming colonial style building, Riders Cafe boasts great ventilation and views of a field and horses (sometimes - not to mention the smells too). Which is great if the weather is cooling (not too common in Singapore though) and you enjoy dining alfresco. The place is a constant buzz so reservations are advisable (I witnessed a few people being turned away without one).
Fried Chicken BLT - The chicken patty was well marinated with spices and came across as mildly sweet but not too dry. Topped with coleslaw, rather weak kimchi mayonnaise and sandwiched between two rather insipid buns. Still palatable though.
Riders Burger - I opted for the works; added mushrooms, bacon rashers and an egg. The Angus beef patty had bits of fat in it which made for a nice chewy texture. However the bovine flavours were a little muted and the bacon, a little limp. I liked the smooth creaminess the egg yolk provided though; a sort of gooey glue that brought everything together. Buns needed more butter and time on the grill in my humble opinion. Decent burger overall but no great shakes.
Death By Chocolate Cake - This was very sinful and oh so good (I'm definitely biased). A luscious slice of moist chocolate cake slathered with mildly viscous chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of ice cream. Watch out for the sweetness overload though.
Salted Caramel Brioche - Salted caramel brioche topped with a scoop of vanilla (not vanilla bean) ice cream and honeycomb. I liked the flavours; salty yet sweet. Unfortunately the brioche was rather inconsistent in texture - some were crisp while others came across as limp and stodgy. A bigger scoop of ice cream would also have been appreciated as towards the end, the brioche got a little too salty and there was no ice cream left to "dilute" it. Still a decent dessert nonetheless.
Our bill came up to ~$74 for 2 burgers and 2 desserts which isn't too expensive but food quality in general hovered a notch above average at best and service, though proficient enough, didn't seem quite friendly. The place is nice but given Singapore's humid weather most of the time, ambience alone isn't a big enough draw for me to return.
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Rating given:
This casual dining outlet is located at one small corner of Raffles City basement. Anybody can easily walked pass without noticing if you have no craving for dim sum. We have a hard time trying to find the location as it happened to be a busy and crowded weekend.
We ordered some of their signature items such as :
1. Deep Fried Porcupine Bun with Red Bean Paste ($6.30 for 3 pcs)
The outer crust is crispy with inner lining soft and fluffy. The not-so-sweet red bean filling is just nice for our taste buds.
2. Deep Fried Shrimps Mango Roll ($7.20 for 3 pcs) - A little high priced item but the sweet fresh mango strip goes well with the succulent prawn which was top coated with sesame seeds.
3. Lean Meat Congee ($9.30) - We opt for this porridge without the century egg. The congee was smooth but a bit watery after a few stirs. True to HK style, it has a special aromatic taste.
4. Baked BBQ Pork Pastry ($5.00 for 3 pcs) - When we sliced to share, the crust broke into small bits. We can only eat the generous BBQ meat fillings.
4. Triple Combination BBQ Meat ($24.00) - this is by far the best dish. The BBQ pork (char siew) was grilled to perfection with bits of burnt parts and small areas of fats. The surface of roast meat was super crispy and we could hear cracking sounds when we chewed each piece. The roast duck was well marinated with sweetness and the meat was moist and juicy.
Overall, this place offers good environment and good food but prices are considerably high as compared to other dim sum restaurants. Service was good with attentive staff refilling our tea and water.
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