Hold that thought.

We've moved!

2008-04-03T23:50:00.004+08:00

Dear Reader,

From this day forth, food-for-your-thoughts will be known as Charlinary.com...I'm gradually making the change over to this new site at the moment. Fret not, your food updates are available at http://charlinary.wordpress.com

And for more updates do join Charlinary.com's Facebook group at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4661603140

Thank you for your loyal support!

Cheers,
Char

Crêperie des Arts

2008-01-15T00:31:00.000+08:00

Crêperie des Arts was started in November 2007 by French Chef Johan Aubertin, who hails from Brittany, on the west coast of France. Coincidentally, Brittany is the very place where the world smelt the very first wafts of lovely French crêpes. The sounds of French music pulsates throughout this quaint little restaurant the moment you step inside. Their waitresses are very friendly and attentive, so do ask them for their recommendations.
You will find sweet and savoury galettes (the name given in most French crêperies to savoury buckwheat crêpes), as well as simply delightful desserts on their menu. My boyfriend and I started our dinner with a cup of traditional French apple cider (Valderance Cider - Doux, 2% alc.) in hand. However, the very first sip prompted us to order a bottle instead. The cider is also available in Brut (5% alc.), priced at $7/cup, and $24/bottle (75 cl). If you are looking for a salad that is different, go ahead and try Seguin ($13.90), a mesclun salad of toasted goat cheese with herbs, sauteed bacon, and vinaigrette for an appetizer.

When it come to entrees, there is no shortage of variety with galettes and crêpes that encompasses meat, seafood, and vegetable fillings. I ordered their Saint Caradec ($17.90), a galette filled with scallops flambéed with lambic (a type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium), and topped with a creamy leek fondue. The unique combination of flavours was nicely contrasted against its buckwheat base, and went perfectly well with the apple cider.

Meat lovers should tuck into Pont-Scorff ($16.90), a galette paired with delicious ground beef, onions, freshly-made tomato sauce, and mushrooms. One thing to bear in mind while dining at Crêperie des Arts is that you should always leave room for dessert. You will not regret it.

Even the simplest crêpe on the menu, a humble Salted Caramel Butter crêpe ($8.90), can elicit a pleasurable response. All dessert crêpes are made from wheat flour, whilst the galettes are made from buckwheat flour (no gluten). Therefore, you need not worry too much about excessive calories just yet. Bring your girlfriends here for an evening tête-à-tête and savour famous French dessert offerings like Crêpes Suzette, or simply unwind after a long day's work with your loved ones.

/prices stated not incl. 7% GST & 10% Svc Charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 9/10
Price - $$ to $$$
Service - 9/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6333 5330 (call for lunch reservations)

Address:
44 Prinsep Street
Singapore 188673

Opening hours:
weekdays: 5-11pm
weekends: 4.30-11.30pm
/Closed Mondays

Dress code: casual
Buses: 857, 65, 147, 131...
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut

Les Bouchons

2007-11-22T17:23:00.000+08:00

Les Bouchons is a quaint French restaurant tucked away in a lil nook at the edge of Robertson Quay. It is located within metres of the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, overlooking the river. This restaurant took over the premises from now-defunct Rivercafe, a restaurant that served authentic Australian cuisine. As you can see, the cosy decor has a Parisian street vibe going on, a departure from the norms of uber-chic French dining. A huge chandelier of sorts hangs overhead, with fake candles that create an illusory vision of warmth in the restaurant. In line with their humble decor, Les Bouchons serves up humble French fare as well, together with the staples of French cuisine like foie gras. I had my birthday dinner here with my boyfriend, who wisely picked a great place without my prompting. Kudos to him.

First up, we ordered their infamous Plats ($28) for main courses. This one on your right is the Ribeye with Vigneron Butter, served with a mountain of irresistable fries, one of the best I've ever tasted (Good news is: It's free-flow fries if you order a plat!) Each morsel of steak oozed delectable appeal, leaving you hungry for more with each bite. It was juicy, well-marinated in wine and their house recipe, tenderised, and grilled to perfection. 2 thumbs & 2 pinkies up for this steak, cos you should be calling to make a dinner reservation here the next chance you get!

Another steak to consider would be the Sirloin steak, another plat that is served in a similar manner, with the stamp of a skilled griller on its side. You might want to note that Les Bouchons' House Red goes wonderfully well with all the steaks. Food for thought: beef sirloin is cut from the lower portion of the ribs, and is divided into several types of steak. The top sirloin is the most prized of these. The bottom sirloin is less tender, much larger, and is what you would typically find in supermarkets when you do your grocery shopping. On the other hand, the ribeye is a beef steak from the beef rib. When cut into steaks, the ribeye is one of the most popular, juiciest, and expensive steaks on the market. Meat from the rib section is tender and fattier (the meat is said to be "marbled") than other cuts of beef. This extra fat makes ribeye steaks and roasts especially tender and flavorful.

So calling all meat-lovers & carnivores! These steaks make great dinner.

++All definitions were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org

//Prices not inclusive of +++

Taste - 8.5/10
Price - $$$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6733 4414

Address:
Singapore Tyler Print Institute #01-01
41 Robertson Quay (S)238236

Opening hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 2pm
Dinner: 7pm - 10pm

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 143, 64, 123...
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NEL)

Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie - Paragon

2007-09-29T23:51:00.001+08:00

Canelé Pâtisserie is fast-becoming Bakerzin's biggest rival with a new outlet in Paragon in addition to their main one at Roberston Walk! This June, the guys behind Canelé have also opened a new dessert restaurant named Macaron located next to Canelé at Robertson Walk. So who's the man behind Canelé's continued success? He's Executive Pastry Chef Pang Kok Keong

Not many people know this, but I'm a huge fan of Canelé's breads. Those who know me even better will know that I'm a picky bread-eater. So that must say something about their breads right?

I'd recommend that you try their Croque Madame ($11.50). It's a home-made white toast bread with ham & Swiss gruyere cheese, sunny side up and salad with house dressig on the side. Great sandwich.

On our right we've got the Club Honey Baked Ham ($12), another white toast bread sandwich with yummy honey baked ham, omelette, mayonnaise, juicy tomato, chips & greens with house dressing on the side! These aren't exactly bite-sized and they sure pack quite a mouthful into it. Loved the chips. They make great nibbles for in-between chatting and waiting for friends.

Now if there's 1 thing you absolutely have to try at Canelé, it's gotta be their crepes. ANY CREPE. This one over here is their Savoury Crepe
with smoked salmon ($13.50), with red onion, capers and dill cream cheese. Generous portions of smoked salmon, and the cream cheese didn't overpower the overall taste of the crepe. I'd say this one's awesome for smoked salmon lovers out there.

If you're looking for something a little lighter or grabbing a quick bite for lunch, get the Chicken Stew ($11.50) with leek, carrot, button mushroom, onion, perfumed with Provencal herbs. Served with Bread Basket. This "little" stew is deceptively simple in appearance, but it'll satisfy your hunger pangs real quick.

Last but not least...Canelé's specialty: Dessert!

Meet my personal favourite: The Strawberry Tart. I believe this image over here can speak for itself. Don't forget to try their humble Nutella Pie, you won't regret it. There's way too many good desserts at this place, so feel free to take your pick at the display counter. I'm not keen on their chocolates though, as I felt that the chocolate couvertures were not great. For chocolates I'd still prefer Prestat Fine Chocolates or Laurent Bernard's chocolates at The Chocolate Factory.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Locations:
Robertson Walk

11 Unity Street, #01-09
Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995

Email : pang@lesamis.com.sg
Telephone : (65) 6738-8145
Facsimile : (65) 6738-8146
Dress Code: : Casual

Opening Hours
Monday to Wednesday : 10 am – 8 pm
Thursday to Saturday : 10 am – 11 pm
Sunday : 10 am – 6 pm

Paragon

B1-25 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road

Telephone : (65) 6733-8893
Opening Hours : 11am to 10pm daily

Cathay Popiah

2007-08-24T18:19:00.000+08:00

What is one to do when faced with a HUMONGOUS popiah craving?

Well, fulfill it.

Head on down to Tekka Market Food Centre before dinnertime! Visit the tiny Cathay Popiah stall that sells popiahs with the crunchiest garlic bits, generous portions of egg & turnip a.k.a bang kwang.

Each piece of popiah is cut into 7 pieces - great for sharing , and
you won't get a soggy piece of popiah. I personally dislike popiahs that are overloaded with sauces, as if they were trying to overcompensate for the lack of quality. Each popiah roll is priced at $1.50 a tad pricey for popiah these days, but you're paying for quality ingredients & a satisfied craving.

What are you waiting for?

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8.5/10
Price - $
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Address:
Tekka Market Food Centre, near the famous duck rice stall.

Opening hours: Morning till late afternoon

Buses: 23, 64, 65, 131, 139, 857, 147...

Nearest MRT: Little India Stn (NEL)

The Book Cafe

2007-08-20T00:11:00.000+08:00

The Book Cafe is my choice for a lazy breakfast or a nice cuppa on a rainy day. You can curl up with a good book on comfy sofas, check your emails on your laptop, grab some food & drinks...and . I've got friends who have fallen head over heels with the place after I brought them there. This cozy hideout is at the edge of Robertson Quay, away from the maddening crowd. Regulars over here include residents from the area and other fans from around. I must say that they've got a rather impressive selection of magazines. They also sell ice-cream from The Daily Scoop at Sunset Way in Clementi! Fabulous stuff.

[above] from left to right: Their Sourdough bread was a crisply-toasted slice, topped with fluffy egg white (low-cholestoral!), seasonal mushrooms and salad on the side. The sourdough was a tad too dry for my liking, but the mushrooms had a robust flavour that complemented the scrumptious egg white. Next up, a mouthwatering bowl of Salmon Noodle Soup, perfect for keeping warm on rainy days. Pieces of fried salmon are hidden in a bowl of flavorsome broth, enriched with a tinge of cooking wine. This is one of my favourites, and I never fail to polish off every last drop of soup. Another favourite of mine is the Chicken Aglio Olio with colourful bell peppers, lime, and other spices. It had just the right amount of extra virgin olive oil, a zesty burst of lime that balanced off the spiciness of the peppers. Yummylicious! Last but not least, we've got a hearty steak served with 2 sunny-side ups, fries, and a juioy grilled tomato.

To top it off, their drinks are a must-try too! The strawberry lemonade is an awesome combination of carbonated lemonade and fresh strawberry bits, and their quirky lychee drink makes a refreshing thirst-quencher.

Do drop by this lil cafe while you can, cos great places like this don't remain hush-hush for long in our sunny lil isle as...

/prices stated not incl. GST (7%) & CESS (1%). No Svc Charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 9/10
Price - $$ to $$$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6887 5430

Address:
20 Martin Road
Seng Kee Building, #01-02
Singapore 239070
(near Butter Factory at Robertson Quay)

Opening hours:
Sun-Thu: 8.30am - 10.30pm
Fri-Sat: 8.30am - 12am

Dress code: casual
Buses: 123, 143, 64..
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay Stn (NEL)

Sup Sip / Vis-a-Vis

2007-07-20T00:53:00.000+08:00

For the benefit of those who might not know this: Sup Sip Thai Cuisine is part of Vis-a-Vis Fine French Dining. Both menus are offered to patrons on the restaurant's premises. One might find the location of this cosy lil nook rather obscure. The restaurant is a 2-storey shophouse unit sandwiched between small pubs. However do not be quick to judge, as Vis-a-Vis has been around for 15 years. In their present location, they've successfully built up a pool of regular patrons with their excellent cuisine and wonderful service over the years.

I brought the boyfriend here to celebrate an early birthday for him. We had the intention of having french for dinner, but was gently persuaded otherwise by our waiter for the night. His name was Francis and he gave us excellent service from the moment we stepped in, till we left. First of all he recommended a entirely fresh fruit blend of pink grapefruit, banana & zesty orange - priced at $6.50/gls It was a huge glass of juice though, so don't underestimate it. That drink was not only very refreshing, it was also the reason why our tummies didn't make it to dessert.

We ordered a 4-pc Thai crispy prawn tofu appetizer ($8), to start off our meal. It was served with a tangy-sweet Thai sauce that complemented the tofu very well. The dish may look rather ordinary here, but the beancurd skin was light & crispy. And most importantly, not oily. This 1 has my thumbs up.

Fans of my favourite meat rejoice! Sup Sip's Beef Jaek or beef steak was a pleasant surprise. I was half-expecting the meat to be slightly dry, because beef if overcooked with spices can end up with that result. In comparison to the beef dishes I've tried in Bangkok, this was a zesty combination of a number of spices. Each slice of beef was thinly-sliced and soaked in gravy. The gravy was slightly peppery and tasted a lil of lime. It all went very well with white rice.

This Red Snapper ($24) was so highly-recommended by Francis, that we could not resist ordering it. I must say that we were not disappointed. This fish was served crispy, immersed in a gravy that doubles up as a soup! No kidding. In fact, Francis told us that many patrons often order this dish to eliminate the need to order a soup to go with their meal. Rest assured that your fish & "soup" will remain hot & spicy all night long - it's kept warm by a flame below. Well not exactly a flame, because the heat emitted from it makes the centre of the dish boil slightly. Caution: Slurp-worthy Thai Tom-Yam/Zesty-Lime gravy is mildly spicy but served piping hot! I know, you must be thinking: Tom Yam? Now put that thought aside, because I used those words for a lack of a better substitute. It tasted nothing like tom yam! The taste was uniquely different from the typical thai food we're used to.

I'll end this entry with a few tips:

1. Visit Vis-a-Vis if you want to impress a date, cos you can order from their French AND Thai menus.

2. Book this place if you're planning a private function for close friends & family. They've got an upper floor to accomodate approx. 80 pax & a cosy, intimate dining experience to offer along with AWESOME service!

3. Grab a business lunch with a client at this place with their set lunch specials that change daily. Call them to find out more!

/all prices stated not incl. of +++
restaurant images are by Robert Steiner, taken from Streetdirectory.com

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 9/10
Price - $$$
Service - 10/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6468 7433

Address:
12 Chun Tin Road Singapore 599599
(Opposite Beauty World)

Email: vins@pacific.net.sg
Website: Vis-a-Vis

Opening hours:
9am to 10.30pm daily

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 985, 985W, 61, 157, 184...

Hua Yi Kitchen

2007-07-20T00:15:00.000+08:00

Hua Yi Kitchen at International Building is tucked away in a little corner on the 2nd floor next to Rice Table & opposite Coca Steamboat. For those in search of affordable Shanghainese cuisine, this would fit the bill. This place sells delicious hand-made noodles such as zha jiang mian, jiao zi, guo tie & many others. A colleague of mine was the one who discovered this little gem and introduced it to me.

I recommend their Beef brisket noodles ($4.50) available in soup/dry. The soup version has a clear beef broth with tender slices of beef brisket. Each slice was juicy and had little fats attached to it. Once you start on the soup, you will find that it grows on your tastebuds. The noodles are thick and non-chewy, but lack a smooth texture. Some would say that this is typical of hand-made noodles, so it could be just my opinion. Generous amounts of leafy greens can be found in this bowl, so rest assured that you will receive your daily serving.

While your at it, do order their Guo Tie - 8pcs ($5.80) It is cooked the typical Shanghainese way where each piece is steamed & fried slightly on 1 side till it becomes a rich golden brown. Dip these in vinegar & plonk it in your mouth together with ginger slices...yums. Rest assured that Hua Yi Kitchen provides abundant amounts of both to complement your appetizer.

I haven't had the chance to try anything else from this place yet, but I will definitely re-visit it. It's a nice quiet spot away from the maddening crowd. Although the place is small, the food is decent & the lunch crowd tends to fluctuate rather unpredictably. So you might want to call them beforehand, or just drop by to try your luck.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 7/10
Price - $$
Service - 6/10
Ambience - 6/10
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6235 3156

Address:
360 Orchard Road
International Building (next to Shaw Centre aka Lido)
#02-11/12

Opening hours: 11.30am-3pm / 5.30pm-9.30pm daily

Dress code: casual
Buses: 174, 123, 7, 105, 36, 132, 77...

My Secret Garden

2007-05-13T19:48:00.000+08:00

Are you someone who craves for an intimate dining experience in a quiet, idyllic environment? If the answer is a resounding YES! then this place is perfect for you. Contrary to what the owners of My Secret Garden may think, their lil secret nook isn't that much of a secret anymore now that they've been featured on the locally telly. However I'm certain that discerning foodies who've long discovered this hidden location have counted themselves as 1 of their regular clientele. To your left, we have the alfresco dining area. For the benefit of those who require a smoking area, I'm afraid there isn't one. Their indoor seating capacity is able to accomodate approx. 60 pax, but I wouldn't count on it if I were you. Make a reservation!

The Seafood Aglio Olio ($20) came with generous portions of succulent scallops, mussels, prawns, squid & clams. Each strand of pasta was coated with just the right amount of olive oil. Personally this is something that I look out for whenever I taste an aglio olio pasta. Some restaurants tend to drench the pasta in olive oil, treating it like a sauce. A good aglio olio should be lightly coated with it and done al dente with a hint of garlic & parsley.

If you are a fan of white meats, do give the Pan-seared Cilantro Chicken ($18) a shot. It is a refreshing change from your typical chicken chop with a tangy-sweet mango dressing, topped with bell peppers and zucchini. Select from a choice of chicken thigh or chicken breast, accompanied by mashed potatoes. I must add that the mashed potatoes make a very yummy side! Very healthy main course we have here. If you're someone who loves their staple main course such as the Ribeye Steak ($25), theirs will not disappoint. The delicious sauce that tops your steak is a house blend made with red wine & a savoury brown sauce, grilled to perfection. I would recommend that you order the house red wine ($12/gls), a malbec that's selected specially to complement your steak.

Now let's introduce dessert! In my opinion, the desserts on the menu outshine most of the items on the menu. The Blueberry Cheese Cake ($7) is an absolute must-try! It is by far THE BEST blueberry cheese cake I've tried, ever. The biscotti crust is thick, and the cheese is light and fluffy. You will not taste any whipped cream, and their homemade blueberry dressing is made with the freshest blueberries. This lovely dessert you see on your right is Berry in Love ($8) - only available during dinner. It is fresh strawberries with mascarpone cheese, mint, sugar icing mixed with a raspberry vinaigrette. ++Mascarpone is a triple-creme cheese, made from a generally low-fat (25%) content fresh cream. It's made from the milk of cows that have been fed special grasses filled with fresh herbs and flowers. A dessert that's simply divine, it will tease your tastebuds and make you want more...

Need I say more? Visit this joint anytime you need a place to celebrate a special occasion!

//prices stated not inclusive of +++

++definition taken from http://www.heavenlytiramisu.com

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8.5/10
Price - $$$
Service - 9/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 7.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: 6334 8334

Address:
161 Middle Road Singapore 188978

Website: http://www.mysg.com.sg

Opening hours:
Sun-Thur / 11am - 11pm
Fri & Sat / 11am - 1am
P.H. days / 6pm - 11pm

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 857, 162, 171, 77, 174, 56, 16, 124...

Crab Shack

2007-04-16T22:52:00.000+08:00

Don't be fooled by this place by day just because it resembles your typial kopitiam. By night, the tables will line the corridor and they'll look exactly like what you see here:
That quirky wooden table plaque has a different fast fact about crabs carved at the bottom. It reminded me of Snapple bottle caps...and rest assured, your table will also be stocked with all the crab-shelling tools you'll need for your meal!

Crab Shack has a very enticing menu in store for crab aficionados. The ONLY non-crab dish happens to be a Chef's Recommendation, and that would be their 1/2 dozen Gratinated Oysters ($8.90) - topped with mayonnaise & breadcrumbs then baked. However how was I to be tempted by that when I could order the Crab Au Gratin ($3.20) and the 6-pc Crab Croquettes ($2.95) amongst MANY MANY other mouth-watering steals?! The Crab Au Gratin was an interesting appetiser that consisted of flower crabmeat with creamy mayo, waterchestnut & cheese grilled to perfection. The grilled cheese formed a thin slightly crisp crust, juxtaposing the deliciously creamy centre within. Check it out in the picture below: Next up, their Crab Spaghetti ($7.50)! This dish didn't give me a good first impression. But we all know that first impressions hardly matter these days...and it turned out better than I expected taste-wise. What I didn't particularly like about the spaghetti sauce was that it was a tad too sweet, but great nonetheless because I'm a fan of sundried tomatoes. There were rather generous portions of crabmeat in the spaghetti too. If you have the chance, do give their 2-pc Softshell Crab ($5.80) a try: it's topped with chicken floss, a rather interesting combination I must say. For those who love their rice, tease your tastebuds with the Crab Baked Rice ($6.50).

At this point, I was flipping through the part of the menu where it all started to resemble a MacDonald's Value Meal selection, only better. Choose from an option of a 2-pc ($5.95), 3-pc ($7.95) or 8-pc ($21.95) value meal - complete with a selection of sides such as crinkle-cut fries, corn on a cob & baked beans. The 8-pc set comes with a choice of 2 sides + croquettes to boot. The picture below features their 3-pc set.
The crabs are indeed very sweet & fresh, steamed and drizzled with a hint of lemon to bring out the taste of the meat. Their self-made tangy-sweet chilli sauce will complement your value meal rather well in my opinion. Kudos to the owner Mr Elger Kua, 26, who catches the flower crabs for your dinner from a kelong off Pasir Ris Park, near Pulau Ubin every other day.

Go ahead, visit this place at least once. It's got my thumbs up.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 6/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 9451 9040

Address:
227 Upper Thomson Road

Opening hours:
Dinner only: 5 pm - 12 midnight daily

Dress code: casual
Buses: 162, 167, 410, 163...

Myke's Oven

2007-04-14T01:03:00.000+08:00

This is for all the west-siders who are on a constant search for great chill-out places on your end of town. Let me give you a hint - you can eat a croissant & play cards at this place. This lil nook is named Myke's Oven, and I found it sometime in Feb 2007. This petit bakery-cafe was first opened on 21 May 2006, by Mike, as he is affectionately known by his customers. What's special about this place is their HUMONGOUS industrial-size oven that they use to bake everything you see on the shelves, every single day. That thing can bake a person. No, make that 2 persons. I ain't kidding. I absolutely love this place for a lazy afternoon tea session with friends. Whatever they serve is not only very good, but also very affordable. The only setback I'd say about the place is the lack of air-conditioning. But then again, it would be impractical for them due to space constraints and their desire to create an alfresco laidback feel.

While you're pondering about what you should eat at Myke's Oven, I'd suggest you follow your nose and your gut instinct, because you can't be far wrong. The freshness of their assortment of danishes, croissants, cakes & rolls are never compromised. This was something I observed while dining there - they bake at the start of the day AND during the day. Some of the bestsellers at the shop include their Japanese biscuit tea set ($3.50), Pandan Chiffon in-a-cup ($1) and all their croissants! Their tea sets are available from 2-6pm.

Don't fancy tea specials? Fret not, they've got Full-day set meals at only $3.80! You can order a Tuna/Chicken/Egg mayonnaise croissant with a drink. I personally like their chicken mayo croissant - where a perfect balance of sweet & savoury is attained through a combination of sweet pastry, zesty onions and savoury chicken mayonnaise.

++ some images taken fr. http://www.mykesoven.com

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 7.5/10
Price - $
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 7.5/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6763 7790

Address:
88 Jalan Jurong Kechil
Singapore 598595
/opposite Toh Yi Estate near Beauty World

Website: http://www.mykesoven.com
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat / 8am - 9.30pm
Sun / 8am - 3pm

*Last order at 9pm.

Dress code: casual
Nearest MRT: Clementi MRT
Buses: 61, 985 & 985W, 157...

Charlinary.com

2007-02-27T12:55:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone, I'm currently working on setting up Charlinary.com - my very food review website. Do lend me your support yeah? A very big Thank You to all of you for your continuing support. =) Stay tuned for the unveiling of my new site!

Miss Clarity Café

2007-01-31T18:42:00.000+08:00

Honestly, my first impression of this place was simply put - a jaw-dropping one. I did not take too well to their more-than-cheery decor, and by this I'm referring to highlighter-coloured walls, tables & chairs. However I've learnt never to judge at first sight...so I was won over by their delectable menu and in my opinion, very cheap prices. As Miss Clarity says, it is the place "where happy people meet" - hence the colour scheme of the place...trust me it's quite difficult to feel sad where there's an added bonus of free wireless broadband. I must thank my best friend Ben for introducing Miss Clarity Café to me.

Are you a fan of Western food? If you are, this is the place where you can find it CHEAP. Over here you can have a Steam-Baked Sea Bass fillet with smoked bacon sauce for $9 nett. Something like this would cost at least $14 elsewhere. Add a soup/salad+drink+dessert to each main course for only $3! or select from a variety of Set Lunches at $8. Bite into their Chicken Ballotine ($8) and taste the crisp oven-baked chicken thigh, breaded & stuffed with shitake mushroom...feel the delicious mushroom sauce oozing with each bite.

For those who have a ferocious appetite that's not easily satisfied with 1 main course AND still have room for dessert, Old MacDonald Had A Farm ($15) is your answer! Picture this: a platter of steak, lamb chop, crispy breaded chicken, chipolata sausage, bacon, ham, potato wedges & egg. Chipolata sausages are tiny coarse-textured pork sausages are highly spiced with thyme, chives, coriander, cloves and sometimes hot red-pepper flakes.

After this, proceed to order their Chef's Recommendation Mud Ooze ($4.50) - soft chocolate cake brimming with chocolate lava, topped with vanilla ice-cream. This seemingly innocent cup of cake is a yummy dessert not to be missed!

++All definitions were taken from http://www.epicurious.com
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

//photo credits to dee & location map taken fr. Miss Clarity Café

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6339 4803

Address:
5 Purvis Street, #01-04
Singapore 188584

Website: http://www.missclaritycafe.com
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat / 11am - 11pm
Closed on Sun
P.H. days / 5pm - 11pm

Dress code: casual
Nearest MRT: Bugis MRT & City Hall MRT

Sultan Kebab

2007-01-29T21:35:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered what you should eat when you're in a hurry? I bet you have. For the sake of maintaining the well-being of your tummy & tastebuds, I highly recommend that you avoid fastfood like the plague. Go for a healthier alternative instead, like Turkish sandwiches & meat rolls at Peace Centre.

Meet the brothers behind this Turkish takeaway joint:
from left: Suat and Safak

They hail from Antalya, Turkey, and have been living in Singapore for a year now. The brothers have made several trips to our sunny lil isle since 2001, and have since moved here to set up a food business with their uncle. Sultan Kebab was opened in June 2006. Their uncle Mehmet is an experienced chef, and the maker of their house sauce used in their dishes. Owner Safak spent 4 long months trying to find an ideal location, before discovering this lil corner at the edge of town. Some of the reasons why he picked this location include the proximity to offices, educational institutes and town. He disclosed that there are plans to set up another outlet once they find a good location.

Despite being small in size, Sultan Kebab's space is effectively maximised with a sleek takeaway counter (complete with stools) for those who are on-the-go, and tables for dine-ins. The menu here consists of Turkish favourites like kebab rolls and iskender. Iskender is actually small cubes of bread with meat, yogurt & tomatoes topped with their secret-recipe sauce. Pick from a choice of chicken/beef -in a sandwich ($5), roll ($5), with rice ($7) or an iskender kebab ($7.50).

Are you thinking that the menu is a tad too simple? Don't be too quick to judge.
Their Beef sells out by 4pm daily. Safak believes that it is better to focus on a simple menu, and have your food taste good. kudos to that. An interesting thing to note is how they prepare their meats. It takes
2 whole days to thaw & marinate their meats once their daily supply comes in. Yes, they prepare them on a daily basis. All this meat is then transferred onto skewers to be cooked & served by the kilos. 10 kilos worth of meat can feed an approx. 50-60 pax, according to Suat who adds that they offer a catering service on the side.

Personally, I loved their chicken roll (as seen below)..juicy morsels of tender chicken coupled with lots of lettuce, butter & that zesty secret-recipe.
image taken from www.chubbyhubby.net

I believe this place will go a looooong way with their good Turkish meats at affordable prices...so do drop by for a visit!

//all prices are nett. hooray to that!

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 9/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6338 8750

Address:
1 Sophia Road, #01-15
Peace Centre
Singapore 228149

Opening hours: Open daily from 11am till they sell-out
Dress code: casual
Buses: 65, 64, 857, 131, 139, 147...

El Patio Mexican Restaurant & Wine Bar

2007-01-23T21:23:00.000+08:00

Most people would toss a coin to decide on where to go to eat, take a majority vote in a group or even be a dictator and not consult anyone. But not us. My boyfriend and I headed down to Holland V and took a walk around to see what appealed to our heightened senses (a result of the onslaught of hunger pangs). This is where we were faced with a dilemma: El Patio or Cha Cha Cha for mexican? In the end, rainbow-coloured table cloths, imported mexican handicrafts and a cosy air-conditioned dining area won the day. I present to you El Patio!

Before visiting El Patio I've heard about that mexican place in Singapore that serves frozen magaritas in jam jars. Little did I know that this was the place. Over here you can order Hot Mexican Favourites such as quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, nachos and fajitas - while you sip on salt-rimmed jam jars containing frozen magaritas ($48/jug, $12/gls). If magaritas aint your thing, they've got your staple mexican beers: Corona & San Miguel. They even have Chivas Magaritas & Jim Beam Magaritas for those who like whiskey concoctions. Ah yes, the friendly waiters will also serve you iced water and a bowl of plains nachos (with a salsa dip) that they will readily refill upon request. That's the life.

I crave food for many reasons. Today, it was prawn fajitas (pronounced fa-hee-tas)that I so desperately craved for. But no, I didn't give in...I managed to suppress that urge and I chose to order the house specialty Mexican Grill Fajitas ($24.50) It is a combination of Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Salmon & Prawns...cooked with white wine, a drizzle of tequila, onions and spices on a hot plate. Trust me, order this & you won't regret it. Juicy morsels of meat accompanied by tortilla wraps, sour cream & guacamole & "mutant" green chillis. Throw in a smattering of nachos+salsa. Mmmmmmm...bliss.

After selecting the fajita, we decided that we wanted something other than the usual burritos and nachos..and so we ordered the Beef Enchiladas ($12.50). This dish was served with a bean paste on the side, lettuce, "mutant" green chillis and the enchiladas filled with minced beef, topped with oodles of cheese. The minced beef wasn't the typical kind you'd find in the supermarket mind you, it was minced chunks of beef marinated in their house recipe. Great homemade tortilla wrap as well - better than Cafe Iguana's I'd say.

Other house specialities include - the Chicken Fajita ($20.50), served with peppers, onions & guacamole. Cheese Quesadillas ($12.50), with jalapenos, onion & tomato in a flour tortilla.

This place has my thumbs up.

//prices stated not inclusive of +++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6468 1520

Address:
Holland Village
34 Lorong Mambong
Singapore 277691

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 5pm-11pm // Sat+Sun: 11am-11pm
Dress code: casual
Buses: 61, 48, 106, 75, 200

Bangkok sweets

2007-01-07T20:00:00.000+08:00

Here's a triple treat for those who have a penchant for sweet things. If you're planning to visit Bangkok sometime in the near future, you should check out these places located near the various shopping districts around Bangkok. I've got a pastry shop, ice-cream parlour and iced drinks shop coming up. stay tuned & scroll down!

click here: The ice-cream parlour.

iberry was an interesting lil ice-cream parlour I chanced upon while I was holidaying in Bangkok in December. This iberry outlet is sandwiched between Burger King & Häagen-Dazs (on left) in the Erawan area. You will find a building named Amarin, a large Mac's and Hyatt Hotel nearby. If it helps, you could tell the cabby it's in the vicinity of the 4-faced Buddha..but since there's a chance that he won't understand you, I strongly suggest you take note of these landmark buildings.

They've got unique homemade flavours such as gooseberry sorbet, rose apple sorbet, hazelnut, macadamia, ovaltine & horlicks..to name a few. Single scoops are priced at 60 baht (cone) & Double scoops are 70 baht (cup). They had Christmas sundaes at the time (dine-in), but I settled for their vanilla & rose apple sorbet to go instead because I was in a rush. The rose apple sorbet was very light & refreshing without being overly sour. You would taste more of the 'apple' really, with only a slight tinge of rose. I chose vanilla to complement it to have an idea of how their 'basic' flavours compared with those back home. Verdict: 7/10

Address: Maneeya Centre (Ploenchit)
Tel: +66 (0)2652 0628
/check out other locations on their website!

Next on the list we have Deliya by Farmhouse, which is run by President Bakery Public Company Limited (a Thailand-based company dealing with bakery products). They've got an outlet in megamall MBK, as well as behind Siam Square (on right). Siam Square is another shopping centre connected by a linkway to MBK..the place kind of reminds me of Bugis Junction. Anyways, this place has FANTABULOUS strawberry jam biscuits and cakes worth trying. Don't buy the chicken sticks in those cute lil green containers they've got though, it didn't exactly pass my taste test haha.

Next door to Deliya, you'll find Ice King..a shop selling fruity iced drinks like mango freezes, juices, iced coffee & teas amongst much more. I'd like to think of it as a Thai bubble tea place because it's somewhat similar in concept. They use real fruits in their concoctions, so the drinks make a good refreshing treat after a long shopping marathon. I decided to pay Ice King a visit because I noticed the constant long queue at the shop while I was shopping nearby...overcome by severe dehydration.

I hope you guys enjoyed this entry on Bangkok, I've got another 1 on a restaurant in Baiyoke Sky Hotel coming up in the near future. =)

Delicacy Food Centre

2007-01-03T23:14:00.000+08:00

You must be wondering where/what this place is huh? Well it's my favourite claypot beef rice stall! Besides beef rice, they serve up pretty good zhi char too. The place is run by a Cantonese chef & mostly Cantonese crew too as far as I can tell. How do I know this you may ask? He speaks fluent Cantonese with that familiar Hong Kong twang, and his beef rice is drowned in egg gravy - a tell-tale cooking trait of a Cantonese chef because they love soupy-gravy stuff. Yums.

For the longest time - 4 yrs to be precise, I've been a blur sotong of a customer who ate at his stall with blind loyalty without knowing its name. I discovered their name only after they wisely invented a laminated 'quick menu' that was conveniently placed on my table. For what it's worth, I must say I've brought him many customers along the way who inevitably fell in love with his gravy-licious dishes & SUPERB clear soups. Go ahead & sample everything on the menu! Soups are priced at $1/bowl.

Claypot Beef Rice ($4)

I dare say I can count AT LEAST 5 friends of mine who are fans of the stall's cantonese fare. Although the place is rather small, there's always a long queue of people at lunchtime waiting to da-bao his caifan. He only starts cooking zhi char from approx. 1.30pm, after the lunch frenzy dies down. They close early at about 7pm thereabouts.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8.5/10
Price - $
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 7/10 (it's a coffeeshop stall or sorts, dont have high hopes)
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6732 4892

Address:
Far East Plaza, #05-99

Opening hours: 11am-7pm on most days
Dress code: casual
Buses: 143, 124, 167, 54, 190, 132, 171, 162..
Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT station

The French Stall

2007-01-02T18:13:00.000+08:00

That night, I had an early Christmas dinner at The French Stall with my family. It's located off Serangoon Road after Little India, diagonally opposite the Indian Temple, along North Sturdee Rd. If you look to your right while travelling along the main road, you can't miss it. I've long heard about how their french food is good & affordable, so I was pretty psyched about going there. But before that, my parents had to rub salt to wound about the fact that they visited the place before me. ha.

Anyways a friendly waitress gave us her utmost attention all night. For starters she recommended that we try their French Onion Soup ($3.80) - sweet stuff and their escargot.

Escargot with garlic & butter ($8) It was served in portions of a half dozen. The musky-grainy taste of improperly-cleaned escargot was thankfully absent. After passing my initial taste test, I proceeded to dip each morsel into their killer garlic-butter-olive oil-parsley combination...and it was gooood. I'd say Be adventurous! give this a try. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. Banish the thought that snails are disgusting cos these aint garden snails, they're totally safe for consumption.

Introducing...the Mains.

Roast Duck Leg with orange sauce & risotto ($15.80) Ooh..where do I begin? Let's just say I couldn't quit nibbling off my mum's plate (this was hers). The duck was crisp & well-roasted, and the tangy orange sauce lent a sweet taste tht complemented the savoury duck well. Risotto was a good choice because it balanced the salty taste of the duck. (Risotto is the European version of our 'mui fan')

Veal Shank 'Marengo' style with french beans & carrots ($14.80) This was my pick for mains. I had a preconceived notion that it'll look like grilled veal with a french sauce. But it turned out to be a Drool-worthy stew with tender chunks of veal. In fact, 'Marengo' refers to a veal/chicken dish in which the meat is sautéed in olive oil, then braised with tomatoes, onions, olives, garlic, white wine or brandy and seasonings. Sometimes scrambled eggs accompany the dish. It's said to have been created by Napoleon's chef after the 1800 Battle of Marengo. Don't underestimate this seemingly small portion of veal, it's very filling!

Beef Fondue for 2 ($15.80/pax) What you see here is called Fondue bourguignonne, whereby cubes of raw beef are cooked in a pot of hot oil, then dipped into various savory sauces. The oil in the pot is olive oil. Perfectly healthy. We were given lil skewers to cook the marinated beef, potatoes, onions & carrots. The entire set is accompanied by 3 sauces that tasted remotely like Thousand Island, French sauce & something I couldn't place. There'll be a gas canister under the table and the oil is preheated so that cooking can be done without the fire later on. This dish does sound expensive, but who's stopping 3 or more people from sharing? hee. It'll be lots of fun I promise.

Grilled Lamb Chop with eggplant & tomato ($15.80) Great grilled lamb. 'Nuff said. All you carnivores out there, look no further...order this!

Others not mentioned include their Tagliatelle with ceps & black trompettes sauce ($10.80), suitable for those who desperately need to curb the tummy's call for carbs. It's a cream-based pasta just so you know..I wouldn't want someone who is lactose intolerant to be trying this..

Guanaja Chocolate Souffle ($5.80): AWESOME Dessert in 3 words. They've also got other desserts like Tiramisu and a dessert tht tastes like crème brûlée.

//Prices not inclusive of Svc charge & cess. No GST

++All definitions were taken from http://www.epicurious.com
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER'S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $$ to $$$ (I'd call this VERY affordable French food)
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6299 3544

Address:
544 Serangoon Road (next to Kerrisdale Condo)
Singapore 218166

Email: le_zing@pacific.net.sg

Opening hours: 3pm-6pm (Desserts only) / 6pm-10pm (Dinner only)
Dress code: casual
Buses: 21, 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 125, 130, 139, 147, 857
MRT: Farrer Park (NEL), Exit G.

Icekimo

2006-12-20T00:46:00.000+08:00

I discovered Icekimo in September 2005.
But I was in the vicinity today and I simply couldn't resist revisiting the place again for the 3rd time. After a long walk in the rain outside, I was warmly greeted by their comfy white sofas, lil pink tables and Christmas decor. It's a quiet lil ice-cream parlour that makes their own ice-cream & reinvents desserts..I would say. They've got interesting local flavours like chempedek, milo dino and durian amongst many others.

Instead of ordering my favourite flavour - Belgian Chocolate, I decided to share with my brother their latest offering: Spaghetti Ice-cream! ($5.90)
What you are staring at right now is ~~REAL spaghetti~~. It consists of generous toppings of white chocolate, strawberry sauce & chocolate rice. The "meatballs" are actually ferrero rocher chocolates and the "spaghetti" is their vanilla ice-cream shredded to resemble it. Mmmmmm..don't worry, you won't be tasting a tomato-based sauce! I'd highly recommend this one.

Now let's meet a popular favourite..their ice-cream in a waffle basket. 2 scoops of any 2 ice-cream flavours in a waffle basket is priced at $5.50..my mum ordered their new flavour Jolly Christmas - which tasted rather suspiciously like paddle pop I must say..and Tiramisu. I found that their Tiramisu flavour lacked the oomph of cocoa powder & coffee.

A brownie with 1 scoop of ice-cream ($4.20) My sister ordered 1 with their Blueberry Cheesecake ice-cream. The brownie tasted like the average brownies sold in most cafes, but the blueberry cheesecake flavour was rather refreshing. If you're a fan of brownies with ice-cream, go ahead & give this one a shot.

On the other hand, if you're a coffee-lover...or one who loves ordering things like mocha frapps..you should try their Mocha Affagato ($4.30). I ordered this for my dad and he finished it in a matter of minutes. For the record, my dad isn't into desserts, so that must say something huh? Sadly, he didn't give me a chance to sample it so I can't comment much! haha.

//Their take-home tubs of ice-cream are priced at $7.90

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste - 8/10
Price - $ to $$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6455 7585

Address:
8 Sin Ming Road
Sin Ming Centre, #01-03
Singapore 575628

Website: http://www.icekimo.com
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm
Dress code: casual
Buses: 130, 132, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 410, 855, 980

Hooked!

2006-11-23T23:58:00.000+08:00

Last Monday I had dinner at Hooked! at The Rail Mall in Upper Bukit Timah Rd. For those of you who don't have a clue about what this place looks like, don't worry...look below. I've been wanting to visit this place for quite some time..glad I finally got the chance.

Please remember that Hooked! is in the next building tht looks similar to this one..walk in the direction of the bus stop you see in the picture above. I took this whilst standing on the overhead bridge.

What you see here is their entrance and the interior of the place..nice cheery feel. Puts you in the mood for fish I felt haha. That day we had the intention of trying out Rocky's Pizza next door..but decided against it because we liked the way Hooked! looked. Rocky's paled in comparison with a very dull appearance..but I do intend to visit them sometime in the near future. Heard their pizza is great.

While I poured through their brightly-coloured menu peppered with interesting facts about fish, their Panfried Linguine with Mackerel Otah ($9.50) screamed "Pick Me!" So how could I resist right? The dish was served with my favourite tri-coloured peppers, mushrooms and a wonderful homemade mackerel otah. The linguine was done aglio olio, with just the right amount of olive oil. I ordered a Value Top-up ($3.60) with this. It includes a soft drink and soup-of-the-day. I must say that otah coupled with aglio olio linguine tasted really good..those who can't take chilli & spice might find this dish a tad spicy.

My boyfriend had a Value Top-up as well together with the Panfried Fish Fillet ($7.90) which was a Tilapia fillet dressed with butter, peppercorn & basil leaves and linguine & steamed veg on the side. Be forewarned, the fillet had a fair bit of bones. The skin was nicely panfried, but a lil too oily for my liking..I had to pat dry the oil before trying it. Just so you know, you can opt to add herbed potatoes ($0.80) as a side. It was a generous portion which complemented our main course well. It was a pity that we didn't order their appetiser specialty Otah Toast ($4.80). We were too stuffed...the meal was value-for-money. Hooked! also has daily promotions (2.30-5.30pm), so check out their board while you're there. If my memory serves correct...it's 1-for-1 Fish & Chips on Thursday. For Fridays it's 1-for-1 pasta!

//Prices are subjected to GST, no svc charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 7/10
Price - $$
Service - 4/10 (the waiter spilt our drink on our table but didn't apologise)
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6765 5336
Address: 390 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, The Rail Mall

Opening hours: 12pm-10pm daily except Tuesday.

Getting there: Buses 171, 170, 67, 75

Mint Café

2006-11-17T23:10:00.000+08:00

Meet my personal 5-star rated café, the only one to date. MINT is more than just a café, in fact it's a Café-Restaurant-Wine bar in the basement of a 5-storey building that houses the World's first purpose-built museum for toys. This contemporary building was designed by well-known Singapore architectural firm SCDA Architects. MINT (Moment of Imagination & Nostalgia with Toys), opened in Singapore in May 2006. The museum showcases an extensive collection of vintage & collectors' toys from the mid-19th century to mid-20th century. You'll see toys like Peter Rabbit, Felix the Cat and a James Bond board game amongst many others.

What's really unique about this place is that they offer a variety of dining options accompanied by a delectable menu. MINT caters for Corporate Events, Birthday Celebrations, Wedding Anniversaries etc. including complimentary entry to the Museum. For holidays like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve & other special occasions, all 4 floors of the Museum will be opened for dining among the toys.

I had dinner there with my best friend Ben earlier because the building piqued my interest when I passed by on Tuesday. The interior of the building was FMAZING. You'll need to descend a flight of stairs to reach what you see in the picture above. Frankly speaking, their seating capacity is limited to what you see here plus a lil bit more. But that further enhances the quaint dining experience you'll experience. We got the opportunity to have a chat with Chef Ronson Lim and their Manager Marcus, who gave us a complimentary tour of the 3rd floor of their museum AND 30% off our total bill.

I've got fifteen 30% discount passes valid for multiple visits UP FOR GRABS so ask me!

They've also got Set Lunches ($13.80) that include a Soup-of-the-Day, Main course, Beverage & Cake-of-the-Day.
Main course options are - Chicken Lasagna, Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Primavera Sandwich, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Beef Stew Spaghetti & Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Dinner consisted of the Seafood Arrabiata ($16) as shown here. I strongly resisted the urge to order my pasta favourite so that I can be unbiased as a food reviewer. Good thing I did too, because it was 1 of the best arrabiattas I've tried so far. The arrabiatta sauce was light & it tasted nothing like canned tomato puree, and the fresh seafood included mussels+prawns+squid+fish. I must say that the natural flavour of the prawns was not lost despite it being dressed with arrabitta sauce.

Ben ordered the Penne Al Funghi ($16), which he found good because the cream sauce wasn't overly rich. However he felt that the penne tasted a lil plain. I had a taste of it and I liked how the cream sauce slid down my throat without me feeling jelak- malay for squeamish after consumption of excessively oily/rich food. It also complemented the mushrooms well.

Then came dessert...drum roll please.

Chef Ronson Lim shared with us that although they do create their own desserts, some of their desserts are outsourced from Les Amis, 1 of Singapore's Top French Restaurants. This is due to constraints like their kitchen size. But fret not, dessert was a gastronomical affair.

On your right is the Missisippi Mudpie ($5.80) which is from Les Amis. There was nothing 'muddy' about it surprisingly, since it didn't ooze chocolate from its pores. On the contrary, it had a cheesecake-like biscuit base with a layer of hardened dark chocolate, topped off with chocolate meringue (crisp & chewy chocolate rich in cocoa) and complete with vanilla whipped cream on the side.

Ben's Pecan Pie ($5.80) was 1 of Mint's dessert creations. He had a hard time deciding between this and their Nutella Pie, but a pretty waitress persuaded him otherwise. For many, this Pecan Pie will taste familiar...it's got a slight local flavour to it but you won't be able to place it. We couldn't place it until we asked Ronson, but I shall not tell you what it is..taste it for yourself & let me know. Although I do not have a penchant for nuts & such, I found the pie delightful.

//All prices are subjected to ++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8.5/10
Price - $$ to $$$$ (depends on what you order)
Service - 9.5/10
Ambience - 9.5/10
Accessibility - 8/10
/you might wanna call beforehand in case they're booked for functions.

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6339 6266
Address: 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382

Opening hours:
MINT Museum Opening hours / 9.30am to 6.30pm daily
MINT Café Opening hours / 9.30am to 9.30pm daily

Getting there:
Take the MRT to City Hall Station (NS25/EW13) and walk towards Raffles Hotel or Bras Basah Complex. The Museum is next to Raffles Hotel and opposite Bras Basah Complex.

The Kokon Tozai Café

2006-11-10T00:33:00.000+08:00

I was roaming Far East Square on my own on Wednesday while waiting for him to settle some things...when I stumbled on this lil café tucked away in an obscure corner behind Spinelli's. The Kokon Tozai Café serves up homemade French & Japanese food, Italian coffee & 100% Japanese green tea. If the name mysteriously rings a bell..you must've seen them at Raffles City, City Link or Changi Airport T2. They're the café spin-off of the shop that sells kimono fabric products at these locations. Kokon Tozai means Past & Present // East & West in Japanese...thus explaining why they serve 2 types of cuisine. Inside the café you'll also find their products up for sale if you're interested. I visited the place during their High Tea.

Here's their High Tea specials:

Set 1 ($4.90): Scone + Illy coffee (long black)/Japanese tea
Set 2 ($4.90): 2 slices of toast w/homemade jam + Illy coffee/tea
Set 3 ($6.90): Pantry + Illy coffee/Japanese tea
Set 4 ($9.80): Sandwich + Illy coffee/Japanese tea

Simply because the first thing I saw when I walked into the café was their display of delightful desserts...I couldn't resist ordering from that selection. So I settled for Set 3, which means I got to pick from that very display any dessert I want + the coffee/tea. Their Berry Numi (Organic) Tea ($3.50) was great. It's better bargain if you order their set instead of ala-carte.

Introducing...their Raspberry Chocolate Moelleux ($4.90), the dark chocolate wonder with a smooth raspberry filling, accompanying icing & chocolate topping. If you've got a penchant for chocolate, but dislike uber-sweet choc, pick this. For everything else, try out their Walnut Brownie or Flourless Chocolate.

//All prices are nett.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food (dessert) - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 6/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6220 1672
Address:
52 Pekin Street #01-01,
Far East Square
Singapore 048782

Opening hours: 10am-10pm
Breakfast // 10am-11.30am
High Tea // 2.30pm-6pm

//They've got Lunch & Dinner specials too
Happy Hour 5pm-8pm: Bottled beer, wine by the gls, small bottle of sake & finger bites at $7 nett each

Dress code: casual
Getting there: Take 166 from the side of Boat Quay & alight after 2 stops, or walk over from Raffles Place MRT. Far East Square is next to China Square.

Desire

2006-11-07T00:23:00.000+08:00

This is Desire at The Scarlet Hotel. It is one third of the 3 options you have for dining & chilling at the Scarlet Hotel in Erskine Rd. The other 2 are Bold & Breeze. This restaurant bears precious memories of a wonderful birthday spent with the him this year. Not only are their service standards impeccable, the food was fawesome too.

Interestingly, their menus come in the form of black & red leather-bound books: red for the lady, black for the men. When I flipped the 1st page, I saw a toned torso of an unknown male. Anyone wanna venture any guesses on what theme the restaurant has? C'mon, it's blatantly obvious. Too bad for the men though, their menus aint the same. Each dish on the menu is simply named, but all have a description describing them as aphrodisiacs of sorts..food that will DEFINITELY tantalise our taste buds in other words. Soon I found myself ordering their house specialities: Cream of Escargot, Tenderloin of Beef & Lamb Rack.

The Cream of Escargot ($12) was rich & creamy with generous morsels of escargot. The taste of the escargot wasn't overpowering so no worries there. Personally, I felt that it was a little to rich for my liking..but then again, I'm just being fussy.

This here is their Tenderloin of Beef ($38). Although the portion looked small at first..he realised later on that it did it's job well filling his tummy. The beef was well-done and it's taste was sealed off with a unique blend of a somewhat tangy-sweet-savoury light sauce.

This Lamb Rack ($38) my friends, is to-die-for. It won me over with the first bite. Now bear in mind that char doesn't like lamb. But I gamely decided to order it because it was highly recommended by the nice Filipino waitress who attended to us. The lamb was accompanied by lentils on the side & a serving of mushrooms. It was fmazing, do try it. They're a worthy rival of the Hyatt's Mezzanine.

//All prices are subjected to +++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8.5/10
Price - $$$ to $$$$ (depends on what you order)
Service - 9/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: +65 6511 3333
Address: 33 Erskine Road, Singapore 069333

Dress code: smart casual
Getting there: Take 145 from St. Andrew's Cathedral at City Hall & alight at Maxwell hawker centre. The Scarlet Hotel is up the hill next to it.

The Turquoise Room

2006-11-05T23:06:00.000+08:00

This place is a quiet sanctuary away from town. It's perfect if you feel like being alone, or if you want a romantic setting for that special dinner you've got planned..What impressed me about the place was the excellent service I had that night. We had the owner's lil girl bidding us goodbye at the door and attentive waitresses all night. Aside from that, I also loved the way they painted the walls and put together that laidback, breezy feel..the restaurant is kept cool by fans because the area is very breezy. There's also alfresco dining available on a wooden patio outside, complete with trees in the background. I'm a tree-lover, don't mind me.

The Turquoise Room also has a sister outlet known at The Turquoise Bistro located at 902 East Coast Parkway, Tel: 6247 7677. I haven't had a chance to visit it yet, so do let me know how your visit goes if you check it out. Now let's introduce the food...

I couldn't resist the urge to order something familiar yet different..so I tried their Prawn & Arugula Linguine as shown here

Arugula is actually a.k.a Rocket in the US..it's an aromatic salad green that tastes bitter on its own. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised to taste how well it complemented my pasta! yums. A combination of aglio olio pasta with almost anything goes wonderfully well I suppose. Yes yes, I'm a Purist when it comes to my pasta.

Over here we've got the Chicken Pesto with sundried tomatoes.

If you're one who thinks that pesto pasta is always creamy, you'll be surprised to find out otherwise. This chicken pesto pasta has juicy tender chicken with a mixture of sundried tomatoes that lent the dish a mild sweet-sour note that balanced out the overall taste. I can safely say that these 2 pastas we ordered are very different from what most Singaporeans are used to, so I'd say give it a shot.

Other than pasta, The Turqoise Room also serves up thin-crust Italian-style pizzas and specialities like their Lamb Rack ($29). Oh yes, how can I forget. They've got great Strawberry Smoothies ($6)...and amazingly, their Bellini was affordably priced at $10. I must apologise for not being able to provide you with the prices of the pastas, but the estimated cost for a dinner-for-2 should come up to about $40-$60, depending on what you order.

//All prices are subjected to ++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6473 3655

Address:
7 Lock Road, Gilman Village

Opening hours:
12pm-11pm / Mon-Thur
12pm-2am / Fri-Sat
10am-10pm / Sun
*Brunch: 10am-12pm

Dress code: casual
Getting there: Nearest MRT is HarbourFront transfer to bus 97 or 100.

Wiener Kaffeehaus

2006-11-02T16:05:00.000+08:00

If you're craving for something a lil different to eat on our lil isle, Wiener Kaffeehaus would make a wonderful start. It's a quaint lil place tucked away at Outram that serves up great Set Lunches and even better dessert. Did I also mention that the place is owned by a charming Austrian named Anton? On my first visit to Wiener Kaffeehaus, I got lost. Only to realise just how 'far' I actually was from their front porch (I was just across the road). I fell in love with the place the moment I stepped in. Somehow my hunger seemed to dissipate just for that moment when Anton extended a warm welcome to his restaurant.

We were surrounded by paintings, a mirrored wall, dark wood furnishing and warm-coloured walls...they've got free wireless all-day to boot. What's special about the place is not only the decór, but also the layout of this very unique shophouse unit. After waiting several months upon months for numerous building permits to be approved, Anton finally got the look he wanted: a raised level with stairs leading up to it and another short flight of stairs leading down to the restroom and kitchen. Once you're on the raised level, there's a back door that leads out onto a small balcony area where one can hold a small quiet dinner amongst friends.

When you look down, you'll see the $14,000 in-house roastery that was specially imported from Austria.

Here's what I've tried: their Wiener Schnitzel ($16.50)-featured here, Wiener Saft Gulasch ($9.50) and Potato Dumpling ($3)-it tasted nothing like potato which was interesting for lunch. Do check out their daily lunch specials ($12), they offer different things all the time.

Next up, dessert was to-die-for. I tried their Sacher Torte ($4.80)-yes you're looking at it and Apple Strudel ($4.80) Personally, I prefer my Sacher Torte served cold..because the chocolate will harden and it goes better with the layer of manuka honey in the cake. But so as to be impartial, I've also tried the cake served warm and I still prefer it otherwise ha. The apple strudel was a soft pastry variation, with a generous apple filling.

//all prices are nett & free wireless all-day!

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Address: 148 Neil Road Singapore 088877
Tel: 6226 3148

Opening hours: 9am-10pm
Dress code: casual
Getting there: Outram Park Exit G- Cantonment Police Complex, at the junction opposite a row of shophouses.

Timbré

2006-11-02T00:07:00.000+08:00

I cannot believe that I took more than a year to stumble upon this place. Timbré is a bistro music bar that was started in July 2005. The place features local bands as part of their music line-up. On Wednesday nights they've got EIC! -cue huge grin- Juan & I were lost in their music just a while ago..they did songs by Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Hootie & the Blowfish, Barenaked Ladies, Red Hot Chilli Peppers & Augustana. For that alone, you ought to visit the place. For weekends, we have been forewarned: you should make reservations at http://www.timbre.com.sg

Their drinks menu looked decent enough, though their Cosmopolitan wasn't strong. I tried their champagne cocktail Sweet Lady ($12) and their Red Ruby Martini ($10) their martini special for tonight. Kudos to them for a great champagne cocktail!

Inevitably, Juan & I got hungry after all the drinks..so I 'grudgingly' agreed to compromise with Ms. Carnivore & order Timbré's Chicken Fingers ($8). The portion was enough for 2. The chicken was encrusted in a lightly spiced batter. yums.
I'd check out their webby for their ongoing promotions..cos they've got pretty good deals for those dining in groups.

//prices are subjected to +++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8/10
Price - $$$
Service - 8/10
Ambience - 9/10
Accessibility - 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Address: 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936 (Substation Garden)
Email: info@timbre.com.sg

Opening hours: open daily from 6pm except Sunday
Dress code: casual
Buses: 16, 147, 857, 162..

Ken Ramen House

2006-10-11T00:59:00.000+08:00

Ken Ramen House, or more affectionately known as Noodle House Ken, is an authentic Japanese ramen place in a relatively obscure part of town. Lemme point you in the right direction. It's along Koek Rd, beneath an overhead bridge of sorts connected to Cuppage Plaza. In other words, cross the road from OG Orchard Point, turn left & walk straight down. It's easy peasy.
They've got outdoor seating, a really small indoor seating capacity AND an air-conditioned area elsewhere (bar seating, not tables). If you're expecting chicken karaage ramen or tempura ramen, you aint gonna find it here. This place serves up the real deal with little fancy ingredients. Yeah that's right, they don't really care all that much about local preferences..which is what sets them apart.

I felt like I wasn't in Singapore, to be honest. The place didn't have the typical feel of a local eatery. Anyways we set our eyes on their 1. Stewed Egg Ramen ($13.20) and the 2. Miso Ramen ($13.20).

1. For this the noodles were springy and tasted NOTHING like maggi mee, egg noodle or any other strange substitute that other places often use to rip us off. The soup has been known to be double-boiled for 8 hrs. Hmm..well it lacked punch for me though & my date agreed likewise. Kudos to them though for a great Japanese stewed egg!

2.This Miso Ramen over here, was yummy I must say. Taking into consideration the fact that my date had already eaten his dinner & yet he polished clean the entire bowl. There's chunks of meat, corn, spring onions & bamboo shoot & ramen in this bowl if you can't tell from the picture.

//prices stated above are inclusive of 10% svc charge

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 8/10
Price - $$
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 6.5/10
Accessibility - 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Address: Orchard Plaza #01-17/18 (opp cuppage plaza)
Tel: 6235 5540

Opening hours:
Weekdays Lunch 12pm-2.30pm
Weekdays Dinner 6pm-2am (no kidding.)
Sat 12pm-2am
Sun/PH 12pm-10pm

Hemispheres Café

2006-10-09T09:36:00.000+08:00

For those of you who haven't already heard about or seen this cafe that also has it's own boutique of local designers...you should DEFINITELY head down there soon!
It's an awesome place for chilling out with friends on a lazy afternoon, or at night for a first date. I've been a loyal regular since 2003 when it was formerly known as Latitude. The place will be a lil difficult to find at first, especially since it's located in the most unlikely place -in a corner of the children's department of OG. So if you fancy the likes of cement benches with cushions, sofa chairs, glass walls & a wall dedicated to magazine cut-outs...this is the right place for you.
Personally I've always favoured their house specialities, namely their brownie with ice-cream ($6.90) and their waffles with ice-cream & fruit toppings.

If you're hungry at Tea Time, they've got a Tea Special that consists of scones, cakes & mini sandwiches with coffee/tea for $9.90++ daily Dinner Specials are also available.
I tend to crave the strangest things at different times of the day, so normally when I visit them in the afternoons..I never fail to order 2 things -their creamless Potato Soup ($3.80) & Sloppy Joes ($5.90): crinkle-cut fries topped with mushrooms, minced beef and others in a tomato-based sauce, as seen here.

These 2 items on their menu are a MUST-HAVE if you wanna grab a light bite. Their baked rice is pretty good as well if you want something heavier. Oh yes, do try out their drink concoctions if you want variety other than coffee/tea. The staff at Hemispheres are warm & friendly, but do be understanding if your food takes a little more time to arrive because they've got a small kitchen and limited staff.

//Prices are subjected to ++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 7/10
Price - $$
Service - 6.5/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6238 2135

Address:
OG Orchard Point
160 Orchard Road, Orchard Point (Level 3)
Singapore 238842

Il Gladiatore

2006-10-08T21:34:00.000+08:00

Italian cuisine is becoming increasingly popular with Singaporeans who are a carbohydrate-loving bunch. With 'favoured' pastas like carbonara and spaghetti bolognaise that are served at numerous restaurants island-wide. In order to stand out from the crowd, owner-chef Fabio Iannone decided to transform his modern Italian restaurant Fuenti into the present-day Il Gladiatore. The restaurant now focuses on a Roman theme with floor-to-ceiling columns reminiscent of olden-day Roman architecture. Another interesting thing about the place is their staff, who are dressed in the long flowy robes & armour of the Romans on weekends.

What you see here is the raised level dining area of the restaurant on the left, and the main dining area on the right. The former is only available to diners on weekends, upon request or for private functions. Alfresco dining is also available.
Here at Il Gladiatore, they recreate the taste of ancient Roman cuisine with the use of ingredients like artichokes, fava beans, herbs, olive oil and vinegar. With the origins of Roman cuisine dating back thousands of years, it is no surprise that these simple ingredients are used to flavour grilled meats - a staple in the Roman diet back in those days.

I visited the place on a saturday in July to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. Before dinner I was frantically calling the restaurant to confirm my reservation and to ask if I could bring a cake. I wanted to ensure that I wasn't in breach of some undisclosed restaurant policy that will eventually lead to my embarassment during dinner. To my delight, restaurant manager Mark Anthonisz, together with his staff were extremely helpful in decreasing my anxiety levels. They schemed together with me to transport the cake from the fridge right up to our VIP table. Kudos to them for great service!

We had their Traditional Fava Beans Soup ($10), Three Mixed Meats ($38) -a combo of Argentinean beef tenderloin, charcoal-grilled lamb shoulder & home-made fennel pork sausage and Crayfish with Prawns ($32) as seen here. The portion of the grilled meats was deceptively small, but it turned out to be more than sufficient for one. If you're a carnivore at heart, I strongly recommend that you try their grilled meats which are tender, juicy and flavourful in all the right places. The Crayfish with Prawns was a little too dry for my liking, but good nonetheless.

However, you might wanna order an additional pasta to share because their seafood portions run rather small. If you're interested, their tagliatelle with braised oxtail ($20), ravioli with spinach and cheese with artichoke sauce ($18) and cream-free spaghetti carbonara ($16) passed the taste-test of AsiaOne.

"If you're feeling ravenous and want to eat all the way, go Roman to the Maximus, as it were, with the whole family. Il Gladiatore offers a Sunday brunch with unlimited servings of eight signature dishes, including a soup, four starters, a pasta dish, a main and dessert - all for $38. There are also two set lunch options on weekdays, at $18 and $28." - says Geoffrey Eu on The Business Times, 6 Mar, 2006

//prices stated above are subjected to +++.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 7/10
Price - $$$
Service - 9/10
Ambience - 8/10
Accessibility - 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Address:
207 River Valley Road,
UE Square #01-61.
S(238275)

Tel: (65) 6333-8875

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11.00am-2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm-11.00pm

Dress code: Smart casual

Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NEL) or Dhoby Ghaut MRT
Buses: 123, 143, 64
Driving directions:
Opposite Liang Court at the junction of Clemenceau Ave

The Naked Fish Shoppe

2006-10-07T15:12:00.000+08:00

For those of you who are fish lovers, I would recommend The Naked Fish Shoppe at the Grassroots Club next to Yio Chu Kang MRT station for their wide selection of fish - Halibut, Shark, Barramundi, Ocean Perch, Cat Fish, Flounder and Trout. Aside from these they also have your staple Snapper, Norwegian Salmon & Dory which are more common. All of the above are affordably priced from $9.90 to $18.00. Club members are given 10% off their total bill & PAssion card members get a complimentary Scallops Mornay with any order of a main course priced at $9.90 or more.

Do visit the place on Fridays for lunch because their Set Lunches are value-for-money: Soup-of-the-day, Main course, Set Dessert, Coffee/Tea. I know this all sounds like your standard set lunch, but don't underestimate what they've got to offer. I've tried their Shark Fillet with Sambal & Seasonal Vegetables ($12.50++), and I must say, I was impressed. Before my meal arrived, I was already getting increasingly concerned about how it'd turn out to be. After all, sharks aint the friendliest marine life around & their meat has always been tough to cook AND eat. It's funny how that does not seem to be the case for sharks when it comes to us.

The shark fillet was surprisingly tender and the edges of the fillet was crisp from a light egg batter. The fillet wasn't drowned in the batter, which was a good thing I felt, because shark meat tastes better when it's not over done. Their seasonal vegetables consisted of leafy greens, carrots and thinly-sliced potatoes in a light sauce that complemented the fish. The sambal wasn't the belachan-type with dried prawn paste and chilli padi, but the taste was good enough and it wasn't too sweet. Some sambal pastes tend to be sugar-loaded, to the extent where it's way too sweet for chilli and the intended spiciness is overpowered by it. This wasn't the case, not to worry.

Another main course that a friend ordered was their Australian Whole Flounder, pan-fried with butter sauce & a slice of lemon.
A word of warning though:
Don't try it if you're lazy to remove the bones. This one has many bones, but you know how it is with fish - the more bones it has, the sweeter its flesh. Initially it looked a tad too charred, but after the first morsel, my friend proclaimed it safe for consumption. Remember, looks can be deceiving..especially when it comes to food.

//They also have student set lunches priced from $6.80++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food - 6.5/10
Price - $$
Service - 7/10
Ambience - 7/10
Accessibility - 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts
[$$]-average Jane
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant

Tel: (65) 6457 8223

Address:
The Grassroots' Club, (next to Yio Chu Kang MRT Station)
190 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, #01-02
Singapore 568046

Opening hours: 11am to 10pm daily
Dress code: casual

Disclaimer: Image of food taken from The Naked Fish Shoppe's website