C says:
Tamoya opened a couple of months ago in Liang Court – the first overseas outlet of a Japanese udon chain from Sanuki. In addition to offering hand-made udon, they also offer a variety of tempura.
The place is actually pseudo-fast food style – you place your order, and either the udon is prepared and served immediately, or you take a number, pay first and it’s served to you once it’s ready. My sliced pork udon soup was ready on the spot, but A’s Kama-tama udon – hot udon served with raw egg, to which you add a hot soy-based broth – took a while. I was a bit puzzled, since I assumed that would actually have entailed the least amount of cooking…
You can opt for either Kake or Bukkake style for your soup udon. Kake is a lighter, clear broth, whereas Bukkake is a heavier, soy-based broth.
Almost everything is self service, from the disposable cutlery to the various udon condiments like the spring onions, wakame and tempura batter bits. The tempura batter did make the broth slightly oilier, but overall I really liked the pork udon. The broth was tasty, the pork was tender and slightly sweet, which played nicely against the savoury broth, and the noodles had a great chewy texture.
A’s Kama-tama was slightly underwhelming when it first arrived, even after pouring in the Bukkake broth. After adding quite a lot of the condiments though, the final concoction turned out pretty good. Still, I’ll stick to my classic soup udon.
From their tempura section, we picked a shitake mushroom and an eggplant one. These are not fried to order – they are placed under heat lamps along the counter, you pick the skewers you want and pay together with the rest of your meal. This doesn’t come with the traditional tempura dipping sauce, and there was a bit of confusion when I asked the servers about it. In the end they just dished out a portion of the Bukkake broth for me to use as a dip. These were ok but I may pass next time.
If you opt for the regular sized udon, portions are quite small and perfect for a light meal, or if you’re like us, a snack before we made our way downstairs to Ryoshi Sushi for a few plates of sushi as our second meal…
A says:
The regular portion of udon is cheap but tiny. Which is good if you want a lot of tempura (which is pretty good) or go somewhere else for a second meal.
Tamoya
117 River Valley Road
#01-32 Liang Court
Tel: 6377-0301
Open daily: 11 am to 10 pm
www.tamoya.com.sg
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tanuki again
C says:
We went to Tanuki again with A’s friends, this time not for Happy Hour so no $1 oysters. Instead, we took the opportunity to sample more of their menu and found a few more gems, as well as a few duds.
Tanuki’s version of spam nigiri sushi is, in my opinion, better than the one at Maison Ikkoku, simply because of the spam/rice ratio. This may not be for everyone, but I love spam, so I heartily approve.
Interestingly, while the spam in the sushi was good, it was the least successful component in the Trio of Fries, which comprises truffle fries, lotus chips and spam fries. The truffles fries were pretty good, as were the wafer-thin lotus chips, but the spam had been cut into tiny matchstick-sized slivers so they were dry and hard; not how I like my spam fries.
The fish tacos were surprisingly good. Granted, I’m not a big taco/Mexican food fan, but these were really nice and light, and the combination of the crispy fried fish, avocado and jalapenos was perfect.
Again, the Tanuki rolls were decent but not outstanding. We had the Rockstar – seared salmon, cheese and mentaiko, and the ASC – asparagus with salmon and cheese. I preferred the ASC as the asparagus provided a nice crunch.
The Steak Tartare Don was a downright disappointment. It looked really good, with the quail’s egg yolk in the centre, and the tartare hand-diced rather than minced into a goopy mess, but it had absolutely no flavour at all. The tartare was un (not even under) seasoned, and the meat itself simply had no beefy flavour whatsoever.
The $1 oysters are still one of the best things on the menu, and given that non-Happy Hour oysters are $62 per dozen (granted, they’re allegedly a different quality from the Happy Hour oysters), I can't bring myself to come here any other time.
A says:
Avoid the bland beef dishes. Stick with the seafood dishes and you won't be disappointed.
We went to Tanuki again with A’s friends, this time not for Happy Hour so no $1 oysters. Instead, we took the opportunity to sample more of their menu and found a few more gems, as well as a few duds.
Tanuki’s version of spam nigiri sushi is, in my opinion, better than the one at Maison Ikkoku, simply because of the spam/rice ratio. This may not be for everyone, but I love spam, so I heartily approve.
Interestingly, while the spam in the sushi was good, it was the least successful component in the Trio of Fries, which comprises truffle fries, lotus chips and spam fries. The truffles fries were pretty good, as were the wafer-thin lotus chips, but the spam had been cut into tiny matchstick-sized slivers so they were dry and hard; not how I like my spam fries.
The fish tacos were surprisingly good. Granted, I’m not a big taco/Mexican food fan, but these were really nice and light, and the combination of the crispy fried fish, avocado and jalapenos was perfect.
Again, the Tanuki rolls were decent but not outstanding. We had the Rockstar – seared salmon, cheese and mentaiko, and the ASC – asparagus with salmon and cheese. I preferred the ASC as the asparagus provided a nice crunch.
The Steak Tartare Don was a downright disappointment. It looked really good, with the quail’s egg yolk in the centre, and the tartare hand-diced rather than minced into a goopy mess, but it had absolutely no flavour at all. The tartare was un (not even under) seasoned, and the meat itself simply had no beefy flavour whatsoever.
The $1 oysters are still one of the best things on the menu, and given that non-Happy Hour oysters are $62 per dozen (granted, they’re allegedly a different quality from the Happy Hour oysters), I can't bring myself to come here any other time.
A says:
Avoid the bland beef dishes. Stick with the seafood dishes and you won't be disappointed.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Crostini Bar
C says:
Crostini Bar along Haji Lane seems to have a few dining concepts under one roof. Upstairs is Bar Stories, primarily a watering hole, and food is served downstairs. True to their name, their main focus is crostinis of all kinds, but few are aware that they also have a carte blanche menu, where you are served 5 or 8 courses of what the chef wants to prepare that day.
We made a reservation for dinner, and went with the intention of trying the carte blanche. When we arrived, after confirming that we were there for dinner, we were curiously still ushered upstairs. We sat at a tiny table for possibly 10 to 15 minutes, while waiters walked past us without paying any attention to us at all.
Finally, I couldn’t take it any more and flagged someone down, asking if we could order and what the carte blanche menu was like that day. He suggested that we didn't take the carte blanche because the wait could be long if the kitchen was busy. After disappearing for another 5 minutes, they finally took our order, then gave us a table downstairs.
That unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the meal. I wasn’t particularly happy that we were“forced” to order the crostinis, and we were seated next to the main door that people kept opening and not closing behind them.
As far as the food went, nothing was particularly outstanding. The grilled steak crostini was probably the best of the crostinis, and the slow cooked egg, a non-crostini item, gave some hints that the carte blanche definitely has potential.
The fairly lackluster meal was saved by the dessert, as well as the lychee martini that I ordered. Dessert was an espresso and chocolate mousse with bits of chocolate soil, which was surprisingly good. Both the coffee and the chocolate were perfectly balanced. The cocktail was also excellent, which I guess is to be expected given the bar upstairs.
I’m definitely still curious about the carte blanche menu, but given how inconvenient parking is in the area, I don’t foresee us coming back to try it any time soon.
A says:
Meh... I guess it's a good option if you're in the area and don't want the usual arab/indian/muslim food you'll find there.
Crostini Bar
55 Haji Lane
Tel: 6298-0838
Mon – Fri: 4 pm – 11 pm
Sat & Sun: 4 pm – 1.30 am
Crostini Bar along Haji Lane seems to have a few dining concepts under one roof. Upstairs is Bar Stories, primarily a watering hole, and food is served downstairs. True to their name, their main focus is crostinis of all kinds, but few are aware that they also have a carte blanche menu, where you are served 5 or 8 courses of what the chef wants to prepare that day.
We made a reservation for dinner, and went with the intention of trying the carte blanche. When we arrived, after confirming that we were there for dinner, we were curiously still ushered upstairs. We sat at a tiny table for possibly 10 to 15 minutes, while waiters walked past us without paying any attention to us at all.
Finally, I couldn’t take it any more and flagged someone down, asking if we could order and what the carte blanche menu was like that day. He suggested that we didn't take the carte blanche because the wait could be long if the kitchen was busy. After disappearing for another 5 minutes, they finally took our order, then gave us a table downstairs.
That unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the meal. I wasn’t particularly happy that we were“forced” to order the crostinis, and we were seated next to the main door that people kept opening and not closing behind them.
As far as the food went, nothing was particularly outstanding. The grilled steak crostini was probably the best of the crostinis, and the slow cooked egg, a non-crostini item, gave some hints that the carte blanche definitely has potential.
The fairly lackluster meal was saved by the dessert, as well as the lychee martini that I ordered. Dessert was an espresso and chocolate mousse with bits of chocolate soil, which was surprisingly good. Both the coffee and the chocolate were perfectly balanced. The cocktail was also excellent, which I guess is to be expected given the bar upstairs.
I’m definitely still curious about the carte blanche menu, but given how inconvenient parking is in the area, I don’t foresee us coming back to try it any time soon.
A says:
Meh... I guess it's a good option if you're in the area and don't want the usual arab/indian/muslim food you'll find there.
Crostini Bar
55 Haji Lane
Tel: 6298-0838
Mon – Fri: 4 pm – 11 pm
Sat & Sun: 4 pm – 1.30 am
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
C says:
This is ordinarily out of our usual price range for non-special occasions, but L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon has recently started serving lunch on Sundays, at relatively reasonable prices - $49 for 3 courses (limited selection of dishes), $68 for a 4-course (choose any appetizer, fish course, meat course and dessert) and $87 for a 5-course (same as 4-course but with the addition of a soup).
None of the soups were particularly enticing, so we both went with the fish and meat menu. The amuse bouche was a foie gras custard with truffle and parmesan foam - a winning combination of flavours and pretty tasty.
For the first course we both opted for the pig head terrine with slow cooked egg and olives. The gelatinous bits of the meat from the pig's head were wrapped inside a casing made from pig skin then fried. It was a very rich dish because of the sticky, gelatinous texture of the meat combined with the skin (which still had singed bits of hair on it), so the small portion was about all I could handle. The olives helped cut through the richness though.
A had a bacalao polenta with jamon, and I had the prawns with kaffir lime leaf. The prawns were pretty ordinary compared to the awesome bacalao, which was flavourful enough on its own, and went to a whole other level when paired with the umami-packed slices of jamon.
Most of the meat dishes were quite ordinary - roast chicken, or thinly sliced beef on rocket salad. I decided to top up my set for the roasted quail dish - the leg was really tender, and the breast perfectly cooked and stuffed with foie gras.
A went with the spaghetti carbonara, which he regretted to some extent because of how pedestrian he thought it was, but it was a damn good plate of carbonara. The dish was infused with flavours of bacon fat, and the sauce was just bacon fat and egg, no cream, so it was silky and smooth without being too rich.
We were each served a little dish of the legendary Robuchon mashed potatoes, but even though I requested at the start that ours weren't dumbed down (I'd heard that they may veer away from the 50-50 ratio in Singapore to cater to a reduced appetite for butter-rich food), I doubt they prepared a separate batch for us. I haven't been to any of the other Robuchons so I can't vouch for whether the one we had was the full-on version or not - it was very good, but I didn't get an overwhelming sense of butteriness from it.
A had the profiteroles for dessert, and I had a chocolate and salt caramel mousse with diced mango. The profiteroles were quite ordinary compared to the relative complexity of the mousse. Hidden within the mousse were bits of popping candy, which added an unexpectedly playful note.
We were one of the first customers at noon, and service was excellent when lunch started out. As it got more crowded, the waitstaff were getting quite stretched, and while the kitchen got the orders out in perfect time, they were generally let down by the speed of the service staff. Our desserts, which were prepped in a separate kitchen, took ages to arrive, not to mention the bill, and again the credit card slip for payment. I would have given this place top marks if not for the almost half hour wait (in total) from desserts till we finally paid the bill.
A says:
The food is fantastic but the question is whether it is worth paying astronomical prices for. In terms of the Sunday set lunch (which isn't cheap until you compare it to the regular menu prices) then the answer is yes, it's worth it. Other than that, I probably won't empty my wallet for it.
The service started great, but once the restuarant filled up with fellow cheapskates, the standard dropped tremendously. Our original server switched to another station and service was almost non-existent from our mains onwards. Maybe it's a different story if you go at dinner and pay the big bucks.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: 6577-7888
Dinner: Daily, 6 pm – 10.30 pm
Lunch: Sunday, 12 noon - 2 pm
This is ordinarily out of our usual price range for non-special occasions, but L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon has recently started serving lunch on Sundays, at relatively reasonable prices - $49 for 3 courses (limited selection of dishes), $68 for a 4-course (choose any appetizer, fish course, meat course and dessert) and $87 for a 5-course (same as 4-course but with the addition of a soup).
None of the soups were particularly enticing, so we both went with the fish and meat menu. The amuse bouche was a foie gras custard with truffle and parmesan foam - a winning combination of flavours and pretty tasty.
For the first course we both opted for the pig head terrine with slow cooked egg and olives. The gelatinous bits of the meat from the pig's head were wrapped inside a casing made from pig skin then fried. It was a very rich dish because of the sticky, gelatinous texture of the meat combined with the skin (which still had singed bits of hair on it), so the small portion was about all I could handle. The olives helped cut through the richness though.
A had a bacalao polenta with jamon, and I had the prawns with kaffir lime leaf. The prawns were pretty ordinary compared to the awesome bacalao, which was flavourful enough on its own, and went to a whole other level when paired with the umami-packed slices of jamon.
Most of the meat dishes were quite ordinary - roast chicken, or thinly sliced beef on rocket salad. I decided to top up my set for the roasted quail dish - the leg was really tender, and the breast perfectly cooked and stuffed with foie gras.
A went with the spaghetti carbonara, which he regretted to some extent because of how pedestrian he thought it was, but it was a damn good plate of carbonara. The dish was infused with flavours of bacon fat, and the sauce was just bacon fat and egg, no cream, so it was silky and smooth without being too rich.
We were each served a little dish of the legendary Robuchon mashed potatoes, but even though I requested at the start that ours weren't dumbed down (I'd heard that they may veer away from the 50-50 ratio in Singapore to cater to a reduced appetite for butter-rich food), I doubt they prepared a separate batch for us. I haven't been to any of the other Robuchons so I can't vouch for whether the one we had was the full-on version or not - it was very good, but I didn't get an overwhelming sense of butteriness from it.
A had the profiteroles for dessert, and I had a chocolate and salt caramel mousse with diced mango. The profiteroles were quite ordinary compared to the relative complexity of the mousse. Hidden within the mousse were bits of popping candy, which added an unexpectedly playful note.
We were one of the first customers at noon, and service was excellent when lunch started out. As it got more crowded, the waitstaff were getting quite stretched, and while the kitchen got the orders out in perfect time, they were generally let down by the speed of the service staff. Our desserts, which were prepped in a separate kitchen, took ages to arrive, not to mention the bill, and again the credit card slip for payment. I would have given this place top marks if not for the almost half hour wait (in total) from desserts till we finally paid the bill.
A says:
The food is fantastic but the question is whether it is worth paying astronomical prices for. In terms of the Sunday set lunch (which isn't cheap until you compare it to the regular menu prices) then the answer is yes, it's worth it. Other than that, I probably won't empty my wallet for it.
The service started great, but once the restuarant filled up with fellow cheapskates, the standard dropped tremendously. Our original server switched to another station and service was almost non-existent from our mains onwards. Maybe it's a different story if you go at dinner and pay the big bucks.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: 6577-7888
Dinner: Daily, 6 pm – 10.30 pm
Lunch: Sunday, 12 noon - 2 pm
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Brinj
C says:
Brinj is somewhat of an off the beaten track place. Old school foodies would know the chef/owner from his previous venture, Azhang at Mohammed Sultan Road. I'd heard of but never been to Azhang back in its day; I found out about Brinj only recently from a friend, as well as a couple of recent articles.
Brinj is almost hidden along Cheong Chin Nam Road, amidst zi char and prata places. Its nondescript entrance and "pre-order first" policy almost guarantees no walk-ins; indeed when we were there with L and M, we were one of only two tables the entire night.
When I called to make the reservation, I was encouraged to pre-order our dishes. They're famous for their whole roast suckling pig and their roast duck, both of which have to be ordered at least 2 days in advance. They were too much for our party of 4, so I ended up pre-ordering their corn salad, BBQ lamb ribs, grilled squid and their Baba Noodles. When we got there, we added a grilled salmon belly as well.
The food here doesn't really fall into any category - I would actually classify it as food from someone's home kitchen. The corn salad featured smokey grilled corn with onions and romaine with a tart, garlicky dressing. The smokey corn was great but everything else was something you could replicate at home.
The lamb ribs didn't have much meat on them, but they were delicious - really flavourful, tender and slighty fatty. I could have had a whole second portion of these.
Both their grilled salmon belly and grilled squid are served with rice pilaf. I love the char that they managed to get on the seafood, yet the squid was perfectly tender and the salmon was rare in the middle. My one criticism is that the salmon still had some bones, and likewise the squid head still had some suspiciously crunchy bits left inside.
Their other specialty that has to be pre-ordered is their Baba Noodles - their version of hokkien mee fried with bacon and duck fat. With that description, I expected a rather rich dish, but thanks to the vegetables and almost raw beansprouts, this tasted a lot brighter and cleaner than I expected.
We shared a pecan pie and a tiramisu for dessert, which were nothing to shout about.
I must say, I expected to be blown away, but I wasn't. It wasn't disappointing, and prices are very reasonable ($40 per person for what we had), but almost everything we had tasted like good home cooking. Maybe their roast pig and roast duck would have been more impressive, if we can gather a group of a least 8 who are as keen as we are to give it another go.
A says:
The food is above average quality and served family style (to be shared). And for what we paid, it was great value for money. The fact that you have to pre-order most of the good dishes is a drawback though. And while the server we had was trying very hard to please, she just wasn't well trained. Overall, I'd say go only if you want a casual family/friend dining place.
Brinj
15 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Tel: 9469-9093
Tues to Sun: 6 pm - 11 pm
Brinj is somewhat of an off the beaten track place. Old school foodies would know the chef/owner from his previous venture, Azhang at Mohammed Sultan Road. I'd heard of but never been to Azhang back in its day; I found out about Brinj only recently from a friend, as well as a couple of recent articles.
Brinj is almost hidden along Cheong Chin Nam Road, amidst zi char and prata places. Its nondescript entrance and "pre-order first" policy almost guarantees no walk-ins; indeed when we were there with L and M, we were one of only two tables the entire night.
When I called to make the reservation, I was encouraged to pre-order our dishes. They're famous for their whole roast suckling pig and their roast duck, both of which have to be ordered at least 2 days in advance. They were too much for our party of 4, so I ended up pre-ordering their corn salad, BBQ lamb ribs, grilled squid and their Baba Noodles. When we got there, we added a grilled salmon belly as well.
The food here doesn't really fall into any category - I would actually classify it as food from someone's home kitchen. The corn salad featured smokey grilled corn with onions and romaine with a tart, garlicky dressing. The smokey corn was great but everything else was something you could replicate at home.
The lamb ribs didn't have much meat on them, but they were delicious - really flavourful, tender and slighty fatty. I could have had a whole second portion of these.
Both their grilled salmon belly and grilled squid are served with rice pilaf. I love the char that they managed to get on the seafood, yet the squid was perfectly tender and the salmon was rare in the middle. My one criticism is that the salmon still had some bones, and likewise the squid head still had some suspiciously crunchy bits left inside.
Their other specialty that has to be pre-ordered is their Baba Noodles - their version of hokkien mee fried with bacon and duck fat. With that description, I expected a rather rich dish, but thanks to the vegetables and almost raw beansprouts, this tasted a lot brighter and cleaner than I expected.
We shared a pecan pie and a tiramisu for dessert, which were nothing to shout about.
I must say, I expected to be blown away, but I wasn't. It wasn't disappointing, and prices are very reasonable ($40 per person for what we had), but almost everything we had tasted like good home cooking. Maybe their roast pig and roast duck would have been more impressive, if we can gather a group of a least 8 who are as keen as we are to give it another go.
A says:
The food is above average quality and served family style (to be shared). And for what we paid, it was great value for money. The fact that you have to pre-order most of the good dishes is a drawback though. And while the server we had was trying very hard to please, she just wasn't well trained. Overall, I'd say go only if you want a casual family/friend dining place.
Brinj
15 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Tel: 9469-9093
Tues to Sun: 6 pm - 11 pm
Monday, April 01, 2013
Bistro Soori
C says:
Bistro Soori at Teck Lim Road is part of the Alila Villas lifestyle concept. They do a pretty good Sunday brunch set - $39.90 for 3 courses. The only downside is that drinks aren't part of the package, so a flute of Cava is $15, and a cup of coffee (Nespresso, to boot), is $7. I like that they have a very comprehensive selection of dishes; in fact, everything on the a la carte menu is available for selection as part of the brunch set.
My starter was a spinach salad with confit portobello mushrooms and mozzarella balls. The mushrooms were good, but I think a leaf with a bit more flavour, like rocket, may have worked better.
A had the creamy polenta with sauteed mushrooms and toast. This was much better than mine - the polenta had a ton of flavour, and worked very well spread on toast with the mushrooms.
I had the jumbo lump crab eggs benedict - poached eggs on English muffins with chunks of lump crab meat and hollandaise sauce. I really enjoyed this interesting take on a typical ham or salmon eggs ben, and the portion of 2 eggs was pretty substantial.
Much less substantial but just as tasty was A's cured salmon with cream cheese and latkes (potato pancakes). At least, I think it was tasty because he went in the zone and I didn't get to try any of it besides the chopped up 'deconstructed' egg.
Compared to the selection for the starter and main course, the dessert selection was quite skimpy in comparison. A had the brownie with ice cream, and I had the trio of yogurt mousse with pink guava, mango and strawberry. Surprisingly, the guava was the best of the lot.
I found it surprisingly empty notwithstanding the pretty decent prices and quality, compared to the crowds at the Tiong Bahru brunch hotspots where you don't even get a 3 course meal. Apart from the open kitchen causing a slightly smelly environment, Bistro Soori is a nice, quiet place to have a chill Sunday brunch.
A says:
Very, very good. And the sets are relatively affordable.
Bistro Soori
2 Teck Lim Road
Tel: 6438-3802
Mon to Fri: 11.30 am - 2.30 pm; 6.30 pm - 10 pm
Sat: 6.30 pm - 10 pm
Sun (brunch): 11 am - 3 pm
www.bistrosoori.com
Bistro Soori at Teck Lim Road is part of the Alila Villas lifestyle concept. They do a pretty good Sunday brunch set - $39.90 for 3 courses. The only downside is that drinks aren't part of the package, so a flute of Cava is $15, and a cup of coffee (Nespresso, to boot), is $7. I like that they have a very comprehensive selection of dishes; in fact, everything on the a la carte menu is available for selection as part of the brunch set.
My starter was a spinach salad with confit portobello mushrooms and mozzarella balls. The mushrooms were good, but I think a leaf with a bit more flavour, like rocket, may have worked better.
A had the creamy polenta with sauteed mushrooms and toast. This was much better than mine - the polenta had a ton of flavour, and worked very well spread on toast with the mushrooms.
I had the jumbo lump crab eggs benedict - poached eggs on English muffins with chunks of lump crab meat and hollandaise sauce. I really enjoyed this interesting take on a typical ham or salmon eggs ben, and the portion of 2 eggs was pretty substantial.
Much less substantial but just as tasty was A's cured salmon with cream cheese and latkes (potato pancakes). At least, I think it was tasty because he went in the zone and I didn't get to try any of it besides the chopped up 'deconstructed' egg.
Compared to the selection for the starter and main course, the dessert selection was quite skimpy in comparison. A had the brownie with ice cream, and I had the trio of yogurt mousse with pink guava, mango and strawberry. Surprisingly, the guava was the best of the lot.
I found it surprisingly empty notwithstanding the pretty decent prices and quality, compared to the crowds at the Tiong Bahru brunch hotspots where you don't even get a 3 course meal. Apart from the open kitchen causing a slightly smelly environment, Bistro Soori is a nice, quiet place to have a chill Sunday brunch.
A says:
Very, very good. And the sets are relatively affordable.
Bistro Soori
2 Teck Lim Road
Tel: 6438-3802
Mon to Fri: 11.30 am - 2.30 pm; 6.30 pm - 10 pm
Sat: 6.30 pm - 10 pm
Sun (brunch): 11 am - 3 pm
www.bistrosoori.com
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Kith Bistro at Sentosa
C says:
We couldn't be happier and more proud of Kith. Hot on the heels of opening their Park Mall outlet, they've now opened their third, and arguably most ambitious, branch to date, at Quayside Isle in Sentosa Cove. Being the first proper coffee joint in the Sentosa Cove area, it offers the residents a much-needed coffee fix without having to venture out onto the mainland.
Being in the area is definitely somewhat of an alternate reality. Sipping coffee and having brunch whilst looking out at yachts bobbing in the bay is definitely not a slice of normal Singaporean life for most of us, but for a brief escape from reality it's a nice change of scene.
The menu here is similar to that at Park Mall, with a few tweaks. They offer all-day brunch up to 5 pm, and main courses and pastas are available after 11 am. I'm slightly disappointed that the awesome foie gras pasta isn't on the menu, but we ordered the spinach pasta with crab meat, and the linguine with king prawn. The crab meat one had a tendency to be a bit jelak, but adding some of the cherry tomatoes from the linguine helped ease the monotony.
A couldn't resist the grilled banana bread with vanilla ice cream for dessert - this is so simple but they do it really well.
Their coffee is stellar as usual. They even have a 3/4 latte, which I found perfect - a regular shot of espresso with an amount of milk that's in between a regular latte and a piccolo latte.
Owner Jane says weekend brunches are insanely crowded, but weekdays, even evenings, are pretty ok. It may be hectic for them but I'm still really happy that they're doing well amidst so much competition. It's really nice to know that they came from such humble beginnings at Robertson Quay, yet they still haven't compromised on their quality or their friendly, laidback vibe.
A says:
An awesome place to visit on a weekday off. Like a mini laidback holiday.
Kith Sentosa
Sentosa Cove
31 Ocean Way
#01-08 Quayside Isle
Opening hours: 8 am - 10 pm (Closed Tuesdays)
www.kith.com.sg
We couldn't be happier and more proud of Kith. Hot on the heels of opening their Park Mall outlet, they've now opened their third, and arguably most ambitious, branch to date, at Quayside Isle in Sentosa Cove. Being the first proper coffee joint in the Sentosa Cove area, it offers the residents a much-needed coffee fix without having to venture out onto the mainland.
Being in the area is definitely somewhat of an alternate reality. Sipping coffee and having brunch whilst looking out at yachts bobbing in the bay is definitely not a slice of normal Singaporean life for most of us, but for a brief escape from reality it's a nice change of scene.
The menu here is similar to that at Park Mall, with a few tweaks. They offer all-day brunch up to 5 pm, and main courses and pastas are available after 11 am. I'm slightly disappointed that the awesome foie gras pasta isn't on the menu, but we ordered the spinach pasta with crab meat, and the linguine with king prawn. The crab meat one had a tendency to be a bit jelak, but adding some of the cherry tomatoes from the linguine helped ease the monotony.
A couldn't resist the grilled banana bread with vanilla ice cream for dessert - this is so simple but they do it really well.
Their coffee is stellar as usual. They even have a 3/4 latte, which I found perfect - a regular shot of espresso with an amount of milk that's in between a regular latte and a piccolo latte.
Owner Jane says weekend brunches are insanely crowded, but weekdays, even evenings, are pretty ok. It may be hectic for them but I'm still really happy that they're doing well amidst so much competition. It's really nice to know that they came from such humble beginnings at Robertson Quay, yet they still haven't compromised on their quality or their friendly, laidback vibe.
A says:
An awesome place to visit on a weekday off. Like a mini laidback holiday.
Kith Sentosa
Sentosa Cove
31 Ocean Way
#01-08 Quayside Isle
Opening hours: 8 am - 10 pm (Closed Tuesdays)
www.kith.com.sg
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Ramen Keisuke Tori King
C says:
Located at 100AM, Tori King is by Chef Keisuke Takeda, the ramen master behind the wildly popular Tonkotsu King at Orchid Hotel. Tori King, as the name suggests, is the chicken equivalent to his porky masterpiece. The broth is made from chicken instead of pork, and you get a whole stewed chicken thigh with every order, as well as a few slices of chashu.
The chicken broth is definitely lighter and cleaner tasting than its heavier pork counterpart, but I still prefer the flavour and depth of a pork-based broth. The chicken thigh is slow-cooked, and then quickly grilled just before serving, so it's very tender yet still has a nice smokiness. It's so tender that there were no problems picking the meat off the bones with just chopsticks.
One of their signature items is the spicy green ramen - their regular ramen with a generous smear of wasabi paste over the chicken. I'm pretty ok with spicy food so I decided to give it a go.
Evidently, an ability to endure the heat from chilli padi is no match for the sinus-burning heat of wasabi. I was suffering from start to finish, since the steaming heat of the broth sent the wasabi up my nose by simply breathing in the steam. Ramen-slurping was out of the question. I had to ladle the noodles onto the spoon and gingerly take small bites.
Just like at Tonkotsu King, they offer a free flow of hard boiled eggs and bean sprouts here. It's much less crowded than Tonkotsu King, probably because people still prefer traditional pork-based ramen to chicken. I know I do.
A says:
Chicken broth vs pork broth? Pork broth wins! Which explains why the queues at this place are so short compared to the lines at the Tonkotsu King down the road.
Ramen Keisuke Tori King
100 Tras Street
#03-15, 100AM
Tel: 6604-6861
Open daily: 11.30 am - 10 pm
Located at 100AM, Tori King is by Chef Keisuke Takeda, the ramen master behind the wildly popular Tonkotsu King at Orchid Hotel. Tori King, as the name suggests, is the chicken equivalent to his porky masterpiece. The broth is made from chicken instead of pork, and you get a whole stewed chicken thigh with every order, as well as a few slices of chashu.
The chicken broth is definitely lighter and cleaner tasting than its heavier pork counterpart, but I still prefer the flavour and depth of a pork-based broth. The chicken thigh is slow-cooked, and then quickly grilled just before serving, so it's very tender yet still has a nice smokiness. It's so tender that there were no problems picking the meat off the bones with just chopsticks.
One of their signature items is the spicy green ramen - their regular ramen with a generous smear of wasabi paste over the chicken. I'm pretty ok with spicy food so I decided to give it a go.
Evidently, an ability to endure the heat from chilli padi is no match for the sinus-burning heat of wasabi. I was suffering from start to finish, since the steaming heat of the broth sent the wasabi up my nose by simply breathing in the steam. Ramen-slurping was out of the question. I had to ladle the noodles onto the spoon and gingerly take small bites.
Just like at Tonkotsu King, they offer a free flow of hard boiled eggs and bean sprouts here. It's much less crowded than Tonkotsu King, probably because people still prefer traditional pork-based ramen to chicken. I know I do.
A says:
Chicken broth vs pork broth? Pork broth wins! Which explains why the queues at this place are so short compared to the lines at the Tonkotsu King down the road.
Ramen Keisuke Tori King
100 Tras Street
#03-15, 100AM
Tel: 6604-6861
Open daily: 11.30 am - 10 pm
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tanuki
C says:
Of late we haven't had very good experiences with raw oysters. From the very insipid ones at The Oyster and Crab Restaurant, to the downright inedible ones at Todai, they all seemed to be lacking the lovely, briny liquor and bright freshness of a good oyster. It could be due to them doing the unthinkable - rinsing off the oysters to get rid of bits of shell as a result of poor shucking techniques.
Thankfully, we found Tanuki, and my faith in oysters has been restored. Opened by the people behind Standing Sushi Bar, Tanuki has been drawing the crowds with its awesome Happy Hour promotion - between 5 to 8 pm, martinis are $10, plus with every drink order, you're entitled to order up to 12 oysters at $1 each.
The oysters were, for me, the perfect size. Slightly plump but not too big that it got too rich and cloying. They were very well shucked, without any bits of shell, and the oysters were cut completely free from the shell so you can just slurp it down in one. Best part? Loads of lovely oyster liquor with each one.
Being part of a sushi group means they have pretty good raw fish too. The Salmon Don comes with fresh salmon sashimi, salmon belly, aburi salmon and ikura (salmon roe). I would have liked the aburi salmon to have been aburi-ed a bit more, but this was pretty good and the ikura in particular was full of flavour.
Their appetisers were a bit touch and go though. The Tanuki balls - beef carpaccio draped over deep fried potato and cheese balls - were very good. The potato balls were light and creamy, with a nice hit of cheese in the centre.
The Edamame spring rolls sounded better than they tasted. The filling was mashed edamame, bringing to mind less than appetising thoughts of English mushy peas.
I quite liked the American roll, their version of a cheeseburger sushi with sliced beef and cheese rolled with sushi rice and deep fried, but A wasn't too keen. Until I told him to add the vinaigrette from the oysters to mimic the flavour of relish - the hit of acid really prevented the dish from being too rich.
Clearly we need to try our luck with the food items, but I'm coming back here any chance I get for their Happy Hour oysters.
A says:
Great value for the good quality oysters. Everything else is kind of average. But still, definitely a place we'll revisit.
Tanuki Bar
181 Orchard Road
#02-03 Orchard Central
Tel: 6636-5949
(No reservations for Happy Hour)
www.tanukibar.com
Of late we haven't had very good experiences with raw oysters. From the very insipid ones at The Oyster and Crab Restaurant, to the downright inedible ones at Todai, they all seemed to be lacking the lovely, briny liquor and bright freshness of a good oyster. It could be due to them doing the unthinkable - rinsing off the oysters to get rid of bits of shell as a result of poor shucking techniques.
Thankfully, we found Tanuki, and my faith in oysters has been restored. Opened by the people behind Standing Sushi Bar, Tanuki has been drawing the crowds with its awesome Happy Hour promotion - between 5 to 8 pm, martinis are $10, plus with every drink order, you're entitled to order up to 12 oysters at $1 each.
The oysters were, for me, the perfect size. Slightly plump but not too big that it got too rich and cloying. They were very well shucked, without any bits of shell, and the oysters were cut completely free from the shell so you can just slurp it down in one. Best part? Loads of lovely oyster liquor with each one.
Being part of a sushi group means they have pretty good raw fish too. The Salmon Don comes with fresh salmon sashimi, salmon belly, aburi salmon and ikura (salmon roe). I would have liked the aburi salmon to have been aburi-ed a bit more, but this was pretty good and the ikura in particular was full of flavour.
Their appetisers were a bit touch and go though. The Tanuki balls - beef carpaccio draped over deep fried potato and cheese balls - were very good. The potato balls were light and creamy, with a nice hit of cheese in the centre.
The Edamame spring rolls sounded better than they tasted. The filling was mashed edamame, bringing to mind less than appetising thoughts of English mushy peas.
I quite liked the American roll, their version of a cheeseburger sushi with sliced beef and cheese rolled with sushi rice and deep fried, but A wasn't too keen. Until I told him to add the vinaigrette from the oysters to mimic the flavour of relish - the hit of acid really prevented the dish from being too rich.
Clearly we need to try our luck with the food items, but I'm coming back here any chance I get for their Happy Hour oysters.
A says:
Great value for the good quality oysters. Everything else is kind of average. But still, definitely a place we'll revisit.
Tanuki Bar
181 Orchard Road
#02-03 Orchard Central
Tel: 6636-5949
(No reservations for Happy Hour)
www.tanukibar.com
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Nene Chicken
C says:
I've concluded that Korean fried chicken really isn't for me; or if that's too much of a generalisation, then to be specific, I really don't like Nene Chicken's version. It's everything that I don't like in my fried chicken - a thick layer of batter, and slathered in sauce.
They do their fried chicken two ways at Nene - chicken wings, and chicken tenders, which are bite-sized pieces of both white and dark meat. You can then opt for one of a number of sauces, including Freaking Hot, Cheese, Sesame and Green Onion.
We got the chicken tenders with Sesame, and the wings with the Freaking Hot sauce. I didn't like the tenders at all - the sesame sauce was abnormally sweet, and the chicken was far from tender, especially the white meat pieces.
It was a cute touch that they gave us plastic gloves for the wings, but after a couple of wings, diminishing returns kicked in fast. The wings were overly battered and the sauce was thick, sticky and overpowering. For those who can't take heat, the Freaking Hot packs a bit of a punch, though it only kicks in after a while.
Maybe the other flavours are better, but I really don't think I can even bring myself to try any of them.
A says:
Eh, I might go back to try a few other flavour combos just to confirm my "Not recommended" opinion. But even for a person who likes food drenched in sauce, this was really too much. In fact, the only good thing I can say is that you get a lot of meat on the drumlets.
Nene Chicken
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-24, Star Vista
Open daily: 11 am - 10 pm
I've concluded that Korean fried chicken really isn't for me; or if that's too much of a generalisation, then to be specific, I really don't like Nene Chicken's version. It's everything that I don't like in my fried chicken - a thick layer of batter, and slathered in sauce.
They do their fried chicken two ways at Nene - chicken wings, and chicken tenders, which are bite-sized pieces of both white and dark meat. You can then opt for one of a number of sauces, including Freaking Hot, Cheese, Sesame and Green Onion.
We got the chicken tenders with Sesame, and the wings with the Freaking Hot sauce. I didn't like the tenders at all - the sesame sauce was abnormally sweet, and the chicken was far from tender, especially the white meat pieces.
It was a cute touch that they gave us plastic gloves for the wings, but after a couple of wings, diminishing returns kicked in fast. The wings were overly battered and the sauce was thick, sticky and overpowering. For those who can't take heat, the Freaking Hot packs a bit of a punch, though it only kicks in after a while.
Maybe the other flavours are better, but I really don't think I can even bring myself to try any of them.
A says:
Eh, I might go back to try a few other flavour combos just to confirm my "Not recommended" opinion. But even for a person who likes food drenched in sauce, this was really too much. In fact, the only good thing I can say is that you get a lot of meat on the drumlets.
Nene Chicken
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-24, Star Vista
Open daily: 11 am - 10 pm
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Loysel's Toy
C says:
Loysel's Toy, part of the Papa Palheta chain, is tucked away in a nondescript building in the Lavender area, near the Kallang River.
Indoor seating is limited, so expect to sit outside at peak hours on weekends. There isn't much ambience, since you're literally sitting in a void deck-like area, amidst cyclists or noisy families.
The coffee - a latte and a flat white - was pretty good, but not worth a special trip there, at least not in my opinion. I think I prefer Jewel or Kith's coffee.
As far as the food goes, the menu is quite limited but it was pretty decent. The full breakfast featured some pretty good sausages, and surprisingly good scrambled eggs.
After the disappointing pineapple tarte tatin at Open Door Policy, I ordered the pancakes with grilled pineapple and bacon, and was finally satisfied. The pancakes were nice and fluffy, and the pineapple was at least properly caramelised.
We wouldn't come here all the way just for coffee/brunch (Crawford bak chor mee is another story, though!), but if we happen to be in the area anyway, it's a nice quaint little brunch spot.
A says:
Go for the location and coffee. The food's pretty ordinary.
Loysel's Toy
66 Kampong Bugis
#01-02, TURE
Tel: 6292-2306
Tues to Fri: 9 am - 6 pm
Sat & Sun: 9 am - 7.30 pm
www.loyselstoy.com
Loysel's Toy, part of the Papa Palheta chain, is tucked away in a nondescript building in the Lavender area, near the Kallang River.
Indoor seating is limited, so expect to sit outside at peak hours on weekends. There isn't much ambience, since you're literally sitting in a void deck-like area, amidst cyclists or noisy families.
The coffee - a latte and a flat white - was pretty good, but not worth a special trip there, at least not in my opinion. I think I prefer Jewel or Kith's coffee.
As far as the food goes, the menu is quite limited but it was pretty decent. The full breakfast featured some pretty good sausages, and surprisingly good scrambled eggs.
After the disappointing pineapple tarte tatin at Open Door Policy, I ordered the pancakes with grilled pineapple and bacon, and was finally satisfied. The pancakes were nice and fluffy, and the pineapple was at least properly caramelised.
We wouldn't come here all the way just for coffee/brunch (Crawford bak chor mee is another story, though!), but if we happen to be in the area anyway, it's a nice quaint little brunch spot.
A says:
Go for the location and coffee. The food's pretty ordinary.
Loysel's Toy
66 Kampong Bugis
#01-02, TURE
Tel: 6292-2306
Tues to Fri: 9 am - 6 pm
Sat & Sun: 9 am - 7.30 pm
www.loyselstoy.com
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Daikokuya Ramen Dining
C says:
I'm thrilled that there's another place to get Jiro-style ramen besides Ramen Champion at Iluma and T3. Jiro-style is characterised by a light but fatty broth (with some, you can even see little cubes of fat floating in the broth), a mountain of cabbage and bean sprouts, and a heaping spoonful of chopped garlic.
I fell in love with Bario's version at Ramen Champion, though some have criticized their thick, chewy noodles. The one at Daikokuya then, at the basement of Raffles City, seems to strike a good balance.
Their Jiro-style ramen (called Stamina Ramen on the menu) comes in two flavours - a miso broth and a shoyu one. I feared that the miso would be too overpowering, so I opted for the shoyu instead. Good call - the broth was quite light, notwithstanding the fatty bits, and didn't mask the flavour of the garlic and vegetables like the miso may have had. The noodles are a regular thickness, so this may appease the Bario detractors.
I also like that they offered white vinegar to go with the ramen; it really helped to cut through the fatty, garlicky broth.
A ordered the Spicy Maze Ramen, which was essentially a dry noodle with a spicy bean paste - think a really good version of Indomie Mi Goreng. If I weren't so enamoured with the Jiro-style ramen, this would be my new favourite. Instant noodle afficionados out there will completely understand.
In addition to the usual Sapporo miso ramen and Kyushu ramen, I like that they have some interestingly different varieties here, that you don't find in many ramen joints. Purists may argue that a true ramen-ya should only offer one style, and while I generally agree, I don't mind variety if they get it right.
A says:
Not the best ramen, but with the wide selection here, there's easily something for everyone. Don't go with high expections and you won't be disappointed.
Daikokuya Ramen Dining
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-13 Raffles City
Tel: 6336-7456
Sun - Thurs 11.30am – 10pm
Fri, Sat 11.30am – 10.30pm
I'm thrilled that there's another place to get Jiro-style ramen besides Ramen Champion at Iluma and T3. Jiro-style is characterised by a light but fatty broth (with some, you can even see little cubes of fat floating in the broth), a mountain of cabbage and bean sprouts, and a heaping spoonful of chopped garlic.
I fell in love with Bario's version at Ramen Champion, though some have criticized their thick, chewy noodles. The one at Daikokuya then, at the basement of Raffles City, seems to strike a good balance.
Their Jiro-style ramen (called Stamina Ramen on the menu) comes in two flavours - a miso broth and a shoyu one. I feared that the miso would be too overpowering, so I opted for the shoyu instead. Good call - the broth was quite light, notwithstanding the fatty bits, and didn't mask the flavour of the garlic and vegetables like the miso may have had. The noodles are a regular thickness, so this may appease the Bario detractors.
I also like that they offered white vinegar to go with the ramen; it really helped to cut through the fatty, garlicky broth.
A ordered the Spicy Maze Ramen, which was essentially a dry noodle with a spicy bean paste - think a really good version of Indomie Mi Goreng. If I weren't so enamoured with the Jiro-style ramen, this would be my new favourite. Instant noodle afficionados out there will completely understand.
In addition to the usual Sapporo miso ramen and Kyushu ramen, I like that they have some interestingly different varieties here, that you don't find in many ramen joints. Purists may argue that a true ramen-ya should only offer one style, and while I generally agree, I don't mind variety if they get it right.
A says:
Not the best ramen, but with the wide selection here, there's easily something for everyone. Don't go with high expections and you won't be disappointed.
Daikokuya Ramen Dining
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-13 Raffles City
Tel: 6336-7456
Sun - Thurs 11.30am – 10pm
Fri, Sat 11.30am – 10.30pm
Monday, March 11, 2013
Open Door Policy
C says:
I'm at Yong Siak Street, arguably "the" street of the moment in Tiong Bahru, practically every weekend because of yoga, but I'm done too early to make the most of it. However, A's started classes too, albeit much later, so he's done just in time for me to meet him back there for brunch.
Because we didn't make reservations, we only managed to get a counter seat at Open Door Policy. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we could watch the chefs in action behind the glass-walled kitchen.
I like that they serve their regular menu in addition to their brunch menu; sometimes there's only so many brunch dishes you can have at one go. We decided to have one dish from each menu.
I ordered the Papaduck - duck fillets crusted with pappadum and served with a mint yogurt dip. This was a surprisingly good combination, and while the duck was cooked a bit more than I would like, it wasn't tough and had a lot of flavour.
A had the somewhat more predictable smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and wilted greens. This was a huge portion, and the eggs were lighter and fluffier, and less creamy, than usual scrambled eggs.
The 2 desserts that called to us both required a 20 minute wait - the chocolate and pistachio souffle, and the pineapple tarte tatin with coconut ice cream. We opted for the latter, to our regret. I expected the pineapple to be more caramelised, but instead they were just chunks of canned pineapple. Bit of a letdown.
Watching the kitchen prep and cook the other dishes definitely whet our appetite though. I foresee us coming back here pretty soon to sample some of the other creations that we saw.
A says:
The portions are huge so it's actually pretty good value for money. Surprising for a yipsterTM (yuppie hipster - TM pending) hangout. Highly recommended except for the pineapple tart.
Open Door Policy
19 Yong Siak Street
Tel: 6221-9307
Lunch: 12 to 3pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm
Weekend Brunch: 11am to 3:30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
www.odpsingapore.com
I'm at Yong Siak Street, arguably "the" street of the moment in Tiong Bahru, practically every weekend because of yoga, but I'm done too early to make the most of it. However, A's started classes too, albeit much later, so he's done just in time for me to meet him back there for brunch.
Because we didn't make reservations, we only managed to get a counter seat at Open Door Policy. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we could watch the chefs in action behind the glass-walled kitchen.
I like that they serve their regular menu in addition to their brunch menu; sometimes there's only so many brunch dishes you can have at one go. We decided to have one dish from each menu.
I ordered the Papaduck - duck fillets crusted with pappadum and served with a mint yogurt dip. This was a surprisingly good combination, and while the duck was cooked a bit more than I would like, it wasn't tough and had a lot of flavour.
A had the somewhat more predictable smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and wilted greens. This was a huge portion, and the eggs were lighter and fluffier, and less creamy, than usual scrambled eggs.
The 2 desserts that called to us both required a 20 minute wait - the chocolate and pistachio souffle, and the pineapple tarte tatin with coconut ice cream. We opted for the latter, to our regret. I expected the pineapple to be more caramelised, but instead they were just chunks of canned pineapple. Bit of a letdown.
Watching the kitchen prep and cook the other dishes definitely whet our appetite though. I foresee us coming back here pretty soon to sample some of the other creations that we saw.
A says:
The portions are huge so it's actually pretty good value for money. Surprising for a yipsterTM (yuppie hipster - TM pending) hangout. Highly recommended except for the pineapple tart.
Open Door Policy
19 Yong Siak Street
Tel: 6221-9307
Lunch: 12 to 3pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm
Weekend Brunch: 11am to 3:30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
www.odpsingapore.com
Thursday, March 07, 2013
2Fifteen Kitchen
C says:
This little bistro nestled within the depths of Rochester Mall makes a very viable last minute option. We called for a reservation on a Friday night, but it turns out we didn't need to - there were only 3 tables of 2 when we arrived, and the restaurant was barely half full throughout the course of the evening.
We started with a lobster bisque, and escargots on toast. The bisque was pretty potent yet not too rich or creamy. I thought the escargots on toast was a nice alternative to the usual garlic butter-in-shells preparation, but I wasn't a fan of the cranberry vinaigrette on the salad.
Cousin L recommended this place, specifically the prawn capellini, and when the waiter also vouched for it as one of the restaurant's specialities, we had to order it. Granted, it had some pretty good flavours, but I think it would have been better with a slightly thicker pasta, like maybe a spaghettini, rather than the super-fine capellini. It ended up tasting a bit like fried bee hoon.
After much deliberation, we ordered the risotto with smoked duck and foie gras. To our surprise, this surpassed the capellini. The risotto was just shy of being perfectly cooked and oozy, but the flavour more than made up for it. The chopped-up smoked duck added a ton of flavour, and the pan fried foie was perfect.
The apple tart with ice cream was surprising - the "tart" was actually a really thin apple-flavoured cross between filo and puff pastry, with the ice cream served on a separate plate. Not really my thing; I'll probably pass on the desserts next time.
My first thought when I saw it so empty was that it didn't bode well, but the food was actually pretty good, so I think it's just down to feng shui/location. Rochester Mall is already very much in the shadow of Star Vista, and 2Fifteen is tucked away on the second floor, away from general foot traffic. Quite a pity, because it's definitely an understated hidden gem.
A says:
A hidden gem indeed. The menu is pretty simple for a "fancy" generic European restaurant but the flavours are all very strong. Service is also relaxed, helpful and friendly. The waiter said they did the foie really well and true enough, it was great. I hope more people start coming here because I like it and it's worrying to see it so empty. It may be a branding thing because it doesn't really cut it as the fine dining place it's trying to be. But it could work assomething less stuffy.
2Fifteen Kitchen
35 Rochester Drive
#02-15 Rochester Mall
Tel: 6659-8215
Tues to Sun: 11.30 am - 10 pm
Closed on Monday
www.epicurean.com.sg/2fifteen.html
This little bistro nestled within the depths of Rochester Mall makes a very viable last minute option. We called for a reservation on a Friday night, but it turns out we didn't need to - there were only 3 tables of 2 when we arrived, and the restaurant was barely half full throughout the course of the evening.
We started with a lobster bisque, and escargots on toast. The bisque was pretty potent yet not too rich or creamy. I thought the escargots on toast was a nice alternative to the usual garlic butter-in-shells preparation, but I wasn't a fan of the cranberry vinaigrette on the salad.
Cousin L recommended this place, specifically the prawn capellini, and when the waiter also vouched for it as one of the restaurant's specialities, we had to order it. Granted, it had some pretty good flavours, but I think it would have been better with a slightly thicker pasta, like maybe a spaghettini, rather than the super-fine capellini. It ended up tasting a bit like fried bee hoon.
After much deliberation, we ordered the risotto with smoked duck and foie gras. To our surprise, this surpassed the capellini. The risotto was just shy of being perfectly cooked and oozy, but the flavour more than made up for it. The chopped-up smoked duck added a ton of flavour, and the pan fried foie was perfect.
The apple tart with ice cream was surprising - the "tart" was actually a really thin apple-flavoured cross between filo and puff pastry, with the ice cream served on a separate plate. Not really my thing; I'll probably pass on the desserts next time.
My first thought when I saw it so empty was that it didn't bode well, but the food was actually pretty good, so I think it's just down to feng shui/location. Rochester Mall is already very much in the shadow of Star Vista, and 2Fifteen is tucked away on the second floor, away from general foot traffic. Quite a pity, because it's definitely an understated hidden gem.
A says:
A hidden gem indeed. The menu is pretty simple for a "fancy" generic European restaurant but the flavours are all very strong. Service is also relaxed, helpful and friendly. The waiter said they did the foie really well and true enough, it was great. I hope more people start coming here because I like it and it's worrying to see it so empty. It may be a branding thing because it doesn't really cut it as the fine dining place it's trying to be. But it could work assomething less stuffy.
2Fifteen Kitchen
35 Rochester Drive
#02-15 Rochester Mall
Tel: 6659-8215
Tues to Sun: 11.30 am - 10 pm
Closed on Monday
www.epicurean.com.sg/2fifteen.html
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