Craving for western food while stuck at home during the Circuit Breaker? Fret not, as there are a number of eateries in Singapore serving Western fare that do islandwide delivery so you can get your chicken chop and fish & chips fix. 

While there are a number of western restaurants that already do islandwide deliveries, did you know that some of your favourite hawker and coffee shop stalls selling old-school and restaurant-quality western food have jumped onto the bandwagon and now offer islandwide western food delivery services during the Circuit Breaker too? We have here a list of such stalls so you can #supportlocal the next time you crave some good ol’ pasta or steak. 

Photo Credit: Big Bern’s American Grill 

BIG BERN’S AMERICAN GRILL

Big Bern’s American Grill is a Muslim-owned stall at Timbre+ that serves up hearty, filling plates of American comfort food with southern Louisiana accents. Get your western food fix here with their islandwide western food delivery services.

Food that you can look forward to tucking into include their Pulled Beef Brisket Burger (S$10.90), Chicken Hotdog (S$9.80) and Black Pepper Chicken Platter (S$13.90)

Call 9380 5339 to place your order. For islandwide delivery, a minimum order of S$50 is needed. Self-collection is available as well.

BURGS BY PROJECT WARUNG

Burgs by Project Warung is a stall that is well-known for its quality gourmet burgers that are affordably priced. Started by three young chefs, Burgs has been changing the halal culinary scene ever since they opened for business four years back. For those of you who miss and crave their burgers, you’d be glad to know that they will be doing islandwide delivery for their western food.

Be sure to order their Burgs’ Classic Cheeseburger (S$6/S$9), Crispy Rendang Chicken Burger (S$6.40/S$8.90) and Nacho Fish & Chips Burger (S$7/S$9.50).

Whatsapp the outlet closest to you to place your orders (Timbre 9023 0574, Bukit Batok 9457 8622, Chai Chee 9023 0584). You can get free islandwide delivery for orders above S$30. Self-collection is available too.

Photo Credit: Fatty Bom Bom Sizzle 

FATTY BOM BOM SIZZLE

If you have a bottomless pit for a stomach and are craving for some old-school Halal western food, then you need to get your fix at Fatty Bom Bom Sizzle which is known for their massive portion sizes.

Try their Cajun Chicken Roll (S$6.80), Crunchy Fish with Pasta (S$7.20) and FattyBom Tender Steak (S$11.80).

Whatsapp 8374 3660 to place your orders. For western food islandwide delivery, a minimum order of S$50 is needed. Orders below S$50 will be charged a flat fee of S$10. Do place your orders before 5pm. Self-collection is available.

FISH & CHICKS

Fish & Chicks is a no-frills eatery which shot to fame a few years back with its signature Salted Egg Fish & Chips. Aside from that, they also have other scrumptious western options such as Black Pepper Chicken Chop, Spring Chicken and Salted Egg pasta.

Their Best of Both Worlds Fish & Chips (S$16), Fish & Chicks Mix Platter (S$30.40) and Truffle Carbonara Pasta with Chargrilled Chicken (S$11.40) are available for order too.

Whatsapp 9784 9219 to enquire and order. Delivery fee is S$5 for islandwide western food delivery. Self-collection is available too.

Photo Credit: by_yh.h

HOT PLATE WESTERN FOOD

If you’ve been to Tiong Bahru Food Centre, you would probably have come across Hot Plate Western Food, one of the more popular hawker stalls there that has a menu filled with a large variety of delicious old-school western food served on their iconic hot plates. While you can’t enjoy your pork chops on a hot plate anymore, you can still order in your favourite western food for the meantime.

Some of the options on the menu include Chicken Chop (S$6), Half Spring Chicken with Rice or Fries (S$5) and Black Pepper Lamb (S$8.50).

Whatsapp 9382 0954 to enquire and order. Delivery fees range from S$5 to S$15 and depend on location. No minimum order needed. Self-collection is available too.

J’S WESTERN FOOD

J’s Western Food is located at Hougang Ci Yuan Community Club and they have a number of old-school western dishes on their menu to satisfy any cravings you may have.

You can look forward to tucking into their Chicken Chop (S$6.90), Grilled Fish (S$10.90) and Striploin Steak (S$11.90).

Whatsapp 9006 7441 to place your order. They provide western food islandwide delivery for orders with a minimum order of S$10 and you can get free islandwide delivery for orders above S$50. If you stay in the Northeast area, you can get free deliveries for orders above S$30.

MAI TU LIAO WESTERN

Tucked away at Apex@Henderson is Mai Tu Liao Western and they have a simple yet substantial menu filled with popular old-school western food options that are all available for islandwide delivery.

Some of the dishes that you can enjoy from them include Chicken Chop (S$5.50), Lamb Chop (S$8) and Spring Chicken (S$9.50).

Whatsapp 8233 8097 to place your order. Delivery charges for islandwide western food delivery range from S$3 to S$10 depending on your location.

Photo Credit: Smokin’ Joe 

SMOKIN’ JOE

For some scrumptious charcoal-grilled food, hit up Smokin’ Joe. The western stall serves premium, restaurant-quality meats—including Spain Ibérico Secreto Pork Steak (S$18), BBQ Boneless Chicken Leg (S$8) and AU Wagyu Ribeye Marbling 4/5 (S$35)—that are grilled to perfection at affordable prices.

Whatsapp 9006 5004 to place your order. Free islandwide western food delivery for orders within Yishun with a minimum order of S$20 (orders below S$20 will incur a S$5 delivery fee. Free delivery for orders in the North (Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Khatib, Canberra, Woodlands, Sembawang, Admiralty, Marsiling) with a minimum order of S$30 (orders below S$30 will incur a S$5 delivery fee). Free delivery for orders outside the North with a minimum order of S$50 (orders below S$50 will incur a S$10 delivery fee)

THE NAUGHTY CHEF

Nestled within The Bedok Marketplace, The Naughty Chef is a western stall that serves up a wide array of Italian fare ranging from pizzas done 3 different ways, a variety of pasta dishes as well as risotto. Not only are the prices here kept economical for the masses, but the naughty chefs themselves also do not skimp on quality.

Indulge in delectable menu items such as The Black Ink (S$9), Vodka Crab Meat (S$11) and Gamberi E Granchio (S$18)

Call 9134 2626 / 6920 4996 to place your order. There is free delivery for postal codes starting with 46, 47, 48 or for orders above S$50. A S$3 delivery fee applies for postal codes starting with 38, 39, 40, 41, 49, 50, 81, 51, 52. All other delivery locations will incur a S$10 delivery fee. A minimum order of S$30 is needed for western food delivery.

Photo Credit: Kelvin Peh 

WANG’S WESTERN

Wang’s Western is a popular western food stall in Toa Payoh which has a simple yet extensive menu with a selection of very affordably priced western food. You will be glad to know that it is available for islandwide delivery during the Circuit Breaker.

Their Pork Cutlet (S$6.50), Chicken Chop Rice (S$4.50) and Fish Cutlet Spaghetti (S$7) are all available for order.

Whatsapp, Telegram or call 9690 0978 to place your order. Delivery charges for islandwide western food delivery depend on your location. A minimum order of S$15 is needed.

Before the trend of hipster and thematic eateries, there were the old-school ones, just simple family-run establishments that serve up good grub. These are the original spots where our parents and even grandparents used to eat at during their youth.

Sure, they may not dish out fancy culinary skills or possess any aesthetic qualities worthy of the ‘gram’, but what you can expect are honest food and a homely atmosphere. Here are 9 old-school eateries that you should visit before they officially become history.

#1 ANANDA BHAVAN RESTAURANT

Established in 1924, Ananda Bhavan Restaurant is the oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. The very first restaurant that opened was located along Selegie Road, at the rim of Little India and is a popular spot among locals.

Ananda Bhavan has many traditional snacks and tiffin dishes on its menu with their thosai, thali sets and bhatura being crowd favourites.

58 Serangoon Road
Singapore 217964
Tel: +65 6396 5464
Daily: 7.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Little India

#2 BISCUIT KING

If you happen to be an avid fan of nostalgia and all things authentically Singaporean, then Biscuit King is a place you most definitely have to check out. Stepping into this humble snack shop will transport you back to your beloved childhood days—that is if you happen to be born before the late 90s.

Biscuit King is an old-school tidbit and toy wonderland that brims with nostalgia. From iconic past-times such as ‘pick-up sticks’ and ‘snakes and ladders’ that we used to indulge in back in primary school, to childhood snack time favourites such as iced gems to pineapple jam biscuits, this is a place worth checking out no matter which generation you belong to.

130 Casuarina Road
Singapore 579518
Tel: +65 6458 0925
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm
(Closed on Monday)
Nearest Station: Yio Chu Kang

#3 GUAN HOE SOON

Guan Hoe Soon is a hidden gem in Joo Chiat that has dedicated itself to Peranakan cuisine ever since 1953. The restaurant might be a little bit of a hassle to get to unless you drive, but the food speaks of something worth the effort of getting to.

Here is where you can get proper Peranakan food as good as the ones your Nonya grandparents used to whip up (if you ever had any). Expect the classics such as their Ayam Buah Keluak, Assam Fish and Babi Panggang.

40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

#4 KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD

Starting out as a Hainanese chicken rice stall and progressively transforming itself into a zi char stall in the 1970s, Keng Eng Kee Seafood (KEK) is one of the more prominent standouts in the sea of zi char stalls in Singapore.

Dishes that come highly recommended include the Salted Egg Crab, Fried Hor Fun and Coffee Pork Ribs, but as much as those items are our all-time must-haves whenever we go there, most, if not all their dishes are pretty spot on as well.

KEK is very popular and

124 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-136
Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

#5 LOVE CONFECTIONERY

When it comes to traditional confectioneries done right, nothing beats a good-old vintage bakery or confectionery. One such confectionery that still stands and is still a perennial favourite among many Singaporeans, is Love Confectionery.

At this neighbourhood bakery located in Alexandra Village, you won’t find dainty designs or out-of-this-world flavour pairings. Instead, what you can be sure of, are rich, sweet and intensely flavoured cakes that will no doubt have you yearning for the gym after—from their oh-so-decadent buttercream cake and their ever-popular, pandan chiffon cake.

122 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-60
Singapore 150122
Tel: +65 6278 2385
Daily: 12pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

#6 RED STAR RESTAURANT

Perhaps one of the few remaining authentic, old-school dim sum restaurants in Singapore—that comes with middle-aged ladies pushing food carts around with a myriad of edible dim sum treats—is Red Star Restaurant.

Red Star is nowhere near any of the finer dining dim sum concepts around, in fact, far from it. But what it can promise you, is an exceptional dim sum meal that will leave you full and happy.

54 Chin Swee Road #07-23
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 6532 5266
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 7am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#7 SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM

Serving up delicious murtabak since 1908, Singapore Zam Zam is a humble restaurant located along North Bridge Road that is no stranger to locals—especially the meat lovers. Our personal favourites include the mutton murtabak that sees generous amounts of minced mutton, egg and onions as well as the chicken murtabak that uses shreds of chicken instead. But of course, mixing your meats is an option as well so go right ahead and ask the staff.

697-699 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198675
Tel: +65 6298 6320
Daily: 7am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#8 TONG AH EATING HOUSE

Previously located in an iconic red and white building, Tong Ah Eating House is a traditional coffee shop that has been around since 1939 and has gained recognition for both its charcoal-toasted and steamed kaya toast.

While there is no lack of kaya toast sets in Singapore, Tong Ah Eating House is one of those eateries that keeps customers going back for more. Everything is kept simple—from the modest wall decorations to their humble kaya toast and coffeeshop-style coffee.

35 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089142
Tel: +65 6223 5083
Daily: 7am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Hidden away at the rustic and relatively unexplored Portsdown road is Wessex Tavern, a quaint English-style cafe that serves delicious Western food and is a great place to head to for brunch.

This place was set up by none other than the younger generation of the Colbar family, so you know that they will only serve you the very best of hearty grub.

They have both alfresco and air-conditioned dining, so you can take your pick depending on how the weather is like. The cafe’s interior is nice and spacious, and the whole place is decorated in a very rustic manner, making you feel like you’re being taken back in time to an old-fashioned cafe.

In terms of food and beverages, they serve lots of great breakfast, brunch and lunch options such as Bangers & Mash (S$14), Big Breakfast (S$15.80), Tavern Pan-Fried Salmon (S$15.80), Homemade Shepherd’s Pie (S$8) and Homemade Beef Stew (S$13.80).

We decided to try their Avacado Sandwich which was served on multigrain bread with romaine, rocket, tomatoes, and alfalfa (S$8.90). The bread was a bit too hard for our liking, but that was just due to the nature of multigrain bread, so if you enjoy multigrain bread this would be perfect for you.

The bread was stuffed from edge to edge with vegetables and generous chunks of avocado, so much so that we had a hard time holding it even with both our hands. All in all, we feel that it was really worth the money even though it sounds very expensive.

Wessex Tavern really is a hidden gem that is worth exploring if you’re ever in the area. We recommend that you come here if you’re looking for a place to get away from the hectic city life.

Wessex Tavern
5B Portsdown Road #01-1
Singapore 139311
Tel: +65 64757019
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Commonwealth

Fish and chips are probably one of the few dishes that we grew up with and it is a dish that’s fit for any occasion.

The first fish and chip shop is said to have opened in the 1860s in London and since then, the British snack has quickly become a staple food across many different countries due to how delicious it is and how easy it is to put together. With the delicious golden-brown fish fillets that are deep-fried to perfection and a simple side of crispy fries, what’s there not to like about this comforting dish?

From hipster cafes to hawker centres, you can find different renditions of this dish almost anywhere in Singapore. As a tribute to the humble English meal, we present to you a list of 14 fish and chips in Singapore you sea-riously need to check out.

49 SEATS

For those looking for a wallet-friendly restaurant that still provides quality food, 49 Seats is the place for you. Keeping its fusion Western delights affordable and consistent, this casual dining restaurant has definitely found its way to keep its customers going back for more.

Although they are best known for their Tom Yum Pasta, their other fusion Western dishes are not to be taken lightly as well! If you are looking for something filling, try their Fish And Chips With Tom Yum Sauce that comes with a generous portion of fish that is crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.

49 Seats
176 Orchard Road, #01-49
The Centrepoint
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6225 4332
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 2.30am
Fri & Sat: 11:30am – 5pm
Sun: 11:30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

FISH & CHICKS

Fish & Chicks specialises in the good ol’ Western classic—Fish & Chips.

Each Fish & Chips portion includes a choice of two side dishes or their signature garlic fried rice. And it is the iconic Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$10.90) that everyone comes to Fish & Chicks for.

The fork-tender fresh fish fillet is coated with a light and fluffy savoury batter before it is deep-fried till golden and crisp. The battered fish is then drenched in glorious salted egg yolk sauce. Kudos to Fish & Chicks for revamping a British classic into a fusion delicacy. Fish And Chicks has one of the best fish & chips in Singapore.

Fish & Chicks
Blk 531 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-2429
Happy Hawkers
Singapore 560531
Tel: +65 9828 3490
Mon to Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

* Multiple outlets islandwide

Photo Credit: Fish Tales

FISH TALES

Taking up a humble spot on the second floor of *Scape, Fish Tales is an eatery dedicated to all things fish. Just as its name suggests, fish and chips is one of their specialities and it would be silly not to order it while you are there.

Cheese lovers will definitely fall in love with their Cheesy Affair (S$10.90). Their battered fish is stuffed with cheese–each bite you take oozes with cheesy goodness–and drizzled with a generous amount of nacho cheese on top. Another crowd favourite is the Fiery Sambal (S$9.90), which came with a generous portion of fish sitting atop a bed of lightly salted chips and a side of fiery hot sambal that packs a punch.

Fish Tales
2 Orchard Link, #02-27/02-18B
SCAPE*
Singapore 237978
Tel: +65 +65 6636 9960
Mon to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

FRESH FRUITS LAB

If we had to pick only one dish to love at FFL, it would be their Signature Fish & Chips. Fish & Chips may sound boring but wait till you’ve tried FFL’s version!

For just S$19, you get a huge piece of beer-battered pacific dory fried to a golden perfection. As if the generous serving is not filling enough, it comes with a larger portion of fruits salad, a mountain of fries and homemade tartare.

We will go out on a limb and say that this is one of the best fish & chips we’ve had in Singapore. And it is super affordable, too!

351 Changi Rd, Singapore 419818
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Kembangan

GREENWOOD FISH MARKET

True to its name, Greenwood Fish Market is definitely the place to go if you are a fish or seafood lover. Established in 2003, this retailer and family-run restaurant have stayed true to their humble beginnings by offering value-for-money Western-style cuisine. With over 20 types of fish to choose from, you will be able to find a fish that suits your palate.

Try their House Fish & Chips (S$19.95), which comes with a healthy dose of salad and chips. Each piece of battered red snapper fish was coated thinly with a non-oily batter that is deep-fried till golden brown.

Greenwood Fish Market
34/38 Greenwood Avenue
Hillcrest Park
Singapore 289236
Tel: +65 6467 4950
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

*Multiple outlets islandwide

CAPTAIN SNAPPER

Captain Snapper at habitat by honestbee has an automated checkout and collection systems so you can order your fish & chips without the hassle of queuing and paying in card or cash.

There are five different choices—Atlantic Cod (S$22.90), Halibut (S$18.90), Snapper (S$17.90), Barramundi (S$14.90) and Dory (S$12.90).

An Atlantic Cod fish & chips from Captain Snapper features 180g of Tiger Beer battered fish & chips. Two slabs of soft fish come in a crispy coat fried to a deep golden brown and served with battered bits and four different dips. Definitely one of the best fish & chips that we’ve had in Singapore.

Captain Snapper @ habitat by honestbee
34 Boon Leat Terrace, #01-01
Singapore 119866
Sun to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Pasir Panjang

HYFECAFÉ

HYFE Cafe by Changi Recommends is Singapore’s first ever travel-lifestyle concept cafe where all your planning woes will be solved. If you are preparing for an upcoming trip, HyfeCafe is packed with all the resources you need. From a travel concierge to an exclusive in-house booking app, this is the go-to place to answer all your burning travel-related questions and of course, some good food while you are busy planning your trip.

Since this list is all about the fish and chips, presenting to you HYFE Cafe’s Salted Egg Fish & Chips, which comes with a few pieces of crispy battered fish that goes well with their flavoursome salted egg yolk sauce and tangy mayonnaise served at the side.

HYFE Cafe
10 Tampines Central 1, #03-25
Singapore 529536
Tel: +65 8620 0075
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Photo credit: Oriole Coffee + Bar

ORIOLE COFFEE + BAR

A step into Oriole Coffee + Bar gives a casual and relaxed vibe, with a modest amount of tables placed both indoors and al fresco. Founded in 2008, this diner has an interesting concept as it transforms from a speciality coffeehouse during the day to a trendy bar at night.

Oriole’s Ginger Ale Fish & Chips (S$22) is a hit among its patrons, and we can definitely understand why. Tender and well done, the ginger ale battered snapper fish has a crunchy bite to it and it is piping hot when served—just the perfect dish to go along with some draft beer.

Oriole Coffee + Bar
96 Somerset Road, #01-01
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Sun to Thurs: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

Photo Credit: Oxwell & Co.

OXWELL AND CO.

Nestled atop Ann Siang Hill, Oxwell & Co. is an English-inspired bar and bistro conceived by a group of Brits pining for their local pub whilst embracing Singapore’s rich heritage. From the lighting to the rustic interior, a step into Oxwell & Co. instantly brings a surge of nostalgia of the colonial days.

The battered sea bass was firm but flaky enough and it was so well seasoned that it can be eaten on its own without any condiments. Deep-fried till golden brown, the crispy skin encased tender and moist fish meat and the chips are definitely fluffier as compared to others.

Oxwell & Co.
5 Ann Siang Road
Singapore 069688
Tel: +65 6438 7036
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

OYSTER CO.

Decorated in a fitting, nautical-themed and navy blue interior, Oyster Co is well known for their fresh oysters (duh!) and other ocean delights. Situated opposite the popular Central Perk Cafe, Oyster Co is one of the first bars in Asia to serve Budweiser on tap.

Imagine yourself enjoying a lovely meal on a cruise–pair it with a refreshing sparkling wine, as well as a plate of fish and chips, and the image is complete. Their Fish & Chips (S$10++) came with batter-fried mackerel fish, Belgium straight cut fries and Hainanese Chilli.

Oyster Co.
1 Magazine Road, #01-06
Central Mall
Singapore 059567
Tel: +65 9025 2524
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

PONG 

PONG Singapore is a modern beer pong-centric bar that takes its bar food up a notch by providing quality delights that go far beyond your typical bar grub.

Their Beer Battered Fish & Chips (S$28++) comes with a generous serving of thickly-cut chips, a generous serving of mushy peas and a massive battered cod fillet. Wonderfully crispy, the lightly battered exterior of the fillet was neither oily nor overly doughy. On the side, you get a tray of condiments featuring malt vinegar, ketchup and salt–all of them complemented the fish really well.

PONG Singapore
3B River Valley Road, #01-17
The Foundry
Singapore 179021
Tel: +65 8808 7664
Sat to Wed& Thu: 5.30pm – 2am
Thu & Fri: 5.30pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning / Clarke Quay

SOEK SENG 1954 BICYCLE CAFÉ

Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafe is a hidden cafe that is situated far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It provides a unique experience where you can see the takeoff and landing of planes up close while munching on some lovely café food.

Just like what you would expect from a classic plate of fish and chips, Soek Seng’s Fish & Chips (S$11.80) boasts a crispy batter, which we thoroughly enjoyed with some tartar sauce. Every order of the Fish & Chips comes with a side of fries, fresh coleslaw and salad.

Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafe
80 MAJ Aviation Building, #01-01
Seletar Aerospace View
Singapore 797563
Tel: +65 6659 6124
Tue to Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Seng Kang

Photo Credit: Smiths

SMITHS

Started by two Englishmen who wanted to bring authentic British fish and chips to Singapore, Smiths is a no-frills eatery located in Balmoral Plaza that delivers quality fish and chips right to your plate. Unlike the usual dory fish used by hawkers and restaurants for their fish and chips, Smiths offers fish such as cod, haddock and halibut, just like those used in traditional British fish and chips.

The codfish came with a large serving of chips as well as a side of tartar sauce, and what’s interesting is that they also have a small bowl of curry gravy by the side. Deep-fried till a beautiful golden-brown, the batter was wonderfully crunchy while the cod remained decently flaky and succulent.

SMITHS
271 Bukit Timah Road
#01-02 Balmoral Plaza
Singapore 259708
Tel: +65 6737 9313
Daily: 11:30am – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Newton

THE SHIP RESTAURANT

A step into The Ship Restaurant makes you feel as if you are dining in a ship with its dim lighting and elaborate décors such as anchors and lifebuoys. Although the dim lighting makes it quite difficult to read the menu, the beautifully decorated interior and the warm service from the friendly staffs definitely makes up for it.

The Fried Fish And Chips (S$15.90++) comes with breaded fish fillet served with a side of salad and French fries. The piquant fish fillets were succulent and fresh and special mention has to be made about the straight-cut fries that are not only wonderfully golden but are also salted just lightly enough for the earthy taste of the potato to come through.

The Ship Restaurant
1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #03-16/18
Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6235 2235
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Offering a full-on menu of both Asian and Western fare, Colbar is one of the few gems in Singapore that we can safely say, has truly stood the test of time. Opened in 1953, the establishment formerly served as a canteen for the British army. It, therefore, gave rise to its name, Colbar, otherwise referred to as ‘Colonial Bar’.

Granted that it’s a little out of the way, especially for those who do not drive, it is still a charming spot that’s worth the trip. It is a retreat from civilisation and it is also a great place to catch a glimpse of the old days.

This rustic hideout is furnished with retro interiors like Formica tabletops and old photographs, which bring an air of nostalgia that sets you back in time. Whether you’re pining for a beer, some food or a place to chill, Colbar is one that’ll guarantee you a relaxed and tranquil experience.

Well-versed in the culinary art of Western cooking, the cooks here are able to whip up a wide array of both Western and Asian delights.

In addition to their stellar grub, they also carry a vast selection of English craft beers. From sweet ciders to bitter IPAs, they have it all.

Their Roasted Chicken Chips & Mushroom came with a piece of chicken leg and a small portion of potato wedges and mushrooms. Despite the small portion, the chicken was well roasted—super crispy on the outside and firm but not too dry on the inside.

The mushrooms were coated in savoury gravy, which complimented the chicken.

Next came the Pork Cutlet Chips & Mushroom which was equally good as well.

The meat was succulent and well coated in panko breadcrumbs, that did well to give the pork an incredible crunch as well as help to lock in moisture. The pork itself boasted a subtle yet pleasant note of rosemary and thyme which we thought worked brilliantly.

The dish that we enjoyed the most was definitely the Cheese Omelette & Chips. This classic dish was simple yet so ‘egg-cellent’.

The egg was really soft and fluffy and the warm melted cheese inside just oozes out with a slight cut. The portion and wonderful taste of the omelette definitely made up for the price.

Last on our table was the Dry Ho Fun, which we felt was nothing special. Just like a plate of fried kway tiao, it was filled with basic ingredients like small prawns, fish cakes and bean sprouts.

We liked that they added a good portion of fried shallots on top that added a crunch to the dish. However, the dish was simply too greasy to finish.

Colbar
9A Whitchurch Road
Singapore 138839
Tues to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: One North

Fish & Chicks — a no-frills eatery which shot to fame with its signature Salted Egg Fish & Chips — has opened a second outlet at Cineleisure Orchard.

The humble Fish & Chicks brand is a concept by Justin – a young passionate entrepreneur — who has painstakingly gone through many rounds of research before he joined the competitive food and beverage industry. It debuted in the heartlands of Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood and the frenzy has led to the kopitiam stall seeing queues every single day; the waiting time is at least 30 minutes to an hour.

The overwhelming popularity has led the owners to open up a new outlet in town. Sitting in the basement of Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Fish & Chicks now has an outlet within the food court, Koufu.

From their bestselling Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$10.90) to Crispy Fish Burger (S$7.90), here’s what you can expect from Fish & Chicks at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

CHEESE YOUR CHICKEN

Ready for some #cheeseporn? The Cheese Your Chicken (S$13.90) is a new item on the menu that you must totally check out. Cheese is heated over high heat till it has a gooey texture for that beautiful pull, and you just have to dip your chicken chunks in for the final satisfaction.

FISH & CHICKS SHAKER FRIES

Salted egg yolk all day every day. When we learned about a Salted Egg Yolk Shaker Fries on the menu, we were ecstatic, to say the least.

The salted egg yolk seasoning and the fresh, hot fries made a beautiful pairing. And because it is a shaker, you can decide whether you want to add more or less of the seasoning, but we went all out.

SALTED EGG AND CHILLI “CRAB” FISH & CHIPS

Needless to say, Fish & Chicks specialises in the good ol’ Western classic – Fish & Chips.

Each Fish & Chips portion includes a choice of two side dishes or their signature garlic fried rice. And it is the iconic Salted Egg Fish & Chips (S$10.90) that everyone comes to Fish & Chicks for.The fork-tender fresh fish fillet is coated with a light and fluffy savoury batter before it is deep-fried till golden and crisp. The battered fish is then drenched in glorious salted egg yolk sauce. Kudos to Fish & Chicks for revamping a British classic into a fusion delicacy. We love it!

The fork-tender fresh fish fillet is coated with a light and fluffy savoury batter before it is deep-fried till golden and crisp. The battered fish is then drenched in glorious salted egg yolk sauce. Kudos to Fish & Chicks for revamping a British classic into a fusion delicacy.

The guys have also successfully integrated the Singapore chilli crab sauce into their dishes. The Chilli “Crab” Fish & Chips (S$10.90) is a battered fish fillet topped with aromatic semi-spicy gravy. Note that the tangy sauce does not contain any crustacean but is made lovingly from scratch and complements the white fish fillet really well. This is indeed a Singapore-style Fish & Chips!

Sure, you can’t decide between the Salted Egg Fish & Chips and Chilli “Crab” Fish & Chips; we understand that dilemma. Who said you can’t have the Best Of Both Worlds? For S$13.90, you can get a duo set that comes complete with a portion of fries and a choice of side.

Choose your sides from fries, onion rings, coleslaw, cheese potato, mashed potato and bbq baked beans. Each additional side costs S$2.

THE CHICKS

The seafood speciality vendor sells poultry too, which explains the word ‘Chicks’ in their stall name.

You can find familiar classics such as Chicken Cutlet (S$7.90) and Black Pepper Chicken (S$7.90). The Spring Chicken (half – S$7.90, whole – S$10.90) comes in a big portion and will fill you up in no time. Prices of chicken mains include a choice of two side dishes or garlic fried rice.

But it is The Hawaiian Chicken (S$8.90) that stole our hearts. The grilled succulent chicken is covered with melted cheese, tomato sauce and pineapples. Yes, it is pretty much akin to having a Hawaiian pizza on a chicken.

FISH & CHICKS’ SIGNATURE COMBO 

Still cannot decide between fish or chicken? Go for Fish & Chicks’ Signature Combos! You can either get the Signature Fish & Chicks (S$14.90, serves 2) which comes with your choice of fish and chicken together with 3 sides; or the Fish & Whole Spring Chicken (S$17.90, serves 2) – choice of fish with 5 sides.

BURGERS FOR YOU?

Now, let’s move on to the next exciting segment of Fish & Chicks’ menu.There are three burgers available, namely Chargrilled Chicken Burger, Crispy Chicken Burger and Crispy Fish Burger. Each burger is affordably priced at S$7.90 and includes a choice of one side.

There are three burgers available, namely Chargrilled Chicken Burger, Crispy Chicken Burger and Crispy Fish Burger. Of course, the Crispy Fish Burger has to be your choice! The fish is fried in the same, classic batter as with the other fish & chips, which means it offers the same tantalising crunch.

Every burger also comes with a choice of a single side, all for just S$7.90. That’s what we call a deal.

SIDES & DIPS

More chicken for you? We loved the deep-fried chicken wings (S$3.90 for two pieces). A serving of the crowd pleaser Truffle Fries  goes for S$7.90, while Mexican Cheese Fries is S$4.90 per portion.

But when at Fish & Chicks, stick to the ordinary French Fries (S$3.90) because they will be ordinary no more with the in-house artisanal dips. Garlic aioli, tartar, spicy tartar, truffle mayonnaise and wasabi mayonnaise; they are all freshly made in-house.

Fish & Chicks
8 Grange Road
Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
Basement 1 (Koufu)
Singapore 239693
Tel: +65 9828 3490
Daily: 11am – 10pm (Last order 9.30pm)
Nearest Station: Somerset

Blk 531 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
Happy Hawkers
Singapore 560531

This post is brought to you by Fish & Chicks.

Gone are the days where you can indulge in a mouthwatering western meal without burning a hole in the pocket. Fortunately, 49 Seats exists and has made it a point to keep its fusion gourmet very affordable and accessible amidst the rising costs in this competitive industry. Most of the dishes are priced below S$16.90 and there is no GST and service charge.

From their signature spicy Tom Yum Seafood Pasta (S$14.90) to Cheesy Chicken Chop (S$16.90), 49 Seats may not be any gourmet fine dining establishment but its menu will leave you salivating. Your grandparents will find them comfortingly nostalgic whilst your kids will have no qualms gobbling them up. It is surely a place for everyone, without breaking the bank!

Here’s sharing our favourite dishes at 49 Seats. It is hard to just decide on one, or two.

49 Seats is renowned for their industrial chic ambience, where old-school metallic plates and tin mugs are used. We love that fuss-free, retro-ish touch to the food.

As its name suggests, the founding store at Outram Park sits exactly 49 diners. Due to its increasing popularity, 49 Seats has proceeded to open two bigger outlets at Bugis Plus and Orchard Central to accommodate more patrons. The casual dining establishment takes pride in serving East-meets-West delicacies similar to those served during Singapore’s British colonial era.

Being one of the leading pioneers in Singapore to create fusion dishes with spicy tom yum broth, we have to applaud 49 Seats for their brilliant concept of integrating Asian flavours into classic Italian dishes.

Who would have known that these seemingly contrasting ingredients would actually complement each other so well? We were completely hooked to the Tom Yum Seafood Pasta (S$14.90).

Active foodies on the prowl might have already heard about this highly raved dish that features an exotic cream-based seafood pasta. It packs a punch of sweetness, sourness and spiciness with every bite and is indeed illustrative of Singapore’s diverse ethnicity.

Topped with generous amounts of mussels and prawns, the semi-spicy pasta is the bestseller at 49 Seats and you will not get this unique pasta rendition elsewhere.

The Creamy Smoked Duck Pasta (S$14.90) and Smoked Duck Aglio Olio (S$14.90) also got to us with its simplicity. The smoked duck breasts are so tender and juicy, and either way, we liked both pastas. The former takes on the classic carbonara, while the latter is a traditional aglio olio – the end results are delightful fusion dishes with a notable local twist.

Do note that the Smoked Duck Aglio Olio is not on the menu so one would have to make a special request for it.

Fish options to look out for are the Old Fashioned Fish & Chips (S$16.90) and Pan-fried Fish (S$16.90). The former is a battered seasonal fish, while the latter is a tender dory cooked simply with salt and pepper and lemon juice.

Both fishy mains are generously portioned and served with either an Al Scampi or Tom Yum sauce on the side for dipping. For the uninitiated, the Al Scampi is a seafood dish prepared with sautéed clams, mussels and prawns.

If your briny cravings are still not met, order the deep-fried Fish Bites (S$9.90) that comes in a basket of 10. Damn, these snacks got us hooked and we couldn’t stop munching on them while waiting for our mains! By the way, you would have guessed that the Tom Yum sauce is addictive, right?

49 Seats also offer a few poultry and red meat dishes, such as the chef’s recommendations of Cheesy Chicken Chop (S$16.90) and Sirloin Steak (S$19.90).

Complete your main and make it a set with an additional S$4.90, and you get a portion of soup of the day, and a soft drink of your choice. And the drink choices include their pretty house fizz beverages (S$2.50 for a la carte); we’d say go for these instead of the normal soft drinks!

Should you be a light eater, there is a variety of light bites for you to snack on. Our favourite appetisers is the glorious Cheese Fries (S$7.90).

Need another reason to love 49 Seats? They are open at ungodly hours if you need supper! Ain’t this good news?! There is an ongoing supper promotion for all main courses where 49 Seats’ customers get to enjoy 10% off after 10pm, 20% off after 11pm and 30% off after 12am. Like it cannot get cheaper, nocturnal creatures actually get to enjoy an unbelievable 50% off all pastas after 3am! Partygoers now know where to go after all that dancing.

If you haven’t realised, 49 Seats’ favourite number is evidently number 49. Alcoholic drinks are very affordable, where you can enjoy a bucket of 5 beer bottles for just S$49! Choose your poison from Corona, Heineken, Hoegaarden, Stella Artois and Tiger. And if you fancy some wines, a bottle of red or white wine is reasonably priced at S$60 and S$70 respectively.

This Christmas, customers also get to enjoy a scrumptious festive feast at 49 Seats at just S$49 nett for two. The value-for-money set meal is inclusive of two soups, two mains and a dessert for sharing.

We will definitely head back when those midnight hunger pangs strike, for both their lip-smacking dishes and awesome discounts!

For the latest updates, head over to www.49seats.com and like them on Facebook.

49 Seats Main Outlet
49 Kreta Ayer Road
Singapore 089007
Mon to Thu: 6pm – 2am
Fri to Sat: 6pm – 5.30am
Tel: +65 6225 4332
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Orchard Central #08-08
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Tel: +65 6509 5895
Nearest Station: Somerset

Bugis Plus #07-04
201 Victoria Street
Singapore 188067
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Tel: +65 6884 4633
Nearest Station: Bugis

This post is brought to you by 49 Seats.

Step into a myriad of aromatic smells and a cornucopia of flavours with Bar Bar Black Sheep, a multi-concept bar and restaurant along Tanjong Katong Road.

Set in a coffee shop-like setting with a casual dining vibe, Bar Bar Black Sheep is the perfect place to watch your favourite sports and enjoy cheap beers and food, with no GST and service charge. And did we mention that weekday set lunches are available at S$11 Nett?

Moreover, you need not worry if your buddies are indecisive about what food to eat that day as you can have a variety of dishes from three different cuisine types – Thai, North Indian and Italian food! If you have a hankering for pizza but your friend insists on Phad Thai, settle your disagreement with a trip down to Bar Bar Black Sheep, conveniently located along Tanjong Katong Road.

Here are 10 dishes from Bar Bar Black Sheep at Tanjong Katong you must try!

#1 AGLIO OLIO MUSHROOM SPAGHETTI

Tossed in olive oil, chilli and garlic, we loved how Bar Bar Black Sheep’s Mushroom Aglio Olio (S$13) was simple yet delicious. The mushrooms added a nice touch to enhance the flavours of the pasta.

This is a good option if you’re a vegetarian or if you have a friend who’s one. Bar Bar Black Sheep also has a non-vegetarian version of this dish where they add tiger prawns into the mix – Chilli Prawn Spaghetti (S$15), perfect for seafood lovers.

#2 BUTTER CHICKEN

Butter Chicken has been a favourite among North Indian food lovers for the longest time. Bar Bar Black Sheep sets the bar high with their highly addictive Butter Chicken (S$11) curry that is best eaten with naan or white rice.

The intense burst of flavours will hit you the second you consume it and you will keep going for more! Bar Bar Black Sheep has a range of naan flavours from Garlic to even Cheese, so you can have a mix of different naan to dip into this wonderful curry.

#3 CRISPY BUFFALO WINGS

From the Italian/Western side, a must try starter or bar grub is none other than the classic Crispy Buffalo Wings (S$9). Besides just Buffalo Wings, Bar Bar Black Sheep also offers other selections such as Moroccan Wings and Chilli Lime Wings (both S$9 each).

From the classic Margherita, to Hawaiian, and local favourites such as Rendang Spicy Minced Beef Pizza, you can find a selection of 12 inch pizzas (S$14 to S$18) on the menu.

#4 FISH TIKKA

Of all of their grilled seafood and meats, we were pleasantly surprised by the Fish Tikka. Marinated with yogurt and spices and grilled, the fish inside remained tender and did not dry out.

However, the outer layer caught out attention with the crisp texture and the spirited burst of flavours from the spices used. A mint onion dip will be served on the side and we love how the sauce added more aggressive flavouring to the fish, which makes it a perfect pairing to white rice.

#5 GREEN CURRY

Thai curries can be a stark contrast from others such as local curries and Indian curries. What most people love about the Thai Green Curry (S$11.90) at Bar Bar Black Sheep is the aromatic smell of coconut milk, mixed in with spices and seasonings such as green chilli and fish sauce.

Choose between Chicken, Beef or Pork with your curry and have it drizzled all over a plate of rice for ultimate satisfaction.

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#6 MANGO STICKY RICE

As the most popular Thai dessert Singaporeans love, we were glad to find out that the mango served at Bar Bar Black Sheep is deliciously sweet. Portioned nicely with the sticky rice, skip the hassle of messily portioning out the mango and rice yourself.

The Mango Sticky Rice (S$6.90) is a good choice to end off your meal on a sweet note. If you prefer puddings, the Mango Pudding with Nata De Coco (S$4.90) is the one for you!

#7 PHAD THAI

It is not easy to find a good plate of Phad Thai in Singapore but we thank our lucky stars that the Phad Thai (S$12.90) at Bar Bar Black Sheep is extremely delectable.

Choose between Chicken, Beef, Pork or Seafood (+S$1 for seafood) and taste the delicious wok hei of the noodles. The added lime offers a nice hint of zest, adding on to the multitude of flavours of this dish.

#8 STRIPLOIN STEAK

If you are up for a hearty meal of meats, look no further than the Western side’s selection of grilled meats. The Striploin Steak (S$19) can be cooked to your desired doneness and the steak itself is slathered in delicious black pepper sauce.

Each order comes with a side of mesclun salad and fries. If you prefer other cuts of beef, Bar Bar Black Sheep also has a Rib Eye Steak (S$19) that comes with the same sauces and sides!

#9 TANDOORI CHICKEN

It was hard to find fault with the Tandoori Chicken (S$22, whole) at Bar Bar Black Sheep as we were greeted with throng of mouth-watering flavours that left us wanting more. The tandoori grilled meats at Bar Bar Black Sheep is not surprisingly, one of the best-selling items there.

For a hearty meal, go right for the Tandoori Platter (S$20) which consists of prawn, fish and chicken tikka with either chicken or mutton kebab. All of these meats and seafood will go perfectly with a bowl of curry and white rice or naan.

#10 THAI SAUCE CHICKEN RICE

A large piece of chicken thigh deep-fried to a perfect ‘juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside’ doneness, served with a side of rice. The chicken is topped off with a tangy sweet and sour Thai sauce that adds a nice heat and flavour to the chicken.

The Thai Sauce Chicken Rice (S$14.90) is just one of the many other rice options you can pick from from the Thai food section. Other selections include Pattaya Fried Rice (S$12.90) and Olive Rice (S$13.90).

Brighten up your Mondays with some draught beer with a 1 for 1 promotion every Monday from 5pm to 7pm. From Monday to Thursday, get a bucket of 5 Corona or Somersby for only S$45.

Grab a bottle of your favourite hard liquors – XO, Johnny Walker Blue, Strathisla, Scapa or Longmorn at 30% off  until 9 August 2015.

Bar Bar Black Sheep
362 Tanjong Katong Road
Tel: +65 6348 8275
Mon to Fri: 11am – 12midnight
Sat & Sun: 11am – 1am
Website: www.bbbs.com.sg

This post is brought to you by Bar Bar Black Sheep.

Tucked away in a small corner of Tiong Bahru, it’s easy to walk past this gem of a stall at the Day & Night coffee shop along Eng Hoon Street. Ah Bong’s Italian shares the same space as a traditional Yong Tau Foo shop at the coffee shop, which transforms into a bar at night.

Packed with a steady crowd, it is no surprise that this humble stall has been gaining popularity ever since it opened as they churn out new surprises every day with no fixed menu. The prices of the pasta range from S$7 to S$10.

Ah Bong’s Italian’s rustic charm reflects perfectly on their dishes as they use traditional plates used way back then in coffee shops and features a straightforward menu with no more than five items daily.

A dish that we have recommended before but could not sing enough praises of is their Basil Pesto Pasta (S$7). First impressions were already a hit as the aroma of the herbs greets our senses with a bang. Upon further tasting of the pasta, we knew that this is one of the best pesto pastas we’ve ever eaten, with an even better price tag.

The Spaghetti Bolognese (S$8) may be a simple dish, but it packs a punch with a perfectly executed sauce that coats the al dente pasta evenly. Ah Bong’s Italian is indeed worth travelling for.

Ah Bong’s Italian
56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-46
Tel: +65 9650 6194
Daily: 10am – 2pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

When it comes to cheap and good food in West of Singapore, the first place that comes to mind is definitely Bukit Timah Food Market & Hawker Centre. It is one of my usual hang-out places for local food as it’s only ten minutes away from my home.

It can be quite a daunting task when you are ordering food in hawker centres. Which stalls do we order from? Shall we flip a coin, judge by the number of newspaper cuttings, or simply look at the queue of each stall? If you are planning to make a trip to Bukit Timah Hawker Centre, I’ll like to share with you some of my favorite food there.

For those of you who have been reading my food blog for a while, I’m sure you know that Char Kway Teow is one of my favorite hawker food. I usually order it from Xin Heng Char Kway Teow (Stall 181) when I’m having dinner at Bukit Timah Food Centre. He Zhong Carrot Cake (Stall 185) is extremely famous for their white carrot cake. I very much prefer the sweet and eggy black carrot cake so I seldom order this unless my friends want to try it.

For Oyster omelette, avoid the one from Fried Carrot Cake Fried Oyster (Stall 145), the omelette was soggy and there was hardly any oyster. I can’t remember the name of the stall that I always order from — it’s in the same row as Xin Heng Char Kway Teow.

It’s always a good idea to eat at hawker centre with a group of friends (at least 4-5 people) so that you can order more food. Stall 156 BBQ Seafood offers a good variety of BBQ seafood like stir fried Lala clams, BBQ Stingray and sambal kangkong – great for sharing, but I can probably finish the excellent stingray on my own.

I have tried two of out three of the hokkien mee stalls in Bukit Timah Hawker Centre. On one occasion, we decided to try Fried Hokkien Mee (Stall 145) because of the long queue. Unfortunately, the hokkien mee was a total letdown, the sambal chili wasn’t spicy enough, and the taste of the noodles was subtle – bordering on bland. The second Hokkien Mee Stall is located in the middle row of the food centre and they use the distinctive flat yellow noodle. I’m going to try out the third stall (facing the main road) the next time round.

Peter Pan Western Food (Stall 133) has been around for some time, and they have value-for-money Western Food. Otherwise, there’s Tom Kitchen Western Food which is located near the stairs. Long House Popiah used to have a branch in Bukit Timah Hawker Centre, but on my recent visit, I realized that it’s not there anymore. Try the popiah and kueh pie tee from Stall 127 instead. There’s also the famous Satay bee hoon, Japanese food, and Thai Food stalls worth trying if you want something different.

If you are having breakfast at Bukit Timah Food Centre, be sure to order the Kway Chap from stall 138. There’s always a long queue when I go there during weekends. My mother is a big fan of the huge fishballs from Teochew Fishball noodle, (Stall 179) as well as the dark sauce wanton mee from Stall 197 Happy Wanton Noodle. To end the hawker feast on a sweet note, have the smooth beancurd and Tang Yuan (glutinous rice balls) from Soyako (Stall 166).

// Bukit Timah Food Market & Hawker Centre is within walking distance from Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, and Bukit Timah Plaza. For other options, there’s a stretch of eateries and restaurants at Cheong Chin Nam road, Chun Tin road and Lorong Kilat opposite Beauty World.

Singapore Hawker Food Review
Bukit Timah Food Centre
116 Upper Bukit Timah Road

As a kid, I grew up having Pizza Hut’s Pan Pizzas. Before the invention of the thin crust pizza, I always thought that there’s only one type of pizza – the thick crust one – and I liked it a lot. Even after I came to discover the existence of the Thin pizza with crispy base, I still preferred the thick doughy ones.

I mean eating pizza is all about the thick crust. It doesn’t feel right to have a pizza, which has such a thin base, that it’s almost like just having the toppings. That’s why when it comes to Pizza; my family will always go to Pizza Hut.

Pizza Hut is all about family time. It is the time where the whole family gets to enjoy dining out together. It is also the time to call for pizza delivery to satisfy my brother’s craving, or when my mom is too tired to cook.

Sitting in the familiar environment, it felt like we were kids again. I can remember the excitement while anticipating for the pizza to come. When it comes to Pizza Hut, I’m sure many of you remember their popular Sweet ‘N’ Spicy Drumlets, as well as the garlic bread. Forget about everything else, I will exchange anything for all the Drumlets – just give it all to me.

I like my pizza to be crusty, and doughy and filling. Most importantly, it has to be cheesy – just like the one up there in the picture. The sight of the entangled cheese is always so alluring, evidently my tame effort to resist it always fails – but at least I tried. Now it’s time to have our pizza party!

All along, I’ve always thought that pizza hut was only about pizza, but during the tasting session, we were introduced to Pizza Hut’s Pasta Perfetto series. Pizza Hut currently has 12 selections on their pasta menu, which includes 8 classic and 4 specialty pastas.

The 8 Classic pastas are the following: Chicken Pomodoro, Creamy Porcini Mushroom, Pep ‘n’ Spice, Prawn Aglio Olio, Spicy Chicken Pomodoro, Traditional Bolognaise, Turkey Bacon Carbonara and Veggie Pomodoro.

As for the 4 specialty pastas, they are: Basil Crayfish (above picture), Fish in Tomato cream sauce, Peppery Ribs, and Seafood Vongole. The prices range from $5.90 for the classic selections to $12.90 for the specialty ones.

The latest addition to the menu is the Soft Shell Crabbiatta ($12.90). I am not very good with words, nor am I lyrical enough to describe how the Soft Shell Crabbiatta taste like.

But, I think it tasted like Chili Crabs.

Yes, Chili crabs. It was spicy yet sweet, tangy to the tongue and appealing to the palate. The sauce was a bright hue of orange-red, I know – it’s definitely not the most photogenic pasta out there. But then again, when is pasta ever photograph-able? Pastas are meant to be messy, and disorganized, but yet when they are tossed and mixed together – somehow, everything looks just right.

What aspects do you look out for in pasta? Do you like the rich and heavy cream base ones, or the sweet and mellow tomato base pasta? There are a lot people who like the meatball rendition, but personally I’d prefer seafood pasta. Having tried the Soft Shell Crabbiatta, it was actually quite decent. Deep-fried to a handsome shade of golden-brown, the soft shell crab was partially immersed in the sauce. The pasta would taste even better if they had added in chunks of crabmeat.

It’s inevitable that people will judge it against chilli crab, but it’s not even fair to compare it that way since it’s not even chili crab to begin with. Look, here’s a pasta that somewhat tasted like chilli crab; I’m not telling you if it’s good, go try it for yourself!

The Soft Shell Crabbiatta is available at all Pizza Hut restaurants from now till 30th April.

Join us for Food Tasting on Pizza Hut

Date: 18th March 2010
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: City Square Mall – Pizza Hut #01-19/21

If you are keen to try out some of the pastas (and of course pizza), Pizza Hut will like to invite you to join me for a second round of tasting. Send your full name & contact details to bradleyfk@gmail.com, we will choose 15 readers and be in contact with you shortly to confirm the dinner. The closing date for this will be 11th March.

You can check out their full range of pastas here.

January is like pressing the reset button and we start anew. Whatever sinful indulge that we have last month, the seafood feast the month before last month, or even the slice of rich and good cake three months ago; all these are behind us – we shall eat our way through all over again.

To begin the new year, I will like to start with an awesome Home-made Beef burger ($12); it’s best not to resist, you know you want it. I like burgers, not those from MacDonald, or Burger King. I mean real burgers with a gorgeous beef patty covered by a slightly toasted fluffy bun, throw in some lettuce, add in a slice of cheese, and even better if there’s caramelized onion – there you have it, a good hearty burger.

I can think of all sorts of excuses just to have a bite of this; honey it’s just a ten minute drive from our place; sweetie lets not cook dinner, it’s easier to eat-out; darling shall we go for supper?

Fancy it ain’t, but who cares, because this burger is a keeper. The only problem is not getting addicted to it.

A word of advise: stick to the homemade beef burger, I made the mistake of being too adventurous and went for the Steak sandwich ($12), and it’s not because the sandwich isn’t satisfying, but nothing can beat a big, hearty burger. While I did not like the steak sandwich, my friend enjoyed it thoroughly; steak is after all, steak, and unlike the beef patty that is made of minced meat.

There has been a mad rush of new burger joints; Burger Shack, Freddie’s burger, R Burger, The hamburger, Sunshine @ Carries, Fatboy’s burger bar, even though I have yet to try most of them, Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen at Bar Bar Black Sheep is still by far one of my favorite place for a good, hearty burger. See you there!

Tell me, where’s the best burger?

Restaurant Review

Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen
879 Bukit Timah Road
Weekdays: 4pm-11pm
Sat: Noon-11pm
Sun: 9am-11pm
(Near brewerkz)

Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favorite restaurants in Singapore

The idea was to eat, eat, and eat, but plan b, or rather the lack of a proper plan, meant that we start at Plan B. We started off easy, but it was surely one of the best burgers that I’ve.

It took everything that I got to resist ordering another burger for myself, and missed out on all the stuff that was about to come – and so three hungry dude shared one burger.

Plan B by Becasse is famous for their wagyu beef burger, and at just ten bucks, you must try this burger! What is wagyu, anyway? When even the MacDonalds in Sydney sell Angus beef burgers, you probably think it’s not a big deal.

But the real wagyu burger, comes in the form of a thick beef patty, everything was kept simple; there’s no exotic ingredients like foie gras, nor were there redundant sauce – it was so good that you could feel the sauce gushing out! Interesting, beetroot was used, and it provided the contrast from the other burgers.

Plan B, 204 Clarance sheet, have you taken down the address?

It will be disappointing if one did not step into any pub/bar when in Australia. The folks here simply love (read: adore, head over heels, cannot do without) drinking. Be it a glass of the fine wines from the vineyard, or a pin of beer straight from the brewery, say cheers! There’s a strong drinking culture here; it’s not surprising to see people drinking during lunch time, or 3pm in the afternoon.

I was glad when Richard proposed that we make a trip to his favorite pub, Bavarian Bier Cafe for some beer to chill down the hot afternoon heat. Since I always have a sweet tooth, I went for the Mango, which had a smell consistency of the fruit. The taste however, did not have such a strong mango flavor.

No one in their right mind will pass on the chance to have German Sausages, and so we ordered a platter to share. There was a krunching sound when I bite the cracking roast pork, as with the German food that I visualize, it was hearty, tasty and definitely not enough.

‘Deep-fried sushi?’

Richard casually asked if we are keen to try it out, but I could sense the excitement in his seemingly-subtle-tone.

‘I don’t know, I’m not so sure.. about this’

And the next thing I know, we were standing in front of Kana Express kiosk. This is one place where most people wouldn’t have heard of, much less try the snacks here; an oblivious kiosk by the corner of a back alley.

The sushi was done Korean-style, and there’s other popular Korean snacks like spicy rice-cake, but our focus was on these two words: Deep-fried, & sushi.

As the guest, or so they said, I was entitled to the first bite. It was edible. I think one’s enjoyment of this sushi comes from the revelation of deep fried to the mind. On it’s own, the sushi tasted very tame, but the addition of the fiery hot chili sauce enhanced the flavor greatly.

I love summer. I really do.

Summer, is the perfect excuse for us to indulge with ice cream, and more ice cream. We dropped by Passionflower, a dessert cafe which exotic ice cream flavors. The choice of vanilla hazelnut & burnt caramel was made by me, the former was evidently the favorite, and I liked the nutty taste in the vanilla ice cream, while the latter had a strong burnt caramel taste.

Summer, is not summer, without ice cream.

I stole a glance at Krispy Kreme when we walked by the shop, and was immediately dragged in and convinced to have one (just one) of the original donut. This should be the definition of how a good donut taste like: glazed with a layer of sugar, yet not to the point of being cloyingly-sweet, there wasn’t any hint of oilyness that a poor donut will have. One, simply isn’t enough.

Our original plan was to have tonkatsu at a nearby Japanese restaurant, but it was closed by the time we got there, so we went to Harry’s instead. I’m sure, any reputable guidebook will list the pies & hotdog at Harry’s Cafe de Wheels as one of the must-try in Sydney. Tiger pie is particularly famous, but to be honest, I’m not very certain of it. Mashy and meaty, maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t really enjoy it.

On the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the hotdog, it was a shame that we only had one to share. I’d imagine one to hold the big sausage with both hands, and put the whole thing into the mouth!

While on the way to Max Brenner, we passed by Le Patissier and decided to stop here for some sweets instead. For a small place, they have quite an array of desserts to choose from. I wanted to try vanilla pastry cake but it wasn’t available that day, so we had the Lemon Ganache. The sourish lemon ganache provided a good counterbalance to the sweet chocolate layers, but the whole cake was too dry, and I’m not a big fan of kirsch that’s also present in the cake.

When the fork first sank into the Creme Brulee, we already came to the conclusion that it failed. And unsurprisingly, the surface of the dessert was not caramelized properly; it was either a leftover, or they had torched and caramelized too early. However, the custard underneath was actually quite decent, and there’s even vanilla beans used.

* * *
Just in case you are wondering again, yes, we ate all of these in one afternoon.

Plan B by Becasse
204 Clarence Street, Sydney 2000
Tel: 9283 3450

Bavarian Bier Cafe
24 York Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: 02 8297 4111

Kana Express kiosk
Corner of Central Street

Passionflower
580 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Krispy Kreme
Queen Victoria Building
429 – 481 George Street,
Shop 95 – 97 Lower Ground Floor,
Sydney, NSW 2000

Harry’s Cafe De Wheel
Haymarket, NSW 2000
Next to Paddy Maguires Pub
Tel: (02) 9281 6292

Le Patissier
50 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9299 0015

Across the big colourful bridge, it is a path to company, fun, and good food on a Saturday afternoon. Thirty-eight of us, chat, laugh, and eat.There was a lucky draw, giving out some free desserts, tapas, pasta & burgers to the lucky few. And for the rest of you all, I’m glad you will not leave the place empty-hand, with the 1-for-1 vouchers.

The menu which I discussed with Helena, was to showcase the specialities of Epicurious. Simple, comfort food that you and I can do it at home if not for the fact that half of us are lazy creatures who preferred to eat than cook. Mushroom soup paired with croque Monsieur toast.

A lightly dressed Asian salad, paired with bacon-wrapped chicken. The latter was a brilliant creation. Taking one bite, I proclaimed it as the bacon Ngo hiang (prawn roll), just that instead of the beancurd skin that we are familiar with, they replaced it with the bacon, and the chicken in place of the prawn.

Mini burger paired with spaghetti Vietnamese bolognaise. Instead of the full size Epicurious burger, we did a half-patty-bun so that it will not be too overwhelming given we are having a four course.

And for the non-beef eaters, we specially did this pork patty for them. Oh-oh-oh-oh! The famous Epicurious burger! I’m trying to persuade Helena to have this pork burger on their menu as well! All right, the next time I go back, I’m gonna have my special order for this.

Hello everybody! Can you see the sparking vanilla bean that shines from the surface of the cold, creamy white? Vanilla-bean ice cream! Oh my, the sight of it never failed to excite me! The apple crumble at Epicurious was done on-the-spot, and the combination of chill ice-cream and warm crumble is surely a hit! My dear friend commented it’ll be better if there’s cinnamon added as well.

And the pairing of the apple crumble was the simple french toast, given a make-over by the folks at Epicurious.

* * *

I’m glad all of you came for my food outing, and I do hope it was an enjoyable one! This was my first time having a lucky draw for some fun, with Helena sportingly giving out several free vouchers for the lucky few, and everyone-else getting a 1-for-1 vouchers. Burgers, pastas, tapas and desserts. Whee!

I’ll like to thank Helena and her crew for hosting us at Epicurious, and see you all next time! I reckon there will be more impromptu small group food outing soon, but I probably just announced it through my Facebook page for those smaller outings, so do check it out!

Read about my previous visits to Epicurious here, and here.

Epicurious
60 Robertson Quay
#01-02 The Quayside
Tel: 6734 7720

It was supposed to be January, but it is almost April soon! Well, like they say, better late than never! Forty-four was the magical number this time, and I’m glad to see many of my regulars, and of course our new friends.

Salt & Pepper Calamari

We started with the simple appetiser, but I was too busy running from table to table that the calamari turned cold by the time I returned!

Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas

Dallas signature Quesadillas was one of the dish which I remembered from my previous visit. Tasting almost like a Mexican taco, there was chicken bits soaked with tomato in chicken broth.

Shredded Pork Tacos

Baby Back Pork ribs

There was some confusion when the ribs were served. The three different flavours of Fiery, Alabama & Smoked Hickory BBQ were too alike! Because we did everything in tasting portions, the pork ribs had to be cut and served this way, otherwise we were be there until four.

Dallas Wings

There was some feedback that the wings were too dry and lacked marination.

Tempura Barramundi

Corn & crab fritters

Beef Fajitas with Guacamole & sour cream

Breaded mushrooms

The “twin” brother which looked almost identical to the Corn & Crab Fritters.

***

A total number of 44 people turned up for this LIC food outing, thank you everyone! Like I’ve mentioned, there will be no date announced yet for the next lic food outing, I will try to organise it soon, so see you next time! I’ll also like to thank Jason, the owner for Dallas for hosting us.

I will be adding the group photos to my Facebook page later. Do add me there to see the photos!

Read about my previous visit to Dallas here.
And Catherine @ Camemberu
Julia @ AromaCookery
Fen @ Sgdessert
Keropok man @ Singapuradailymakanphoto

Dallas Restaurant & Bar
31 Boat Quay
Boat Quay Conservation area
Tel: 6532 2131
Website: http://www.dallas.sg/

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I read on the Sunday Times that Fish & Co is coming out with Fish & Co Express, and I must admit the revelation of the news hit me. Much as I don’t like Fish & Co (too commercialise), they are still a restaurant to me. But with the idea of having fast-food associating together with them, I will definitely think twice before dining there again. While it’s good for businesses to diversify, it can be a double-edge sword if not handle properly.

And this brings us to Aston Riding on the popularity of Aston specialist, the owner introduced Aston Prime which offered finer and of course pricer meats. And Aston express, the coffee-shop version, into the local heartlands. The result, immediate success, given the number of express outlets springing up all over Singapore.

The fisherman’s pride. Grill fish with herb ($6.50), of which we chose tasty rice and house salad. Express or no express, the standard in quality wasn’t really apparent. But given my last visit to Aston Specialist was over a year ago, my failing memory might not be a good judge. And quite unlike the name, the tasty rice wasn’t very tasty. I called it the fried-rice-without-eggs. And i love eggs, so it was a no-no for me.

You are right about this, we should have got two servings of this instead.

Tempted as I was to get the beefy jack burger, I ended up with the char-grilled chicken ($5.90) instead since the latter came with two side dishes, and the former none. The French fries were all about ordinary Joe & plain June. With the onion rings proving to be better. Given the price, I thought that the char-grilled chicken was pretty good.

Total bill was $13.2 for two mains. While it really depends on what you are comparing with. With hawker-fare or restaurant/cafe food? Given the accessibility of Aston Express, and the shallowness of my pockets, I dare say you will be seeing this post again. Although i’ll have no qualms revisiting them, but I seriously doubt anybody will spend $59.90 on the burgundy roast beef from their menu.

Aston Express
Beside 8 Sixth Avenue

Bar bar black sheep, have you any food?

Yes sir, yes sir, three stalls full!

One for the Indians, one for the Thais.

And one for the Smok’Inn Frogz kitchen by the side.

The epitome of the coolest coffee shop, Bar bar black sheep. With a foot in uptown Bukit Timah, the affluent neighbours and the Caucasians crowd, the rise in the popularity isn’t merely luck. The owner of bar bar black sheep is a pretty smart guy, bringing in an Indian, a Thai food stall and of course Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen.

With such ear-catching names, who could resist coming down to find out what they are about? Essentially a coffee shop that goes through project makeover, the dim lighting, the laid-back environment, with plenty of boozes, and popular food. Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen is co-owned by three partners, with the former-chef from Flute @ the Fort coming out with the menu, the second guy managing the finance, and the third dude handling the daily operations.

The de facto signboard for Smok’Inn Frogz, the homemade beef burger ($12) was made popular after the Sunday Times reporter came to try the burger and raved about it. Like they said, the rest was history. Well I was tempted to choose between the chicken or the beef burger, but since they were both priced the same, it didn’t really make sense to choose chicken over beef. Now back to the main character, the beef patty was tender and moist, while the sesame bun was slightly too toasted for my liking. Double cheese and caramelised onions were on hand to enhance the flavour of the burger.

I wasn’t very fond of aglio olio since i always found them to be too spicy and dry. The Prawns linguine Aglio Olio ($14) here wasn’t as spicy like most, as they swapped the small chilli padi with the hot ones instead. Smok’Inn frog rendition was reasonably wet, and had 6 prawns, very generous indeed.

Another of Smok’Inn Frogz‘s supposedly signature, Beer-battered fish & chips ($12). The portions were huge, enough for two to share. The beer taste was evident in the fish, but other than that, there wasn’t any spectacular magic about it. And the fish became soggy after a while.

Total bill was $38 for the 3 main course. Prices are reasonable for the food, and with the Caucasian crowd and the Bukit Timah residents packing the place up, it’s difficult to get a seat for dinner on weekends if you came later than 7pm. I’ll also like to apologise for the ugly photos (the worst i took since I used dslr) due to the very dim lighting.

For a Chinese version of the post, read Maureen’s review here.

Smok’Inn Frogz Kitchen
879 Bukit Timah Road
Weekdays: 4pm-11pm
Sat: Noon-11pm
Sun: 9am-11pm

* * * Now closed * * *

My fourth, her third, another’s second, and many others first. Our common love for food. That’s how it all began. At the heart of East-Meet-West. Persimmon.

Kopitiam, the symbolic of our local heartlands. The place where everybody grew up sipping their milo & coffee, where everybody settled their three meals when their mother was on strike, and the gateway to many delicious heritage hawker food.

Persimmon is quintessentially a swanky and upmarket kopitiam, retaining the traditional feel by using the classic kopitiam furnitures and floor tiles. The furnishings were a combination between comtemporary and rustic. And not to mention her location is right in the middle of Tiong Bahru, with the shophouses and kopitiam lining side by side.

Choices of desserts pick from a la carte buffet. Bread pudding, carrot cake, mango pudding, panna cotta, chocolate mousse. For the discerning us, perhaps only the carrot cake made the cut.

The kong ba bao (stewed pork belly) was way off my radar. The bun was hard and dry, the meat was not fatty enough, and lacked the delicious gravy. And oh ya, it wasn’t part of our menu, but was under the a la carte buffet offered.

Inspired by NoSignBoard white pepper crab, Persimmon white pepper Crabcake is all about that. Enjoyed the white pepper “crab”, no doubt in the form of crabcake, without any hassle. Under the sunny weather, the crab was toned prefectly brown, with a crisp-cross shell, and savoury meat within. Adiós

The crown of Persimmon. Hainanese Chicken Salad. Featured in almost all the media publications, there isn’t any excuse for you to miss this dish. The concept is simple, Singaporeans loved their chicken rice, but dreaded the calories. So what do you do? Remove the rice, throw in some greens, and voila! Singapore’s very own Hainanese chicken salad. Poach chicken, fresh local herbs & mesclun greens, rise crisps, and special dressing.

Tomato base pasta? Boring! How about our rich cream base instead? I hate cream! Right, why not try our Linguine laksa leaf Pesto? Specially created for your exquisite taste buds, the laksa infused linguine will definitely blow you away with its unique taste. Think laksa, but swop the thick rice noodles with pasta. Some felt that the laksa leaf was too heavy and overwhelm the whole dish. On the other hand, i thought the pasta was perfectly fine. Innovative with a big I.

Mixed blonds (fusion) are interesting in some ways, and the 8 treasures certainly roused my curiosity. Three mushrooms, two nuts, chinese sausage, parmesan cheese and risotto. What happens when Italian Risotto combine with the 8 treasures? You get the 8 treasure Risotto! The intial impression was Glutinous rice, but it was way better. I need to be honest, i couldn’t taste all of you. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter, you are all mine!

Staying true with the principle of fusion food, we have the European-style steak meeting heads on with our Asian carrot cake. The grilled ribeye with “chye tao kueh” carrot cake is bound to make your eyes popped out. The carrot cake was fried with XO and balsamic, with the latter providing a sour taste. A vast contrast with the steak. Not everyone could accepted sour carrot cake with steak though. Aspiring combination, but somehow failed to sizzle with the seemingly weird taste.

Eaten alone, the Slow poached salmon with zuchinni ribbons didn’t come as tender as we thought it will. But dipped in the green curry sauce, the fish went through a make-over in the taste department. There was cucumbers used in the green curry, which caught my attention. Like what one of our fellow friend say, when you don’t understand, just say “fusion!”

Our humble Otak is given a upmarket transformation by going créme brulée. With richly flavoured spicy kaffir lime & coconut used as the main ingredients, there was fish mousse hidden beneath the otak. The otak creme brulee is a very creative fusion dish indeed, but the experiement could perhaps be better. Some of us found the otak to be too watery, and maybe it’s meant to be this way. But is créme brulée ever so soggy?

There was a slight tweak to the menu compared to the one i previously shown. And the cost per person was 20 dollar nett, which everybody agreed was a reasonable price given we managed to try a variety of food. I hope everybody enjoyed their meal, and see you all at the next LIC food outing! We had 27 people for this outing, which was quite a healthy figure.

Well, like what some of you mentioned, it was a case of hits and misses, fusion food is pretty much an experiment between the Asian and Western cuisines, and it was certainly interesting to try some food which we’ll never get to try elsewhere.

And not to forget, LIC outing is all about the fun, joy and laughter during the event, and getting to know more friends. I’ll also like to take the opportunity to thank Helena and Sharon, the co-owners of Persimmon for having us there.

Do add me on facebook, if you missed the links earlier.

Read Jaime-la-nourriture chinese post on the outing here

For those who missed this Persimmon outing, you can get the best discounts when you mentioned ladyironchef while you are at Persimmon. So do go down and give the fusion food a try.

While co-owner and partner Mac excel in decorating the desserts, June enjoyed researching the use of new flavours instead. Perhaps it is the unique combination and strength in the partnership that gave Obolo Patisserie its success. ladyironchef decided to organise a dessert outing there and it went on smoothly with the support that the partners provided.

The interior of Obolo is very small, and could only fit in 15 people. Mac and his team rearranged the tables and did the settings for us, with the print of our dessert degustation menu, Obolo’s christmas catalogue, and a small gift in the form of cookies.

Our dessert degustation menu consisted of 12 desserts platter, namely 7 petite cheesecakes & entremets, 2 petite tartlets, 1 dessert shooter, and 2 les macarons. As always, i requested sampling portions for the menu as it’ll allowed us to try a variety of the desserts available at Obolo. Therefore, the pictures that you’ll be looking at are all mini-size, and does not reflect the actual size of the desserts.

Tartlet filled with milk chocolate & passion fruit ganache. The chocolate-passion was a sourish petite tart, mainly from the passion fruit used. Most of us found it too sour for our liking, and the sourness from the passion fruit completely overwhelmed the milk chocolate. I preferred it sweet.

Dark Chocolate ganache mousse, cassis ivoire mousse, praline feulletine base and moist dark chocolate-almond biscuit layers. Having tried Le Cassis before, i still enjoyed the contrasting taste between the slightly sour blackcurrent and the sweet of the chocolate ganache. I’m a big fan of the crunchy praline feulletine, but i thought that the layer was too thin, and not enough! Nonetheless, Le Cassis is definitely a hit with most of us.

Baked cheesecake infused with mango and passion fruit. While i didn’t really fancy passion fruit as i found it too sour, but in this instance the mango actually provided a better balance in the overall taste. The layer of biscuit crumb base would be nicer if it was thicker. The Mango-passion cheesecake had mixed reactions, with some finding it too sour, and some giving a thumbs up for the creative use of flavours.

67% caramel chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, pecan chocolate fudge cake base. We were debating whether the nuts at the base were walnuts, but it’s actually pecan. The caraibe was one of my favourite of the night with the velvety chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache and chocolate fudge base. It was all about contrast and layering, really.

Tartlet filled with dark chocolate ganache. One of the few real chocolate of the night, the Chocolat Noir was better than the one that i had at Cova. One of the main feedback from the rest was, there was more sour than sweet dessert for the night. Mac explained that for decoration purposes, they liked to add in berries. But it ain’t the season for berries, and those that looked nice actually taste sour.

Some would prefer her to be drenched with liqueur, but the purist certainly say no! If you asked me, I’m on the purist side. The light mascarpone creme, dark chocolate ganache & chocolate genoise infused with coffee. Pull-me-up, of sugar and espresso. The tiramisu au chocolat.

Remember Pineapple tarts? You reminded me of Chinese New year, even though its only two months away. Pinada cheesecake, despite given a make-over, I still missed my pineapple tarts. The rum-soaked raisins didn’t help also.

Looking at the pistachio ivoire mousse, your eyes must be green with envy. Not to mention there’s still the cherry-raspberry gelee to deal with. I never like jam, definitely not the gelee in between the way of the dark chocolate ganache mousse, and the chocolate almond biscuit with kirsch. Almost prefect, the Nikta.

All the way from the states, there’s the New York cheesecake. Smooth, creamy, with a hint of lemon. At the pinnacle, seats the stunning strawberry. She’s the one that teased me all right, during our precious encounter. And now that I’ve conquered you, what do you have to say?

Appearance is secondary, they say inner beauty is more important. Nonetheless, the outer beauty sure makes a good impression. Sprinkle with gold dust, the ginormous strawberry garnished the top. There was tangy mascarpone mousse, and there was red berry gelee. Add in some kirsch-mixed berry compote, and i give you Summer Berries.

Miss macha was a last minute substitution, simply we got sick of Mr passion fruit. By common consensus, the shell was very thick, chewy, and a tad sweet. It’ll be better if she was lighter. But you couldn’t deny the fact that the macha macaron’s filling was prettily done.

Always a safe choice, the pairing of hazelnut and chocolate. Certainly a crowd teaser with that fulsome filling. Once my favourite, always my favourite. I don’t care what they say, i’m in love with you.

I’ll like to thank everyone who attended the dessert outing last night, and hope you all had a great time. There were old friends, and new faces, but everybody’s welcome! Also my thanks to Mac and June who supported and hosted us, for without them, this outing wouldn’t be possible.

For the rest of you folks who missed out on this dessert outing, not to worry. Details for my next food outing will be out tomorrow! So do let me know ASAP if you can make it for the lunch.

ps: read fen’s detailed review at sgcake.com
evan’s beautiful photos at bossacafez.com
jia xin at foodies queen

Cheers,
Brad

Epicurious, located on the banks of Robertson Quay, has been in operations for close to 6 years now. The restaurant is the brainchild of the duo owners, Helena and Sharon. The concept for the restaurant is like a neighbour joint, serving casual food where you can chill out and enjoy a meal without any qualms.

The interior of Epicurious is surprisingly small, from the outside i thought it will be bigger. There are only three tables inside, with most of the seats in the al fresco area.

Unpretentious and comfy, Epicurious is really a place where i can sit down there all day with my friends

The al fresco area offers a view of the river by Robertson Quay, its simple furniture make it seems as though you are having picnic out in the natural.

The food which Epicurious offers are simple and comfort food, like sandwiches, salads, pasta. On weekends from 9am to 1pm, they have the brunch menu which include choices like pancakes, toast, bagel, eggs, ommelette. And i am really tempted by their brunch menu, you’ll be seeing them here in the near future.

At Epicurious, there is the blackboard specials, which is not on the normal menu, and these are changed regularly to allow customers to experience different type of food.

The lunch menu does not have much selection of mains, in fact they only have three to choose from, with mostly sandwiches and pasta otherwise.

For dinner, the menu is a different one all together, with starters like beef carpaccio, smoked salmon tartare, to main course like their signature epicurious burger, and there are also quite a variety of grills to choose from. Price ranges from 10s to 20s.

Turkey Breast Sandwich ($9.50)

Turkey Breast with roasted bell pepper and havarti cheese. The sandwiches are all freshly made with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber, with choices of country-style white or wholemeal sunflower bread.

The turkey breast sandwich is fairly good, served with keropok.

Spaghetti vietnamese chicken bolognaise ($14)

The chicken bolognaise spaghetti is served with cheese flakes, your good old reliable fix of pasta.

Asian Sloppy Joe ($12)

Pork and beef mince with hoisin and lime. The Asian Sloppy Joe is under the blackboard special for sandwich. The unique name caught our attention, and the sandwich does not disappoint.

The pork and beef mince combination creates a rather distinctive taste, slightly sweet and spicy.

Epicurious Burger ($18)

House-made beef patty with sautéed onions, mushrooms and fries. The Epicurious Burger is the signature dish of the restaurant, having heard many good things about the burger, it is inevitable that this is a must-try dish when you visit epicurious.

Although i just had burger at Seah Street Deli the previous day, but i have no qualms tasting the epicurious burger. And indeed, the Epicurious Burger is the star of the show, the beef done medium-rare, is tender and retains the juiciness of the meat.

And you can choose to add cheese, bacon or a fried egg for $2 each, or $4 for all three. But i choose to serve my burger the original way without any toppings.

I like the fries too, which comes with cheese flakes, the overall taste is buttery and cheesy!

Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream ($7)

The Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream is recommended to us by Helena the owner of Epicurious. Now who can finish a meal without having desserts? Definitely not me! The apple crumble is sour-sweet, and the taste of it together with ice cream does it for us.

Bread and butter pudding with custard ($8)

The bread and butter pudding is also another of their more popular desserts, the way to eat it is by dipping the pudding into the custard, but i preferred to taste the bread and butter pudding on its own.

Carrot Cake ($5)

A slice of the Carrot cake is enough for anyone to end their meal on a high, and the cake certainly taste good here. With a layer of cheese on top of the carrot cake, the effect is a melt-in-your-month. The cheese is relatively light and does not overwhelms the carrot cake.

Total bill is $82.48 for 4 mains and 3 desserts. However, Helena kindly has the desserts on the house, so the total bill is $64.90 instead.

The owner Helena is friendly and warm, we had a chat and she explain the concept of Epicurious to us. So if you saw her at the restaurant, do not hesitate to have a chat with her!

The current location however is a tad too small, and cannot serve more customer. But then again this can be a double edge sword, more seats serves more customers, but in the process you might just lose the wonderful ambiance of the place.

And by the way, Helena and Sharon have recently opened another fusion western-local restaurant, Persimmion which is located at the Link Hotel. Do give them a try if you pass by Tiong Bahru area.

Epicurious is one place which i’ll gladly return again to try out their brunch and dinner menu. The reason is simple, Epicurious serves casual food, the price will not hurt your wallet, and the ambiance of the place is relaxing. Despite my usual practice of not repeating visits to a same restaurant, i’ll bend the rule this time, for Epicurious!

Epicurious
60 Robertson Quay
#01-02 The Quayside
Tel: 6734 7720

Epicurious is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favorite restaurants in Singapore