Encompassing 4 historical buildings and 2 new tower blocks within its premises, the stunning South Beach Singapore is a breathtaking architecture that is set to impress. However, most people are unaware that within the buildings is South Beach Avenue, a massive area that includes 16 dining and lifestyle concepts.

South Beach Avenue is easily accessible as it sits right on top of Esplanade MRT, right in Central Singapore. A multitude of trendy bars, photogenic cafes and gorgeous restaurants awaits to be discovered and there are endless reasons why South Beach Avenue deserves a visit.

With South Beach Avenue, your search for a weekend hideout with great ambience, food and drinks can finally come to an end. Be it a weekend with the family, a romantic partner or friends, trust us when we say that South Beach Avenue is definitely the hottest dining destination right now.

Here are 12 Restaurants at South Beach Avenue you wish you knew earlier.

ALCHEMIST BEER LAB

Alchemist Beer Lab is an elegant bar that caught our attention because of their massive range of craft beer and fruit-infused beer that are made in-house. Think crazy concoctions such as the Obama (S$12/Happy Hour, S$15/regular)—stout infused with toasted marshmallows, vanilla pods and mint leaves.

Of all the fantastic and innovative Premium Infusion Taps, our favourites were the Passionista (Tap 10) and the 50 Shades of Pink (Tap 14). Both infusions were fruity and refreshing and would be a great fit for those who prefer light drinks.

Dig into bar bites after sampling the unique beers. The chef highly recommends the Ale Battered Sea Bass (S$15.90/set lunch) that features soft and flaky sea bass.

26 Beach Road, #B1-16 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6386 4365
Sun to Thu: 4pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 4pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Esplanade

ATMASTEL

Led by Andrea Tarini, an Italian chef with a 3-Michelin-star background, Atmastel is a modern Italian casual restaurant with a purist vision of Italian food in Singapore. Walk into Atmastel and be greeted by a swanky open-concept kitchen, a pizza bakery, Crudo, drinks bar and a well-stocked retail section with more than 70 varieties of artisanal cold cuts, cheeses, wines and condiments.

Chef Tarini and his team have exquisitely crafted a menu that features only the very best of artisanal ingredients. Fresh San Marzano tomatoes, San Daniele ham and mozzarella are just some of the ingredients that are air-flown weekly from Italy.

Start off your meal with the Cold Cut Platter (S$45) which is recommended for sharing. Comprising of assorted artisanal cheese, manually sliced artisanal cured meats such as San Daniele DOP Proscuitto and the Shoulder Iberico ham, candied fruit, olives, pickles and toasted homemade bread, this spread was beyond impressive.

The Zuppa di Pesce (S$68), market-fresh fish and seafood stewed in a Mediterranean sauce with toasted garlic bread, will make for a hearty main. Finish off your splendid meal with a deconstructed Tiramisu (S$14.90) or the Portuguese Egg Tart (S$4.20) topped off with cinnamon powder. One tip is to order in advance for the Portuguese Egg tart as they are a hot favourite and are usually sold out very quickly!

26 Beach Road, #B1-22 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6581 0085
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

BLACK COW

A contemporary Japanese restaurant, Black Cow has made a name for its Japanese Wagyu beef—Matsusaka & Kagoshima.

If you are looking for a reputable Japanese restaurant to dine at when in South Beach Avenue, Black Cow has a menu of Shabu Shabu & Sukiyaki.

26 Beach Road, #B1-20 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6386 6720
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

CAFFÈ VERGNANO 1882

Experience true Italian espresso at Caffè Vergnano 1882, Italy’s oldest family-owned coffee roaster dedicated to serving a good cup of coffee and hot chocolate. Coffee is brewed using Arabica beans sourced from Central America, which will give subtle hints of citrus fruit and floral notes in your brew.

This cafe bar also boasts a beautiful interior, made perfect by the rays of sunlight streaming in seamlessly through its bay windows. If you are a coffee and chocolate enthusiast, a weekend spent at the gorgeous Caffè Vergnano 1882 will be like a vacation in a chocolate and coffee wonderland.

Besides that, you must try one of Caffè Vergnano 1882′s signature drinks. The Bicerin (S$6) is a crowd favourite as it consists of 75% rich chocolate with a shot of espresso. If you prefer something cold, the 1882 Affogato is a sweeter alternative, consisting of vanilla ice cream topped with espresso for that caffeine kick.

26 Beach Road, #B1-17 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6385 5579
Mon to Fri: 7am – 8pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

FASTA

Fasta takes pride in serving up delicious pasta quickly, hence the punny name ‘Fasta’. They have a decent range of pasta choices on the menu at inexpensive prices. We like that you can even pick your choice of pasta or grains and some add-ons for a little something extra.

We dug into the Scallop Wallop (S$16), a linguine pasta with pan-seared scallops, crab meat, diced tomato and bacon bits with a rich yuzu-infused broth.  The overall flavour was delicious and the pasta was pleasantly al dente. The Siow Ba Mee (S$13) is also one of their bestselling pasta, topped with the local-favourite pork belly.

One of the highlights of Fasta is customising your own pasta, so be sure to check that out too.

26 Beach Road, #B1-23 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 9111 1245
Mon to Sat: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

FYNN’S

Fynn’s is the talk of the town now and is a popular and charming brunch spot with a botanical inspired interior that is so highly-Instagrammable. This modern Australian restaurant believes in serving up dishes with simplicity so as to draw out the true essence and flavour of the ingredients.

We went with our gut and got the Corn Fritters (S$22) with poached eggs, bacon, sautéed spinach, grilled tomato and jalepeño jama and we never looked back. The corn fritters paired with the other components is a match made in heaven.

For a lighter meal, opt for the Chia Seed Pudding, Pineapple, Granola, Gula Melaka (S$14). Be sure to pair your food with a Common Man Roasters Iced Latte (S$5.50) too.

26 Beach Road, #B1-21 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6384 1878
Tue to Fri: 9am – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

HARRY’S

Harry’s is a familiar face in Singapore’s drinking scene and many love the popular Harry’s Premium Lager, their very own brew. Though its South Beach Avenue outlet oozes elegance and style, it also has a laid-back vibe and there could be no better place to kick back and relax during the weekend.

Try the popular cocktail Harry’s 1992 (S$16), a bright vodka-based concoction.

Bar bites to try include the Soy-Glazed Beef Cubes (S$18.90)  and the Chicken Masala (S$23). Something to share is The Harry’s Seven (S$36.90).

26 Beach Road, #01-18 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6386 6306
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

LADY M® CONFECTIONS

We have yet to find someone who has not heard of Lady M® Confections since the brand opened its first outlet in Singapore a few years back. Their Mille Crêpe cakes are a favourite among Singaporeans.

Adding to their collection of cake boutiques in Singapore is the new Lady M® Confections outlet at South Beach Avenue, which will be opening very soon! Look forward to the Lady M® Earl Grey Mille Crêpes (S$9.50++/slice), a South Beach exclusive seasonal flavour which will be in stores for a limited period only.

The handmade crepe cake is layered with pastry cream that is infused with earl grey tea and garnished with earl grey tea leaves and blue corn leaves.

Of course, you can also expect to see other popular flavours on the menu such as their signature Lady M® Mille Crêpes (S$9.50++/slice), Red Velvet (S$9.50++/slice) and White Chocolate Mini Choux (S$2.50++/piece).

Lady M® Confections
26 Beach Road, #01-17 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Nearest Station: Esplanade

QUAICH BAR

Established in 2006, Quaich Bar is the first whisky bar in Singapore which houses more than 500 whiskies, of which 95% are sourced from boutique distilleries in Scotland. It is quintessentially a heaven on earth for all whisky lovers. Many of the whiskys are also exclusive to them only and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Instead of lazing the weekend away, you should gather your fellow whisky enthusiasts to further hone your appreciation and understanding of whisky at the Quaich Bar. Tutored tastings are available for a group of between 4 to 6 pax for the Flavours of Singapore Malt tasting set. Prices range from S$45 for 4 tasting portions.

We had a taste of a few exquisite single malts such as the Hazelburn Aged 12 Years, Bunnahabhain Aged 12 Years, Deanston Virgin Oak and Ledaig Aged 10 Years, each with its own unique flavour. There is also a cosy private room at Quaich Bar where you can book in advance.

Prices for whisky by the glass range from S$17 to S$416 and S$200 to S$32,000 for a bottle.

30 Beach Road, #01-16 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 6386 5366
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Esplanade

REAL FOOD

Real Food specialises in meatless food that is good for your body. All dishes served at Real Food are free from processed ingredients, artificial preservatives and trans-fat. Nonetheless, they are still just as delicious.

We tried the Soy Curry Soup Noodles (S$12.80) and it reminded us of home. Comforting, warm and extremely tasty, despite being made with oat milk and extra virgin organic coconut oil.

An interesting concoction is the Baked Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with Soy Cheese (S$11.80). The mushroom is stuffed with minced vegetables, covered with cheddar cheese. It is almost like a recreation of a vegetable dumpling with a juicy mushroom encasing it.

26 Beach Road, #B1-19 South Beach Avenue,
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6384 2206
Mon to Sat: 10am – 9pm
Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

THE ARMOURY CRAFT BEER BAR

Situated in a rustic colonial building in the South Beach Quarter, The Armoury Craft Beer Bar is a contemporary gastro-bar and cafe by day and Craft beer and Wine bar by night. Experience traditional and sophisticated European and Asian flavours in this comfortable and cosy dining establishment, which is an ideal weekend getaway for groups and families.

The Curry Chicken Prata Taco and Pork Belly Bao (S$6 each) are great munchies to start your meal off with. And we thoroughly enjoyed the Salted Egg Chicken Burger (S$19) because of the rich and creamy sauce.

From 7pm on weekends, dig into the all-you-can-eat steak buffet for just S$29.90. It is a huge steal considering that you can pick from 4 different cuts: Ribeye, Hangar Steak, Striploin and Wagyu Patty. Choose your desired sauce and sides, and eat to your heart’s content!

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

36 Beach Road, #01-01 South Beach Quarter,
Singapore 189766
Tel: +65 6385 3173
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri: 11.30am – 1am

Sat: 11.30am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

VATOS URBAN TACOS

When you think of good tacos in Singapore, Vatos Urban Tacos will come to mind. For a weekend with the lads, Vatos Urban Tacos, which originates from Seoul, is a must-visit if you fancy some Korean-Mexican fusion bar grub to go along with your drinks.

The signature “URBAN” tacos served on homemade tortillas is a must-try. The Galbi Short Rib Tacos (S$13 for 2, S$18for 3) and Baja Fish (S$12 for 2, S$17 for 3) were executed flawlessly with a touch of cilantro which highlighted the freshness of the ingredients. Otherwise, the Mango Prawn Quesadilla (S$22), Kimchi Carnitas Fries (S$18) and Honey Tequila Chicken Wings (S$18) are other interesting delights worth every calorie.

36 Beach Road, #01-03 South Beach Quarter,
Singapore 189766
Tel: +65 6385 6010
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12am – 11am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Esplanade

S$5 PARKING REBATE AT SOUTH BEACH AVENUE

When you spend a minimum of S$50 nett at participating restaurants and services at South Beach Avenue, you can receive a S$5 parking rebate (valid all-day, including weekends and Public Holidays). For more information on the restaurants and parking rebate promotion at South Beach Avenue, please go to SouthBeachAvenue.com.

This post is brought to you by South Beach Consortium Singapore.

The Wagon is one of the newest but most unassuming restaurant on Tras Street, Singapore. It looks subtle and unassuming from the outside, along the rows of restaurants and shophouses. But if you can locate this gem, you are in for a treat.

When night falls, a huge red neon signboard bearing the words ‘The Wagon’ lights up in full glory. And that is also when The Wagon comes alive. From the brick walls to the copper pans and pots hung up, the interior of The Wagon is chic and fun – all while boasting a very sassy yet casual vibe.

From French-Japanese inspired tapas served on trolley, to the amazing beef platter which features four different premium cuts of Hokkaido beef (dry-aged in-house), to the whole Muenier Flounder, The Wagon is full of surprises and a place that is suitable for all occasions.

Think of it as a spot where you can have great tapas and mains in a relaxed setting. And did we mention that it serves cocktails at S$7 each during Happy Hour? Also, our readers can quote “ladyironchef” to get a surprise dish from the chef.

The kitchen is headed by Chef Makoto Deguchi – he who has cooked at a 1-Michelin Star restaurant in Paris. This explains why his dishes feature a rustic French style while using primarily freshly-imported ingredients from Hokkaido.

What we were sold by immediately was the “wagon” that is being pushed from table to table. The idea is really to surprise diners every time with tapas of the day. The tapas are off-menu and are different every day, with a few mainstays.

What happens is that after you’ve settled in your seats, the wagon would be pushed to you, presenting to you the various tapas and its prices. The team will also verbally introduce every item to you, tell you stories that might interest you, and you can then pick whatever you fancy.

This provides a very personal interaction; think of it like olden day dim sum push carts, but in a fresh alternative with items that you probably couldn’t even guess!

Apart from the rotational items, expect mainstay dishes such as Foie Gras Creme Brûlée (S$12), fresh uni (S$8 for 10g) on Carrot Mousse (S$5), and Shaky Shaky Fries (S$8).

The Brûlée was intensely flavoured with foie gras and this smooth treat is not for the faint-hearted. The uni was undeniably fresh and creamy; just the way we like it.

You can order the fresh uni by weight on its own, but a recommended serving is to have it on top of the Carrot Mousse that is adorably displayed inside an empty uni shell. The textures are incredibly similar and while the taste differs, it complements each other pretty well.

A surprising star for us was the Shaky Shaky Fries, which is vaguely like an upgraded version of McDonald’s Shaker Fries. The burst of umami came immediately upon first bite because of the ultra-tasty seasoning that is imported directly from Miyazaki itself. Potato wedges are used instead, and the broad surface balanced out the saltiness of the snack. For just S$8, we would do this over and over again.

Another tapas to look out for is the Frill Lettuce (S$15) with a side of minced beef. You are to wrap the beef up in the leaves, like how you would enjoy K-bbq. Every lettuce is flown in from Hokkaido, and it was served to us still with the root intact – this is as fresh as it can get; the plant is basically still alive!

On to the mains. Which comes in a regular menu and is pretty much fixed, but no less boring.

One of the most impressive dishes is the Grilled Platter (S$75), featuring four different premium cuts of Hokkaido beef with various accompanying sauces. The beefs are dry-aged in-house and are extremely buttery with a gorgeous marbling.

The cuts might differ daily and you will be served the four best and freshest cuts of the day on this platter. We had the rump, sirloin, tenderloin and top blade – all served atop rosti chunks. The sirloin and tenderloin were the juiciest and most stunningly-marbled.

Then, there is the Muenier Flounder (S$60 whole and S$30 half). It is something that is not commonly seen here in Singapore. Our fish was served whole on the plate and was so well-seasoned, we polished the flounder to the bone (literally).

In case you are wondering, yes, flounder is a common fish breed used in Japanese cuisine, but this white fish is given a makeover here at The Wagon and prepared the French way – flavourful, elegant and so good that you need no condiments.

This main alone will be more than enough to impress. The whole fish is pretty massive, and we recommend half a portion for one person and a whole fish for two, so you can still enjoy some of the small tapas plates from the cart.

One seasonal item to look out for this Spring is the Sautéed Spring Vegetables (S$28) which features a variety of Japanese vegetables that are so very fresh. Prepared in the simplest of way, the vegetables are cooked over high heat to produce a broth so natural and sweet; the end result is a hearty and healthy dish so intensely packed with Sprin flavours.

And because we always have room for desserts, we went for The Moelleux Au Chocolat (S$15) and Milky Blanc-Manager (S$13). They are lighter dessert choices that would be great if you are already feeling quite stuffed from your tapas and mains.

We could not leave without trying some of The Wagon’s cocktails. As rum-lovers, the Wagon Mai Tai (S$18) takes first place for us. It comprises a mix of Dark and White Rum with Lime Juice, Orgeat, Burnt Orange and Vanilla Syrup for a very complex but well-balanced taste. So similar yet distinctly different from your classic Mai Tai. 

We also had the Pi Pi Piew (S$20) – just because, right? Quirky name, light cocktail. It uses a mix of strawberry and thyme-infused vodka with peach liquor and more for a fruity and refreshing aftertaste.

The Wagon also has excellent happy hour promotions (Mon to Sat, 6pm – 8pm) with S$5 half pints of Kronenbourg Blanc, S$7 cocktails and S$6 Suntory Premium Malt Pilsners. PARTY TIME, GUYS!

Remember to quote “ladyironchef” when you are dining at The Wagon to get a surprise dish from the chef.

The Wagon
55 Tras St
Singapore 078994
Tel: +65 6221 6369
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post was brought to you by The Wagon.

The Royal Mail at the iconic Ascott Raffles Place is the latest venture by restaurateur Michel Lu. It offers a modern take on classic British cuisine. The menu is compact, and the main focus is on its roast prime rib.

I am going out on a limb to say that it is easily one of the best prime ribs that I’ve had in Singapore. If you love steak, you must make a trip to The Royal Mail.

From the starters menu, there are tantalising options such as Caviar & Sea Urchin ($36), and Momotaro Tomato & Aged Parmesan Tart ($15), but what you cannot miss is the Blue Swimmer Crab & Avocado ($22), which comes with chunks of crab meat and sweet Roma tomatoes.

For main courses, we had the Roast Prime Rib ($48 for 200g, $58 for 280g, $66 for 340g), served with Yorkshire pudding, garlic potato mash, buttered peas, and creamed corn. It was stunning. The beef was tender, juicy and moist and I was swooning with every bite. It was that good. The prices are also very reasonable. It is very good value for the quality of meat.

We also ordered Mashed Potato with Bacon & Scallions ($8) and Creamed Spinach with egg ($8) to share.

Also worth trying is the Roasted Spring Chicken ($36), which was generously portioned and skilfully cooked, full of flavour and natural juices.

The Butter Roasted Cod Fillet ($36) was decent, but forgettable. Granted, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t mind-blowing either.

The Cape Grim hormone free Grass-fed Prime Beef Fillet ($48 for 180g), accompanied by sauteed French beans and garlic potato, was also done to a high standard, but I very much preferred the prime ribs to this.

After finishing our main courses, we moved on to desserts. The Eton Mess ($13), touted as the signature dessert, was underwhelming. We thought that the combination of strawberries, meringue, salted caramel and Devon cream was ordinary and did not justify the price tag.

Luckily, the other two desserts were more satisfying. The Banoffee Tart ($13) with salted caramel sauce was delightful. And we easily finished the Caramelised Upside-down Tarte Tatin of Pears ($16).

The Royal Mail is a fantastic addition to Singapore’s dining scene – they are one of the better mid-range steakhouses in Singapore. The restaurant is perfect during the day for a business luncheon – they have a fantastic three course set lunch at $38++/pax – and equally fitting in the evening for a romantic dinner date.

The Royal Mail
2 Finlayson Green
Ascott Raffles Place
Tel: +65 6509 3589
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Sat: 6.30pm – 11pm

With so many restaurants lined along the two sides of Lorong Mambong, it’s easy to miss out Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant if you are new to Holland Village. How many times have I walked past it when I was in the area? Plenty.

I can’t believe that it took me until now to try the Japanese restaurant, but boy am I glad that I finally went there for dinner recently. Gyu Kaku means bull horn in Japanese, but to me, it translates to meat heaven.

Besides Holland Village, the Yakiniku restaurant also has other two branches at Chijmes and UE Square. There’s really nothing better than the sizzling sound of wagyu beef over the red-hot charcoal grill.

The manager suggested the Fuku Set ($179/2pax, $249/3pax, $309/4pax) which comes with assorted kimchee, aburi bacon, choice of salad, assorted mushroom, wagyu fillet steak, wagyu karubi, wagyu rump cap, kurobuta pork collar, duck breast, gindara miso foil grill, ishiyaki mentaiko and a choice of dessert. There is also the Warai set ($149/2pax, $209/3pax, $269/4pax) which is slightly more affordable and comes with choices like lamb chop, wagyu tongue, and wagyu nakaochi.

This is the Horenso Salad at Gyu-Kaku restaurant, which is essentially a Japanese style Spinach salad topped with bacon and creamy sesame dressing. If it was up to me, I’d call this the awesome-Japanese-salad.

After finishing the fantastic salad, we continued with the assorted kimchee, aburi bacon and the Japanese stone grill rice. I wasn’t really paying attention to them, though. I was distracted by the huge plate of wagyu-goodness on the table…

I ate a slice of beef. Two. Three. And then half the plate was gone. It was impossible to slow down. They were so good. Oh my god. A piece of Wagyu fillet steak, a bite of wagyu karubi, a mouthful of wagyu rump cap – I can die without regrets now.

Halfway through the meal, we shifted our focus to the kurobuta pork collar, duck breast and gindara. The grilled cod was not bad, but I felt that it was a distraction from the beef. Who needs cod when you can have wagyu beef? The same goes for kurobuta pork collar and duck breast. Still, everything was gone in a flash. More meat please!

The servings of the Fuku set should be enough for most people, but my brother is a big meat eater, so we ordered more food from the ala carte menu.

If I had eaten the Wagyu Brisket ($13.9/small, $19.9/large) first, it might have tasted fantastic, but there was no turning back after we had the wagyu fillet steak and rump cap.

Even though we already had a lot of meat, it was impossible to resist the 200g Wagyu ribeye steak ($89.9). Our bellies were bursting when we were done with the steak. This is the reason why I can never be a vegetarian.

I was quite amazed that we didn’t smell like BBQ after finishing dinner. The air ventilation of the restaurant was very good; the fumes from the BBQ were ventilated efficiently through the vents. It was also great that the staff came along often to change the grill plate.

Gyu Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant is not cheap. But it serves good quality meat, and I like the fact that you won’t smell like BBQ after a meal. I will definitely come back when I am craving for wagyu beef.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant
29 Lorong Mambong
Holland Village
Tel: +65 6466 4001

81 Clemenceau Avenue
#01-18/19 UE Square
Tel: +65 6733 4001

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, please read my list of Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

Pasta Brava Italian Restaurant at Craig Road has been in the local scene for a long time. I’ve been told that they are worth a visit by many friends, but it took me until now to go there. I guess it’s better late than never, and I am really happy to tell you that it has joined the ranks of my favourite Italian restaurants in Singapore.

It is a great place with a homely vibe. The lighting is dim and romantic, and the wall adornments give the restaurant a personal touch. The staff is equally well trained; friendly without being too intrusive, and they are very familiar with the offerings.

The menu at Pasta Brava restaurant is divided into appetisers, salads, soups, pasta dishes, rice dishes, main dishes (fish), main dishes (meat) and desserts – with average price of each dish between $19-23 for the pasta/risotto, and $25-40 for the main dishes.

We were feeling greedy, so we chose to forego the antipasti and share an additional main course instead.

Amongst the three pasta/risotto that we had, my favourite was the Linguine Regina Del Mare ($23). It was savoury and sweet and filled with luxurious seafood like prawns, clams, scallops, squid, and crayfish. Easily one of the better Italian pastas that I’ve had recently.

The Stracci Ai Gamberi E Capesante ($23), on the other hand, was average. Whilst the thin pieces of fresh pasta were good, the Saffron cream sauce was too overwhelming.

They have only three risotto on the menu (mushroom, squid ink and mixed vegetables) and we were very tempted by the seafood and squid ink version.

Eventually, we decided to play it safe and go for the mushroom risotto. Our choice was right as the Risotto Al Funghi Porcini ($23) proved to be very good. Rich yet not overpowering, moist yet not soggy, every grain of the arborio rice was flavourful and oh so delicious.

The Tagliata Di Manzo Stile Toscano ($34), highly recommended by the staff, was fantastic! It was essentially thin slices of grilled beef sirloin with herbs, rocket leaves and parmesan flakes.

I was not expecting much from it when the waiter brought the dish to our table. It was only when my friends took a bite and let out a satisfied sigh, then I realised what I was missing out (I was busy with the seafood linguine).

We enjoyed it tremendously, you MUST order this if you go to Pasta Brava.

Pasta Brava Italian Restaurant is not exactly very big, and when it’s crowded (especially during Friday and weekends), it can get quite noisy. Reservations are highly recommended. The prices here are what you’d expect from a good Italian restaurant, but the food here is definitely better than most. It is simple, hearty and very tasty.

For more recommendations, read my list of Italian Restaurants in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Pasta Brava Italian Restaurant
11 Craig Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6227 7550

Operating Hours:
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm
6.30pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

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The idea of a Venezuelan feast started when one of my reader, and friend, Mike asked whether I was keen to sample some Venezuelan food. I agreed immediately, it’s not everyday where you get to try authentic Latin America cuisine, so we had to try the food prepared by Mike’s wife who is from Venezuela.

Our Latin America adventure started with the rhythmic and contagious latin music played in the background. When the rhythm starts to play, dance with me, sway with me. Like a fool who will never say no, hold me close, sway me more.

Trekking in the dense, but serene jungle, with every step closer to Angel falls. The roaring sound of the water amplifies as we approach it; the magnificent waterfall was a sight to behold. This was all but a scene that we could almost imagine ourselves when we close our eyes for a second.

The “sandwich” that we had, was awesome! It’s like totally, God’s gift to mankind. Made with just corn flour, water and salt, the Arepa is a staple in Venezuela, the folks there eat it everyday. It tasted something like our popiah skin, and the mcgriddles, but in much thicker portions. It’s good to eat on its own, but I wanted more! And it came in the form of the excellent carne mechada (pulled beef).

The Carne mechada was oh-my-god, so good, and I’m really not exaggerating. Flank steak is cooked in a pressure cooker for hours until it is tender enough that you can pull it off in strips – and then cooked again in a tomato/onion sauce. The beef was so tender and flavourful! We added two slices of halumi cheese together with the pulled beef into the arepa; it’s a creation that would rival any worthy burger/sandwich. It might just be beef wrapped within bread made from corn flour, but in the right company and atmosphere, it’s divine.

Even the rice that they eat, is prepared differently. Instead of just water and rice, there’s garlic and salt added in to enhance the flavour of the rice. I’m not going to continue to rave about the carne mechada, okay just once more, I had a lot of it, with the arepa, and on its own too! Interestingly, there’s tajadas which was quintessentially fried plantains, a bigger, and uglier cousin of banana, but it was as good as our goreng pisang (fried bananas). Except, it was sliced thinly and fried instead of the whole banana.

We actually started with the Empanadas, some sort like our Chinese dumplings, but they call it stuffed pastry where it can be filled with different ingredients. They are made all over Latin America – but in Venezuela’s case, they are made from a corn flour/white flour mix, and deep-fried. The ones we had were filled with Halumi cheese – a salty white cheese from Cyprus that is popular in the Greek/Middle Eastern world – the closest to Latin American cheese in Singapore! Even the corn flour that they used were imported from Australia, Mike would always buy back tons of flour when he travel there, nothing but flour!

Go on, give it a bite, succumb to your temptation. Savour the rich pickings of every sweet, and wonderful taste. I’m running out of superlatives now, but the tres leches, was truly amazing. The three-milk cake is a butter-free sponge cake that’s soak in three kinds of milk; evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. Poking lots of tiny holes within the sponge cake, it fully absorbs the essence of the different milk. Topped with a layer of meringue, the tres leches was in every way a close reminiscence of the bread pudding, but definitely so much better!

* * *

The Venezuela feast was way beyond my expectations, thank you Mike and family for hosting us! We saw some videos and photos of the beautiful country, the Angel falls was magnificent! The current Venezuela population in Singapore is still very small, which explains for the absence of their food here. We are keen to let more people to sample some of their authentic Venezuelan food, so if you are keen, rise up your hand and let me know. If there’s enough interest in it, we will think of ways to prepare the food for a large group, and I’ll organise an outing at Mike’s place.

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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With more and more of our heritage hawkers getting in their ages, it is difficult for them to continue whip out the delicious food that they have been doing everyday for so many years. And being a hawker isn’t a glamorous job, compared to being a banker, lawyer, teacher or other professionals. Therefore, most of the heritage hawkers don’t any successor, and we risk losing out all the good food, which our future younger generations will not live to eat.

Hock Lam Beef is the golden testimonial to beef kuay teow. Having been around since 1911, it is a wonder to see it continue serving out bowls of beef kuay teow everyday rain or shine up till today, for 97 years already! We have Tina, the 4th generation owner, who gave up her professional job and rather slug it out in the kitchen, so as to ensure our beef kuay teow will still be there.

To commemorate their 97th anniversary, Hock Lam decided to donate all their sales proceed on 1st Oct to to Operation Smile which is a worldwide movement to fix cleft palates in kids.

As proceeds for that day was all going to charity, Tina came up with a special menu, instead of their usual $4 a bowl beef kuay teow. There was three different selections, the beginner at $15 which had sliced beef plate. The original at $20, a mixed beef plate which included sliced beef, tendoin, tripe, shin and beef balls. And the “give me the whole cow” premium gourmet set at $30 which had the same stuff as the $20 set, with the exception of the sliced beef, and instead there was marbled shabu shabu beef.

Give me the whole cow gourmet set ($30)

The Gau lau mian (traditional dry noodles) was nice, with their sauce used. Besides having fresh beef, the other thing that makes or break a good beef kuay teow will definitely be the soup base. And Hock Lam’s one certainly was excellent. Personally i did not really like to eat beef kuay teow or noodles because from far i could detect the very strong beefy smell of the beef soup.

Hock Lam soup did not have a very strong beefy smell, but that did not mean that their soup wasn’t good, rather, the soup was very intense with beef flavours, which was evident of the many hours put in to cook the soup.

For the older generation and the traditional beef kuay teow purist, they might resist the idea of shabu shabu in a traditional shop like Hock Lam. But times are changing, and having gourmet beef at one of the best store serving Beef kuay teow, will be an interesting concept, which i believe appeals to the younger generations who will pay more for quality.

Tina and her father, for without them, there will not be any Hock Lam Beef kuay teow.

Happy 97th birthday Hock Lam Beef and many more years to come! And i will like to thank the folks at Olive consulting who invited me for the occasion, and Tina for her hospitality.

Hock Lam Beef
22 China Square #01-01
Far East Square
Tel: 62209290
Disclaimer: This was an invited review