Esplanade Mall’s weekday 1-for-1 lunch deals with Visa is here, running from 1 July till 30 September. I am sure you are just as excited about it as I am. There are so many fabulously irresistible promotions when you pay using Visa credit cards, and the best part is that there will be free parking for the first three hours.

Be it a business lunch meeting with clients or a causal catch-up with friends, I am definitely going to Esplanade more often than ever in the next three months. Here are some of the highlights of the weekday 1-for-1 promotions which include the selection of main courses from Barossa, Häagen-Dazs ice cream, local favourites from Space @ My Humble House, and the tempting desserts from Max Brenner.

Don’t you just love Visa for this promotion?

Barossa

Among all the lunchtime deals at Esplanade Mall, one of my favourites is Barossa’s. Main courses include Fish and Chips, Gourmet Beef Burger, Chicken Parmigiana and Blue Mussel Aglio Olio, and for their 1-course menu, it is only $10++. You can also opt for the 2-course menu (salad/soup and main course) at $14++, or 3-course menu (salad/soup, main course and dessert) at $18++.

I do think that the 1-course menu is truly a fantastic deal. Your friend and you pay only $6/pax (after tax and service charge) for a main course, which is almost the same price as compared to a meal in a food court.

#01-11 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6534 5188

Blue Mahoe Estate Caffe

At Blue Mahoe Estate Caffe, the promotion set (from $24++) comes with a cup of 100% Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and a dessert – molten cake, sticky toffee pudding or vanilla dirt cake. Here is your chance to try their famed coffee. Note: This promotion is limited to 2 sets per transaction.

#02-24 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6338 8302

Chocz

Chocz Not many people are aware that Chocz – a gourmet chocolate cafe – also serves savoury food on the menu. For the lunch promotion, you can enjoy a spaghetti (Choice of Napolitana or Mushroom) and tea/coffee from $17.40++.

#02-13/15 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6238 0803

Häagen-Dazs

If you are a fan of Häagen-Dazs, you must drop by the branch at Esplanade from now till 30 Sept. As part of Esplanade Mall’s 1-for-1 lunchtime deals with Visa, they are offering two sets of a single scoop in a cup at $5.90 – which means you only pay $3 for a scoop.

#02-01/03 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6336 4022

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

I was thrilled when I learned that Max Brenner is also part of the promotion. I am a big fan of their desserts, but I only save it for occasional treats. With this Visa promotion, you will be delighted to know that they are having 1-for-1 on Waffles ($18.90++), Crepes ($17.90++) and Fondues ($25.90++).

#02-14 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6336 9563

Mirchi – Taste of India

If you have always wanted to try Mirchi – Taste of India at Esplanade Mall, now is the perfect time to do so. For Esplanade’s 3-month long lunch promotion with Visa, Mirchi is having a 3-course menu at $19.90++, which includes soup, main course and dessert.

#02-23 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6334 5590
Available: 12pm-2pm

Molly Roffey’s Irish Pub

Over at Molly Roffey’s Irish Pub, you get a choice of Buffalo Wings or Sausage Bites, with Potato Wedges and a soft drink for $11 nett. That works out to only $5.50 for each set.

#01-13E Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6238 1875
Available 12pm-3pm

Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate

Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate replaces Loola’s at Esplanade Mall, and it showcases both contemporary and local heritage dishes with an Asian influence. Presenting a 3-course menu at $49++ is a starter of either Creamy Tomato Bacon Soup or Singapore Borscht, with main course options like Fish and Chips, Satay Pork Belly or Laksa Prawn Pasta. And for desserts, you get the White Chocolate Creme Brulee or Chocolate Tart.

#02-14 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6336 9563
Available: 12pm – 3pm

Simply Peranakan Cuisine

For fans of Peranakan food, check out Simply Peranakan Cuisine at level two of Esplanade. They are having a 1-for-1 promotion for four meals - Chicken Drumlet Rice Set ($14.90++), Pork Rice Set ($14.90++), Beef Rice Set ($15.90++), and Fish Rice Set ($15.90++).

#02-12 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6333 9382

Space @ My Humble House

A popular restaurant at Esplanade Mall is Space @ My Humble House. The eatery by the Tunglok Group serves a very good lunch set on normal days – it is perpetually full as diners tuck into local favourites.

Now that there is a 1-for-1 promotion, there is even more reason to return to try all the dishes on the menu. Main courses – including SPACE’s Hai Nan Chicken Rice, Poached Seafood Rice in Claypot – start from $12++.

#02-25 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6423 1881

Thai Express

Regulars of Thai Express should definitely drop by Esplanade from July till September. The 1-for-1 promotion for Thai Express covers all main courses $12.90++ and below. It is only applicable DBS Visa Cardholders.

#01-13D Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6533 6766

Tomo Izakaya

Tomo Izakaya, a Japanese casual dining restaurant, is serving Noodle Set ($15++) where you get to choose from Gyuniku Udon/Soba, Tempura Udon/Soba, Zaru Udon/Soba or Kimchi Ramen.

#01-09 Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue
Tel: +65 6533 6766

Esplanade Mall 1-for-1 promotion with Visa

Terms & Conditions: 1-for-1 lunchtime deals are available on weekdays only, excluding public holidays. Valid for dine-in Visa cardholders only. Timing of lunch hours may vary across the outlets. Not applicable with other promotions, discounts, vouchers and other offers by credit or privilege cards.

Prices indicated are subjected to service charge and prevailing government tax. Esplanade Mall and participating tenants reserve the right to amend the promotion and terms and conditions without prior notice. Food images are for illustration purposes only and do not represent actual food served.

Free weekday parking: Weekday parking is free the first 3 hours between 12-5pm for 1-for-1 Visa cardholders who purchased the 1-for-1 meals. To redeem, show your receipt at the Concert Hall Information Counter (Concourse, Level 1).

For more information about the weekday 1-for-1 promotion, please visit www.esplanademall.com/mallpromotions.

There is only one word to describe Max Brenner’s Chocolate Souffle – addictive.

It may seem like an ordinary chocolate dessert, but it is much more than that. Put it in front a bunch of rowdy kids and you will have silence immediately. Magic.

Try it out by placing the molten chocolate cake in front of a group of adults, and they will be admiring it like kids in Disney land. But do make sure that there’s enough for everyone, otherwise you will be looking at the ugly side of human beings instantly.

Ever since the last visit to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar, I am not ashamed to say that I have been thinking about it regularly. Day and night. Night and day.

“Shall we go to Max Brenner again?”

I’m not going to try and describe it, because there’s hardly any vocabulary that will do it justice. Max Brenner names this as a chocolate souffle, but it is actually a chocolate lava cake. After finishing the dessert, we sighed, and moaned and wished that we could order a second serving.

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
1 HarbourFront Walk #01-116
VivoCity Singapore
Tel: +65 6278 4218
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

From now till 30 July 2010, ten Esplanade Mall restaurants are offering a 1-for-1 lunch promotion during weekdays. For those of you who are working in the Marina Bay area or the Central Business District, it’s time to grab your colleagues and make a reservation for lunch!

Lets face it, EVERYBODY loves 1-for-1 dining promotion! Be it a 1-for-1 pasta lunch deal, 50% off ala carte menu or a 1-for-1 buffet promotion (by making use of the credit cards dining promotion), what’s there not to like when we get to enjoy the restaurant’s usual offering at half the price?

I have not been to any of the selected ten restaurants at Esplanade Mall, but I have always taken an interest to Barossa Australian restaurant as some of my friends mentioned that they have one of the best fish & chips in Singapore. Am I tempted by their 1-for-1 fish & chips at $18++? Hell yes!

With 1-for-1 lunch choices of Tandoori wrap, spaghetti prawn Aglio Olio, Portobello burger or fish & chips at just $25 nett, I think there’s a high chance that I will check out Harry’s @ Esplanade very soon!

If you are not very keen on the 10 Esplanade Mall restaurants that are currently having the 1-for-1 lunch deal, check out my other reviews on some of the Esplanade Mall restaurants:

Ichiban Boshi Esplanade
8 Raffles Avenue
#02-14 Esplanade Mall
Tel: +65 6423 1151

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
8 Raffles Avenue
#01-06/08 Esplanade Mall
Tel: +65 6235 9556

Southbridge Jazz @ 7atenine
8 Raffles Avenue
#01-10/12 Esplanade Mall
Tel: +65 6338 0789

What are you waiting for? Pick up your phones and make a reservation at the selected Esplanade Mall restaurants for the 1-for-1 lunch deals now!