I was in search of a comfortable dining place for dim sum (straying away from famous places like Swee Choon and Wen Dao Shi), I came across Crystal Jade Golden Palace @ Paragon. Not only is it conveniently located in the heart of town, I learned that it promises a posh environment while indulging in the dim sum. To me, that is a great plus. No perspiration, no smokey air, no excessive noise pollution. It took me longer than usual to get there eventually because of its limited timing for dim sum. It is only available on weekends, from 11am – 3pm.High ceiling. Black sleek interior. It’s walking into another world after the extended entrance at the restaurant. Service was impeccable. I guess it was just our luck to have the manager serve our table. He is the role model of attention to detail (noticing a spill and covering it up with an additional cloth), the speedy and not clingy waitstaff, the one, as one of my dining companions claimed, ‘whom appears as needed and disappears without bothering’.

Dim Sum here can be catered accordingly to however many people you have at the table. Simply request, and it can be done. An average price for a steamer basket / plate is $4 – $5. It is reasonable with the ambience and service we’ve received, and more so with the quality of the courses. Though some are nothing to yell about, they are usually at least acceptable. Not going into each item, here’s what I had and listed in merits.In a nutshell, even the lowest listed item isn’t bad-tasting. It’s just (1) I’m not a fan of xiao long bao (2) their rendition is not prevailing enough for me to have a change opinion. If you aren’t looking for somewhere with memorable and remarkable food, but just a good location with acceptable food, Crystal Jade Golden Palace is a good option. What more, you can go shopping at the all so famous shopping belt in Singapore thereafter.

Make a reservation in advance. I made mine the day before and it wasn’t enough to secure a favored timing.

Ever since work started in the Tanjong Pagar precinct, attempts to hunt for restaurants and cafes in that radius have increased exponentially. Club Street Social is housed just off the end of Club Street, opposite China Square Central. Excellent spot for a weekend brunch, in my opinion. Not the busiest place to be in for a relaxing breakfast / brunch.If you were in my position when I was there (next in line for a table), they will offer for you to wait at their bar area (left of above picture). Take a look at the menu. Order a drink or two while waiting. Catch up with your pal.Bacon & Egg Panini ($14++) :: How wrong can bacon and egg go, right. The Italian Sandwich is toasted to the appropriate degree. Crispy on the surface, and not too tough when bitten. As a package, the panini presents itself as very flavorful. For a non-sandwich lover, I quite love this dish.Scrambled Eggs (with added Portobello Mushroom) (($12 + $4)++) :: Additional sides are offered. For the Mushroom, it comes at an extra of $4 before taxes. It would probably be a wise choice to top something up, because the scrambled eggs and toasts alone aren’t gonna fill your stomach. Favorite part of this dish, bingo, its relatively runny scrambled eggs. I love, love, love it. Well flavored too. It’s a rare occasion that I get to taste such perfect scrambled eggs. Two thumbs up!Truffle Toast ($14++) :: One bite in and the taste of truffle was permanently trapped in my palate throughout the entire meal. It was an overdose of truffle oil, but I ain’t complaining here. It’s a wonder, and again, it’s pretty perfectly done. Very softly toasted. The only downside is, it isn’t filling, especially for a (still) growing guy like myself. Looking at the photo myself, I can still feel the lingering taste of truffle in my mouth. Mmm Mmm.

Service was surprisingly good, taking into consideration the common look on waitstaff when the majority of the patrons are expats / tai-tais. Wait no longer, pick a day now and head down with your friend for some catch-up.

-–> Note #1: They offer free wifi!

—> Note #2: They do not take reservations. Probably because they can only seat about 20 – 30 pax.

-–> Note #3: Breakfast Menu is available all-day.

Mushroom soup diggers (or soups, in general), heads up! This restaurant is for sure, better than The Soup Spoon. Well, at least in my opinion. The Soup Spoon’s items are too thick and crazy for one to genuinely taste anything at all. Introducing, the understated, Saybons! Conveniently presented to you in shopping malls like Plaza Singapura and Junction 8.Sweet crepes, savory crepes, toast breads and even brunch on weekends from 9am – 2pm, this restaurant serves affordable yet satisfying meals (though at times it might not be filling enough). Ever since being first brought here, I have been craving for their soup every other day.Wild Mushroom Soup (Large) ($4.90) :: The soups come in 3 sizes – Regular (200ml), Large (500ml) & Takehome Pack (680ml). The most value for money size is the large one, of course. Soup is being savored by pouring sipping from the cup itself. You can read all about why it is recommended to drink the soup out of the cup rather than having a spoon to it once you are at the restaurant (just look at the table, it’s all there). It’s one of the best mushroom soups I’ve had. Not the super grainy kind. Bursting flavors. Adequately strong mushroom smell and taste. Perfect. Très bien!Bacon, Avocado, Tomato Crepe ($5.10) :: Love its crepe. Very soft. Very fragrant. Its naturally sweet surface brings an all new taste to the course. What’s commendable is its wide range of fillings for you to choose from. You would be spoiled for choices, and take all long to finally decide on which to order. Trust me, I’ve been there.You can choose to order a ‘set meal’, so to speak. Either you have a Bread Combo, order a soup of any size and add $3.90 to choose 2 types of toast breads, or get a Soup Combo, where you order a crepe and add $4.80 for any regular-sized soup (seafood bisque an additional $.50). Both combos come with a side to choose from (Ice Lemon Tea, Fruit, Packet of Chips, or 2 pieces of bread for the latter combo). Click here for a whole lot more from their menu.

—> Note #1: All prices are nett.

I would not have been to this sequestered spot if not for our specific pursuance of Sun Ray Cafe. Because they are only (almost) side by side, that makes Sun Ray Cafe nowhere better in terms of accessibility. Presenting itself as simple, white, and retro at the same time, we were drawn to this seemingly perfect location for an indulgence in a cuppa’ hot beverage or two, while letting our hair down. True enough, the ambience and environment was pretty ideal, a treat for the eyes.White and brown, mainly. Interesting posters around the cafe. The furnishing aren’t all status-quo in the joint, a series of retro-looking, some uncomplicated-looking ones, you pick your own seats before heading over to the counter to place an order. Or for us, we did the reverse, since we were convince that we were able to get some seats even if we order first. Oh yes, we are proud that we did away with the kiasu attitude here, at the very least.

Service was pretty warm, just like most small cafeterias and outlets. They get personal and have spare time to interact with patrons. We joked a little, we chatted a little. All was well.Caramel Mousse ($5.50) :: For a small cafe like The Coffee Daily, they have quite an comprehensive list of cake selections (about 13 of them). Disappointingly, the caramel punch wasn’t there for this. I believe in having an almost overpowering taste to any cakes / ice creams with caramel or salted caramel flavors. Because if patrons order it, they must have been prepared for the intense taste. But oh wells. I quite love the texture of it. Not the crumbly soft kind, but averagely resistant when slicing through it, yet it semi-melts in your mouth. It’d be perfect for me if it has a stronger taste to it.Waffle with 2 Scoops of Ice Cream ($6.90 + $2.50) :: With a single scoop, it is just $6.90. They have a range of about 7 – 8 flavors. Ranging from dark chocolate to green tea, to ones with brownies. I must applaud for its larger-than-usual portion of ice cream, but taste was undistinguished. It is either my palate had some problem that night, or it is really the problem. Its respective taste, once again, wasn’t substantial enough. What a waste.Hot Chocolate ($4.90) :: Hot Chocolate was mediocre. I did not try their coffee, my dining partners did. I only hope that it is better than the Chocolate beverage. But its coffee art is praiseworthy. It is pretty precise and detailed as compared to most others. What’s cute is it comes with a biscuit, like ones you get in airplanes.

It might stand a chance of revisit if it’s in a more getatable location. (Proper) Parking can prove to be a challenge.

Hidden just like its neighbor, The Coffee Daily, Sun Ray Cafe is chucked in a corner of Serangoon Gardens. Publicity was pretty successful I must say. Of course, it’s needed for an inaccessible dining place. Reviews turned out just as successful. With that, I decided that I must give it a shot and check out the hype.They serve all-day brunch, together with their regular lunch / dinner main courses. No prizes for guessing it right – I ordered Brunch, for dinner, yes. Guilty as charged.American Breakfast ($14.90+) :: Besides the buttery-tasting bread (which is perfect), and the indistinct sausages, there was the scrambled eggs. Upon spotting the runny and creamy-looking scrambled eggs, I was all ready to jump on it. Because yes, I am the minority who likes the egg as soft and scrambled (as it should be) as possible. But with high expectations comes great disappointment. It was insufficiently salted.Eggs Benedict ($10.90+) :: Same bread used as in the American Breakfast. The course was mediocre and nothing to yell about. Quite a safe choice for this cafe, if you ask me. Though Wild Honey’s is still prevalent.Minute Steak & Eggs ($12.90+) :: I should have been taken the price as a forewarning that nothing good comes cheap. Second-class steak was served, not missing out on the fact that it was tough. It did not satisfy any of my beef cravings, sadly. This course fell way too short, and it’s to be avoided until it’s being looked into.

What’s unique is its policy of being pet-friendly. Diners can opt for either a pet-friendly area, or a non. Pet lovers, this can have a ‘good view’. It works, because it’s hidden amongst private estates; Amongst the rich asses (I’m just jealous) whom, if do not have a pet, is a crime. It can get noisy at times, with the dogs barking (at each other) from time to time. So depending on what you are looking for, sit in the respective sections accordingly.

So unfortunately, Sun Ray Cafe doesn’t hold a finger to most other brunch places. Moreover, it is hard to get to. Hopefully, its main courses are better than its brunch items.