Switch is known for its billingual live band -singing crowd-pleasing mandarin and chinese songs. Switch by Timbre also serves up similar food as their sister branch, including the signature duck pizza, with duck, hoisin sauce and crispy crackers topping the sinful pizza. Switch is also conveniently located next to SAM, which is just right outside of bras basah MRT, making this more accessible than timbre where it can be quite tricky to find!!

Happy hour is from 6pm to 9pm, and first order of drink applies. They accept all major credit cards and water is self-service from the bar. Ordering is via their iPad, and the food gets served to you!

We ordered a Smoked Salmon Pizza ($18) [a welcome change from the usual duck pizza], Chicken Wings ($12), Fusili with sausage ($18) for dinner.

FoodFor $18, this smoked salmon pizza is perfect for sharing between 2-3 people (it depends on how big of a eater you are haha), plus a side dish to complement it. The smoked salmon gave the pizza an extraordinarily savoury taste, heaped with the mozarella. However, I really liked that raw onions were also thrown in. The onion really brought this dish to the next level and it prevented the monotony of the salty fish. The pizza is thin crusted and we'd say that if you're seeking out something new to try and you don't mind smoked salmon -this pizza is worth a shot!The sausage fusilli wasn't exactly the best pasta, but it was decent. The fusilli wasn't overcooked, the pasta sauce had chunky bits of tomato in it, together with capsicum and onions. It's a very chunky pasta that is chock-full of the vegetables as well as sausage. The sausage wasn't particularly tasty, but the tomato sauce made this dish very appetising.The wings were surprisingly good! There were both drumsticks and wings so if you're either a wing/drumstick person you won't be left out! It was fried to this crispy perfection in this batter that I know not of, but I will return for more. It wasn't overly salty, and the aroma is just so appetising! It makes you want to sink your teeth into just..one..more....But each is never your last until you've polished off the whole plate.

Drinks

We ordered 2 alcoholic and 2 non-alcoholic drinks, all $10 during happy hour -Virgin Mojito, Shirley Temple, Havana Club Rum with Tonic and a Chivas w Ginger Ale.The Virgin Mojito is by far the best non-alcoholic drink here! It's wonderfully icy -perfect for cooling off on a hot day, with bits of lime sprigs. it's wonderfully refreshing and reminds us of good summer days by the beach! It wasn't overly sour/sweet either Perfect.Chivas is one of the more common housepour drinks during happy hour, and $10 gives you a glass of chivas either on the rocks, neat or with your choice of mixer. This one is with ginger ale, and the mix was delicious -not too strong and the oaky, slight vanilla frutiness of the Chivas is rounded off nicely with the sweetness of the ginger ale.The rum & tonic was stronger and I decided to go for tonic because I felt like having tonic water -it was an odd combination though, rarely heard of but it was decent. The rum used in their house spirits is Havana Club.The Shirley Temple was a little too sweet for me -it tasted a bit like fruit punch and cherry cordial. Not really my kind of drink but if you need something sweet -this is it!Tuesdays and Thursdays are when the bilingual liveband (kexin & alfred) performs. They are really a crowd-pleaser and dedications can be sent in. We were very amazed and impressed by how they could easily play and sing any song, both English and Chinese. It's really entertaining and great to just chill out with a few friends and good company.

Service wise, I was slightly disappointed. Switch requires you to give your credit card to hold on tab when you first order, and even though I explicitly told them not to charge to this card both before ordering AND when asking for the bill, (a friend gave hers when we were paying), they charged to my card instead of my friend's. I was quite disappointed with this because I had told the same staffperson who served me not to charge to my card. It's not a big deal but I wish that they could have paid more attention to details like this because in the service industry, it's the small things that matter.

Other than that, Switch is a fantastic place for food and drinks, entertaining and having a great time. Weekdays are relatively quiet so walk-ins are fine, it starts to get crowded around 7+ or 8, and during Fridays, Eve of PH and PHs/Saturdays, it gets really crazy so reservations are advised. Be warned though that they only designate 50% of their seating to reservation, the other 50% is for walk in!

Rokeby is found in the unlikeliest location of an ideal cafe -off Serangoon MRT by a good 10 minute walking distance, this definitely puts this cafe on the list of 'hidden singapore gems'. Located inside Braddell Estate, Rokeby has the quaintest touches -black and white blinds, the vintage type-written typography of their signage and the cosy ambience filled with wood and clean slates.Prices reflected on the menu are nett, and mains range from $15.90 to $20+, and their brunch is below $20. Brunch however, ends at 12 on weekdays and from 9-5 during the weekends so be sure to go earlier if you want to check out their brunch menu during the weekdays.They serve a good variety of dishes such as bangers & mash, burgers, pasta, fish & chips, grills and for their brunch menu, eggs are a constant feature such as Eggs Ben, Eggs Royale etc. They also have a selection of desserts and cakes that you can choose from the counter, these include Sticky Date Pudding and cakes.

We ordered a Chicken Burger ($15.90), Fish & Chips ($16.90) and a latte at $5.50.The chicken is deliciously juicy and tender, the chicken is well-marinated and the portion is well-worth your money. The sauce tastes like a mix of barbecue sauce and caramelised sweet-onion. The fries were hot and fluffy and the bun was lightly toasted. However, we didn't really like the salad dressing due to the isolated flavours of the olive oil, bitter greens and the slightly odd dressing that tasted a bit like balsamic, honey and BBQ....odd...Other than that, the chicken is perfectly done -the sauce can be improved on but the texture was ideal.

They also serve beef burger (Moo Burger) so beef lovers need not fret!The Fish & Chips is one of the favourites, the fish batter was lovely -I don't usually like batter as I go for breaded fish. Surprisingly, this one completely won me over. The outside was crispy and it didn't turn soggy even toward the end of our meal. The fish was fresh and it didnt require much seasoning to be tasty. The fries could really have been better -if the fries didn't turn soggy easily and if the outside were crispier, this dish would have been a 4/5. The salad is standard throughout for the dishes, so this dish lost points here too. A pity because the fries could have made this so much more outstanding!The latte came in a medium glass -this coffee is generally smooth and milky, without a very distinct bitterness or acidic taste. However I really would have preferred it to be even smoother. Comparing this to Oriole Cafe at Pan Pacific Serviced Apartments, the latte pales slightly in comparison. However, this is a pretty good deal considering the ambience and the price. It's not exactly the best coffee, but its definitely decent. Worth a try if you're not extreeeemely picky with coffee.

Food here is pretty all right given the price -you can get better food elsewhere, but for the price? I doubt so. The coffee isn't the best, but the ambience of this place is great to chill with magazines or a good book. They also offer a good variety of mains as well as desserts/sweets for afternoon tea. Their smoothies are also on their signature list but they are a tad pricey at close to $7-8 a glass -worth a try if you're looking for something fruity. Other must-tries (according to their menu and recommended list) include their Spaghetti Carbonara, Waffles with Nutella and their Eggs Ben. Certain dishes are also available in kids' portions!

Located in the quaint Tiong Bahru estate, Flock cafe is non-pretentious, reasonably priced and cosy enough to hang out with your friends. Its actually a walkable distance from the MRT so feel free to find your way there on foot via the trusty google maps!! -The walk is well worth it.The glass casings let you see through to the tantalising array of sweets ranging from carrot cake, banoffee, tarts and quiches. They all range from $4-$6+ so the prices here are pretty reasonable for home-baked, quality goods!Really adore the decor of the whole shop and its layout. It's small enough for you to feel cosy, yet not as cramped as cafes such as maison ikkoku -there is ample walking space without having to slide sideways.

We ordered one sandwich and one item off their breakfast menu, as well as their cake. The Prosciutto sandwich was $12.90, the French Toast was $9.50 and the Banoffee was $6.50 a slice.The banoffee was such a great choice! It was moist, with hints of banana and a luscious, toffee top that was a perfect complement. The toffee was a lovely caramelised color and it wasn't overly thick so the cake still retained its taste of bananas. The cake was really moist and slightly dense - I would have preferred it a bit more light and springy but really no complaints. The taste was great -wasn't too sweet too!The best part of this sandwich was the lovely, crusty bread toasted to perfection. The parmesan went well with prosciutto ham (stellar combination!) even though it would be slightly dry to some. I do believe that the original taste of parmesan and prosciutto has this slightly dry and flaky feel to it so perhaps it's because I'm used to it. The sandwich was lovely -the tomatoes and lettuce were a definite must too, as it made the sandwich complete. I was a bit disappointed by the lacklustre salad though -ice berg lettuce and 3 cherry tomatoes. Could have been better but ....the salad isn't the star. it was just a detail that I wished they had paid a bit more attention to.The French Toast was good -the brioche (i'm guessing!) was evenly coated with the french toast mixture and it had a slight aroma of eggs in the mix which was nice. It was pan fried to a lovely golden brown and then coated with strawberries, bananas and a good drenching of maple syrup. Maple syrup always has this sophisticated sweetness to it that isn't sugary and that really made the french toast even better than it already was. Bananas and strawberries are always an excellent combination so kudos to that power combi for french toast. While I agree that this dish is something that can be made at home, it's always nice to know that there's somewhere you can go to for this exact 'feel' when you don't feel like doing the work! Great price too!!

Flock Cafe offers honest, wholesome food in a comfortable setting that you can chill out in. Water is self service so you can help yourself to water with lemon! Brunchtime is also when it gets crowded so be sure to go at odd timings if you want the place really empty!

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is situated at the Food Republic level of Wisma. Nondescript, cramped and noisy (or rather, vibrant..haha), this place still attracts hoards of people nevertheless. We arrived at 12.20 on a Saturday afternoon and there was already a queue...which we waited in for 45 minutes before getting a table for 4. The bar counters get freed up pretty fast, so if you're in twos its best to just go ahead -anything more than 2, it gets tricky to share the sushi!The service is relatively slow, there is little attention to detail (e.g. I had to refill my own green tea!) -I suppose I would have been slightly happier if they had displayed a greater sense of urgency in clearing the tables to increase turnover rate...But they were relatively understaffed, unable to cope with the volume of diners. If you're willing to wait, (adding on another 15-20 minutes for the food to be served!) this place will be OK for you!

They don't serve water here, but try out their green tea (SWEETENED!). I find the sweetened version less bitter, but it's not too sweet like the canned versions. Delicious and refreshing -I honestly really liked it and I would come back to have my sushi complemented with this perfect glass of green tea!

We ordered a variety of cooked dishes, appetisers as well as makis to try -We ordered Sashimi Moriawase ($20), Original Koh Maki ($12), Shiok Maki Gen 1 ($16.80), Crappy Maki ($18), Yaki Udon ($10), Seaweed appetiser ($5), Agedashi Tofu ($4), Miso Eggplant ($5) and a Pitan Maki ($16.80).The agedashi tofu is crispy on the outside yet wonderfully soft and fluffy when you sink your teeth into it. I would have preferred slightly more soy sauce and it was a tad bland for my liking. The outside could have been slightly more crisp, but texture wise it was decent.The seaweed was nothing special - just ordinary seaweed in a tangy, savoury salad mix. It was refreshing and slightly savoury though, much to our delight. The Miso eggplant really surprised me however, it was piping hot, straight off the grill, with the skin edges charred. The miso gave the eggplant a different taste -it was almost like the miso had melded with the soft eggplant. There was also a slight BBQ aroma to it. Deliciously fragrant and worth the price!The Pitan maki had bits of raw fish in it (salmon?) and was rolled with fish roe and a special "pitan", or century egg, sauce to cover it. I thought it was a little strange as I'm really not a fan of century egg (there were cut up bits in the sauce!), but I was slightly surprised as the aroma wasn't overpoweringly strong, and it added a nice creamy texture to the maki. Not an ideal complement to the raw fish sushi, but interesting and unique enough to try if you're feeling adventurous.The yaki udon wasn't served as hot as we would have liked (there wasn't steam wafting from it) -Ignoring this fact, the taste was deliciously perfect! The noodles had a slight spring to it and the gooey egg just coats every strand. It's slightly sticky and the flavour combination goes well with this consistency. There is a trace of Japanese soy sauce in this dish, lots of egg, topped with bonito flakes, making for an extremely savoury and mouth-watering main dish. We recommend you order one of this to share, plus a good few varieties of sushi to ensure that you try both their makis and their cooked food!The Crappy Maki (I hope I saw this right... i could have sworn it was a Crappy Maki) had soft shell crab (deep fried!) rolled into this maki, topped with a slice of seared fish. I must warn you though, the smoky aroma of the seared fish may not be appreciated by everyone -it has a really strong BBQ aroma! Other than this slightly unpleasant (only to me perhaps? my dining companions were perfectly content with this maki!) smoky flavour, the crunch of the soft shell crab is a delight as it provides contrast to the otherwise somewhat-delicate maki.The sashimi comes in various portions and prices, we ordered the medium range $20 one, with a good assortment of 5 different fish varieties (4 actually, with octopus!). There is a $38 portion which gives more fish, so this would be better for sharing with a larger group. The sashimi wasn't cold when served and that bugged me a little. However, the slices were thick and had a slightly creamy taste to it that was not only refreshing, but bordering on indulgent! Imagine if it were served cold... perfect!! This assortment also gives us a good chance to try the different fish -my favourite is definitely the swordfish as well as the salmon. Yum.The Shiok Maki has a thin layer of fish (lightly grilled) on top of the sushi. It has avocado inside, and a rich sauce of what tastes like mayo + melted cheese ...Feeling the calories yet? That's not it, the maki is topped off with fish roe for the savoury crunch. LEGENDARY -but the creaminess proves to be a bit much for me as I couldn't go beyond 2 pieces ....hmm maybe this is because it was served later on, haha. It has a faint smoky smell as well, albeit not as strong as the Crappy Maki. This one is really rich in the flavour though -not for those who like their Japanese food clean-tasting and light!The Koh signature maki had assorted seafood rolled into it (cooked seafood!) and you'd want to know that if you're looking for a conservative, sure-win, sure-to-be-popular-with-everyone maki -this is it. it is neither overly heavy on the sauce and flavour, not oddly unique (think: century-egg unique!) and not too controversial in taste/aroma. The bits of sesame made the sushi really aromatic, and I liked how the whole sushi turned out. Safe but delicious nonetheless! We unanimously agreed that this one is a sure-win!

Koh Grill & Sushi may not have been worth the 1 hour wait (including waiting for food to be served!), but it still gave a decent quality for the prices. The sushi is great to share, and for those who want quicker fuss-free dining (ironic since waiting for tables already takes a fair bit of time haha), they also offer set lunches. These range from $10-$17, and have sets with unagi, teriyaki chicken, yasai tempura etc etc.

There is great variety here, and we suggest the signatures to be safe -Shiok Maki (oh yes, they have this in 1st and 2nd gen. We only tried the 1st gen though!) and their Koh signature Maki. All must-tries! If you want to avoid a lunchtime queue, go before 12pm, or make a reservation -but don't expect stellar service here! You also have to walk to the counter to make payment which can be very messy when there are others waiting to pay (there is no proper line/order for making payment!). One good thing however, is that they accept credit card payment. There is also 10% discount for passion card members during weekdays!

Being an ex-student of a school nearby, ThaiPan has always been my frequent hideout for excellent company and delicious eats. Tucked away inside the condominium of Mandarin Gardens, it can be a challenge to find (at first!) given the sprawling space of the entire place. Being a frequent customer there means that you find your way to this lovely restaurant no matter which entrance you enter from The most convenient one would be along the main road, along Neptune Court. For those who enter from the back near the ECP, the walking distance tends to be longer but it also depends on which area you park in.



The interior was recently refurbished and although the decor is nothing extraordinary, it has a no-frills, warm ambience that really amplifies the atmosphere of having good food with great company. This place can also accommodate tables up to 10 persons, so it's great for a large gathering too!

Although the cuisine here is supposedly Chinese with traces of Thai influences, most of us agree that their Zi Char dishes are the best, with their signature ThaiPan fried rice -their very own rendition of the conventional fried rice with a spicy twist as fresh chilli padis are added in! Prices are extremely reasonable, ranging from $4-$5.50 for a one dish meal.

We ordered a Medium ThaiPan Fried Rice ($7), Honey Pork Chop ($9) and a Sambal Kang Kong ($9) to share.The Sambal Kang Kong arrived first - the food here is served quite quickly! The vegetables weren't as crisp as I would have liked, and were slightly soggy given that the sauce it was fried in was a tad watery. It would have been better if the sambal had more hae bi hiam (dried shrimp) and was slightly less watery. On the whole, it was a decent dish but for the excellent food standards ThaiPan has, this was slightly more disappointing.

We recommend vegetables such as their Si Ji Dou or their Mixed Fried Vegetables. Both are very tasty and would go well with nearly every dish!

The Honey Pork Chop is my favourite dish out of their entire menu - I'm not a fan of meat dishes but this stole my heart. With a dash of sesame seeds on the tender, sauce-glazed pork chops -this dish scores! The meat is fried, tender and juicy on the inside. The sauce is glaze-y and slightly sticky, a savoury sauce which has the perfect sweetness derived from honey (hence the name honey pork chop!). It's not overly sweet such that it ruins the balance of flavour as a savoury dish and I could honestly have it alone with just rice. Delicious and definitely worth eating.



The ThaiPan fried rice is my favourite one dish meal to order if I'm dining alone (yes it's a place where one can be totally at ease having a quiet meal alone!) It's tasty but not overly salty -do not be fooled by the dark-brown-coloured rice! It has bits of crab meat, egg, spring onions and chilli padi inside. It's fragrant, with grainy rice and the perfect spiciness. It's impressive in every sense and no one should visit ThaiPan without trying their specialty fried rice!! Fantastic value for excellent food -strongly recommending this to everyone!

ThaiPan offers an impressive variety of dishes (be it one dish meals or rice with dishes). We also recommend dishes such as their Butter Squid, which is squid fried in a buttery egg-like paste (sauce??), garnished with curry leaves. It's a real hit with ThaiPan lovers and it's one of the most sinful dishes you can lay your hands on..but it's so good. Although it's a "Thai" restaurant (of some sorts), we don't exactly recommend their Pad Thai -it's not exactly authentic and you can easily get better ones elsewhere.

Impressively, they also offer beers and wine (think: Heineken as well as a whole selection of wines from their own collection!) on top the usual drinks, for those who would like an alcoholic beverage to complement their meal. They have an al fresco seating (although it's not very large/spacious) but we rather sit in the comfort of the air-conditioning given the heat! x.x Service wise, the staff aren't exactly the friendliest and most exceptional, but they are polite and serve the dishes pretty quickly. Be warned though, if the place gets crowded (especially during the peak dinner and lunch hours (12.30 - 2 and 6.30 to 8), getting your bill may take awhile.



The food is great, the prices are even better. Everyone should take some time to discover this gem in Marine Parade even though the regulars would very much want to have this place all to ourselves -it's such a find!

Ps. There's no service charge here, only GST! And they serve water