Previously known as the two-starred Damenlou Hotel (大門樓旅店) until 2007, the 5-storeyed historical building on Ann Siang Hill was taken over the following year and transformed into a film and foodie haven called The Screening Room, with dining, wine, and theatrical experiences all under one roof.

I have been recommending this place to friends without having been there. At last, I got my chance early this month.Our delightful appetizers raised the bar for the dishes to come.Can't decide what to order? Their platters are good to start with.

Feeling adventurous, we chose the less common Greek Platter ($18) that comprised selected bites with alien-sounding names.

Tastebud was particular impressed with the kakavia greek fisherman stew that came in a cup. Intense in flavours and complex in taste, it warmed the heart in a unique way that left me lost for words for the next couple of minutes.Next, juicy Grilled Potobello Mushroom ($10), drizzled with sea salt and olive oil.Danish hake fish ($28) enveloped in a potato crust fried to crispy brown, garnished with trout roe and citrus fruit salsa.It was decided which dessert we wanted, to end this grand dinner.

Mahalabia ($14) it was called, the yogurt crème was livened up by the pomegranate and peppermint bits. Refreshing bites of crushed peppermint provided a lovely balance to the tangy yogurt.

I don't usually eat yogurt, but here I devoured it.

No one leaves The Screening Room without visiting its star attraction for the night - La Terraza. It was Time Out’s best alfresco bar for 2008.Take comfort from the casual yet stylish settings of rooftop bar as you take a sip of icy cool beer and soak in the spectacular view of CDB skyline.

The growing appetite for designer products among the young (and young at heart) has seen many new boutiques sporting quirky and quaint knick-knacks finding their way to our nostalgic spots. You see a couple of them in Ann Siang/Tanjong Pagar area. And if you have a fond affection for designs and things along that line, this new café located in Chinatown is one that you won't wanna miss.

The retail space of the café carries an eclectic selection of vintage objects as well as designer products by emerging local designers. I recalled seeing some of those items at Red Dot Design Museum and the Singapore Arts Museum.
'You have to try our Crazy Wings ($6.50 for 3)!' said the waiter.

The wings were very well marinated and juicy, with a little crisp on the outside. Honey mustard dip that came with it gave a big boost to the savoriness.

At first I told myself I had been having too much oily stuff lately, the next thing I knew, I heard 'Salt n Pepper Calamari' slipped off my lips. Oops...It turned out to be no appointment. The batter didn't fall into the too tough nor too soggy extreme, was spiced up with a hearty touch of chilli and pepper.
The café serves All-day Breakfast for those who love their scrambled eggs and sausages. And for the night creatures too!


Besides food and shopping, every now and then the café also hosts live concerts by emerging musical talents from our shores and beyond. Past and featured include Taiwanese group 棉花糖(katncandix2). There is an ongoing photography exhibition featuring the works of Singaporean self-taught photographer Mandy Tay. So look out for this space. You may visit http://amasou-umasou.blogspot.com/2011/05/crazyworld-cafe.html for more photos.

Last week's adventure led me to The Pigeonhole, a new book café along Duxton Road. The venue is also doubled up as a dynamic arts space which showcases local arts talents and to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of the arts. The kinda events you can look forward to include film screenings, arts exhibitions, recitals and more.Loved the colourful tiles used as coasters here.The dessert menu here was albeit limited, the cafe carries an impressing selection of wines and whisky. The atmosphere was exceptionally cozy thanks to the earthly-toned décor with many retro furniture pieces, topped with soothing music.

Started in June 2009 as a social enterprise by a couple who named the café after their daughter with special needs, the café aims to empower youths and children with special needs by providing them with employment and training, so that they can integrate well into the society where they contribute as an active member of the local community.

The café's serves a simple <a href="http://www.joanbowen.com/menu_starters.html">European menu</a> which seems to offer everything. The service staff are warm and friendly and you might just need a little bit of patience while your orders are being taken.

My companion ordered their <strong>Aubergine Salad ($8.90)</strong> which came with the grilled eggplant she wanted to try. Its portion was generous, making it a perfect alternative to a main course.

Our ovenbaked <strong>Garlic Mussels ($8.90)</strong> were perfumed with fragrant garlic béchamel sauce, topped with a touch of cheddar cheese.

I love sea bream on my sashimi platter, but this pan grilled version here didn't disappoint.

Besides the fish which was grilled to a skillful crisp on the inside, in particular I liked the pumpkin mash that not just brought vibracy to the plate, but also comfort to the palate.

As night falls upon this sleepy estate, with lights dimmed to intimate brightness and soothing music playing in the air, you find a growing affiliation to this place. The next thing you know, you are going to return for more.

Tucked away in a quiet corner at Scape, RaindrOps is one nicely decorated café that you wouldn't wanna miss. Here at RaindrOps, whether you like to dine inside its well-lit glasshouse for its cosy ambience yet vibrant atmosphere or the al fresco area, being surrounded by a sea of greenery in all angels, it provides an excellent getaway from the hustle and bustle of Orchard shopping belt.

The café serves a mixture of European fare of great variety. From their beautifully plated appetizers and salads, to pizza, pasta and other main courses, to their must-have desserts, its menu is sure to bring you a culinary adventure for your palate.

Our Tataki Tuna ($8) was simply a beauty to behold upon. While the tuna was fresh, the black pepper taste in my opinion was too strong that it killed the subtle taste of the tuna. The shimeji mushrooms on the other hand were toothsome and gave this dish the extra bites.

Portobello mushrooms were out of stock for the day, the helpful service staff recommended us to give their Beer Battered Mushrooms ($8) a try instead.
Crispy and on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, flavourful juice oozed out of my button mushroom the moment I sank my teeth into its golden armor. How satisfying~

My Crispy Salmon with Asparagus ($16) didn't disappoint. The salmon fillet was very fresh and succulent, and the potato mash creamy and tasty. Not forgetting the surprisingly delectable bitesize veggie which gave the dish the crunch. Even though I didn't usually like carrot and cucumber, I couldn't help it but finished all off by myself.

My companion's Chicken Leg Lemongrass with Pumpkin Risotto ($15) was decent too. The tender free range chicken leg was marinated with red wine sauce and made savoury with a Thai twist.

It was another case of too much good food that we (albeit unwillingly) had to give dessert a miss.

The service staff were sincere and attentive. While I was busy shooting our appetizers, one of the waiters asked me whether we would like to have our mains later. A small gesture it might be, I was always appreciative towards service with such thoughtfulness.

With service and food of such remarkable standard, all I can wish for is just a clear blue sky on my next visit.