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We were having lunch at Wolfgang Steakhouse, which has outlets in New York, Tokyo, Hawaii and now Singapore. There has been alot of hype surrounding the opening of its Singapore outpost but I've honestly never of it. Apparently Wolfgang used to be the head waiter at the legendary Peter Luger for 40 years before his son convinced him to come out of retirement to open the first Wolfgang Steakhouse in Manhattan. The Place Seated on the 2nd floor of the relatively new Intercontinental Singapore @ Robertson Quay (which took over the previous Gallery Hotel), the steakhouse exudes class and familiarity with its predominantly wooden interior, leather backed seats and limited views of the surrounding Robertson Quay through full length windows. It can get a little warm during the day though if you sit next to the windows. Complimentary Bread The bread basket consisted of baguette and onion bread. The former wasn't warm and came across as rock hard (not even the butter could save it) whilst the latter was fragrant but rather dry; even worse than the recently inferior one from Morton's. Lobster Mac & Cheese I think the QC on this was pretty bad. One side of it was overly charred (which gave it a bitter taste), while the other side was nicely done. Overall the non burnt portion was decent; gooey but a tad bland with a few pieces of lobster in it. Sizzling Bacon This thick cut of bacon came across as chunky with a good meat to fat ratio and a nice, crispy surface. However not as well done as Peter Luger's in my humble opinion. Sauteed Mushrooms Assorted mushrooms with onions and a whole lot of salt. Pasta Pescatore Al dente pasta topped with shrimp, lobster, clams and calamari. Unfortunately the marinara sauce tasted a little too watered down and not the least bit spicy (contrary to the description on the menu). Somehow this dish lacked any oomph. Sirloin This was part of the Taste of New York Set from the lunch menu. ~320g sirloin (inclusive bone, which worked out to be about 4 very thick slices of meat). The crisp exterior belied a chewy, medium rare center which was tender and juicy. However it was a little too salty for my liking (and trust me, I have a high tolerance for salt). Thankfully the restaurant's special sauce, a cross between BBQ sauce and ketchup, helped masked the saltiness. Apple Strudel A rather average dessert with the filo pastry a little too drenched from the sauce and an almost overwhelming taste of cinnamon. The apple slices were on the sourish side but the sweetness from the raisins balanced that out rather well. Nothing in the league of Morton's or Ruth Chris honestly. New York Cheesecake This was half a portion of cheesecake and came with the Taste of New York Set. To be honest, this was very good and definitely the best dish of the entire meal. Rich and dense layer at the top with a soft, spongy middle. Not overly sweet and better than alot of cheesecakes I've eaten. Key Lime Pie First time trying a Key Lime Pie and it was decent with the lime curd texture a little gelatin like and not too tart, on a crumbly biscuit crust. Bill Lunch for the 4 of us came up to almost $300, which isn't very expensive for a reputable steakhouse. Unfortunately food in general isn't too spectacular maybe because of the high salt content (we ordered a burger as well but had to send it back to the kitchen because the patty and onion rings were ridiculously salty. To their credit, the replacement dish was alot less salty). On the upside, service was excellent; attentive, friendly and obliging.Final Verdict:Ambience: 7.5/10Service: 8/10Food: 6/10Value for money: 6/10Overall: 6.875/10Address: #02-01 InterContinental SingaporeContact: 6887 5885Opening Hours:LUNCH 11:30 ~ 15:30 (LO 14:30)DINNER 15:30 ~ 23:30 (LO 22:30)Website: https://wolfgangssteakhouse.sg/…查看更多

We deviated from our usual CNY eve reunion dinner venue. But with good reason. We had catered quite a spread from them for our dinner on the first day of CNY so it made more sense to vary the food. And so we settled on Wan Hao @ Marriott Tang Plaza; for the first seating at 6pm. Salmon and Crispy Fish Skin Yu Sheng What was interesting about this yusheng was the addition of fried fish skin, which gave it an added crisp on top of the crackers. However I found this dish to be overly sweet as a whole, probably due to the ridiculously sweet candied kumquat. Still decent nonetheless but definitely a few notches below that of Imperial Treasure Cantonese's in my humble opinion. Braised Fish Maw in Superior Stock with Fungus and Wolfberry I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing but this soup tasted alot like Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup, albeit more refined. And it was rich without coming across as satiating. Coupled with a huge piece of dried fish maw (not the fried kind that is usually served), it received positive reviews around the table. Stir-fried Scallop, Coral Clam, Broccoli and Pine Nuts in XO Sauce The scallops were sizeable and relatively sweet but the broccoli did come across as a tad too soft for my liking. I liked the coral clam though; mildly spicy with a mild chewiness to them. Deep-fried Lobster Meat with Yuzu Mayonnaise and Broccoli This was an addition to our set and it turned out to be most disappointing. The lobster was coated in an overly thick layer of batter and deep fried; the meat came across as too soft and void of any crustacean sweetness. To compound matters, I couldn't quite make out any taste of yuzu in the mayonnaise. A literal waste of lobster meat if you ask me. Steamed Red Garoupa with Fermented Soya Bean and Chicken Floss On to the more positive stuff. The steamed garoupa was fresh and topped with fermented soya bean and chicken floss, allowing the mild sweetness to contrast with the saltiness from the soya sauce. I'm not a fish person but I think this was pretty good. Not to mention that it was quite a size and alot of effort went into trying to finish it. And by that I mean belly space. Wan Hao Signature Crispy Chicken Wan Hao's eponymous roasted chicken. It definitely wasn't as good as Lung King Heen's rendition in my humble opinion but it was very decent. The meat was tender and juicy but the skin could use a little more crispiness. The sweet potato fries atop were pretty good though; sweet, crisp and a tad spicy. Stewed 10-head Abalone, Dried Oyster and Mushroom wrapped inBeancurd Skin, Black Moss and Seasonal Greens Not a fan of dried oyster and I think too much oyster sauce went into this dish, giving rise to one huge plate of nausea. Definitely not something I would order again if I can help it. Wok-fried Glutinous Rice and Chinese Sausage wrapped inLotus Leaf with Crispy Rice This sounded promising but failed to deliver. It was almost like eating steamed dumpling with the soft and mushy steamed glutinous rice with a rather strong taste of waxed meat. Topped with rice crispies to perhaps compensate for the lack of texture? This dish lacked fragrance as well. In short, not great. We had a few spoonfuls and gave up. Deep-fried Nian Gao Pancake with Yam Paste I actually like to eat nian gao (年糕) but this was way too oily and I could taste grease in every bite. I think the least they could do would be to blot out the oil with paper. Chilled Peach Resin with Sea Coconut, Red Dates and Dried Longan A more upmarket version of cheng tng (清汤). Decent and it was nice to have something cold to end off the meal. Dinner for the 6 of us came up to about $900, which was surprising given the quantity of food and definitely cheaper than our usual checks at Imperial Treasure. Food quality however, is a case of hits and misses and service, though decent, did seem a little lacking at times. For instance, when the fish was served, they didn't cut it up like the other restaurants. I guess its back to Imperial Treasure Cantonese next year...Final Verdict:Ambience: 7/10Service: 6.5/10Food: 6.5/10Value for money: 7/10Overall: 6.75/10Address: 3F Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza HotelContact: 6831 4605Opening Hours:Lunch: 12PM to 3PMDinner: 6.30PM to 10.30PMMonday to FridayLunch: 11.30AM to 3PMDinner: 6.30PM to 10.30PMSaturday , Sunday and Public HolidayWebsite: http://www.singaporemarriott.com/restaurant/wan-hao-chinese-restaurant/…查看更多

It's been a while since our last visit to Imperial Treasure Teochew and since then, so much has changed. For starters, they relocated from Ngee Ann City to Ion Orchard and included the word "Fine" in their name. Oh and they recently garnered a Michelin star. Exciting times. Interior The place is certainly more upclass now and gone are the days of the rather cramp-ish interior with haphazard seating arrangements. Instead tall glass ceilings allow for tons of natural light and coupled with lots of wood, make for a more relaxing and refined dining environment. Do note that if you sit by the windows during the day, be prepared to soak in some heat; a little hot but still bearable. Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Shark Cartilage This came across as a little starchy and rather sweet. Not quite a fan honestly and rather pricey at $30++ for such a small bowl. The Cantonese restaurants definitely do this better. Doubled Boiled Pig's Stomach Soup with Salted Vegetables & Peppercorns The soup was a tad too salty from the salted vegetables but I liked the peppery goodness of the peppercorns. Decent soup overall but I can get a better (and cheaper) rendition from one of the Teochew braised duck stalls that I usually patronise. Chee Cheong Fun Just for the kick of having some dim sum - a rather average rendition with the skin less than silky and a lacklustre char siew filling. Three Kinds of Marinated Combination in Teochew Style One of the hallmarks of Teochew cuisine, braised meat. We went with duck, pork belly and intestines and it was seriously underwhelming. The duck was thinly sliced and didn't come across as too tough but the gravy was a tad too sweet for my liking. Though the pig intestines were well cleaned, they lacked the crunchiness that I liked and came across as limp. Not to mention the pork belly with its >50% fat to meat ratio that honestly didn't go well with the sauce. The sole saving grace? Silky smooth beancurd slices hidden beneath. Apparently this is the Hong Kong style Teochew braise with its lighter flavours but I've had much better Teochew braise in Hong Kong. ie. Chan Kan Kee or Hung's Delicacies (which I make a point to patronise whenever I depart/transit HKIA). Deep Fried Cod Fillet with Sauce I had meant to order the pan fried version but made a mistake. Thankfully it turned out pretty good; crisp on the outside with sweet, flaky flesh on the inside. Ladled with mildly savoury sauce with lots of spring onions. Delicious. Sauteed Prawn with Egg White in Italian White Truffle Oil I usually prefer the scallop version but apparently prawns have substituted scallops for good (still can't quite accept that fact). The singular prawn was quite sizable and crunchy and of course the white truffle oil gave the whole dish a rather heady (and amazing) aroma. Braised Spinach Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms Now I've rather biased towards beancurd and it was quite delicious - crisp on the outside while soft and eggy on the inside. Topped with lots of mushrooms and sitting on a bed of spinach. Definitely my kind of dish. Sauteed String Bean & Minced Meat with Preserved Black Olives The string bean came across as a little too oily but at least it retained its crunchiness without coming across as overly raw. Average dish at best. Teochew Fried Fish Noodles Stir fried with beansprouts, chives and egg, the fish noodles had a nice springy texture to it but was way too oily for my liking. It was also a tad lacking in wok hei. Sweetened Mashed Taro with Ginkgo And finally, another ubiquitous Teochew dish, the humble but extremely time consuming to make Orh Nee. It looked dry and unappetising on the outside but was actually smooth, fragrant and moist without being too sweet. A great ending to our otherwise underwhelming meal. Bill With a $100 discount, lunch for the 4 of us came to about $232 (~$339 without discount), which isn't quite worth the money in my humble opinion. Food overall was acceptable but some dishes came across as too oily. Service was good but seemed to be shorthanded at times, especially when the restaurant was at full capacity. To be honest, even though I'm quite a fan of the Imperial Treasure group (note the number of times I've been to the Cantonese outlet at Crowne Plaza), I fail to understand how this particular outlet is able to achieve 1 Michelin Star.Final Verdict:Ambience: 7.5/10Service: 7/10 (would have given 7.5 if not for the fact that they seemed shorthanded at times)Food: 6.5/10 (7.5/10 for the orh nee, beancurd and cod fillet)Value for money: 6/10Overall: 6.75/10Address: ION Orchard, #03-05Contact: 6736 2118Opening Hours:Monday to FridayLunch: 11.30am to 3.00pmDinner: 6.00pm to 11.00pmSaturdayLunch: 11.00am to 3.00pmDinner: 6.00pm to 11.00pmSunday & PHLunch: 10.30am to 3.00pmDinner: 6.00pm to 11.00pmWebsite: http://www.imperialtreasure.com/restaurant/Imperial%20Treasure%20Fine%20Teochew%20Cuisine-4…查看更多

CUT Marina Bay Sands recently earned a star in the 2017 Michelin Singapore edition and we had elevated expectations of a great steak dinner (hopfully even surpassing that of Morton's in Singapore). The Place We were seated in a semi private enclave with just a single table at one corner of the dining room. I honestly don't know what to make of the decor except that it struck me as rather clinical, unlike that of Peter Luger Steak House in New York, which had a cosy and inviting feel to it. Complimentary Bread There were 3 rounds of complimentary bread; bread sticks, cheese puffs and an assortment of bread from a mobile tray. The sticks were nice - crisp with a strong cheese taste (tasted like goat cheese) while the puffs came across as light, fluffy and mildy cheesey. From the tray I had the pretzel (love the texture - soft, dense yet chewy but extremely salty!) and the onion bread (moist but a touch oily). So much bread to fill you up! Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Fuji Apple-Yali Pear Salad, Sesame-Orange Dressing This looked absolutely delicious with a sumptous fat to meat ratio of ~50%. Coupled with a rich layer of sweet maple glaze, it was a sure fire recipe for nausea. Thank god for the sliced apple and pear salad, though sweet, provided a nice refreshing crunch and much needed moisture. I personally think a tarter apple, ie. Granny Smith's, would work better though. Alaskan King Crab & Shrimp "Louis" Cocktail, Spicy Tomato-Horseradish This was a half sized portion because the chef split the original portion into 2 for sharing. Although I liked the crustecean combination of king crab and prawn together (with a medley of vegetables thrown in), it wasn't spectacular. I've definitely had better. Double Thick Iberico Pork Chop, Rhubarb "Moustarda" I liked how the surface of the pork chop was crisp (a wee bit to burnt though) while the meat (and fat) retained its tenderness and flavour. The meat was also well seasoned with a faint tartness (probably from the rhubarb). Decent but not as good as Gunther's rendition. Hokkaido "Snow", Tomakomai, Filet Mignon I had high hopes for this small piece (120g) of premium Japanese steak (heck you would too if it cost $245++) but unfortunately it was disappointing to say the least. Although the marbling was very good, the meat was a little too soft for my liking at medium doneness and it lacked the beefiness that I personally like. Cavatappi Pasta "Mac & Cheese", White Cheddar It was our first experience with cavatappi (helical tube/cockscrew shaped pasta) but it wasn't a good one. The dish came across as very oily with a mild white cheddar cheese taste. We gave up after a couple of mouthfuls. Bird Bird definitely does a much better rendition. Kaya Baked Alaska Ironically, the Kaya Baked Alaska was the star of the evening. Reminiscent of a durian shell with its spiky edges, this dessert was essentially coconut cake with pandan ice cream and coconut sorbet encapsulated within a meringue on a crumble base and quickly torched. Deliciously sweet and I love how all the flavours come together to remind me of Kaya. Served with a "side" of coffee crumble. Petit Fours And petit fours to end off our meal. No great shakes. Bill The both of us spent ~$508 for a rather dissatisfying dinner. Service was good but food in general wasn't great and I fail to see how or why CUT was awarded a Michelin star. At this price point, I am way more inclined to stuff myself silly at Gunther's.Final Verdict:Ambience: 6.5/10 (can get a little noisy and dark)Service: 7.5/10Food: 6/10 (7.5/10 for the Kaya Baked Alaska)Value for money: 4/10Overall: 6/10Address: B1-71, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay SandsContact: 6688 8517Opening Hours:Sun - Thurs: 5:30pm - 10:00pmFri & Sat: 5:30pm - 11:00pmWebsite: http://www.marinabaysands.com/restaurants/celebrity-chefs/cut.html…查看更多

Bird Bird moved to the east a couple of months back and I chanced upon it while dropping by Cedele (a few doors down) one afternoon a few months back. I was hooked and made it a point to visit shortly after. Just for the record, I have been there quite a few times for lunch/brunch ever since. The Place Bird Bird occupies a corner unit along Frankel Avenue and parking is limited to the private estate behind (however you are free to park anywhere you like as long as you are able to evade the rather frequent patrols by the traffic wardens). The interior is kept simple with cement screed floors and wooden tables. Cornbread Waffles At $3 a piece, the cornbread waffles were relatively pricey. But by golly, they were worth it. Mildly sweet with a rather significant corn taste and served with smoked maple syrup. Definitely my kind of carbs. Just watch out - they get cold and limp rather fast so eat them while they are hot/warm. Black Truffle Mac & Cheese This was delicious; Al dente macaroni coupled with a light fragrance from the black truffle bits and a not too creamily rich sauce nursing a tinge of zest to keep nausea at bay. Topped with shavings of cheese and croutons for an extra crisp. Brown Sugar Bacon Chop I loved this as well. The thick cut bacon chop was seared and coated with a thin, brittle layer of caramalised sugar; sweet with salty undertones. A little different from the renditions of both Peter Luger and Clinton Street Baking, which do without the evident layer of sugar but equally delicious. Signature Fried Chicken Our order of half chicken consisted of 5 pcs from wing to breast. It looked absolutely mouth watering but unfortunately I found the seasoning a little underwhelming and not thorough enough. The meat was tender, juicy and moist but the skin was a little bland and lacked the oomph I was hoping for (in this respect, Southern Bird @ Marina Bay Sands does a better job). The signature gravy tasted like runny mashed potato gravy. Maybe the other chickens taste better? Durian Softie Pie An absolute crowd pleaser, the toasted milk softie had a light browned taste to it without coming across as too sweet. Topped with a generous scoop of durian pudding, white chocolate, sitting on an almond crust base and drizzled with gula melaka caramel for an added sweetness. Delicious and definitely a great way to end off the meal. Bill Brunch cost the 2 of us ~ $81, which isn't exactly cheap but I think it's worth the price for the above average quality of food in general. Service is decent but just be aware that the ventilation isn't great so you will walk out of the place smelling like your meal. Weekday lunch sets offer a much better value proposition so it would make better sense to go during lunch (you can even top up $5++ for a durian softie!) Truffled Housemade Curly Fries ps: The truffled housemade curly fries are really addictive; thin and crispy without all the oil (definitely a misperception).Final Verdict:Ambience: 6.5/10 (can get a little noisy and ventilation isn't great)Service: 7/10Food: 7.5/10 (8/10 for the durian softie)Value for money: 7/10Overall: 7/10Address: 97 Frankel AvenueContact: 6694 8270Opening Hours:Tuesdays - Sundays11.00am - 11.00pm | Last orders at 9.45pmClosed MondaysWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/birdbirdsg/…查看更多

Bird Bird moved to the east a couple of months back and I chanced upon it while dropping by Cedele (a few doors down) one afternoon a few months back. I was hooked and made it a point to visit shortly after. Just for the record, I have been there quite a few times for lunch/brunch ever since. The Place Bird Bird occupies a corner unit along Frankel Avenue and parking is limited to the private estate behind (however you are free to park anywhere you like as long as you are able to evade the rather frequent patrols by the traffic wardens). The interior is kept simple with cement screed floors and wooden tables. Cornbread Waffles At $3 a piece, the cornbread waffles were relatively pricey. But by golly, they were worth it. Mildly sweet with a rather significant corn taste and served with smoked maple syrup. Definitely my kind of carbs. Just watch out - they get cold and limp rather fast so eat them while they are hot/warm. Black Truffle Mac & Cheese This was delicious; Al dente macaroni coupled with a light fragrance from the black truffle bits and a not too creamily rich sauce nursing a tinge of zest to keep nausea at bay. Topped with shavings of cheese and croutons for an extra crisp. Brown Sugar Bacon Chop I loved this as well. The thick cut bacon chop was seared and coated with a thin, brittle layer of caramalised sugar; sweet with salty undertones. A little different from the renditions of both Peter Luger and Clinton Street Baking, which do without the evident layer of sugar but equally delicious. Signature Fried Chicken Our order of half chicken consisted of 5 pcs from wing to breast. It looked absolutely mouth watering but unfortunately I found the seasoning a little underwhelming and not thorough enough. The meat was tender, juicy and moist but the skin was a little bland and lacked the oomph I was hoping for (in this respect, Southern Bird @ Marina Bay Sands does a better job). The signature gravy tasted like runny mashed potato gravy. Maybe the other chickens taste better? Durian Softie Pie An absolute crowd pleaser, the toasted milk softie had a light browned taste to it without coming across as too sweet. Topped with a generous scoop of durian pudding, white chocolate, sitting on an almond crust base and drizzled with gula melaka caramel for an added sweetness. Delicious and definitely a great way to end off the meal. Bill Brunch cost the 2 of us ~ $81, which isn't exactly cheap but I think it's worth the price for the above average quality of food in general. Service is decent but just be aware that the ventilation isn't great so you will walk out of the place smelling like your meal. Weekday lunch sets offer a much better value proposition so it would make better sense to go during lunch (you can even top up $5++ for a durian softie!) Truffled Housemade Curly Fries ps: The truffled housemade curly fries are really addictive; thin and crispy without all the oil (definitely a misperception).Final Verdict:Ambience: 6.5/10 (can get a little noisy and ventilation isn't great)Service: 7/10Food: 7.5/10 (8/10 for the durian softie)Value for money: 7/10Overall: 7/10Address: 97 Frankel AvenueContact: 6694 8270Opening Hours:Tuesdays - Sundays11.00am - 11.00pm | Last orders at 9.45pmClosed MondaysWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/birdbirdsg/…查看更多

We had been meaning to drop by Riders Cafe for the longest time but somehow never managed to get to it until one overcast Saturday morning when we decided to go off the beaten track. The Place Located at the Bukit Timah Saddle Club in a charming colonial style building, Riders Cafe boasts great ventilation and views of a field and horses (sometimes - not to mention the smells too). Which is great if the weather is cooling (not too common in Singapore though) and you enjoy dining alfresco. The place is a constant buzz so reservations are advisable (I witnessed a few people being turned away without one). Fried Chicken BLT The chicken patty was well marinated with spices and came across as mildly sweet but not too dry. Topped with coleslaw, rather weak kimchi mayonnaise and sandwiched between two rather insipid buns. Still palatable though. Riders Burger I opted for the works; added mushrooms, bacon rashers and an egg. The Angus beef patty had bits of fat in it which made for a nice chewy texture. However the bovine flavours were a little muted and the bacon, a little limp. I liked the smooth creaminess the egg yolk provided though; a sort of gooey glue that brought everything together. Buns needed more butter and time on the grill in my humble opinion. Decent burger overall but no great shakes. Death By Chocolate Cake This was very sinful and oh so good (I'm definitely biased). A luscious slice of moist chocolate cake slathered with mildly viscous chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of ice cream. Watch out for the sweetness overload though. Salted Caramel Brioche Salted caramel brioche topped with a scoop of vanilla (not vanilla bean) ice cream and honeycomb. I liked the flavours; salty yet sweet. Unfortunately the brioche was rather inconsistent in texture - some were crisp while others came across as limp and stodgy. A bigger scoop of ice cream would also have been appreciated as towards the end, the brioche got a little too salty and there was no ice cream left to "dilute" it. Still a decent dessert nonetheless. Bill Our bill came up to ~$74 for 2 burgers and 2 desserts which isn't too expensive but food quality in general hovered a notch above average at best and service, though proficient enough, didn't seem quite friendly. The place is nice but given Singapore's humid weather most of the time, ambience alone isn't a big enough draw for me to return.Final Verdict:Ambience: 7/10Service: 6.5/10Food: 6.5/10Value for money: 6/10Overall: 6.5/10Address: 51 Fairways DriveContact: 6466 9819Opening Hours:Sunday – Thursday 8am – 9pmFriday & Saturday 8am - 10pmClosed on MondayWebsite: http://www.riderscafe.sg/…查看更多

In celebration of Burger Month, Morton's introduced a "Surf & Turf" burger for a limited period of time (May 15 - June 14 2017). Lobster and wagyu beef? I was hooked. The bar @ Mortons (a separate, slightly elevated space just across from the main restaurant) wasn't open till 5pm (even though the website stated 12pm) so we had to partake in our meal at a corner of the restaurant where the bar counter is situated (if you're only having burgers, you can't have it in the main dining area).Chicken Goujonettes - Chicken goujonettes are just a fancy name for chicken fingers/tenders/fillets and Morton's rendition came across as decent; crisp on the outside but tender on the inside without coming across as too greasy. However eating everything alone in one seating can prove nauseating so best to share. Didn't quite fancy the mustard mayonnaise sauce by the side. Surf & Turf - And the burger that drew us to Morton's, Surf & Turf. Thick, perfectly done (medium as per my request) 8oz slab of wagyu patty with bits of fat within for that chewiness. Topped with chunky truffle lobster salad and sandwiched between two deliciously buttery and crisp brioche buns; excellent. Came with a mountain of crisp, fresh tasting fries as well. A burger and a plate of chicken fingers cost ~ $88, which isn't cheap by any standard. However the burger is excellent and worth a try even though it costs ~$20 more than the regular USDA Prime Burger (which was a wee bit disappointing the last time I had it). I seriously hope Morton's considers having it on the regular menu. Service was very good as usual but the wait for food this time round was a little long (almost 30 minutes) which was quite a bummer.See all my pictures at http://www.timelessfacade.com/2017/07/mortons-part-xii-burger-month-special.html…查看更多

A revisit 8 years in the making. And here we were, finally. Somehow we had never really made it to Chef's Gunther Hubreschen's eponymous restaurant because of all the new and "exciting" restaurants that had been popping up ceaselessly in the last decade or so.The restaurant is divided into 2 dining areas and we were seated in the one with windows. Tables are spaced comfortably apart but due to the enclosed nature of the room, private conversations can be challenging unless one speaks in hushed tones (that's assuming the adjourning tables extend the same courtesy as well).Complimentary Bread & Amuse Bouche - Things got off to a decent start with the complimentary bread; warm and crusty baguette served with a side of salty butter. Would personally prefer a fatter baguette though as that would highlight the contrast between the soft interior and crusty outside. Amouse bouche was a singular prawn tempura with a dollop of mayonnaise. The batter came across as light but a little excessive so no great shakes.Cold Angel Hair Pasta, Oscietra Caviar - One of Gunther's signature dishes and rightfully so, the decadent Cold Angel Hair Pasta with Oscietra Caviar. Served chilled, the pasta, doused with truffle oil and finely diced porcini mushrooms, came across as aromatic and al dente with a smorgasbord of flavours; savoury with a hint of saltiness and fishiness from the prized caviar. A most excellent dish.Daily Special #1 - White asparagus was in season so we had it with morel mushrooms. Moist and tender with a rich nutty and earthy flavour from the morel mushrooms; simple yet delicious. Daily Special #2 - Hokkaido scallops, shaved truffle and angel hair pasta; it sounded absolutely "droolicious". Well it sure would have made for a magical combination if the scallops (huge by the way) had a more robust sweetness to them. The angel hair pasta came across as warm and firm (though a little less al dente than the previous dish of chilled pasta with caviar) while the light butter sauce provided a nice creaminess with a fleeting hint of the earth from the truffle shavings. Roasted Rack Of Black Pig, Gratin Potato, Forestiere - Another of Gunther's signature dish, the Roasted Rack of Black Pig was very well done with a good fat to meat ratio; juicily tender and flavourful with just a dash of salt and pepper. Served with a token of mushrooms and tempura long bean on a bed of roasted gooey cheese. Nothing too complicated and absolutely delicious. Fine Apple Tart “à la dragée”, Havana Rum Raisin Ice Cream - Yet another of Gunther's signature and with good reason. Suitably sweet apple puree enveloped within a ridiculously crisp and thin shell sprinkled with a generous serving of crushed nuts and served with a scoop of rather strong rum and raisin ice cream. Definitely one of the best rendition of apple tart I've had in recent years. Petit Fours - To end off, petit fours to further cram our already bursting tummies. Decent. Food overall came across as grounded; nothing fanciful and generally excellent. Prices are a little dear though, at close to $395 for the both of us. But well worth the money in my humble opinion (if only for a special occasion!). Service was personable and unpretentious so that's another plus. Definitely coming back!See all my pictures at http://www.timelessfacade.com/2017/06/gunthers-restaurant-part-deux-excellent.html…查看更多

We had been itching to try Spago and the opportunity presented itself one Saturday afternoon when we had to drop by Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to settle some business. Spago is Wolfgang Puck's second restaurant @ MBS, with the first being CUT, an upmarket steakhouse. The Los Angeles flagship outlet of Spago had garnered 2 Michelin stars in 2008 and 2009 (Michelin pulled out of LA after that) so our expectations were reasonably high.Taking the lift up to the 57th level brings you to the famed MBS infinity pool, where one of Spago's service staff will walk you to your table within the confines of a beautiful timber decked room with plenty of natural light (that's if you choose not to dine al fresco). Served with salted nori butter and unsalted buter, the complimentary baguette and black olive focaccia came across as palatable but nothing to shout about. Somehow the European restaurants (ie. Joel Robuchon) tend to do better bread in my personal experience. Chicken ‘Laksa’ Spring Roll - This local inspired appetiser was rather interesting. Spring roll skin deep fried till crackling crisp and filled with thick rice noodles and chicken - reminiscent of laksa especially when eaten with the dipping sauce.Pan Seared Pork Dumplings - The 锅贴 or Gyoza was decent; not overly oily or porky with the skin retaining a light crisp. Simple yet refined. Grilled Iberico Pork Secreto - Secreto or the "secret" cut apparently refers to different cuts of the Iberian pig, varying from individual to individual and there exists no common or universal standard to date; a clever marketing ploy to make people pay more. But I digress. The famed acorn fed Iberico pork strips were excellent; tender with a light charring along the exterior. Flavours were wonderful - savoury with a touch of earhiness from the mushrooms and sweetness from the pumpkin and chestnuts. Topped with light and crispy pork skin and deliciously smooth parsnip puree. Grilled Angus Beef Burger - Nothing else really caught my attention on the menu so I went with the usually safe burger option. Unfortunately this didn't turn out as well as I would have liked it to. For starters, the patty was a tad too soft for my liking. I appreciate the hand chopped patty with its uneven texture and bits of fat but it had minimal beefiness to it. The buns were crisp along the edges but slathered with ketchup which isn't my default option for buns (butter is!). An average burger overall. Interestingly, the restaurant 56 floors down in the same tower serves a much better burger in my humble opinion.Coconut-Passion Fruit Trifle - There wasn't a choice of dessert with the set lunch so the the Coconut-Passion Fruit Trifle it was. Tangy, sweet, smooth and crunchy (due to the rice krispies) all at once. Flavours were light and clean - pretty good. Only small gripe I had was the passionfruit seeds; I know they can be eaten but I'm personally not a fan. Chocolate – Coffee Semifreddo - We got greedy and decided to share an additional dessert. Served with caramalised banana balls and banana cake cubes, the asthetically pleasing Chocolate Coffee Semifreddo came across as rather strong on the flavours (a juxtaposition to the previous Coconut Passion Fruit Trifle dessert) with a dominant coffee presence. Decent. Lunch was a pleasant and leisurely affair. Food was decent overall (though not quite up to expectations) and didn't cost us an arm or a leg @ ~$134. Service was very good and so was the ambience. Personally would prefer to dine @ Sky 57 over Spago. See all my pictures at http://www.timelessfacade.com/2017/05/spago-wonderful-environment-decent-food.html…查看更多

We were quite a fan of Ninja Bowl @ Duxton so when we found out that there was a sister outlet (Ninja Cut) closer to us at Seah Street, we decided to drop by to give it a shot (as at time of writing, we have been there at least 4 times).Hidden amongst the plethora of shophouses along Seah Street and just a few shops down from the MINT Museum of Toys, Ninja Cut sports a nondescript facade and is easy to miss unless you pay close attention. The interior is rather spartan but comfortable enough. Noise is a pertinent problem here so conversations can be challenging especially when the place is full.Oh My Cod - This rather sizeable and sweet slice of cod was nicely pan fried but lacking in silkiness; served with a edamame asparagus combination (a little too salty for my liking and didn't quite seem to jell with the dish), mildly sweet carrots, a wobbly onsen egg and pickled purple slaw. Decent for the price but I'll probably swap out the edamame and asparagus the next time round.Whats Your Beef? - I've had this thrice but I personally feel that the beef in one of their brunch items, Ninja's Steak & Eggs, tastes better. The beef here is a wee bit overcooked and a tad too chewy for my liking. However this dish comes with mushrooms, sweet corn, onsen egg and carrots for for that relatively delicious all rounded meal. You can opt to add rice, soba or salad for an additional $2.Oceans Of Mentaiko - Rich, creamy soup base coupled with scallops, prawns, mussels and served with 2 slices of crisp garlic toast; absolutely delicious. Only gripe I have is the miserly and inconsistent amount of soup; it ranges from little (~ 6-8 spoonfuls) to very little (~ 4-6 spoonfuls).Everything is priced below $20 so it's quite a good deal for the quality and quantity of food in my humble opinion. There is no GST or service charge which is a plus and you get free, self service iced water. Do note that this place only accepts cash or nets.…查看更多

A couple of us dropped by Fat Cow for lunch one weekday afternoon after hearing so much about their signature wagyu donburi. The Place Located at a corner of Camden Medical Centre, Fatcow took quite a bit of finding as there didn't seem to be any clear signs as to where exactly the place was from the carpark. But we finally found the place and were led into a "private" room for the 8 of us; "private" because it was really just part of the main bar area with a paper thin partition that afforded some visual privacy (no respite from the noise though). Salad, Miso Soup & Chawanmushi A side of fresh salad, miso soup and chawanmushi came as a side to our set lunch. I personally liked the chawanmushi; smooth and light without coming across as too eggy and served with a slice of scallop, mushroom and prawn. The Fat Cow Donburi And the sole reason why we were here; the namesake Fat Cow Donburi. I ordered my wagyu medium rare but it seemed a touch undercooked even though the flavours were good; salty with a robust beefiness but a little lacking in the juiciness. The wobbly onsen egg imbued the dish with a creamy texture. A good dish but lacked the wow factor in my humble opinion. Ice Cream A tiny scoop of smooth and creamy caramel ice cream (probably the size of 2 quail eggs) capped off our meal. Inadequate but appreciated nonetheless. Bill The 8 of us racked up a bill of ~$480 and though good, doesn't quite justify the quality and quantity of food honestly. We left the restaurant feeling a little unsatisfied to be honest. Service overall was decent but tea refills need to be more forthcoming, especially at $5++/pax. Will I be back? I highly doubt so, unless someone is picking up the check.Final Verdict:Ambience: 6.5/10 (For the "private room")Service: 6.5/10Food: 7/10Value for money: 6/10Overall: 6.5/10Address: #01-01 Camden Medical CentreContact: 6735 0308Opening Hours:Lunch Monday to Sunday: 12PM to 3PM (Last order at 2.30PM)DinnerMonday to Sunday: 6PM to 11PM (Last order at 10.30PM)Website: http://www.fat-cow.com.sg/…查看更多

The 3 of us were having lunch at Long Chim (which translates to come and taste), a relatively upscale Thai restaurant at Marina Bay Sands owned by renowned Australian Celebrity Chef David Thompson, who is also behind the award winning Thai restaurant, Nahm, in Bangkok. The Place Located on the 2nd floor of MBS, Long Chim boasts a modern and trendy interior with Asian twists, scenes of Bangkok and a view of Marina Bay from certain tables. But the view is a double edged sword because you get plenty of natural light (great!) and some of the heat as well (not so great). As this was our first visit, we decided to go with the set lunch. Cured Pork Fritters Deep fried breaded cubes filled with sourish cured pork and an uneven distribution of chilli; best eaten with the peanuts to help neutralise the sourness. No great shakes and not my cup of tea. Miang Prawn One of my dining companions had the Miang prawn, which was an assortment of ingredients (dried prawns, shallots, peanuts etc) wrapped in a betel leaf. Sweet, spicy and sour all at once - akin to a zesty rojak paste. Can't say this was well received. Fried Rice with Roast Duck This was my main course and though this dish came across as lightly salty and savoury, it lacked any discernable wok hei. I couldn't quite make out the taste of the duck slices as well, which was a pity. Overall a rather forgettable dish of fried rice. Sweet Mango Sticky Rice One of the quintessential Thai desserts, the humble mango sticky rice. Mildly sweet mango slices atop rather watery rice (too much creamy coconut milk!) and sprinkled with fried mung bean to inject some crunch. Decent dessert but portion sizes are minute; I finished the whole thing in 2 spoonfuls. Bill Lunch for the 3 of us cost ~ $94, which isn't expensive (ala carte and dinner prices are quite a bit higher though) given the prices at Marina Bay Sands in general but quality is average at best. Overhyped and rather underwhelming in my humble opinion. Service is decent though.Final Verdict:Ambience: 7/10Service: 7/10Food: 5.5/10Value for money: 5.5/10Overall: 6.25/10Address: #02-02, The Shoppes at Marina Bay SandsContact: 6688 7299Opening Hours: 12pm to 11pm dailyWebsite: https://longchim.com.sg/…查看更多

We were having lunch at Char's "new" location after several moves from Geylang to Guillemard Road to the current (and hopefully) permanent location @ Jalan Besar. The Place Located just a few doors down from my favourite, now defunct burger spot, Suprette, Char's interior sports an industrial vibe with exposed halogen bulbs and cement screed floors and walls, Char's premises is reminiscent more of a pub or one of those hipster cafes/coffee houses that are sprouting up rapidly across Singapore. Decor aside, we had to wait for a few minutes to catch the attention of a seemingly clueless wait staff to confirm our reservation. Questions about the menu were also met with a blank stare. Dou Miao Dry Scallops The obligatory vegetable dish and a pretty decent one at that. The crunchy dou miao was partially immersed in a not overly thick but flavourful gravy with generous amounts of dried scallop shreds. Simple but delicious and best eaten with rice. Butter Chicken Thin strips of tender chicken cooked with curry leaves, evaporated milk and topped with fried garlic and sliced almonds; I liked the creaminess and sweetness of the whole dish. And the curry leaves gave it a nice curry tinge and aroma. Kinda reminded me a little of the Butter Pork Ribs dish from Two Chefs sans the "milk powder" dusting. Quarter Roast Duck The quarter duck was probably more suited for 2 pax than 4 but nonetheless, I liked the crisp skin and tender meat that didn't come across as too gamey. Very competent dish and one of the better ones I've had so far. Double Roast We chose Char's famous BBQ and roasted pork for our 双拼. The BBQ pork had quite a distinct porkiness that seemed to cut through the sweetness of the mildly sticky sauce, probably due to the high fat to meat ratio. The slightly leaner slices tasted better in my humble opinion (I had the same conclusion after having lunch at Char again recently). The roast pork was a little inconsistent with the second row of pork sporting a crisper skin than the first row. But both rows bosted tender meat with a finishing tinge of spice (not too sure what spice though). Pretty good overall but not quite a fan of the above mentioned spice. Yong Chow Fried Rice First looks, the fried rice looked a little anemic and unappetising at best. However it turned out decent with a mild wok hei and reasonable servings of pork, egg, shrimps, mushrooms and greens. It would have been better if the rice had an even distribution of egg. Bill At just over the century mark for a 4 pax lunch, it is honestly quite reasonable, given the quality of food. Of course quantity can always be improved but I think priority on the fix list has to be the service. On my return visit, the staff couldn't decide if the place was fully booked and made us wait at the door for ~10 minutes while she went off to chat with her colleague. When pressed, she offered us a smaller table but didn't offer us additional chairs. The food might be good but if service is going to continue this way, I'll gladly take my money elsewhere!Final Verdict:Ambience: 6/10Service: 4/10Food: 7/10Value for money: 7/10Overall: 6/10Address: 363 Jalan BesarContact: 6842 7759Opening Hours:11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (Last order at 2pm)6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Last order at 9.30pm)Closed on MONDAYWebsite: http://char.eleospages.com/…查看更多

We were in the vicinity of Tanjong Pagar one weekend and decided to pop by Drury Lane (one of the numerous hipster cafes that have been sprouting up like mushrooms in the past few years). Getting a table took a while and it seemed filled with youngsters in their teens to mid twenties. The Place Seating is rather limited on the ground floor where the ordering counter and kitchen is. The second level offers more seats but comes across as cramp with tables small and packed rather tightly together. One major gripe I have is the lack of air-conditioning. We had a table at one of the corners and believe me, it was warm and a little stuffy. To be fair, fans were placed at certain locations but it only benefited those who were seated directly in front. Water is self service from one of the counters located near the stairwell. Half Sized Cheese Toasties To start we had the mozzarella and turkey bacon cheese toasties (half sized). Nicely grilled on the outside but sadly, the gooey cheese and turkey bacon didn't quite feature in the taste department. Nowhere close to Toastface Grillah's but decent for the price ($4). Monterey Chicken with Avocado and Sriracha Butter The chicken came across as nicely grilled but a touch too salty whilst the whole grain bread was just dry. I liked the gooey cheese but not much of a fan of Sriracha. Average overall. Creamy Salted Egg Yolk Eggs Benedict with Grilled Prawns This was a rather interesting - Runny egg yolk atop a lightly sweet but mildly dry mantou and drenched with a rather diluted salted egg yolk custard that could use a little more robustness/richness. Packed with three decent sized, crunchy and relatively sweet prawns to justify the comparatively expensive (as opposed to other items on the menu) $17 price tag. Pretty decent dish. Bill Drury Lane serves up relatively inexpensive food in general (prices are nett) but quality hovers around the average mark. In short, just another run off the mill (but reasonably priced) cafe. No idea about the coffee though!Final Verdict:Ambience: 6/10 (a little cramp and warm)Service:NAFood: 6/10Price: 7/10Overall: 6.33/10Address: 94 Tanjong Pagar RdContact: 06222 6698Opening Hours:MON - TUES / 8AM - 6PMWED - FRI / 8AM - 9PMSAT - SUN / 9AM - 6PMWebsite: www.drurylane.sg…查看更多