Hippopotamus is a chic casual dining outlet that serves up great value set lunches & dinners! Snuggly located at the basement of Marina Square, we fell in love with diners' heaven at first bite.

Sirloin Steak Set Lunch ($15.90++)
At only $15.90++, this was a real steal! The steak was meticulously prepared and grilled to perfection. The chewy and succulent texture of the medium-rare steak was a joy to savour. The potato gratin was a mouth-watering side not to be missed. The rich cheesy texture atop the soft and smooth potato slices made all the calorie intake worthwhile. To end it on a sweet note, the set also came with a decent portion of carrot cake which was really yummy. Considering the price, I'm really impressed by the quality of food and effort they put in to whip up such a heartwarming meal. And did I mention, complementary chips and bread were served as well.

Mr Hippo will definitely give Steakhouses such as Jack's Place, Astons and the likes a run for their money!

We were undecided for dinner and since Siam Kitchen was having a 50% off promotion on their Thai Herb Chicken, we though why not give it a try! To be honest, we had never held much regard for franchise Thai cuisine as we thought them to be highly overpriced and lack authenticity. However, Siam Kitchen proved to be promising though there's definitely room for improvement.

Thai Herb Chicken ($14.90++)
This was simply awesome! The chicken was grilled to perfection with the fragrance of the herbs and spices fully infused into it. Coupled with their special Thai chili sauce, this was one divine Chicken you'll have to savour! The meat was tender and succulent and left a mild sweet aftertaste. Beef Noodles ($11.90++)
Full-bodied, rich and wholesome – these were the words that came to mind when we tucked into the bowl of hot piping Beef Noodles. The soup broth was flavourful yet not overpowering. Topped with generous portions of tender chewy beef slices, this was the perfect main course on a cold wet evening.

Tom Yam Soup ($7.90++)
Unfortunately, the Tom Yam Soup was a far-cry from the two other dishes we ordered. As a staple order whenever we patronise any Thai restaurant, we were disappointed by the lack-luster flavouring and authenticity of their Tom Yam Soup. What made matters worse was the quality of ingredients used. Both the seafood and fish slices were not exactly fresh, resulting in a fishy taste that compromised the overall quality of the soup broth. Overall, it was still a pleasant dining experience with some unexpected good finds! We will be back to try out some of their other offerings like Grilled Seafood and Thai Green Curry!

I really enjoyed our first visit to Man Fu Yuan as their quality of food was outstanding (albeit a couple of slips here and there) and their service level, commendable. Although the menu was on the pricier end, the overall ambience and dining experience justified the cost.

Siew Mai ($6.80++)
Topped with fresh scallop and fish roe, the Siew Mai was tastefully prepared. The firm yet texture was a delight to savour. One of the must orders here! Beef Ball ($6.80++)
The Beef Ball was a disappointment though. It was rather bland and overly soft (almost to the extent of crumbling upon the touch of my chopsticks). Somehow, the beef didn't taste very fresh as well and resulted in the lackluster review. Radish Cake ($5.20++)
A simple and wholesome treat for the palate. The Radish Cake was soft, flavourful and not too oily. I particularly liked the fact that it was not too starchy with more real radish chunks rather than flour present. Roast Meat Platter ($32++)
We ordered their Char Siew, Roast Duck and Roast Chicken and it was really authentic and delicious! The Char Siew was slightly charred and crispy at the sides and chewy in the centre. The Roast Duck and Chicken were exceptionally soft, succulent and delectable – a true hallmark of a Cantonese restaurant!

Steamed Custard Bun ($12++)
Although this was rated as one of their signature dishes, I found it rather average and lacked the wow-factor. The bun was quite thick and a little on the tough side. Thankfully, the custard was rich, gooey and flavorsome. We will definitely be back to try out their other offerings soon!

Gantetsu - Miso King Cha Shu Men ($15+)
Gantetsu has been one of the longest standing Ramen Champion contenders and it is no surprise why. They specialises in Sapporo miso-style ramen which leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste. The beauty lies in the soup broth which was rich in flavour and yet not overpowering. You know that quality ingredients had been used in brewing the heavenly soup broth when it does not leave you with a dry mouth (a sign of MSG overdose) but rather, pepper your tastebuds with a refined buttery fragrance that lingers long after that satisfying bowl of ramen has been ingested. Gantetsu truly did an excellent job in striking the right balance between sweet and savouy; rich and refined.

The noodles were firm and moderately springy.

Topped with 6 generous pieces of thick Cha Shu which were well seasoned and tender, as well as a runny egg which was exceptionally soft and delicate, this is a must try for all ramen buffs out there!

Polar Puff is current running a promotion with NETS FlashPay where you get to enjoy a complementary slice of sugar roll with min $3 spent.

Their Sugar Roll ($1.20/pcs) has been one of my favourite tea time quick fix. The cake is soft and light and I especially love the slightly moist texture which makes every bite literally melts in your mouth.

Recently, they have also launched a new item – Wholemeal Sugar Roll ($1.40/pcs) which is targeted at the more health conscious folks. It is significantly less sweet than the regular sugar roll and has a coarse and slightly crunchy texture. If you are looking for a wholesome, guilt-free tea time snack, this would make the perfect match!

Do pop by your nearest Polar Puff outlet to enjoy this special promotion tie up and satisfy your tea time snack attack!