For full review and pics: http://dairycream.blogspot.jp/2014/09/sapori-ditalian-taste-of-italy-in-bishan.html

Opened by two young hawker-prenurs, this place in a quiet coffee shop serves salads, pastas, side dishes such as truffle fries, mains, desserts. For an average spending of $10 per head, it's great value.
There's not 1, but 3 fish dishes here. I prefer the Grilled Seabass ($8.90) instead of the Creamy Fish ($5.90) because the Seabass is crispy with a clean taste while the latter seems too wet and groggy. It says "Battered dory" but least did I expect the fish to be covered in a blanket of omelette, rather "unique" way of preparing the fish. I found the sauce is overly salty even though it says "NO MSG". The prawn pasta was not too exciting and the sauce which collected at the base was slightly watery.
The best dish and a must-try is the Pork Picatto ($8.90) which is superbly tender and flavorful for a pork loin. Everything was pretty good until it came to the Rib-eye steak that was slightly overdone. And was that red wine sauce or mushroom sauce? A huge pity because the steak was also the most expensive dish at $19.90. The sautéed potatoes that appeared on every main except for the pasta, were a tough nut to crack (The Folks said the wrong type of potatoes were used). And the sodium input seriously needs to be reduced
 

Full review and pics: http://dairycream.blogspot.jp/2014/09/saboten-313-somerset-new-offerings.html
It feels very different to dine at Saboten restaurants in Singapore because they are well-furnished with spacious seatings and bright lightings, unlike the usual no-frills takeaway Saboten outlets that I come across in Tokyo. But of course, this world's largest Tonkatsu chain do have restaurants in Tokyo, mostly in major shopping malls or department stores. To celebrate the opening of its new outlet in 313@Somerset, Saboten introduces the Iberico Loin Katsu and Fried Jumbo Prawn that are exclusive to this outlet.
Iberico pork, which is famed for its refine marbling and tender texture, was not an easier cutlet to handle than the original katsu. Not as rich or oozing juices as you may find elsewhere, the trimmings were rather leathery, and some effort was required to disintegrate the protein. This in particular, is what polarizes opinions.
The Fried Prawn Jumbo Set ($28.80) featuring a wild-catch Tiger prawn, crab croquette and original loin cutlet, is more likely to appease the finicky palates with a mixture of seafood and pork. The coating of breadcrumbs for this set of ingredients was also more consistently golden, light and not cloyingly oily.
As usual, you proceed with the old but obligatory ritual of grinding the sesame before adding the Tonkatsu sauce. But what surprises me is that there is also radish and even curry sauces, which I view as privileges that one can't get in Japan--it is usually katsu with one and only one type of dressing. This may not be the place for the impeccable classic tonkatsu but you can still discover some reliable deep-fried gems, if you pick the right ones

This famous Zi Char that has been featured a lot on media. The first recommended dish, Deep Fried Trotters was superb and easily surpassed the one from Simpang Bedok. The skin was crispy but not hard--we could even chew the entire bone. The meat remained moist and not too dry. But the second recommended dish, Pumpkin Cream Prawns, lacked any fragrance and the cream can easily be written off as "corn cream" instead of pumpkin. Prawns were nonetheless, fresh, crunchy and not greasy. San Lao Hor Fun was tasty but nothing extraordinary and short of the wok-hei aroma. "where's the sambal?" was my first reaction when I saw the watery pool of Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves. Non-spice eaters commented that it was spicy but I thought it was still miles away. More sambal belachan would make this really "shiok".Hence, our favourite dish that day was none other than this plate of finger-lickin pig legs.Business was roaring during our Sunday visit. The Lao Ban Niang, was humorous and very friendly. She quipped in Chinese, "Want to take photo ah? wait ah..." and went back into the kitchen, placed a few curry leaves on the pumpkin prawns before serving it to us. "You all got more people, so this Hor Fun is actually $8 size" (we ordered a $6 Hor fun)

How often can we meet such a nice auntie??? And the food is priced very reasonably.

$47 for 5 pax.

For full review and pics : http://dairycream.blogspot.jp/2014/09/siang-hee-zi-char-scrumptious-pork.html

Gyoza, usually a side dish at Izakaya or ramen-ya, becomes the leading star at Gyoza-ya. Having opened at the old Heeren since last year, it has introduced new items to meet the ever-changing consumers' tastebuds. One of my favourites picks was the all-new Crab Gyoza $7.80, an interesting and flavourful twist to the traditional meat filling. Made with fresh crab instead of frozen crab meat, each dumpling is wrapped with the exact same amount of filling, churned and measured to perfection by the machine.
The other new dish is the Tonkatsu Udon ($6.80). Gyoza-ya also prides itself as being the first to serve this Jya Jya Men($6.50) in Singapore. I loved the Yaki Azuki Gyoza out of all and felt that it needn't be eaten as desserts towards the end of the meal. Sweet red bean mash encased in thin, crisp shell that reminded me of my all-time love, the Croissant Taiyaki. Never mind if there isn't any butter since they're probably healthier.


Matcha, Sesame and Yuzu Ice Cream ($6 each). The biggest draw factor is the price. With the gyozas at an average $4.80 for 5 pieces and other food not exceeding $7, it's possibly one of the best deals for Japanese food in Orchard.

Full review and pics: http://dairycream.blogspot.jp/2014/09/gyoza-ya-singapore-new-crab-gyoza-and.html

Linguine Vongole ($27.50++) was the special pasta of the day (not on the menu). Tossed with Manila clams, sliced chilli's, tomatoes, parsley and anchovies, this homemade pasta dish was very light on flavour and the sauce was sweet.
So light was the pasta that both of us decided to ask for some Parmesan Cheese, which descended like fluffy snow flakes. Oh boy, the cheese made a whole lot of difference to the dish.
The Baked Salmon ($23++) was well seasoned and not overly cooked, though the whipped lemon "risotto" seemed more like puréed cream without any grainy texture.
The desserts were not those gorgeously plated sweets but as casual as the likes of the British chef. My brownie-loving partner who has a penchant for rich dark chocolate, couldn't stop showering her praises for the Epic brownie($11.50) after taking a bite. The seductive fudgy dark chocolate is lifted by the hints of boozyness in the amaretto ice cream and accented by crunchy popcorns, making it a rich yet none too cloying treat.
Jamie's tiramisu ($11.50) has a clear division of labour between the coffee sponge and sticky mascarpone. It is definitely very robust in the java and little citrusy with the presence of orange shavings, though the overall texture was dry.
The savoury dishes did not spark excitement as the desserts did. I was looking for set lunches since we came at 12 noon, but the board at the entrance wrote 3pm-5pm. Strangely, we noted that it became 12pm-5pm as we left the place. Perhaps our eyes were playing tricks on us.
 
Full review and pics: http://dairycream.blogspot.jp/2014/08/jamies-italian-singapore.html