Marché is probably one of my most frequented restaurants, especially their Vivocity branch, which sits on the roof top garden, overlooking the harbour front and Sentosa island.

What makes this restaurant so special is their attentiveness to the details of the authentic Swiss culture - service staff are dressed in traditional costumes, a dimly-lit dining area with wooden tables and chairs, balconies and barrels, and not to mention, their lovely cow mannequins.

If it's your first time here, do approach the service staff and familiarise yourself with their paying system because Marché uses "credit payment" - where you first make your purchases with a card (valued at S$100) and pay before you leave the restaurant. Do be warned though, that if you misplace your card, you'll be charged the maximum of $100.

Now, without further ado, this is what I usually spend my credits on:

Rosti w/ Smoked Salmon (S$14.50) is an all-time favourite at Marché. Their signature pan-fried potato strips are crispy on the outside, soft and firm on the inside, and topped with their smoked salmon and a wallop of sour cream, this is definitely a must-try.Crêpe with Blackforest Ham and Mushrooms (S$12++) was introduced to me by one of my mates when we had our little gathering some time back. How could I have missed this savoury treat! The skin of the crêpe is tender and firm, while the combination of thinly sliced mushroom and ham, dipped in their buttermilk sauce, just makes me want a second serving.
Grilled Salmon and Cream of Mushroom are two of Marché's many classics too. I highly recommend their mushroom soup as a starter to whet your appetite.
Do also grab a bottle of Bundaberg Root Beer (S$4.50) - Good Ol' Australian root beer, traditionally brewed to an old aunthentic recipe. Although overpriced (to be honest), it's one of the cheapest drinks at Marché.Marché is a perfect place for gatherings, meet-ups, or even a romantic date. Although I would admit that the bill burns a slight hole in your pocket, Marché is still a place which I would definitely frequent again and again for it's the experience that counts, isn't it?

Tips: Do leave some stomach space for their signature ice cream crêpes and other desserts too.

A dear aunt of mine introduced me to Shin Kushiya when it opened not long ago, I have frequented this Japanese restaurant quite a bit since then and till now, it has remained as one of my definite favourites.

Shin Kushiya is well-known for their authentic Kushiyaki, or skewers grilled with Bincho charcoal (aka King of White Charcoal) imported from Japan. One can truly taste the quality of the fresh ingredients used and the distinct smoky flavour. Paired with their homemade tare sauce, Kushiyaki is definitely a must-try. Perfect for quite bites before main course and sharing. Prices ranged from S$2.00 onwards per skewer.
Platters of mouth-watering Kushiyaki

Still craving for more small bites before your main? Why not try out their softshell crab temaki (S$3.40) or a plate of crispy, tasty whole crab for sharing? We ordered the Sanshoku Don (S$17.80), a delicious combination of fresh salmon, maguro and kaki on top of a bed of soft Japanese rice. Ever heard of sashimi melting in your mouth? This is it. Sanshoku (三色) actually means toppings with three different colours. They are not only limited to sashimi, but also to other ingredients (i.e. dango, eggs, vegetables) as well.
Their Pork Cutlet (S$16.80) is crispy on the outside and tender inside. Dipped in their spicy tare sauce and paired with the crunchy fresh salad, I bet you'll be begging for seconds.Good and authentic Japanese food, without burning your wallet. Shin Kushiya is the place to head to.

It was some times back when Peiyi and yours truly decided to get some light bites after a movie. After mulling for a few minutes, we decided to settle for Eighteen Chefs, a brainchild of former drug addict and convict, Chef Benny who believes in providing a positive working environment and experience for troubled youths and ex-convicts. Hence, do not be alarmed when a young man, full of tatoos is serving you. What a noble cause!

With students and youths as their targeted patrons (discounts or specials when you display your student pass etc), I wasn't convince about the food quality. Perhaps of previous bad experiences, I do not trust them as much. Eighteen Chefs surprised me. I wouldn't say that it was exceptionally good, but it was considerably above average, given that most of their dishes are value for money.

Down to the food, we ordered the Bolognaise Cheese Fries (S$4.90) - mozzarella cheese-baked fries topped with classic beef bolognaise sauce. The fries portion was generous and I assure you that they neither scrimp on their sauce. With the flavour incorporated to every single potato fry, this afternoon snack makes the cut to be one of their signature dishes. Do note however, that the cheese fries are really filling, so it is recommended to share this among 2-3 people, if you are eating it along with their mains.

The Waffle w/ Vanilla ice cream (S$6.50) topped up with chocolate fudge was okay. While the Belgian waffles is a little too cold for my liking, the generous drizzle of chocolate fudge is a plus point.
Eighteen Chefs also provides customized pastas or cheese baked dishes, where you D-I-Y your meals by choosing from a wide selection of sauces and ingredients, and they cook it for you.

Although I frequent this mall oftenly, I wanted to try something I never had. It is when we stumbled upon Barcelos Chicken and White Dogs Cafe, I had quite a hard time deciding, before we settled for the latter. After approximately 15 minutes of waiting, we were ushered to a table near the entrance, not what I hoped I'd get because I would really like a table with a Sentosa view.

I ordered their Seafood Marinara (S$14.00) - the linguine pasta is cooked al-dente, but the sauce can do with a little more salt. Their portion of seafood is larger than usual, with a generous serving of succulent prawns, mussels and squid rings. However, I thought that the overall appearance can be improved. (Currently, it looks like the chef dumped the whole chunk of seafood-mixed pasta on the plate.)Peiyi had their special set menu, which includes Grilled Half Chicken, Soup of the day (which you can upgrade to premium for S$1) and a glass of drink. The upgraded appetizer tasted lumpy, which is already a huge down point. But at least the garlic bread tastes crispy and fragrant. For the Grilled Half Chicken, we substituted the french fries with a really bowl of mashed potatos. It also comes with coleslaw salad and their signature peri-peri sauce. The chicken is soft and tender, with the flavour of the seasoning fully absorbed. I highly recommend eating together with the spicy sauce.White Dog Cafe is one of the restaurants that I will visit again, but not in the near future. The next time I visit, I'll definitely book earlier to get a table with the panoramic scenery and of course, to save myself the waiting time.

Nestled in one of Singapore's most popular hang-out spot, look no furthur than 2AM Dessert Bar, if you want a romantic late-night dessert with your significant other, or just somewhere to hang-out with your friends.

"This Friday night is still young", I thought. It was after a fulfilling dinner at White Dog's Cafe, and we decided that we still have stomach space for desserts. So we head all the way down to Holland Village to this modern-chic dessert bar. 2AM Dessert Bar was easy-to-miss, sitting at the second level in one of the corner, we definitely had a hard time locating it. Upon entering the dessert bar, we were seated on one of the plush sofa seats. At half past 11, this place is still buzzing with people!

I ordered their White Basil Chocolate (S$17.00), a burst of textures and flavours - it consists of passionfruit fluff, coconut sorbet, pastilles and sea-grapes (a unique sea-weed, which looks and tastes like tiny fish roes). Although this creative dish is not on the sweeter side, but the combination of all the food elements make it interesting.Peiyi had their Red Miso Caramel Bavarois (S$15.00), it comes with mustard crumbles and chocolate ice-cream which has an interesting texture. This dish packs a punch on the taste buds - a good mixture of sweet and sour.For every single dessert, they would suggest a pairing of either a red or white wine. So we decided to have the Manawa Pinot Noir Marlborough (S$19.00) from New Zealand, the recommended pairing for Peiyi's dish. It has a strong sweet fragrance, tasted tangy with a tinge of sourness and leave a persistent flavour that lingers in your mouth. (I am not a wine connoisseur, but that is the best description I can come out with).The price was startling initially, as I usually pay no more than ten bucks for desserts. But I'd say it was definitely worth the experience, and why not splurge occasionally on desserts?