Hot Tomato needs no introduction as as it has been around for a long while. Widely known as a casual Western dining restaurant, the ambiance is very relaxing and it's perfect for family and friends to gather for a hearty no-frills meal to fill the hungry stomachs.

I was there on a weekend lunch and although the restaurant was almost filled with families, the service staff was very attentive and friendly, greeting me with a smile and showed me to my seat. I would say the service was impeccable for such a casual and inexpensive casual food establishment.Coming to the food, I had Fish & Chips ($8.50) which was served with a generous amount of chips and romaine salad. No complaints about the dory fish as the egg batter was nicely prepared, forming a light crust around the milky, moist and delicate fish meat. With a squeeze of the lemon and tartar sauce, it was perfect! One thing I note is that they do add salt to their fries, perfect for those who are health conscious. *Plus points!!!*With an additional $3.50, there's a choice to top up each combo with a Soup of the Day, Drinks and Garlic Bread Set. It was great value as the Hot Tomato Soup was very appetizing and garlic bread were toasted to golden crisp perfection.My friend had the Teriyaki Chicken Chop ($8.50) which again, had a generous and huge portion of succulent slice of chicken chop accompanied with Aglio Olio and salad. Although the sauce may seem a lot, it wasn't too salty or overpowering and has a tinge of black pepper to enhance its flavour.

They do not serve ice-water so you have to top up 20 cents for it. Overall the food, service and ambiance was great considering the affordable food they serve here. This is definitely one of the place worth the visit if you're craving for great value casual Western dining!

Finding a clean, quiet place with affordable coffee and pastries in the CBD isn't easy as most coffee places are filled with office executives waiting to satisfy their caffeine craving. Tucked at a corner of Hitachi Tower level 2, this little cafe is little known to those who do not work at this building.Specializing in fresh gourmet coffee, I had their Cafe Latte ($5.30) for a quick perk-me-up in the heat of the mid-day which made me felt sleepy. As simple as it is, the coffee is completed with a lovely heart-shaped latte art which brightened up my day. While sipping on the latte, I can taste that it is perfectly roasted from the aroma and the right amount of frothed milk, giving it a wholesome and creamy texture. I wanted something sour to wake my senses up and I thought the Tangy Lemon Curd Tart ($3.80) would be just perfect. The crust of the tart was good I thought since it doesn't break into tiny flakes when I cut it open. However, I thought the lemon curd can be even more sour as the tangy citrus was pretty mild for my preference. With this price, I thought it was just right as their pastries are very affordable and of great value.

Overall, Joe & Dough would be a great place if you need a place for coffee as it's inexpensive and the cafe is conducive for meetings over coffee. I would definitely come back to try their sandwiches and other of their coffee selection too. Service wise, the staffs are very attentive to clear up tables once customer leaves so other customers can have a place to seat and enjoy their coffee.

I was at Lavender area one Saturday morning after some workout at a nearby gym and thought of heading somewhere for a light meal and a drink. Initially, we thought of heading to Chye Seng Huat Hardware but my friend said that it will definitely be crowded. Hence, he recommended me to Coffee Shot that is just a stone's throw away.Walking into the cafe, the counter caught my eye with some of the menu written on the chalk board all over which gives an old-fashioned feel. Not only that, the old chime clock hanging on the wall as well as empty coffee bean sacks hanging above adds to the overall rustic feel and ambiance of the cafe. The feel of the cafe is very different from CSHH as the interior is very quaint with brick walls and Victorian-style looking lamps on the wall. The tables, chairs and flooring has a brown colour theme which makes it very warm and cozy. Seating on the sofa by glass panels facing the little road with a book is surely one of the simple pleasures in life you can enjoy which takes your mind away to a different world while sipping on your coffee.Since I was here for the first time, the friendly staff recommended me to go for their speciality coffee, the Honey Con Leche ($6.50). Sounds like a mouthful isn't it? In actual fact, it is simply cafe latte with a dose of honey. The coffee has a rich yet milky aroma with a smooth and long finish with a tinge of honey after taste. This is perfect for those who do not like bitter roasted coffee and wanted something not too overpowering sweet.Pumping up on protein after some workout, I had the Swedish Meatballs ($14.90) which was one of their signature. Made using 100% beef, it is served along side with some baked potatoes and salad. Nicely sprinkled with sea salt and herbs, it enhances the flavour of of the beef balls with a refreshing flavour. The meatballs itself doesn't have a beefy taste and the texture was a little dry and tough to the bite although I hope that it can be even more succulent and springy.
Nevertheless, the portion was just right for an adult.

Throughout my lunchtime there, only another table was occupied by a couple and the place was quiet. It would be nice if they can have some soft music to brighten up the atmosphere. Overall, the food is only average but the coffee is good. If you're looking for an alternative cafe for coffee around Lavender, The Coffee Shot will be giving you a run for your money compared to the overrated CSHH that is always crowded.

Where else can you go on a lazy Sunday afternoon but a cozy cafe to chillout with friends or a book? Cali Cafe tucked in the brand new Rochester Mall is a perfect place to unwind, away from the hustle and bustle from the horrible weekend crowd in town. Situated just beside Ben & Jerry's, the Cali Cafe is a California cafe/bistro that serves up a good variety of main courses, drinks, finger food and pastries perfect for the office crowd on weekdays and residents/shoppers who prefers to enjoy the finer side of life on a weekend.Upon entering Cali Cafe, I was enticed by the artistic paintings hung up on the wall. It changes the atmosphere with a chic and laid-back feel. The place was very clean, comfortable and it is definitely better than the crowded and noisy Starbucks cafe nearby. I was greeted by the friendly waiter who was so attentive to serve us ice water, taking note that it was a hot afternoon out there.I didn't know what to order initially as I had a filling lunch before that. Hence, he recommended me to go for their Afternoon Tea Set ($8.50++) which comprises of a cup of coffee/tea and a slice of cake. Great news that it is available from 3-6pm daily, unlike many other cafes which afternoon tea sets are only available on weekdays!

The waiter whom is also the staff preparing the drinks, recommended me Cafe Latte, Cafe Mocha, Cappuccino... I thought those are really common and I made a special request to have something nutty and ordered a Macadamia Cappuccino. Without any hesitation, he agreed to my special order without any additional cost or questions asked. Bravo Service!!There were 2 choices of cakes available and the staff mentioned that they are imported from France. I had the Extreme Choc Cake as he mentioned that it is made using dark chocolates (my weak spot for dark chocs). Hence, I had that and I am sure fans of chocolate will be so in love with it. Rich, smooth and creamy with a nice wafer crunch in the middle. This is surely not for the faint hearted. It becomes overpowering after a few mouthfuls so it is best to share the love around.My friend had the Triple Berries Cake. The outlook of it looks attractive and colourful unlike my choc cake. I thought the blueberries and cranberries within gives it a good citrus burst of flavour but the sponge layer was a tad dry and tough to the bite. The cake could have been frozen for too long, hence the lost in texture. If you like something sour and tantalizing, this will make a good choice though.

Overall, the ambiance and service was great but the food can be further improved as the price point for the a la carte items on the menu is slightly higher compared to other casual dining cafes like Beanstro and TCC.

Tucked along Purvis Street lies a hidden gem serving up authentic Hainanese fare for many decades. Chin Chin Eating House may not raise an eyebrow with it's rustic facade but you will be surprise at the amount of crowd they draw into their humble-looking eatery. I was there for dinner on a Saturday evening and I could see the mixture of people, young and old, including huge families waiting out for a seat. After about 15 minutes of waiting, an auntie came and pointed to a table large enough to accommodate about 10 of us.

Our orders were quickly taken by an unfriendly moody uncle who kept on ratting all the signatures off the menu and wanting us to order more. We went for a few of the signatures he recommended and he doesn't seem very satisfied and went on rattling away. We had to told him that we will just have these few as my dinner group were majority ladies and they don't eat much.After waiting for 15 minutes, the food for our table was served. Whetting our appetite is the Sambal Kang Kong ($10) which was nicely prepared. Check out the glistering surface, usually it is drenched with hot oil to give off that kind of shine and it will retain the crunchiness of the greens. Delicious but I wish they can be more generous on the sambal as the spicy umami was pretty mild.The Whole Hainanese White Chicken ($20) is almost visible on every table of the restaurant and we couldn't resist not having it too since we are here. Every slice of chicken I had was moist and smooth, with a nice fragrant of light soy sauce that goes so well with our individual portion of chicken rice, black sweet sauce and chilli! Being not a big fan of chicken rice, I would say this is one of the better ones I ever had.Another of their signature dish, the Hainanese Pork Chop ($18) is served with green peas, potato wedges and accompanied by a bowl of sweet tomato-based gravy. I love how the slices of pork chop are so evenly coated with golden-brown crispy bread crumbs. Delicious, homely and rustic. It is so good when drizzled with the lightly sweet gravy over it. Best of all, it wasn't oily at all. What got all our fingers busy and working is none other than the Prawn Paste Fried Chicken ($15) which is finger licking good! Hot, crisp and coated with prawn paste, this is surely one treat both kids and adult would love. Although it's a little on a the oily side, I would say it's definitely worth the calories for the delicious-ness.

Overall, it was a sumptuous and filling dinner for the group of us and although the service wasn't that friendly, we couldn't ask for more with great value food that tasted good. If you're dropping by for dinner, do come early to avoid the crowd!