This simple bowl of Ba Chor Mee at $3 is heartwarmingly simple, but chock full of ingredients.It has minced meat, sliced pork, fishballs, liver and mushrooms, tossed in a generous heap of noodles. While I would have liked stronger, sharper flavours in the sauce (it seemed a bit more mild), it wasn't overly salty. What perhaps was lacking was vinegar? We would also have preferred springier noodles! The meat was really fresh and the slices of liver are really huge (if you are a kua fan you will LOVE THIS!!). The ingredient to noodle ratio is also excellent -this makes for an extremely satisfying lunch! The fishballs were mediocre at best though, but I guess fishballs aren't exactly the highlight of the ba chor mee.

Saturday night at Robertson Quay is surprisingly quiet and pleasant -there are throngs of people but not so much that it is overwhelming. It's lively but also quiet enough to hold a decent conversation with friends over dinner.
The Oyster Bar & Grill Wharf at Robertson Quay specialises in oysters (well that wasn't too unexpected) and seafood, and they also boast an interessting selection of 100 different mojito flavours. Their wine list is also stunningly impressive!We ordered a Scallop & Mushroom Ajilli ($12.50), Prawn & Mushroom Ajili ($14), Hamburg Steak ($19.50), Calamari ($12), Truffle Fries ($13) and a bottle of French red, Le Vignes de Bila-Haute at $80.The prawn & mushroom ajilli (ajilli is served with bread!) is cooked in a sea-salt & white wine broth with garlic, tomatoes and chilli. The seafood is really fresh and the prawns have this slight crunch to them when you bite down...The prawn & mushroom combination is relatively safe for anyone who isn't too huge a fan of oysters (they have the oyster option at $16!). The broth tastes of sea salt and olive oil, and is great to be eaten with the crusty bread.The scallop & mushroom ajilli is also pretty popular among people -the broth used is similar, (if not the same) -a delicious concoction of freshness and saltiness. The scallops border on creamy when you bite into them, yet you can taste the freshness of the ocean in its aroma -the flavours are all raw and natural. The mushrooms go better with the prawns in my opinion, but it's fantastic when it soaks up the broth...the burst of flavours is a sensational experience!The calamari is served with a cream sauce. The squid wasn't overcooked, and the outside was a delicious crisp that wasn't soggy with oil. The batter wasn't overly flourry and it was also lightly salted (a nice touch that made the calamari good on its own -to enjoy its freshness and crisp goodness without having to coat it with creamy sauces!) Great for sharing especially if you are with 3 people (the portion is just right for 3)The hamburg steak took longer than expected to arrive (we had joked that they were hand-mincing the patty after catching the cow haha), and is served with a vegetable stew. The patty is juicy and not overly seasoned so you can really taste the beef. The patty is also a generous size, so that's a plus point given that one is paying $19.50 for this!! The vegetable stew was a tad strange though, it came across as an Asian adpation of ratatouille, with a hint of Indian spices and just a teensy bit of curry powder that resulting in this slightly mushy vegetable dish which was slightly creamy. We felt that this was an odd pairing with the steak though.What I liked about the truffle fries here is that it's served in a basket, with some on the chopping board -such presentation is lovely and thoughtful! I'm not a fan of shoestring fries and I like my fries thick-cut, but I make an exception for truffle fries because I believe you need the slimness of the fries to capture the aroma of the truffle and chunky fries would ruin the subtle aftertaste. The fries weren't too oily, and they were piping hot. We didn't really need the dipping sauce to be honest, it was good on its own. This is perfect to share too!We decided to order a bottle of wine, and their wine selection is impressive, ranging from Chilean, French and Spanish (just to name a few) wines in both reds and whites. The menu has this chart that shows how full-bodied/dry the wine is, and selections can go up to $140++, with the cheapest being a French merlot at $38. This bottle is in the mid-range at $80, a full-bodied red wine from France. This wine is deliciously fruity for a red, it's not dry and has a nice sweetness to it that accompanies food well because it's so easy to drink and goes down so smoothly.

The service here is lovely, and the staff is attentive, always with a smile on their faces. One would come here to be immersed in a mind-boggling array of oysters (usually at $8 per piece), a good wine and mojito selection and a fantastic seafood! We would recommend the ajili, served with bread as it's really worth the price and the seafood is super fresh! You may also want to give the fries a go, they're perfect for sharing! Lastly, do yourself a favour and indulge in a bottle of wine here!

Note: The total bill after GST & Service Charge is $174 for 3 persons!

Vietnamese cuisine has been gaining popularity since the advent of Nam Nam and Pho Hoa is one of the lesser-known (but not any less popular!) pho stops in Singapore.

Offering a good variety of pho (there is chicken as well as beef), as well as vietnamese favourites such as spring rolls and vietnamese drip coffee, Pho Hoa is ideal for anyone looking for their Vietnamese fix! The beef cuts come in a good selection of brisket, steak, etc, so you can pick whatever catches your fancy.This outlet is homey and comfortable -it has the vibe of an authentic Vietnamese restaurant because of the Vietnamese music playing in the background (an intriguing touch, haha) as well as the vietnamese writings on the menu Interestingly, they also accept major credit cards such as amex, visa and master for purchases over $20.We ordered a Beef Brisket Pho ($12.95) and a Chicken Pho ($11.95), as well as two glasses of Vietnamese drip coffee w ice & milk ($5.50 each).The beef pho soup is clearer than the usual beef soup we are accustomed to locally, and the stock is rich yet refreshing. Depending on the cut of beef you enjoy, we would recommend brisket as its tender and generally a safe choice for anyone seeking a good beef pho. The noodles aren't overcooked, and the thin glass vermicilli is slightly chewy.The chicken pho has shredded chicken inside, and while the soup was slightly salty for me, it was tasty nevertheless. The pho comes with a plate of beansprouts, lime and basil, as well as 2 dishes of chilli (sliced/sauce) to complement the meat. The raw beansprouts are refreshing, and the zest of lime makes the soup very appetising. I enjoyed the chilli the most because it really packed a punch with the meat as well as the soup.One must try the authentic Vietnamese drip coffee, it comes with the coffee pressed into a filter, and the coffee literally drips into the glass with condensed milk at the bottom. Once it has finished dripping, you can stir it and pour it onto your glass filled with ice. You can also order the drip coffee without milk or without ice, but we reckon that this combination is the best! The coffee is thick and very aromatic... It isn't overly sweet either, and when drunk cold with the ice, it's a perfect finish to the light and refreshing pho.

At $5.50, we would admit it's a bit pricey. You should still try this though, because the flavour is just like the ones found in Vietnam The pho here has a more savoury taste as compared to Nam Nam, but the portions are substantial, and chock full of the coriander, beansprouts and basil/onion. Delicious!

We would recommend the Chicken Pho for first-timers, and if you're a beef-eater, go for the Beef Brisket Pho. Don't forget the coffee too -it's slightly less thick than the coffee in Vietnam, but the flavour and the aroma is somewhere there! With decent service too, Pho Hoa doesn't disappoint!

Dough & Grains is the TCM approved bakery in Singapore. Located in an enclave of several other hidden gems, Tiong Bahru is home to the quirky food scene.

In case you were wondering, this small bakery is just opposite Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre Their breads include stuff like Wolfberry & Chrysanthemum, Black Pearl buns. The owner also kindly explains to us the contents of each bun, and he also adds that the buns are made strictly only using japanese flour, hence accounting for its softer (and fluffier!) texture that is so addictive.The Jade Lychee is made from matcha and this subtle green tea goes really well with the fluffiness of the bun. It's slightly sweeter than the rest, and there are bits of dried lychee/apricot(?) in it to give it a twist. The dried fruit gives the whole bun a new flavour, making it slightly sweeter actually haha.The Black / White Pearl is my favourite. I know that the black pearl has walnuts in it, while the white pearl has raisin/walnut in it. Both buns aren't really different in taste, both are really fluffy, slightly sweet, and is perfectly good to be eaten alone! The black pearl has a slightly crustier outer layer though while the white pearl is soft throughout. (Try toasting it -it's heaven!)

Cannot remember why the black pearl is black (bamboo charcoal walnut?), but I've got to recommend this to everyone -we admit it's a bit pricey given that the bun isn't really large and its $1.90 for a plain bun after all, but it's pretty darn good.The spinach buns were slightly more ordinary. The spinach taste wasn't very prominent though (so those adverse to veggies should have no problem here!), but the texture of the bun was so soft and fluffy! Wouldnt recommend this though, on the whole.The soft texture of the bun really complements the creaminess of the sweet potato -this wasn't too sweet too, which was pleasant. Not really a huge fan of sweetpotato though, and in comparison to the other buns, you're better off trying their special buns such as the Jade Lychee of their signature pearl series.

Pricewise, it's admittedly a bit pricey, but for the novelty of the ingredients and for the quality assurance that what you're putting into your mouth is of high nutritional value (think: fruits, chinese herbs and Japanese flour!), it's worth a try, but don't expect for Dough & Grains to be a new breakfast staple for your family!

Addictions (with the main one at 22 @ Dempsey!) is the new chic cafe in Marina Square with its newly renovated wing! Quirky and whimsical in every sense, this cafe has something to be discovered in every nook & cranny.Their menu offers soups, salads, all day breakfast (!!!! did I just hear you squeal in excitement!!), mains and even desserts (which by then, we were too full to squeeze anything in)Their drink menu is by the side, with the menu on wooden chipboards and every chipboard that you pull out will be for a different drink category, etc 'Elixir of Life' for juces as well as their wine list, cocktail list and coffee list etc. A whimsical touch that we enjoyed because every category came with a short writeup/description that was pretty entertaining.

They also offer Antipodes water, for those who are seeking water from the springs of life.More small touches that we enjoyed. Incidentally, the staff here also have something different printed on their shirts. One says 'Wave for space cakes; and others read 'High on wheat' etc. Super interesting concept.

We ordered a Salmon Eggs Ben ($16), Crabmeat Pasta ($23) and 2 Coronas ($11 each), the bill came up to $71.The Crabmeat Pasta is creamier here than that at Marmalade Pantry. The taste of the crab is also more subtle so it's great for people who wish to enjoy the crustacean without having to sit through the strong aroma of crab permeating your pasta sauce. The sauce is very tomatoey (reminiscent of cream of tomato soup!) and creamy. We would have liked it with a bit more herbs just to bring out the flavour of the sweet tomatoes.The Salmon Eggs Ben served with sauteed mushrooms is a classic favourite with patrons. I felt that the hollandaise sauce was a bit lemony for my liking, I would have preferred it a bit creamier and smoother, but some people may like the zesty taste. The English muffin could also be a bit crustier, but on the whole it was a decent eggs ben -the poached eggs had the right texture. The mushrooms were good -the flavour really came out and it was a nice savoury complement to the dish.Corona to complement everything... and if you were wondering why the water is pink (we did too, and we asked the friendly staff!), it's because the water has glaced cherries soaked inside, so the pink coloring comes from the cherries...Honestly we don't feel that it made a difference to the taste of the water but hey, it's an interesting touch and we laughed about it with the staff (she agreed that it did not make a difference either and she didn't understand why they were doing it haha).

The ambience is great, the food is good and the service is stellar. The staff will come around and ask if we liked the dishes, and their attempt at making you feel at home is just impeccable. We filled up a survey form, and drew an extra box next to 'Good' (we titled it V. Good) just so we could tick in that box for service!

If you're in Marina Square, you may want to give their Eggs Ben a try, their potato pancakes are also relatively in demand. The crabmeat pasta is also worth a try Ps. They also offer Sticky Date Pudding, if you're a sticky date fan. Definitely going back to check this out.