average brunch food at rochestor park. if you're looking for brunch options in this area - I'm going to have to point you to graze. this place was really rather meh, with uninspiring food and an ambience that made nothing of its gorgeous surroundings. if the other places around here are packed up, then perhaps you could come here - but otherwise I'm not sure there's any point.

on hindsight (which this is, of course), there was nothing really wrong with the place so much as it was pretty boring. it isn't very expensive, the food wasn't bad - serviceable, really - and the place wasn't run down. it just felt like it had so much more potential to be fantastic! but alas.

the eggs florentine came with its requisite runny yolk and sufficiently smooth hollandaise on toasted crumpets, with a side of dressed salad, and my caesar salad had romaine and a poached egg. I did like the poached egg - but I had taken up the option of chicken, and that came as minuscule pieces that did nothing for the salad.

the desserts fared a little better, with stronger flavours and more impression of skill. the soufflé was sufficiently risen but held no clear hazelnut flavour; I give them kudos for a decent chocolate ice cream though. the platter of three desserts weren't too bad neither: the sticky date pudding was a better rendition than at jones the grocer, the praline a deep and not-too-sweet slice. I thought the pannacotta was the weakest - I can't even remember now what it was.

that's the problem with the meal - it was rather humdrum. I certainly didn't dislike it - I wouldn't raise any issue if someone suggested coming here, but I almost definitely wouldn't be coming back on my own. not too expensive, and we were stuffed at the end of the meal - there's conceivably a mild recommendation hiding somewhere in this if you'd like one.

photos and more: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/jones-the-grocer-town/

disappointing expensive dessert at this town outpost of the australian delicatessen newly opened on the top floor of the ion orchard mall. I wish this place actually served good food – orchard really is lacking in nice places you can sit down for a break between shopping – but I think I’ll be sticking with the marmalade pantry for now.
we had a sticky toffee pudding and a lemongrass panna cotta, both rather doleful renditions. the toffee pud looked great but the ice cream was icy and the cake was microwaved. i’ll give them credit for a good salty caramel though, dark and addictive – I was using this to help finish our order of the pannacotta.

the pannacotta was an insult to its name; this was a firm pudding, closer in texture to and gelatinous like an asian mango pudding, almost bouncy.

I wish this place had worked out – but it really didn’t. it’s just as expensive as you’d expect it to be – not ridiculous for the area but you’re much better off going shopping with that money (or head downstairs to the marmalade pantry).

photos and more: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/jones-the-grocer-town/

disappointing expensive dessert at this town outpost of the australian delicatessen newly opened on the top floor of the ion orchard mall. I wish this place actually served good food – but I think I’ll be sticking with the marmalade pantry for now - I haven’t tried their savory items, so while I can’t give you a full low-down on the cafe, the desserts sure don’t provide any impetus to return.

we had a sticky toffee pudding and a lemongrass panna cotta, both rather doleful renditions. the toffee pud looked great but the ice cream was icy and the cake was microwaved. the pannacotta was an insult to its name – this was a firm pudding, closer in texture to and gelatinous like an asian mango pudding, almost bouncy. that lemongrass proved a soapy aftertaste – coupled with the jelliness of the pannacotta, it felt almost like eating some sort of soap gel.

I do wish this place had worked out – but it really didn’t. it’s just as expensive as you’d expect it to be – not ridiculous for the area but you’re much better off going shopping with that money.

photos and more: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/al-hamra-holland-village/

great – and almost definitely one of the best places locally – middle-eastern/lebanese food in the expatriate haven of holland village. the food is great, and while expensive, it’s more than good enough for me to return.

the dishes were well-done, and portions generous: the za’atar flatbread warm and fluffy; hummus on the tangy-sour side but very appetising ; and our grilled half chicken came surprisingly in a wrap of naan-type bread, moist and well-seasoned. our fattoush was refreshing with the heavier flavours.

I really liked this meal – we were lucky to have one of those deal vouchers which brought the meal from expensive to reasonable. we couldn’t finish our za’atar bread at the end – we kept trying because it was so good, but it was just too much. decently attentive service, and an open design letting in lots of sunlight, this looks set to be a regular weekend hangout.

photos and more here: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/lantern-at-the-fullerton-bay-hotel-town/

expensive drinks in a pretty roof-top bar above the gorgeous fullerton bay hotel. here’s one for the weekend – I’m not much of a drinker, and pretty much teetotaler in all. I do like going to beautiful places though, and when it gets dark, that usually means a bar or what not. the rooftop bit isn’t a misnomer so much as misleading: it isn’t very high up, and barely looks over the river over to marina bay sands, but it’s gorgeous – draped fabric ceilings, a large seating area with well-spaced tables, and a relaxed vibe about it all.

it’s a quiet place – more of the post-work crowd sitting down to some really expensive drinks rather than the crotch-baring rambunctious bunch, and I like that. I also like the complimentary traditional battered peanuts they served here – you don’t get these very often.

I can’t vouch for the quality of their drinks so much – I had a juice that came tall and much larger than you’d expect at these places – but the menu didn’t strike me as being particularly impressive or extensive. this place I think better serves as a convenient meet up with friends on a friday night.