Full Strictly Pancakes review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/01/strictly-pancakes.html

Since 2010, Strictly Pancakes has been serving up... what else? Fluffy, buttery, soft pancakes in all types of flavour profiles, sweet and savoury alike. Strictly Pancakes is sure to leave you satisfied, and wanting more!

Ambience at Strictly Pancakes is akin to an ice cream parlour, casual, laid-back, and hip. With hues of yellow and brown, a large chalkboard framing the counter, modern furniture, and quirky pictures, Strictly Pancakes appeals to the young at heart. It helps that prices are also rather wallet friendly, ranging from SGD $7 - $15.

Service at Strictly Pancakes is friendly and quick. While pancakes are made to order, it only takes about 5 minutes at most, ensuring your order is served fast. The young staff here are chirpy and upbeat, but things still get done professionally. Vey good service.

Food at Strictly Pancakes revolves largely around their signature pancakes, through they do offer sandwiches as well. Toppings range from the classics, to genius inventions by founders Joanne and Eunice. I find the ingredients to be fresh, and of good quality, and that makes a lot of difference when each dish only has 2 or 3 such ingredients. A short stack has 2 pancakes, a medium is served with 3, and a large stack comes with 4 pancakes! Excellent taste as well!

Each order comes with a choice of butter and syrup, like the Garlic Herb Butter And Maple Syrup, which is the most popular combination here. The sweet classic Pancakes With Apple And Cinnamon And Vanilla Ice Cream has a generous topping of caramalised apples, with some crunch that demonstrates its freshness. The cinnamon syrup is a little thick though, but sweet enough. I also like that the vanilla ice cream is of good quality, it doesn't melt too quickly despite the hot syrup surrounding it. The savoury Pancakes With Garlic Buttered Prawns And Salad is a signature dish here. While rather unhealthy, the excellent melted garlic butter makes a nice coating for the dish, and the prawns are fresh and meaty. The accompanying salad of cherry tomatoes and rocket leaves are fresh and pair well with the sauce.

Full Lady M Confections review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/10/lady-m-confections.html

The hottest new dessert place of September / October 2013 in Singapore is famed New York cake boutique, Lady M Confections. Well known for their delicate yet decadent cakes and pastries handmade daily using only the freshest high quality ingredients, Lady M Confections has been drawing long queues. You know Lady M Confections is good when you see people from all walks of life just waiting to get it, from yuppies to suits, kids to the elderly.

Ambience at Lady M Confections revolves around an open concept area that is non-descript in shades of white and grey. Furniture is little more than functional pieces, able to be moved around to suit the crowds, and the only decor to speak of is the elaborate Lady M Confections signage, and a fake plastic plant that adorns each table. But the open counter where their famous cakes and pastries are displayed is attractive in itself.

Service at Lady M Confections is pretty good. While staff are relatively young, they move fast, and are somewhat observant. You'll have to actually wave to attract their attentions sometimes during peak periods (which is nearly all the time), but they're polite, and knowledgable about the menu. Takeaways are quite easy and convenient as well, though there isn't a separate queue or counter for takeaway, which I found odd, as it may get messy if many people place takeaway orders.

Food at Lady M Confections is all about desserts, namely their cakes. Expect generous sized slices of cakes / confections, with sweet, decadent, full-bodied taste and flavour, and reasonable prices comparable to most other mid-range cafes. The menu in Lady M Confections for Singapore is limited as compared to their headquarters in New York, United States Of America, having at least 1/3 less variety. Still, what is available here is extremely good, and repeat visits to try the various items on the menu at Lady M Confections is recommended. Or you could just order takeaway. A slice costs about SGD $9, while a whole 6-inch cake (6 slices) costs about SGD $42.

My only unhappiness / complaint with Lady M Confections, is when they're trying to produce their cakes to meet peak period demand... The presentation of the cakes wind up looking extremely sloppy and unprofessional. Hopefully, this would improve with practice. Fortunately, the cakes still retain excellent taste despite looking 'rushed'.

The signature Vanilla Mille Crepes features 20 paper thin handmade crepes, layered with light, airy, almost ethereal pastry cream, and a caramalised golden coat. Extremely delicate and decadent, the Vanilla Mille Crepes simply melt away in your mouth, with a subtle, non-overpowering sweet note at the end. If you only eat 1 thing here, go for the Vanilla Mille Crepes!

Full Southwest Tavern review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/04/southwest-tavern.htmlLocated directly below the MRT tracks and alongside a stretch of eating places and bars, Southwest Tavern is an American themed restaurant that serves well-prepared and tasty Cowboy grub.

Ambience is rather laid back and casual, with only a hint of cowboy and western themed decor in Southwest Tavern. Otherwise, furniture is comfortable and functional. Southwest Tavern has an open concept bar, and the restaurant is cooled by well placed fans, as well as natural breeze. On humid days though, the place can get quite stuffy. They also have a pool / snooker table to while away the time.

The Ace High Sirloin Steak With Cow Pie Mashed Potato And Corny Corn has a perfectly grilled beef sirloin steak, with nice char markings. The meat is juicy and tender within, and the portion is thick and quite large, at 350g (before cooking). However, I felt the mashed potato could be a little smoother in texture, as it's more on the thick and slightly lumpy side. The corn on the cob was also nicely grilled and fresh.

The Grilled US Corn-Fed Pork Chops With Sloppy Slaw And Bull's Horn Wedges has 2 thick slabs of pork chops, one of which is on the bone, that has been well cooked through. It was very good and still moist within, but I felt that the meat could have been rested for a few minutes more, as the juice ran out when I cut into it. The coleslaw was fresh and the sauce was light, while the potato wedges was nicely fried till crisp on the outside, and lightly seasoned with herbs.

A young adventurer, desiring true knowledge, undertakes an arduous, time-consuming journey to a faraway shrine. Hidden away in a quiet part of the world, the shrine is said to have many ancient artifacts, and within, an old master, wise and learned, who imparts secrets to worthy apprentices. Such is the feeling when visiting Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.The story of Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee begins in the 1960s, with a young Mr. Tan Tiong Hoe, then an eager padawan himself, passionate about the coffee bean, and seeking to perfect the ultimate cup of gourmet coffee. From humble beginnings roasting his own coffee beans, he gradually moved on to packaging and supplying his coffee beans to coffee shops and cafes across Singapore. Today, with over half a century of experience, Mr. Tan Tiong Hoe is able to evaluate a cup of coffee, and even coffee beans, just by looking at it!

Ambience at Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is like a shrine, or museum, to coffee. Sacks of coffee beans from all over the world line the cluttered shelves in the small place, alongside coffee percolators, from ancient models to sparkling new models. Quotes about coffee are scrawled on the walls, while warm lighting illuminates the small wooden furniture in the cramped seating area. The place smells distinctly of roasted coffee beans, and just next door, you can even watch them process it! And they also provide free wifi!Service at Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is largely self-service, with ordering and payment done over the counter, though staff will serve orders to your table. What truely stands out is the staff's product knowledge on coffee, these are eager students and passionate coffee disciples of Mr. Tan Tiong Hoe, able to not only describe flavours of the coffee to you, but able to create and roast their own blends of coffee! The guru himself, Mr. Tan Tiong Hoe is a walking encyclopedia of coffee knowledge, only dispensing his wisdom to the worthy who pass his test.Food at Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is practically non-existent, with only a small selection of cakes and desserts. They barely even have any drinks beyond water, tea, and of course, coffee. You visit Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee only for the coffee, but my gosh, what excellent coffee it is. Coffee blends from all over the world are available, each with its own unique story, history, roasting process, and flavour. Portions are sized for individuals, and prices are more affordable / cheaper than other places, plus, the coffee is of a much higher quality here, as each step of the brewing process is accurately controlled. Full Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2016/02/tiong-hoe-specialty-coffee.html

Full Truffs review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/05/truffs.html

Truffs, also known as the Truffs Cafe And Gallery, is a gourmet chocolate cafe specialising in chocolate truffles in the purest form. Using traditional French techniques, with ingredients imported from France, Truffs produces high quality, chocolate truffles, cakes, and tarts.
Ambience at Truffs is a collaboration with Outofstock Design Studio, an artisinal furniture store that makes hand crafted furniture. Thus, decor is modern, contemporary, with clean lines and thoughtful, comfortable spaces. I like the natural lighting that flows from the large windows, and this space can also be used for events.Service at Truffs is friendly, though ordering and payment is made at the counter. Staff are young, hip (hipster?) and welcoming. Food is served relatively quickly. But the menu is small and limited in scope, although it does give Truffs more focus in producing high quality desserts.
Food at Truffs only consists of chocolate cakes, chocolate tarts, and chocolate truffles. A small selection of drinks includes chocolate drinks, coffee, or tea. Their chocolate truffles are heavenly, with a thin cocoa powder crust enveloping a rich chocolate ganache. Truly excellent!

The Signature Hot Cocoa (SGD $6.50) is luscious and rich, with a medium thin body. Fragrant and pretty, goes down smooth, but the chocolate chips don't dissolve too quickly. The rich and decadent Earl Grey Chocolate Tart (SGD $7) is so sweet and heavenly! Thick chocolate with a fudge like consistency, infused with a hint of earl grey tea, so good!