Had one of the most expensive meals of my life thus far, at Magosaburo. A posh Japanese BBQ / barbecue / yakiniku grill restaurant specialising in wagyu beef, Magosaburo is part of an international chain, which was first established in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the Kyushu island of Japan in 2009. Magosaburo opened its ultra-luxurious, swanky flagship store in Ion Orchard shopping mall in December 2012.Ambience at Magosaburo is posh extravagance, a little intimidating. No dressing down here, you'll actually have to look presentable! Colours of black, gold, and silver abound, resembling a premium lounge, with private booths and quiet corners. While seats are spaced close together, diners are almost never seated next to another group, always 1 table or booth apart... lending a sense of privacy. Extravagant looking chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and the windows offer a view of Orchard Road. Upon nightfall, blue neon lights dance across the facade, like fireworks in the dark. Feels like the high life!Service at Magosaburo is great, but not quite the standard I expect from a fine dining restaurant. Staff are mainly young Japanese, presentably dressed in business suits, but speaking in halting English. They offered to change plates regularly throughout our meal, but forget to change the plates of 2 diners at one point. However, they did accede to special requests we had, including helping us grill our food away from the table. I did find them knowledgable, able to introduce each dish and describe how it was prepared.Food at Magosaburo is very good, and the skill in preparing it is excellent. Cuisine is distinctly modern Japanese, with a focus on sourcing the very finest of beef, pork, and seafood, preparing and cooking it with care, then presenting it and allowing the natural flavours to shine on the plate. In fact, it's a waste to visit Magosaburo if you don't eat beef, as the wagyu is the star here. Portions of individual items are small, and come individually priced, but the set meals are substantial and filling. Prices at Magosaburo are high, be prepared to splurge between SGD $150 - $300 per person for a meal here.Kobe Wagyu (SGD $240 Set Menu) is the highest grade of wagyu, the pinnacle of beef, sourced from Tajima cattle born in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, raised and processed according to strict conditions. The premium pricing it commands is evident in the taste, the tender, medium-rare yakiniku / grilled beef with high marbling is heavenly, with a savoury, meaty, fatty flavour, seemingly melts in the mouth and coats the palate pleasurably. Incredibly good, highly recommended!The Zabuton (SGD $53 / 80g) is carved from the chuck under blade, and as befits its Japanese name of 'cushion', has a tender, very buttery, almost creamy, luscious texture, with a savoury, rich flavour that has a hint of sweetness. Incredibly good, highly recommended!The Mangalican Pig is a Hungarian domesticated pig that is noted for its thick, wooly coat. These free-range pigs are raised and processed according to strict conditions, resulting in pork meat that has a high fat marbling, exceptionally tender compared to other cuts of pork, and are often called the 'Kobe beef of pork'. The Mangalican Pig Boston Butt (SGD $18 / 120g) cut is carved from the pork shoulder. The tender, medium-rare yakiniku / grilled pork has a delicate savoury sweet, not heavy, elegant flavour, and fat which seemingly melts in the mouth. Incredibly good, highly recommended!

Full Magosaburo review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/08/magosaburo.html

Full Aria (Cafe) review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/06/aria-cafe.html

Opening its doors in May 2015, within the brand new Singapore University Of Technology And Design (SUTD) campus next to the Singapore Expo, Aria (Cafe), named after the Italian term for an expressive melody, is posed to be at the center of a creative pool of talent. Positioned as a place where art, music, a cheerful atmosphere, and affordable cafe food meet, Aria (Cafe) is a great place for relaxing.Ambience at Aria (Cafe) is eclectic. Vibrant, eye catching murals / paintings by Singaporean graffiti artist Ceno2 adorn the walls and floor. A mix of furniture abounds, wide functional wooden benches, colourful modern plastic chairs, plush comfortable easy chairs, and reclining sofas. Natural lighting mixes with ambient decorative lighting fixtures. A foosballs table / table soccer stands at the play area, along with a large screen television, and colourful bean bags. A live band stage has space for performances. Overall, a fantastic ambience, perfect for relaxing.Service at Aria (Cafe) is outstanding. The primarily Malay and Chinese (all Singaporean) staff here are friendly and chill, and will go around and speak to diners, as well as enquire for feedback on your experience here. You can even engage the pastry chef or baristas in conversation! Rather efficient, staff will also clear / turnover empty / dirty tables quickly. Food is also served quite fast, within less than 10 minutes. Staff are knowledgable enough to make recommendations, and are quite clear about ingredients that comprise the food or desserts. Overall pleasant, engaging service here, the kind that makes you want to come back.Food at Aria (Cafe) is modern Western, with Southeast Asian influences. A fusion of American, Italian, Thai, and Malay cuisine, the menu here is extensive enough for repeat visits. All ingredients used to make the food and desserts here are halal, and the kitchen is staffed by Malay / Muslim staff, however, Aria (Cafe) is not halal certified, because the owners want to serve beer and wine on the premises. Dishes are designed for students, meaning large, substantial portions, at very affordable prices. Budget about SGD $19 per person for a 2-course meal (main course, drink, appetizer or dessert) here.Loved the Bonfire Hot Chocolate (SGD $5)! Italian dark chocolate is used, and while the texture is a little thinner than I like, the flavour is pretty good. What causes this to stand out are the torched marshmallows and chocolate powder garnish, the gooey marshmallows are comforting yet decadent, like a big warm hug! Highly recommended!The coffee here, including the Cappucino (SGD $3.50) and Latte (SGD $3.50), is strong and robust, with good flavour. I understand the coffee beans used here are sourced from a Singaporean roaster! Portion is typical cafe size mugs, but the price is almost half of what you'll pay elsewhere! In fact, this is probably among the cheapest gourmet coffee you'll get in Singapore! Highly recommended!The Coconut Cake (SGD $5.90) is very good! A soft, moist vanilla sponge cake encases tender coconut meat, with a fragrant, light pandan / screwpine leaf cream on top. Coated with coconut flakes which lend texture, the cake has a nice sweetness, with the floral, nutty essence of coconut taking the center stage. Highly recommended!

Since opening in December 2014, Do.Main Bakery has quickly gained a loyal following for its great tasting, fresh, authentic French bread, pastries, cakes, and confectionaries. The name itself is a play on words, 'Do' represents bread dough, 'Main' is French for hand(s), representing bread made by hand, and 'Domain' refers to ownership.Ambience at Do.Main Bakery is credited to Chef's wife, who is a freelance fashion designer, and oversaw the look and feel of the place. The result is Do.Main Bakery has a rustic, country side feel, with white cobble stone walls, solid modern furniture in shades of white and black, an overall minimalist look. A large display cabinet showcases the various appetizing pastries, cakes, and savoury items, while rows of fresh bread are stacked along the wall in back. A clear glass panel allows for open viewing of their bakery, where chef and his team can be seen hard at work.Service at Do.Main Bakery is partial self-service, where ordering and payment is done over the counter, as is collection of cutlery. However, staff will serve orders to your table. I find staff here to be generally friendly. They're generally knowledgable about the various items on the menu, able to provide brief descriptions, and I like that they have the correct pronounciation of the French names.

Food at Do.Main Bakery consists mainly of French pastries and breads, with a small selection of French savoury dishes. Classic and quintessential French cakes, tarts, bread, and pastries are made according to time-honoured, traditional recipes that chef learnt in his youth, resulting in rustic looking, yet great tasting food. Budget about SGD $15 ++ per person for a pastry with drinks, or about SGD $30 ++ if you include a savoury dish.

The 4 Seasons Salad (SGD $18) is a pleasant array of bright colours, attractive and fresh. This light and healthy salad features lentils, carrots, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and roasted bell pepper / capsicum, and is utterly tasty and refreshing. A myriad of textures too, crunchy, soft, stringy, juicy, pliant, as well as excellent combination of tastes. The roasted bell pepper / capsicum in particular stood out for its smoky aroma and taste.Tartiflette is a French dish originating from the Haute Savoie region of France, and is a country style dish of potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons, and onions. The version of Tartiflette Reblochon (SGD $16) here drops the onions, and replaces the lardons with smoky bacon instead. Served like a gratin, this filling and hearty dish is delicious, with the smoky, salty taste of the bacon infused into the cream and potatoes, while the stringy, gooey cheese rounds out the flavour. Pretty good!Created in 1910 to commemorate the Paris-Brest bicycle race, with a circular shape representing a wheel, the Paris-Brest is a choux pastry filled with hazelnut flavoured cream. The Paris-Brest (SGD $5) version here is like a mini eclair, and the praline cream within is light, and creamy! It may be a tad too light for some though, I quite like it as it's not as sweet as those I've had elsewhere, and overall, I feel this dessert is very good! Full Do.Main Bakery review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/03/domain-bakery-tasting-session.html

Badoque Cafe is almost a food institution of sorts, and needs little introduction. Since opening their doors in Simpang Bedok in 2008, the halal certified Badoque Cafe has gained a loyal following, amongst both Muslim and non-Muslim diners, for their gargantuan portions of tasty food, and excellent service. The long queues at Badoque Cafe still persist to this day, even with the opening of their 2nd outlet at Upper Thomson in 2014, and they regularly make the lists of 'Best Halal Cafes In Singapore'.

Ambience at Badoque Cafe is modern casual, with elements of industrial chic. The bare concrete walls are livened through quirky posters, while decorative lights hang from the ceiling. The showpiece 'bar' displays bottles of cordial used in their creative mocktails, while the black marble top tables and colourful metal chairs are solid, and can be shifted around to create seating for large groups. Offering both indoor and outdoor al-fresco dining, Badoque Cafe can get noisy during peak periods.

Service at Badoque Cafe is excellent, a true highlight here, surpassing the service standards of some high-end fine dining restaurants! Staff are friendly and welcoming, able to hold conversations, creating an casual, comfortable atmosphere, almost like visiting a close Malay friend's house. They're observant and attentive, acknowledging you when you call, and actually stoop / kneel down to take orders. Staff here are knowledgable on the current menu, able to make recommendations and provide basic information on dishes. Furthermore, they come around mid-way during your meal to check on how it's going, and get feedback.

Food at Badoque Cafe is primarily American, Italian, and Modern Malay cuisine. Badoque Cafe is known for their portion sizes, which are huge / giant sized, 1 dish is usually enough for 2 small eaters to share, or satisfy 1 large eater for the rest of the day. Most people cannot even finish 1 dish by themselves! Prices are very reasonable as well, comparable to most other mid-range cafes, budget about SGD $36 per person for a meal here.

Badoque Cafe has among the better versions of Hot Chocolate (SGD $7.50) I've had in Singapore. Their Hot Chocolate itself is rich and thick, with a deep chocolate flavour, and isn't overly sweet. Very warming and comforting, the large mug is topped off with chocolate fudge and chewy marshmallows, lending a layer of sweetness and texture. Highly recommended!The signature Badoque Ribs (SGD $36) are a huge cut of beef ribs, on the bone, served on a bed of fresh vegetables such as carrots, long beans, and baby potatoes. The beef ribs are incredibly tender and moist, having been slow cooked overnight. Presented in an American style, their home made barbecue sauce is tangy and savoury with a slight sweetness, complementing the beef ribs very well. I honestly feel this might be the best beef ribs in Singapore! Highly, highly recommended!

Full Badoque Cafe review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/03/badoque-cafe.html

Okkudak and Ssaldak are 2 distinct and separate Korean chicken franchises, specialising in oven baked chicken / roast chicken, and fried chicken respectively. For their 1st foray into Singapore, the Okkudak and Ssaldak concepts have been combined under the Okkudak Oven Baked Chicken brand, with the 1st outlet opening its doors in Telok Ayer in October 2014.Ambience at Okkudak is clean and modern. I like that they have different areas for seating, the ground floor has an open seating area, as well as a partioned seating area, while the upper floor is used for overflow capacity or private events. Colour themes of red, green, white, and brown permeate the place, while decor pieces are quirky, with most featuring chickens.Service at Okkudak is good. Staff are friendly, offering greetings / goodbyes, and are able to carry a conversation well. I find staff to be knowlegable when questioned on general items in the menu, and they are able to make good recommendations. They're also able to provide instructions on how best to consume a dish, and well check back regularly throughout the meal to see if you need further assistance.Food at Okkudak, as befits the Okkudak + Ssaldak concept, revolves around their signature oven baked chicken, and fried chicken. In general, I personally feel their chicken dishes tastes great, though several side dishes were somewhat odd. Portions are served in either whole, or half size, and are meant for communal dining, I recommend at least 4 or more people. The prices at Okkudak are quite high though, budget about SGD $45 per person for a meal here.The Fried Original (SGD $33 Whole / $18 Half) chicken is battered with a special house recipe batter made from rice flour. This results in the savoury skin shattering easily with a loud, satisfiying crunch. The meat is tender, moist, and flavourful, and it isn't oily! While slightly pricey, it's among the better fried chicken we've tasted!At first glance, the Roasted Wings (SGD $34 Whole / $19 Half) looked dry to me... until I bit into it and realised how wrong I was. The chicken meat is tender and very juicy, with a nice savoury flavour from the skin. This oven baked delight is totally delicious, and the meat comes off the bone easily. Again, slightly pricey, but it's even better than the fried chicken here, you simply must try this oven baked chicken!The Sauced Wings (SGD $36 Whole / $21 Half) are fried chicken wings, coated in a midly spicy, sweet and savoury sauce, which is imported from South Korea. Sticky and messy, I like that the chicken skin retains its crispy texture, while the sauce, which is evenly coated on the chicken, lends a depth of flavour. Spice levels seemed to be toned down here, the mildly spicy version only has a slight tinge of heat!

Despite the confusing name, the Welsh Onion Chicken (SGD $38 Whole / $22 Half) was easily the best dish of the evening! Similar in style to Pa Dak, a soy garlic and spring onion chicken dish in South Korea, the Welsh Onion Chicken features fresh strips of spring onion, in a light refreshing sauce. The chicken meat is savoury, tender, and chunky, releasing its juices when bit. Paired together, the spring onion lends a floral, earthy essence to the moist, baked chicken. Highly recommended! Full Okkudak review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/03/okkudak-ssaldak.html