Located in a corner shophouse along Desker Road, CreatureS is a contemporary bistro, offering modern Singaporean fusion cuisine. CreatureS regularly receives rave reviews for its stylish ambience, attentive service, and great tasting food. Typically fully booked, the founders of CreatureS, photographer Dennis Chong and information technology executive Chong Kok Keong, say the inspiration behind the name 'CreatureS' is two-fold, namely, creatures of comfort (comfort food), and creatures of habit (you'll come back)!Ambience at CreatureS resembles a tropical rainforest meshed with industrial chic. Vivid, colourful painted walls of green leaves / forest, beautiful spotlit flower arrangements, and modern furniture blend nicely with corrugated metal panels and rough concrete walls. Low ambient lighting sets an intimate mood, and the spacious seating area spread over 2 levels is able to accomodate large groups. The small outdoor al-fresco dining area is also a popular seating choice during good weather. Excellent atmosphere for slow, lingering meals!

Service at CreatureS is of a good standard, similar to the level of service received in a high-end bistro / low-end restaurant. Staff are friendly, offering greetings upon arrival, and will proactively engage potential guests if they stop by outside. Diners are quickly seated, and staff are knowledgable enough to make recommendations on dishes, providing basic descriptions. I also like that the menu has comprehensive information on dishes. Staff will come around to check for feedback and the progress of your meal, which I appreciate!

Food at CreatureS is modern Singaporean fusion, a blend of Western presentation styles and ingredients, with Asian flavours and spices. Generally, I find food here to be very tasty and delicious, a complex yet pleasing blend of flavours and textures. Familiar tastes are presented in new, exciting ways, but being modern interpretations, I feel diners may have strong feelings of like / dislike towards these. Portions are large, and can be shared by those with small appetites. Prices are typical of a high-end bistro / restaurant, budget about SGD $55 per person for a 2-course meal.

Loved the Miso Cod And Ulam Onigiri (SGD $32), which had the loveliest, soft, flaky oven roasted cod fish in a slightly salty but delicious miso sauce. Accompanied by a fresh salad of cucumber slices in a light dressing of plum sauce and calamansi juice, along with shrimp belacan and assam herb rice balls. Smash the rice balls, mix it together with the salad, and get a little bit of everything in 1 mouthful! Texture is a mix of tender, soft, crunchy, grainy, and juicy, while the taste is a combination of savoury, salty, sweet, earthy, with the distinct flavour of shrimp behind. Incredible dish!The large slice of Durian Cake (SGD $12) has real durian flesh from the Mao Shan Wang durian, you can actually see the fibers within the cake! Moist and soft, the pandan / screwpine leaf genoise sponge cake is layered with vanilla and pandan / screwpine leaf chantilly cream, making it sweet and rich. Very good cake!Full CreatureS review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/creatures.html

Since opening in July 2011, Sarnies has been attracting folks with their gourmet sandwiches, freshly roasted coffee, and rustic vibe, not unlike the cafe culture of Melbourne, Australia. The chilled, relaxed vibe of Sarnies and rustic, hormone-free food makes this place suitable even for daily dining.Ambience at Sarnies calls to mind the hipster cafes of Melbourne, Australia, with their rustic wooden furniture and eclectic decor. The dimly lit interior is heady with the aroma of robust coffee, though the cramped interior can get noisy when crowded. The relaxing exterior al-fresco dining by the roadside allows for people watching, though bad weather can be a concern.

Service at Sarnies is partial self-service, while ordering and payment is done over the counter, staff will serve orders to your table. There's some minimal interaction with the cashier, and staff are generally friendly. The menu cards are small and provide sufficient information, you'll rarely need to ask staff for more. Waiting time for orders can stretch up to 15 minutes during peak periods though.

Food at Sarnies is all about hearty, rustic, filling sandwiches and mains. Primarily British English / Australian in style, the portions at Sarnies are large and filling, made with fresh, tasty ingredients. Presented in a simple, rustic, straight forward manner, the food can be unashamedly greasy at times. They're mostly known for their breakfast / brunch and sandwiches. Prices are typical of a cafe, budget about SGD $27 per person for a meal here.

The Cortado (SGD $5) is robust and strong, great as a morning pick-me-up beverage. You get the good, strong flavour of the roasted coffee beans, and just a hint of the creamy milk.The Hot Chocolate (SGD $6) here is very good, with a thick, smooth texture, and a rich, deep flavour of chocolate. Love the precise chocolate art pour! Warming like a hug, this is worth ordering!The Fry-Up With Eggs, Shrooms, Baked Beans, Home Cured Bacon & Sausage (SGD $24.50) is their rendition of the classic British English fry-up breakfast. I must say that each component here is done well, the scrambled eggs are soft and fluffy, the baked beans in house made tomato gravy are tangy and sweet, the toasted bread is crusty, firm, and crunches nicely. The sauteed wild button mushrooms are tender and earthy, the large herb pork sausage is meaty and juicy within. Love the generous amount of home cured bacon as well, which is crisp and crunchy! This huge portion is sufficient for 2 people, and while it's not the most tasty, it's a solid, straight forward classic, done well.The Omelette With Cheddar, Mushrooms & Onion (SGD $21) had a slight drawback, it was more greasy than I would have liked. This is somewhat mitigated by the toasted bread, which helps to soak up the excess oil. Extremely filling, the fluffy egg omelette is stuffed with sauteed onions, wild button mushrooms, and gooey cheddar cheese. Portion is sufficient enough for 2 people, and while it's not the very best I've had, this dish is still pretty good. Pure, straight forward comfort breakfast. Good!Full Sarnies review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/sarnies.html

Chutney Mary is a small, casual bistro in Siglap, that for the better part of a decade, has been serving up tasty, authentic, bistro quality North Indian and South Indian food. Despite very little media publicity, Chutney Mary has gained a strong following via word-of-mouth, securing its longevity amongst the highly competitive restaurants of the area.Ambience at Chutney Mary is casual functional. The place is not built for comfort, furniture is simple and clean, and the atmosphere does live up to its 'fast food' tagline. While the place get a lot of natural sunlight during the day, the low ambient lighting within means very little light at night. Best for a quick meal, in fact, they also get a lot of takeaway orders.Service at Chutney Mary is definitely above your average fast food outlet, more like bistro style service. Proper cutlery is used, which staff will help to change during your meal. They're also rather friendly, albeit somewhat halting with the English language. I also commend them for introducing the various dishes, decent product knowledge on their part.Food at Chutney Mary is primarily North Indian cuisine, which they do very well, with a small selection of South Indian dishes. Generally, I find food at Chutney Mary to be very tasty, delicious, and authentic, except for their chaat / street food snacks, which end up tasting similar due to the use of the same sauces. Portions are designed for communal dining, so individual dining is not recommended. Prices at Chutney Mary are similar to most mid-range bistros, budget about SGD $28 per person for a meal here.

Loved the Dhai Batata Puri (SGD $9), which has crisp, hollow semolina puff balls, filled with mashed potatoes, lentil dumplings, chickpeas, sweet yoghurt, tamarind chutney, mint chutney, green chili, and coriander. A delighful 1-bite mouthful, this chaat / street snack is absolutely delicious. Highly recommended!Our group gave the thumbs up to the Allu Tikki Channa (SGD $7.50), a savoury dish of pan fried potato patties, covered in a savoury spicy chickpea gravy, drizzled with mint chutney. The flavours are complex yet satisfiying, and the heat from the chili is manageable. Highly recommended!Loved the Chicken Tikka (SGD $13), with its meaty, juicy, well marinated, savoury boneless chunks of chicken meat. The juice of the chicken meat runs clear, and is tender in texture, yet the outside still has that smoky barbecue / grilled / tandoor aroma. Excellent, highly recommended!The Mutton Biryani With Papadum & Raita (SGD $16.50) is deceptive in looks; served in what looks like a tiny pot, the portion is actually large enough for 2 people. The biryani rice is nicely fragrant and the grains separate easily, I also like that it's not too oily! The mutton chunks are tender and moist, with a nicely savoury taste. I notice that they're more generous with the mutton here, rather than 1 large chunk, they've given many smaller, bite sized chunks. Well worth the higher price, highly recommended!The Gajar Halwa (SGD $7) is a sweet, North Indian dessert pudding whose main ingredient is grated carrot, hence the bright orange colour. Those eating it for the 1st time are usually surprised that this is a sweet dessert, not savoury. The version here is not overly sweet, with a nice chewy texture, and some crunch from the nuts. Good!Full Chutney Mary review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/chutney-mary-tasting-session.html

Full Elemen review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/elemen.html

Opened in June 2015 by the Koufu Group, Elemen is a wholesome, modern vegetarian / meat-free restaurant, offering delicious Western and Asian cuisine made using fresh, natural ingredients. Despite a rather quiet opening and little publicity, Elemen has managed to pull in crowds via strong word-of-mouth from those who have dined here before, thanks to their overall good ambience, service, and food.Ambience at Elemen is modern zen, clean, and comfortable. While the exterior is rather plain and unassuming, blending into the background of the other shops, the interior is brightly lit with natural vibes, in calming colours of white, grey, wood, and leaf green hues. Furniture within the spacious area is very comfortable, with soft cushions for booths. Very zen, tranquil feeling, time passes by so quickly here!Service at Elemen started off fantastic, with the most experienced senior staff introducing himself, and providing explanations on the menu. Very personalised, engaging service. However, the service discrepancy is stark, the younger / newer staff aren't as engaging, and not that attentive. While they check for feedback on the dining experience, and respond quickly to requests, attracting their attention may take awhile. The service level is still good, but disjointed, and could potentially be so much better.Food at Elemen is pure vegetarian, with modern Western and Asian dishes. Not like your typical Zi Char, more akin to a fine dining restaurant style. They offer a pure set meal concept, a 5-course set meal for lunch, and a 8-course set meal for dinner, where you choose from a selection of over 30 menu items. Ala-carte is not available, and there are no prices for individual dishes. You can still request for ala-carte, but prices are naturally more expensive. For comparison, their 8-course set meal costs about SGD $35 per person, but 1 ala-carte main dish costs about SGD $16. Set meal portions are designed for individuals, and it's possible to finish on your own, though it's also possible to share for communal dining.

Full FatCat Ice Cream Bar review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/10/fatcat-ice-cream-bar.html

Opening their doors on 1st January 2015, it's safe to say that FatCat Ice Cream Bar is among the hottest dessert cafes of 2015. Known for their chef made (made from scratch!), creative ice cream flavours, and unique, whimsical plated desserts, FatCat Ice Cream Bar is so named because its founders are explorers of gourmet food; sophisticated, playful, curious, mysterious, adventurous.Ambience at FatCat Ice Cream Bar has a modern industrial feel, with its low lighting, dark coloured walls, rustic chalkboards, and sturdy furniture of metal and wood. The biggest eye-catcher here is their large, brightly lit ice cream display, showcasing all the daily flavours. As FatCat Ice Cream Bar is almost always constantly packed, expect ambient noise levels to be high.

Service at FatCat Ice Cream Bar is partial self-service. Sampling, ordering, and payment is done over the counter, which results in the entrance getting very cramped with people. Staff do serve orders to your table, and they also introduce and describe the nuances of each dish, so thumbs up for their product knowledge! Not everything is available daily, as FatCat Ice Cream Bar changes its menu everyday, so check with the staff before ordering.

Food at FatCat Ice Cream Bar is all about modern, creative desserts, in particular, ice cream and waffles. Generally, I find all their items here pack good flavour, and have pretty, photograph ready presentations. Only fresh ingredients are used, and the founders regularly introduce new items. Note that limited quantities are produced each day, so visiting earlier in the day is recommended. Portions are designed for sharing, and prices are typical of a dessert cafe, budget about SGD $9 per person.

The Lime Mojito Sphere (SGD $4.50) are delightful bites that burst with flavour in the mouth! A bubble of lime juice and rum, garnished with lemon peel, lime zest, and edible herbs, this incredible 1-bite dessert is perfect as a start, and just as good to finish a meal here!The Deconstructed Strawberry Shortcake (SGD $12) is a creative, whimsical, playful dessert experiment. A bowl of soft Japanese sponge cake and sliced fresh strawberries, topped with sour strawberry gel and soft marshmallows, sitting on a bed of curry crumble with popping candy, with garnishings of strawberry compote, edible elderflowers, and strawberry crisps. Mix it all, and try to get every component in 1 bite for best flavour results, as eaten separately, it's rather average. Love the combination of textures and tastes, good dessert!