The rather quaint Hyde & Co., which opened in November 2014, has a rustic British English countryside cottage charm. They've since become popular for their high tea, with an extensive selection of over 45 types of tea, scones, crumpets, and brunch offerings.

Ambience at Hyde & Co. resembles a British English tea room. With white walls, rustic wooden furniture, fine English teapots and plates, faux green shrubs, and little potted plants, Hyde & Co. has an quaint, comforting atmosphere. Natural lighting during the day streams in through the large window in front, while warm ambient lighting illuminates the place at night. Great place for chilling and lingering over meals!

Service at Hyde & Co. is partial self-service, with ordering and payment over the counter, though staff will serve orders to your table. The menu has ample descriptions of each dish, so the only interaction with staff happens if you have a special change request, which they'll normally accomodate. They do have basic product knowledge if questioned, it's just that the counter is rather cramped, so you'll naturally limit interaction. Otherwise, rather forgettable service overall.

Food at Hyde & Co. is British English fare, and more. Typical breakfast / brunch favourites feature on the menu, several are given an Asian twist. Generally, I find food here to be average to above average in taste, with portions nicely sized for individuals. They also have pretty good desserts here. Prices are reflective of a typical high-end cafe, budget about SGD $28 per person for a meal at Hyde & Co., and I feel it's worth visiting.

Channeling the spirit of Singapore's British English colonial past, the artisanal selection of teas here are a fine blend. Created for the passionate, bold, explorers, the Tea The Hyde Co.llection (SGD $12.50) is a black tea adapted from a 150 year old recipe, a blend of assam tea leaves and ceylon tea leaves, infused with hints of citrus and bergamot. Smooth, rich, strong, with a slight spice taste, fragrant and calming. Great as a daytime tea! Highly recommended!Loved the moist, soft texture of the Ondeh-Ondeh Cake (SGD $7.90), which features a pandan / screwpine leaf flavoured sponge cake, layered with sweet gula melaka / palm sugar infused desiccated coconut, topped with salted coconut buttercream and desiccated coconut. Looks sweet but isn't overly so, this cake is wonderfully light and totally delicious! Creative modern fusion cake, highly recommended!Images of a magical snowman come to life might be invoked through the Mr. Frosty (SGD $18), a decadent sweet breakfast dish of s'more brioche toast. With warm, crisp bread, gooey marshmallow fluff, chocolate nuggets, graham cracker crumbs, sliced oranges, caramelised banana, crushed peanuts, and butterscotch drizzled over rich vanilla bean ice cream, this is a filling dish for those with a sweet tooth! Comfort on a plate!Full Hyde & Co. review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/hyde-co.html

Founded in April 2013 by 4th generation baker and former graphic designer Kelvin Soh, Dong Po Colonial Cafe harkens back to the early days of Singapore's coffee culture. With authentic Hainanese pastry family recipes passed down from the 50s, and a colonial style, nostalgic atmosphere, stepping into Dong Po Colonial Cafe is like taking a trip to the past!Ambience at Dong Po Colonial Cafe is reminiscent of olden style coffee shops along the waterfront of Singapore. With tiled flooring, sturdy and quaint wooden furniture, warm lighting, and knick-knacks strewn about the place, Dong Po Colonial Cafe is a blast from the past. The nostalgic bakery atmosphere is heightened by the sight of attractive pastries and confectioneries within the clear display, and the aroma of roasted coffee beans.

Service at Dong Po Colonial Cafe is partial self-service. Ordering and payment is done over the counter, but staff will assist to serve some orders to your table. If asked, staff are able to provide basic descriptions of each pastry / confectionery available, and the place is a good local introduction to Singapore breakfast culture for tourists. Orders are fulfilled quickly and efficiently, as is clearing of empty / dirty tables.

Food at Dong Po Colonial Cafe is all about traditional Hainanese European pastries and breakfast items. Think sweet tarts, cream cakes, fresh toast, and aromatic coffee. Taste is generally good, staying true to the founder's recipes, which were handed down through the family. Portions are nicely sized for individuals, and cost about the same as other similar coffee places. Budget about SGD $5 per person for a set meal with a shared dessert.

Loved the Coconut Tart (SGD $2) here! The aroma of toasted coconut is enticing, bite into it, and you get a strong toasted coconut flavour, with only a light sweetness. Texture is grainy and crumbly, not too dry. Among the better ones I've had!The Chocolate Butter Mint Cake (SGD $2.60) is above average. The chocolate sponge cake has a soft, moist texture, with a solid chocolate flavour, while the thick, smooth cream has a refreshing mint taste. Lively on the palate, quite good.Full Dong Po Colonial Cafe review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/dong-po-colonial-cafe.html

Founded in September 2012 by Ms Chara Lum, a graduate from reowned French culinary arts school Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Ciel Patisserie is a small dessert cafe tucked away in the heartlands of Kovan, which specialises in down-to-earth, no frills, yet tasty France dessert confectioneries. Pronounced 'see-el', meaning sky or heaven in French, the pastries, tarts, and cakes at Ciel Patisserie regularly receive good reviews, because for just SGD $5, you're able to get a pretty good dessert!

Ambience at Ciel Patisserie is functional and rustic. The rather small interior features warm lighting, rustic wooden furniture laid out neatly, with fake flowers decorating each table, like a countryside home. The display of desserts is colourful and attractive, with clear labels. I notice most people order takeaway here, and the place usually isn't crowded. Quite a few people seem to prefer their exterior seating, on cool days, it's peaceful in the quiet neighbourhood of Hougang Avenue 1, and it's also sheltered from the elements.

Service at Ciel Patisserie is largely self-service, with ordering, payment, and collection of orders done over the counter. However, staff do sometimes help to send orders to your table, if you order 3 or more items. If asked, staff are able to provide basic descriptions of each pastry / cake / dessert, and can make able recommendations. They're rather friendly as well. For large orders, catering, or special requests, staff do try to accomodate requests, though you have to give them advance notice. Pretty decent service overall.

Food at Ciel Patisserie is all about classic French desserts. No mains or appetizers here, just pure sweets. Taste and presentation is generally above average, rustic, no-frills, straight forward goodness. Portions are nicely sized for individuals, and Ciel Patisserie is especially known for their wallet friendly, affordable prices, as most items here cost less than SGD $5 per dessert. Good value for money!

The only savoury item here, the Quiche With Ham & Mushrooms (SGD $3.20) is also possibly the most value for money quiche you'll get. A crumbly open faced pastry crust, filled with a savoury egg custard, generously studded with sliced ham and bits of mushroom. Each mouthful gets you a taste of all the ingredients, and the texture is moist, without any burnt / overcooked taste. Pretty good!The classic French dessert is given a slight twist in the Crème Brûlée Ginger (SGD $4.80). While it still has that beautiful rich, wobbly, soft, creamy custard base that is nicely caramelised at the top, this dessert has also been infused with the spicy tang of ginger. Love the idea, as the ginger helps cut through the overall sweetness. The caramelised crust cracks beautifully, then you get the soft texture of the custard, followed by flavours of vanilla, caramel, and ginger. Highly recommended!The classic Opera Cake (SGD $4.80) originated in France, and features layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup, alternated with layers of dark chocolate ganache, rich coffee butter cream, and coated in a chocolate glaze. Incredibly rich and tasty, the version here is sweet and true to the original, which was created in 1955 by Cyriaque Gavillon from Dalloyau (Patisserie), in Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France.Full Ciel Patisserie review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/ciel-patisserie.html

Kok Sen Restaurant is one of the early heritage spots along Keong Saik Road / Outram area, a mainstay that has been around for many years. Known for their Chinese Cantonese Zi Char at pocket-friendly prices, Kok Sen Restaurant has a handful of signature dishes, which you can see at almost every table here!Ambience at Kok Sen Restaurant harkens back to the early days of the coffee shop, and it still retains much of that clean, brightly lit, sparse but functional layout. Actual floor space is limited, so tables are extended out into the walkway in front, and the alley at the back. There isn't much shelter if it rains. Typically fully packed, the place is noisy and bustling.

Service at Kok Sen Restaurant can be brusque, but they earn points for their extremely quick order fulfillment. Staff can and will make recommendations, especially their signature dishes. Not the best service around, but they are efficient. Waiting times can be long during peak periods, and there is no waiting area, so expect to stand around, sometimes for up to 20 minutes.

Food at Kok Sen Restaurant is Chinese Zi Char, with their signature dishes being Cantonese classics, as they do tasty soups, and sauce / gravy dishes. Portions are designed for communal dining. Due to high turnover, their food is usually served piping hot and fresh. Prices are sightly higher than regular coffeeshop zi char, but still wallet friendly, budget about SGD $22 per person for a meal here.

The signature Golden Dragon Chicken (SGD $32) is only available on Fridays, and the weekends. The key in this dish is misdirection, a whole flattened chicken, with a beautifully roasted, crisp skin arrives at the table, glistening in the light. But below the skin, the chicken meat has been entirely removed, and mixed with a fish paste, to create a sort of chicken patty fish cake. The taste is beautifully savoury with a light salty flavour, your brain tells you it's eating chicken when you crunch into the golden brown skin, then you get the mix of chicken and fish that throws the senses. Dip into the sticky sweet sauce for added delight. Great!The Claypot Yong Tau Foo (SGD $14 / $21 / $28) is a highlight of any meal here. Assorted pieces of fried bean skin tofu puffs, eggplant / aubergine, and bell peppers / capsicums are stuffed with a home made mix of squid and prawn paste, then drenched with a thick, braising gravy, rather like the Ampang style version. Savoury, just salty enough, with a pleasing combination of textures; crunchy, bouncy, chewy, and tender, I could eat a whole bowl myself! Highly recommended!Full Kok Sen Restaurant review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/zi-char-kok-sen-restaurant.html

Housed within the former shophouse premises of the very 1st OCBC bank in Singapore, CATO is a modern Asian restaurant and bar with an extensive list of craft beers, spirits, and quirky tapas / bar bites. Opening their doors in July 2015, CATO has gained some traction with its novel and creative Modern Singaporean cuisine.Ambience at CATO has an old-world, bespoke allure. The rustic historic facade, rough brick walls, distressed steel beams, dark stained wood flooring, and low ambient lighting call to mind the sailing ships of old. Along with the tongue-in-cheek posters, jumping music beats from the resident disc jockey, and comfortable lounge / bar / restaurant furniture, the overall atmosphere is very inviting, the sort of place where you linger while time just slips away. Excellent!Service at CATO is unobstrusive, professional, but slightly forgettable. Staff are efficient, quietly and quickly going about their duties, be it taking orders, clearing empty / dirty tables, or arranging the table to serve dishes. While I have nothing to fault with the good service, there is very little rapport, and thus, little to tie diners to making a connection.Food at CATO is modern Asian / modern Singaporean, with a small menu that changes regularly to keep repeat visits interesting. The culinary team behind the kitchen has over 30 years of experience, and serves up contemporary food, combining international flavours on the plate. This also means that taste can be hit or miss, depending on personal preference. Portions are decently sized, and may be shared. Prices are reflective of most other restaurants, budget about SGD $47 per person for a meal here.The extensive list of craft beers and spirits at CATO is their main highlight. The eclectic beer selection varies seasonally, with edgy labels such as Crew Republic, Modern Times, or Schlenkerla, and includes 14 curated selections on taps. Artisinal spirits from over 20 renowned boutique distilleries are available as well, featuring labels such as KOVAL, or High West. Drinkers won't lack choice here, but I notice they don't have cocktails. They also don't serve still water / tap water at all, you can't even order it. Also, their non-alcoholic drinks menu is largely limited to soft drinks or juices.

The Beer Modern Times - Black House (SGD $16) is an oatmeal coffee stout brewed by Modern Times Brewery in San Diego, California, United States Of America. Brewed along with coffee beans that are roasted on-site, this black ale / beer with a brown foam head has a robust, complex taste. It starts out with a toasted grain and caramel notes, which leads into a coffee / espresso, chocolate, and hazelnut taste. Unique and creative! Highly recommended!The Prawn Bisque With Home Made Cod Fish Ball & Coriander Leaf (SGD $12) has a medium intensity to the crustacean soup / broth, with a medium thickness in terms of texture. Decent enough, I understand it can be ordered as either a soup / broth course, or as a shot. More interesting was the cod fish ball, tasty with the aroma of spices, slightly crunchy outside yet soft inside. I would totally order this on its own as a bar snack!The Crispy Squid In Thai Style Glaze (SGD $12) is possibly the best bar snack I've eaten here. Fresh, whole baby squid, coated in a savoury flour and spice batter, seasoned with fish sauce, then deep fried till crisp and golden brown on the outside, yet still tender and meaty inside. Excellent, completely unstoppable. Highly recommended!The house special is Aunty Jasmine's Fish Curry (SGD $25), featuring tender, flaky, milky-white New Zealand Ling fish, surrounded by okra / lady's finger, eggplant / aubergine, carrots, yellow squash, olive infused caviar, chunks of bread, and garnished with fried onions. The star is the secret family recipe fish curry, thick in texture with a solid savoury spicy hit, when poured over the dish, enhances the entire flavour. The only let-down in this dish for me was the rather tasteless bread, though it's meant to be dipped in the flavourful curry, so it still balances out. Likely the standout main dish here, highly recommended!Full CATO review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2015/11/cato-tasting-session.html