For full review with photos, please visit:
http://myfrozenreminiscence.blogspot.sg/2013/07/somes-roasts-culture.html

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Service: I think the place is run by a family. They were really friendly and smiling all the time. The boss was patiently explaining the menu to me when I was there the first time. He was very honest in recommending what was nice and popular (Crispy Pork) and what was normal (shall not mention). Hahahaa~

Ambience: Though the place is air-conditioned, the door was left open so it was only rather cooling. But that was good enough. If the door was closed and we are eating in a fully air-conditioned place, I think I'll be tabao-ing the roast meat smell back to office. The place is spacious and they have tables for groups of four and even to a big group of ten!

Value: Worth! Maybe I should try the $10 (four meat choices) combo next time. Heehee.. (^___^)

Verdict: Yes I will be back again! Food was served fast and considering the quality and quantity, I think my $7 was very well-spent! Moreover, it's not easy to find a place that is not packed during lunch time, air-conditioned and serves good food.

I like the setting in every way and on many levels. Firstly, the DIY part. Taking my food when it comes to my table on the "Express way", then press the blinking button to send the Express tray back.. Making my own matcha.. cleaning and inserting my plates into the dish slot.. Genki Sushi is an "engaging" restaurant in a way..

Secondly, the convenient way of ordering food. I always have trouble flagging down a staff for assistance in some restaurants.. Is asking for a refill or enquiry about my 40-minute late order a problem? Huh? Huh? With the iPad, I can order what I want when I want to.. Please note that if you buy take-outs, you order with iPad too!

Thirdly, the combination of first and second reason.. I can clear my own table and make space for more food! Hahahaaa..

For full review and more photos, please visit http://myfrozenreminiscence.blogspot.sg/2013/07/genki-sushi-chinatown-point.html

Part of my review:

Experience: It was like a roller-coaster ride.. Among those dim sum items that I've ordered, a few were nice and some that did not make the mark.. Judging from the marketing point that Bosses offers dim sum that are different from usual, I like that it serves many items that most dim sum restaurants don't.. However, it still lacks a bit in the tastiness..

For full review with photographs, please visit:
http://myfrozenreminiscence.blogspot.sg/2013/07/bosses-restaurant.html

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For full review with photos, please visit:
http://myfrozenreminiscence.blogspot.sg/2013/06/seoul-yummy-square-2.html

It's been over a year since I last visited Seoul Yummy.. There seemed to be some changes to their menu..

They now offer "The Ultimate Combo for Two" ($43.90).. There were so many dishes to choose from.. I took quite a while to decide what I wanted..

My choices for the Combo were:
1 side dish (Pork Cutlet)
2 meat/seafood main dish (Hotplate Spicy Chicken; Saba Fish)
1 hotpot soup (Spicy Beef Soup)
1 dessert (Mango Bingsoo)
Two bowls of rice (plain / multi-grain)

Add-on:
Ginseng Chicken Soup ($15.90)
1 plain rice ($1.50)
Roasted Barley Tea ($1.20 per pax)

My bill: $76.35 for 3 pax, which would be about $25 per person.. (^o^)

Now let's eat~~

Pork Cutlet was tougher than I thought.. Far from tasty.. It was dry and bland.. The sesame dipping sauce that came with it helped a lot.. At least I managed to clean the plate!

Hotplate Spicy Chicken was of food court standard.. probably the only plus point was that this had more slices and less minced chicken than the ones found in food courts..

Saba Fish was not my dish but I was told that it was not bad!

Spicy Beef Soup was yummilicious! The cubes of tofu and glass noodles absorbed the tasty korean-spicy soup.. It was so good that I was slurping away the glass noodles from that hot hot pot of soup, ignoring my multi-grain rice! Although the down point was that there were only two slices of beef.. sad eh.. (-_-)

Note: You can add $6.90 and choose Ginseng Chicken Soup for the combo.. but because I wanted to try the Spicy Beef Soup so I ordered Ginseng Chicken Soup as ala carte.

Ginseng Chicken Soup has always been the must-have of this restaurant.. Compared to a year ago.. I think that the soup tasted a little different.. The taste of the ginseng was stronger and the broth was thinner.. Depending on individual's preference.. I preferred the soup I had a year ago but some might prefer the new taste that is more herbal..

Mango Bingsoo was a terrific dessert to end the meal.. After all the flavorful dishes.. high salt content, hotness and spiciness.. I needed something sweet, sour and cold! The slightly sourish soft serve yogurt and sweet mango syrup did the magic.. mix it with some crushed ice with syrup and eat with the jellies! so satisfying~~ then pamper yourself with a slice of mango.. heavenly!

For those who had not visited Seoul Yummy before: Like most Korean restaurants, they will serve the Korean side dishes.. About 6-8 small bowls of side dishes would be served.. They change their variety of side dishes from day to day.. There are kimchi, cold spicy tofu, sauteed peanuts, ikan bilis, potato salad, bean sprouts and etc.. My all-time-favorite is: Cold Spicy Tofu!

Food: There are many mixed reviews on Seoul Yummy online.. hmmmm.. Personally, I think that Seoul Yummy offers affordable Korean food of satisfying standard.. after all, it's a mid-range cost restaurant.. so my expectations are not as high.. If I want to have really really authentic and good Korean food, I would go to an atas (Malay for high class) Korean restaurant or perhaps fly to Korea!

Service: The waiters are very friendly and prompt.. THEY SMILE!! though I thought that they were kind of understaffed on a Saturday.. I was attended to every time I seek for more side dishes..

Hygiene: They clean the tables with disinfectant spray and I could see the waitress cleaning the utensils diligently..

Ambience: There are two sides to the restaurants.. a dark side and a bright side.. hahahaha.. Actually, the restaurant occupies two units, separated by a walking asle.. if you prefer to dine under dim lights (for couples!), go left! if you prefer to dine in a bright environment (for family and gathering), go right!

Verdict: I will definitely go back again! Seoul Yummy is one of the most easily accessible Korean food chain restaurants in Singapore.. Besides all-you-can-order side dishes and refillable roasted barley tea, the food is acceptable and the price is affordable.. I want to eat Army Stew next time!

For full review with photos, pls visit:
http://myfrozenreminiscence.blogspot.sg/2013/06/hifumi-japanese-restaurant.html

"Welcome to Hifumi Japanese Restaurant!"
... was what I wanted to hear but instead it was..

"How many?"
"You can only eat for 90 minutes, you okay?"

Hifumi is a wallet-friendly Japanese Restaurants that offers all-you-can-eat appetizer bar when you order any of their set menu.. (kinda reminds me of Ponderosa and Sizzler which have ceased their operations in Singapore..)

Also, you can just pay an additional $2 for free flow of drinks that ranges from soft drinks such as Gingle Ale and Mirinda, to hot beverages such as Mocha, Latte and Green Tea.

Salmon Oyako-jyu Set ($17.99) was pleasant visually.. the generous portion of salmon and salmon roe had totally covered the box of rice.. I took the first mouthful without any wasabi and soy sauce.. (-_-) the salmon was of room temperature..

by right, the chilled raw salmon should be taken out for cut when they prepare the dish.. hence, if the salmon was of room temperature.. either they did not chill the raw salmon or they had prepared the dish beforehand and served it up when someone ordered it.. it was the first time I ate my favorite salmon so slowly..

Saba Shioyaki Set ($12.99) looked good.. apologies for not having any comments on how it tastes cos' I'm not a fan of saba..

The appetizer bar was definitely more star-worthy than the main sets.. Takoyaki and Onion Steak were the latest items introduced about 5 weeks ago.. I don't eat onions so you won't see that on my plate..

Takoyaki was passable.. alternative meaning that you can really pass on it..

I really wanted to tabao (take away) Sweet Potato Fries soooo much.. It was fried to crisp and then stirred in sugar syrup and glazed with brown sugar powder.. This dish was super powerful! I could snack on this for 90 minutes..

Rice Cracker was to be eaten with vegetable gravy.. but the vegetable gravy is not in the picture.. the gravy was cooked with onions, cabbage and carrots.. thickened with starch.. good to have with a bowl of rice.. (^o^)

Vegetable with Cheese Fondue has vegetables such as broccoli and potatoes.. I took potatoes only.. hahaha.. I'm not an "avid" vegetable lover.. but as all of us know.. anything with cheese just won't go wrong (most of the time)..

Chawanmushi was nicely done.. to the extent that it surprised me a little.. the silken egg was soft and smooth.. it was so nice that I had 3 of this! besides a cube of mushroom and crabstick.. there was.. a SHRIMP!

My number one dish: Pumpkin with Walnut Salad.. This was super delicious! The mayonnaise / salad sauce was not too creamy and thick.. so it was just nice.. This was another dish that I want to tabao too!!

Soba with Sesame dipping sauce was a pretty generous dish to have on an appetiser bar.. especially if it's all-you-can-eat.. this was not mine but I heard that it was refreshing and nice.. and of course filling too..

Radish with Minced Chicken tasted healthy.. hahahahaa.. in other words, bland.. like hospital food.. gosh..

While rubbing the full full tummy, finish the meal with something sweet like Fruit Cocktail!

Time to review other aspects of the restaurant..

Service: BAD! No greetings, no smiles, no courtesy.. The first Japanese restaurant that does not say "Irasshaimase" (Welcome/Please come in).. When I went to pay.. the staff did not talk to me at all.. she was talking to the waiter.. pointed at the amount I had to pay and put her hand out, asking for my payment.. after I handed her my credit card, she left! and asked the other staff to print out the receipt for my signature.. Omg..

Ambience: Spacious.. which was really an important point because there were a lot of space for you to move around to get your food and drinks!

Hygiene: FAIL BIG TIME! They do not use disinfectant spray to wipe the table.. I saw the waiter wiped the table with a cloth and swept the bits of food to the floor and some flew onto the chair.. he did not bother to clean the chair.. it was like that when I was there watching him clearing the tables..

Verdict: Though the service was bad, the hygiene was not up to standard.. I will be back for second visit! because I only spent about $20 per pax and I felt like I had eaten an ala-carte buffet.. Worth it!