This local bakery is located at the HDB block right opposite Marsiling Mrt, which makes it easily accessible. The first thing that hit me when I first entered the store was the aroma from the waffles corner and how warmly lit and neatly organized the shop was for a local bakery in a neighbourhood. Despite its small size, there was a wide array of bread products on display; there were the usual local buns like Floss Buns, Hot Dog Bun and Fish/Chicken Burgers to Char Siew Puffs and even traditional pastries like Egg Tarts. There were also treats like Muffins, Brownies and Fresh Cream Slice Cakes. Quite a feast for the eyes, bakery style!

As I was spoilt for choices, it took me quite a while to make my choices for tea and the next day's breakfast and lunch.Plain Pandan Waffles ($1.10)
Ever since the bakery selling my favourite pandan waffles closed down, I've been on the lookout for a replacement. Seeing that Bread Garden was also selling the waffles here, I decided to get one to try. However, I was sad to see that the waffle had shrank quite a bit upon reaching home but it still tasted pretty decent. It was chewy, which I liked, with a fragrant pandan taste. Among the waffles I've tried so far, this was the closest in texture to my favourite pandan waffle, although the hunt for that perfect pandan waffle is still on. For $1.10 though, you might as well get the waffle with additional filling such as Peanut ($1.30), Kaya ($1.30) or Chocolate ($1.40) to get more bang for your buck. Milk Filling Bun ($1.30)
Appearance-wise, it looked a little similar to the Hokkaido bun sold by Mugiya. The bread was quite soft with a slightly crusty upper crust. This bun also had cereals sprinkled on top as well which added a fair bit of crunchiness. It was also sweet but did not overwhelm with the taste of milk, which suited me just right. I was expecting the filling to be cream-like or custard-like but to my surprise, the filling was somewhat powdery and gritty in texture. It felt rather dry when eaten on its own but was delicious when eaten with the soft bread. Every bite was a mixture of crustiness, grittiness, softness and sweetness! It's quite unlike many other buns I have tried before and this is probably the kind of bun which you will either love it or hate it. it grew on me after a few bites though and now I think I'm in love with this bun! There were other flavours of this bun available when I went, such as Chocolate, Walnut and Green Tea! I'd definitely love to try the other flavours in future to see how they fare against the Milk Filling bun!Corn and Custard Bun ($1.30)
The bun got a tad 'wrinkled' after all that swinging on the way home but it actually looked pretty nice while in the store. The bun was soft as well and there was the detectable taste of corn. After tasting the Milk Filling bun though, I found this to be "okay" in comparison.Mini Muffins ($1.00 for 5)
These were so adorable that I just got to get them! They were really small, no more than 4cm tall. Unfortunately, these were a disappointment as they were very dry and a tad hard which was likely due to the small size. Probably better off buying the regular-sized muffins.Salty Tau Sar Biscuit ($0.60)
The outside was quite flakey while the filling was a tad dry and crumbly. But then again, one does not simply eat tau sar piah and not drop crumbs! There was a hint of saltiness although I've tasted better elsewhere, but this was still quite decent for the price.

The prices at this bakery was indeed quite reasonable with the standard buns costing between the range of $1.20 to $1.50, although a few may cost more depending on ingredients (like the hamburgers for $2.00). The cakes were priced at $1.40 per slice while pastries went as low as $0.60. Pretty affordable if you ask me!

Service was also not bad and the staff was helpful. While browsing, I had a question about one of the buns and the cashier took the time to come over to where I was to look at the bread before replying me. The lady at the pancake counter was also friendly and took the effort to smile at me and another customer in the queue. Much better service than a certain 'branded' bakery at Causeway Point.

Overall, I think this is a pretty decent bakery to visit if you are in the neighbourhood. I love that they have a wide and varied selection of bread although I felt that they could do with a better selection for their slice cakes. I counted just four varieties of cakes and all four were the cake roll kind. There were just too little to choose from so I did not buy any to try. Like every other bakeries, there are bound to be a few misses, but I think their buns are still quite decent in general. You might even come across a gem like I did with my Milk Filling bun!

We went to Pepper Lunch for, well, lunch just to try out their DIY fast service concept. You have to order at the counter before they bring your food to the table, and it'd help to know what you want to order beforehand before stepping into the place. Being there for first time, we didn't really know what to expect and so had to quickly glance through the menu and make our choices. I got the Chicken Pepper Rice ($9.50) with the bonus $3 meal (drink plus Choco Nuts Ice Cream) while my makan kaki got the Curry Chicken Pepper Rice with Cheese ($9.90). The food were served pretty fast although we had to wait a while for the meat to "sizzle" and cook. There are sauces on the table that you can stir in with the food and I am not ashamed to say that I kind of drenched my chicken with the honey brown sauce LOL. The meat was tender and tasty and the rice was just the right amount of being peppery. I loved the taste of it although my makan kaki thought that there was too much pepper and even had a small coughing fit from first bite. I also love the taste of the melted cheese on my makan kaki's rice, just too yummy! I regretted not adding on the cheese to my own rice.Being a chocolate fan, I opted for the Choco Nut ice-cream even though I've heard positive reviews of the Goma (Black Sesame) and Kuromitsu (Caramel) ice cream. I think the Choco Nuts ice cream in itself is also pretty delightful. It was very smooth, chocolate-y and crunchy (obviously).

Overall, I must say it was a rather fun experience, and might I add that in addition to being tasty, the food are also visually appealing. I highly recommend cooking the meat with the honey brown sauce and topping the cheese to your meal to up the taste factor. I'd definitely love to visit Pepper Lunch again to try the other dishes!

Red and loud, that was my first impression of Just Acia, which offers Asian dishes from the "Best of Asia" at "great value". While the decor is attention grabbing, I find the environment, with the somewhat casual canteen-style seating arrangements, to be suitable for groups of friends and family to have a nice, chatty meal together.There were not much people when we went on a weekend mid-afternoon, so we were seated pretty quickly by the friendly staff and given a piece of order form for our orders. Basically, you just write the quantity of the items you want on the order form and bring it up to the counter to place your order and pay for it.The food offering here is a fusion of Asian influences, with most of it being Chinese, Korean, Japanese and some Thai. There are set meals featuring the standard Asian staple, the rice, as well as noodle like the Japanese udon or ramen. Alternatively, there are also Western-style pasta sets for something a little more diverse, like the Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Chicken Teriyaki set.

We decided to get the Steamed Dumpling Rice Set for ourselves. This was a late lunch and we were hungry, so we also ordered a few sides before our main sets came.Samosa ($0.90 for 4)
First dish to come to our table. And yes, it's only $0.90 for 4 pieces! The skin is quite crispy with a crunch to it and the curry-tasting flavour is aromatic but not overwhelming.Deep Fried Chicken (Small) ($3.10)
A rather tasty treat, the chicken is very crispy with a slightly powdery batter on the skin. The meat is quite juicy and I like that the oil has been well-drained and it didn't come across as too oily.Steamed Dumpling Set ($6.30)
There is really a mix of Asia in this set, with a set of dumplings, a bowl of white rice, miso soup, and a side of kimchi. The dumplings are decent but the skin, though slightly chewy, is a tad too fragile. It breaks apart easily upon picking up, but the dumplings are quite soupy on the inside. We also like the miso soup, which is full flavoured and not diluted like some soup I've tasted elsewhere.The coffee, soft drinks and ice cream that come with the set are free flow. There are two types of ice cream here. The soft serve ice cream is nothing to scream about as it is not very smooth and feels a little like finely crushed ice. But the ice cream from the tubs, with a variety of flavours like cookies and cream, peppermint and strawberry, fare slightly better with its creamy texture. For better tasting beverage and dessert, feel free to mix both soft drink and ice cream together to make your own ice cream float!At just $6.30 for the dumpling set meal with free flow drinks and ice cream, it is really quite a steal. While the main set and the free flow ice cream are more than filling enough for the average diner, we find that it is also worth spending a little more to get extra sides like the tasty Deep Fried Chicken to go with the meal (maybe cut back on the ice cream a little to make space for the sides, although we still went for two helpings of ice cream each!). Even with sides, each of us paid less than $10.00 for a complete meal here. And despite sharing the sides among us, we still left the place feeling very bloated!

Service is also not bad here. The staff are friendly and quite helpful with queries. While paying at the counter, we asked if the samosa contained any meat like beef. The staff wasn't sure and we thought that was the end of it, but he took the effort to go and check with the kitchen for us, which we appreciated. And they don't even charge service charge here!

All in all, the food is decent enough for the price (and certainly very filling). If you are undecided on the type of cuisine to have for lunch or dinner, you can consider Just Acia to get a mix of Asia on your plate!

The Ikea restaurant at the Tampines branch is a lot bigger than the Alexandra branch, with a bigger dining area and plentiful of seats. The self-service food counter area is also slightly more spacious to allow for smoother human flow. The place is dressed in a casual, modern style, with clean arrangement of simple, classic furniture and artsy overhead lamps. Colours are mostly kept to the minimum here, except maybe for the children corner. This may make the place look a little sterile, but I find the simplistic beauty of their minimalist decor endearing, especially when there are not much people around and it is quiet.We went before 10am (the restaurant opens at 9.30am although the store itself opens at 10am) when there is not much crowd yet so we could just sit where we like and enjoy our breakfast in relative peace. We opted for a seat nearer to the windows where natural sunlight bathes the area in a light, warm glow. The family next to us even took the opportunity to chill out together over their breakfast and the morning papers, giving meaning to the term "family bonding". Even before I get my food, I'm already liking this place.
Pancakes with Scrambled Egg and Hashbrown ($3.00)
The pancakes feel a little dense but are otherwise soft and slightly buttery. The scrambled egg is a little wet but not runny. Add a little salt here and a little pepper there for a little more flavour. I like the hashbrown best. They are crispy, tasty and not so oily. At only $3.00, we all agree that this set is really quite reasonably priced.Garlic Bread (2 for $1.00)
Generously seasoned with garlic spread, these slices of garlic bread are tasty enough to eat on their own or to get as an add-on to your meal or cup of tea or coffee. We like this enough to consider getting a bunch of it to make up a "loaf" to eat on its own in future.New York Cheesecake ($3.80)
Dense, heavy and creamy, the cheesecake is quite a treat. It is not too sweet, but cheesy with a tease of lemon zest. The thin cracker base feels a little wet, but overall this is pretty decent for the price. It feels quite rich on first bite. My favourite next to the cinnamon roll!Cinnamon Roll ($1.20)
Not just my favourite but also my family's. The cinnamon roll is sweet, soft and chewy with a slight crispy glazed outer crust. The scent and taste of cinnamon is also pretty strong, making this a rather flavourful treat. Recommended!Coffee ($0.50) & Tea ($0.50)
Make your choice from a cup of decent coffee or Dilmah Ceylon black tea, which comes from a teabag, at the low price of only 50 cents. The best part is that they are refillable and you can make them as sweet as you like with the sugar or cream sachets at the condiments counter.

As usual, the food are very reasonably priced with some really value-for-money items on their menu. It helps that the decor and availability of seats here are really much better than the Alexandra branch. Service is also quite decent and the staff are generally friendly and helpful with (our) queries. We enjoyed our dining experience here, not only for the affordable but tasty food but also for the family-centric environment and experience. Do go early to take advantage of the peace before the crowd (and noise!) starts trickling in. It will start to get progressively hectic, especially during peak hours. For us, it's definitely worth getting up earlier to enjoy a nice breakfast here with the family!

Ikea restaurant is known for offering decent quality food at really affordable prices. So while we were there to look at shelves one day, we decided to pop by the restaurant for breakfast. The decor here is simple and unpretentious. Owing to the popularity of the restaurant, the queue can get quite long around lunch time and it can be a pain trying to find seats here. But it was still quite manageable when we went earlier slightly before 11am. Fortunately, the counter staff are generally quite prompt with their service and the queue usually moves fast. The only downside is that you really got to choose fast so as not to hold up the queue. Mashed Potato ($1.00)
The mashed potato is pretty smooth. The staff allowed us to choose a sauce of our choice and we asked for the chives sauce. The portion of the sauce given is quite generous. The chives sauce is also quite creamy and goes surprisingly well with the mashed potato.French Fries ($2.20) (Not including Garlic Bread)
Thick and crispy, the fries here are otherwise pretty much typical, although I like that they are not over salted by default. It can come across as a little bland, so if you prefer your fries salty, you can salt it with the salt sachets from the condiment counter. Chicken Pie ($2.80) (Not including Garlic Bread)
The pastry is quite buttery but a tad oily for me. I also didn't find it flaky enough. The chicken filling is pretty tasty though. It is tender and juicy and it helps that the pie is generously stuffed with it!

Garlic Bread (2 for $1.00)
These are just two small slices of garlic bread which are good for complementing your meal. They are well seasoned and the garlic and herb taste is quite discernible. These are nice to eat on their own but we agree this would make a nice add-on to any sides, like the chicken pie or french fries in the photos above, for a more complete or filling meal.Chocolate and Butterscotch Cake ($3.50)
The base of this Chocolate and Butterscotch Cake is quite crumbly and a little dry, but the cream, though a tad too much for me, helps to lessen the dryness a little. There are also almonds bits topped with a thin layer of chocolate for that additional crunch. Yum!Coffee ($0.50) & Tea ($0.50)
The coffee is decent and the tea in question is actually Dilmah Ceylon black tea from a teabag. The best part is that they are refillable and cost only 50 cents each, which is really value for money. Sugar or cream sachets can be obtained at the condiments counter. Hazelnut Chocolate Bar ($1.80)
$1.80 for a chocolate bar this size? Definitely a must get for chocolate lovers! It is also available in flavours like Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate. The taste is quite decent, and there is a fair amount (not that many but acceptable enough) of hazelnuts bits in the chocolate. My only grouse is that it is lacking the nutritional information on the package but hey, that's just me.

The prices of the food from Ikea are really quite reasonable and affordable, especially for the sets, but some of the ala carte sides are standard priced, like the french fries. You might as well get them as part of a meal which would definitely give you more bang for the buck. Items we find to be worth getting among our purchase on this trip are the chicken pie, garlic bread and the Chocolate and Butterscotch cake. The chocolate bar is also quite value for money. I certainly wouldn't mind making a trip to Ikea again just for their desserts, but I'd suggest going earlier if you do not want to deal with the queue and lack of seats during peak hours.