For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2016/01/17/pool-grill/
Marriott’s Pool Grill is a lovely spot to enjoy a relaxing lunch or romantic dinner. Singapore’s unforgiving weather is always a consideration when dining al fresco, hence we dressed light. However, we were surprised how cool the restaurant was, thanks to some of the air-conditioning flowing out from the hotel (especially if you sit closer to the entrance) as well as powerful ceiling fans.
I came with expectation that everything would be very casual at the Pool Grill, but again was surprised with its sophisticated elegance. Luckily, I dressed up for this lunch appointment my friend.
Service is attentive, warm and polite. However, the staff failed to inform us that they ran out of bone marrow and replaced it with vine tomatoes without checking with my friend. It’s an understatement that she was upset as she was looking forward to the bone marrow with much anticipation.
Lunch started with complimentary Onion Foccacia. We loved its soft innards and crispy exterior.
The Pool Grill Signature Caesar Salad ($19), is prepared and served at your table. The whole affair is rather pageantry, but sadly the salad tasted pedestrian. You can opt to add grilled chicken breast, smoked salmon and grilled prawns for an additional $6, $7 and $8.50 respectively. Order this if you have a thing for fanfare.
The Lobster Bisque ($17) fared much better. The robust flavors of the royal crustacean delighted the palate. We like that its texture, is light and not overly rich. Sitting in the enticing soup is a generous chuck of succulent lobster.
My one true love is grilled prawns and I came to Pool Grill specifically to try this. The Grilled Tiger Prawns ($38 for 200g) were skillfully grilled, and each mouthful rewards with an alluring smoky char, and a crunch that can only come from fresh prawns. The coriander salsa verde sauce is also superb accompaniment.
In the background, is Beer Battered Potato Fritters ($7) seasoned with truffle salt. This could have been nicer if it was less greasy.
After waiting for ages, my dining companion’s 400 day grain fed Australian Wagyu Ribeye ($69) finally arrived. She requested for medium, but it turned up well done. What’s more, the roasted bone marrow which accompanies the steak was replaced with vine tomatoes without her knowledge. Her only comfort came from the melt-in-the-mouth Foie Gras ($15) add on and lobster butter, one Pool Grill’s home-made condiments.
Do yourself a favor, skip desserts here. Both desserts we tried, did not follow through their projected image, The Banofee ($14), a dessert with toffee, banana, crumble and chocolate balls was average at best.
The Chocolate Raspberry Trifle ($14) yielded nothing but disappointment. The jelly was served warm and the sponge cake was absent of the typical moist, soaked consistency associated with trifle.

More misses than hits with the a la carte menu at Pool Grill, but I won’t write off this place yet, simply because I love the ambiance here, which exudes resort living and is away from crowds. I’d like to return to try the value-for-money set lunch which is available from Mondays to Saturdays- $33++ for 3 courses plus free flow of ice tea or hot beverages. Set dinners are also available at $48++.

For pictues and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/09/08/artisan-boulangerie-co/
Led by award winning artisan baker Eran Myer, Artisan Boulangerie Co. (ABC) employs traditional techniques to prepare a wide variety of breads and pastries, baked fresh daily. Apart from artisanal techniques, ABC also focuses on using high quality natural ingredients. Flour is imported directly from a traditional flour mill outside Paris, and all ingredients are carefully selected and sourced from farms all around the world.
Brunch is served daily until 2pm. We arrived too late for brunch, hence ordered an ABC signature and sandwich instead. For more value, go for the bundle specials-an ABC Signature plus one soup or salad or éclair/tart sets you back $25. Alternatively for $30, you’ll get an ABC Signature and 2 choices from a soup or salad or éclair/tart.
Stimulating our senses with its tangy top notes, the Tomato Soup was had a creamy and smooth texture, as well as intense flavor. The portion is generous, large enough for 2 diners to share.
Seasoned with whole grain mustard and skillfully roasted, the Roasted Chicken Breast ($19) is juicy and tender. The accompaniments, caramelized onion, beans, mushroom sauce and roasted potatoes were well executed as too, especially the lattermost, which were moist (instead of dry and crumbly, flaws commonly found in roasted potatoes).
For a light lunch, the Corned Beef Foccacia ($11.50) will satisfy, without making one feel overly-satiated. One firm bite and you’ll get the saltiness from the corned beef, sweetness from the caramelized onions, sourness from the gherkins and heat from the heat from the mustard. The blend of flavors is delightful!
Desserts didn’t fare as well as the savories we tried. The Chocolate Tart ($6) had a seductive rich chocolate brightened up with raspberry spread smeared on the base, while the Lemon Tart ($6) had a striking balance of zesty and sweet with sharp noted to invigorate the sense. However, the shortcrust pastry was a letdown-neither buttery nor crumbly enough.
Service was SLOW and prices a tad high, hence I doubt I’ll revisit

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/06/27/the-dispensary/

We visited The Dispensary during lunchtime on a Saturday and were surprised how quiet it was. We welcomed this scene; after a tiring work week, all we want for the weekend is peace and yummy food, without having to hustle for it.

Occupying the shop house of an abandoned Chinese Medical Hall, the bakery cafe preserves traditions by using antique-looking items as decorations. It stops there though. Food and beverage offerings are Western-styled.

The soup of the day, Clam Chowder ($6.50) did a good job of whetting our appetites. Served in an old-school red rooster bowl, the sweetness of calms will appeal to the most discerning palates. The accompanying toasts were presented in the same fashion, on an old-school metal plate.

The breakfast options were alright, not particularly outstanding but not unpleasant either. The eggs in the Mushroom Scramble ($14.50) were moist, but could be fluffier. I prefer the Sausage and Eggs ($14.50), featuring juicy, bouncy and flavorsome sausages.

Check out their pastas if you want to jump start your day with a carbo boost. Smoked Duck Aglio Olio is available in 3 sizes ($12.50/$16.50/$20.50) and is perfectly al dente and fragrant. It would have been better with more garlic, but nevertheless my taste buds and tummy were gratified. Alfredo Mushroom ($13.50) was creamy but not cloying, and thankfully firm, unlike the usual soggy suspects.

Presented in a dim sum basket and sprinkled with parsley, the Sweet Potato Fries ($7.90) were enticingly crispy on the outside and soft inside. We also like that it was not overly oily.

You cannot miss having desserts (served on nostalgic plastic red rooster plate), especially the Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake ($6.50). While the portion is a little small for the price, this slice of heaven is divine and is something you’d want to eat over and over because it’s neither too sweet nor salty. The texture is light and melts in the mouth like dream. Its buttery short crust pastry is excellent too. Trust me, you won’t want to share it. And you shouldn’t.
This is the first time I’ve encountered Black Velvet Cake ($7) so had to try it despite my exploding belly. It’s essentially the same as Red Velvet, but black, rather than red. Nothing exceptional, just a decent slice of moist sponge, jazzed up with cream cheese and chocolate crunch.

Other cakes available are Chocolate Banana, Blueberry almond cheesecake, Chocolate marble cheesecake, New York cheesecake, Carrot cake and Chocolate Brownies. Cupcake options include Oreo, Nutella, Lychee, Red Velvet, Valrhona Chocolate and Sea Salt Caramel.

We washed down all the food with Iced Lemon Tea, Iced Honey Lemon ($4.50) and Iced Chocolate ($6.50). The lattermost was too diluted for my liking.

Overall, we felt that The Dispensary’s offerings average, nothing spectacular, save for the Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake. The benches are metal chairs are not the most comfortable, hence we left immediately after finishing our food. On the plus side, The Dispensary does not have GST nor service charges.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/03/12/salt-grill-and-sky-bar/

Located on the 55th and 56th levels of the iconic Ion Orchard, Salt Grill and Sky Bar offers an unrivalled bird’s eye view of Singapore famed shopping belt. We visited during the evening and witnessed the skies turned from blue to dark. Dusk was a magical, post-card worthy sight!

Opened by Australian Chef, restaurateur and television presenter Luke Mangan, Salt Grill serves Mod Oz cuisine, where chefs embrace different cuisines which successively lead to fusion of new ingredients an and traditional techniques. Emphasis is placed on the produce, using only the best ingredients available, prepared in an un-fussed approach.

Upon seating, the friendly staff promptly brought as basket of bread, accompanied with olive oil and an appetizing dip of herbs, nuts and spices (I believe its dukkah).

Having read many positive comments on the “Glass” Sydney Crab Omelette, we were understandable eager to sample it. Don’t be fooled by its simple demeanour, this entree is pure awesomeness. The miso mustard broth beautifully complements succulent strips of crab, enveloped in fluffy omelette. The elegant starter was completed with enoki mushrooms and herb salad. Well played in the both the taste and texture departments!

Sitting on a bed of smooth Israeli cous cous, cucumber , tomato and drill broth, the fresh Grilled Snapper was skilfully executed, maintaining fork-tender, moist flesh.

W’s Cape Grim Striplion was the more outstanding main course ,bursting with juiciness and flavour. However, we had to minus points for the uneven cooking -some parts were too raw. The steak was paired with caramelized endive, eggplant, salsa verde and a selection of 4 different mustards, namely, wasabi, whole grain, peppercorn and Dijon.

We also ordered Truffle Oil and Parmesan Fries ($14) and Roast Garlic Mushroom ($15). The shoestring fries were mostly crispy, with some soggy pieces at the bottom; however the prominent truffle flavour made up for this flaw. The latter was acceptable, nothing to shout about.

The Raspberry Cheese Cake was definitely one of the better cheesecakes I’ve had in a while-rich, soft and luscious. The berries and raspberry offers a tongue-tingling contrast to the mildly sweet cake.

You can’t go wrong with the Banana Parfait, a delightfully creamy cold dessert with peanut brittle, chocolate mousse, nuts and salted caramel sauce.

Apart from the “Glass” Sydney Omelette, none of the other dishes made deep impression. I’d recommend this venue for its stunning views rather than the food. Since we dined during Restaurant Week, this dinner was a steal at $55++ per pax for 3 courses. With the 10th edition of Restaurant Week approaching, there is no better time to check out this fine-dining establishment at a bargain.

For pictures and full review,pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/03/03/absinthe/

Absinthe is well-known for its affordably-priced classic French cuisine. Occupying 2 adjoining shop houses with 3 levels, Absinthe has different interior design for each level.
After climbing a long flight of stairs, we were lead to our seats on the second level, which had dark walls and contrasting white paintings illustrating the romance on French streets, complete with white pressed table cloth and plush velvet chairs. The space isn’t huge and tables are rather cramped together-you can hear your neighbor’s conversation clearly. If you prefer dining with a view, alfresco dining is available too.
During Restaurant Week, we usually order an additional entrée and dessert for more variety. It was a pity that the kitchen was too busy to cater to additional orders. Apart from this, service was impeccable.
Instead of Amuse Bouche, we started lunch with an Assortment of Homemade Charcuterie, gherkin and bread slices.

Australian King Prawn starter, complemented with al dente angel hair pasta and pops of ikura. The entree could have been better if the prawns were fresh.

Nesting on a bed of polenta, savoy cabbage and sauteed mushrooms, the Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly had a crispy exterior. While it did not melt in the mouth, the sufficiently tender meat had just the right amount of fat and bite. However, this dish fell slightly short as it was not as juicy as we would’ve liked.

Due to its low fat content, Halibut can easily become too dry when cooking. Absinthe’s Grilled Fillet of Halibut was skillfully prepared, retaining its moisture and mild sweet flavor. The lean fish was harmoniously complemented with zucchini ribbon, crushed potatoes and chorizo foam.

A play on textures, the Trilogy of Valrhona Chocolate consists of velvety chocolate mousse on chocolate sponge, adorned with a dark chocolate strip and crunchy chocolate bits. It may take you a few mouthfuls to fully investigate the delights of this treat. We love the fact that the chocolate isn’t overly sweet and its richness isn’t cloying in the throat.

Having heard many good things about Absinthe, we were disappointed with the underwhelming food. I mean…it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t mind blowing as we expected it to be. For $40++ per pax, its good value though!