For full review and more photos, please visit http://thumbsforfood.blogspot.sg/2014/03/botan-japanese-restaurant-thumbsforfood.html I have been to Botan on two separate occasions- once for lunch and once for dinner. On both times I was there, the restaurant was not packed but had a fair amount of patrons dining. I actually enjoyed the fact that the place was not overcrowded so I could dine comfortably and at my own pace.

Botan has a variety of set meals for lunch and dinner. If I did not remember wrongly, the set meals are priced the same regardless of whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Prices range from $22 to about $35.

I had the Ladies Set which is one of the more expensive sets (about $30+). It came with California Maki Roll, Chawanmushi, Sashimi, Ramen, Tempura, Salad and Icecream. This set really has a little of everything. Usually, you would think that Ladies Set is probably smaller in portion but, the Ladies Set here is otherwise.The Chirashi Set is pretty alluring as well with not only fresh sashimi but a mixture of sides such as Oden that provides a good balance with raw sashimi. The best thing of the Chirashi Set I would say is the generous portion of roe on the rice. The Tempura in Botan is also another must try as it is fried to perfection. Even when the tempura was not eaten piping hot, it was crisp and delicious.

Overall, I feel that Botan is a hidden gem amidst the CBD area. This place serves value-for-money, authentic and quality Japanese food. It is suitable for business dinners as well as large group gatherings. For those who are looking for a place for good Japanese food yet want to avoid the crowds, do give Botan a try!

For full review and more photos, please visit http://thumbsforfood.blogspot.sg/2014/01/superstar-k-tanjong-pagar-thumbsforfood.html

One of the best must-haves for good barbeque meat is non other than the fire! Meat barbecued with Charcoal fire definitely makes the meat more fragrant! Superstar K also has a smoke vent directly under every barbecue pit to ensure that the place does not get overly smoky.

Patrons would have to crowd around a stove and dine. I really quite like the vibrant atmosphere of the restaurant as it resonates the ones in Korea. A tip for ladies or anyone who has bags, you can lift up the seat of the stool to reveal a compartment for you to stow your bags away to refrain them for having the barbecue smell.

Every patron will be served with their own tray of sauces and condiments. I like this concept as it is cleaner and more convenient. For those who are wondering what the onion sauce is for, you can actually dip marinated meat in it for it to enhance its flavor. We tried their Beef as it was recommended by the staff there. We saw many tables eating their beef as well. Look at how beautifully marbled the beef is below! The good thing is also that the staff will help you cook the meat so you can happily enjoy chatting with friends whilst waiting for the meat to be done. We found the beef really quite good and juicy!Yes, Superstar K also serves up steamed egg (for free with order of BBQ meat) ! You can ask for one refill for this as well! It is soooo good! The egg is really fluffy and delicious. Goes really well with rice!In the middle of the picture below, that is one of the must-try in out opinion. The curded beancurd soup! It is spicy, appetising and the beancurd is really smooth! Totally appetising and delicious.Overall, we had a great experience at Superstar K! We would recommend Superstar K for small group of 3-4 friends which we feel is most comfortable to seat around the table. I personally feel that Superstar K is quite underrated as it does serve up relatively good meat. Korean food lovers, do give this place a try! (There's another branch opened at Telok Ayer as well)

For full review and more photos, please visit http://thumbsforfood.blogspot.sg/2014/02/paiks-bibimbap-bedok-mall-thumbsforfood.html

Being a Korean food lover, I was quite excited when Paik's Bibimbap opened in Bedok Mall. It's signature is non other than it's fusion-style bibimbap.

Paik's is located at the side of Bedok Mall. As renovation works are still ongoing, it might be a little bit harder to spot Paik's. It is right next to Mr. Bean. I have visited the eatery twice - once during lunch and once on a weekend early dinner slot. It was quite empty both times. Paik's is a simple bistro that boosts a small seating capacity with quite a simple menu. We tried the signature Terriyaki Chicken Bibimbap ($8.90) which was chicken stir-fried with soy sauce and a dash of Tenkatsu (rice crispy) and vegetable with special mayonnaise sauce. I added the hot pepper sauce in as well. Really, the dish is not photogenic at all. Like many of you reading this, I thought to myself "What a plain dish!" when I saw it. However, I was so surprised at how naturally flavorful it was after I mixed everything up. The various textures from the rice, tenkatsu, cabbage, vegetables made the dish alive.Warm Noodles with Soy Sauce was another choice. The first time when I was there, the warm noodles were al dente. The soy sauce was so fragrant that it made the dish really appetising. However, I was a little disappointed on my second visit as the noodles were slightly soggy. Nevertheless, the Soy Sauce made up a little for it. Hope to see the noodles improve the next time around!Overall, Paik's Bibimbap boosts a simple, fuss-free, self-service concept. I liked that the bibimbap tasted naturally flavored. It made me feel that my meal was wholesome with a balance of both proteins and vegetables. I would think that I will return here again for some simple yet healthy meal! And of course, I would love to try their steamed egg and Anchovy Noodles next time!

For more photos and full review, please visit http://thumbsforfood.blogspot.sg/2014/02/le-steak-by-chef-amri-thumbsforfood.html

Le Steak by Chef Amri is one of the few halal restaurants that serve up steak. As such, when I heard of it's setting up at Jalan Kayu, it has been on my must-try halal food places. For those who know Chef Amri will know that he is a Celebrity Chef on Suria Channel. Besides being known for his charming persona, Chef Amri is known for his creativity in making healthy yet tasty dishes.

On Fridays, Weekends, eve of PH and PH, Le Steak offers Fresh Shucked Live Oyster for $22 half a dozen. The oysters are really fresh. For the price, we felt that it was quite worth it. For those who have not tried raw oysters, Le Steak is definitely a good place to try some!We also ordered Onion Rings ($3) which was served with Mustard Sauce and Mayonnaise. The mayonnaise came as a shock for us because it was blue! Look at how striking the blue is. We really have no idea why the mayonnaise was blue. However, the taste of it was of starking difference to the color as it was quite bland. We feel that the price of sides in Le Steak is quite reasonable, priced at $3.Le Steak offers 3 types of steak- Ribeye, Sirloin and Prime Tenderloin. Tenderloin is the most expensive among the 3, priced at $28.90. We feel that the steak was reasonably priced for the portion that was served. The steak was a little too well done I felt. I ordered medium but, it was more of a medium well done steak. Flavour wise, I would say it is not too bad. I felt that if it were to be served hot, it would have been better.My friend ordered Seafood Marinara ($13.90) which she was quite satisfied due to the generous serving of seafood that included mussels, squid and prawns. This dish was served hot which was a great plus point. The tomato base was well-done, not too sour nor sweet. For those looking for a pasta dish, this would be a good dish to order.Waffle with 2 scoops of Ice Cream ($8.90) is available only on weekends. I would say the waffle was quite well-done, fluffy and fragrant. The maple syrup was not too overwhelming, preserving the flavor of the waffle. I would have appreciated that they have more flavors of icecream or homemade icecream instead of only having chocolate or vanilla.Overall, I feel that Le Steak offers Muslim patrons a different dining experience. We would come back again for affordable priced steak. Their desserts were quite a pleasure too. Hopefully, next time around when we dine in Le Steak, the food will be served hot!

For full review and more photos, please visit http://thumbsforfood.blogspot.sg/2014/02/latelier-tiramisu-thumbsforfood.html

L'atelier is fuss-free, no-frills and simple. Tiramisu and drinks. That's all. With four flavours of Tiramisu, you will wonder naturally - how long can the cafe last? The Tiramisu has to be of a certain caliber for the cafe to specialize solely in it. The price of a slice of cake is about $6.80.

I chose the Matcha flavored tiramisu as I'm a big fan of green tea. I really liked it a lot. It was not too sweet, the green tea flavor was rich and it was light. My friend on the other hand, did not like the Matcha as much as she felt that the powder was a bit bitter. Personally, this is my favorite!The classic Tiramisu was really good as well. I feel that the main reason the Tiramisu as L'atelier is so good is because it can grasp the optimal moisture of a perfectly done Tiramisu. It is slightly sweeter than the Green Tea Tiramisu. Overall, the cake was still perfectly balanced. I can easily say L'atelier serves up one of the best Tiramisu in town.

The two other flavors are lychee and dark cherry! I will definitely try them the next time around. Everyday from 3-5pm, you can enjoy 2 cups of coffee for $7. It is a good deal if you are looking for a place to enjoy a cuppa with some desserts. We tried the Mocha and Flat white. Personally, I feel that the coffee is not strong enough for me. The presentation was a plus point which made the coffee looked appealing.Overall, I would recommend L'atelier for Tiramisu lovers. I would definitely be back for more Tiramisu. L'atelier also offers whole cakes that is available for orders. 7" cakes are priced at $48 which I personally feel is reasonable for the quality of the cake.