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2013-11-27
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Was at J's for a team lunch at the recommendation of a colleague. I hadn't been to Purvis Street before even though I was a regular in the Bugis area so I had no idea what J's had to offer prior to today. It's located just opposite the National Library and the contrast between the sleepy alley of colourful shophouses and the tall and modern-looking library building was indeed intriguing to look at.I didn't take any pictures of the interior though but it's a pretty cosy space despite the small si
I didn't take any pictures of the interior though but it's a pretty cosy space despite the small size and the chairs are comfortable which is an important factor to me whenever I eat out. The seats are placed along both sides of the wall so there is ample space to move around in the centre. After I settled down, I realised that I was in for some Latin-American fare or so Foursquare told me. I don't recall eating any Latin-American cuisine before so I wonder what it is all about.
I opted for the three-course set lunch which is a steal at $28++. The two-course set lunch costs $24++, in case you are wondering. You can choose between a salad, soup or two other dishes for the appetisers. I didn't fancy having parmesan cheese in my salad so I opted for the trustworthy cream of mushroom which usually does not disappoint. Glad to say that it was fine but it could certainly do with lesser oil. I'm not sure whether the oily sensation came from the croutons or the soup itself but to make it a bit more easier on the palette, I think the oil should be reduced. On the whole, it's still a credible attempt at this dish almost available everywhere else.
I was expected a half spring chicken which was not deboned but to my delight, this had been nicely cut into the breast meat and thigh sections. This made it easier to eat instead of having to debone the meat using the knife and fork and I really appreciate this thoughtful gesture. I must confess that I am never a fan of breast meat because most places usually succeed in making it too dry or tough. Luckily, J's version is still acceptable and eating it with the puree and fricassee made it even better. Having said that, I still prefer the thigh cut of this dish but overall, I'm impressed with this dish.
As for dessert, I opted for the banana dish with vanilla gelato. The combination of banana and tortilla was a pretty good one although I thought that the vanilla gelato was a bit common. Having tasted one of my colleagues' selection which came with ginger gelato that was very unique and pleasing, I think it might have been better if this dish can with a gelato that's less sweet or more refreshing e.g. mint to counter the sweetness of the banana. This dish wasn't bad but I thought it can be improved.I would recommend J's if you are looking for a comfortable and quiet place to enjoy some decent food at healthy portions with a reasonable price. However, be warned that service can be a bit slow (the waiters are polite though) which I think could be somewhat deliberate because they want you to sit down to enjoy the food rather than gobble and go. If you are in a rush, you might be better off going elsewhere. If you have the time to spare, you will not be disappointed here.
Last but not least, those with Citibank cards get a 10% discount and there's no GST here (just the service charge applies).
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