The Adventures Of A Singaporean Bon Vivant

One of my current favorite restaurants here in Singapore is the Michelin-starred Pollen Restaurant. If you have yet to dine here, I suggest you pick up the phone to make a quick dinner reservation! I’ll be writing a review on our dinner experience soon. Their Tasting Menu (good for 2 pax) at S$190++ is out of this world! Seriously.

Located inside the Flower Dome of Gardens By The Bay, Pollen offers modern European cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean influences. With Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton as its Chef Director, this 2-storey restaurant with a sitting capacity of 120 is a must go for any epicureans.

Note: The Ground Level is where the fine-dining restaurant is located. The Upper Terrace is where Afternoon High Tea or drinks is served. Afternoon High Tea is available ONLY on weekends.

I wanted to start the ball rolling by writing about the Restaurant’s new Weekend Afternoon High Tea on the Upper Terrace in the Flower Dome. Make sure to ask for a table overlooking the Flower Dome, like this! (See pic below).

The bad thing is… You’ll have these tourists who will walk up to the restaurant - unabashedly - taking pictures of the flowers and trees surrounding your table. Most guilty tourists: From China and India! Wish they would learn some manners and leave us diners alone as we are not part of the Flower Dome’s newest exhibits! ;-)

Back to the Restaurant’s Weekend High Tea: Partake in a delightful assortment of savoury and sweet treats complemented by an exclusive selection of fine teas. The portions served is not large. In fact, we were still hungry after our Afternoon Tea :-(

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The Caucasian Manager didn’t allow the waitress to place the pot of tea on our table (why??!!!) and would rather we ask the waitress to pour our tea when it’s empty. Why? It’s more hassle for both the waitress and for us, diners, dear Restaurant Manager.

Note: There was only 1-2 waitress(es) serving the Upper Terrace during the Saturday afternoon we were there for High Tea. In short, we had to remind the waitress at least 5 times to refill our tea. My BFF asked the waitress if the restaurant was shorthanded that afternoon. She admitted by nodding her head. Can the Restaurant Management please assign more staff to serve the Upper Terrace diners too? I have no complaints for the exquisite service I received at dinner. But I’m facing a completely different kind of service during High Tea! I must admit that the waitresses here are all genuinely polite and are trying their utmost to service all the diners. So, kudos to them! Just help these girls out by assigning more service staff on weekends too, please?

The only time I got my pot of tea placed on my table was when I had settled the bill. Afternoon High Tea for 2 pax = S$89.00.

Available only on Saturdays & Sundays, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

By the way, ALL guests who dine at Pollen will also gain complimentary access to the Flower Dome! Sweet!

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Their restrooms are also beautiful! ;-)

Above: On the way to the Ladies Restroom…

Above: A peek outside from the Restroom area…

Would I highly recommend this eaterie?
YES!

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This write-up is strictly about the Afternoon High Tea:

Personal Rating for Food: 4/5

Personal Rating for Ambience: 5/5

Personal Rating for Service: 2.5/5 (Very polite waitresses but they are terribly shorthanded, Poor girls).

Pollen Restaurant
18 Marina Gardens Drive
#01-09 Flower Dome
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore 018953

Tel: +65 66049988
Email info@pollen.com.sg
Website: www.pollen.com.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PollenSingapore

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After our Afternoon High Tea, we took a stroll in the Flower Dome. A sight to behold indeed!

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Above: Entrance to the Restaurant via the car park.
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This is celebrity Iron Chef, Cat Cora’s bio:
http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/WhereToEat/OceanRestaurantbyCatCora

I chose this restaurant because I have heard ALOT about Cat Cora and wanted to taste her food badly.

Prior to reading a famous Singaporean food critic’s bad review of the service at this restaurant which appeared in The Sunday Times, Singapore earlier this year, I was lobbying to have our Organization’s VIP Dinner (with some VIP guests of honor) at this restaurant. Even when my colleagues showed me the newspaper article which I had missed reading in the local papers, I was still adament that we should continue with our plans to dine at this restaurant, believing that the food critic could have been a tad biased.

How wrong I was.

Let me first start with the service.

Setback #1: My assistant and I had been liaising closely with the restaurant a few weeks prior to our VIP dinner. It was extremely difficult to get through to them on the phone. And when we did get a return call from the Assistant Manager (Theresa), she was super-grumpy, short tempered and abrupt. Wow, what a bummer (I thought), considering that the food at this restaurant is NOT CHEAP.

Setback #2: Then I thought…maybe I should liaise with the Manager of the restaurant (Regina) instead. Guess what? The Manager was equally rude and abrupt. I was really taken aback. My boss had wanted the restaurant to set up the tables in a certain manner - specifically next to one another as we have a big group coming for dinner that evening. About 36 pax. She (Regina) suddenly burst out laughing - in a rude manner - much to my frustration. It was like - you are talking to her about a serious matter and someone suddenly bursts out laughing! I’ll take that as a sarcasm, wouldn’t you? This was when I lost my cool. I told her off that I was utterly shocked by the service of the restaurant and her behavior. AND, we have not even dined there yet! To her credit, she apologized claiming that a diner had waved goodbye to her and she burst out laughing. It was 4pm when this happened. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt (although I don’t quite believe her…).

Cat Cora: If you are reading this, please educate your Manager and Assistant Manager to be polite and be RESPECTFUL to ALL guests. Always. I don’t think both Regina and Theresa are up to the mark in working in a topnotch restaurant of this calibre. Maybe the Singapore food critic (although he didn’t mention any names) faced the same issues as me.

To her (Regina)’s credit, she and Theresa both took a back seat henceforth from handling this particular dinner reservation. She let one of her staff, Sean handle our big group. Can I say that Sean is polite, calm and respectful compared to the 2 ladies? And yes, we had an enjoyable time the entire evening once Sean took over.

Let’s now get to the food…

Above: The table setting was beautiful! In ocean blue. A nice classy touch!

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Above: The Menu

Above: This is the full 5-course dinner we ordered at S$158++ (drinks not included).

Above: Cold Starter - King Crab and Mango Sago-Salad. Rating: 4/5

Above: Creme of Butternut Pumpkin Soup with Chicken & Cheese Tortellini. Rating: 4/5

Above: Hot Starter - Risoni Cabonara with Seared Scallops. This is possibly my favorite dish. Rating: 5/5

Above: This is my Main Course - Breaded Seafood Stew with Seasonal Vegetables and Lobster Veloute. Too creamy. Rating: 3.5/5

Above: Here’s a closer look at my Breaded Seafood Stew with Seasonal Vegetables and Lobster Veloute….

Above: This is my colleague’s Main Course - Braised Wagyu Short Rib with Puffed Cereals, Mashed Potato & Seasonal Vegetables. My colleagues who chose this dish all gave the thumbs up! Rating: 4.5/5

Above: Dessert - Raspberry and Yogurt “Pearl” Reconstituted Crumble. Delish! Rating: 4.5/5

Above: Here’s another look at the mouthwatering dessert ;-)

Above: We had several glasses of Apple Juice! Oooh, thirsty! ;-)

Above: Savignon Blanc to go with our delicious food! Delish!

Above: A cup of Cappuccino for me to wind down our rad dinner.

Would I highly recommend this eaterie?
To be honest, the food is above average although a tad on the creamy side. It is not cheap to dine here BUT then again, people come here for the AMAZING view of the world’s largest aquarium. So in terms of ambience and a sense of unique-ness, this eaterie has it. The service though needs to improve badly.

But I must admit that Sean and his team served us a wonderful meal that evening when we were there. If this is the kind of service that diners get all the time, then there should be no grounds for anyone to complain. Not the food critic who wrote his article in The Sunday Times. Nor me.

Maybe the problem lies with the Manager and Assistant Manager of the restaurant. The rest of the staff seems to be hardworking, polite and respectful throughout our dinner.

We spent almost $10,000 for dinner for 36 pax that evening.

Would I return again to this restaurant?
Perhaps.

And this is WHY people want to dine at this restaurant. The view, baby. The view (from your table)!!

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Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora
8 Sentosa Gateway
SEA Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa
Singapore

Tel No.: +65 6577 6688
Email: dining@rwsentosa.com

Operating Hours:
11am – 10.30pm
(Last order 10pm)

How To Get There
Admission to Ocean Restaurant is via West Zone Carpark, B1M. Drive into Resorts World Carpark. You must drive pass the Casino and head towards Hard Rock Hotel carpark. At Hard Rock Hotel carpark, turn RIGHT up the slope to the next carpark. This will lead you directly to Carpark B1M where Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora is located.

If you are not driving, you can hop onto a buggy (the restaurant will arrange for this) and you will be dropped off at the RWS shopping mall, near the Casino. You can then either take a cab or a bus from here.

We came here for an early dinner on a lovely Friday evening because we needed to find a place that was nearest to Lido Cinema (on Orchard Road). We had wanted to catch “The Great Gatsby” that night. As expected, most the eateries inside ION Orchard are packed to the brim. And it wasn’t yet 6pm!

And then, voila! We chanced upon this kewl bistro located just outside of ION Orchard. Welcome to the Alfresco Gusto Italian Bistro.

As we entered the eaterie, we were greeted warmly by the Manager and his team of waiters. It made us feel already at home!

Located at ION Orchard, Alfresco Gusto is arguably Orchard Road’s largest Italian restaurant in an al fresco setting. The 100 seater outdoor trattoria spans some 60 meters and covers almost the entire width of ION Orchard. It features a chic bar offering a delectable array of spirits, wines and cocktails and a contemporary dining area set amongst lush greenery.

The service we received that evening was beyond excellent. There was already a crowd inside the Bistro by the time we arrived at 6pm, consisting largely of expats and tourists. Hardly any locals.

Portions here are large and prices are reasonable.

This was what we feasted on that evening:

Above: The Mushroom Ragout is delicious! A must-try.

Above: The Cream of Mushroom Soup is also another winner.

Above: The Pomodoro Pasta. Yum!

Above: Carbonara Pasta

Above: Pizza Proscuitto. Great if you are a meat lover. My friend is. For me, I prefer more mushrooms, cheese and ham/salami on my Pizza. So this dish wasn’t quite a favorite with moi…

Above: Wine, anyone? We had Savignon Blanc.

Above: The Menu.

Above: Some of the better wines the Bistro has in stock….

Personal Rating for Food: 4/5

Personal Rating for Ambience: 4.5/5

Personal Rating for Service: 4/5

Would we recommend this eaterie to people?
A definite YES!

Alfresco Gusto Italian Bistro

Address:
2 Orchard turn #01-15 
ION Orchard
Orchard Road
Singapore

Tel:
+65 6509 9380

Email:
ask@alfrescogusto.com.sg

Website:
www.alfrescogusto.com.sg

Menu:
http://www.alfrescogusto.com.sg/menu

Opening Hours:
LUNCH/DINNER
Sun-Tue: 11am-12am
Wed-Thu: 11am-1am
Fri-Sat: 11am-2am

If you enjoy feasting on hot and spicy Sichuan food, then why not head over to Xiao La Jiao Restaurant (literal translation: Small Chilli Restaurant!). I guarantee you it’s worth a visit.

Managed by the Creative Eateries Group, this casual dining restaurant specialises in spicy Sichuan dishes, blending sweet, sour, bitter, hot, salty and aromatic effortlessly into a range of dishes.

Highly recommended dishes to try include the Chuan Style Spicy Chicken, Sichuan Boiled Beef and Ma Po Tofu. The restaurant also serves street vendor-style offerings like Sichuan Guo Tie (this is the Chinese version of the Japanese Gyoza. Well, kinda), Sichuan Wantons and the Rainbow Dumplings.

And if you’re confused by the extensive menu, fear not! The restaurant has a top 10 section in its new menu to help you out! Alternatively, the restaurant manager can also lend you a helping hand.

This is what we had for dinner:

Above: Pork Steamed Dumplings
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Above: Sichuan Guo Tie (to dip in Vinegar Sauce with Ginger)
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Above: Dumplings in delicious gravy. Sorry I forgot the exact name of this dish.
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Check out the full Menu here: http://www.xiaolajiao.com.sg/content/menu.pdf

Most importantly, the food is reasonably priced too. What’s more, Sichuan cuisine is world-famous. Read the paragraph below extracted from the Restaurant’s official website:

“So famed is the cuisine of Sichuan, that its capital, Chengdu was the first Asian city to win a UNESCO listing as a City of Gastronomy in 2011. With Sichuan cuisine gaining significant momentum in large cities like Beijing, Shanghai and even London, Creative Eateries has endeavoured to make Xiao La Jiao an authentic showcase of this distinctive, yet versatile style of Chinese cooking. With its bright interior décor and floor to ceiling windows, the restaurant has the ambience of a humble teahouse restaurant which makes dining at Xiao La Jiao a comfortable and casual affair”

Personal Rating for Food: 4.5/5

Personal Rating for Service: 4.5/5

Would I recommend this eaterie? Yes! You’ll surely love Sichuan food.

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Xiao La Jiao Restaurant

Address
#03-05 112 Katong
112 East Coast Road
Singapore 428802
Telephone: +65 66363736

Transport
Bus Lines: 15, 16, 31, 36, 43, 48, 76, 135, 196, 966

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MASONS is located within the beautiful and historic grounds of the Gillman Barracks. Situated near the Alexandra Retail Center (near the Labrador Park MRT), it is a great place to chill, enjoy the art galleries within the Gillman Barracks or just relax and unwind. A great escape from the doldrums of city living.

MASONS pays tribute to the rich history and heritage of Gillman Barracks. Taking styling cues from the area’s historic past, the 1935 building has been restored to re-capture the essence of colonial luxury, offering a stylish yet relaxed dining experience. The restaurant has four sections - the main restaurant, the verandah, the bar and the alfresco area.

This place came highly recommended to me via my sweet German colleague, Jessica who’s a true epicurean when it comes to the art of dining at rad places in Singapore, Germany and around the world! It’s great to have friends like her around ;-)

Inspired by the colonial heritage of Gillman Barracks, Masons provides a stylish and elegant dining experience. Masons offers high quality yet affordable European cuisine with a strong French influence and a Singaporean touch. You can choose to dine inside the luxurious main dining room, or dine outside - in the alfresco verandah. On a lovely day, I’d definitely prefer to dine outside on the verandah! (See photo below)

So, the three of us - a German, a Mexican and a Singaporean dined here on a lovely but boiling hot week day for lunch. A United Nations team feasting on delectable French cuisine. How nice! ;-)

Above: Inside the luxurious Main Dining Room area. We were the first diners here at 11.30am! ;-)

Above: The Bar area….

if you come here on a week day for lunch, you can choose their 2-course Executive Set Lunch (S$28.00++) or their 3-course Executive Set Lunch (S$38.00++).

Above: We marveled at the way the table was set, including the interesting way they set their napkins! Noticed it’s shaped like a man’s shirt? With Tie? Kewl much?

Above: We love their table mats!

Above: The Menu! Here’s a clearer view of their All-Day Menu http://www.masons.sg/menu_allday.html

Above: The warm basket of bread was delish!

Above: Appetiser - Moules Marinières aka Mussels in Creamy Broth. My Mexican colleague loved this dish!

Above: My German colleague’s Main Dish - Pork Cheeks with Bacon Mash & Apple Sauce. She said it was yummy!

Above: My Mexican colleague and I chose this as our Main Dish - Leek & Cheese Fondue Ravioli with Spinach Porée & Crisp Leek. It was truly mouthwatering. But I felt the portion was quite small. I was still hungry after this!

Above: For Dessert, my Mexican colleague and I chose the Panna Cotta with Jus de Fraise aka Panna Cotta (like a milky custard with raspberries). My colleague loved it whilst I felt it was too milky. O.K„ O.K., maybe because I don’t quite dig milky stuff?

Above: My German colleague had the simple Lemon Tart for Dessert. She gave a thumbs up for this dish.

Coffee costs S$5.00++ and Tea is S$6.00++. Here’s the entire Beverage Menu - http://www.masons.sg/menu_beverage.html

If you’re coming for Dinner, here’s a peek at their Menu: http://www.masons.sg/menu_dining.html

Personal Rating for Food: 4/5

Personal Rating for Ambience: 5/5

Would I come back again? For sure!

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Masons (Gillman Barracks)

Address:
8 Lock Road
#01-17 GIllman Barracks
Tel: +65 66942216

Opening hours:
1130am to 11pm daily

E: info@masons.sg

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If you are an artsy person (like ahem, moi!), this is definitely a great place to come visit. Gillman Barracks has been touted as the new contemporary art destination in Asia. Distinguished as a creative and intellectual center, it will become a center for the production, discussion and distribution of contemporary art in Asia.

Check out the official website of Gillman Barracks:
http://www.gillmanbarracks.com/

There are some fine exhibitions which I wish to catch…and some cool galleries in Gillman Barracks on my must-see list!
http://www.gillmanbarracks.com/explore.php?type=exhibitions

Note:
Restaurant info courtesy of Masons Official Website

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This restaurant came highly recommended to me by my Mexican colleague cum BFF. And I wasn’t disappointed with her recommendation. Hm, it seems that my BFF has become quite an epicurean ever since she was posted to Singapore with her hubby! ;-)

Trattoria Pizzeria Cugini at Club Street serves authentic Southern Italian food, combining the unique taste of Sardinia with the spicy flavours of Sicily and the aroma of the Southern Italian regions.

The menu is rounded off by rad desserts & a good selection of Italian wines from the regions of Piedmont, Tuscany, Sardinia & Sicily in Italy.

We were here for dinner on a week day evening and chose to dine outside on the verandah. Yes, at times, we wished the waiter was more attentive especially when we have finished our San Pellagrino bottled water (the restaurant leaves a bottle of still water on every table. You are charged S$7.00 per bottle!). It would be great if the waiter could pop out occasionally to check on the tables outside on the verandah. My friend had to go inside (!!) to personally summon the waiter to our table. Tsk! Tsk!

But the quality of the food compensates for the less than stellar service. HOWEVER, the prices at this eaterie are priced at an up-market restaurant’s pricing (read: It’s a little on the expensive side). If this were the case, then customers DO expect better service.

Here’s a run down of what we ordered and its prices:

Above: The delicious bread with an interesting dip which the restaurant serves all guests. Try dipping it in their inhouse Olive Oil with Chilli! Ooh, yummy!

Above: This is the first Italian restaurant that I’ve eaten in that serves Olive Oil with Chilli (as a dip). It tastes AMAZING and I CAN take hot/spicy food.

Above: Kewl dish(es)!

Above: Huge Capricciosa Pizza (S$26.90++) with ingredients like tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, roasted ham, artichoke, salami + we paid for an extra ingredient (sausages). S$3.00++ per extra topping.

Above: Here’s another mouthwatering glimpse at the Capricciosa Pizza (S$26.90++).

Above: This is possibly the BEST and most unique Pasta that I’ve tasted in Singapore! Spaghetto alla Bottarga Gamberetti Peperoncino (S$27.90++). It is a Sardinian style spaghetti with mullet (fish) roe, prawns, olive oil, garlic and chilli. Even my BFF said this is such an amazing dish. If this is what Sardinian food taste like, I’m heading to Sicily and Sardinia! Too delish for words!

Above: A closer look at the Spaghetto alla Bottarga Gamberetti Peperoncino (S$27.90++) dish.

Above: Gelato Artigianale (S$6.00++ per scoop) - Italian homemade ice cream. My friend chose Pistachio flavor.

Above: This is my mouthwatering dessert - Souffle al Cioccolato con Gelato Artigianale alla Vaniglia (S$15.90++). I didn’t like Vanilla Ice Cream and had it changed to Gelato alla Cioccolato (chocolate ice cream) instead.

Above: Another look at the warm Chocolate Souffle!

Above: My BFF’s Italian Pinot Grigio i.e. White Wine (S$15.00++ per glass).

Above: Filtered Coffee (S$6.00++ per cup). It was thick and good! Exactly how coffee should taste like!

Above: The Menu.

Above: The bill for dinner for 2 pax.

Personal Rating for Food: 4.5/5

Personal Rating for Service: 2.5/5

Would I return to this restaurant again?
Yes.

Above: The lovely restaurant… Trattoria Pizzeria Cugini

Trattoria Pizzeria Cugini

Address:
87 Club Street #01-01
Singapore

Tel: +65 6221 3791

Website:
www.cugini.com.sg

Hours/Times:
Daily Noon-3pm, 6:30-11 p.m.

Above: Inside the quaint eaterie.

Above: The street view from outside the eaterie…

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This amazing Thai eaterie came highly recommended by my Mexican colleague cum BFF who’s a regular at this fine dining restaurant.

Truly, this restaurant lives up to its reputation. I have tried Tom Yum Goong soup at many Thai restaurants…but the Tom Yum Soup at this eaterie is par excellence! Yes, beyond excellent.

We ordered four dishes + dessert + wine/ coffee and the bill came to S$180++ for 2 persons. It’s a tad on the expensive side BUT it is amongst the cheapest restaurants located around the area!

This is what we’ve ordered. My friend has tried quite a lot of the dishes here and also gave top marks to their Green Curry dish! So, please take note!

Above: ตมยํากุง, ปลา ๏ Dtom Yam Gung, Pla (S$20.50 per pot. Good for 4 bowls)
Spicy and sour prawns or fish soup with lemongrass, galangal, chilli, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and fresh lime juice. Yum!

Above: ผัดฉาหอยเชลล ๏ Pat Chaa Hoey Shell (S$32.00)
Stir-fried scallops with fresh chili, peppercorns, wild ginger and holy basil leaves or with chilli jam and sweet basil leaves.

Above: ผัดผักรวม ๏ Pat Pak Ruam Nahm-mun-hoey (S$17.70)
Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables with Oyster Sauce.

Above: ผัดไทยกุง ๏ Pat Thai Gung (S$19.30)
Sabai’s “famous tasty Thai Fried Noodle”. Stir-fried noodles with prawns, chicken, yellow bean curd, eggs, grounded peanuts and sweet tamarind sauce.

Above: ขาวเหนียวมะมวง ๏ Kao Niew Mamuang (S$14.50)
Sabai’s famous Mango with sweetened sticky rice. Ooh, this is my absolute favorite!! I can’t find the words to describe it. Just ORDER IT! You won’t regret it!

Above: ทับทิมกรอบ ๏ Tap Tim Grop (S$7.00)
Water-chestnut in syrup and coconut milk. This is just average. It didn’t “wow” me as much as the Mango with Sticky Rice dessert.

Above: Wine anyone? Per glass of white wine (Savignon Blanc) cost S$18.00++

Above: The Coffee is great here! (S$6.00++ per cup)

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My personal opinion?

I LOVE this eaterie. The Thai food here is indeed deserving of praises. It’s truly one of the best Thai food I’ve tasted in a long while. I am referring to the Sabai Thai Restaurant at the Customs House branch. Not the other one at Ngee Ann City. The Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay Restaurant has a million dollar view of the Marina Bay.

And you can even catch the WonderFull Sound and Light Show (a nightly event) from your table if you dine al fresco - which is my recommendation!

Personal Rating for Food: 5/5

Personal Rating for Ambience: 5/5

Personal Rating for Service: 5/5

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Sabai Fine Thai on the Bay Restaurant
Authentic Fine Thai Cuisine

Address:
70 Collyer Quay
Customs House #01-02
Singapore 049323 
Tel: +65 6535 3718-9

Opening Hours:
11:30 - 14:00, 17:00 - 22:00

Website: http://www.sabaifinethai.com.sg/

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Information about the Restaurant

Chef:
Majority Thai female chefs

Sommelier
Jan-Peer Lehfeldt

Head waiter
Nickie Sangngampal/ Jan-Peer Lehfeldt

Wheelchair Accessible
Yes

Parking
Valet parking at Fullerton Bay Hotel/ Hourly Parking at NTUC buidling

Smoking
No

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One of my BFFs is a Mexican expatriate on a 2-year stint in Singapore. Many a times, she told me she misses a good mean Mexican meal. So far, her verdict for good Mexican restaurants in Singapore are Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant and Pedra Negra Mexican Restaurant. The rest of the so-called Mexican restaurants in Singapore have failed her taste test.

Needless to add, when this new Mexican eaterie opened its doors recently (this March 2013), I excitedly brought it to her attention. It so happened that her hubby was on a business trip that weekend and I too was free that weekend (in a long time!)…and that means - a girls’ night out! Yay! We were bent on scouring the BEST Mexican restaurants in the city!

We decided to give Mex Out Mexican Restaurant at Far East Square a try (after reading all those rave reviews from The Sunday Times to Epicure magazine et al!).

To say we were disappointed is an understatement. Even I (who ain’t Mexican) can tell you I have tried better Mexican food! It is also not cheap to dine at this casual eaterie.

My Mexican friend and I both had the Rice Bowls. She took the Beef Rice Bowl whilst I settled on the Chicken Rice Bowl. We shared the Nachos and a Jug of Margarita and the total bill came to S$67.00!

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Above: The Menu written on the chalkboard.

Above: The Beef Rice Bowl (ordered by my Mexican friend). S$13.00

Above: This is my Chicken Rice Bowl with Guacamole on top. S$16.00

Above: Do you believe this Nachos cost S$13.00? The Salsa dip was tasteless and the chips were soggy (like it had been left out in the open for a long time). My Mexican friend returned the dish and insisted that they serve us with warm crispy fresh Nachos! They did. It was better the second time round. The Nachos was warm, crispy and fresh.

Above: The 2 Rice Bowls + Nachos we ordered…..

Above: …together with this jug of Margarita (good for 4 glasses). S$25.00 per jug.

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The ordering process… Chipotle style!

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For this kind of price, we can dine comfortably in a lovely restaurant. This eaterie is not what I would call a “restaurant” or a “cafe”. It has more of a McDonald’s feel to it.

I guess they wanted to emulate the Chipotle chain of eateries in the United States. Except that the food at Chipotle tastes way, way better.

My Mexican expat friend was sorely disappointed with the food (and the price). I am too.

I really doubt if we would return UNLESS the owners decide to do something radical and re-look at improving the quality of food served at this place.

Personal Rating for Food: 1/5

Personal Rating for Ambience: 2.5/5

Above: The view from the restaurant. We chose to dine al fresco that evening.

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Mex Out
#01-01 Far East Square
39 Pekin Street
Singapore

Phone:
+65 6536-9953

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm

Area:
Raffles Place

Nearest Train:
Raffles Place

Website:
www.mexout.com

Email:
gm@mexout.com

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Above: The famed Linguine Alla Modesto (flat spaghetti with fresh prawns, squid, mussels, whole crab, anchovies, capers, olives, fresh tomatoes, garlic and white wine cooked in the traditional Italian Cartoccio style).

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If you are looking for a lovely place to unwind in an al fresco environment, watch sports on a huge TV screen over beer, pasta, pizza and seafood, may I recommend you - Modesto’s at the Orchard Parade Hotel? This is the only outlet we love (there are a few other outlets runned by Modesto’s).

The ambience is perfect. Lots of tourists but the crowd is generally fun and casual. Service, though, could be improved. It took us a while (after waving frantically) before a waiter/waitress came to our table!

This eaterie specializes in wood-fired pizza and homemade pasta. Their menu is pretty sizeable catering to just about every taste. One of the must-try dish is the Linguine Alla Modesto (Seafood Linguine in traditional Cartoccio style). Truly mamma mia!

Do note that the food portions are large - like those you’ll find in the USA. In a way, it is value for money.

One of my gripes in dining here is their coffee. Even their thickest coffee is too bland and diluted for me. Maybe I’ve grown accustomed to drinking Italian coffee that anything else seems too diluted to me eg the Americano.

Enjoy my recommendations for a rad dinner at this al fresco restaurant!

Above: Crema di Funghi (S$12.00). Home-made Cream of fresh Mushroom Soup, topped with cream.

Above: Fritto Misto (S$24.00). An assortment of deep-fried soft shell crab, squid, silver bream and prawns - served with tartar sauce.

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Above: Quattro Stagioni (Regular size: S$26.50). Ingredients include Tomato, Cheese, Mixed Seafood, cooked Pork Ham, Mushrooms and Black Kalamata Olives.

Above: Capricciosa (Regular size: S$24.50). Ingredients include Tomato, Cheese, cooked Pork Ham, Mushrooms and Artichokes.

Above: Yup, this is the house speciality pasta! Linguine Alla Modesto. I love crabs but I wish they had removed the crab shells ;-)

Above: Warm bread with Olive Oil, anyone?

Above: Double Espresso (S$6.50).

Above: The House Blend Coffee (S$4.50). It is very diluted!

Above: Watching sports on TV!

Personal Food Rating: 4/5
Service Level: 1.5/5

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Modesto’s (Orchard Parade Hotel)

Address:
1 Tanglin Road
#01-09/10 Orchard Parade Hotel
Singapore

Tel: +65 62357808

URL: http://www.modestos.com.sg/

** All photos shown on this page taken using the iPhone 4S (late last year). I didn’t bring along my bulkier Canon Powershot G15 camera. Excuse the bad lighting and grainy photos. Thank you! **

Yeah, this was the amount of food we ate! A 10-course dinner.

I had a really delicious Chinese New Year “Lo Hei” dinner at the lovely Lei Garden Restaurant with my colleagues. It is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore serving first-class Cantonese cuisine. It’s a tad pricier than most restaurants (eg Jumbo Seafood Restaurant) but the food you get here is par excellence!

We booked a huge Private Room for our Chinese New Year dinner. To get a private room, you need to order a minimum sum of S$1,600 for dinner. And the room is yours (together with a waitress/waiter) for the evening.

We chose the S$1,600 menu for 10 pax per table; 4 tables in total. This amount does not include the government tax and service charge. With drinks (wine, cocktails and Chinese Tea) included, our bill doubled up pretty quickly!

What makes this Cantonese restaurant stand apart from the rest of the chinese restaurants is its location. As you enter this bustling enclave of retail shops, restaurants, and nightspots, it’s difficult to imagine this was once a convent which, at its founding in 1854, consisted of a lone, simply constructed bungalow. After decades of buildings and add-ons, this collection of unique yet perfectly blended structures — a school, a private residence, an orphanage, a stunning Gothic chapel, and many others — was enclosed within walls, forming peaceful courtyards and open spaces encompassing an entire city block.

An evening out at CHIJMES is exquisitely romantic.

A note on the name:
CHIJMES is pronounced as ‘Chimes’; the ‘Chij,’ as noted, stands for Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, and the ‘mes’ was just added on so they could pronounce it ‘Chimes.’

** Note:
Lo Hei/ Yu Sheng: Yusheng or Yee Sang (Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng) aka Prosperity Toss or Lo Hei (Cantonese for 撈起 or 捞起) is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means “raw fish” but since “fish (鱼)” is commonly conflated with its homophone “abundance (余)”, Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, Yu Sheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor. It is a mandatory dish that the Chinese partake in during every Chinese New Year.

And now, please seat back and enjoy the dishes!

Above: The Treasure Platter “Yu Sheng”

Above: Raw Salmon. This is to be added into the Treasure Platter “Yu Sheng” just before tossing!

Above: With all the additional ingredients added in to the Treasure Platter “Yu Sheng”, everyone at the table will now stand up, speak a few words of blessings and prosperity wishes…before tossing the ingredients sky high with their chopsticks. This symbolizes Good Luck ;-) Seriously.

Above: Doubled-boiled Sea Treasure in Deluxe Clear Soup.

Above: Panfried Live King Prawn with Light Soya Sauce.

Above: Live Sea Grouper Prepared in Two Ways

Above: Braised Sliced Abalone with Dry Oyster and Black Moss

Above: Baked Venus Chicken in Lei Garden Special

Above: Poached Seasonal Vegetable with Silver Mushroom

Above: Braised E-Fu Noodle in Abalone Sauce

Above: Chilled Fresh Mango Juice with Pomelo and Sago (Dessert).

Above: Specially Prepared Chinese Golden Pastry. It is rice crackers actually.

Above: White wine, anyone? The Oyster Bay white wine is not cheap here. S$200++ per bottle at this restaurant!

Personal Food Rating: 5/5!

Above: The huge Private Room that could accommodate 40 persons!

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Lei Garden Restaurant - Chijmes

Address:
30 Victoria Street #01-24 
Chijmes
Singapore 187996

Tel : (65) 6339 3822 
Restaurant’s URL: http://www.leigarden.hk/English/local_detail.asp?id=5635AF31-4625-4400-8949-9BB92E13E1B9

Opening Hours:
Lunch : 11.30am to 3pm
Dinner : 6pm to 11 pm

We were at the luxurious Capella Hotel for a business meeting in mid-January 2013. As you can imagine, this all-suite cum villa hotel blew me away with its class. We took a look at their 1-bedroom villa (complete with a plunge pool) and outdoor shower and were nothing less than impressed.

And for lunch, their Spanish chef whipped up a delightful (and delicious meal for us). It is truly one of the best Spanish lunches I have ever tasted. It is on par with the lunch I had at the Ritz Madrid Hotel in Spain.

Above: A basket of warm bread with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, anyone? Really tasty!

Above: Chilled Gazpacho with Crispy Croutons and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Ooh la la! I had chilled Gazpacho in one of the restaurants in the La Mancha region in Spain and it made me hate cold soups after that. But this…this Gazpacho at The Knolls is sooo different!

Above: Macaroni Land and Sea with Wagyu Meatballs + Seared Scallop. Oh my, this dish was so delicious, I licked the plate clean. Well, kinda. I’m sure you caught my drift!

Above: Crema Catalana with Seasonal Berries. Another heavenly concoction!

The Knolls also served some amazing Western dishes. The chef impressed us with this set lunch the following day:

Above: Baby Romaine Salad with Grilled Asparagus, Cherry Tomato Confit, Parmesan Crisps and Lemon Aioli.

Above: Steamed Cod Fish with Vegetable Risotto and Yuzu Emulsion. I am not a Risotto person but my goodness, this risotto was cooked to perfection! I finished the entire dish!

Above: My colleague chose Sirloin Steak as his main dish. He mentioned it was cooked too rare. I saw blood still oozing out of his steak. Er… Maybe ordering the fish is a better idea. He had to wait for another 20 minutes for them to re-cook his steak. Sigh.

Above: Sorbet Trio for Dessert. Mango Lime, Wild Strawberry, Citrus Orange & Crisp Meringue.

All the above dishes which we have tried can be ordered a la carte style from the restaurant’s menu.

You can also dine outdoors at the Knolls. The Hotel’s resident peacocks will entertain you with their antics for sure ;-) Don’t worry. They are harmless.

Above: Al fresco dining.

Above: This is the RAD view from the restaurant.

Above: The restaurant also has an impressive wine list.

Above: The Main Entrance to the Knolls Restaurant.

Personal Rating: 5/5!

This is truly one of the best restaurants that I’ve dined in that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you order a soup/salad, main dish, dessert and coffee or tea, it would cost slightly less than S$80.00 per pax… with an unbeatable ambience and view of the pool and ocean! The main dishes cost between S$34.00 to S$38.00.

Would I return to the Knolls to check out their famed High Tea? Yes, Yes, Yes! Even though it’s located on Sentosa island, I’d still come!

The Knolls

Address:
The Capella Hotel
1 The Knolls
Level 1
Sentosa Island
Singapore 098297 

Tel: +65-6591-5046
Hotel Website: http://www.capellahotels.com/singapore/default-en.html
Restaurant Website: http://www.capellahotels.com/singapore/the-knolls-,dining_viewItem_14-en.html

Viva España!

I am not kidding you when I say that Hock Lam Beef Noodles is by far the BEST beef noodles I have ever tasted. In the world. And trust me, I have tried many different types (including the Vietnamese Pho). But nothing…NOTHING can compare to Hock Lam’s! No wonder the founder’s daughter, Ms Tina Tan quit her high-paying banking job to run the business. This businesswoman has expanded the business to 4 outlets island-wide now. We sincerely hope she’d be able to expand her operations worldwide because the rest of the world really needs to try just how rad this dish is.

My foreigner friend rated this dish: 9/10! He was simply blown away by the beef noodles. I asked him “have you tried beef noodles before?”. His reply “No. This is really the best noodles I have ever tasted”. And he doesn’t lie.

Seriously, you guys need to check it out for yourself.

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Here is an article which appeared in THE BUSINESS TIMES
- written by Tan Teck Heng | Tue Oct 2 2012:

You cannot deny that a recipe that has been around for 101 years has staying power.

Throw in fourth-generation owner Tina Tan’s branding savvy to the tried-and-tested Hock Lam beef noodles, and you get a winning formula.

The flagship stall in China Street has the look of hawker fare given a 2.0 upgrade, joining the ranks of Ya Kun; google the Hock Lam Beef name and you will be pointed to a put-together website, complete with YouTube video marking its centennial.

Ms Tan, who ditched a high-paying banking career to take over the stall in 2005, said: “My father took a year to pass me the recipe, and there’s no recording of it as he doesn’t want to leak it.”

Spurred to make the career switch because her father’s failing health would have meant the end of a legacy, she went from a desk job to 16-hour-days preparing ingredients - she slices up 60kg of beef herself - and managing the daily operations. She has no regrets.

The manpower issue continues to dog her. The prep work is brutally labour intensive: the chilli, for instance, takes five days’ work because of the addition of blue ginger, which has to be hand-shredded, squeezed, then sun-dried and de-veined with scissors.

She adamantly refuses to cut corners on this, saying it is part of educating the younger generation of customers so a heritage is not lost.

But the chilli definitely complements the beef slices, which are briefly scalded so they remain deliciously pink and tender.

Going for the noodles in soup is a good choice. The broth is characteristically Teochew with a mild, simple herbal flavour.

If you still prefer the dry version, add some pickled vegetable garnish. It is juicy and a tad too salty, but does the job to moderate the thick sauce so it does not get too heavy.

Despite staffing problems, Ms Tan has expanded to a total of four outlets; a new branch at Alexandra Retail Centre offers an extended menu which will be rolled out to other branches soon.

Her brother Ken has joined the business.

To those who gripe that $6.50 to $8.50 for a Hock Lam original is too steep, Ms Tan has this snappy comeback: “Why is one more willing to pay more than $15 for a bowl of ramen with three thin slices of pork?”

Fine, she’s got us there.

** End of Article **
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We dined at the Alexandra Retail Centre (ARC) outlet. This is possibly the most upmarket of all the outlets. For 2 pax, it can cost almost S$60.00 to dine here if you choose 2 set meals with 1-2 additional dishes e.g. vegetables like what we ordered.

Per set meal comprising of 1 bowl of Beef Noodles, 1 side dish and 1 drink costs about S$15.00.

But hey, for such wonderful food, we don’t mind paying a little bit more!

Above: Long Beans with Chye Poh (Pickled Vegetables). Their signature dish. Highly recommended. It is truly delish!

Above: Spicy Chicken Nuggets. This comes as part of the Set Meal. Really succulent yet, so crispy!

Above: Coleslaw. This also comes as part of a Set Meal. You have an option to choose either Spicy Chicken Nuggets or Coleslaw as your side dish.

Above: Fried Pumpkin. My friend apparently loves this!

Official Website: http://www.hocklambeef.com/blog/

Food Rating: 5/5 (yes, I am serious)

HOCK LAM BEEF

Outlets:
Far East Square:
22 China Street, #01-01, Far East Square
Tel: +65 6220 9290

Operating Hours:
Monday to Sunday & PH: 10.00am – 9.00pm

Upper Serangoon:
949 Upper Serangoon Road
Tel: 6285 6119

Operating Hours:
Monday: Closed | Tuesday to Friday: 5.00pm to 11.00pm | Saturday, Sunday & PH: 10.00am – 11.00pm

Seah Street:
38 Seah Street
Tel: +65 6339 9641
Nearest MRT station: Esplanade, City Hall

ARC:
Alexandra Retail Center #02-24
460 Alexandra road
Singapore 119963

With so much hoopla and buzz surrounding this celebrity chef-owned Pizzeria (we are looking at you, Chef Mario Batali), it really got us all curious! And me, with the uber-adventurous taste bud (seriously, I would try ALL kinds of food at least once) decided that my next food adventure will be at THE Pizzeria Mozza here in Singapore.

Firstly, ensure that you have made dinner reservations at least 1 week in advance. This place gets sooo unbelievably crowded on weekends, including Friday nights. When I called for a dinner reservation less than a week before our dinner date on a Friday night at the Pizzeria, I was told by the Concierge that the EARLIEST they can sit us for dinner is at the 9.30pm seating! Oh my, I’d be starving by then. No amount of begging can make them change their minds. However, they did tell me that we could drop by at 8.00pm and if the dinner guests did not turn up, they’d give us a table. Alternatively, we could dine at the bar area! Er, not a great idea because I was clad in a mini dress that night. Anyhow, we decided to take our chances and arrived at the famed Pizzeria at 7.45pm (no thanks to the horrendous traffic jam on a Friday evening) and queued in line. The odds were definitely in our favor that evening.

Lo and behold, someone had backed out at the eleventh hour and we were given their table! We did not have to wait. Phew! Really good news indeed.

And now, my first impressions of this eaterie: This place was so unbelievably crowded on a Friday night. This also means that it can get really VERY noisy! The owners should really do something about this place because the noise was bouncing off the walls! The American seated next to us was talking at the TOP of his voice. My expat friend and I glared at him a few times but he did not catch our killer gaze! He looked like a carbon copy of Steve Wozniak. So dear Sir, if YOU are reading this blog, just know that you have been terribly inconsiderate! And yes, I heard everything you said about your sordid love life. There! Bribe me and I’ll stay quiet ;-D

As for the food, there are definitely a few winners here. The first thing that strikes you about the pizza here is the thick but crispy crust! I am not a crust person BUT I must admit the way the pizzas are made, even a person who abhors eating crusts WILL love it.

So stay with me as I introduce you to the selection of food we ate and the wine that we drank.

Above: Bruschetta - courtesy of the eaterie. Yummy!

Above: For our Antipasti, we shared the Calamari Al Forno with Fagioli and Oregano (S$18.00++). Interestingly, my good looking expat friend loves this dish. Me? I thought it was a tad too raw. Hence, it was very hard to chew! If it weren’t so raw, maybe I would have appreciated it better. To each his own!

Above: For Insalate, I highly recommend the Nancy’s Chopped Salad with Raddichio, Salame, Aged Provolone, Ceci, Pepperoni (S$22.00++). A definite winner! I have NEVER tasted salad this delicious containing THIRTEEN different ingredients inside! For sauce, it was vinaigrette with a tad of lemon in it. Pure heaven!

Above: This Meat Lover Pizza is the 2nd most expensive pizza in the eaterie at S$37.00++ (for a personal size/serving). It contains Bacon, Salami, Fennel Sausage, Pancetta, Tomato and Mozzarella.

Above: Here’s a closer look at my Meat Lover Pizza containing Bacon, Salami, Fennel Sausage, Pancetta, Tomato and Mozzarella (S$37.00++). I could only eat 2 slices and gave my friend the rest of my pizza (2 slices!).

Above: My friend’s Prosciutto Pizza (S$31.00++) containing Prosciutto di Parma, Rucola, Tomato & Mozzarella. I did not try this pizza (I was too stuffed!) but my friend says it is “Wunderbar!” ;-) So it must be!

Above: Vino rosso, anyone? My friend drank a few glasses of Regaleali red wine (S$120.00++ per bottle/ $19.00++ per glass). I had the Peach Bellini (S$18.00++).

Above: The total damage for the night ;-) It really wasn’t too bad. When we ate at the posh fine dining sister restaurant Osteria Mozza (next door), the bill came to about S$500.00++. Ah yes, inclusive of a bottle of Chianti wine, of course.

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Food Rating: 5/5

Ambience: 3.5/5 (Maybe we were seated next to the wrong crowd!)

Service: 5/5

Address:
Osteria & Pizzeria Mozza
2 Bayfront Ave #B1-42/46
The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Tel: +65 6688 8522

Website: http://www.pizzeriamozza.com

Would I recommend you to dine here? Why, most definitely! It surely is one of the cheapest restaurants here in the Marina Bay Sands. AND it serves the best pizza in Singapore, in my humble opinion. In case you are not aware, this place is littered with celebrity chef-owned restaurants from the world famous Wolfgang Puck to Mario Batali and Hide Yamamoto amongst the elite.

Enjoy!

Welcome to celebrity chef, Mario Batali’s new restaurant here in Singapore - the Osteria Mozza and the cheaper, Pizzeria Mozza. For today, I will be focussing on his Italian fine-dining eaterie, the Osteria Mozza which is receiving rave reviews in Singapore. He has another Osteria Mozza restaurant located along Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, U.S.A. which is also creating waves over there.

It is surely pure ingenuity when celebrity chef Mario decided to open the Osteria Mozza restaurant right in the heart of the most happening place right now in Singapore - at the Marina Bay Sands. The BEST restaurants and eateries on the island can be found here. Yes, the best! Believe it or not, for such an expensive eaterie, be prepared to pay an average of S$500 for dinner for 2-3 pax which includes a humble bottle of wine.

If you have not made any reservations, do not expect to get a table for the evening…! Yes, it is that popular.

What are my thoughts about dining here?

The service here is beyond excellent. We had a very cute Caucasian waiter who served us. I was deliberating whether he’s Italian or….maybe not…because of his impeccable English. I could not detect any Italian accent when he spoke.

The Italian sommelier who served us was very prim and proper; the no-nonsense type. My dining companion chose our bottle of wine for the evening. So Chianti wine it is! The wines at the restaurant cost from S$120++ to over S$2000++ per bottle.

And now, for the menu: The main ala carte menu comes in 2 serving sizes. The individual (small) portions and the family (main meal) portions. My advice? Please, please choose the individual tasting portion sizes! I made a mistake by choosing the main meal portion for my Aglio Olio Pasta. It was too much. Too much! I utterly regretted it. My dining companion chose the tasting portion size and it was just - perfect! You see, I was really hungry that evening since I hardly ate anything the whole day. Mistake number 2.

Now, let me impress you with the array of food we ate which I am sure, will impress Chef Batali ;-)

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Above: The menu is also available online at http://www.osteriamozza.com/singapore/dinner.cfm

Above: Compliments of the restaurant. Mozzarella Cheese on Crackers, I think! It was really yummy! ;-)

Above: Warm toasted bread dipped in Olive Oil and Vinegar. Compliments of the restaurant

Above: For our appetiser, we chose King Prawns with some salad and a slice of mandarin orange. The prawns were unbelievably fresh cum succulent. And huge! It was worth the price. I think it cost S$20 to S$22.00 per dish.

Above: My friend’s main dish. Pasta - but in individual (tasting size) portion. S$30.00++ per dish.

Above: My main dish - Aglio Olio Pasta (the family portion) which arrived in a pot like dish! :-D Yes, needless to add, it was too much for me to finish. Cost: S$60.00++ per dish. Our waiter recommended me this, although the original dish was tomato-based. I told the waiter I prefer it in Aglio Olio style and the chef promptly agreed to my request.

Above: Our side dish - Fried Potatoes with Rosemary (S$14.00++) per dish. I found it a tad too dry for me. My friend felt it was delish. So there you go. Two different taste buds. Two different opinions! ;-)

Above: Another one of our side dishes - Roasted Cauliflower with Red Onion and Mint Yogurt (S$14.00++). I felt it was a little too raw. And the portions were so huge that we had to get a knife to cut it up to smaller pieces! And no, none of us are old people. If it were a little bit more well-cooked/steamed, the cauliflower would have been perfect.

Above: This was the side dish I chose - Sweet Corn cooked with the most amazing sauce. I can’t find this dish in the menu online. My dinner companion agreed this dish is a winner. It’s simple. And yet, so delish. S$16.00++ per dish.

Above: After-dinner coffee, anyone? It was thick and perfect.

Above: Enjoying my glass of Chianti wine! Mmmmm…..

Above: This was the Chianti wine my friend chose.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out their amazing Mozzarella Bar (located in the center of the restaurant).

In case you are wondering why is it so expensive to dine here. Maybe the following accolades speak volumes.

The Osteria Mozza has been listed as one of the world’s top 50 best restaurants:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/regional-spotlights/singapore/osteria-mozza-and-pizzeria-mozza/

Here’s their DINNER Menu:
http://www.osteriamozza.com/singapore/dinner.cfm

Note: Some of the dishes which we ordered does not seem to be listed in the online menu. I guess they change their menus sometimes!

Above: Some random snapshot I took of 2 gorgeous ladies ;-)

And this is what I think of Osteria Mozza:

Food Rating: 4.5/5

Ambience: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Would I return soon to dine at this fine Italian eaterie? Hell yeah!

Address:
Osteria Mozza
2 Bayfront Avenue
B1 Galleria Level 42-46
Singapore 018972

Website: http://www.osteriamozza.com

Hours of Operation:
Dinner
Daily: 5pm - 11pm
Last Reservation at 10:45pm

Brunch:
Sundays: 12pm - 2pm
Last Reservation at 1:45pm
Free Flow until 2:30

Chi mangia bene, vive bene — One cannot live well, unless one has dined well. #quote

Excuse me if I keep raving about Australian celebrity chef’s Luke Mangan’s latest restaurant - the Salt Tapas & Bar over at Raffles City, Singapore….because it is seriously that good!

For lunch (week days), they have a value-for-money set lunch where you can choose any three items from the menu for S$33.50++. Or you can choose the a la carte option. Each dish is averagely priced at about S$12.00++ to $15.00++. The Sangria (which you MUST try!) costs S$17.00++. Yes, another must-try! You can go online to their official website to check their menu.

This is also a great place to come for after-dinner drinks which we did during the F1 weekend.

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My ONLY grouse is the service… it is SUB-PAR!

Note to Mr Mangan:
Sir, if you are running an upscale restaurant and if you intend to attract an international clientele, please…please…please…DON’T hire service staff from China! The male waiters were OK. The female waitresses at the restaurant needs to be given a pep talk. They can hardly understand English (shocking, I know!)…and some of the girls are down right rude!

The night I was there with my expat friend, one waitress could not wait to get rid of us. Half an hour before the official closing time, she was literally chasing us away by blatantly SWEEPING the floor right under our feet…! To describe my expat friend as being disgusted is an understatement. We have been to restaurants whose service staff willingly worked till closing time. For that, we will always appreciate it and we DO give a big tip. So, if you ask me to rate the service level at Salt Tapas, I’d give it a 1! Yes, 1/5!

Thankfully, the food there is the saving grace. Seriously, Mr Mangan, take note of your regular customers’ advice before we get p*ssed off and move on to another rad tapas bar.

Alright, now that I have said my peace, let me introduce you to the array of tapas we ate.

Above: Roasted Garlic Flat Bread with Romesco. Ooh, yummy!

Above: Parmesan and Truffle Fries (S$10.00).

Above: This dish is really delish! Arancini of Wild Mushroom & Leek with Taleggio and Green Goddess Dressing. Simply, it is really yummy!

Above: Tuna Tartare, Ruby Grapefruit with Wasabi Mayo. This dish is the Spanish answer to the Japanese sashimi…! The tuna is sooo fresh! Perfect!

Above: Wagyu Sausage, Soft Polenta, Capers and Tomato. You can never go wrong with anything Wagyu! ;-)

Above & Below: This is possibly my favorite dish - Crispy Soft-Shell Prawns with Chilli and Garlic Aioli (S$15.00). It looks scary…with the prawn’s heads still intact but trust me, it’s so crispy that you can eat EVERYTHING.

Above: For dessert, may I humbly recommend that you try the Churros and Chocolate (S$11.00). It is delish…but of course I have tasted better Churros [at the impressive Ritz Hotel Madrid’s famed restaurant]. If you have never tried Churros before, you will certainly agree that Salt Tapas’ Churros is rad.

Above: For dessert, I also tried their Banana Chocolate Ice Cream AND Mango Sorbet. Ooh la la!

Above: Coconut Panna Cotta, Mango and Passionfruit for dessert. My friend said it was yummy!

Above: Coffee, anyone?

Food Rating: 5/5

Service Level: 1/5

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Address
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road
Singapore 179103
Telephone +65 6837 0995

Transport
Nearby Stations: City Hall
Bus Lines: 14, 16, 36, 77, 106, 111, 128, 130, 131, 133, 162

Main courses from $9.00 to $32.00
Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-midnight
Sun 11.30am-11pm

Website: http://salttapas.com

Above: After dinner drinks with my expat friend one lovely weekend….

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