The Dark Gallery - A Place to See and to be Seen

As the title of this post has highlighted, this is a chic cafe to hang out at to see the people passing by and to be seen due to the open concept of the place. And I guess chilling out at here gives the impression that one is in a dark, seductive mood, thus having a craving for dark, rumoured to be mildly aphrodisiac chocolates?

Anyway, I have only tried the ice-cream and macarons, and my personal opinion is that the ice-cream is worth a shot while the macarons can be skipped. The ice-cream is very rich, thick and creamy, which is all good. The macarons look so pretty due to the pastel colours and feature some exotic flavours that tempt me to buy four of them to try. Alas, they are huge disappointment. The shells are too flimsy and have lots of huge holes within them, so the chewy texture I relish in macarons is non-existent here. The cream sandwiched between the shells is too thin to allow the flavour in it to be noticeable. The quality of the macarons is not even comparable to those made by some home bakers. It does not help that when I spend more than ten dollars to buy four macarons, they are packed into a pathetic clear plastic bag that can be found in SKP stores.

Service is a mixed bag. One of the staff is thoughtful enough to see that it is pretty unsightly for me to lug around a cheap-looking plastic bag of macarons and offers a paper bag to me to put the macarons in. The other staffs are pretty unimpressive in their standard of service. They look perpetually grumpy and are pretty unhelpful, giving half-hearted answers to my queries.

Maybe the dark chocolates here are good, but it will take a while before I get around to trying them since the service does not make me feel welcomed, and the standard of the macarons here further deters me from jumping into it.

My Thoughts: Not Bad, I mean the Ice Cream only

Nearest car park: Millenia Walk’s car park
Nearest MRT: Promenade

Millenia Walk #01-K5
9 Raffles Boulevard
Contact No: 62550368

Cheval Cafe Bar Bistro - Perfect Place for Chilling Out in Woodlands

Why do I say this is the perfect watering hole for chilling out? Because surrounding this cosy restaurant decorated with dim lights is lush greenery of Singapore Turf Club. And every now and then, one can spot horses walking by. Away from the buzz of city life and stark, glaring lights, it is so easy to feel relaxed here.

The food is pretty good to make this place a great choice for gatherings. Seafood Capellini is very good due to the fine strands of flavourful capellini noodles tossed in mild chilli oil, pan-seared scallops featuring the coveted flavour of grilled meat and prawns with springy flesh. This is a must-order. Though I feel the prawns will taste even better if they are lightly grilled a bit.

The crispy chicken wings are fresh, flavourful and of course, crispy! Nice, hearty snack to start with.

Pumpkin soup is pretty wholesome since it just counted on the cream and mashed pumpkin for the taste. But take note that it is not as flavourful as the chicken wings and capellini. Fish and Chips consists of a huge plate of fries, greens and fried fish coated with batter. Great for big eater, but the fish meat tastes kind of plain.

Lava cake with ice-cream is nice dessert to end the meal. The cake is very well-prepared in which the moment the spoon cut into the cake, molten chocolate flows out from its centre.

Service is pretty laid-back and friendly, typical of that of chill-out place. Best of all, the food is priced very reasonably and well within the budget of most people. With all the right elements in place, this restaurant is definitely one of those I will visit regularly if in the mood to relax or in the vicinity.

Update: The menu is changed to include more mains and set lunch/dinner. Seafood Capellini is replaced by Seafood Aglio E Olio Spaghetti. I have not tried this dish yet to know the difference in taste. The texture will definitely be different since spaghetti is thicker. I find another favourite in the Crab Meat Marinara Spaghetti instead. I do not like spaghetti with tomato sauce in general, but this dish changes my mind since the tomato sauce used here is lighter in texture and the tangy taste and yet the spaghetti is incredibly flavourful. The spaghetti is not al dente, but it is firm in texture, so I like it.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest carvpark: Singapore Turf Club’s car park
Nearest MRT: Marsiling

1 Equestrian Walk
Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre
Contact No: 62690918

Tonkichi - Value for Money Set Lunches

For a filling, all rounded meal, Tonkichi is a pretty good choice to consider since the set meal features free-flow of shredded cabbage and decently sized fried meat patty. The breadcrumbs coating the meat is crunchy yet does not have needle-like texture that cuts the tongue—I had eaten tonkatsu with texture like that before, for the record. I like the creamy, nutty sesame sauce that goes very well with the finely shredded cabbage.

Service is a mixed bag. Some auntie staffs are pretty friendly and helpful, but some staffs are rude and look really grouchy. On my first visit there, I requested to change my table to a vacant one nearby, but they rejected me with a grumpy look worn on their faces. The most frustrating part is that a couple who came in later were shown to the table I wanted, and no, they did not reserve that table at first. The service is better on the second visit though.

As for the reason I wanted to change table, well, when seated at that table, I found myself staring at the entrance to the kitchen, and I can say that it is not a pleasant sight. The corridor leading to it is dark, grim and gloomy. And the rubbish bin put at the entrance is in a state that makes me lost my appetite. Really, if you have a choice, avoid sitting at there.

If I am in a budget mode, I do not mind going there to give the wallet a break. But if in a mood to spend, I prefer to go to Saboten.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

Nearest car park: Ngee Ann City's car park
Nearest MRT: Orchard

391 Orchard Road
Ngee Ann City, #04-24
Singapore
Contact No: 67357522

Yoogane - Novelty in the Presentation of the Food

Closed

This restaurant is all about Chicken Galbi, which is prepared right in front of the patrons. A huge pan of fresh raw ingredients consisting of marinated chicken and crisp, fresh chopped vegetables is brought to the table, and a service staff will stir-fry them till a pan of piping hot chicken galbi is ready for tucking in. The seasonings on the chicken make it very flavourful and adds taste to the plain vegetables. This is really one hearty meal. Sides are not bad, do well to whet the appetite but lacks variety.

The place is open concept with only short fences drawing the boundaries of the restaurant. The good part about this is that it is great for gatherings since patrons will have no reservations about having boisterous conversations. Service is pretty okay, nothing worth that extra mention, but I do give them the credit for whipping up a decent meal.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Tasty Court - Bedok’s Humble Little Secret

At first look, this restaurant looks like your typical Chinese restaurant, with round tables, fuss-free interior and task-oriented staffs who get things done with brutal efficiency. But after taking a perk at the menu, it is revealed that this place has some specialties up its sleeve to set it apart from its competitors.

The dishes featured are mostly unique creations of Chef Pung instead the usual old-school types, which is what I prefer and gives me the extra incentive to go there for meals. Crispy Fried Prawn Dumpling is the best ngoh hiang I have tried, period. The ingredients are fresh, and it is light on oiliness. The best part is that it has the pronounced flavour of prawns and extra seasonings, thus making it slightly different in taste and a notch above ngoh hiang from other places.

The taste of Stewed Rice Vermicelli with Seafood and Superior Stock in Opeh Leaf is as unique as its appearance. Served in opeh leaf, the vermicelli is soaked in the robust flavours of seafood. This is a must-order.

Seasonal vegetables of Gai Lan is crisp and fresh while Crispy “Dong Tok” Roasted Chicken is very tasty. Unlike the plain usual chicken breast meat, the one here is flavourful due to the good preparation of the meat.

The awesome part about this restaurant is the great price tags, so meals here are extremely value for money. I will definitely go back again to try more unique dishes, which do not hurt the wallet at all, and update this post accordingly.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: URA car park along Figaro Street
Nearest MRT: Bedok

1 Figaro Street
Contact No: 66383533

Mizuki - The Little Details that Impress

The second one steps into the restaurant, it becomes obvious that this restaurant aims to provide a dining experience that is like no other through incorporating little fine details into every facet. From the get-go, be prepared to immerse in the strong Japanese vibe while walking down the corridor, where wooden panels with Japanese floral motifs lined the walls, leading to the private rooms and counter seats. And once inside the private room, the interior takes on Japanese posh, minimalist style, letting the gorgeous ornate hanging crystal lamps be the centrepiece of the place. Ambience wise, I can really find no fault with the place. It is perfect, and no surprise, since the interior was designed by a Japanese designer who look into all details, including those in the restrooms.

When my glass of water is served, the fine, elaborate floral patterns on the glass immediately catches my attention. I like this attention to details, and all the more so when I find out that the glass was handmade in Japan. And so do all the beautiful delicate sake glasses that come in many colours. It is quite an experience to choose one from a box of lovely handmade glass cups. It definitely helps that the sake is smooth and sweet. Yes, I do recommend ordering the sake there for the experience.

The starter of vegetables is pretty interesting, which whets the appetite.

On my second visit, the starter consists of fine seawood that thoroughly absorbs the sweet vinegar is so simulating and refreshing in taste. This is a great way to start the meal.

The real show starts when the chawamushi is presented. It is the best chawamushi I ever have. The rich custard is submerged in the thick, starchy, clear broth that holds lots of umami flavours. Not only is the custard full of flavours, the texture of the broth also adds a nice twist to it.

Next up is the sushi for the $48 set lunch: eight pieces of them to be exact. I love it that fresh fishes of better quality are used instead of the usual suspects of salmon, akami, etc. Hirame has very clean taste that I appreciate and I definitely love the thick slab of whole Hotate. Bonito, while looks like the redder version of akami, is way better in taste due to more intense flavour and smoother texture. Chutoro has that melt-in-mouth texture, thus it is for sure the highlight among the sushi pieces. The other fishes all get the ticks of approval from me due to their freshness. And got to make a special mention of the mackerel, which reminds me of the unbelievably awesome Aji at Shinji, due to the dot of green condiment perching on top of the sushi. Well, the mackerel is tad too fishy to my liking, but the simulating flavours of the condiment tones down the fishy taste a lot, making this sushi an enjoyable treat.

As for the sushi line-up on my second visit there, it is ten pieces of sushi served one by one for the $80 set lunch. And I am totally wowed over by the dining experience of sitting at the counter and enjoying the premium sushi. This reminds me so much of the amazing experience at Shinji. As I has said, part of the dining experience at such Japanese restaurants consists of watching the chef carefully prepares the sushi and savouring the morsels, one by one, and right after they are ready. The aburi otoro is amazingly buttery in taste, aburi snapper successfully showcases the great matrimony of the clean taste of snapper and the smoky flavour of grilled meat, the ama ebi are big and sweet and so is the hotate. Aji is served instead of saba, and the difference is obvious. Aji has slightly more silky flesh and does not have the strong fishy smell. Paired with the green dot of condiment, it is truly morsel of délice, which is pretty close to what I had at Shinji. The uni is fresh and oh-so-sweet, which definitely makes me a happy foodie.

Kappa temaki is kind of like the humble sibling of the sushi pieces. The good part about it is the nice crispy toasty seaweed that I enjoy munching on. It is actually more for filling the tummy, as an accompaniment treat, rather than standing out in its own. For the $80 set meal, we have negitoro temaki instead, and I love the creamy texture of the minced tuna belly. This temaki does stand out on its own and as the last of the mains to be served, it seals the deal perfectly.

Miso is the clear type, which is my preference.

Dessert of Japanese ice-cream completes the meal. It does not blow me away, but it is a nice dessert, full of black sesame goodness, to end the meal. But I highly recommend choosing the mochi instead, if you have no allergy to peanut. The mochi almost melts in my mouth instantly the moment I bite into it. I never have such awesome mochi before. For this, the mochi is definitely worth a try.

One more thing, I highly recommend ordering the side of Cheese Tempura. For one, one does not easily find this dish anywhere else. And just imagine melted cheese encased in crispy tempura batter, yes, it is very good.

The service here is absolutely wonderful and meticulous, matching up to the level of intricacy of the food and setting. Even though I am seated at the private room, I have no problem getting the attention of the service crew since they are always on the go. I am thoroughly impressed.

For set lunch starting from $48 only, this is definitely value for money. And it is worth it to go there at least once, for the experience. For me, I will go there more than once, that is for sure.

My Thoughts: Awesome!

Nearest car park: Ngee Ann City's car park
Nearest MRT: Orchard

#05-32, Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Contact No: 67346308

G Patisserie - Creations that pack a punch

With a name such as The G-Spot for a cake, you know this patisserie is looking to dazzle. And this place does pretty well at that with its selection of cakes.

The G-Spot is all about dark chocolate, with different components such as mousse, meringue and feuilletine carefully put together to create a seductive, intense dessert that is very rich. And the feuilletine adds the texture to mousse cake, which is what I like. The minor gripe I have with this cake is that the feuilletine is a tad hard to break into bite-size pieces.

Lychee Rose Cheesecake is almost perfect to the point that I feel this is by far the best lychee rose confectionary I have. Usually rose cake has the tendency to be a bit too sweet, which is accentuated by the sweet aroma of rose, but not this Lychee Rose Cheesecake. The sweetness is at just the right level, allowing the hint of saltiness of the cheese to shine through. The result is a nuanced yet exciting amalgamation of flavours. Rose and lychee is a match made in heaven since both have very sweet fragrances, thus no surprise that this cheesecake is winner because of the combination of rose and lychee. The burst of lychee flavour comes from the jelly perched on top of the rose cheesecake. It works to let each ingredient stand out on its own before they are melded together during the savouring of the cake. And I love it that this cheesecake has melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Service is pretty okay, and the furnishings are of Muji style, providing a relaxing environment to lounge in. Still, the stars are the cakes.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Millenia Walk's car park
Nearest MRT: Promenade

9 Raffles Boulevard
Millenia Walk, #01-40/41
Singapore
Contact No: 63387578