Dragon Bowl - Surprisingly Good Chinese Food

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It is not easy to find decent Chinese restaurants in the heartlands, so when Dragon Bowl set up a branch at Greenwich—one of those places I go to often due to the convenience, we decided to check it out. I was not impressed then, by both the food and service. I kind of refused to go there again when my companion wanted to since he is so into Chinese cuisine. After a long time, with him keep saying that things have greatly improved over there since he brings his family there for dinner regularly, I take the plunge again. And he is right on that! After a few visits, and here I am, writing about this restaurant.

The prawns used here is very fresh since I have no allergy reactions from eating them. And the round, plump prawn dumplings, aka haw gow, are generously packed with lots of prawn stuffing. Another highlight is the Mango Prawn Rolls, which is prepared in a unique fashion. The mango and prawn are stuffed into super crunchy dough-fritter-like exterior, and then the roll is cut in half before being served. The look of the prawns soaked in slightly molten mango inside the fried dough sure whets the appetite. And the texture is perfect because of the crispy fried dough wrapping the springy prawn and mango. This is a must try in the restaurant.

I also like the limited edition Qing Long vegetable, which is a kind of chives. The vegetable was expertly fried to retain the freshness, moisture and green colour while ensuring that the flavours of garlic and seasoning are thoroughly infused into it.

I do remember that what changed my mind about this restaurant is the National Day set meal. It is very value for money since lots of fresh seafood are featured, from abalone, crayfish to sea cucumber. And I enjoy all dishes, except for the rice since there is too much rich paired with too little ingredients. The manager told us that they have specials every now and then, so keep our eyes peeled for new promotions.

Service improves a lot also. And since my companion is a regular there, they immediately recognize him and sometimes, some of them standing near the door will welcome us into the restaurant.

Dragon Bowl is definitely a good and convenient choice to satisfy our cravings for Cantonese cuisine.

My Thoughts: Nice!

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Mai Thai - Spicy Goodness and Best Tom Yum Soup

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Seems like there are some changes made to the dishes after my first time, disastrous dining experience there where I had fallen sick due to the incredible level of hotness in the food. Things had gotten much better since they had added non spicy options in the set menu, and if I am not wrong, the level of spiciness can be adjusted, unlike last time.

Ambience wise, the place has a very exotic vibe with strong Thai influences. The service is okay.

As for the food, lots of ingredients and spices are added to create dishes with strong aroma and very simulating tastes, alternating between sourness, saltiness and spiciness. The curries are bursting with flavours, so do the tom yam soup, but lots of milk tea needed to quench the flaming sensations resulted. The grilled chicken itself is being imbued with a light charred flavour and essence of a few spices. When paired with the sauce, things kick into high gear. Yes, more milk tea needed in this case. The prawn paste balls have a very crispy exterior and an interior packed with fresh, delicious prawn paste. No hint of the smell of used oil, so thumbs-up to this. The milk tea is very sweet due to lots of evaporated milk added, but I appreciate strong taste of milk and that it helps to put out the fire on the tastebuds.

The Tom Yum Soup here is the best among all the Tom Yum soups I have tried. No doubt about it. Lots of ingredients like lemongrass, prawns, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, spring onions and spices are added to create this little bowl of tangy goodness. Absolutely simulating on the taste buds and appetite-whetting, this clear soup has the right balance of spicy and tangy flavours, completed with the strong aroma of the spices and seafood. No other Tom Yum soup packs as much flavours as Mai Thai's Tom Yum Soup. And to add a cherry on top of the cake, patrons can request for the less spicy version of the soup, which is what I always do.

The Mango Sticky Rice is another must-try. The starchy, sticky, smooth glutinous rice has crystal-like appearance, and when served warm with coconut drizzled on it, it is a delightful treat. When paired with the slightly cold, sweet mango slices, the contrast produces fireworks on the palates. This makes a satisfying dessert with its multitude of flavours and aromas.

Go for the set lunch, which is very value for money. Ala carte dishes are quite expensive, considering the small potions. But the dishes do cater to most palates, so this place is a great venue for gatherings.

I can't say that I'm blown away by the food here since the dishes are quite humble type that create an impression through overwhelming, bling bling kind of taste with no subtlety. But it is a place I like to go to once in a while to enjoy Thai food since my taste buds appreciate the shock therapy every now and then. In addition, I do love their generous use of spices in their dishes which is unlike many other places. By the way, among the Thai establishments I had visited, this is the only Thai restaurant that I write about, goes to show that this is the only one that gives me enough motivation to do it.

My Thoughts: Lots of Kick!

Note: This restaurant does not look like it is still in operation. And nobody in Greenwich V's management office answers my phone calls to confirm this.

Update: Yes, this place is no longer in operation, and the Holland V branch is no longer in operation also.

Cedele (Greenwich V) - One of my Favourite Cafes

Just imagine, enjoying wholesome pancakes with real maple syrup, or quality sausages or the luscious, rich, delicious blueberry maple cake/strawberry fields cake/carrot cake or flavourful seafood pasta or scones, with a cup of fragrant, organic tea at a tranquil, casual and comfortable environment, looking out at the water features and coconut trees, with no nearby tall buildings to block the view. This is one of the pure enjoyments of life. Whether it is day or night, this is a great place to enjoy the real, wholesome, tasty food with great relaxing ambience.

It helps that the staffs are friendly and helpful. I'm used to be into light sponge cakes only, but Cedele had converted me to love buttercakes also.

This place has become one of my favourite regular haunts already!

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Greenwich Village Mall's car park

Nearest MRT: Yio Chu Kang

1 Seletar Road
Greenwich V #02-14
Singapore
Contact No: 67539946

Rakuichi (Greenwich V) - Better than those chain restaurants

Closed for Greenwich branch

The highlight of this restaurant got to be the ambience: Scenic view of the 2nd floor of Greenwich (I actually like this shopping centre a lot for tranquil surroundings), huge barrels of sake placed around the chic place with a bed of ice decorated with fresh seafood as the centrepiece to lure diners.

The food and service are ok: way better than other Japanese restaurant chains though. The food all taste quite nice (potato salad, ebi roll, etc - your generic type of Japanese food), and seems to be very fresh, the price tag is not very cheap but reasonable enough given the quality of the food. 

Highly recommended are the yakitori, rare items like mozuku su (seaweed in vinegar) and aburi sushi, which are very flavourful and this kind of food is not found in most Japanese restaurants, except for those specialize in these. The pearl-like rice used for the sushi and dishes definitely worth a special mention here. Fragrant, perfectly shaped to attain that superb consistency and texture, the rice is so good that it can really be eaten on its own. The serving of the food seems to be a tad slow despite the fact that the restaurant was quite empty. Though, this has improved a lot on the 2nd visit and subsequent ones.

Service wise, the basic standard is fulfilled - no hiccup or misgiving, but the staffs just looked bored and lethargic, even when taking orders. So I started to feel bored also, from looking at them (Note: Ths is the impression I had on the first visit). 

Got to mention that on the 2nd visit, the dining experience had greatly improved due to the great service provided by a middle aged, slim, local Chinese lady who is very friendly and helpful. Her colleagues paled so much in comparison to her when it comes to service standard. Things started to further look up on my later visits with a middle aged pinoy lady service staff joining the crew.

Actually nowadays, I find the service to be great since all greet us with lots of smiles and know our preferences.

I recommend this restaurant since the food is decent, worth a try. I do find myself liking this place more and more with each subsequent visit.

I have become a regular of the place already.

My Thoughts: Pretty Good

Only branch left is now at Dempsey.

Paradise Inn (Greenwich V) - Simple Chinese Food

Closed

Wanted to go for traditional, simple Chinese food in a comfortable settings, and ended up in Paradise Inn to get a meal that is not hurting to the wallet. There is nothing special about the food, simple though tasty. The ambience is nice and tranquil in traditional yet upbeat Chinese settings.

The service is not stellar, but efficient and quite friendly, and the manager is great in helping us to change the cooking style of a dish in the set menu. A place that I will consider whenever I want to have simple, wallet friendly meal without compromising on the ambience.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

Note: This place is no longer in operation.

Empire State (Greenwich V) - Decent food that comes at a GREAT price and potions

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food is quite nice and the service is friendly. The dishes are not salty, but pack in a lot of nice, wholesome tastes, thanks to the herbs and spices used (meaning that MSG is not used, did not get thirsty after the meal there). The bun used for the burger was lightly toasted, imparting a slightly crispy, yet soft texture, which is what I like. The waffle with ice cream is so so though, the waffle is yummy but the ice cream and chocolate sauce tasted, well, commercial (though for $6 plus, it is quite okay, cannot expect too much).

Got to mention that the service is unexpectedly good for a mid range restaurant, lots of smiles and being proactive in serving the patrons, especially a local uncle staff in there. The manager even came up with chat with us to find out on our views on the food, which is a nice gesture. Good service is always great for making the dining experience more enjoyable.

Best of all, the price is quite reasonable and the potions is quite huge that 2 small eaters can easily share a dish. Will go back again for casual meals.

My Thoughts: Not Bad

Note: This place is no longer in operation.