Ginkyo by Kinki - Unique Modern Japanese Cuisine that Tantalises

ONE Holland Village is a hot new shopping mall in this atas residential area. But well, I'm not really into new shopping malls, I'm more into the hot new restaurants these malls have within them. And my focus lands squarely on an interesting new Japanese fusion dining concept, Ginkyo by Kinki housed in ONE. This restaurant caught my attention due to the unique food items and the cool, stylish dining concept.

The food here is delicious, really pleasing the palates. I also like it that the dishes are unique: Japanese cuisine being infused with elements from other cultures, making for an exciting food adventure.

I love the layout of ONE Holland Village in general since it is of open area concept with lots of plants lining the corridors and ledges. It is like shopping at a modern upmarket resort area. And the journey to Ginkyo by Kinki really accentuates this highlight of the mall since this restaurant is located at a corner surrounded by lush greenery planted on all the ledges at this area. The pretty willows beside the main entrance adds to that "love for greenery" feel and Japanese influence to it.

The interior is like another world: cool, stylish, with hints of poshness from the curved golden backings of the plush chairs. The soft yellow globes of lamps above introduces a sense of cosiness and modern sensibility to the place. I got a very good comfy soft beside the window to get a nice view of eclectic mix of commercial developments, private residences and HDBs.

Service is very good, being friendly, helpful and professional. This is really a great place to chill and enjoy some good, unique food.

As a bon vivant, of course I go all out to order the luxurious speciality: Uni, Caviar, Ikura Crispies plus a nice dollop of negitoro doled out onto each crispy rice puff. To fully enjoy all the flavours: sweetness of uni, creaminess of negitoro, intense briny taste of caviar and starchiness of rice, I suggest eating the cucumber first, followed by a bite off the side of the crispy rice puff that has negitoro only, and lastly, pop the entirety of the rest of the puff with all the goodies into mouth. The puff does stick to the teeth though, so take note.

Looks can be deceiving, which is in the case of Dragon Chaser, made up of seared foie gras, unagi, breaded prawn, cream cheese, cucumber and chives. it looks kind of messy but it tastes awesome. The specialty roll combines the starchy goodness of sushi rice, nutty creaminess of cream cheese, nuanced sweetness of prawn, the earthy umami of foie gras and the briny umami of unagi to yield a full-bodied taste that hits all the sweet spots in taste and texture.

I also love Colossal Tiger Prawns, peppered with cajun southern spice and saikyo miso, and finished with brussels sprouts. The slight spiciness and umami makes the briny sweetness of the prawn even more exciting and accentuates the light creaminess of the prawn. 

Actually, I do not expect much from the good ole panna cotta, but Atsuki Panna Cotta here surprises me with how good and different it is. The red bean jelly, mochi add an element of earthy goodness with extra textures, yielding a smooth milky custard with dimension in taste and texture. I'm impressed.

KYOTO SOUR is a lovely cocktail made up of Kinki Private Label Sake, nori, pickled ginger, sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice. I love this light refreshing drink with the sweet alcoholic sake that makes things more exciting. Highly recommend.

Thoughts: Unique, Cool and Exciting

7 Holland Vlg Way

#03-01-04 One

Nearest MRT: Holland Village

Da Paolo Pizza Bar - Wholesome Italian Cuisine

This place may be called a bar due to the chic layout of dark brown and wooden furnishings, bar counter and a wall filled with wooden slots to store the wines. But during daytime, it is a great place for families to get some wholesome and filling meals.

Breaded Pork Belly Sticks is a pretty interesting starter since this is the first time I try this kind of antipasti. The breaded surface is very crispy, and in the core is a strip of pork belly completed with a layer of fat to give its creaminess. Accompanying dip of Garlic Parmesan Aioli looks like mayonnaise, but it is way better than its more well-known counterpart. The aioli is denser in texture, more tangy and packs lots of flavours. This is a nice dish to try for something different.

Bufala e Crudo pizza also steals the limelight with the wholesome flavourful ingredients added on top of the thin crust. Buffalo mozzarella is springier in texture and lighter in taste than the usual mozzarella cheese. I like this change incorporated into a pizza since I am more into exploring new tastes. Parma ham goes very well with the basil that gives that extra aroma to the pizza. And thick slices of juicy tomatoes add a refreshing element to the pizza. I recommend this pizza to those who are into pizzas with white base.

The young staffs here are very friendly, energetic and full of smiles.

I say this is one of the places to look for quality pizzas.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: URA’s open air car park along Jalan Merah Saga
Nearest MRT: Holland Village MRT

44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-46
Singapore
Contact No: ‭6479 6059‬

Mai Thai - Spicy Goodness and Best Tom Yum Soup

Closed

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.

Gaia Korean Restaurant - Yummy Korean Food

One thing I like about this place is the great variety of side dishes given, this week, it could be bean sprouts, vegetables, lotus roots, next week, it could be tofu, potato, radish, another week, another entirely different set of cold side dishes, only the kimchi remains the staple of the cold dishes. So it is hard to get bored coming to this place for a meal and it definitely helps a lot that the most of the side dishes are quite tasty and appetizing. However, I feel that appetizers are more of home-cooked food standard instead of restaurant standard.

My only complant is that the kimchi tends to be a bit too spicy as compared to the Chongga kimchi I love. The grilled meats being thoroughly marinated with a delicious sauce, are fresh, tasty, delicious and juicy. The ginseng chicken soup is not too salty and tasted full of ginseng goodness.

The place is nice, simple and clean, the staffs are generally okay, they seem to be really busy, so it is kind of hard to catch their attention. Once become regular patrons, I find that the service to be great and friendly.

This is the place I'll go to whenever I want to eat Korean food.

My Thoughts: Pretty Good

Nearest car park: Open air URA car park at end of Lorong Liput (alternatively, go for Holland Shopping Centre's car park or multi-storey car park in Blk 5A at Holland Close)

Nearest MRT: Holland Village

17E Lorong Liput
Holland Village
Singapore
Contact No: 63393313