Berlin65 - German’s Melting Pot of Cultures

This restaurant is no longer in operation

As someone who is into German music, language, films and culture, I, naturally, put Berlin65 into my wishlist at the recommendation from Goethe Insitut Singapur. It is always good to have more great choices of restaurants in Singapore to immerse in German culture, weil es wenige deutsche Restaurants in Singapur gibt.

Instead of featuring German food only, Berlin65 actually reflects the inclusive multi-cultural scene of Berlin to feature also Turkish, Israeli, Vietnamese, Greek, French, Thai cuisines. The food here is hearty and delicious. And I can enjoy German’s classics such as Garlic Soup, Currywurst, Preztel and Round Doughnut with other cuisines such as kebabs, bahn mi.

With the colourful graffiti-like paintings resembling Friedrichshain‘s murals adorned with street art, and the hip hop music, it feels like a piece of Berlin is transported to here.

Tiger Prawns roasted and soaked in spiced tomato garlic sauce is succulent and so flavorful with a good mix of savoury goodness, sweetness, zest, herbal pungency and spiciness.

Iskender Kebab sounds glorious with lots of goodies such as chicken from the spit grilled, flatbeard, garlic yoghurt, homemade tomato chilli sauce, grilled tomato tomatoes, pickled pepperoni, Italian parsley. It is a Turkish feast with lots of robust flavours. Yes, a melting pot of flavours like the melting pot of cultures in Berlin.

Wild Garlic Soup with pretzel coutons, sour cream and parsley is the German dish I have for the night. The pungency of garlic is very mild but it is a very hearty and delicious nonetheless due to its rich creaminess and the medley of exotic tastes from the sour cream, parsley snd yes, the light hint of wild garlic.

Berliner is fluffy round shaped doughnut with lots of vanilla bean custard to add the moisture, making it even better.

Ayran is Turkish salted yoghurt drink, which I recommend to try. It is very tasty and unique.

Thoughts: Vibrant Culinary Melting Pot

30 Stanley Street

Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer

So Pho - Nice Place to satisfy my craving for Vietnamese Food

Actually, Vietnamese food can be a hit or miss with my palates. The ones that impressed me create this perpetual impression that Vietnamese food is full of flavours and is distinctive in taste while others just lacks the fine details to render the food memorable. So I patronise So Pho with both anticipation and unsureness. I miss Vietnamese food but I'm not sure if the food here will be good.

Well, the food here caters very well to local palates while fulfilling the need to enjoy shiok-tasting food. I enjoy eating them, and yes, it is very shiok, in the earthy style of basil and Vietnamese Fish Sauce.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls is packed with lots of ingredients, such as Vietnamese vermicelli, prawns, peppers and fresh raw veggies. While tastes plain on its own, it becomes yummy when dipped in the tangy, spicy Vietnamese sauce. Worth a try.

The Deep-Fried Calamari has a lovely crispy exterior, peppered with Vietnamese herbs. The taste is unique and I like it. Will be even better if the squid is more tender.

Bun Noodle with Softshell Crab features more simulating flavours. The bun noodle, which is a bit like Chinese thick rice noodles, taste very good when drenched in the zesty, spicy sauce provided.

Thoughts: Nice place to enjoy Vietnamese Food

Nearest MRT: Yishun

Co Hai Banh Mi & Phở Vietnamese Restaurant - Garden Fresh, Herbs and Vietnamese Tradition

Co Hai Banh Mi & Pho Vietnamese Restaurant, the name of thus restaurant is quite a mouthful. I will just use Co Hai instead since Banh Mi refers to Vietnamese Baguette and Pho is a kind of Vietnamese noodles.

After a lunch at a French restaurant, where I love one of the dishes made with Vietnamese rice paper, it triggered my craving for some Vietnamese fresh spring rolls. I had not eaten it for many  years … for a reason that I will not reveal here. So when I saw how good Co Hai’s fresh spring rolls look, I set my eyes on this place already. I have to say that the fresh spring rolls doesn’t disappoint.

I was expecting food court kind of environment here, given the low price point, but the decor of this restaurant totally took me by surprise. The French influence is evident: lots of colourful flowers, posters and quaint lamps. But there is Vietnamese vibe in there. So it feels like the owner is putting every favourite thing into decorating the place. It works, giving that really cosy, homely vibe. Good thing I’m the first patron of the day, so I have lots of fun snapping photos of the place.

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls is like a garden wrapped within the stretchy thin smooth rice paper. It is so fresh and full of herbal aroma. The bits of grilled pork and sliced prawns adds the umami and richness to the taste. When eaten without the sauce, it os flavourful enough to hold it on its own. With the sauce, its zest makes the spring taste even better.

If one does not have any aversion toward a particular plant or herb, this is a must-try. But take note of the hard meat pieces in there.

Frankly speaking, the amount of carbs in the fresh spring rolls is making me pretty full already. I suggest to share it if possible.

So I have less capacity to fully appreciate the Dry Vermicelli ordered. Especially when I ordered the wrong one. I wanted Grilled Pork, but I don't know why I didn't see the word "Minced" and got Vermicelli with Seafood, Minced Pork and Quail Eggs. This is actually very similar to our Bak Chor Mee, except that Vietnamese Vermicelli is used instead for the crabs.

I like this different kind of vermicelli used, it is made of rice and is flat, smooth and thin. I do find the boiled minced pork and seafood aka boiled squid rolls to be a bit too plain. Well, I just dip them into the sauce of fresh spring rolls, and then they taste great lol

Nice cooling and interesting drink of Lemongrass, Ginger and Lemon.

Ambience wise, I like this place a lot. But if one tends to get cold easily, like me, best to get a jacket because besides the air conditioning, there are fans to make the place real cold. Service is well, of brutal efficiency. They cut to the chase and get all things done. Don’t expect general pleasantries here. I have to make a special mention of the nice lady who suggested to me to take a table that is at a more comfortable position instead of the one near the staircase. Thumbs-up to her.

By the way, the restaurant is at second floor. And by 11:30am, the place is pretty full already.

Thoughts: Authentic, good Vietnamese food

359 Beach Road

Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway

Saigon Bistro - Decent High End Vietnamese Food

Closed

Formerly known as NUOC at Orchard Central, this restaurant had moved to The Elizabeth Hotel where we are spared of the extremely winding journey to the OC carpark. The setting is decent with view of the pool and lush man made landscape on the other side, contemporary Southeast Asia decor. The service is decent and good, with lots of smiles and thoughtful gestures from the proactive service staffs.

The food is good and decent, bursting with strong flavours that work well together and will simulate or wake up your senses. The fried spring roll, seafood steamboat (clear soup base is the better choice, avoid the spicy which is too sweet) are highly recommended, so are the set lunches which are extremely value for money. Another highlight of the dishes is the Garoupa Soup which is absolutely beautiful in taste, aroma of the fresh fish paired with broth that is soaked with the harmony of savoury, spicy and tangy flavours—absolute comfort food.

Always back for more if I want to eat Vietnamese food.

My Thoughts: Pretty Good

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Nam Nam Noodle Bar - Affordable, fast, yummy Vietnamese food

For a quick, exotic, satisfying and affordable meal Nam Nam is pretty much a good choice to go to.

For less than $10, one can get a yummy bowl of noodles chocked full of ingredients. The dry sautéed lemongrass pork noodle is bursting with multitude of strong flavours due to the generous addition of lemongrass, fried onion bits, mild chilli, pickled vegetables, crackers, fresh, delicious, chewable pork, spring onion and parsley. Absolutely love this one. The chicken Pho is good also due to the smooth rice noodles soaked in the exotic tasting broth. The spring rolls do great as appetizer, crispy and surprisingly light. The characteristic strong flavours are also evident in them.

Ambience is well, clean, though a bit cramped. Service is so-so; the good part is that it is prompt. Great for those on the go.

For my usual indulgence in Vietnamese food, it is Saigon Bistro. But for a satisfying Vietnamese meal which hardly makes a dent in the wallet, it is definitely Nam Nam.

Update: This place is no longer our favourite haunt after the overhaul of menu.

My Thoughts: Nice!

https://namnam.net/locations/singapore-outlets/

Annam - Simple yet Luxurious Vietnamese food

Closed

The ambience and food in Annam are simple and humble, yet classic and exotic.

The menu looks quite unassuming with only some appetizers, mains, desserts, noodles and rice stated in it.  The descriptions hardly induce mouthing watering images of the food.  However, I was amazed by the multitude of harmonious, strong flavours present in the food.  Extremely simulating in taste and filled to the brim with quality ingredients such as prawns and real crab meat.  In fact, we felt that there was more crab meat than rice in the Fried Rice.  Grilled Pork with Vermicelli was especially sinful due to combination of the nicely grilled and aromatic pork slices, prawn roll, yummy crackers and the refreshing vermicelli.  

The flawless service is friendly and professional, prompt to requests and responses.  They also make the effort to greet and bid farewell to the patrons, which is a nice touch.  

It is a huge shame that this restaurant will cease operations soon.  At least, I got to check out this quaint restaurant before that happens (still lamenting about why I did not try out the place earlier when passing by it several times).  Will be going back again very soon before the last day of operation.

My Thoughts: Very Nice!

Note: This restaurant is no longer in operation.

NUOC - Decent high end Vietnamese restaurant

Closed

The setting is decent, with plush sofa (though the little small stains show signs of aging) and chairs, contemporary Southeast Asia decor. There is a pretty garden surrounding the restaurant, clearly seen through glass walls. The service is decent and good, with lots of smiles and thoughtful gestures from the proactive service staffs.

The food is decent, bursting with strong flavours that work well together and will simulate or wake up your senses. The set lunches are extremely value for money.

This place actually changed my initial bad impressions of Vietnamese cuisine. Will be back for more if I want to eat Vietnamese food.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Note: This restaurant is no longer in operation at the current premises and had relocated to Elizabeth Hotel with a new restaurant name: Saigon Bistro)