Beurre - For the Love of Butter

Note: There is a revisit post on this restaurant, which is on a more complete experience at this place.

I love butter. So when I found out that there is restaurant called “Butter” in French, I didn’t hesitate to mark my calendar for a lunch at here. The aroma of butter immediately greet my olfactory senses upon entrance. This is enough to heighten my anticipation of my meal here.

Scallop Linguine gets the thumbs-up from me. Al dente linguine coated with yummy cheese sauce and very generous portion of fresh, succulent scallops find their way to my heart.

Sakura Ebi Linguine is also another highlight of the place because it is so rich in the goodness of umami, thanks to the small sakura shrimps that packs a punch, salted seaweed and lobster oil. And the oil makes the pasta very smooth, thus enjoyable to slurp on. No photo of this dish because the one taken turns out blurry.

The appetizer is an interesting creation of mushroom steak covered with curry sauce. Surprisingly, it works. The curry is mild enough not to overwhelm the senses while still giving off light aroma of the spices.

The Hokkaido oysters is the “meh” item of the bunch. The serving temperature is higher than what i would have preferred. The taste is not distinctive. And it is served with Tabasco sauce, which is way too ordinary? I was expecting something special, like raspberry vinaigrette. It feels like a lack of effort. 

Chocolate Fondant Cake with Black Sesame Ice Cream shakes things up by ditching the safe choice of Vanilla Ice Cream. I like this daring move. It goes well with the smooth, luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake.

I actually wanted so much to try Burnt Basque Cheesecake with Brown Butter Sauce. I mean this restaurant is all about butter, so I got to try an item that has a distinctive component of butter. And this dessert looks to be the best choice … Brown Butter Sauce sounds so good. A pity that they don’t have it today, despite being on the menu. But it also makes me wonder: shouldn’t they ensure that this dessert is always available since it perfectly represents Butter, the name of the restaurant?

The place is very chic yet cozy. The exterior is quaint and stylish. A great place to hang around at with friends or that special someone. Service is excellent. The crew is friendly and attentive.

I want to fall in love with this place, well, I did, sort of, since I love the pasta dishes and the setting here. Though I still need something that is super distinctive and memorable to go heads over heels. I haven’t found it yet for this place. If there is something interesting coming up in the menu, I will definitely go back to check it out. Tuna Cups does look promising, maybe I will …

Thoughts: Good pasta and Great Place to hang around at.

Taratata Brasserie - French Comfort Food

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

I love French food, but sometimes I do find that French food looks to be like serious business, with all the formalities and such. I do love formal settings when I’m in the mood to be pampered. But that is more of once in a while thing, which is not enough to satisfy my cravings for French food. And Taratata Brasserie fills in this spot nicely with its affordable French cuisine and cozy, rustic setting. Now I can see enjoy French food often!

Enjoying fresh French Baguette with fluffy centre that is slathered with creamy French butter is a good way to start the meal.

French Onion Soup may look messy, but this is seriously awesome comfort food. Rich, thick and flavourful.

For a bit of indulgence, I ordered Pan-seared Duck Foie Gras with Dark Cherries. Perfectly seared to have thin crispy exterior that wraps around luxurious fatty juicy core. With the dark cherries added for that variety in taste.

Pan-seared Scallops with a Petite Ratatouille & Potato Grenaille. Every component of this dish is delicious. Ratatouille a la cooked veggies in sauce is very flavourful.

Pan-roasted Sea Bass with Mediterranean Vegetables features fresh fish with pliable, moist yet firm flesh. I personally think that it is not easy to roast or pan-sear fish to perfection, but the chef at Taratata manages to nail it just right. Thumbs-up.

Pan-roasted Eggplant with Parmesan Cheese truly surprises me with how good it is. I never like eggplants, but this dish is one exception for me. Hot eggplant soaked with vegetable sauce works so well with the melted cheese drizzled above.

Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice-cream. Premium creamy ice-cream and quality chocolate cake with molten centre is pure indulgence.

The interior is classic with hints of nostalgia, exuding a homely feel. I immediately get comfortable and feel super cozy when there. The service is good and friendly. This is really one French restaurant without the frills, aimed at providing authentic and affordable French food at cozy setting. I can truly go back as often as I like without any special reason or occasion, other than the simple decision to enjoy rustic good French food.

Thoughts: C’est Bon!

Nearest car park: Along Keong Saik Road

Nearest MRT: Outram Park or Chinatown

36A Keong Saik Road

Singapore

Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen - Awesome Roasting Goodness

Italian cuisine,

Open Fire meaning Outdoor Summer Grill,

Posh setting,

Extensive Menu with Unique Food Items,

Knowing that Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen has all these in place, I know I have to go there to check out this restaurant.

Since I’m here because of the Outdoor Summer Grill, of course I have to order an item from the Open Fire Grill menu. And 5 Pepper Crusted Canadian Pork Chop is my choice. The meat is juicy and so flavourful. The meat surface is grilled to perfection, to have the thin layer of caramelized char flavour of wood and smoke to enhance the overall taste, without overdoing it. And I also love the bunch of sea grapes that comes with the meat. These pops of umami refreshes the palate, so that I can enjoy the gamey flavours of the meat more.

Rustic Bread goes very well with Piennolo Tomato Sauce. I like it that it’s something different from the usual Olive Oil. But I still like Olive Oil nonetheless.

Hokkaido Scallop Crudo White Corn Amalfi Lemon Capers Sauce has me swooning over how good it is. Fresh plump scallops works perfectly with the Amalfi Lemon Capers Sauce for the harmony and complexity in taste. And the white corn deserves a special mention too. Lightly grilled and soaked with the sauce, this sweet corn is so unbelievably good. My companion, who avoids eating veggies, actually finishes up the corn before I can steal in for another bite!

Spaghetti Di Martino Dotterino Tomatoes Italian Seawater is very good. Al dente spaghetti holds lots of flavours due to the sweet tomatoes and the seawater. This dish tends more towards the sweet side over savoury.

But I have to say House-Made Tagliolini Scilian Red Prawn Sardinian Bottarga is the one that impress me more. Not only it impresses me more, it totally makes a big impression on me. Incredibly intense in taste, the tagliolini is bursting with the rich flavours of the sea. The thin texture and eggy flavour of the tagliolini is perfect match with the springy, smooth, umami-rich flesh of Scilian Red Prawn. This is a must-try.

I’m going to head out to a ice-cream parlor nearby after a sumptuous meal here, but somehow, I feel that I got to try a dessert here to complete the experience. And so I did. I’m really glad that I made the right decision. Capri in a Cake Limoncello Caprese Amalfi Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil is unlike any dessert I had. The cake sponge is so soft, fluffy and moist, it is like baked sweet eggy cloud. I love the generous amount of lemon custard sandwiched between the cake sponged. Made with super fresh lemons, it is creamy yet refreshing, balancing the sweet taste of the cake sponge and ice-cream. The ice-cream is very thick and rich, giving the extra oomph to dessert. Olive oil actually works well here. This is also another must-try.

The place is modern and posh, with the kitchen in full view. Great to watch the chefs in action. Despite the Open Fire Grill, the good exhaust system ensures that one will still smell as fresh as when first stepping into the restaurant. The service is immaculate and professional, I’m impressed.

I really love the food here. It is delicious, simulating and unique. Dining here is exceptionally memorable because the food is like no others. I do love to come back again.

Thoughts: Exceptionally awesome food!

Nearest car park: Public car park at Neil Road

Nearest MRT: Chinatown or Outram Park

37 Craig Road

#01-01

Singapore

Keong Saik Bakery - So Good, so Unique

 Shifted to another location

On my search for lava cheesecakes, Keong Saik Bakery immediately caught my attention with its repertoire of unique cheesecakes and the fact that four types of cheeses are used in its cheese creations. I immediately order it through GrabFood and after trying the cakes and cruffins, I can say I totally love them.

Needless to say, I make it a point to head down to this quaint bakery. It is possible to dine in on weekdays. The dining space is small, but very cozy, with loads of nostalgia. Perfect for a intimate time with that special someone. The service is very good, friendly and non-intrusive.

The selection is awesome. There is sure one that suits one’s fancy. For me, I want to get them all!

The packaging is old-school yet classy at the sane time.

Attap Chee Rose Cheesecake is highly recommended. The bits of chewy attap chee introduces sweet variation to the smooth texture of the cheesecake. The light aroma of rose enhances, without eclipsing the subtle flavour of cheese.

The Cruffins are must-try. Molten cheese with complex nutty flavours and crispy baked crust hit all the rights notes in terms of taste and texture.

Burnt cheesecakes are exceptional too due to the corporation of four cheeses. If one is looking for silky creamy smooth texture in cakes, these are the choices.

Chendol Delight is timeless classic. Attap Chee gives the extra kick in bite, the Gula Jawa adds the beloved caramel goodness and the smooth coconut custard is so creamy.

Bandung Rose Cheese Tart is bursting with the beautiful aroma of rose. A truly creation of indulgence.

Seashore 2.0 does look ordinary as compared to the cakes and pastries mentioned above. There is no defining, outstanding point about the taste. It is just nice.

Thoughts: Amazingly good cakes. One of my favourite bakery.

Shake Shack - Fast Food Restaurant with a Difference

Wholesome thick fries with unique yummy sauces, thick creamy special milk shakes, authentic nuggets and vegetarian mushroom burger! These are the secrets to the winning formula of Shake Shack. The quality of the food is definitely a league above its competition.

Ambience and service wise, it is no different from those of regular fast food restaurants. For a quick get-together, this place is a good choice.

Thoughts: Nice Fast Food

Locations: https://www.shakeshack.com.sg/

Rappu Handroll Bar - Totally on the Roll!

 

High Roller of Toro, Uni, Caviar and Ikura. All the Treasures of the sea, plus a bit of gold flake to top up on the opulence, combined into this luxurious creation. It’s decadently good. And there is a cup of premium sake to go with it. Will impress any date.

Hotate, the first roll that is served. Fresh, sweet, plump scallop with perfectly seasoned starchy rice is so good that it makes me very excited on what is to come.

Kanpachi is a nice accompaniment to the awesome Hotate. Hotate whets my appetite so much that I just grab Kanpachi to bite into it the moment it is put on the cute stone platform. So no picture of it lol

Salmon is fresh and pretty good. I got to say that with the awesome rice and super crispy seaweed, even the good old salmon tastes great.

Toro is part of the reason I come here. Yes, yes, my Toro cravings thoroughly satisfied here. Generous amount of minced fatty tuna totally wins me over.

After the luxurious rich Toro, what else can top it off, the Crab, of course! Huge dollops of umami heaven wrapped with rice and fresh seaweed is a sea feast dream come true. The most intense in flavour among the rolls, and I absolutely love it.

Engawa is the surprise here for me since it is not easy to match up to the intensity of Toro and Crab, but it seals the deal beautifully as the last item of the rolls by introducing another kind of taste profile. Smooth, buttery meat being lightly seared by blow-torch to introduce the smoky taste is unbelievably good, satisfying and memorable.

Grilled Unagi is nicely done and its pliable, fatty, rich meat is very flavourful.

This place is like it’s for the hip, cool and foodies. A good place to see beautiful people here.Very modern setting with all the high chairs, bar counter, open kitchen and such while still retaining the Japanese sensibility with the bottles of sake lining the walls and the stone and clay cutlery.

The service here is very impressive. They are always On the Roll, cooking up a storm in front of us patrons, attending to our requests and keeping all things in order. And they manage all these with friendly deposition and a smile.

I love everything about this restaurant, it is one that I will definitely recommend to others and the one I want to visit again and again, if my schedule allows.

Thoughts: One of my favourites, where I get to enjoy lots of treasures of the sea!

Nearest car park: URA car park at Duxton Hill

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park

52 Duxton Road

Singapore

Ellenborough Market Café - Awesome Variety of Quality Food Items

The sheer variety of quality food is definitely the highlight of this place. From taste simulating Tuna Tatare, 

Wholesome egg salad, Sashimi, very plain-tasting Seafood Platter, 

Awesome, tasty, nutritious Couch soup, spicy dumplings, crispy fresh corn flakes prawns, delicious deep-fried soft-shell crab,

Nonya food, 

Awesome orange mousse cake with strong aroma of orange and minimum sourness, 

to yummy desserts.

The place is pretty grand and super spacious, with Nonya touches here and there. Due to the big space, this is definitely a great choice for gatherings. I also love the variety of food here, ranging from Nonya, Chinese, Western, Japanese to Korean. This is one of my top choices for buffet.

Thoughts: Awesome Buffet!

Update: They changed the menu, and it’s for the worse, duh! The best food items on the previous menus, like the couch soup, soft-shell crab, tuna tartare are gone. The new items, being so-called kid-friendly, look boring. They are so generic that I can’t remember the names. All I remember is that they are like atas foodcourt food. So nope. In fact, I walk out of the restaurant right after a look at the menu. It’s totally not worth it.

Nearest car park: Swissotel Merchant’s car park

Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay

20 Merchant Road

Singapore