[City Square Mall Food Festival 2014]: Paddington House of Pancakes
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
buffets,
cafe,
citysquare mall,
desserts,
dinner,
family,
family friendly,
farrer park,
food tasting,
japanese,
little india,
lunch,
media event,
pancakes
·
For those of you who have read the title with a blank stare, City Square Mall is a shopping complex straddling the junction of Serangoon and Kitchener Roads, with direct access to Farrer Park MRT station, this mall hopes to attract both local and tourist shoppers alike.
With over 700,000 sq ft of gross retail space, spread over five retail levels, it is home to about 200 tenants that cater to the lifestyle needs of today's discerning mid-income families. From 4 July to 3 Aug, City Square Mall has lined up a selection of great snacks and meal offerings for friends and families and I had the fortune of following a food trail that lead me from one such food haven to another.
Spacious and airy on the second level of City Square Mall is Paddington House of Pancakes. To say that Paddington House only does pancakes in a derogatory tone is to undermine the highlights of this establishment. Yes, so its true that they only do pancakes.. but with 100 different sorts from around the globe to fill out the pages of its menu; I can assure you that there would be lack of boredom even with a continuous daily dining ritual at this outlet.
To help you navigate the super extensive menu, let's break it down. Firstly dishes are separated into starters, savoury pancakes and desserts. The savouries are then sub-divided into the different countries of origins; flapjacks from America, pannekoek from Holland, crepes and galettes from France and Blintzes and blinis from Russia.
We kicked off with drinks, the array of tall glasses dressed in bright colors bowling us over with a residing fear of sugar overdose. Yet, some of these drinks boast some really healthy qualities that would help to balance out the heaviness of the meal ahead. Take for example the Perky Lemon and Mint Sparkler ($5/gls & $17/jug), this spritzer edges further into fresh ground using lemon, mint and soda to cleanse the palate and eliminate perspiration threats; the Immune Zone ( $7) is a refreshing mix of peach, apple, honeydew and cranberry that suffers a bit of unflattering browning from the oxidation of it's natural contents, no complaints there since what you get is essentially a fresh squeezed tumbler of fruits. My favourite however would have to be the Kiwi and Melon Yogurt ripple ($7) which may appear a bit off-putting at first with its neon green spirals rounded off with coagulated bits of white rings, but slurp it all in one solid 'pulling-up' manoeuvre with your straw and you get a collision of sweet and sour creamy sensation all at once.
Cheesy Wedges & Fries ($8), Belgium style with grilled cheddar, crispy turkey bacon bits, basil and tangy mayonnaise. This was a simple snack done right, the bowl arrives with a heaping pile of piping hot fries and wedges; good for the indecisive or table of party-goers with varying taste. The rich pool of cheese sauce on the side, a welcome addition for some cheeky dipping.
One of the more memorable (midst the food comatose) main dishes we got to sample that night include the Classic Buckleberry, blueberry pancakes served with a good measure of soft cream cheese in the center. Scrambled eggs with a healthy dose of diced greens add color the plate. We weren't bowled over by the turkey bacon and mushrooms on the side and opted instead to fill up on the fluffy pancakes that were humbly exquisite with a slathering of maple syrup.
Tuscany ($13) crepes with eggplant, grilled zucchini, olives, peppers, mixed mushrooms, mozzarella and homemade tomato sauce. Reads like a winner but the raw eggplant slices within threw it off its game a little. A good option for the vegetarians.
Paddington House of Pancakes thrive on their endearing selection of desserts, each representing an exclamation point in the entirety of the food trail. The Strawberry New York Cheesecake ($8) pulls out all the stops with its drool-worthy trifle like presentation. Each layer a hidden secret of contrasting textures, the fresh whipped cream, vivacious strawberries, tangy cream cheese mousse, digestive crumb and dollar pancakes making for a familiar yet unique combination that keeps you going back for more.
Dollar Pancakes ($12) was yet again another novel concept for those who can't seem to get enough of their pancakes. A bowl chock full of mini sized pancakes, topped off with ice cream and a myriad of wildly coloured fondue sauces for dipping. Imagine that...
Note: Paddington House of Pancakes has also recently introduced new fondue flavors, chocolate, butterscotch, salted butter caramel, red velvet and white chocolate; all of which I found strangely commendable despite their alarmingly shocking colours.
Frankly though, my favourite dish of the night appeared the last belly-bursting moment, the Apple Fritters ($13) served with strawberries, raisins and banana sorbet. This was truly expressive cooking, exploring shades of flavor more watercolour than acrylic. Judicious with sugar, the crisp apple fritters, were a delight to eat with the contrasting frigidity of the accompanying ice cream. My kryptonite.
The food trail at City Square Mall also brought us to Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant on the 5th level of the complex. The 'eat all you can' concept at this restaurant makes it a popular choice among-st the ravenous, the young and restless and the plain greedy. Since I was neither, I spent most of my time wandering the aisles and admiring the extensive selection on offer.
Good news for the drinkers is the Happy hour from 6 30pm to 7 30pm daily that sees a free flow of Sapporo beer. So drink your fill!
Some of the highlights for me would have to be the Sushi and sashimi that seemed highly popular hence the continuous stash of fresh goodies greeting the counters more frequently than some other items. Give the cooked items a miss as most of them appear a little dehydrated from the long periods of exposure under the heat lamps. And don't forget the haagen daaz ice cream for sweet endings!
Lunch buffet prices are set at $24.80++ on weekdays and $29.80++ on weekends and Public holidays whilst dinner ranges from $37.80++ to $39.80++.
For the month of July, various outlets in City Square Mall have organised special foodie deals for their patrons; for example the 1-for-1 Signature Beef noodles at Lai Lai Taiwan Casual Dining or the Song Fish head for only $9 at Paradise Inn! Terms and conditions do apply though so click on the banner to find out more!
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Fundamentally Flawed dined as a guest of Paddington House of Pancakes & Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant, opinions are however strictly her own. A major thanks to Deborah of SPRG for the warm invite and intimate hosting session.
Paddington House of Pancakes
#02-35/36 City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208529
Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant
#05-05/06 City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208529
{The Entertainer App}: Roundhouse Pizza, Bar & Grill
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
bukit timah,
european,
family,
family friendly,
Grandstand,
hidden finds,
lunch,
must go,
pizza,
restaurants,
the entertainer app,
turf city,
will return
·
Roundhouse marks the next step in local celebrity Vernetta Lopez's (best known for starring as the amicable Denise in local sitcom 'Under One Roof') relentless pursuit of being an all rounder. With accolades of radio DJ, actress and wedding planner under her belt, she now seeks to delve into the cut-throat food and beverage business with her life partner Wayne Gladwin. The result, Roundhouse, a sprawling 250 seater eatery in the laid back location of the former turf club stables. At this homey establishment, lots of warm wood furnishings and plenty of natural lighting makes this space immediately inviting (avoid sitting indoors as it gets a bit dodgy with the lighting circumstance); kids run around the concrete enclaves, spilling giggles and bits of their uninhibited happiness in their path.
The menu at the Roundhouse runs on a slightly boring tangent, offering up safe options spanning from pizzas to pasta and then larger mains such as whole sea bass and lamb shank. With a lack of identity, it's hard to place a finger on a certain item to order; clue, look out for their specials for a helping hand. Take for example the Sunday Roast that sees their premium Angus Roast Ribeye with sides and a free flow of salad bar ($49++ for free flow of soft drinks and juices/ $99++ with free flow sparkling wine, draught beer, bloody mary). Talk about good deals...
Our party of 8 settled for a good mix of starters, brunch items as well as pizzas to share. We started off with the Spicy Grilled Beef Salad ($17) and the Grilled Portobello Mushroom ($18) with silken tofu, tomato concasse and salad. The interesting sounding grilled beef salad produced a large shallow spread of tender, chargrilled beef slices slathered with a marinade capturing the essence of good ole' days in the sun in Thailand, lying seductively on a bed of mixed greens. The latter is another recommended dish for the ladies who want something a little healthier but still with a substantial body of flavor. What ultimately differentiate the Roundhouse from the competition is the smokiness and perfect execution of its grilled items, turn to this category of dishes for the win.
The Angus Beef Bolognese Spaghetti ($17) is a hearty bowl of pasta with a whopping lathering of bolognese sauce, the juicy and flavorful beef pleasing the picky taste buds around the table.
Another bang for buck item on the brunch menu is the Roundhouse Breakfast ($18) featuring 2 sunny side up eggs, back bacon, cumberland sausage, roast potatoes, tomato confit, sauteed mushrooms, baked beans and toast. Definitely a one-plate filler for the ravenous.
I recommend the Wild Mushroom Soup ($12) scented with herb oil, this dish does not skimp on ingredients, delivering largely on flavor and texture with the kitchen's generous use of wild mushrooms, enriched only by the slightest touch of cream. No truffle oil here... thank goodness.
Then, there were pizzas.
You do not want to miss these.
From a tight menu of 12 pizzas, we chose the Loco Lopez ($24) and the Carnivore ($24), both which hit the pizza 'G-spot' with such force that I was bewildered and very much left a Roundhouse ambassador afterwards. The feisty Loco Lopez was all crisp edged, studded with melted cheddar, capers, beef salami,jalapeno and smoking hot chilli padi, addictive and so worth stabbing your cousins for over the last piece. The Carnivore consisting of bacon, salami, honey baked ham and pepperoni would be your classic meatlovers except that the Roundhouse went the extra mile and did something novel and delicious with it.
Some of the best pizzas I've had in Singapore thus far. And what's better than being able to use the Entertainer 1-for-1 main here? We ended up being able to pocket $60 from the savings. Hurray.
--------------------------------
Well, if you haven't heard, I've got a special promotion for my readers where you can now purchase the Entertainer 1 month app for just $15 (U.P. $19) if you simply use my promo code 'fundamentallyflawed' with your purchase through the app store or at http://www.theentertainerme.com/trysgfor19/ . Read more details over here!
What are you waiting for?
RoundHouse - Pizza, Bar & Grill
100 Turf Club Road
Singapore 287992
Tel: 6466 0966
Website: http://www.roundhouse.com.sg/
Paradise Pavillion: Dim Sum for the restless
Labels:
CBD,
chinese,
chinese food,
dim sum,
family friendly,
marina bay,
mbfc,
raffles place
·
It's no mean feat what the folks at Paradise Group have achieved, poised as an expert in Oriental cuisine and offering it at various levels of comfort, style and price point values to it's wide spread fan base. Some of it's more exceptional outlets includes the much beloved Paradise Dynasty and Taste Paradise in ION shopping mall, both of which I have patronized back in the days. (read more about it in the links).
Uniquely housed within the silent halls of Marina Bay Financial Center, the weekend mornings see a fluster of people streaming in through the non-ventilated lift servicing solely the restaurant with only one aim in mind. To have their way with dim sum, and to have it good.
As much as the large dining rooms may seem a little intimidating for a party of two, the resounding noise that echos from the growing crowds finds its place between the nooks and voids, reaching a crescendo as the clock strucks 12. While dinner appears to be a moneyed, haute cuisine affair dominated by top notch produce, we're happy to see a bit more flexibility at lunch time, with a reasonably priced dim sum menu that still managed to display the culinary skills of the team.
We ordered the Baked Snow Bun with BBQ Pork ($5.60), a crisp flaky dome enveloping a slightly yeasty fragrant bun encasing sweet red BBQ pork. The right amount of lard thrown in the center bringing that bit of decadence to this anaemic beauty. A tad on the sweet side but it definitely highlights the skill sets of the chefs with pastry.
Paradise Pavillion shines in this next dish, the Fried Carrot Cake in XO sauce ($8.80). A quick stir fry in a mighty wok emblazoned by gargantuan flames gives the unanimously uniform chunks of carrot cake a bit of a crisp edge. The savoury pieces of egg helping to tie the dish together with a generous helping of chilli sauce stirred into the mix. Light-hearted without the heavy intention of lard, the result was a stunning reflection of the chef's dedication to clean and precise techniques.
Scallop and Chive dumplings ($5.00) featured delicate paper-thin skinned dumplings with a piping hot filling of rough minced scallops and finely diced chives. This didn't need the help of any dipping sauce to enliven it and I happily devoured the nifty creature, skin and all.
One of Paradise group's pride and joy is their Crackling Pork Belly ($12.80), overall a very subtle rendition of the classic Cantonese roasts with that unctuous flavor of fats all round, capped with an intoxicating roof of crackling; this was best enjoyed with a definitive swipe of English mustard off the side of the dish. I craved for a bigger portion but winding up convincing myself that better things should be enjoyed in tidier portions.
Another standout is the deceptively common Siew Mai Skewers ($5.80), this dish veering into mod-Chinese territory. The filling of plump prawns and juicy mince accented by a seductively smoky sweet glaze, almost like the skewers had a final bathe in a terriyaki sauce before being finished off on the grill. The admirable caramelisation that resulted on the smooth skin of the dumpling giving the pedestrian Dim Sum dish a slant.
Rounding up our meal, we departed on a sweet note with the Steamed Custard Bun ($5.50 for 3). This was definitive food porn, not to be missed. The volcano eruption of sweet salty custard taking center stage with a gentle prying of its steamed outer casing. A must order!
In terms of the ambience, Paradise Pavilion is as majestic as any Chinese restaurant can get, with the glass panels facing out to the Marina bay, blue velvet cushioned high chairs and ornate gold trimmings. Service is non-intrusive and extremely professional, sans the usual Chinese jargon that gets thrown around in a manic room that one would normally associate Cantonese fare with. Here, its a surreal and dreamy experience, and the Paradise group takes full advantage of this with fine cuisine with even higher and mightier pricing. Take heed. Dim Sum would be a better option for those who tread lightly.
Paradise Pavillion
8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre
(ground plaza)
Singapore 018984
Tel: 6509 9308
Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant: Har Cheong Gai
Labels:
beer,
cantonese,
chinese,
chinese food,
family,
family friendly,
fried chicken,
no frills,
novena,
wordless wednesdays
·
Wordless Wednesdays unravels at Novena's Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant.
On the hit list, Prawn Paste chicken, Sum Lor Hor Fun, Hotplate Beancurd (MMmmm...) and Stir Fried Sweet Potato Leaves.
These photos nurture a chimera of narratives... but with too many words spoken these day, my lips are sealed today. I'm leaving it to your imagination to draw the deductions.
Okay, I concede defeat, so maybe the food was all sorts of wonderful. Who can refuse the lure of that sweet layer of egg underneath that lusciously thick meat sauce on a sizzling hot plate?.. not me for sure...
Some sort of Wordless Wednesday this is turning out to be...
Read more about my previous experience at the Bedok brunch here.
Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant (Novena)
273 Thomson Rod
Singapore 307644
Khun Mee Thai Noodle Bar: Bedok Trippin'
Labels:
bedok,
bedok point,
beer,
braised pork,
desserts,
durian,
family friendly,
food tasting,
no frills,
no GST,
no service charge,
thai food,
upper changi
·
'Are we there yet?', those words kept ringing in my head as we made our way to Bedok on the crowded train from the west. Located on the second floor of Bedok Point, it's impossible to miss the signage as you look up upon entering the building.
Khun Mee Thai is a new Thai noodle bar and casual dining concept serving high quality and authentic Thai-Chinese street food. Khum Aum (or just Ahm as she prefers) is the founder and is proud of the fact that all Thai ingredients used are sourced directly from Thailand.
We started out with Thai Style Garden Roll (Guey Teow Lui Suan) [$5.80]. Rice paper rolls filled with Thai sausage, pan roasted peanuts, Thai sweet basil and Thai long-leafed coriander. Definitely a good dish to start with as our table all nodded in agreement on how the contrast of tastes and textures went down well. The chilli sauce on the side wasn't needed but added a nice tangy kick.
After what felt like eternity, the second dish finally arrived. The Egg noodles with dumpling, charshu and lava egg (Ba Mee Kiao, Moo Dang & Tai Tom) [ $5.80 - $8.80] is their signature dish. It comes with a variety of toppings and can be ordered as a soup or dry dish. We were served the dry version which was tossed with charshu sauce and oil that was infused with lard and garlic. The noodles were nice and springy bit was a tad dry. The dumplings were plump and juicy and you could tell they were definitely made in-house. With all parts combined, this dish actually went down really well. If you do find it a bit too bland or dry, there are condiments on the tables and a side serving of soup as well.
The Ba Mee Tom Yam with Milk ($8.80) was probably the most disappointing of all the dishes being served. It was spicy, but it lacked the sourness and was way too sweet. I would avoid this.
Ba Mee Kang Keaw Wan Gai ( Ba Mee with Thai Green curry and chicken) [ $9.80] - Aum told us the spices used in this dish was blended instead of suing those quick mixes readily available. I found her version way too sweet and lacking depth and felt like this dish was added to the menu as an afterthought. At least the vegetables were cooked well...
The Braised Pork leg in traditional Thai-Chinese Style (Kha Moo) [$7.80] is Aum's grandmother's traditional recipe. The pork leg is marinated for at least 2 hours before being braised for 4-6hours. You would be disappointed if you're looking for a total melt-in-your-mouth experience as the meat does still have some bite, which I really enjoyed. This dish really packs a punch in terms of flavor and richness and the blanched Thai Kai-Lan helped cut through it all. A clear winner of a dish as our table ordered seconds.
The Moo Yor Salad ($5.80) is a mix of Thai sausages with glass noodles in spicy dressing. The pork sausage is specked with crushed black peppercorns which helped lift the fragrance of the dish. Also in the mix were Thai celery, carrot and cucumber strips, sliced onion, shallots, mint, crushed chilli and pan roasted peanuts. Caution, the chilli and lime dressing really is spicy but addictive.
A popular bar snack in Bangkok, the Fried Chicken Joints (Khor Kai Tod) [ $4.80] or cartilages are deep fried to a crisp and lightly seasoned, and boy are they amazing. That crunch you get first from the batter, then the cartilage, shows they ain't mucking about. Best paired with beer. Thankfully they're having a July promotion of 4 bottles of Singha for $20, so get on it!
The Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste (Khao Clook Ga-Pi)[$8.80] is served with Thai sweet pork stew, sliced green mango, omelet strips, Chinese sausage, sliced cucumber, shallots and chilli padi. Aum came by as the dish was being served and told us to just mix everything up before eating. The sweet pork stew came in really small chunks hence they do fall apart pretty easily which made mixing things up easier. I felt my taste buds were getting a sensory overload from this simple yet stellar dish.
It was past 9pm as we reached out last dish for the day. The restaurant was still buzzing with a crowd and we were feeling a bit lethargic from all that eating. Out came the Durian with Sticky Rice (Khao Neow Tu-Rean) [ $5.80] and holy smokes, this one blew us away. Granted the pandan sticky rice wasn't too good, the durian puree was so light and airy, it wouldn't be out of place if you served it at Goodwood Park's Durian fiesta. The sweet yet supple chunks of durian helped give an extra burst of flavor and variance in textures as well. Enough said, just get it already.
Fundamentally flawed and S. dined as guests of Khun Mee Thai, but opinions are purely personal. Thank you Velda from Komars Management for the invite.
Khun Mee Thai Noodle Bar
799 New Upper Changi Road
Bedok Point #02-32/34
Singapore 467351
Tel: 6445 9932
Website: www.khunmeethai.com
This article is written by S (my better half). S is currently taking creative writing lessons to tackle his horrendous lack of verbal diarrhea. Also, S likes hats.
&Made: Once upon a Blue Moon
I'm meant to be impartial about my research judgement for the title of 'Best Burgers in Singpore' and yet, &Made breaks those rules with its previous stellar performance. (Read about it here)
That being said, some major roadblocks have been thrown their way and Chef Bruno Menard who had been working with Deliciae Hospitality Management to set up both &Made and La Cantine has decided to venture out for his ideals and thus stepped down as chef. When a restaurant is founded by a chef whose kitchen acrobatics and knack for flavor profiling makes us sit up and notice, it can be confusing for most when that chef has moved on. The questions arises on whether the replacement will be a caretaker cook mimicking the style that made the place exciting or a creative genius who can make the menu jump through a new set of hoops.
Upon hearing about 3 new gourmet burgers being introduced into the menu, it wasn't long before I was dragging my boyfriend by the heels to this joint.
&Made's service standards had obviously taken an understated turn for the worse since its glory days of hyped-up reviews and ridiculously long queues. However, being a casual burger joint, my main concerns were shifted to the food. How did that fare?
The 3 Little Pigs ($23) had a brawny, rustic quality to it. The wonderfully diverse patty composed of pork fillet, chorizo and bacon, each bringing the best of itself to the table. The other components, the spicy koshu mayonnaise, shibazuke, shitake and white cabbage speaking volumes of Chef Bruno's strong Asian influences. This turned out to be as good as I remembered it to be.
Now on to the newbies, The Blue Moon ($23), dry aged beef patty, topped with french blue cheese, grilled bacon, lettuce and pickles. This had a little more nuance than the enlistees from the staple menu, featuring a dry aged beef patty for the lack of better and more unique sauces and accompaniments. No complaints though as I do love a good blue cheese burger every now and then. The fried egg was a silly addition (+$2.00), an unworthy investment that yielded an overdone moulded fried egg with no runny yolks. devastation. That aside, there was an echo of Chef Bruno's silky way with burgers, the compelling amount of french blue cheese scattered over the top highlighted by the surprise smudge of more stinky delight over the bottom bun as well; the dry aged beef patty bringing finesse to it's towering construction and the thick cut bacon cooked just the way I like it. I was sold on this elegant dish; the unique sambal belachan served with fries sealing the deal.
And while previous helming chefs had moved on, the food at &Made remains remarkable and original. Still with that pop and sizzle element in tact.
&Made
9 Scotts Road
#01-04/06 Pacific Plaza
Singapore (228210)
Tel: 6690 7566
Website: andmade.sg/
Sin Lee Foods: these are my obsessions
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
bukit ho swee,
cafe,
coffee,
fried chicken,
tiong bahru,
waffles
·
Lately, I've got chicken and waffles on my mind.
Hence the debauchery as recently seen from my instagram feed (@fundamentally_flawed). It's disgusting, I know.
Sin Lee foods is one of the many cafes opened up in the past month or less that has inherited the name and nostalgic flavor of its original shop occupant. Converting the famous lor mee and prawn noodle shop in Jalan Bukit Ho Swee into a cafe space; I scouted around for traces or details in the fabric worth reminiscing over, but there were none. The purposefully stark innards leaving little impression in a sea of mimics spotting the island.
Leaving that aside, I reached out for Latte ($5.50). Papa Palheta's full bodied and popular Throwback blend is the main brew here, slightly nutty with just the right amount of acidity, the shot sat well amidst the mildly sweet frothy milk. Then, my brain begins percolating with pleas for a double shot... next time maybe.
For a pint sized cafe, Sin Lee's food menu is rather extensive. Descriptions and the inspired food imagery it paints are one thing, how the real deal measures in the flavor department is ultimately the more important of the two, especially given the somewhat heftier cafe prices.
I surprised myself with a retreat back to the Croissant Royale ($16.90); a play on the classic eggs benedict which I swore never to order in a cafe ever again. What sets Sin Lee's version apart from the usual are firstly it's generous portion sizes and that excellent hollandaise sauce. The croissant, toasted till golden brown provided that bit of crunch, whilst the other half left to wilt and take it all the goodness of the blanket of velvety hollandaise sauce and soft centered egg. Punctuated by the refreshing acidity of lemon, the sauce was a wonderful accompaniment to the heavy combination of smoked salmon and runny yolks; this dish further enjoyed with the contrast of the bitter arugula leaves showered with a light dancing of parmesan cheese.
An honest dish with good intentions.
The A.B.C grilled cheese sandwich ($14.90) sounded much more inspired on the menu then it did in person. Grilled apple, bacon and soft cheddar sits between slices of toasted bread with a side of spam fries. The dish literally providing the ingredients listed on the menu with minimal creativity in execution. Word of advice to the kitchen staff, lower the heat on that fryer please; the spam fries were overcooked to an inch of its life. I would also have put a little of that grilled apple sauce or perhaps maple syrup over the gooey cheddar for that contrast and definitely look into a more matured cheddar for a tinge of saltiness. But that's just me... oh yes, a little less rendering of fats on the bacon too please...
Equally lackluster is the Shashuka ($17.90), Moroccan baked eggs, house spicy tomato sauce, thick sausage, white cheddar cheese and french country toast; the dish screams against it's proclaimed nationality, the absence of related spices in this homey dish betraying its identity. The tomato sauce could have used a bit of blitzing as well, the clumsy chunks of stewed tomatoes in there together with the unsliced thick sausage (that looked like it was just thrown in some hot water to blanch) missing the mark on the hospitality and unique heartiness of Middle Eastern cuisine. Skip this dish.
One of the most adventurous dishes is the one and only Sin Lee's Fried Chicken and Waffles ($21.90). The juicy boneless chicken leg working well on its own, but sings when bestowed with a drizzle of that melted maple butter... dayum. I'm lost for words. The cheddar iron waffles are slightly on the heavier side, with a crisp edge and moist innards (some parts of it drawing references to min jiang kui) but makes a redonkulous party in the mouth with the sinful maple butter sauce. I relished in the coleslaw as well, the overall creaminess enlivened with a tinge of citrus in there. Definitely a dish worth visiting Sin Lee for.
For a new kid on the block, Sin Lee Foods has a lot of pressure to keep up with the current food trends. A slight detour off the Tiong Bahru stretch, there is a lot of room for improvement before it's capable of getting the crowds moving over. Despite it's many hits and misses, I believe in a couple of weeks with its issues smoothened out, a dining experience at Sin Lee will be as deeply gratifying as that stellar chicken & waffles dish that I would have happily spooned with on a languid Sunday afternoon. Kudos to the team.
Sin Lee Foods
Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164
Singapore 162004
T: 6377 3170
Tues-Sunday 10am-9pm
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