Showing posts with label casual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label casual. Show all posts
The Salted Plum joins the leagues of the Dirtyyy Late Night Eats.
Labels:
affordable,
boat quay,
casual,
cheap,
circular road,
large groups,
must go,
restaurants,
taiwanese,
will return
·
Last year, Five Ten's achingly hip temple to home cooked fare basking in Taiwanese pedigree, set the pace for Singapore's new restaurants. Even after its reincarnation as The Salted Plum along the uproarious Circular road, it's still in a league of its own.
Pastaria Abate: Good times for both the wallet and the finicky eaters
Labels:
affordable,
casual,
cheap,
craig road,
date night,
family friendly,
must go,
outram,
pasta,
tanjong pagar
·
Now that we're in the thick of Singapore Cocktail Festival. Here is a word to the wise. Make sure to line the stomachs before hitting up those bars. #DrinkResponsibly.
And in case you're looking for something easy on the wallet in and around the bar hot spots that will leave you more liquid funds for later, here's a gem of a suggestion - Pastaria Abate on Craig Road, where fresh pastas made daily are emphasised and every table is vacated with empty plates. It's a tell tale sign that there is pedigree here and the crowds flocking in on a Thursday night is living proof.
Blue Label Pizza: we don't stay for desserts, because the pizzas robbed us of our tummy real estate
Labels:
affordable,
ann siang,
casual,
club street,
large groups,
must go,
pizza,
restaurants,
will go,
wines
·
We fall utterly silent, albeit for the appreciative hums that escape our lips between bites. It's a ferociously interesting night out with the boy, and based on all the delicious rumours that were circulating about this basement joint; we were half anticipating the night to cumulate in a smack down of exhilarating flavors. And boy weren't we disappointed.
25 Degrees Singapore wishes to cast a spell with their Black Magic Burger
Labels:
affordable,
beer,
burgers,
casual,
comfortfoods,
diner,
family friendly,
fries,
large groups,
late night eats,
little india,
middle road,
rocher,
set lunch,
supper,
will return
·
As much as I was put off by the tag-line of 'endorsed by A-List celebrities as their go-to burger joint', I could understand what was the fuss about. Rich burgundy hued wallpaper, black leather booth seats and just enough natural light streaming in. If the Los Angeles branch emulates the same feel, it would probably be the perfect spot to be captured devouring a heavy stack while still sporting a cropped top revealing chiseled abs underneath - cue the headlines "How __ Stays Fit - While Modelling and Eating Burgers". oh pls...
Braseiro Restaurant: Steaks and the whole she-bang at just less than $20.
Labels:
advertorial,
affordable,
barbeque,
casual,
East Coast/ Joo Chiat,
family friendly,
large groups,
restaurants,
steak,
will return
·
Remember the steak article that I did a year back regarding 28 Juicy Steaks under $30? Truth is, I never really got round to trying all those on the list for fear of gout. However, a year has past and it has been my fortune to be able to continue the stake out, this time extending my footprint to the far east of the island.
As far as affordable steaks go, Braserio in Joo Chiat is up there with my personal favourites of The Betterfield and iSTEAKS. It takes little convincing to know that you've stumbled upon a bargain; one step into the establishment and the throngs of diners, large families with every member working their way through individual steaks with voracious appetites affirming the affordable yet luxurious deal.
Five-Ten: Taiwanese inspired Pop-Up
In place of the late CATO along South Bridge Road comes Five Ten, a trendy spot sporting homely Taiwanese inspired eats. Judging from the long queues snaking out the door every weekday night, its popularity amongst the young and voguish is unmistakable. A major home-run, evidently seeing that its name is based off a beloved pre-drinking game enjoyed by most Singaporeans (preferably equipped with adequate counting skills); conceptualised by the Kishore brothers most known for helming the 90s themed club FRESH!; their appeal preceding over the same audience in their latest establishment.
Otto's Deli Fresh: Wholesome bites in the heart of Holland Village
Labels:
affordable,
burgers,
casual,
circle line,
fusion,
holland village,
may return,
pulled pork,
steak,
waffles
·
I had my qualms about this place initially. It's rather peculiar positioning in Raffles @ Holland Village reinforced by second floor placement raising concerns about low footfall and visibility even if placed in the bustling neighbourhood. The newest labour of love, Otto's Deli Fresh by one of the most respected veterans in Singapore's Food and Beverage industry, Otto Weibel sets to present a curated food selection showcasing provenance and quality in a snugly familiar way. The all-day dining menu allowing customers to enjoy even the most illustrious of breakfast dishes late at night.
Miam Miam: New Pasta & Pancake Creations
Labels:
bugis,
cafe,
casual,
family friendly,
fusion,
italian,
japanese,
large groups,
pasta
·
Miam Miam's newest menu addition is the alluring Mentaiko King Crab Pasta ($19.80). This Squid Ink Pasta Dish features juicy Alaskan King Crab slathered with cod roe mayo! The first bite will surely knock you off your feet, for the dark strands of pasta belie some real powerful spiciness that keep you coming back for more. You'll end up with some goth lips and stained teeth, and with a satisfied grin to show them off!
8 Korean BBQ: The Underdog of Korean BBQ
Labels:
casual,
clarke quay,
family friendly,
korean,
korean bbq,
large groups,
must go,
the central,
will return
·
In a land festered by Korean trends; I've every reason to believe that Korean BBQ may just become a mainstay in our local foodscape - especially since the topic of Descendants of The Sun (DOTS) seem to sneak up upon every table conversation I've participated in for the past month. First K-dramas, then K-pop, then came the Korean cuisine affliction; Korean barbecue, bibimbap, all things kimchi and then patbingsu joints sprouting all round the island.
There's no escaping its cult-like influence. Like they said, if you can't beat them, join them.
Idaten Udon: where you are your own boss.
Labels:
affordable,
casual,
cityhall,
citylinkmall,
family friendly,
japanese,
large groups,
no service charge,
udon,
will return
·
If you're looking for a quick place around town for lunch, then Idaten would fit the bill perfectly. Both in light of the time aspect as well as where monetary finances are concerned. RE&S branches out their power chain of Japanese establishments with yet again another winning concept - Idaten Udon, adding to the enterprise's successful portfolio of quintessentially Japanese restaurants.
Here at the casual diner located at the sharp bend of the citylink mall leading up from the escalator, you can be the ultimate decision maker for your own Udon meal. Bent on providing a no-frills self-serve concept that specializes in udon, diners don't have to worry about meddlesome service staff hanging around tables or footing the extra service tax.
Shake Shack - The Alshaya Food Tour in Dubai
Labels:
affordable,
american,
burgers,
casual,
dubai,
family friendly,
must go
·
Toss a coin out, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Singapore, and you'll probably hit someone who has heard of Shake Shack, or even better still, someone who is a big fan of the brand.
Being the burger fanatic, I've heard myths and legends about the roadside NYC 'burger' stall that had achieved cult status and since then, went forth to open up chains throughout the world.
And today, I sought to challenge that myth. Putting Shake Shack through the mill, with a series of burger debauchery and mindless gluttony.
Platypus Lobster Shack: Weak in the knees
Some nights I dream about this.
The thoraic warmth of the creamy homemade mayonnaise mixed in with the succulent chunks of butter poached lobsters; the smell of grilled, slightly charred bread filling my nostrils. This makes for such a umbrian treat.
Repeated visits, and I've always called for the same item. Like a blindfolded mission evoked by memory sensory pleasures. Not tonight, not this night cause when 5 and a 1/2 unite , a larger congregation of seafood delights can come together.
Seasons Bistro: Seasonal based Cuisine in the heart of Orchard
Seasons Bistro located at Triple One has given residents a new neighbourhood place where they can have a really simple meal, or, when they feel like it, something more extravagant.
It's name conveniently convenes it's principals, "seasons" touting it's homage to a seasonally driven menu with constantly changing fare showcasing the freshest ingredients; "bistro" speaking volumes about the affordability of it's offerings. Executive Chef Benjamin Fong is the man responsible for flicking the dust off traditionally dearly priced seasonal menus, focusing mainly on the multifaceted American cuisine, with influences from Canada, New England, Mexico and the cosmopolitan New York City.
The menu is sprinkled with strange and contemporary choices geared for the curious diner. Lunch time sees a value-for-money set menu priced at the affable $12.99 for a choice of soup, main and coffee/soft drink (add $5 for a choice of desserts), a penny pinchers dream come true. With dark wood finishes and sleek varnished counter tops, bringing a company function to its midst now seems like a viable and slightly classier option.
I went ahead with the set lunch. Opting for the soup of the day for starters. The potato and leek soup probably doesn't sound like a bell ringer, however its deliverance was stellar. Clean flavors without the distracting chunks of potatoes nor irrelevant carrots, as most cafe renditions are, you would expect to taste a tinge of raw starch from the mindless cooking; that wasn't the case at Seasons Bistro. A technically sound bowl of soup that saw my spoon clanging the bottom of the dish eagerly.
My main came in the form of a Cobb Salad; an uncomplicated marriage that is signified on the menu by sans-serif lists of ingredients, with no capital letters, verbs, articles or hint of how one relates to the next; yet miraculously it does... and all to well. The main-dish classic American salad isn't as straightforward as it seems. It has some rock and roll in its trousers. Cajun spiced chicken grilled till spot on, boiled eggs with a slightly soft center, crisp bacon bits, black olives, corn, watercress and tomatoes strewn the plate. While the salty blue cheese marries mixed greens and creamy avocado, the result conceived is a perfect combination that presents different flavor dimensions and textures with each bite. My only gripe would have to be the beans which I have uncanny biasness towards.
Not everything is fine and dandy; the service needs improvement and the sprawling space doesn't ultimately work in its favour during a busy lunch service as our plea for desserts to be brought out was lost in translation.
Mishap aside, Seasons Bistro does have the capacity to titillate its guests, by not dishing out over complicated cuisine but tastes good enough to leave you rubbing your belly at the end of the meal. I pray that with the constant reminder of the establishment's name overhed, the chef never loses sight of the bistro's identity.
Season's Bistro
#01-11/12, TripleOne Somerset
111 Somerset Road
Singapore 238164
Website: http://www.seasonsbistro.com.sg/
&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/
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