Showing posts with label overrated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overrated. Show all posts
Creature S: Twisted creatures that are best not to disturb
Labels:
expensive,
farrer park,
fusion,
hidden finds,
little india,
overrated,
will not return
·
Here's a little Thursday jeremiad.
Creature S....All that initial excitement, pumped up by deliciously spun tales and sights of its artfully decorated interior; plummeted to the ground after a very lackluster dinner crippled by horrendously amatuerish service. The only thing keeping us calm at the table whilst we received one glass of wine as opposed to the two that we ordered, was the therapeutic lemongrass aromas wafting through the air, reminiscent of a spa experience. Except that in place of amiable ladies in waiting, sophomoric adolescent boys took their place, typing on their phones furiously while our backs were turned.
The Dispensary: Medication for an arduously long Friday.
Labels:
cafe,
coffee,
hidden finds,
may not return,
overrated,
sandwich,
tiong bahru
·
Located on the peripherals of Tiong Bahru estate is the Dispensary cafe, sharing a portion of the already saturated cafe culture pie-chart in the vicinity. And it does so humbly. With its old-school shop front and ostentatious traditional Chinese medicine cabinets as centre piece, the rest of the cafe decor is kept simple and understated with raw finishing and a touch of nostalgia provided by shelves of memorabilia and time honoured crockery.
we settled down quickly with our buzzers at hand after placing our orders; however, I wish the more personal type, long-established form of service can be rendered here. With a simple menu to boot, boosted by a sizable amount of cakes and sweets baked in-house, we were quick to settle on our wants . Ham & Cheese toastie ($7.50) for me and Smoked Salmon toastie ($8.50) for him.
The former resulting in sighs of disappointment with a cold nappy limp lettuce neatly folded up into a quarter and haphazardly placed over the stack of ham. As much as the bread was an outstanding piece of carbohydrate, that all fell to pieces with the lack luster filling. The latter was an insignificant event that warranted no reviews from my companion. Enough said.
Will return for the,' much raved about' cakes the next time. #tgif peeps.
The Dispensary
69 Tiong Bahru Road
S( 168723)
t: 6536 0225
w: http://www.thedispensary.com.sg
Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thurs 9am - 9pm
The Lokal: The Good and the Bad
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
banana bread,
brunch,
desserts,
outram,
overrated,
sandwich,
toastie
·
With the Lokal cafe, there were a glaring amount of performance disparities, adamant even on my first visit about a month ago. The highs bringing me to dizzying heights, breath stopping moments. Like this Toasted Banana Bread ($12.00) which I'm so fixated on waxing lyrical about except that I figured the drool-worthy photos would suffice. Served warm with a sexy sluice of homemade vanilla yogurt forming a pristine blanket enveloping the slightly crusty slice, roasted macadamias are then sprinkled over the heavily caramelized bananas, pushed to the brink of the mallard reaction. The light dusting of confetti like lime and lemon rind over the yogurt act like pockets of sunshine, clearing the palette for the next rapacious bite.
Definitely the best piece of banana bread I've had since my return from the land down under thus far.
To say that the next dish that followed suite was less successful would be a massive understatement. I cringe at the lack of culinary muscle and professionalism demonstrated in our next experience. It was the Toastie of the Day ($14) that brought my enchanting moment to an abrupt end. The proclaimed 'Tomato, mushroom and cheese toastie' first arrived at the table sans the tomatoes, pompously flaunting inch thick toasts on both sides. When we questioned the staff about the stolen identities, instead of having the dish brought back to the kitchen and reassembled, we had a service tray containing two measly grilled tomatoes brought to our presence.
"The chef left out the tomatoes from the toastie, we're sorry".
Moments of awkward silence passed. erm..."And, by the way, there is hardly any cheese in there too" says S, motioning to the absolutely spartan innards of the sandwich.
"Would you like us to take it back and make another one for you Sir?"
oh geez, I thought you would never ask... "Yes, please"
A good 20 minutes later, the toastie made it's comeback to the table. Mushrooms had no inkling of seasoning and to make matters worse, it was burnt on one side and a sickly white on the other. oh come on... We took two bites and walked out of the restaurant. Silently retreating whilst the memory of that ambrosial banana bread still remained fresh in our minds.
愛你沒差 那一點時差
你離開這一拳給的 太重
我的心找不到 換日線 它在哪
我只能不停的飛
直到我將你挽回
The Lokal
136 Neil Road
0888865 Singapore
T: 6423 9918
{Wordless Wednesdays}: Sunday Folks
Labels:
chip bee gardens,
desserts,
gelato,
holland village,
ice-cream,
overrated,
soft serve
·
The word is out. Sunday folks is packing in the queues. So have a whole load of patience and brace yourselves for some pretty mean soft serve gelato.
Roasted Pistachio, Sea salt Gula Melaka, Earl Grey Lavender and Madagascan Vanilla ($6.90 for a basic cone and $10.90 for the waffle, $1.90 for additional trimmings) ... There's something to tickle everyones' fancy. My personal favourite, the Earl Grey Lavender.
Matcha Roll ($6.90) for those itching for a little cake action.
Don't want your soft serve at MacDonald's anymore? You've got Sunday Folks at ten-fold the price; but much prettier of course. Think about it...
Sunday Folks
44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-52
Chip Bee Gardens
Cicheti: and then there were Italian small plates
Labels:
arab street,
calamari,
italian,
kampong glam,
overrated,
pizza,
salad
·
Before stepping through the rustic black wooden doors, a thought crossed my mind; I was sure the Italians would be equally bewildered and perhaps outraged by the notion of Italian cuisine served in small plates format. Slowly taking my time to adjust to the sheer darkness of the interiors, after just having wandered around the bright-light, touristy outskirts of Kampong Glam, I let the oddity of the situation slide. Ordering a glass of house white to soothe my nerves.
Cicheti is Kampong Glam's newest addition. A narrow shopfront reveals a massive monster of an oven right in the middle of the service floor; the pizza maker revelling (or not) in the rousing heat of its hell-like hearth, the balls of dough proofing ever so slightly from the heat of the atmosphere. Gleaming in through the glass doors meant to separate this inferno and the slightly cooler interiors, we watched as spectators, as the maestro does a pronounced counter spinning motion followed by a swift arrangement of assorted ingredients.
Our meal began with my mandatory order of Calamari Mollica Di Pane ($11). Crisp fried calamari in homemade breading served with garlic aioli dip. My feathers were left unruffled. The word 'homemade' making excuses for its crumbing which was under seasoned and slightly too stodgy. Aside from the fact that the calamari could have used a good 20 seconds out of the deep fryer; the self professed garlic aioli lacked any resounding trace of garlic (not that my companion was complaining since he's very much a hater.)
Next.
We were told the Duo Caprese was not available and pointed in the direction of a house special salad ($15) instead which turned out to be an exact replica of the former, sans the fried mozzarella and with a ton more rocket piled over the top. A decent medley of boccocini, cherry tomatoes, balsamic and rocket. There was just no 'umph' in there.
And as the oven-obsessed owner would trumpet, the heart and soul of Cicheti lies in its pizzas. I was eager to get that in my belly.
A couple more glasses of wine and a Peroni later, our beautiful bubble crusted pizza stood in full glory before us. The Bismark ($19), had ham, bacon, mushrooms lying on a bed of homemade tomato sauce, before being sprinkled with a liberal dosage of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. To further feed the illusion, an egg is cracked right in the middle, tossed in the oven for a couple more seconds before being plated. The result, an imperfect, blistered edged pizza with delicious dark patches of burn marks and a delicate spot of sunshine in the middle. Chef Lim might have misjudged the cooking time of the dough while juggling the finesse of the perfect runny egg that led to a severely under-cooked bottom. Raw dough... outrageous. Nonetheless, we polished our plates in respect of alcohol laden stomachs.
Cicheti falls short of expectations on so many levels. Yet the tight spaces within the establishment allows for a lot of food ogling situations especially with thy neighbours. Perhaps I'll be back for the pastas.
Cicheti
52 Kandahar Street
Singapore 198901
Tel: 6292 5012
Website: http://www.cicheti.com/
Burnt Ends: Can I have a little bit of smoke with everything?
Labels:
australia,
chinatown singapore,
contemporary,
dinner,
hidden finds,
overrated,
restaurants,
special occasion
·
To say that this was a long awaited experience is certainly an understatement. After a futile visit the first time around during the hectic lunch hour (before reservations were accepted); we were glad to find out that Burnt Ends had started to accept lunch reservations. We jumped the gun quickly and made the call just in time for our monthly celebrations.
Entering the domains of the restaurant, you are greeted by a bustle of action, deliberate movements all around the tight space of the open kitchen that spans the length of the establishment. A circus act of agile chefs dancing around the heightened flames of the four-ton, double-cavity wood burning brick kiln. The elephant in the room. One who's ominous presence dictates the flavors of the entire menu.
The restaurant's color palette is kept light and natural. Shades of greys and cream are complemented by occasional pops of colors from the bespoke varnished burnt rain-tree wood counter. Loh Lik Peng evidently blowing a breathe of magic into the place, stylising it with a touch of industrial-chic.
We kick off the much anticipated meal with Smoked Quail Eggs ($6) , bouncy balls reminiscent of tea-smoked eggs with a thick veil of smokiness. Flecked with large crystals of sea salt with an irresistible burst of fatty sunshine yolks within. These were an absolute showstopper of a starter.
The Smoked beef and horseradish ($18) was a refined dish comprising of beef tartare once again imprinted with the slightess hint of smoke topped with a magical shower of fresh horseradish done at the pass by Chef David Pynt himself .
The next dish takes the seasonal humble leek and turns it into something novel and delicious with the inclusion of some other unsuspecting ingredients. Leeks, hazelnut and browned butter ($16), turned out to be my favourite dish of the evening. Unassuming in terms of looks, the smoked leeks peeled out from its charred outer leaves were elevated by the generous dose of buerre noisette, parsley, capers and toasted hazelnuts.
One of Mr. Pynt's favourite dishes on the menu is the Kingfish, apple and seaweed ($21); a slab of kingfish collar with sweet flesh perfumed with umami flavors of its soy and mirin marinade under its carbon treated exterior. Not too flattering to look at to be honest but it does speak volumes for the type of cuisine Burnt Ends is proud to produce.
To top our experience off, we dived in straight for the kill. The Burnt Ends Sanger ($20); pulled pork shoulder, cole slaw, chipotle aioli, brioche bun. What more can I say? The fork tender pork, subjected to a gruelling 10-hour of cooking ritual before being smothered in an angry sluice of tangy chipotle aioli in a airy sesame seed bun. The mixture of textures, freshness of the coleslaw and punchy flavors created a sweet dance of sensations on the palate. It was at most good, but didn't provide the 'smack-down' I was hoping for with its terribly good looks.
Burnt Ends have received unprecedented media attention since its opening and I'm sure its novel concept has a part to play, especially amongst a constant gang-bang of restaurants with a contemporary fusion themed menu. With dishes highlighting David Pynt's Australian 'laid-back' nature, each of them simple but given a little snap, crackle and pop; most of them end up being more satisfying than its meek description on the menu. A place for special occasions and special occasions ONLY. (Unless you've got loads of moolahs to spare; then in that case, knock yourselves out!)
Burnt Ends
20 Teck Lim Road
+65-62243933
Website: www.burntends.com.sg
Clifford: Not so fine dining
Labels:
burgers,
clifford,
desserts,
hidden finds,
overrated,
raffles place
·
In light of a recent festive occasion (my mother's yearly statistical increase of nagginess level), we chose to bask in the laps of luxury of the Clifford Restaurant located at Fullerton Bay hotel.
Ushered to our tables, I was floored by the beautifully outfitted dining room. Gorgeous woodgrain dining tables and chairs with a lavish touch of red fabric throughout. The lovely table lamps emitting a pale glistening of light that provided the ideal intimate settings for a hearty meal with loved ones; (though I imagine having a male companion would be tons more interesting)
To kickstart the evening, we were treated to baskets of bread served with french butter on the side and a lovely duck rilette served in miniature ceramic pots. I adored the pate and completely broke my 'less-carbs' rule with the delicious tango of flavors between the warm slightly crisp bread and the well balanced pate.
My starter of Hokkaido sea scallop and Boston lobster carpaccio with black truffles vinaigrette ($28++) was a real piece of art work on the plate, unfortunately, failed to deliver in the taste department. The overpowering acidity of the vinaigrette blocking out the sweetness of the fresh scallop and lobster completely, the thinly sliced shards of black truffle lost in translation.
The Chicken Salade Caesar fared much better with the poached chicken slices drizzled in a light dressing stealing the limelight. The foccacia croutons were absolutely addictive in this dish. Note that the portion size was a tad big for a starter so you might want to consider sharing. (be nice...)
For the mains, it was a toss-up between the duck confit and the Wagyu Foie Gras Burger which I eventually leaned towards since we all know the pulsating effects of burgers on my teensie heart. Aged cheddar, caramelised onion jam and a slab of seared foie gras complete with truffle fries. This sounds like an absolutely dream on paper, lamentably, the entire dish just didn't sit well with me. The burger buns which were in all honesty nothing to boast about had been completely soaked through from the tomato slice which sat so unstrategically at the bottom of the burger. The patty lacked seasoning on any level and hence the lavishness of the foie gras forced the make-up of the dish into borderline clunkiness. And if you were hoping for the truffle fries to act as redemption, they weren't. The truffle flavor was way muted and perhaps I've been spoilt by at least double fried potato standards; hence these left much to be desired. I was upset... hence the continuation into dessert.
Tarte tatin for two, was enjoyable. Love the touch of caramel on the plate that elevated the simple dish to a higher level. The Chocolate Moelleux was yet again another flop with a non-existent liquid center, I did love the crust that had emerged on the rich chocolate brownie like cake, but that aside, I was sorely disappointed.
Petit fours were brought to the table at the end of the night. I wish they hadn't since these outsourced beauties did nothing to justify the tummy space they had taken up. The macarons were just wrong; and the kueh lapis was a dried up mess. Pardon my straightforwardness in this post that may come across a bit crude but restaurants like these should serve food befitting of its image. It's a shame how one can dine in such resplendent settings and yet be served such mediocre food.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel
80 Collyer Quay
P.S. I would like to announce the launch of my SYD edition blog over at Snap Eat Love. Do 'like' my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/snapeatlove for updates about my foodie escapades in Sydney!
Senso Ristorance & Bar: Business or Romance?
Finding this little enclave amongst the chaos and surplus of bars in the region, Senso ristorante certainly is more than meets the eye. From the outside, it sports a tight, stiff image of reclusivness yet once you step into its cool interiors, you'll be surprised by the expanse of grounds in this restaurant; a lovely courtyard with al fresco dining offers a glimpse of the magical night awaiting to be unfold once the sun sets.
It was lunch and we were quickly led to the tables at the back of the establishment. The atmosphere was stiff, too formal; I broke the eerie silence with a laugh, exclaiming to the waiter who took my order that I would love to have the 'meter-long', referring to the Papardelle XXLong, served with braised wild boar, black taggiasca olives and sundried tomatoes.
For starters, I had the Burrata Palazzo D.O.P($ 28), Burrata Cheese served with aged San Daniele Ham, rucola salad and grape tomatoes. Strangely, this burrata cheese smelled the same as the writhing of wet towels that had been used multiple times to wipe the tables. I was taken aback by this foreign aroma but then later appeased by its creamy texture. The rucola salad served on the side were dried up and stringy as if dug out from the bottom of a long neglected bag of greens in the fridge. Definitely not a pleasant dish apart from the cured saltiness of the ham which were laid out so gently as a carpet.
My mains were unfortunately a bit underwhelming as well. The wild boar turned out less gamey and much less robust in flavor than i expected.The braising process reducing the flesh to a texture almost similar to a pork cheek. The sauce, for lack of viscosity clung with measly efforts to the al-dente pasta which I struggled to tear apart with the provision of a spoon and fork as utensils (give me a knife please...)
All in all, I wouldn't be returning so soon just based on this two dishes alone. Better luck with pasta from pasta brava just in the vicinity.
21 Club St
069410
tel: 6224 3534
Wordless Wednesdays: Porn's
Labels:
bukit panjang,
food,
junction 10,
overrated,
restaurants,
thai food,
wordless wednesdays
·
Pad Thai
sadly pedestrian (sorry for breaking the code of silence)
Porn's Thai Restaurant
#01-32, Junction 10,
1 Woodlands Road
Opening Hours: Mon - Sun 11:00 - 22:00
Omakase Burgers: it's about the price tags
Labels:
bukit timah,
burgers,
Grandstand,
overrated,
restaurants
·
― Margaret Mitchell
Perhaps I've been too preoccupied with expectations. Being touted as having one of the best burgers in Singapore, I marched down to Omakase Burger at the Grandstand hoping to be floored. Little did I know that the experience would leave me a little jaded.
A little background information regarding Omakase Burger, it was set up by banker turned restaurateur Cheng Hsin Yao who decided on sharing his perfect burger with the world after a year and a half of experimenting. This came in the form of a patty made with blends of USDA choice grade beef with no fillers, a soft (and extremely yellow) bun created by a Japanese artisanal baker, specially imported American Cheese and a signature Omakase sauce comprising of 13 secret ingredients.
Sounds like a recipe for success doesn't it? Well here's the low down.
Destination wise, the interior design of the place gave off a very casual vibe, befitting of it's self-service nature similar to a fast food joint. My one gripe is that tissues (which you would come to see the need for after the juicy burgers start spitting juices out at you) are in short supply around the shop. Please be a little more generous with these!
Food wise, I had the Bacon Cheeseburger ($15.90) which was the original cheeseburger finished with a couple slices of high quality American bacon smoked in natural hardwood whereas my accomplice had the Deluxe Cheeseburger ($15.90) topped with a generous helping of grilled onions and mushrooms. Truth be told, portions were minuscule and the whole affair had a very commercialised feel to it. Performing a side by side comparison, I find the deluxe a much better choice given the lavish grilled onions and mushrooms added some smokey flavors to it's composition and allowed the "oh-too" yellow buns to become vehicles for the lovely drippings that held the mingled flavors of earthy goodness with charred meats. That being said, I've had better and at a better value for money too. Pay a little extra for the fries ($3.90) and you get bodum cup full of skinny fries. Nothing fancy there, a little too much salt on there perhaps.
In all, I must have spent 20 minutes in there. leaving promptly with a half filled stomach and a void so big that disappointment poured in.
200 Turf Club Rd 287994
Tel: 6763 2698
Website: http://www.omakaseburger.com/
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