Tis the Season for Buffets

With the big R looming ahead, there’s been a reasonable amount of belt tightening and clinging on to wallets. Many still crave good food despite dismal prospects, and here I am providing some solace in the form of buffets. If you can’t splurge, the next best thing would be to stretch your dollar right? The following is a compilation of some places I’ve been to, as well as some places that are highly recommended by relatives and friends. Mouseover and click on the names to access each restaurant’s website. Happy feasting!

1. Cafe Vic

Situated at Carlton Hotel along Bras Basah Road, Cafe Vic is a familiar buffet spot for many a Singaporean. They are open 24-hours, dishing out international and asian cuisines to whet your appetite. |$$-$$$| 76 Bras Basah Rd, Tel: 6311 8195

2. Rajah Inn Restaurant
   

For those residing in Tiong Bahru or the west, Rajah Inn is an affordable fix for a simple dinner with the family. |$$| 302 Tiong Bahru Road #02-13/14/15, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Tel: 6835 0080

3. Jade Room Restaurant

Known for their Peking Duck, Jade Room is little known as a buffet place I’d think. Great for a leisurely lunch with the colleagues or friends. Weekday lunch: $14.80++/Weekend lunch: $17.80++ |$$| 36 Newton Road, #02-01, Hotel Royal, Tel: 6251 8135

4. Kublai Khan Mongolian Restaurant


For as long as I can remember, Kublai Khan has been at Park Mall. Mongolian food is perfect for meatlovers because meat’s pretty much a staple in their cuisine. Start piling those plates already… |$$-$$$| 9 Penang Road, #04-01, Park Mall, Tel: 6334 4888

5. The Tent


Another great place for mongolian cuisine! Owned by the people behind Ras Essence of India, the Tent is conveniently located next to Marrakesh in Clarke Quay. Love their unique sauce counter with instructions for mixing & matching with meats and veggies. |$$-$$$| #01-02, Blk 3D Clarke Quay, Tel: 6339 0200

6. Pete’s Place

One of the few places that offer an Italian buffet, Pete’s Place offers buffet lunches Mon-Sat at $26++|$$$| 10 Scotts Road, Hyatt Hotel, Tel: 6732 1234

7. Yuki Yaki

Popular with families and teens, this Japanese buffet under the Suki Group of Restaurants at Marina Square offers the usual Japanese fare at great prices (better than Sakura too according to some) |$$| 6 Raffles Boulevard #03-210 Marina Square, Tel: 6338 9680

8. Kuishinbo

For the uninitiated (fret not), Kuishinbo serves value-for-money Japanese food with periodic bell-ringing during your meal. Ladies rejoice for it’s ladies night every wed! Check out their website for more promotions… |$$-$$$| Suntec City, Jurong Point, Great World City

9. Ellenborough Market Cafe (Swissotel Merchant Court)

Swissotel Merchant Court is a popular buffet place because of their yummy Peranakan spread and famous durian pengat (pudding)…love their nonya food! |$$$| 20 Merchant Road, Swissotel Merchant Court, Tel: 6239 1848

10. Bombay Cafe Xpress

Bombay Cafe’s vegetarian cuisine is something I’ve wanted to try for the longest time…it’ll be 1 of my attempts to embrace the hidden vegan in me. You should too especially with a tempting $10 Lunch Xpress promotion over at their Suntec outlet |$-$$| #B1-020 Suntec City Mall, Tel: 6345 0070

11. Spice Brasserie

Craving a simple meal of traditional porridge? Spice Brasserie has an ongoing promotion for their teochew porridge buffet! A more affordable alternative would be Oasis Taiwan Porridge (formerly from Stadium Walk) over at Toa Payoh Park. |$$$| Parkroyal on Kitchener Road, 181 Kitchener Road, Tel: 6428 3160

12. Quality Cafe


This is 1 place where you might have to call for a reservation. Known for their laksa and other asian fare, Quality Cafe is another hit with Singaporeans. |$$| 201 Balestier Road, Quality Hotel, Tel: 6359 6856

13. Paulaner Brahaus

Paulaner has a great executive lunch special with freshly brewed beer for those who work in the vicinity…for $19.90++ you can get an appetizer, entrée and drink. Mmm…german food.. |$$-$$$| 9 Raffles Boulevard, Time² at Millenia Walk, Tel: 6883 2572

14. Carousel Restaurant

Not forgetting my muslim readers, Carousel over at Royal Plaza on Scotts and Hyatt’s Straits Kitchen across the road are 2 great places for lunch/dinner. Expect a wide variety of fresh seafood, desserts, local and international cuisine to whet your appetite. |$$$| Royal Plaza on Scotts, 25 Scotts Road, Lobby level, Tel: 6589 7799

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)

/the images above were taken from goodfood-goodmood, quality hotel & the tent’s websites.

Basil Alcove

I have long heard of the modest and affordable food served by Basil Alcove - a tiny bistro facing the main road at Middle Road. And I decided to have dinner there with my parents recently. But to my disappointment, the service was awful. For a small eatery with about 12 tables max., 2-3 waiters on hand, and only 3 occupied tables, I sure expected better service from them. At times, a warm greeting and smile go a long way. Service aside, I shall introduce our dinner for the night. Their Soup of the Day, a Mushroom Soup ($4.50) [***.] was a creamy blend with a tinge of flavoured oil, topped with their signature basil leaf. I’d say it’s definitely worth ordering.

The Roasted Lamb Rack with Mango Chutney ($18.90) [***] had a great chutney and yoghurt with light tangy notes that complemented the lamb, but the lamb could’ve been better. The meat was a tad too dry for my liking, lacking a rush of juicy tenderness that I usually look out for with my meats.

Portions were decent with sides like tomatoes, french beans, mashed potato and basil leaves for accompaniment.

For pasta, the Shrimp Aglio Olio with Orange Basil Sauce ($10.50) [***] had an interesting fusion of tastes. The orange sauce was light and sweet, infusing the spaghetti with zesty burst of flavour. Shrimp lovers would love the generous servings of fresh shrimp (about 10 in total), but the down side was the overload of shredded cheese. For a simple pasta like aglio olio, less is more. Personally, the pasta would’ve been good enough on its own, and cheese should be optional.

/ all prices are nett.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 7.5/10
Price – $$
Service – 5/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6336 1318 (call for reservations)

Address:
190 Middle Road, #01-07, Fortune Centre

Opening hours:
Lunch: 12.30-3.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm onwards
/Closed Mondays

Dress code: casual
Buses: 56, 133, 145…
Nearest MRT: Bugis

The Book Cafe

The Book Cafe is my choice for a lazy breakfast or a nice cuppa on a rainy day. You can curl up with a good book on comfy sofas, check your emails on your laptop, grab some food & drinks…and have a bite. I’ve got friends who have fallen head over heels with the place after I brought them there. This cozy hideout is at the edge of Robertson Quay, away from the maddening crowd. Regulars over here include residents from the area and other fans from around. I must say that they’ve got a rather impressive selection of magazines. They also sell ice-cream from The Daily Scoop at Sunset Way in Clementi! Fabulous stuff.

[above] from left to right: Their Sourdough bread [***.] was a crisply-toasted slice, topped with fluffy egg white (low-cholestoral!), seasonal mushrooms and salad on the side. The sourdough was a tad too dry for my liking, but the mushrooms had a robust flavour that complemented the scrumptious egg white. Next up, a mouthwatering bowl of Salmon Noodle Soup [****], perfect for keeping warm on rainy days. Pieces of fried salmon are hidden in a bowl of flavorsome broth, enriched with a tinge of cooking wine. This is one of my favourites, and I never fail to polish off every last drop of soup. Another favourite of mine is the Chicken Aglio Olio [****] with colourful bell peppers, lime, and other spices. It had just the right amount of extra virgin olive oil, a zesty burst of lime that balanced off the spiciness of the peppers. Yummylicious! Last but not least, we’ve got a hearty steak served with 2 sunny-side ups, fries, and a juioy grilled tomato.

To top it off, their drinks are a must-try too! The strawberry lemonade is an awesome combination of carbonated lemonade and fresh strawberry bits, and their quirky lychee drink makes a refreshing thirst-quencher.

Do drop by this lil cafe while you can, cos great places like this don’t remain hush-hush for long in our sunny lil isle as…

/prices stated not incl. GST (7%) & CESS (1%). No Svc Charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 9/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6887 5430

Address:
20 Martin Road
Seng Kee Building, #01-02
Singapore 239070
(near Butter Factory at Robertson Quay)

Opening hours:
Sun-Thu: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Fri-Sat: 8.30am – 12am

Dress code: casual
Buses: 123, 143, 64..
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay Stn (NEL)

My Secret Garden

Are you someone who craves for an intimate dining experience in a quiet, idyllic environment? If the answer is a resounding YES! then this place is perfect for you. Contrary to what the owners of My Secret Garden may think, their lil secret nook isn’t that much of a secret anymore now that they’ve been featured on the locally telly. However I’m certain that discerning foodies who’ve long discovered this hidden location have counted themselves as 1 of their regular clientele. To your left, we have the alfresco dining area. For the benefit of those who require a smoking area, I’m afraid there isn’t one. Their indoor seating capacity is able to accomodate approx. 60 pax, but I wouldn’t count on it if I were you. Make a reservation!

The Seafood Aglio Olio ($20) [****.] came with generous portions of succulent scallops, mussels, prawns, squid & clams. Each strand of pasta was coated with just the right amount of olive oil. Personally this is something that I look out for whenever I taste an aglio olio pasta. Some restaurants tend to drench the pasta in olive oil, treating it like a sauce. A good aglio olio should be lightly coated with it and done al dente with a hint of garlic & parsley.

If you are a fan of white meats, do give the Pan-seared Cilantro Chicken ($18) [****.] a shot. It is a refreshing change from your typical chicken chop with a tangy-sweet mango dressing, topped with bell peppers and zucchini. Select from a choice of chicken thigh or chicken breast, accompanied by mashed potatoes. I must add that the mashed potatoes make a very yummy side! Very healthy main course we have here. If you’re someone who loves their staple main course such as the Ribeye Steak ($25) [****], theirs will not disappoint. The delicious sauce that tops your steak is a house blend made with red wine & a savoury brown sauce, grilled to perfection. I would recommend that you order the house red wine ($12/gls), a malbec that’s selected specially to complement your steak.

Now let’s introduce dessert! In my opinion, the desserts on the menu outshine most of the items on the menu. The Blueberry Cheese Cake ($7) [*****] is an absolute must-try! It is by far THE BEST blueberry cheese cake I’ve tried, ever. The biscotti crust is thick, and the cheese is light and fluffy. You will not taste any whipped cream, and their homemade blueberry dressing is made with the freshest blueberries. This lovely dessert you see on your right is Berry in Love ($8) [*****] - only available during dinner. It is fresh strawberries with mascarpone cheese, mint, sugar icing mixed with a raspberry vinaigrette. ++Mascarpone is a triple-creme cheese, made from a generally low-fat (25%) content fresh cream. It’s made from the milk of cows that have been fed special grasses filled with fresh herbs and flowers. A dessert that’s simply divine, it will tease your tastebuds and make you want more…

Need I say more? Visit this joint anytime you need a place to celebrate a special occasion!

//prices stated not inclusive of +++

++definition taken from http://www.heavenlytiramisu.com

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8.5/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 7.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: 6334 8334

Address:
161 Middle Road Singapore 188978

Website: http://www.mysg.com.sg

Opening hours:
Sun-Thur / 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat / 11am – 1am
P.H. days / 6pm – 11pm

Dress code: smart casual
Buses: 857, 162, 171, 77, 174, 56, 16, 124…

Miss Clarity Café

Honestly, my first impression of this place was simply put – a jaw-dropping one. I did not take too well to their more-than-cheery decor, and by this I’m referring to highlighter-coloured walls, tables & chairs. However I’ve learnt never to judge at first sight…so I was won over by their delectable menu and in my opinion, very cheap prices. As Miss Clarity says, it is the place “where happy people meet” – hence the colour scheme of the place…trust me it’s quite difficult to feel sad where there’s an added bonus of free wireless broadband. I must thank my best friend B for introducing Miss Clarity Café to me.

Are you a fan of Western food? If you are, this is the place where you can find it CHEAP. Over here you can have a Steam-Baked Sea Bass fillet with smoked bacon sauce [***] for $9 nett. Something like this would cost at least $14 elsewhere. Add a soup/salad+drink+dessert to each main course for only $3! or select from a variety of Set Lunches at $8. Bite into their Chicken Ballotine ($8) [****] and taste the crisp oven-baked chicken thigh, breaded & stuffed with shitake mushroom…feel the delicious mushroom sauce oozing with each bite.

For those who have a ferocious appetite that’s not easily satisfied with 1 main course AND still have room for dessert, Old MacDonald Had A Farm ($15) [****] is your answer! Picture this: a platter of steak, lamb chop, crispy breaded chicken, chipolata sausage, bacon, ham, potato wedges & egg. Chipolata sausages are tiny coarse-textured pork sausages are highly spiced with thyme, chives, coriander, cloves and sometimes hot red-pepper flakes.

After this, proceed to order their Chef’s Recommendation Mud Ooze ($4.50) [***.]- soft chocolate cake brimming with chocolate lava, topped with vanilla ice-cream. This seemingly innocent cup of cake is a yummy dessert not to be missed!

++All definitions were taken from http://www.epicurious.com
© Copyright Barron’s Educational Services, Inc. 1995 based on THE FOOD LOVER’S COMPANION, 2nd edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst.

//photo credits to dee & location map taken fr. Miss Clarity Café

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $ to $$
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: +65 6339 4803

Address:
5 Purvis Street, #01-04
Singapore 188584

Website: http://www.missclaritycafe.com
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat / 11am – 11pm
Closed on Sun
P.H. days / 5pm – 11pm

Dress code: casual
Nearest MRT: Bugis MRT & City Hall MRT

Hooked! (moved to Upp Thomson)

Last Monday I had dinner at Hooked! at The Rail Mall in Upper Bukit Timah Rd. For those of you who don’t have a clue about what this place looks like, don’t worry…look below. I’ve been wanting to visit this place for quite some time..glad I finally got the chance.

Please remember that Hooked! is in the next building tht looks similar to this one..walk in the direction of the bus stop you see in the picture above. I took this whilst standing on the overhead bridge.

What you see here is their entrance and the interior of the place..nice cheery feel. Puts you in the mood for fish I felt haha. That day we had the intention of trying out Rocky’s Pizza next door..but decided against it because we liked the way Hooked! looked. Rocky’s paled in comparison with a very dull appearance..but I do intend to visit them sometime in the near future. Heard their pizza is great.

While I poured through their brightly-coloured menu peppered with interesting facts about fish, their Panfried Linguine with Mackerel Otah ($9.50) [****] screamed “Pick Me!” So how could I resist right? The dish was served with my favourite tri-coloured peppers, mushrooms and a wonderful homemade mackerel otah. The linguine was done aglio olio, with just the right amount of olive oil. I ordered a Value Top-up ($3.60) with this. It includes a soft drink and soup-of-the-day. I must say that otah coupled with aglio olio linguine tasted really good..those who can’t take chilli & spice might find this dish a tad spicy.

My boyfriend had a Value Top-up as well together with the Panfried Fish Fillet ($7.90) [***.] which was a Tilapia fillet dressed with butter, peppercorn & basil leaves and linguine & steamed veg on the side. Be forewarned, the fillet had a fair bit of bones. The skin was nicely panfried, but a lil too oily for my liking..I had to pat dry the oil before trying it. Just so you know, you can opt to add herbed potatoes ($0.80) as a side. It was a generous portion which complemented our main course well. It was a pity that we didn’t order their appetiser specialty Otah Toast ($4.80). We were too stuffed…the meal was value-for-money. Hooked! also has daily promotions (2.30-5.30pm), so check out their board while you’re there. If my memory serves correct…it’s 1-for-1 Fish & Chips on Thursday. For Fridays it’s 1-for-1 pasta!

//Prices are subjected to GST, no svc charge.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 7/10
Price – $ to $$
Service – 5/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: +65 6765 5336
Address: 390 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, The Rail Mall

Opening hours: 12pm-10pm daily except Tuesday.

Getting there: Buses 171, 170, 67, 75

Mint Café

Meet my personal 5-star rated café, the only one to date. MINT is more than just a café, in fact it’s a Café-Restaurant-Wine bar in the basement of a 5-storey building that houses the World’s first purpose-built museum for toys. This contemporary building was designed by well-known Singapore architectural firm SCDA Architects. MINT (Moment of Imagination & Nostalgia with Toys), opened in Singapore in May 2006. The museum showcases an extensive collection of vintage & collectors’ toys from the mid-19th century to mid-20th century. You’ll see toys like Peter Rabbit, Felix the Cat and a James Bond board game amongst many others.

What’s really unique about this place is that they offer a variety of dining options accompanied by a delectable menu. MINT caters for Corporate Events, Birthday Celebrations, Wedding Anniversaries etc. including complimentary entry to the Museum. For holidays like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve & other special occasions, all 4 floors of the Museum will be opened for dining among the toys.

I had dinner there with my best friend B earlier because the building piqued my interest when I passed by on Tuesday. The interior of the building was FMAZING. You’ll need to descend a flight of stairs to reach what you see in the picture above. Frankly speaking, their seating capacity is limited to what you see here plus a lil bit more. But that further enhances the quaint dining experience you’ll experience. We got the opportunity to have a chat with Chef Ronson Lim and their Manager Marcus, who gave us a complimentary tour of the 3rd floor of their museum AND 30% off our total bill.

I’ve got fifteen 30% discount passes valid for multiple visits UP FOR GRABS so ask me!

They’ve also got Set Lunches ($13.80) that include a Soup-of-the-Day, Main course, Beverage & Cake-of-the-Day.
Main course options are – Chicken Lasagna, Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Primavera Sandwich, Spaghetti Bolognaise, Beef Stew Spaghetti & Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Dinner consisted of the Seafood Arrabiata ($16) [****.] as shown here. I strongly resisted the urge to order my pasta favourite so that I can be unbiased as a food reviewer. Good thing I did too, because it was 1 of the best arrabiattas I’ve tried so far. The arrabiatta sauce was light & it tasted nothing like canned tomato puree, and the fresh seafood included mussels+prawns+squid+fish. I must say that the natural flavour of the prawns was not lost despite it being dressed with arrabitta sauce.

Ben ordered the Penne Al Funghi ($16) [***], which he found good because the cream sauce wasn’t overly rich. However he felt that the penne tasted a lil plain. I had a taste of it and I liked how the cream sauce slid down my throat without me feeling jelak- malay for squeamish after consumption of excessively oily/rich food. It also complemented the mushrooms well.

Then came dessert…drum roll please.

Chef Ronson Lim shared with us that although they do create their own desserts, some of their desserts are outsourced from Les Amis, 1 of Singapore’s Top French Restaurants. This is due to constraints like their kitchen size. But fret not, dessert was a gastronomical affair.

On your right is the Missisippi Mudpie ($5.80) [****]which is from Les Amis. There was nothing ‘muddy’ about it surprisingly, since it didn’t ooze chocolate from its pores. On the contrary, it had a cheesecake-like biscuit base with a layer of hardened dark chocolate, topped off with chocolate meringue (crisp & chewy chocolate rich in cocoa) and complete with vanilla whipped cream on the side.

B’s Pecan Pie ($5.80) [***] was 1 of Mint’s dessert creations. He had a hard time deciding between this and their Nutella Pie, but a pretty waitress persuaded him otherwise. For many, this Pecan Pie will taste familiar…it’s got a slight local flavour to it but you won’t be able to place it. We couldn’t place it until we asked Ronson, but I shall not tell you what it is..taste it for yourself & let me know. Although I do not have a penchant for nuts & such, I found the pie delightful.

//All prices are subjected to ++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 8.5/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 9.5/10
Ambience – 9.5/10
Accessibility – 8/10
/you might wanna call beforehand in case they’re booked for functions.

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] - rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: +65 6339 6266
Address: 26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382

Opening hours:
MINT Museum Opening hours / 9.30am to 6.30pm daily
MINT Café Opening hours / 9.30am to 10.30pm daily

Getting there:
Take the MRT to City Hall Station (NS25/EW13) and walk towards Raffles Hotel or Bras Basah Complex. The Museum is next to Raffles Hotel and opposite Bras Basah Complex.

The Turquoise Room (now defunt)

This place is a quiet sanctuary away from town. It’s perfect if you feel like being alone, or if you want a romantic setting for that special dinner you’ve got planned..What impressed me about the place was the excellent service I had that night. We had the owner’s lil girl bidding us goodbye at the door and attentive waitresses all night. Aside from that, I also loved the way they painted the walls and put together that laidback, breezy feel..the restaurant is kept cool by fans because the area is very breezy. There’s also alfresco dining available on a wooden patio outside, complete with trees in the background. I’m a tree-lover, don’t mind me.

The Turquoise Room also has a sister outlet known at The Turquoise Bistro located at 902 East Coast Parkway, Tel: 6247 7677 (now defunct). I haven’t had a chance to visit it yet, so do let me know how your visit goes if you check it out. Now let’s introduce the food…

I couldn’t resist the urge to order something familiar yet different..so I tried their Prawn & Arugula Linguine [*****] as shown here

Arugula is actually a.k.a Rocket in the US..it’s an aromatic salad green that tastes bitter on its own. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised to taste how well it complemented my pasta! yums. A combination of aglio olio pasta with almost anything goes wonderfully well I suppose. Yes yes, I’m a Purist when it comes to my pasta.

Over here we’ve got the Chicken Pesto with sundried tomatoes [****].

If you’re one who thinks that pesto pasta is always creamy, you’ll be surprised to find out otherwise. This chicken pesto pasta has juicy tender chicken with a mixture of sundried tomatoes that lent the dish a mild sweet-sour note that balanced out the overall taste. I can safely say that these 2 pastas we ordered are very different from what most Singaporeans are used to, so I’d say give it a shot.

Other than pasta, The Turqoise Room also serves up thin-crust Italian-style pizzas and specialities like their Lamb Rack ($29). Oh yes, how can I forget. They’ve got great Strawberry Smoothies ($6)…and amazingly, their Bellini was affordably priced at $10.

//All prices are subjected to ++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 8/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 6/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: (65) 6473 3655

Address:
7 Lock Road, Gilman Village

Opening hours:
12pm-11pm / Mon-Thur
12pm-2am / Fri-Sat
10am-10pm / Sun
*Brunch: 10am-12pm

Dress code: casual
Getting there: Nearest MRT is HarbourFront transfer to bus 97 or 100.

Timbré at Substation

I cannot believe that I took more than a year to stumble upon this place. Timbré is a bistro music bar that was started in July 2005. The place features local bands as part of their music line-up. On Wednesday nights they’ve got EIC! -cue huge grin- Juan & I were lost in their music just a while ago..they did songs by Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Hootie & the Blowfish, Barenaked Ladies, Red Hot Chilli Peppers & Augustana. For that alone, you ought to visit the place. For weekends, we have been forewarned: you should make reservations at http://www.timbre.com.sg

Their drinks menu looked decent enough, though their Cosmopolitan wasn’t strong. I tried their champagne cocktail Sweet Lady ($12) and their Red Ruby Martini ($10) their martini special for tonight. Kudos to them for a great champagne cocktail!

Inevitably, Juan & I got hungry after all the drinks..so I ‘grudgingly’ agreed to compromise with Ms. Carnivore & order Timbré’s Chicken Fingers ($8) [***.]. The portion was enough for 2. The chicken was encrusted in a lightly spiced batter. yums.
I’d check out their webby for their ongoing promotions..cos they’ve got pretty good deals for those dining in groups. Last but not lease, Timbre’s thin-crust pizzas are not to be missed! [****.]

//prices are subjected to +++

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 8/10
Price – $$ to $$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 6.5/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address: 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936 (Substation Garden)
Email: info@timbre.com.sg

Opening hours: open daily from 6pm except Sunday
Dress code: casual
Buses: 16, 147, 857, 162..

Il Gladiatore (now defunt)

Italian cuisine is becoming increasingly popular with Singaporeans who are a carbohydrate-loving bunch. With ‘favoured‘ pastas like carbonara and spaghetti bolognaise that are served at numerous restaurants island-wide. In order to stand out from the crowd, owner-chef Fabio Iannone decided to transform his modern Italian restaurant Fuenti into the present-day Il Gladiatore. The restaurant now focuses on a Roman theme with floor-to-ceiling columns reminiscent of olden-day Roman architecture. Another interesting thing about the place is their staff, who are dressed in the long flowy robes & armour of the Romans on weekends.

What you see here is the raised level dining area of the restaurant on the left, and the main dining area on the right. The former is only available to diners on weekends, upon request or for private functions. Alfresco dining is also available.
Here at Il Gladiatore, they recreate the taste of ancient Roman cuisine with the use of ingredients like artichokes, fava beans, herbs, olive oil and vinegar. With the origins of Roman cuisine dating back thousands of years, it is no surprise that these simple ingredients are used to flavour grilled meats – a staple in the Roman diet back in those days.

I visited the place on a saturday in July to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday. Before dinner I was frantically calling the restaurant to confirm my reservation and to ask if I could bring a cake. I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t in breach of some undisclosed restaurant policy that will eventually lead to my embarassment during dinner. To my delight, restaurant manager Mark Anthonisz, together with his staff were extremely helpful in decreasing my anxiety levels. They schemed together with me to transport the cake from the fridge right up to our VIP table. Kudos to them for great service!

We had their Traditional Fava Beans Soup ($10) [****], Three Mixed Meats ($38) [*****] -a combo of Argentinean beef tenderloin, charcoal-grilled lamb shoulder & home-made fennel pork sausage and Crayfish with Prawns ($32) [****] as seen here. The portion of the grilled meats was deceptively small, but it turned out to be more than sufficient for one. If you’re a carnivore at heart, I strongly recommend that you try their grilled meats which are tender, juicy and flavourful in all the right places. The Crayfish with Prawns was a little too dry for my liking, but good nonetheless.

However, you might wanna order an additional pasta to share because their seafood portions run rather small. If you’re interested, their tagliatelle with braised oxtail ($20), ravioli with spinach and cheese with artichoke sauce ($18) and cream-free spaghetti carbonara ($16) passed the taste-test of AsiaOne.

“If you’re feeling ravenous and want to eat all the way, go Roman to the Maximus, as it were, with the whole family. Il Gladiatore offers a Sunday brunch with unlimited servings of eight signature dishes, including a soup, four starters, a pasta dish, a main and dessert – all for $38. There are also two set lunch options on weekdays, at $18 and $28.” – says Geoffrey Eu on The Business Times, 6 Mar, 2006

//prices stated above are subjected to +++.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Food – 7/10
Price – $$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)

Address:
207 River Valley Road,
UE Square #01-61.
S(238275)

Tel: (65) 6333-8875

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11.00am-2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm-11.00pm

Dress code: Smart casual

Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NEL) or Dhoby Ghaut MRT
Buses: 123, 143, 64
Driving directions:
Opposite Liang Court at the junction of Clemenceau Ave