Paik Bibim @Bedok, Bedok Mall

"What a healthy and satisfying meal!" That's what my friends said, after savoring their last mouthful of the yummy bibimbap. They cost only $7 - $8.90 each, in a small and cozy self-service cafe!

Each Bibimbap comes with plentiful of crispy, crunchy and fresh vegetables that add to the experience of every bite. Although the rice could be a bit plain without their signature Pepper sauce, (it's not really spicy, but if you add too much, then yes, it's spicy!) the ingredients that come together are perfect accompaniments.

Woosamgyup Bibimbap ($8.90)

Teriyaki Chicken Bibimbap ($8.90)

Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap ($8.90)

Seafood Bibimbap ($8.90)

For a light and refreshing taste, go for their Teriyaki Chicken Bibimbap ($8.90), or Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap ($8.90).

For a heavier taste, go for their Woosamgyup Bibimbap ($8.90). A special bowl of rice with woosamgyup marinated in their signature special house sauce.

For varieties, go for their Seafood Bibimbap ($8.90) with shrimp, squid and Cuttlefish marinated in spicy sauce.

You can try their Spicy Korean Rice Cakes ($4.90), it's a bit bland, but goes well with the wholesome healthy profile of the dishes served here.

I'll be back if I am craving for healthy food!

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Verdict:

Food: 4/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Total Score: 4/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Paik Bibim

Address: 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-95 Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360

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Relish Gardens @My Village Serangoon Gardens

What ever happened to Relish? My question is aimed at the outlet in My Village at Serangoon Gardens.

We have been to this outlet several times, witnessed the menu changes, and loved the Blue Cheese Burger. The prices have went up considerably, which now includes a side of Fries or Salad. But that's it.

The quality has gone down- (or are we getting too spoilt for choice now that there're so many good burger joints around?) the Blue Cheese, though oozing out, is quite diluted, like the dip for Parmesan Wings. The patty is not juicy enough, the bun is too toasted, and the dollop of Peanut butter on the bottom bun is too overpowering. The Rocket between the bun and patty is dead, just like my salad, wilting...

Blue Cheese and William Pear Beef Burger ($18.80)

Top-up your side of Fries or Salad to Truffle Fries (+$3)

Sadly, the Parmesan Chicken suffered the same fate. The meat is under-marinated, but credits still go to the crispy skin. The Blue Cheese dip, the highlight of this dish, was quite diluted. We even had to stir it, because it was clumpy.

Parmesan Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese and Chilli Dips (Half Dozen) ($9.80)

Well, I hope their Char Siew Burger is still as good... Or perhaps we should have stuck to the outlet at Cluny Court...

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Verdict:

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5 

Total Score: 3/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Relish Gardens

Address: 1 Maju Avenue, #02-07, My Village, Serangoon Garden, Singapore 556679

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Tonkichi @Orchard, Ngee Ann City

We've visited the one at Shaw Center, and recently had a craving for Tonkichi's signature Tonkatsu. While walking around Takashimaya in Ngee Ann City, we spotted another outlet (just steps away from Shaw Center!) and quickly got a table for our group.

We were served our drinks quickly and given the menu. Hence, we ordered the following:

Hire Katsu Tonji Set

Deep fried pork fillet simmered with egg and special soy sauce in hot claypot

Black Pork Tonkatsu ($33)

Jumbo Set

Includes Prawns, Pork and Oysters

Jumbo Set

From another view...

Includes Prawns, Pork and Oysters

Our dinner!

Not enough sauces, drinks, cabbages and rice? We were served fairly quickly, as the crowd was lesser at 9-ish on a Sunday night. As usual, the food is great, and we were quickly filled by the fragrant Japanese rice.

If you're sick of the hard and veiny Tonkatsu in your kopitiam or food court, visit this place and you'll taste the difference. I'll definitely be back if I have a craving for Tonkatsu...

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Verdict:

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Total Score: 4/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Tonkichi

Address: 391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City,#04-24 Takashimaya S.C., Singapore 238873

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Orchard Cafe @Orchard Hotel

It was a last minute booking for a birthday party, and all around town was quite full, perhaps due to the F1 race.

No live meat-carving station, no cheese station, no make-your-own ice cream, no breads, no prawns at seafood station. They just launched a crabs and crepes promotion, which wasn't really fantastic either...

For a birthday present to our birthday lady, a tasty chempelak tart with a lit candle was delivered by one of the staff, who sang a birthday song together with us- a definitely sweet surprise.

A tasty chempelak tart!

All very local food. If you're a Singaporean, avoid this place. It's like paying $34++ per pax to eat less-than-average hawker food. We spent $68++ per pax on a Sunday, with one-for-one promotion, coming down to $34++ per pax. Their service is warm, friendly. However, for this price, variety and quality, check out hotels in the City Hall area or book earlier in advance for other hotels in town. Or even, go try Resorts World Sentosa's buffets.

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Verdict:

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5 

Total Score: 1/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Orchard Cafe

Address: Lobby Level, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road 

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Pickmeup Cafe @East Coast Park

Attracted by the colorful and cheerful interior, we chose this place to have brunch instead of St Marc's next door. They had a bakery with proper baker on standby, a gelato and yoghurt section.

We were the first few customers on their first day of opening. They were many hiccups, but their friendly staff kindly offered us an ice-cream with waffles. They have an interesting selection of ice-cream, with ingredients from Australia.

The Place!

Inside...

Cajun Chicken Mozzarella Melts ($9)

Grilled chicken slices, mozarella, sundried tomato pesto, lettuce on whole meal batard bread

Signature Miso Waffles with Smoked Salmon ($15.90)

Own waffles infused with miso, poached eggs, seaweed, hollandaise sauce, drizzle of honey

Black Pepper Duck Multigrain Toast ($14.90)

Black pepper smoked duck breast, organic cranberry sauce, rocket


Black Pepper Duck Multigrain Toast ($14.90)
What's inside!

Coffee ($4.90) & Clean Me Up ($8.90)

500ml tall glass juces are cold-pressed freshly in house with organic vegetables and fruits to recharge your body and vitality!


My Complimentary Waffles and Rocky Road Ice Cream...

Their Signature Miso Waffles with Smoked Salmon ($15.90) was a disappointment, never mind the fact that it came 40 minutes after we ordered. Together with the Black Pepper Duck Multigrain Toast ($14.90), these two were supposed to be their signature dishes. But the poached egg for the waffle came out to be hard-boiled egg. Again, we pardoned them for as one of their teething problems...

As for their Black Pepper Duck Multigrain Toast ($14.90), we felt that the pricing could be better, as the toast itself costed $2.50 on their bakery display... Nonetheless, the whole taste and ingredients could be very much improved, if they were the signature dishes. The crisps had a ginger tinge- totally not oily at all.

Our Coffee ($4.90) and Clean Me Up ($8.90) came on an wooden tray and was easily the highlight. (They're using Bodum glasses!) Clean Me Up ($8.90), 500ml tall glass juces are cold-pressed freshly in house with organic vegetables and fruits to recharge your body and vitality. In essence, juice made from fruits and veggies slow-pressed (all the hype now on slow-pressing...) to extract much more nutrients than normal blenders. Single flavours go at $5.90.

All in all, I'll be back for their gelato and bakes, but will think twice for their brunch.

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Verdict:

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5 

Total Score: 2/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Pick Me Up Cafe

Address: #01-02, 920 East Coast Parkway (Beside St Marc's Cafe & Starbucks)

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Yayoiken @Somerset

There're several outlets across Singapore, and this one's pretty unique, in that MK steamboat restuanrant is just beside it, creating a big and spacious feeling.

Order using an iPad!

Fancy ordering ice water with this iPad?

Yofu Hamburger Set ($15.90)

Miso Katsu Set ($14.90)

Miso Katsu Set ($14.90)

Using an iPad to order, even ice water, the food here is just average. I was reminded of Saizeriya- the potatoes, the hamburger steak, the vegetables. And I was also reminded of the stark price difference, even though there's free flow rice here. The mains' portions are just enough for one bowl of rice. A second top-up would be too much.

I'd not come back here again...


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Verdict:

Food: 2/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5 

Total Score: 1/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Yayoiken

Address: 313 Orchard Rd, #B3-33/34, Singapore 238895

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Bon Chon @Bugis, Illuma

Located near the taxi-stand entrance of Bugis+, this place is fighting for attention with many other restaurants in the same area. There's Yayoiken just opposite, and the more expensive Ma Maison on the other side. But it had its own specialty that attracted people- their chicken.
The place was slightly under-staffed but we could see that the solo server was trying his best. Kudos to that. As for the food, apparently they've a few branches in many other countries, so they must be good at what they're doing right?
Not so... after having tried their chicken wings. We thought Four Fingers were better. 

Seafood Pancake ($12.90)

Wings 8pcs- Medium ($9.90)

Drumsticks 3pcs- Small ($7.90)

I'd give credits to their crispy skins, but that's it. Their drumsticks and wings were not marinated on the inside, and became boring after we moved on to the third piece of wing.  Their Seafood Pancake is average as well. Their squid was particularly hard to chew.
I'd not come back again for their wings, after all there's many more of such Korean-styled wings in Singapore for us to try! 

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Verdict:

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 2.5/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5 

Total Score: 1/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Bon Chon

Address: 201 Victoria Street, #01-03 Bugis+

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Charly T's @112 Katong

-- CLOSED --

Anyway, the food first...
The chicken is the must-try dish here, though my friends love their Negima Salmon Yakitori ($24). The chicken comes in two flavors, Original and Seasoned, but I always stick to my classic favorite. It also comes in a few sizes, the smallest being the Quarter size. Skip the Steak and Rice ($24), for its too small and veiny.
The sauces go very well with the chicken, and the chicken is succulent and juicy.

Steak and Rice ($24)

Quarter Original Rotiserrie Chicken w/ 2 choices of Sides ($14.90)

Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese

Negima Salmon Yakitori ($24)

Kaiserschmarrn ($16)

Austrian-German dessert of light and fluffy pancake dusted in powdered sugar, raisins and served with homemade vanilla bean ice cream

MUST ORDER THIS DESSERT!
I love this- Kaiserschmarrn ($16) A bit expensive, but it's quite filling for 2 persons. It is an Austrian-German dessert of light and fluffy pancake dusted in powdered sugar, raisins and served with their homemade vanilla bean ice cream. The Vanilla ice cream on the side is creamy, not the usual Walls kind. But the highlight is the super fluffy pancakes with raisins inside. There's ample raisins, adding a tinge of organic sweetness to the whole dessert. The icing sugar on the top is just decoration, and doesn't really add to the sweetness of the pancakes- perfect.

I will visit this place again only if there's a promo...

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Verdict:

Food: 4/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Total Score: 4/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Charly T's

Address: I12 Katong : 112 East Coast Road #03-015, 112 Katong, Singapore 428802

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The Chop House @Vivo City

Located just beside Jamie Oliver in Vivocity, this dimly-lit restaurant is extremely cozy for nice chillout dinners. With a wide variety of cocktails, great cuts of meat, the pricing are pretty mid-range, and the quality is good.

Quesadillas- Chicken or Beef ($18)

Best quesadillas in town - with tomatoes and jack's cheddar cheese, folded into a bread tortilla and cooked till cheese is melted and tortilla is crispy, served with gucamole, sour cream and salsa pico de gallo.

Black & Blue Burger ($22)

One half pound beef patty blackened in cajun spices, topped with homemade blue cheese dressing. Served with tater tots 

We were not very hungry, and hence ordered something from the starters and mains section to share.

The Quesadillas, which we orderd with Chicken ($18), was nicely marinated and the sauces went well with it. It's a tad spicy, but tolerable for someone who can't take spiciness well. Their Black & Blue Burger ($22) is one of those I would recommend- juicy, and totally not stingy with the blue cheese. However, the tater tots turned me off- basically, they're like pizza hut's star mash potatoes, except in marshmallow shapes.

Nonetheless, I am sure the other dishes will do as well as these. I will be back to try the others!

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Verdict:

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Ambiance: 4/5 

Total Score: 4/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Groups

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About it:

The Chop House

Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-161-162 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Menu: http://www.wooloo-mooloo.com/files/images/menu/f2f2f5dc-TCH-food-menu-JAN-2014.pdf

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Just Like It! @Resorts World Sentosa, RWS

-- CLOSED --

We walked past this restaurant but never really looked into the interior. The exterior looked quite sophisticated. Seemed like those nitrogen-gas kinds of labs with all that science formula doodles on the shop front, or perhaps because all that Universal Studio Hollywood effects were getting into our head.

Iced water in beakers!

Waffles with One Flavour of Ice Cream (2 scoops)  ($25.90) Choice of Banana, Strawberry, Kiwi
Crepes with One Flavour of Ice Cream (2 scoops) ($17.90)
When a group of us walked in, there was only one couple. Throughout our stay on a Sunday late-noon, there was only another two or three couples. The reason could be due to its pricing, which we were so glad we paid most of it using our Groupon vouchers.
The menu is a disaster- shabby A4 clear sheets folder with Powerpoint layout. Those that were unavailable were crossed out in a haphazard way. And there were a lot of cross-outs.
Nonetheless, craving for something to cool down from our trip to Trick Eye Museum, we ordered Waffles with One Flavour of Ice Cream (2 scoops) for $25.90. The portion was big, but it's definitely a tourist-destination kind of price. We had Popcorn Ice Cream with Bananas for this. 
Also, for our Crepes with One Flavour of Ice Cream (2 scoops) at $17.90, we took their Berries Berries ice cream and Strawberries. Also, it's pretty normal.
Drinks to share, we got a bottle of Green Tea & Pomegranate Juice ($7.90), and one of us had the Caramel Latte ($7.90). 
There's nothing much to rave about. The prices are nothing I would pay for such a quality and for an after-meal dessert.

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Verdict:

Food: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5 

Total Score: 1/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Groups

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About it:

Just Like It!

Address: 26 Sentosa Gateway, #01-201, Singapore 098269

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Pita Pan @Marina Bay Sands

-- CLOSED --

This is the place to go if you think Rasapura at Marina Bay Sands basement is too crowded, or just intimidated by tourist-targeted prices e.g. $8 Char Kway Teow, or those celebrity chef restaurants.

A very casual cafe with direct access to the outside area of MBS, this place serves authentic and really tasty Mediterranean food. Those below are my favorites :)

Green Shakshuka

Fresh Spinach, Garlic, Basil Leaves, Ground Pepper, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Onions, Sweet paprika, 2 Eggs or Halloumi cheese

Pita Pocket & Sweet Potatoes Fries

Pita Bread, Jerusalem salad, Pickled cucumber, Parsley, Falafel, Tahina Sauce, Amba (Mango Sauce)

Their Pita Pockets comes in sets that includes a soft drink as well. It's really healthy stuff here!

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Verdict:

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Total Score: 4/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Pita Pan

Address: 2 Bay Avenue, L1-87, Bay Level ,The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Menu: http://pitapan.com.sg/our-menu/food

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Marmalade Pantry @Orchard, Ion

This is another affordable place for meals in Orchard, well, if you're looking at places like Saveur, and thinks that Alfresco Gutso downstairs is too expensive. For more affordable eats, you can check out Ion's basement.

They do have many kinds of flour-based mains like pasta with all sorts of interesting sauces, meats, sandwiches, and the likes.
Also well-known are their pastries, which are in full glory on the counters, totally making those hungry people queuing up even hungrier, like me.

Here's what we had for dinner...

Pork Lagsana ($24) 

with fresh ricotta

The Maramalade Mac and Cheese ($24)

on a skillet with mozzarella, parmesan, emmental and gruyere

Sea-salt Caramel Cheesecake ($8) 

Sea-salt Caramel Cheesecake ($8) 
The cakes comes in slices and wholes, which can be a good idea for birthday cakes, if you do not mind the $60+ price tag.

Nothing fantastic, just very normal. It's usually crowded during dinner time and totally not worth the queue-up...

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Verdict:

Food: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5 

Total Score: 2/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Groups

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About it:

Marmalade Pantry 

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #03-22 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Menu: http://themarmaladepantry.com.sg/city/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ION_New-Food-Menu_Nov-2013.pdf 

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Gourmet Dining Mignon @Takashimaya

This is really a place to eat in town if you're craving for Western, but have tried other places with similar price-ranges like Saveur at Far East Shopping Centre nearby. However, do note that this place is not suitable for a first-date!

Striploin Steak ($16.90)

2 interesting sauces were out of stock, so we chose the Roasted Peppercorn Sauce.

Mixed Grill ($16.90)

Quite alot of customers ordered the Mixed Grill, which was quite worth the money, except that the sausage seemed too cold. The Chicken was done really well, the skin was crispy and the insides juicy. We were already observing the chef through the glass windows, and actually made our decision based on the chicken. As for the Steak, it is abit too thin, too veiny, and tasted just average.

Overall, I don't think I will be back for more, unless there's no other options...

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Verdict:

Food: 3/5

Service: 2.5/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5 

Total Score: 3/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Casual dining

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About it:

Gourmet Dining Mignon

Address: Takashimaya, B2 Food Hall, Ngee Ann Shopping Centre, Singapore 238873

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Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio)

The prices for crabs are more expensive than coffee shops and cheaper than restaurants. Yeah, this is where their price range is, for a coffeeshop setting.

The funny thing is, a Caucasian friend brought us to this place, saying he was craving for their signature dish- their Crab Bee Hoon.

Being a chef he is, we did not doubt him, and loved the dish too.

The second time we went back, the queue was long, but it was quite fast. The staff are quite friendly and recommended how crabs we should go for, after all, these are expensive creatures.

They took our order before we sat down. The dishes came fairly quickly after that.

Other than their signature dish, the rest was done fairly decent.

Butter Crab

More Seafood...

Signature Crab Bee Hoon

One of the waiters actually told us if we came in October, the crabs will be slightly larger.

I will come back here again once in a while (the crabs are not cheap!), earlier, to avoid the queue…

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Verdict:

Food: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Total Score: 3/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio)

Address: 232, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222
Daily: 16:30 - 23:30

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Paradise Dynasty @Causeway Point

Food & Service
Service was good. But, their Award Winning Xiao Long Baos did not impress me. As an avid xiao long bao fan, the fusion of Western flavours with this Asian dish did not work out well. There were too little meat inside, and a too thick exterior that took abit of chewing, and too little juice. None of the flavours stood out. Perhaps there were too many Groupon purchases and hence quality is lower?

3 Eggs Cake

Xiao Long Bao...

More Xiao Long Baos...

Yang Zhou Fried Rice

Ramen

Red Bean Dessert

Pumpkin Cakes

The rest of the dishes were so-so, for the price paid. I thought Ding Tai Feng is better.

Ramen soup was plain, I would have spent the money on Japanese Ramen.

My friend had a better experience at the Ion outlet though. After all, there are so many restaurants under the Paradise Group, so maybe they have done something right somewhere that I have yet to discover.

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Verdict:

Food: 2/5

Service: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Total Score: 2/5

[1- Never visit again, 2-Won't visit unless there's no other option, 3-Perhaps, 4 & 5- Yes!]

Good for? Couples, Groups, Family

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About it:

Paradise Dynasty

Address: (Various Outlets)

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