Get me outta here!

November 30, 2014

Level 2 at Killiney @Somerset

I had always wanted to try this place. Being so obscure, as you had to climb the stairs to reach the second floor, plus the extensive menu and store front on the first floor, somehow these attracted me... and I did, tonight. Feeling kind of peckish, we went ahead, abit late for dinner, at 9+.

We were expecting them to tell us it'll be last order very soon, but nope, there were quite a few other late diners as well. It's one of those cozy, dimly-lit place, but the decor could probably be improved a bit.

Go for the tall tables. The view's pretty interesting from the second floor, overlooking ABC (Artisan Boulangerie Co.). There are many people walking around, crossing the roads, all in a very different part of town- the residential part. The street's also buzzing with all sorts of people from different countries, because of the petrol station and 24 hours NTUC Fairprice supermarket just beside. If it's the afternoon and you had a book and a coffee, this place's perfect for a quiet time-out.

We were greeted warmly when we first arrived and requested for warm water due to the rainy weather. The server (possibly the manager, due to his attire) politely obliged and gave us a mugful of warm water which we were quite grateful for. He handed us the menu, the same one we saw at level one, and left us to read through.


We ordered:
 Parma Ham, Aragula with Truffle Oil Pizza ($17)

 Hand-crafted Wagyu Burger ($21) (+$10 Foie Gras)
You may add Streaky Bacon for an additional $3, or Egg (Egg??!!) for $3 as well.

 Braised Beef Cheeks ($26)

The Parma Ham, Aragula with Truffle Oil Pizza ($17) has one of the thinnest and crispiest crust ever. The truffle oil's generous. We could smell the rich aroma when the dish reached our table. But the generosity stops there for this dish. The Aragula seemed kind of dead. The Parma Ham was thinly sliced into six strips, on top of the six pieces of cut-pizza. As the crust is thin and there are not much fillings, the pizza seemed more a starter for sharing than a main dish. If you're feeling super hungry, I'd suggest you to go for the mains.

The  Hand-crafted Wagyu Burger ($21) was much better in terms of presentation. The plate was filled with fries, salad, and the decently-sized 200grams Wagyu beef patty burger. We requested medium rare, and it was to the right doneness. Being requested for doneness of a beef patty is a good thing. It probably means the patty is freshly-made, and not some supplier or overnight stock. The beef patty was juicy, but the flavours could be amped up further. The rest of the fillings was alright, but we had some qualms about the cheese, as we thought a different kind could have been used, and it could be melted even further.

Next up, the Braised Beef Cheeks ($26) was also an average dish. The meat was tender, the sauce goes well with the dish, and the mash potatoes provided the extra starch to fill you. Among all the three dishes, we thought this one is the best... but we wouldn't come back here as there are other establishments nearby offering similar food...


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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? Couples, Groups
Price for mains: $15++

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About it:
Level 2 at Killiney
Address: 117A Killiney Road, Singapore 239554
Menu: http://www.1-altitude.com/#!Stellar/Menu 
Price Range: Starting from $30++ (Mains) Tasting Menu available.
Diners have free entry to the rooftop bar. 

November 18, 2014

Palio @Resorts World Sentosa

The posters at Palio's entrance reminds me of how Resorts World Genting do their promotional displays. For a moment, I felt like I was in Genting, going to redeem a free meal with my points... The inner decor is nothing like L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon just next door, of course. It's slightly classy, but nothing that requires formal wear. There are alot of families, as kids get to dine free. If you're a couple wanting an intimate moment, do request for your table to be in a quieter area.

Well, as today is Tuesday, one person gets to dine free, as there is a one-for-one promotion on Thrifty Tuesdays only on the month of November (2014). The set dinner is at only $55++ per set. With RWS Invites dining rebates of 20%, it only adds up to $54.40 for 2 sets of 4 course meal (nope, coffee and tea is not the last course) after taxes and dining rebates! Another promotion is Starz Restaurant at RWS Hard Rock Hotel, which we have visited before, and will visit again next week for a review. which you can read the full review here!

Slices of bread with tomato sauce is served to your table. Alternatively you can ask for butter, or mix your own balsamic vinegar with olive oil provided on the table as dipping if you feel like it. Very quickly, the emptied plates were cleared for our first course, Caprese salad. Italian buffalo mozzarella cheese, vine ripened tomatoes & basil, you could see the effort put into the presentation, especially the olive oil spheres. Don't be so hungry and stuff all that cheese in one go! Slowly savour the little balls and feel the 'pop' of olive oil oozing onto your tongue.

ANTIPASTO
Caprese
Italian buffalo mozzarella cheese, vine ripened tomatoes & basil

ZUPPA
Porcini
Tuscan Porcini Mushrooms soup, herbed ciabatta bread croutons

SECONDI
Risotto alla salsiccia
Classic carnaroli risotto with sea Tuscan pork sausage in light tomato sauce, Roman pecorino cheese

Maccheroni alle Cappesante e Tartufo
Maccheroni pasta served with sea scallops in truffle cream sauce

Sparda ($28)
Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Smoked Swordfish, Rucola Salad and Balsamic Reduction

DESSERT
Palio Signature’s Venetian Tiramisu’ Cake

Next up, a pretty decent bowl of Tuscan Porcini Mushrooms soup. Nope, the black shavings on top are not truffles. (If they were, the menu would be of a different price...) They are Porcini soil. You can smell the truffle oil which meant that the chef has been very generous with it :) The soup warmed our bellies from the cold Caprese and once the bowls were clean, we were served our main dishes in one go.

We chose one of each mains, Risotto alla salsiccia and Maccheroni alle Cappesante e Tartufo. Seems like the main dishes are extensions of the first two courses. The Risotto alla salsiccia, a very rich reddish dish due to the tomatoes being its main ingredients. It's seems like an extension of the Caprese. More tomatoes and cheese! Luckily, it has a different taste altogether in a very positive way.

Also one of our mains, the Maccheroni alle Cappesante e Tartufo, of Maccheroni pasta served with sea scallops in truffle cream sauce. This is an extension of the Tuscan Porcini Mushrooms soup. If you are a fan of Truffle, then go for this. Likewise, the chefs have been generous with their Truffle and the rich aroma of it is heavenly. Don't be turned off by the pasta, in this case, macaroni, though. Although macaroni has been used, the texture and cream is just nice.

Feelign adventurous, we also ordered another pizza, their Sparda ($28). Great for 2-3 persons, if you're using your RWS Invites card, this is a steal. With the Invites card, you get 50% Invites rebates for every main dish and the rebates can be used towards other dining places in RWS such as Joël Robuchon, Ocean Restaurant, etc. The pizza's crust is slightly crispy, but the Aragula looked sad. On the whole, the pizza is average. The swordfish, though interesting, did not provide any edge to the pizza.

Finally, we had our Palio Signature’s Venetian Tiramisu’ Cake. It's good. Soft and creamy. Not very alcoholic. Slightly small, but just a perfect ending for a four course set meal.

The service staff are extremely patient and friendly, as you can see, they've explained the promotions to me so clearly, that I seem like their ambassador already!

Psst, all parents! Kids dine free! Up to 2 kids aged 12 and below dine free with every 2 paying adults.

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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:
Palio
Address: Level 2, Hotel Michael,Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway

Prices:
Adult:
Hi-Tea (Sat-Sun): $28.00++
Buffet Dinner (Mon- Sun): $45.00++

Child:
Hi-Tea (Sat-Sun): $14.00++
Buffet Dinner (Mon- Sun) :$22.50++

November 16, 2014

Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa @Resorts World Sentosa

Comparing this outlet versus the one at Cuscaden, I'd rather much prefer this place. It seemed cosier perhaps because it is smaller, and the way the stage is positioned to the audience. Cuscaden's is more like a concert stage, whereas you can get a close-up of the band playing at Sentosa's. The staff are extremely friendly too, perhaps because it's a more touristy area.

The burgers are quite average at both places though. Although this time we tried their Mushroom & Swiss Burger ($27), the meat was not really marinated like the previous time we had. Comes with sautéed mushrooms and swiss cheese, topped with crisp lettuce, vine-ripened tomato and red onion, it just didn't taste as delicious as a few years back. Perhaps they'll be relegated to just legends...

Nonetheless, the Famous Fajitas (with Grilled Chicken) ($28) did not fail. There were 4 pieces of soft and warm tortillas in a paper bag, together with rich sour cream in a metal bowl, and ample scoops of cheese, fresh guacamole and veggies. Came separately on a hot plate was their sizzling Grilled Chicken atop capsicums and onions. You get to choose beef, chicken or combo ($32). It's quite a hands-on dish, i.e. you have to wrap the chicken and wrap like a Popiah yourself, but I felt it was just nice, not too messy if you don't get greedy stuffing too much ingredients into your tortilla. Plus, it seems much less "sinful" than the 10 oz. burger and fries. If you think Chilis do their Fajitas well, then check out Hard Rock Cafe's. This is as good too.

Mushroom & Swiss Burger ($27)
Smothered With Sautéed Mushrooms And Swiss Cheese, Topped With Crisp Lettuce, Vine-ripened Tomato And Red Onion

Famous Fajitas (with Grilled Chicken) ($28)
Choice of grilled chicken or beef served with pico de gallo (aka Salsa Fresca, a fresh, uncooked salad made from chopped tomato, onion, coriander leaves, fresh serranos), Montery Jack and Cheddar cheese, fresh guacamole, sour cream and warm tortillas

Famous Fajitas (with Grilled Chicken) ($28)

The highlight of this post would be the performers. I loved the performers. Usually, if I know there's a live band up at 9pm, I will try to finish my food before that. I would rather prefer drinks with music. But this time round, I was pleasantly surprised. The live band was the reason why I stayed for a much longer time in the restaurant, even though I was long done with my late dinner. They weren't the usual females with extremely Mariah Carey-like kind of voice in flamboyant clothing or just denims and heels- they were a group of middle aged men and a very Bob Marley-looking kind of lead singer with shades, looking very cool in the dark. Almost everyone in the band could sing and play wonderfully! There wasn't much of a crowd at 12 midnight on a Saturday which was kind of sad, because the performers were really great.

If you're looking for proper food late at night, this is the place. As for me, I'd be back again!

Read here for Cuscaden outlet's review.

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Verdict:
Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
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:
Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa
Address: 26 Sentosa Gateway, #01-209 to 214 The Forum, Singapore 098138
Menu: http://www.hardrock.com.sg/cafes/sentosa/menu/ 

November 3, 2014

The Beast @Bugis, Jalan Klapa

Parking was abit of a trouble around here, but when the shisha ban comes into place, I hope this area will not lose it vibrance... On a positive note, parking is free in the evenings! The branding of this place is very conspicuous. You can't miss it even though you may be driving!

Have always wanted to visit this place, and finally we did, with Amex's 30licious dinner menu at S$30++ promotion! We were given a pretty much either-or choice, so we chose:

Georgia Salad ($16)
Grilled Peach, Blue Cheese, Mesclun Salad, Red Onion, Toasted Pecans, Cherry Tomatoes, Orange Vinegrette

Roasted Tomato Soup ($10)
Grilled Cheese on the side

Chicken & Waffles ($20)
24 Hour Buttermilk Chicken, Waffles, Bourbon Maple Butter Sauce
Before the sauce...

Chicken & Waffles ($20)
24 Hour Buttermilk Chicken, Waffles, Bourbon Maple Butter Sauce
After the sauce!

Blackened Pork Collar ($24)
Fine Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Thyme & Garlic Cream Sauce

Fig & Honey and Double Chocolate Ice Cream

The Georgia Salad ($16) is quite a girly starter, in the sense that it's quite sweet due to the peaches, but at the same time, the Blue Cheese wasn't too strong, which may not be good news for Blue Cheese lovers.

We were delighted that the Roasted Tomato Soup ($10) came with 2 traignles of Grilled Cheese laid nicely between breads, a good dip for the soup. Though the soup is average, the presentation is good.

Then came the main dishes, which we ordered Chicken & Waffles ($20) and Blackened Pork Collar ($24), with the server's recommendation.  The Chicken & Waffles ($20) seemed to be lacking something to gel the well-fried chicken and the crispy waffle together. But they were quite good on its own. In fact, the waffles were abit too much, we saved it for the ice-cream. And guess what, even after drowning it in ice cream, it still remained crispy! We are wondering what went into the batter!

The Blackened Pork Collar ($24) easily outshined the former dish though. It's more of a "real food" kind of dish, with mashed potatoes and beans. The pork is marinated well and is very juicy, tender to the fork. We loved it.

Finally came the Fig & Honey and Double Chocolate Ice Creams, which well, could have better been a proper dessert... Anyway, they're tasted like, well, ice creams!

Service was great, young adults serving us, totally a Haji Lane vibe. Do make a reservation though, because it may be a little difficult to sit and eat on the outside stools and high table, plus the smoking area doesn't really help the entire experience.


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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

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About it:
The Beast
Address: 17 Jalan Klapa (Very near Haji Lane)
Menu: http://thebeast.sg/pdf/dinner_menu.pdf

T.G.I. Friday's @I12 Katong

I have heard many not-so-nice reviews about this place since its time at Heeren, nonetheless, a group of us decided to give it another try...

The decor is definitely interesting, with a life-sized Bruce Li statue, booth seats and a complete bar.

They're having a promo for set lunches set at $9.90++, which arrived much earlier, but for the value, its quite average.

Salmon Pasta ($23.90)

 Jack Daniel's Steak ($33.90)

They have Wednesday Steak Nights that apply to lunch time as well, so, order steaks and you get 50% off! We ordered the Jack Daniel's Steak ($33.90) and they took quite awhile to arrive. Hence I would not recommend it for lunch hours if you only have an hour of lunch. We were asked to check the doneness by the servers, which I thought was pretty well-thought of, and it probably also means that they are confident of their steaks' doneness.

Another main tried was the Salmon Pasta ($23.90), which got quite jelak after awhile...

In all? Try this place for once, or twice, and explore many other options!

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Verdict:
Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5
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

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About it:
T.G.I. Friday's (TGIF)
Address: 112 East Coast Rd, #01-13, 112 Katong, Singapore 428802