NOM NOM NOM... What's better than eating as a hobby? Of course, if a cafe/restaurant turns out be Instagrammable as well, that would be a big bonus for us! The objective of this post is to provide my honest reviews about the cafes and/or restaurants that I had visited in the past 2 months. Majority of them turned out to be my favourite too!
Address: 38 South Buona Vista Rd, Singapore 118164.
Nearest MRT station: Haw Par Villa
Opening hours: Varies; please refer to the website. Closed on Tues.
(+) Delicious food, photogenic cafe
(-) Secluded location, slightly cramped during peak hours
We strongly recommend the caramel cake, and while we didn't get to try, the panda flavour looked equally enticing! Fluffy cake base, light and not too sweet cream, and fragrant caramel on the top (it tasted exactly like Speculos)... It had all the right elements to be perfect :) Main course wise, we ordered Ramen Risotto and Squid Ink Pasta after spending much time scrutinising their recently revamped menu. They were both yummy, particularly the Ramen Risotto which was a creative Japanese-Western fusion dish. If you drop by at night, there's a different menu for you to choose from.
If you are looking for a quiet ambiance, come during weekdays or late afternoon! The cafe provides sufficient dose of natural sunlight to pair with the coffee. Oh did I forget to mention? The coffee here is on point too. Probably, the only downside of this place is the location as it requires quite a bit of walking from the MRT station.
Top: Ramen Risotto ($25.00)
Bottom: Squid Ink Vongole ($25.00)
OOTD outside the cafe. Promoting my dreamy, blue-grey tulle dress from MDS here. Only $25 with the monthly subscription!
Address: 11 Hamilton Road, #01-00, Singapore 209182.
Nearest MRT station: Bendemeer
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 9am to 10pm; Sun: 9am to 8.30pm
(+) Classy interior, delicious food
(-) Nothing in particular
I usually don't make repeat visits to a cafe or restaurant unless the food is really impressive, simply because there are just too many options out there. However, 11 Hamilton makes an exception as I am extremely keen to pay another visit to try the brunch menu.
There are numerous reasons to fall in love with this cafe/restaurant. Firstly, its simple, contemporary interior is what I would like to have for my future home. The very first impression already won my heart before the food was served. Next, the food was amazing. We came for their 1-for-1 deal (ended on 26 Mar) wherein the lower-priced item would not be charged. I have provided more detailed review for each dish below.
Grilled whole lemon sole ($28.00). Light and refreshing, so yummy! This appealing dish had invited multiple queries on my social media, asking where did I had this for my dinner.
Grain Feb Ribeye with Kale Chips and Fries ($36.00).
The tender, perfectly seasoned steak is to die for. Nonetheless, the fries leaned towards salty side and was not my favourite.
It was dim (and somehow romantic) at night, but I believe 11 Hamilton would give a completely different vibe during daytime.
Address: The Cathay #01-06.
Nearest MRT station: Dhoby Ghaut
Opening hours: 12pm to 10pm daily
HEAVENLY good chocolate lava cookie. The menu here is straightforward - handcrafted ice-cream in various flavours, molten lava baked cookies (chocolate or matcha flavours) or lava set (highly recommended)! For people who are more adventurous, Kooks Creamery also serves bold flavours such as Mermaid Spirulina and Watermelon Rose with Cacao Nibs.
Signature lava set with Blue Chai Hokkaido Milk Ice-cream ($9.80). My inner self was screaming in happiness when the chocolate oozed out :D
db Bistro & Oyster Bar by Daniel Boulud
Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-48, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 018956.
Opening hours: 12pm to 10pm daily
(+) Commendable service, fine food selections, big food portion, great atmosphere
(-) High price tag (but it makes sense given the quality of food and service here)
Moving on to the last restaurant to be reviewed today, it's also the most expensive one out of four. We had our lunch at the restaurant after our visit to Flower Dome. For healthcare workers who are fighting hard at the front line for ongoing COVID pandemic, you can enjoy 50% off the total bill by making an advanced reservation and presenting a valid proof of employment (a.k.a. staff pass).
Before I start on my review, I have to provide a proper introduction to the restaurant by Chef Daniel Boulud. He is regarded as one of America’s top culinary figures and is renowned for the contemporary appeal he adds to soulful French cuisine. Hence, you can expect classic French bistro dishes alongside American's favourites here.
We ordered an Original db Burger (original price: $48.00) which was at 50% from Monday to Friday, from 12pm to 5pm for the entire Mar 2020. Many thanks for my colleague for alerting us about the promotion! On top of that, we also ordered a two-course Express Lunch ($32.00), which includes an appetiser/dessert and a main course. The express lunch menu is always changing, so you may get new surprises each visit! :)
I can imagine the place turning into a lively bar during night time.
Kale Caesar. Probably my top dish of the day <3 I could be biased, because salad and soup have always been my go-to dishes whenever I dine in a Western restaurant.
The Original db Burger is a must-order signature dish for all the first-timers. It contains a decadent foie gras center encased in a succulent short-rib patty, that is housed between parmesan buns. The burger was perfect, but the fries could be better if they were crispier.
Duck Ragout. Very rich, creamy and heavily seasoned, which makes it good for sharing.
Conclusive remarks
Thank you for reading until the end as this is a relatively long post with overloaded contents. I hope you enjoy our reviews. If you have tried the cafes/restaurants listed above, do share with us your thoughts too! We also welcome any suggestions on good food places to explore!
Meanwhile, I would like to reiterate - take care and stay safe! :)
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