Food Reviews Archives - Page 7 of 10

Food Reviews

RAMEN KAGETSU ARASHI: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Buona Vista, Singapore

November 7, 2013 / Buona Vista, Food Reviews, Singapore / 0 comment

I am a ramen FIEND.

And I think Ramen Kagetsu Arashi is amazing. Who knew eating ramen could be so fun??

When you’re seated, you’ll note that part of your table is stacked with an array of pots and bottles of…… secret Japanese potions. For us commoners, there’s a note card that details what each one is, and what you put where. It’s informative and had me all eager to get my bowl of ramen so I could start customizing it.

*rolls up sleeves*

But first things first. They specialise in ramen and that’s pretty much all they serve, save for a few side dishes. I opted for the 5-piece pork ramen, because I always find those slivers of pork are way too meager and I like my meat. So I got the Genkotsu 5-piece ramen ($17.80) because it boasts a creamy pork-bone broth, and I like my ramen broth really rich (otherwise known as fatty).

I added $2 to select a side dish and green tea, which is their Set Lunch special. It’s an excellent deal and highly recommended.

My hot green tea, however, was completely tasteless and more like hot water. A bummer, as I love myself a steaming cup of fragrant tea. That said, they provide a jug (!) of icy cold water at the table, so mega thumbs up for that.

Also, how adorable is the kids cutlery set?!

And so my bowl of steaming hot ramen arrived…. and it was KICKASS AMAZING.

The broth was creamy and rich, the noodles were springy (wish there was more though), and the pork…. man… it was so tender it fell apart when I poked it with my chopsticks. I’ve had pork in ramen where it’s tough and chewy, and this was the exact opposite. It was sliced almost paper-thin though, and I would have liked for each piece to be 3x thicker, for the price we’re paying.

Now, the condiments!

I added some special Japanese black pepper (not pictured), but zeroed in on their spicy chives. I’m normally not a fan of spice (nor can I tolerate it), but this gave the broth a stunning kick. It gave a different dimension of flavour, but wasn’t so spicy that I couldn’t take it.

I would fully recommend adding this to your broth (for maximum flavour with minimum spice), or putting it directly on your spoon as you’re eating (if you’re a chilli monster).

And……. freshly squeezed garlic!!!! I do this all the time at home, so I’m not sure why I got so excited. Perhaps it’s the novelty of doing it in a restaurant. I was given 3 cloves of garlic, and all 3 were crushed in. Mmmmm…..

Since the noodles comes with half a hard-boiled egg (WHY??????), I ordered a proper Japanese soft-boiled egg. It was a good move, since Hunter scoffed the entire thing.

Remember the $2 extra I paid for a side dish and green tea? This is the side dish, pork tonkatsu. 4 fat chunks of it. What a good deal! It was delicious, especially the extra crisp and super fresh bread crumbs.

I realised afterwards that Ramen Kagetsu Arashi is actually one of the largest ramen chains in Japan with more than 260 outlets worldwide. I’m not surprised, now that I’ve eaten there. The ramen really is good, and the extra condiments make it so much fun. Kids will love ‘playing’ with the food!

Last Bite: Ramen Kagetsu Arashi makes ramen fun for the kids. Add your own toppings and flavours, and customize the size of your ramen. It’s absolutely delicious to boot!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi
The Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green #01-41
Singapore 138617
Phone: 6339 0335
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm, Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm, Sun: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm

PAUL BAKERY: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Orchard Road, Singapore

November 6, 2013 / Food Reviews, Orchard Road, Singapore / 4 Comments

I’d been to PAUL Bakery when we lived in Shanghai, and we’d always enjoyed their coffees and pastries. I was delighted when they opened a branch in Takashimaya mall in Singapore, and now in Tanglin Mall (in July 2013).

PAUL prides themselves on their baked goods, but we’d decided to visit for lunch to try their lunchtime menu.

I was pleasantly surprised by the complimentary bread basket which was filled with sliced baguette. It seems fewer and fewer cafes are doing so in Singapore, so the ones that still do get a big thumbs up in my book. Specifically because my kids love bread (don’t all kids?!) and it keeps them occupied as they merrily chew on the bread whilst we await our mains.

I opted for the Ham, cheese and mushroom crepe. Oddly, it doesn’t exist on PAUL’s menu, which either has ham/cheese combination, or mushroom/cheese combination. But because I am a greedy pig, I asked for all three, and they complied.

I believe they charged me around $20 for this (the crepes on the menu run around $18 each) and I thought it was pricey for a small serving. It’s enough for breakfast or for a very petite eater, but otherwise, you’d be left pretty hungry.

Thumbs up, however, for the large roasted tomato on the side. It added juiciness to the dish and complemented it well.

They went fairly heavy-handed on the cheese, which I was delighted with. I would have preferred another slice of ham (could hardly taste it as it was one thin sliver), and for the crepe itself to be a little drier and crispier as it was a tad soggy. I suppose I’m used to the amazing crepes we had in Paris!

Their latte was superb and hit the spot. It was served in an adorable thick-walled glass mug, and had a rich foam over a punchy coffee.

Their dessert+coffee set is a staple of mine. This mini dessert platter comes with a tiny pot of creme brulee (Carter loved this), a small slice of chocolate fudge cake (absolutely luscious), and two macaroons (lovely).

It’s the perfect portion size for a dessert, and will leave you satisfied but not overly-full.

Last Bite: PAUL Bakery now has two convenient locations on Orchard Road, and offers a small but satisfying lunch menu. Our favourite? The dessert + coffee set!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

PAUL Bakery
Tanglin Shopping Centre
163 Tanglin Road
#01-16/17
Singapore 247933
Phone: 6736 3257
Prices: $$
Hours: Sun-Thu 8am-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 8am-10pm

PRIVE @ KEPPEL BAY: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Harbourfront, Singapore

November 4, 2013 / Food Reviews, Harbourfront, Singapore / 5 Comments

Located on Singapore’s only private island, Keppel Bay, Prive was a favourite spot of mine to hang out with friends back when I was still living in Australia and visiting Singapore. And now, with two kids in tow, Prive is still one of the top spots for a meal.

Prive’s location is often confused with being in Sentosa. It’s not hard to see why. Situated right at the water, it offers lovely views of the yachts and a lovely walk by the water.

There was an incredibly sexy Maserati parked… right in the lobby. It was a show car, I believe. I’d sure buy it if they discounted it by 99% 😉

The calling card of Prive is the expansive space by the water outside (where kids can run/scooter/bike around), as well as their playground. It’s small and simple, but it’s a hit with the kids and enough to keep them occupied whilst waiting for the food to arrive.

Only downside? The playground is placed exactly where the sun hits. It is boiling hot if you’re there at lunch time. Many of the tables are situated in the shade, so I am flummoxed as to why the playground is in the direct sun.

The food is generally good. The price point is slightly on the higher side, but presumably due to their killer location and views. Their Norwegian blue mussels 300g with white wine, shallots, garlic and basil ($24) was delicious, with tender, soft mussels. Our only complaint was that the mussels were so teeny tiny it felt like you were eating… nothing, with each bite. It was a shame, as the white wine sauce was delicious (albeit a tad salty) and I enjoyed the tomatoes and fresh basil scattered through the dish.

I got the Ultimate fish & chips ($22) for the kids, but the beer battered dory was far too deep-fried for them. It was a high batter ratio, so it was difficult to scrape off the oily batter and give the kids the fish inside. It was fine for adults though, and tasty, though really oily.

On the positive side – the fish came lying on a bed of fries, enough to fill you right up 🙂

I saved the best for the last – the Sticky finger baby back ribs ($26) was a STUNNER! Easily their best dish and the kids gobbled it all up (Hunter the picky eater that dislikes meat, and Carter with his two barely-there bottom teeth). The with pomegranate molasses on top was a little odd (I scraped it off), but the meat was incredibly tender and could be cut with a fork. The ribs were chunky with meat and absolutely satisfying.

It was served with colesalaw and a delicious cajun-maple glazed hokkaido corn on the cob.

I requested for the Homemade brioche french toast ($12) to have toppings on the side, and it was a good move so the kids could eat the bread without all the sugary stuff.

The brioche was fluffy and light, with the eggy exterior crisp and fragrant. I was impressed with the sticky caramelised bananas ad roasted walnuts, which was very rich and sweet, but paired well with the plain french toast.

We were actually there for a family lunch to celebrate my birthday, and I’d also ordered a Red velvet cake so the kids could blow out the candle (what is it with kids and blowing candles on birthday cakes?!), but I think they forgot my order as after 15 mins it still hadn’t arrived despite it being a no-cook item. I cancelled it since we were already pretty full. So, unfortunately, no nice candle-blowing pics!

Last Bite: Prive @ Keppel Bay offers a kid-friendly playground and expansive area by the water outside for running/scootering/biking. Their ribs are a must-order!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes
Kids’ menu: Yes

Prive @ Keppel Bay
2 Keppel Bay Vista
Singapore 098382
Phone: 6776 0777
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 12:00 am

TANJONG BEACH CLUB: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Sentosa, Singapore

October 29, 2013 / Food Reviews, Sentosa, Singapore / 0 comment

We’ve visited Tanjong Beach Club a couple of times before, but it’s always worth a re-visit every time we’re in Sentosa. The pool is a hit with the kids, and it’s a lovely way to have a bit of a play before a leisurely dinner afterwards.

It never seems to be crowded during weekdays, but I bet it’s popular on weekends. This suits me just fine, because we almost always have the pool to ourselves, and we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a seat.

There are two steps in the pool that stretch across it lengthwise, excellent for young kids. And every time I’ve dipped in the pool, the water has been really warm – perhaps because there’s not much sun cover above it, so the water heats up during the day. Point to note: bring sunscreen!

There’s also a long wooden deck area by the side of the pool, where the sofa lounges are. It means I can sit and rest on the sofa and watch the kids play on the deck, or pop in and out of the pool.

The beach is RIGHT THERE but, as expected, Hunter isn’t quite a fan of it.

Carter? Even worse. He just can’t deal with it. Guess my kids aren’t destined to be beach bums..

After the kids are sufficiently tired out, we adjourn for a nice dinner by the pool (though we had to move indoors half-way as it started raining).

Their Fried calamari is always a winner. The calamari has good bite but isn’t tough, and the batter is seasoned perfectly. A must-order.

The Fish & chips (kids portion) is heavy on the chips, and offers two fish nuggets. I would have expected more, or larger fish chunks. Regardless, the kids loved this.

I asked for my Prawn pasta to be “no spice”, but turns out it was still quite spicy. Carter (oddly) had no issues with it and slurped up more than half this (main meal size) portion! Hunter though, wailed like he’d been injured and refused to eat any of this.

Their Burger is delicious, though I would have preferred a larger patty (it was dwarfed by the rest of the burger) and less fries.

Both kids were really well behaved through the meal, with no fuss, and ate well. Actually, they were pretty angelic!

I attribute it to all the running around and swimming that they did for ages, before sitting down for our meal 😉

Last Bite: Tanjong Beach Club has a lovely pool for the kids to enjoy a swim in, before sitting down for a beach-side dinner. An excellent outing for the kids! Make sure you order the Fried Calamari.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: ?
Kids’ menu: ?

Tanjong Beach Club
120 Tanjong Beach Walk
Sentosa
Singapore 098942
Phone: 6270 1355
Prices: $$$
Hours: Tue – Fri: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

KITH @ QUAYSIDE ISLE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Sentosa, Singapore

October 24, 2013 / Food Reviews, Sentosa, Singapore / 1 Comment

I’m already a big fan of Kith Cafe at Robertson Quay. However, that one now seems like a dinky little cafe compared to their gigantic new one located at Quayside Isle in Sentosa.

Quayside Isle is an area that’s been newly developed, and boasts top notch restaurants. Kith is one of them. I’ve been on a weekday AND a weekend, and it is the one and only cafe there that is packed to the brim. That speaks for itself.

Kith deserve the crowd, because their location is gorgeous (it overlooks the harbour and yachts), the food is top notch, and the service is impeccable.

We liked the outside play area, that offers plastic animals for kids to climb/push/crawl over, as well as the boardwalk that’s huge and largely empty. It’s FANTASTIC for kids to scooter and bicycle up and down! Excellent way to wear off their energy before sitting down for a meal.

My Iced Latte was lovely. It was strong enough – I abhor iced coffees that are too heavy on the ice and too weak on coffee.

Did I mention that their service is great? They are so patient with kids! Even kinda crazy ones like mine……………

Carter was determined to take every fruit out of their fruit bin (argh), and they patiently took back each piece of fruit and popped it back in.

And I know this sounds silly, but I was so impressed with their kids cutlery! It’s not the standard Ikea stuff, but really good quality plastic ware. The fork and spoon were also the perfect size for toddlers, and I loved the vibrant colours!

And see that little yellow train thing behind the plate? They whipped it out for Carter to play with at the table. A small but nice gesture.

I was really eager for the Pork Belly fried eggs ($20), which sounded so good. I never turn down pork belly when I spot it on a menu – it would be criminal to.

The bread was served in two large pieces, with two fried eggs on top. The scattering of pomegranate was redundant and we quickly picked it all off. I enjoyed the grilled tomatoes which were cooked perfectly.

However… the pork belly did not impress! It was a large slab (thumbs up), but was slightly on the tough side, and quite dry. I’d envisioned a very moist, tender, and succulent pork belly. This was the exact opposite. It wasn’t inedible, but it definitely had a bite to it and didn’t pair well with the rest of the dish.

Things picked up considerably with their impressive Big breakfast ($17). Incredible value for money, this arrived on a tray (!) and boasted a FAT slice of brioche, creamy scrambled eggs, a delicious smoked bratwurst, grilled tomato, beans and spinach.

I was a bit silly and didn’t notice that the baked beans are labelled as “spicy tomato beans” on the menu, and we fed Carter a big mouthful of it. Little did we know there were big flecks of chilli pieces in the beans!!! His eyes watered, his tongue slobbered out, and he wailed miserably!! We felt so bad, seeing his tomato-red face 🙁

The pastas that we ordered at Kith were more expensive than the breakfast items, but were a lot smaller. The portion size is petite, perhaps enough for a young lady but not enough for a big man (or a lady with a hefty appetite, not pointing fingers here..).

The Granchio – spinach pasta, crab meat, tomato, vodka, cream ($24) was a stunner. Tender slippery strands of spinach-infused pasta, coated with a creamy but light sauce and studded with tons of crab meat. The kids loved this! I think Carter ate half the plate…

I particularly liked the Fagotoni – sweet pear filled ravioli, gorgonzola cheese, cream, parmesan cheese ($22) because it was so…. different. The pasta really was sweet from the pear, and the saltiness of the gorgonzola cheese sauce really sparked a tingling contrast. It was flat out DELICIOUS.

Carter decided mid-meal that he’d had enough of sitting in the high chair, and so started fussing and wailing in a rather annoying manner. Thankfully, we were outdoors and so didn’t disturb other diners too much. I think.

He was mildly appeased by a 50c cup of kiddie biscuits.

Until he gobbled them all up in about 5 seconds.

Fortunately, the cafe is designed such that I could keep an eye on him whilst I finished off my meal and coffee. So he just pottered around, amusing himself. His little friend was OK sitting in the high chair the whole time, so at least we didn’t have TWO crazy kids running around!

Last Bite: Kith cafe @ Quayside Isle is the place to go for brunch-with-a-view. Food is excellent, and their coffee and milkshakes are delicious. The boardwalk just outside is a sure hit with kids that like to scooter or bicycle!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Kith @ Quayside Isle
Quayside Isle #01-08
Sentosa Cove
31 Ocean Road
Phone: 6734 9007
Prices: $$$
Hours: Daily 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

EPICURIOUS CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, River Valley, Singapore

October 22, 2013 / Food Reviews, River Valley, Singapore / 0 comment

Boasting Time Out Singapore’s accolade of Best Breakfast in Singapore, Epicurious Cafe has a lot to live up to. Parked at the corner along the Singapore River, it makes for one kickass weekend brunch with the family. The kids can scooter or bike up and down the riverside, whilst you keep an eye on them over a coffee.

The tables are large, wooden, and heavy. And so were the benches we sat on. But that’s all part of the vintage charm of the cafe. Cups and plates are also old school vintage, which I thought was really cute.

We always order the Green Eggs and Ham ($14.60). Apart from sounding cute, the dish is very satisfying. Creamy scrambled egg studded with basil pesto, resting upon thin slices of parma ham. All this, laid upon country bread and scattered with parmesan cheese. Paired with oily but tasty potato chunks, this makes a superb choice for bigger appetites.

We also opted for the age old favourite, Eggs Benedict. It came drenched in Hollandaise sauce, which is a good thing for me because I love the stuff, but may freak out those that aren’t into very heavy and high-calorie breakfasts. I enjoyed the soft English muffins it came on, and the generous portion of smoked salmon.

My only complaint? The eggs were over-poached! This is the reason why I get worried whenever I order Eggs Benedict. I’m always terrified of getting eggs that are over or under done 🙁 These yolks were still soft, fortunately, but were solid and did not have the luscious creamy ooze that I so desire.

Happily, the Choco Nana ($7) was quite the hit. It was pretty as a picture! Perfectly toasted bread, containing melted nutella and bananas. The dish was dusted with icing sugar and topped off with bright red strawberry chunks. What’s not to love?

Their rendition of French Toast will have you (and everyone else at your table) curiously leaning over to take a second look. It’s French Toast…. dipped in corn flakes!! If you like your crispies, like I do, you’ll love it. If you’re a traditionalist, you’re going to think this is way too weird. I did enjoy it, but this is a dish to share, as the 3 fat chunks of bread can get a bit moreish.

The Americano coffee was pleasant but nothing outstanding. I did like their old-style coffee shops cups that they were served in, though!

Remember to come dressed for the outdoors, as the cafe is almost entirely al fresco. It’s a lovely, casual little spot to enjoy the view over the river, and is very popular with families.

My kids loved playing around in the area afterwards!

Oh the simple pleasures of splashing in puddles

Adrenalin junkies

Last Bite: Epicurious Cafe is a lovely spot to chill with your family by the Singapore River. Food is well-portioned and satisfying, and it’s easy to keep an eye on the kids as they run around by the riverside.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Epicurious Cafe
#01-02 The Quayside
60 Robertson Quay
Singapore 238252
Phone: 6734 7720
Prices: $$$
Hours: Tue – Fri: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

MY LITTLE SPANISH PLACE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

October 21, 2013 / Bukit Timah, Food Reviews, Singapore / 1 Comment

I must’ve driven past My Little Spanish Place at least a hundred times in the past two years in Singapore, but never noticed it. It’s located right next to Coronation Plaza, along a row of shophouses. I’m glad that I discovered it on the Singapore Restaurant Week list, or we’d have never realised this little gem existed.

It’s cozy and the atmosphere is warm when you walk in. They pride themselves on serving authentic Spanish home-style food, with an extensive menu to choose from.

At centre stage is their Jamon Bar. Legs of ham are flown in from Spain, and represent their gourmet charcuterie. It was both impressive and kind of scary to see!

Their Cafe con Leche/Spanish Latte is basically a standard latte, brewed using Spanish beans. It was very mild and quite milky.

I was delighted with our appetizers. Both were incredibly kid friendly!! Our kids slurped it all up with gusto 🙂

The Meatballs in tomato sauce were very well cooked, with soft meatballs and a rich tomato gravy that wasn’t too salty. Bread was provided for mopping up the extra gravy.

The Chicken soup with angel hair pasta would probably be a bit bland and boring for the grown ups, but our kids loved it. In particular, the chickpeas were really soft and we could mush everything down with a fork and spoon it all into waiting mouths.

Apologies for the horrifically poor picture, which belies the fact that this dish was delicious. This is their Fried fresh chorizo with eggs and toasted country bread and the star is, of course, the chorizo. It was cooked to perfection – little juicy chunks that were charred just-right, and packed a real tasty punch. It was paired very well with our creamy scrambled eggs.

We were also pleased with the Jamon, serrano, menchego, with eggs on toasted country bread. The Spanish ham is sliced to order from their Jamon Bar, and the thin slivers are laid carefully on the bread, then topped with two fried eggs. It’s a lovely combination and the portion size was sufficient.

I personally am not a fan of creme caramel desserts so the Creme catalana didn’t excite me. It’s a lemon and orange infused custard dessert with a crunchy burnt caramel crust, and Chris loved it. Hunter wasn’t impressed. Carter gobbled it all up.

I guess we were 50/50 😉

I felt right at home with the warm service at My Little Spanish Place, and I appreciated how food arrived swiftly and was well executed. It does seem like we were at a Spanish friend’s place, and the kids obviously enjoyed themselves as they had zero fussiness and were on top behaviour throughout.

Last Bite: My Little Spanish Place impresses with its home-style Spanish cuisine and warm ambience. Chorizo and jamon are the stars of their menu, though our kids really rated their appetizers.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

My Little Spanish Place
619 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269720
Phone: 6463 2810
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon: 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm, Fri: 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 9:30 am – 3:00 pm, 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm

JAMIE’S ITALIAN: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Harbourfront, Singapore

October 20, 2013 / Food Reviews, Harbourfront, Singapore / 0 comment

It’s funny, the power a new restaurant can have in Singapore. Actually, more like the power food has in Singapore.

When Jamie’s Italian first opened at Vivocity a few months ago in July 2013, it was MADNESS. I was kinda amazed (mostly freaked out) and the psychotic rush to eat there. The restaurant boasted that they were booked-out for months (!) and the queue outside made me wonder if food was being served for free.

But last week, 3 months after they opened, Chris and I walked straight in at dinner time on a weekday. The restaurant was about 70% full. No queue.

What surprised us were the number of children dining at the restaurant. 2 out of every 3 tables had kids there. Being a “celebrity chef restaurant”, I’d expected it to be relatively unpopular with families, but I was wrong. It’s VERY popular with the kids!

The restaurant obviously knows this, and caters well for the children. The kids menu is presented in a Viewfinder toy.

I’ll repeat myself.

THE KIDS MENU IS PRESENTED IN A VIEWFINDER TOY.

How cute is that?!?! Obviously this interests only older kids (Carter was only interested in trying to eat it), but it is a super cute concept and, to be honest, the kids menu photos looked really really enticing.

We got the Crispy squid ($11.50) which came in such a tiny portion I thought the empty half of the plate was empty because a waiter had accidently tipped half the food out. Unfortunately, that really was the size of the dish. That said, the squid was fried to perfection. The squid was tender and easy to chew (I cannot stand rubbery squid), and the batter was delicious crisp and the seasoning was so tasty. A lovely little snack.

The Crispy stuffed risotto balls ($11.50) were more filling, but I thought something in the crispy exterior made the whole thing taste…. raw. Almost like crispy uncooked rice, or something like that. There was very little flavour in the rice and exterior crust, so it relied solely on the stuffing to bring out the flavour, which wasn’t sufficent. Fortunately, it came with a small saucer of salsa which was a refreshing change of taste.

I’d heard complaints that their pasta portions were tiny, so I was a bit wary when we ordered the Jools’ Favourite Silician Tuna Fusili ($21). This was the larger size, you can opt for a smaller size at a cheaper price. It definitely wasn’t a large serving, but it wasn’t teeny tiny either. Sufficient for an average eater, if you order an appetizer or a dessert as well.

The pasta was well-cooked, and I liked the chunks of tuna tossed through the dish. The breadcrumbs were a nice addition and brought texture to the dish. I enjoyed the tomatoes and garlic in the sauce, which wasn’t overpowering but blended well with the flavour of the tuna.

We were undecided about my Basil Iced Tea. I was alright with it, but Chris said something about the flavours just didn’t agree. That said, it was pretty 🙂

Last Bite: Jamie’s Italian is a must for all Jamie Oliver fans. The ambience is casual, it’s popular with families, and food is small-portioned but does hit the spot.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: Yes

Jamie’s Italian
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
Singapore 098585
Phone: 6733 5500
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Fri – Sat: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Sun: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm

PAPPARICH @ STAR VISTA: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Buona Vista, Singapore

October 17, 2013 / Buona Vista, Food Reviews, Singapore / 0 comment

Tucked in the outside-corner of the Star Vista mall, casual Malaysian diner PapaRich was completely empty when we arrived on a weekday at 11:30AM. This delighted us, because it meant our 3 kids had free reign over the place and we didn’t have to be extra-careful that they wouldn’t disturb other diners.

That said, by the time it came to 12:30PM or so, the cafe was absolutely packed to the brim with diners (mostly office workers). By then, the kids had finished eating and were happily in their high chairs, so we weren’t fussed with the crowd. But just something to note, if you plan to arrive during the lunch time crush.

PapaRich prides itself on serving authentic Malaysian food at reasonable prices. And that they certainly do well. To me, they are very similar to Old Town, but with a more extensive menu.

Our kids spent around 5 minutes running around the (empty) cafe, giggling and climbing on the couch seats. The staff just looked on, bemused by their exuberance. Hunter loves my friend’s daughter, so he was rather pleased that he was on a date with her! (Her older brother was around, but Hunter mostly just ignored him….)

The Chicken Satay was delicious. The chicken was lean and tender, and flame-grilled beautifully. I personally loved the peanut sauce as it wasn’t spicy at all (though this will annoy some folk), and Hunter could eat it too. Who doesn’t love satay? It makes for such a tasty treat, and kids love nibbling on them.

The kids shared this Chicken hor fun in soup. It looks pretty dreadful and bland in the photo, but Hunter loved it and gobbled it all up.

My Nasi Lemak with curry chicken was just….. spot on. I’d order this again in a snap. The rice was moist and fragrant with pandan leaves, the ikan billis (tiny fried fish) were perfectly crisp and tasty, and the curry chicken was lip-smackingly“lemak” (creamy). I adored the sambal chilli sauce it was served with, and I don’t even like chilli normally! But this one had lots of little bits (onion?) in it that made it taste different to regular chilli sauce.

My girl friend opted for the Chicken rice set which came, horrifically, with a plate of bean sprouts. I’m sure people love it and all, but I don’t, and just looking at that plate of bean sprouts made me feel all shuddery inside.

She enjoyed the chicken rice so maybe I’ll get this next time, just without the bean sprouts!

This was a stand-alone serve of Curry chicken. They do a killer curry chicken here. The meat is succulent and moist, and the gravy is absolutely delicious!

My other favourite dish is the Prawn Noodles. It is EXCELLENT. You can smell the richness of the prawn stock from across the table! The broth is incredibly flavourful and I love to slurp it all up. It’s chockers with ingredients too (chicken and prawn) and absolutely hits the spot.

The Roti prata with banana and ice cream was for the kids, so I didn’t have any. We asked for the ice cream to be served later (because as parents, you and I both know that once kids spot ice cream, IT’S ALL OVER RED ROVER!), but errrr.. forgot all about it at the end of the meal!

The roti prata looked a little odd served with a banana on it, but my friend’s son gobbled up the entire dish, so I suppose it was good!

I was very pleased with my Cham drink. This was a 50% coffee and 50% tea drink, and really did taste of both! I had mine served iced (it was a sweltering hot afternoon) and it really hit the spot.

One iPad.

Three kids.

Somehow, this combination worked, even though I was envisioning sparks. And not the fun kind.

The kids were actually pretty well behaved and managed to take turns playing on it. They were pretty fascinated watching the Tayo theme song on the iPad! It kept them occupied for a good 20mins or so, whilst we adults managed to scoff our own meals and have a bit of a chat.

All kids wearing current season clothing from Joules (stocked at nottoobig)

Last Bite: PappaRich is the place to go for affordable Malaysian cuisine. The menu is extensive, and the curry chicken was a winner with us. Go before the lunch crowd to avoid the chaos!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in mall)
Kids’ menu: No

PapaRich
The Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green #01-43
Singapore 138617
Phone: 6684 3373
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Wed: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, Thu – Sat: 10:00 am – 12:00 am, Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

ANTOINETTE @ PALAIS RENAISSANCE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Orchard Road, Singapore

October 16, 2013 / Food Reviews, Orchard Road, Palais Renaissance, Singapore / 0 comment

I’m always so entranced whenever I step into Antoinette at the Palais Renaissance. Situated in the basement of the mall, it’s like stepping into a pretty English garden. The sunlight streams in through the high roof, showing off the beautiful white decor. They place lots of greenery around the restaurant, so it’s not too stark white, and the wooden chairs have blue cushions to soften the look.

The area in the middle is circular and actually excellent for babies and young children, as they somewhat ‘contained’ in that space (just gotta watch they don’t tumble off the step!). Even if you sit outside that circle area, kids can still walk/run laps around – kind of like a race track 😉

Antoinette was quiet when we were there on a weekday lunch, with two other tables there besides us. Just as well, as less chance of diners/wait staff tripping over kids!

I’m so charmed by their high chairs. They’re white wood (of course), with a rattan back and cushioned seat. A refreshing (and luxe!) change from the standard Ikea high chairs. Bonus points: Carter didn’t seem to mind it and managed to sit through lunch before yelling to be taken out.

I had a Ratoutille with fried egg and serrano ham that I completely forgot to photograph, because I was too eager to stuff it into a hungry Carter. He thoroughly enjoyed the soft vegetables mixed in with the fried egg, and ate the entire thing. So, I guess this is a thumbs up!

My main was the Red wine wagyu beef ragout, which floored me. It looked really moreish, more like a dinner item than a lunch!

It was beautifully presented. A thick slab of wagyu beef that rippled with fat, and was soft and moist in the mouth. It was paired well with the plain olive oil tossed pasta, and sat on a bed of creamy mash. The asparagus was tender but still crisp, and lent a pop of bright green to the dish.

A very hearty meal, especially for lunch. But I loved it.

I’m a fan of their coffees here. My Latte came out in a regular coffee cup, which confused me. Aren’t lattes normally in a tall glass? Nevertheless, it was good, and polished off my meal very well.

Last Bite: Antoinette at the Palais Renaissance offers a refined and quiet lunch during weekdays. Their set lunch is a real steal, and staff are extremely accommodating with kids.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

Antoinette
Palais Renaissance
#B1-08/09/10C
390 Orchard Road
Phone: 6735 6392
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 11:00am – 10:00pm