Food Reviews Archives - Page 8 of 10

Food Reviews

GRUB @ Bishan Park: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bishan, Singapore

October 15, 2013 / Bishan, Food Reviews, Singapore / 0 comment

I’ve blogged about GRUB before, but that was over their weekend brunch. This time, we were there for an early dinner!

Here’s a little tip: GRUB opens at 5:30PM. By then, you’ll see the eager beavers skulking around the park, waiting to dash over to grab a table once the cafe opens. So, if you’re already there, you can be an eager beaver too and be seated right on the dot at 5:30PM, meaning you get a table straightaway (GRUB almost always has a queue).

What we do is pop over just before then, and let the kids stretch their legs in the park. That way, even when we get our table, I can do the ordering and the kids can continue playing in the park right up until the food arrives. We waste no time, the kids get maximum playing time, and everybody is happy.

As expected, there are heaps of people lurking around GRUB by the time we are ready to eat. And the kids sure are ready to have their dinner, since they’ve already used up a bunch of energy whizzing around the park.

I love their Crabbies ginger beer. It’s served icy cold and is practically the drink to have after a walk around the park.

We kicked off with their Compressed Tomato Salad, with Feta, Rocket and Pine Nuts (S$7). I’ve heard so many raves for this dish, but never ordered it because it’s… errmm.. salad. I have issues with ordering salad. Salad and I do not agree.

I was surprised by the tomatoes. The reviews are true – they do taste different! I hear they are marinated in a vacuum, thus making the tomatoes ultra juicy, soft and sweet. If you don’t normally like tomatoes, I reckon you’ll like this version.

The rocket leaves were horrific to me, I hate rocket.

Nice scattering of feta cheese and pinenuts, that complemented the tomatoes really well.

I had a Pork steak burger with apples, cashew chimichurri ($12). It’s a popular burger and one of my faves. The bun is super soft and fluffy, and the sauce is a fantastic and interesting mix. But what gets me is the PORK! It’s literally a steak of pork, all chunky and meaty. And it is soooooooooooo freakinnnnn soft. Absolutely tender, my kids can eat it (note: Carter only has two bottom teeth).

I swapped my fries for mashed potato, and you’ll see why later. Frankly, next time I’ll always swap it for the mash, because my kids can eat it, and it’s ridiculously yummy. The fact that it’s made of real potatoes on premises delights me, because I am still grossed out by the fact that most eateries in Singapore used re-constituted/powdered mash potato – I mean, how unappetizing is that? I certainly don’t want my kids eating that kind of food.

I always see people ordering the Grilled chicken leg with honeyed feta, roasted peppers, mash, rocket and corn salsa ($15). I guess it’s a healthy dish, so it appeals? I really like how it’s boneless, so it comes out almost looking like a giant sausage. The chicken is very moist, and the salsa is paired well with it. That said, in general I find chicken a very boring dish so I rarely order it for myself.

This is their signature GRUB cheeseburger with 100% freshly minced beef patty and Monterey Jack cheese ($13). It ain’t a huge burger, but the price point is really good, considering it comes with a big cup of fries. The patty is fresh and tastes distinctly like real beef. I feel the need to point this out since a lot of burger patties taste…. un-meat-like.

One of our favourite dishes? The Slow roasted pork belly with mango sauce, mash, and cherry tomato salsa ($15). A photo of this bad boy always shows up on blogs and social media channels, and I can see why. It’s blimmin’ AWESOME!!!!!

I must caveat – my photo looks positively unappetizing because it kinda got mangled (forgot to take a photo when it first arrived) and the light was not in my favour when we were dining there.. so in fact, most of my food photos don’t look very nice 🙁

But anyway. This pork belly is a real doozy. It is UTRA TENDER with just the right amount of fat through the meat. You can cut it with a fork, it’s that soft. But my favourite is the crisp exterior, which is seasoned to perfection. It’s paired beautifully with their creamy mash, and studded with sweet cherry tomatoes.

Leaving the best for the last, and here it is…….

MENTAIKO FRIES!!!!!

GRUB has just launched these and hooboy, they take the cake over truffle fries for me. You get a big bowl loaded with fries, and they drizzle their homemade mentaiko sauce all over it (they provide a pot of sauce on the side if you’re like us and want mooooorrrrre), then toss on a bunch of seaweed.

The combination is pretty mind blowing.

I find it very hard to describe here, but think fries dipped in a sauce that’s like mayonnaise-on-steroids. It’s creamy, but has a real punch of flavour in it. And coupled with the shreds of seaweed? (note I don’t normally like seaweed) It’s AWESOME.

I can’t wait to go back and order another bout of these.

Obviously, as you can tell from below, the kids loved it.

And since we had an early dinner, the kids still have a bit of time to run around Bishan Park afterwards, while the sun sets.

Oh, to be so young and carefree……

Big kids wearing Elly.
Hunter’s sunglasses by sons+daughters from nottoobig.
Ybike (blue) from Mothercare.
Last Bite: Go to GRUB for an early dinner, and let your kids stretch your legs in Bishan Park at sunset. Their burgers are always spot-on, but our favourite is the slow roasted pork belly.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes. Strollers and wheelchairs have a gated side entrance.
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No. The premise of the cafe is that kids can eat off the main menu.

GRUB
Bishan Park
510 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 (enter off Sin Ming Ave, opposite Blk 408)
Singapore 569983
Phone: 64595743 (no reservations)
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue-Fri 5:30pm– 10:30pm, Sat-Sun and PH 9:00am–2:30pm 5:30pm–10:30pm

THE PROVIDORE

October 14, 2013 / Food Reviews, Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road, Singapore / 2 Comments

The Providore is an open-concept cafe in (relatively quiet) Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road. I finally managed to pay it a visit last week. I love the cafe layout. They have jams, teas and coffee for sale in pretty jars and tins on one side, and a scattering of tables around the cafe.

I personally felt that the air-conditioning is pretty chilly in the mall, so I selected a seat near the glass doors with the hope that some fresh (warm) air would gust in whenever someone walked through the doors. It somewhat worked.

Their Latte was a delight. Served piping hot, it was rich and smooth and…… “LOOK! Heart!” said Hunter.

The Mocha was mixed with liquid chocolate – thumbs up. Cannot stand mocha drinks mixed with chocolate powder.

We enjoyed a quiet chat whilst waiting for our food to arrive. The open-concept layout of the cafe and laid back vibe seemed to go down well with Hunter, who was very well behaved and fun for most of our meal. He was rewarded later with some time on the iPad, and had us adults singing “Tayo tayo tayo!” loudly. AHEM.

The Grilled ham and cheese toastie ($14.50) came out looking exceedingly bland. This was also due to the fact that I asked it to be served on their “softest bread”, since it was meant for Hunter. The sandwich came out looking like… well… something I slapped together at home.

It was very dry and hard to swallow, though the flavours were good. I cut off all the crusts (which was dry and had no ingredients) and fed him the middle bit, and he did eat it – so I was relieved that at least someone enjoyed it!

The Providore have a rotating Lunch Specials menu, and one of the items there that day was Spaghettini with seared tuna ($25.50). I thought spaghettini was very very thin spaghetti, but this was regular spaghetti. Not that it’s a bad thing, but just odd that they mislabeled something like that. The pasta was good, with fresh tuna and lots of stewed tomatoes in the sauce. Hunter loved this.

I thought the Steak sandwich ($14.50) was a winner, and great value considering the woeful Ham & Cheese Toastie was the same price! It was a petite portion (especially the steak), but was beautifully executed. The bread was fluffy, soft and warm. And the steak – ohhhhh, delicious! So absolutely tender with no weird rind bits. They were a little heavy handed with the mustard (it made us reel), but we still really enjoyed this dish.

I saw the Red Velvet Cake on the menu and couldn’t resist. The cake itself was perfectly moist and just tangy enough – lovely. However, the layers of cream didn’t sit well with us – it was so sugary we had to scrape it all off (and believe me, I can take sugar!). In fact, it seemed that so much sugar was added to the cream/icing that it had reached saturation point – as we could actually detect crunchy bits of sugar through it. Ack. So, in short, superb cake, terrible icing.

Last Bite: The Providore offers a casual, open-concept approach that is great for kids. The food is average-to-nice, but what we really enjoyed here was their fantastic beverages.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes, in mall’s bathroom
Kids’ menu: No

The Providore
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road #02-05
Singapore 238897
Phone: 6732 1565
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:30 pm

REVOLUTION COFFEE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Buona Vista, Singapore

October 10, 2013 / Buona Vista, Food Reviews, Singapore / 5 Comments

We had trouble finding Revolution Coffee on our first visit. I diligently typed in the address into Google Maps on my iPhone, and it took me on a never-ending loop around the area. In the end, I just used a bit of common sense (ie. there is only ONE building in the nearby vicinity), and we found it. The secret? Just look for the big building called “Infinite Studios” and you won’t go wrong!

Having only recently opened (mid-2013), it’s quickly become one of my favourite places to hang out with kids in tow. To guess why, just check out what Hunter is looking at………………………….

THERE’S A TOY TRICYCLE IN THERE!!!!!!

Hunter had sharp eyes and spotted it from far away, making a desperate bee-line straight for it. It’s a total hit with the kids. Only point to note – there is one tricycle, so if there is more than one kid that likes it… well…. you may have a small problem on your hands.

We had both kids keen on it, but did a pretty good job in “taking turns”. At least there was no bashing up involved!

I particularly like the little nook at the far end of Revolution Coffee, with low padded chairs and a dinky coffee table made from crates. If you have kids, you’ll like this area too since it’s a little tucked into the corner. Note, however, that a lot of things in this cafe is kid-grabbing height.. so if you have a grabber, you might want to keep an extra sharp eye out on them.

I’ll cut straight to it – the coffee is really good. Owner Ajie Permana brought the art of coffee making from Australia and it shows. I particularly enjoyed the Latte ($5.50), which was smooth and creamy, yet packed a real punch. Only downside? It came in a tiny glass, and I would have liked it double-sized.

Their menu is really basic. I was pretty disappointed because I personally like hot food, and the menu was mostly salads and sandwiches. Reluctantly, I opted for the Roast beef sandwich ($11.90). I was, however, delighted when it arrived. It was a sizeable chunk and had lots of tender roast beef in it, and was sufficient in filling me up.

The Spaghetti amatriciana ($9.50) was ordered specifically for the kids, and was described as pasta with tomatoes, so I expected it to be dull. We were so surprised when we discovered it was excellent! It was a large portion of pasta that was silky with a distinctive flavour – like it was handmade. I doubt their pasta is handmade (please correct me if I’m wrong), but it was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the stewed tomatoes that it came with – in generous portions and bursting with sweetness.

Hunter ate a huge amount of this dish, so I was happy.

Their Freshly baked banana bread ($4.50) appears to be their signature cake, as I hear it often sells out. However, the kids weren’t interested in it (we couldn’t tell whether it was because they weren’t impressed with it, or if they were already full from their lunch), and when I ate some of it, it didn’t stand out to me either. It is served with homemade yogurt but it didn’t wow me and I would have preferred some slightly-salted butter.

Their rendition of Affogato ($6) is so good it BLEW MY MIND. This is the must-order dish!! They take one of their cookies and crush it into a glass cup, top it off with vanilla ice cream, and serve it with an espresso shot for you to pour over. The coffee soaks into the biscuit, and the ice cream brings it all together to create an utterly spectacular dessert that is bitter yet sweet, crunchy yet smooth. It is such a winner.

The kids had a great time having free reign over the cafe (it’s not too crowded on weekdays) and cycling around outside. Hunter still remembers it as that cafe with a tricycle!

Last Bite: Revolution Coffee offers a casual spot for a simple lunch. Their coffee and affogato are total hits, as is the tricycle that kids can play on.

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

Revolution Coffee
Infinite Studios building
21 Media Circle, #01-03A
Singapore 138562
Phone: 6777 2110
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

SINGAPORE POLO CLUB: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Thomson, Singapore

October 9, 2013 / Food Reviews, Singapore, Thomson / 1 Comment

We’ve been in Singapore for over two years, and only just discovered the Singapore Polo Club. And…. it is an absolute HIT with the kids! Seriously, it is more of an entertainment-playground that it is a cafe.

The Singapore Polo Club is open to the public on Mon-Fri. But, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5PM onward, there is something special for the little ones – POLO MATCH! With horses! (obviously)

So here’s what we do.

We rock up at 5PM and the kids get more and more excited as we turn into the parking lot, because they know what’s coming (we’ve been here a few times already). They immediately run into The Verandah, the el fresco cafe that overlooks a huge race track and makes it feel like you’re in the of nowhere – it is so tranquil and chill. It’s very casual so we can rock up in our sleeveless tops, shorts and flip flops, and feel right at ease.

The kids spend most of the time hanging on the balcony railing, all wide-eyed, fascinated with the horses trotting right past their noses. And yes, there’s a polo match that starts at 5PM which is great fun for the kids to watch. Only problem is that Hunter always pines for and asks to sit on a horse the whole time.

But, beyond the horse-y parts, there is also a swimming pool. Complete with a big tank of free-flow iced water by the side. Wonderful for a splish-splash in the afternoon before you sit down for an early dinner.

But wait, there’s more! There’s even a shaded playground that is neat and clean, and offers a great way to get rid of excess energy (parents, you’ll know by now kids need to do this, so they’ll be able to sit still for their meal afterwards).

The Singapore Polo Club also has a spacious bathroom (that is, oddly, well air-conditioned) with shower facilities as well as a changing table. Very handy if you have kids in diapers with you.

The food is reasonably priced (most dishes range from $10-$15 for the public, members are a dollar or two cheaper), and quite tasty. Both kids always eat very well when we’re there – partly due to the fact that they spend most of the time distracted, gawking at the horses!

The Chicken Satay is always a winner, as the kids love holding the sticks and nibbling on the meat. The satay sauce is not too spicy, so Carter actually eats it (not Hunter, he’s morbidly afraid of spicy food).

I personally love their KL Hokkien Noodles, which come in a large serving and is studded with lots of seafood. It’s lovely comfort food, very tasty, and easy for me to eat with one hand if I’m dealing with a kid with the other. I want to note, however, that one of the times I ordered it, it was a little too salty for our liking.

We always order this Horfun (with seafood or beef) with gravy for both kids. They pretty much polish this off between the two of them. The noodles are silky and slippery, and beautifully charred. The gravy is rich and thick with egg, and is very tasty without being overly salty. I also like to snip up the green veg and mix it in for them.

The only dish I didn’t like was the Fish and Chips. I’ve only ordered it once, so perhaps I just lucked out and it’s better other times. At first I was really impressed that it came in a HUGE serving size – two fat chunks of fish on a big bed of fries. The fish was moist and well-done, however, the batter was just so oily! Let’s be clear here – I love deep fried food and eat it all the time. But even for me, this was a doozy. It just oozed oil and I had to cut off the batter and dig out the fish. It was a shame as I’d ordered this, thinking the kids could have some too, but I didn’t dare let them near so much oil.

Last Bite: Bring your kids to the Singapore Polo Club to watch a polo match and check out the horses over a casual el fresco dinner. One of the best ways to spend a late afternoon and evening with the kids! Go on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 5PM onwards to watch the polo match.

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

The Verandah @ Singapore Polo Club
80 Mount Pleasant Road
Singapore 298334
Phone: 6854 3999
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

THE BOOK CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, River Valley, Singapore

October 6, 2013 / Food Reviews, River Valley, Singapore / 1 Comment

I can safely say The Book Cafe ranks riiiiight up there as one of the most kid-friendly cafes I’ve visited in Singapore.

Ironically, I’d been pushing off checking out this cafe for months, because I thought it was very baby-UNfriendly (I was under the impression that, being a book cafe, it was practically like a library and kiddos were not tolerated). Of course, the day never came where I’m *ahem* rid of both kids, so one day I just decided to bite the bullet and meet some girl friends there.

I’ve since been back 3-4 times, with either one or both kids, and I am delighted with this cafe.

It’s cozy and laid back, with friendly service and a casual atmosphere. The patrons seem to be split into three groups: the diners that park themselves for ages (studying or working on their laptop), the diners that are there for a quick business lunch, and the diners with young children in tow (<– points to self).

I’ll be frank – I feel really sorry for the people there trying to study/work. The cafe is split into two areas, with the couch section popular with the parents-with-kids. If you’re there trying to study/work, you’ll want to think again, buddy. I personally wouldn’t want to be there whilst kids are wandering around and distracting you!

That said, the couch section is AWESOME if you have kids in tow. The couches are low enough for kids to climb up/down, very comfy, and you’re able to spread out all your kiddie paraphernalia. It’s also pretty contained, so kids are pretty safe.

And, OH MY GOODNESS, they have toys. A big, fat box of toys for kids to dig around in and amuse themselves with. What a hit!!

I have a soft spot for their latte. I ask for mine in their big mug (usually reserved for their iced drinks), with an extra shot otherwise it’ll be too milky. It always hits the spot, and I love sipping on my big glass of coffee as I relax on the couch and oversee the kids, without having to chase after them like a crazy chicken.

Their food ranges from pretty decent to excellent. The prices are very reasonable, and the portion sizes satisfying.

For example, this Chicken and mushroom alio olio is a children’s portion, at $7 I believe? It’s as big as an adult-sized portion at other cafes! It had more ingredients than it did pasta 😉 Hunter really enjoyed it.

The Olive rice with chicken was also very filling. Tender grains of rice flecked with a generous portion of tasty chopped olives, and packed in with chicken chunks. However, it was the same chicken chunks as the pasta above, so I was a bit bored of it by then as I’d already eaten some of Hunter’s meal.

But their Cheeseburger and wedges. OH MY. Their #1 dish and a must-order. Surprisingly, once of the best burgers I’ve had in Singapore!

The glossy bun is soft and fluffy, and I love the melted cheese and crispy lettuce. But it’s the patty that rocks – cooked medium by request, it was so juicy and full of that real meat flavour (compared to some fast food places with very odd tasting meat). The whole thing was juicy and dripping, and just packed with deliciousness. I’m smacking my lips just thinking about it! I’ve had it about 3 times now, and it’s been good every time, so consistency is there.

The Book Cafe is one of the rare places where I can sit down and relax for an extended period of time, whilst the kids potter around and play. More often than not, I’m trying desperately to keep them amused, or chasing after them in a cafe. For this reason, I really appreciate The Book Cafe’s concept and kid-friendliness.

Believe it or not, they have their own baby change table! So convenient and what a relief for mums with a messy poo job at hand. Plus, their regular adult toilets have a drop-down mini toilet seat, for potty trained kids.

Hunter and Carter really enjoy visiting The Book Cafe, and Hunter remembers it as “the toy cafe”. He thinks it’s his second home 😉

Last Bite: The Book Cafe offers a couch section with a large box of toys, sure to be a hit with your kids. With free WIFI and a wide menu, they are a popular spot for parents with kids. Check out their cheeseburger, it’s a stunner!

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

The Book Cafe
20 Martin Road
01-02 Seng Kee Building
Singapore 239070
Phone: 6887 5430
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Thu: 8:00 am – 10:30 pm, Fri – Sat: 8:00 am – 12:00 am, Sun: 8:00 am – 10:30 pm

EATPLAYLOVE CRAFT CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bugis, Singapore

October 3, 2013 / Bugis, Food Reviews, Singapore / 3 Comments

The interior of EatPlayLove Craft Cafe is an explosion of rainbow colours, lantern lamps, cute bunting and tons (and I mean tons) of toys. All set against bright turquoise walls in a spacious cafe.

It’s pretty overwhelming.

Our kids gawked a little when they stepped in. I guess they were expecting a standard ‘ol cafe for lunch.. and thought we’d gotten confused and brought them to a playgym instead!

They immediately dashed over to the craft area like their lives depended on it, busy inspecting all the little bits and bobs and excitedly chattering away.

And the adults? We dashed over to all the old school toys and snacks area.. completely enthralled with it all and equally as overwhelmed by all the cute little knick knacks everywhere. There is SO much to poke around in and check out!

The whole premise of EatPlayLove Craft Cafe is a place to dine whilst your kids are kept out of trouble (*fingers crossed*) crafting away at the kids table.

It’s probably best for kids aged 2.5 years and up. Our kids are 2.5 years and didn’t require hand-holding to craft, but they did need an eye kept on them, just in case they did something odd like try and lick the glue (gah) or snatch stuff from other kids.

So the idea is, you pay $5 for 1 hour of crafting. I will make it LOUD AND CLEAR here: you must return your kid’s badge when they are done! If you forget and get them to sit with you to eat, you’ll end up with being charged for it despite the kid not crafting. This is exactly what happened to us, because I wasn’t informed that I was supposed to return the badges (note: I did point out that I was never told this, so they waived the extra hour’s charge).

For your $5, you get 1 sheet of paper and a little packet of crafty things, including glue. There are also tons of little ribbons, colourful pipe cleaners, etc that are at the crafting area, that you’re free to help yourself to.

Our kids were completely absorbed for the 30mins that they were crafting, before the food arrived. Hunter was wearing ‘nice’ clothes but was very neat and didn’t get himself messy. At 2.5 years old, he was able to apply glue, stick on whatever stuff, and cut things up.. all by himself. I think that’s about average ability for his age, and this is why I think this crafting concept suits 2.5 years old and up the best.

I was delighted to find out that the menu was fairly extensive, and very reasonably priced. The food is actually pretty good. Very home-cooking like, but tasty and satisfying.

I’m glad I picked the Iced Vietnamese Coffee – it was potent and really hit the spot. Plus, loving the old school glass mugs they serve drinks in!

The Kids Menu consisted of a small main dish, and served with a drink of your choice (I chose Yakult). Hunter gobbled up almost his whole bowl of Chicken Macaroni Soup, which was very home-style and simple, but it seemed to go down well with him.

The other kids menu item we had was the Baked Macaroni and Cheese which came in a startling neon orange/yellow colour, but it was tasty and well-received.

My Chicken Chop with fries was cooked very well. The chicken skin was crisp and flavourful, and the chicken itself was tender and juicy. I enjoyed the mushroom gravy poured on top, though I did crave for more of the stuff to slop my chicken and fries in.

Their fries are SUPERB. I’m not sure what they do, but the fries are so tasty and cooked to perfection. I could eat a whole bowl of these suckers!

We requested for two high chairs, but were told only one was available. Something to note if your kid absolutely needs one – best to request for one the moment you step in the cafe, and not just when the food arrives.

That said, how cute is it?!

The kids were really proud of their handicraft and merrily posed for this picture. Hunter’s craft is now displayed in the kids’ room. I’m particularly proud of it because he did the entire thing himself (usually his handicraft is done with me beside him, guiding him along).

Hunter wearing a Burberry (more…)

TRATTORIA BONISSIMA: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Katong, Singapore

September 28, 2013 / Food Reviews, Katong, Singapore / 0 comment

A perfectly done Tiramisu at Trattoria Bonissima

Come to think of it, I don’t often eat Italian food in Singapore. I don’t mean the random, mainstream Italian food catered for the masses (OMG I really sound like a food snob here! Eeek!! Sorry!) but rather classic, rustic, homestyle Italian. I guess partly because they tend to be fine-dining and pretty expensive, so I feel like I have to be celebrating an occasion to warrant the splurge.

Trattoria Bonissima has really good reviews online (yes I’m the type to go suss a place out before I eat there), and it’s not hard to see why. Helmed by Italian chef Andrea Badiali, Trattoria Bonissima is a casual, cozy restaurant serving hearty Italian food. All decked out in blue and white linen, it feels homely and lovely, with very warm and friendly service.

Carter, very comfortable sunning himself by the window

I was really surprised when I opened their menu. It boasts a really wide selection of dishes! Of course, it meant I was ummm-ing and ahhh-ing trying to figure out how not to order 305246 dishes for myself 😉

The food came out swiftly, and they even help you portion out the dishes if you’re ordering to share. A very nice touch.

Hunter going to town on their complimentary bread

The first dish (and IMHO the best dish) was the Stracciata – thinly sliced striploin on a bed of rocket, dressed with truffle oil, balsamic and parmesan.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

It was so good, we actually couldn’t quite believe it. I actually wouldn’t have thought of ordering this dish if I saw it on the menu, and so was very glad that we were recommended to.

It is seriously good.

The striploin is gorgeous. Silky, tender, melt-in-your-mouth. And what makes it stand out is this complex concoction of truffle oil and balsamic… which had us smacking our lips in delight. You know how balsamic sauce on a salad can just be too tangy and a bit much? I guess they must use really high quality balsamic.. and it’s also tempered with the fullness of the taste of truffle oil. The blend goes together like one freakin’ happy marriage and makes the beef just taste splendid.

It went very well with the juicy, sweet tomatoes, and is a wonderful appetizer that is a total MUST ORDER when you visit. Seriously, you’re mad if you don’t order it. The portion size is also hefty and excellent to be shared.

Boy, I pretty much typed up an essay on just this one dish. But oh geez it’s so bloody good I can barely stand it! I’d go back there for the Stracciata alone.

Stracciata – thinly sliced striploin on a bed of rocket, dressed with truffle oil, balsamic and parmesan ($19). FAINT.

The other appetizer was this astonishing tower of Calamari Fritti. Don’t be silly an order this appetizer just for yourself, as it’s large enough to be a main meal. You definitely need to share this.

The tumble of calamari come in large rings, dipped in a light batter and are all crispy and airy. At first, the light colour of the batter made me think it was undercooked (I’m used to the darker brown versions in Australia), but nope, the batter was all light and well cooked. I found the calamari itself to be not as sweet as I normally like them to be, but they were very good dipped in the aioli.

The restaurant also prides themselves (or, at least our waiter introduced it with a big flourish!) on their Pepperoncino flakes, which are dried chilli flakes that pack a potent punch of flavour. You can dip the calamari in this too, or sprinkle it on pizza/pasta.

The Salsiccia – tomato, mozzarella, homemade pork sausage was a large pizza dotted with very yummy sausage. It is a very typical Italian pizza that comes with a scattering of ingredients, and you’re supposed to enjoy the fresh tomato sauce and dough.

I will be frank here. And I don’t know how else to put this without sounding like a greedy pig… but… I like my pizzas with thick crust! You know, Pizza Hut style? I know all the food connoisseurs and Italians are now rolling their eyes in disgust, but I like it thick crust simply because it…. errrrrr…. fills me up. I find that when I eat thin crust pizza, I can eat a whole ton and not be that full. I NEED MY CARBS.

So, if you’re a proper foodie and like authentic Italian pizzas, you’ll like it. If you’re kinda greedy like me, you’re better off sharing this with someone and ordering a pasta or main dish as well 😉

Salsiccia – tomato, mozzarella, homemade pork sausage ($21)

Man, the pastas here are top notch.

The Linguini Alle Cicale – crayfish in pink sauce was my personal favourite. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and I’ve decided that ‘pink sauce’ is my favourite for pastas, which is basically a term for a tomato cream sauce. Trattoria Bonissima offer pink sauce for quite a few of their dishes and I am a total convert. I particularly like it because it’s not as rich and flat as a cream sauce, and not as tangy as a tomato sauce. It’s somewhere inbetween.

There were large chunks of crayfish in there, which were lovely and sweet against the sauce of the pasta. The portion size is substantial too.

Linguini Alle Cicale – crayfish in pink sauce ($22)

Here’s where we were a little silly and ordered TWO pastas that were almost identical. Duh! Kicking myself for not having ordered their Lamb Chops or Steak, which have rave reviews online. I forgot to when we were ordering! *facepalm*

And so ended up getting the Linguini Merluzzo Porcini – codfish, porcini mushrooms in pink sauce. It was, errrr, basically the same as the pasta earlier, but this time with fat slices of cod fish instead. So silly of us, right?! Fortunately, the cod fish was silky smooth and the porcini mushrooms were really tasty, so we were happy eating two similar pasta dishes… despite the “d’oh” moment 😉

Linguini Merluzzo Porcini – codfish, porcini mushrooms in pink sauce ($26)

Obviously I insisted on the Tiramisu. Can never resist this dish though I’m frequently disappointed by it in Singapore. I specifically like my Tiramisu very wet and moist, with a high cake ratio.

This one is spot on.

What more can I say? Look at the photo below!

I’d heard that the Lava Cake was a must order, so promptly got that too. Made with rich French chocolate, this little molten pot of goodness gives you the choice to flambé – which they light up at your table – excellent entertainment especially if you have kids there. Be warned though, the alcohol does mean the sweetness of the chocolate is brought into stark contrast with the alcohol flavour – so this particularly suits those that aren’t too fond of super-sweet desserts.

It’s served with vanilla ice cream, which brings down the richness of the molten chocolate (and boy, is it molten, almost like a thick chocolate pudding!). I would prefer a creamier vanilla bean ice cream though.

Doesn’t this make you want to *poke* your finger into the photo and take a lick?!

Me with Chef Andrea Badiali (who was willing to take a very touristy shot with me without complaint. Haha)

There’s also a big sign in the restaurant with this cool offer: Get a complimentary dessert of the day (worth S$9) with every S$50 spent, paid by Amex card.

Be careful when visiting their Facebook page, it contains heaps of photos of their food… not good to view on an empty stomach….

I was there for lunch, but I actually think it’d be really nice for a dinner date. It’s cozy and serves up some fab food. Plus, I’m craving that Stracciata again!!!

Last Bite: Trattoria Bonissima serves up delicious home-style Italian food. Their Stracciata and Tiramisu are a must-order!

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

Trattoria Bonnissima
308 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437091
Phone: 6346 5845
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Wed – Sun: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm

This food review was first published at Beverly’s Adventures!

JIMMY MONKEY CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Buona Vista, Singapore

September 28, 2013 / Buona Vista, Food Reviews, Singapore / 1 Comment

Jimmy Monkey is so nondescript and in such a random location (in a housing area!) that I don’t think anyone would stumble upon it. You’ll have to know about it and be specifically looking for the cafe.

The Australian cafe is tucked into a little corner and is actually pretty dim inside, considering it was a bright and sunny day outside. It’s industrial-style and has large wooden tables for communal dining, as well as a couch area (which we scored, hurray!) which is great for kids.

Most of the patrons were on laptops, with not a kid in sight. Except mine. It doesn’t seem to be positioned as a mummy-and-kids-lunch place, but rather for the mod/hipster folk.

I’d heard that they were good for their coffee, and it was true. My latte was a satisfying and strong roast, pretty potent. The only disappointment was that it came in a tiny cup, which I could finish in two gulps. I would have been absolutely satisfied and delighted if it came in a cup twice the size, for the price charged.

The Vegetable Frittata was a large wedge and filled with generous chunks of soft veggies. I personally don’t like frittatas (so.. eggy and… weird) but we’d ordered it for Hunter and he liked it. I can’t remember the price, but I remember thinking it was a little on the high side considering the low cost of ingredients in it.

I found the Breaky Muffin with egg, ham, hollandaise sauce, roma tomato and rocket a stunner. The muffin bread was thin and slightly crisp, and the ingredients inside were so fresh that they individually stood out. I especially liked how they used proper ham (instead of the really really thin pre-sliced one). The size of the muffin is petite, so order only if you have a small appetite, or if you’re prepared to order something else on the menu to fill you up.

Breaky Muffin with egg, ham, hollandaise sauce, roma tomato and rocket ($14)

I enjoyed the large and fluffy Banana and chocolate chip muffin. It was served warm and with a small pat of butter on the side. Hunter gave it the thumbs up 😉

Banana and chocolate chip muffin ($4, I think)

But, by far, the best dish was their French toast with golden syrup & fresh berries. Their rendition was a WINNER! Slices of French toast stacked up high, and enough to satisfy. Outstanding value for money. The French toast was not too soggy, but beautifully crisp on the outside. A must-order.

French toast with golden syrup & fresh berries ($15)

Jimmy Monkey’s a good place to hang out if you’re kid-free and want a quick bite to eat. The staff are friendly and very helpful, and it’s not too crowded on weekdays. Personally, I’d go there for a mid-afternoon snack – French toast and coffee. Their two best items IMHO!

Last Bite: Jimmy Monkey offers a lovely brunch menu with well-brewed coffee. Try to get the couch table, for your kids to sit and play comfortably on.

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

Jimmy Monkey Cafe
9 One-North Gateway
#01-51 One-North Residences
Singapore 138643
Phone: 6777 8470
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm, Sat – Sun: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

This food review was first published at Beverly’s Adventures!

ROKEBY BISTRO: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Serangoon, Singapore

September 28, 2013 / Food Reviews, Serangoon, Singapore / 0 comment

A fabulous play area for kids at Rokeby Bistro

A new and very lovely place has popped up in the Serangoon area, called Rokeby. Pronounced roc-ker-bee, the Australian-style bistro is spacious and airy, and a wonderful place for brunch with the family.

Our kids LOVED it!

Hunter being a gentleman and holding the door open

The absolute, hands-down best part of Rokeby (and parents with young kids will probably agree wholeheartedly with this) is their kids play area – a little corner with kiddie-sized tables and chairs, and stacks of toys and books! Plus, there’s also nice lounge chairs for parents to sit at, right beside the kids area. It’s perfection. If only more cafes had this sort of set up!

Us in the best section of Rokeby! The kids were having too much fun with the toys to bother looking at the camera…

“YAYYYYY toys!!!” said the kids. “YAYYYY toys!!!” said the parents, who can eat a meal in peace (sorta) ‘cos the kids are kept occupied.

The Vegemite Down Under was a simple but satisfying dish. The thick and soft slices of toast were excellent, and they were slathered with just the right amount of vegemite. There was also a generous tumble of soft scrambled eggs on top, though remember to scoop them off the toast quickly if you prefer your toast to be kept un-soggy! I would have loved this dish even more with some cheese on top of the vegemite.

It normally comes with baked beans, but Chris hates the stuff, so we swapped it for fresh avocado. The avocado we got was kinda brown and squashy which was disappointing, but I performed some avocado-surgery on it to remove the gross bits and Hunter gobbled the rest of it up.. as well as half the scrambled eggs and toast.

The French Toast came out very very basic looking. I guess I’m used to seeing thick-cut toast and lots of fancy accompaniments, so the version at Rokeby looked rather drab and unexciting.

However, they cooked it perfectly. It had the perfect amount of egg, wasn’t too soggy or dry, and was lightly crisp on the outside but moist on the inside. Oddly, it wasn’t served with maple syrup and I had to request for that.

The Chocolate muffin looked fat and delicious in the desserts display case, so I ordered it, but it was pretty normal. It was more crumbly than moist, but at least they warmed it up so the melty chocolate drops studded on the top were nice.

Rokeby boast an excellent section of Aussie coffee, teas, wines and beers. We had a Latte each and thought it was excellent. Creamy, rich and flavourful, and not too acidic. It really hit the spot.

Me, trying very hard to keep both kids occupied

I personally thought Rokeby could ‘dress up’ the food a little more to give it a bit more of a ‘high quality’ kick, and think of the little things like ensuring there’s butter/maple syrup served with French toast, and serving water without being asked to (I had to ask twice as it was forgotten the first time). But, they are really new so still getting to grips with things.

Still, it was a fantastic place for a family brunch, and the kids really enjoyed having their own space to do something, instead of being cooped up in a high chair. We’ll be back!

Last Bite: Rokeby Bistro nails it with a kid-corner filled with toys. Their food is simple but satisfying, and their coffee is well executed.

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

Rokeby Bistro
15-9 Jalan Riang
Singapore 358987
Phone: 9106 0437
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

This food review was first published at Beverly’s Adventures!

NOOK DIY HOUSE OF PANCAKES: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

September 28, 2013 / Bukit Timah, Food Reviews, Singapore / 0 comment

Playing with our food at Nook DIY House of Pancakes

Nook has a really kitschy but alluring offering of make-your-own pancakes. It’s a simple concept, but executed oh so well!

Why can’t I just make my own pancake batter and do it at home?, you ask.

Well technically you can. But here, you get that large iron plate smack bang in the middle of the table so everyone can have a go easily (instead of you sweating over a skillet in your kitchen trying to churn out the pancakes for the hungry folk sitting at the table). And, best of all, the pancake batter comes in squeezy bottles that make it SO MUCH FUN! And yes, you can just pour your batter into these bottles at home too, but who can be bothered to wash them out afterwards?

And of course, kids love the place.

Hunter was fascinated and delighted with the whole concept. He didn’t make his own pancakes – a combination of him not liking being around “hot” things for fear of hurting himself, and also because he was very happy just eating our creations. But, he loved watching us and was filled with glee every time a pancake was plonked onto his plate.

We got 1 buttermilk and 1 dark chocolate, which makes enough pancakes for 2 people, despite the bottles looking deceptively small. You also get to choose your sides, which you can see here. We picked banana slices and oreos.

And off you go!

The hardest part is getting the heat right. First, it was too hot, then too cold, then finally it was just right. So we wasted probably about 1/4 of the pancake batter just trying to figure it out. A bit annoying.

That said, the pancake batter is excellent. Fluffy and moist, with lovely flavour. We loved them. And Hunter certainly did.. he ate so many I got a bit worried he might pop!!!

PROMISE NOT TO LAUGH at my creations below.

I know I am not creative and a crap artist, so hence the demented-looking pancakes. Hey, Hunter appreciated them!

Ship, Car, Train, House (can you even tell?) 😉

We also ordered the Truffle me up – thick buttered brioche toast with eggs, ham and cheddar cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. Boy, this was really good. Simple ingredients but they melded together beautifully. The brioche was buttery soft and fluffy, and the ingredients were so tasty combined with the scent of truffle oil. Deeeelish.

And because my brain totally short-circuits when I see the words red velvet, I simply had to get the Red velvet pancakes. This is a must-order IMHO. Frankly, it looks helluva lot more appetizing than my DIY creations, and it was tasty to boot. Moist and lovely, with a cream cheese filling. Excellent.

Red velvet pancakes with a cream cheese filling

This place is an absolute hit with kids, and it’s still fun to go with gfs. You can make silly pancakes and see who’s the best artist. Except don’t compare with me please 😉

My only beef is the location – it’s in a bit of a random place so we have to head home straight afterwards since there’s nothing else to do there…

Last Bite: Nook DIY House of Pancakes guarantees a fun time for kids (and big kids too).

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

Nook DIY House of Pancakes
21 Lorong Kilat #01-03
Singapore 598123
Phone: 6466 1811
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

This food review was first published at Beverly’s Adventures!