Adventure, baby!

Telok Blangah

BOSSES RESTAURANT: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Telok Blangah, Singapore

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

I’ve walked past Bosses Restaurant so many times at Vivocity, but had no idea it was a restaurant. It actually looks more like a dark nightclub (or Chinese triad gang hangout) from the outside! It doesn’t help that the only english word there is “Bosses”, with no obvious reference that it’s an eatery.

But, oh my, what an impressive restaurant it is! Walk through the narrow and dark corridor (full of mood lighting), and it opens out to a HUGE restaurant, all encased in glass windows, overlooking the water. Everything there is themed in jet-black, unusual for a restaurant, but it works – it’s pretty cool.

It looks like a fine-dining Chinese restaurant, and perhaps it is in the evenings, but in the day time, there is a lively buzz of chatter and most of the diners there are doing business lunches.

My kids were the only kids in the restaurant, but they were SO well looked after by the staff. The staff were incredibly patient, genuinely friendly, and very nice with the kids. I admit, I was a bit eye-bally with them at the start (I get like that when I’m in a fancy looking restaurant because I start to break out into a nervous sweat wondering if my kids will make a ruckus or break anything and shame me forever)… but the staff really won me over and made me feel relaxed within minutes.

 

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Their yum cha menu of a huge variety of dim sum was SLAM DUNK WINNER with the kids!!! They ate so much, and with such gusto, I am totally insisting on this place the next time we are at Vivocity.

We got the Signature fried noodles with superior soya sauce ($6.80) which was not overly salty, but featured lovely springy oodles in a lightly-flavoured sauce. It’s a simple dish, but excellent. Hunter loved it so much he…….. wait for it…… self-fed. This is a BIG DEAL because the kid does not self-feed – food simply doesn’t interest him enough.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Shanghai xiao long bao ($6.50) was had a thicker and chewier skin than Din Tai Fung’s version, but I preferred it this way because it gave the bao more “oomph”. The meat was tender and juicy, and the kids both lapped this up.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I’m not a huge fan of Prawn and asparagus rice roll ($7.80) because I always find rice roll dishes a bit bland, but my kids loved it gobbled most of it up.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

My favourite – Szechuan fried beans. I am a bean fanatic, especially when it’s cooked like this. It wasn’t too spicy, but did have a delicate kick, and the beans were cooked to perfection. Still dreaming about this dish right now…

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The kids each polished off one Supreme minor char siew bun ($4.50) each. The BBQ pork (char siew) within wasn’t overly sweet – often they are at many restaurants, and that annoys me because I think the sweetness takes away from the delicate flavour of the fluffy bun. This was done very well.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Queen of Shumai ($6.00) only came with 3 pieces in the bamboo box, which I was disappointed about (too few!). But they were large and fat, and I liked the whole prawn sitting on top. It was delicious dipped in the accompanying chili sauce.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Deep fried cod fish was ordered off their regular menu, and was around $20+ I believe. Expensive, but all was forgiven when I saw the kids NOM IT ALL UP!!!!

The cod was delicate and flaky and moist, and the batter encasing it was crispy and seasoned to perfection. These “fish nuggets”, as the kids call them, were AWESOME. I loved them, they loved them. We were all very pleased. A must-order!

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

It seems I am incapable of visiting a yum cha joint and stepping away without ordering their Salted egg yolk bun. Bosses Restaurant call them Signature custard lava bun ($6.00), though these are called “liu sha bao” in Mandarin and I believe the “liu” bit means “to flow”.

And, man, does the inside flow out!

Bosses version is FREAKING AMAZING. It is worth going to the restaurant solely for these babies. The yellow bun was soft and fluffy, and the insides oozed out in the most luscious and sexy way. Mmmm…. oh man it was good.

Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Bosses - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

 
Last Bite: Bosses Restaurant offers gorgeous views of the water, impeccable service, and stellar yum cha during brunch. Every single dish we ordered was a hit with the kids and/or adults!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

Bosses Restaurant
1 HarbourFront Walk
#02-156 VivoCity
Singapore 098585
Phone: 6376 9740
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Tues : 11am – 9pm, Wed : 12pm – 9pm, Thur – Sun : 11am- 10pm
 
 

THE MARSHMALLOW TREE (by guest writer Delphine Tan): Kid-Friendly Cafes, Telok Blangah, Singapore

Today, we have one of those super mums where you wonder how they can do it all yet look so put-together (ie. not a frantic mess). Delphine Tan of the popular blog Life In The Wee Hours has 2 kids, with a 3rd on the way, works, and still finds the time to go out brunching. Some people are just overachievers, you see.

She has taken the time to write us a fantastic review an adorable cafe. I am soooo going to check it out asap!

The following review is by guest reviewer Delphine Tan:

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The Marshmallow Tree is a little café in the quiet housing estate of Telok Blangah, just a short distance away from the hustle and bustle Vivocity and Harbourfront.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The Marshmallow Tree is a whimsical place: a swing in one corner, cozy mismatched chairs, a chalkboard wall, street lamps, a ceiling painted like the sky and a huge Domokun plush. Anya made a beeline for the brown creature and harassed it (him?) for a bit before settling down to draw at the chalkboard wall.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

We weren’t particularly hungry so we ordered a chicken pie and a domo cup. There’s no real hot meal on the menu and savoury items consist mainly of pies, wraps and sandwiches. As the name of the café indicates, the focus here is on marshmallow-based desserts. Every drink ordered also comes with a complimentary toasted marshmallow on a stick.

The café latte ($4.50) was very decent. Those who prefer a drink without caffeine may want to try the pretty pink rose latte which I saw quite a few diners ordering.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The chicken pie ($4.50) was quite ordinary but Anya enjoyed it. It makes a good snack for the kids.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The domo cup ($4.80) was a yummy and decadent dessert of toasted marshmallows, cream cheese, Mars bar with a biscuit base. Some people may find it a bit too sweet but Anya and I were quite happy to eat it all up.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Anya kept herself entertained by annoying giant Domokun, swinging on the swing and drawing on the chalkboard wall so I could enjoy my latte and dessert in relative peace. I am quite fond of toasted marshmallows so I wouldn’t mind dropping by again for coffee and dessert after I’ve had a proper meal somewhere else.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Last Bite: The Marshmallow Tree is great for those with a sweet-tooth but doesn’t offer much in the way of proper meals. Kids won’t be bored though!
Highchairs: No
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The Marshmallow Tree
46 Telok Blangah Drive #01-82
Singapore 100046
Phone: 98521210
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Fri: 10:00 – 22:00, Sat, Sun & PH: 09:00 – 22:00

 

Delphine

Delphine is married to Adrian and mother to Anya & Adam (with another kiddo on the way). She spends her free time reading and collecting matryoshka. Besides being addicted to caffeine, Delphine also suffers from the compulsive need to Instagram every single plate of food that she eats. Read her ramblings at: http://intheweehours.wordpress.com