Places to Dine near Esplanade

 Ever since Covid-19 strike we are forbid to travel abroad, we splurge more on food, explore locally to check out different restaurants and cafes around different parts of Singapore. This time round, I have compiled a list of dining places that I have tried around Esplanade over a period of time. You can try them the next time you visit Esplanade.

1. Supply & Demand

Supply & Demand is a modern Italian restaurant located at level 1 by the Marina Bay Waterfront. It was a pity that their level 2 rooftop bar was not opened during weekday lunch hour, as the restaurant was a bit noisy and the seating was quite close between tables.

We had Crispy Chicken Drumlets which was served with homemade spicy dipping sauce. The skin was fried till crispy while the flesh remained tender and juicy.

Hawaiian Pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, gammon ham and pineapple chunks. The pineapple chunks added hint of sourness while the ham gave a savoury flavour.

I had Strawberry Ice Tea which was refreshing and helped to cleanse my palate after the meal.

8 Raffles Ave, #01-13 Annexe, Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802

Operating hours: 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 10.30pm from Tue to Fri, 11am to 10.30pm on Sat and Sun

2. Aniplus Cafe

Along the same stretch with Supply & Demand is Aniplus Cafe, a “collaboration café” concept from Japan with an official merchandise store. It is a one-stop destination for anime fans to experience their favourite works in various forms and dining.

The current theme of Aniplus Cafe is from the action role playing game, Genshin Impact. Food and drinks are to be ordered at the counter.

I had Intertwined Winds Parfait ($13.90) because I was attracted by the colour combination. The base was whipped cream with biscuit and cornflakes taking the middle stage, and topped with a scoop of blue ice cream. Personally I find it a little overpriced based on the ingredient used.

8 Raffles Ave, The Esplanade Mall, #01, 13C Raffles Ave, Singapore 039802

Operating hours: 12pm to 8pm daily

3. Alter Ego

Alter Ego is a Gastrobar Bistro located along along Marina Bay. They are operated by the folks behind A Poke Theory. 

The interior of the gastro bar was decked with wooden tables and chairs, and floor-to-ceiling window on the other side. A raining weekday afternoon made this place quiet and cosy.

I had Chocolate Milkshake to go with my meal. I enjoyed the sweetness from the choco notes and chocolate fragrance. 

I had Chicken Aglio Olio, the spaghetti was tossed in garlic and chili flakes, finished off with parmesan and basil. It was very normal, nothing special to shout out.

01-13D, Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Ave, 039802

Operating hours: 12pm to 10.30pm daily

Happenings in November and December - Populus Cafe + Cafe Kreams + TCC

Saturday 6/11/21

It's been a long time since I last had dim sum, so I revisit TungLok Signatures at Clarke Quay for their dim sum buffet.

The dim sum buffet is $28.80++ per pax and duration of 90 minutes. There are a total of 37 items that you can order from the menu. It is more worth it to go for buffet so you can order a range of dishes to try. From the photo, you can tell which are my 2 favourite dishes - Deep-fried Shrimp Dumpling with Mayonnaise Sauce and Deep-fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk.

Wednesday 17/11/21

Made a revisit back to Populus Cafe for lunch after 4 years. It was still packed with office crowds during weekdays.

The Populus is a gastro-cafe located near Outram Park MRT station, they offer an extensive menu that delivers a range of edibles from all around the world.

We had Truffle Fries with Parmesan Cheese which came in a very generous portion suitable for sharing in a group. Remember to have it while it is hot before it turns soggy.

Thursday 25/11/21

Fulfill your desire to travel to Korea by taking a trip down to Cafe Kreams located at Maxwell Chambers.

Cafe Kreams will transport you to the scene of K-drama, An Autumn's Tale, with their autumn canopy interior. Even though we are in CBD, I did not feel the hustle and bustle of the city while dining in the cafe.

I had one of their signature flavoured drinks, Kreamy Sweet Potato. The drink was creamy and the taste of sweet potato was strong but not too overpowering. It was topped with sweet potato chip which made a good snack while waiting for food.

The Popcorn Chicken with Salad was addictive, I kept popping it in while knowing. The popcorn chicken contained mild spiciness, not to the extent where you will need to reach for your drinks, but enough kick to spice up my appetite.

Being someone with sweet tooth, I was more inclined to their dessert instead of main course. Hence, I opt for Matcha Tart. Love that the matcha tart was not too sweet and the buttery crust was firm to hold the custard.

Saturday 18/12/21

Have cravings for Korean food so I visited Woorinara Korean Restaurant at Bukit Timah to try out their authentic Korean Cuisine.

The restaurant was packed during lunch time, so be sure to make a reservation before heading down. The restaurant has a rustic look with wooden floor, making the restaurant looked comfortable.

Woorinara served a variety of free side dishes which we can enjoy while waiting for our order.

I had Spicy Soft Tofu Soup with include rice. The soup was served bubbly hot with mild spiciness just enough to provide the depth without reaching for your drink. We also had Gang Jeong Yum Yum Sweet Chicken where the cubes of chicken were coated with sweet sauce, the portion was really generous that we couldn't finish.

A few shops away is Udders Ice Cream, I got my all-time favourite cookie and cream ice cream. The child in me was ignited.

Wednesday 22/12/21

Went to Suntec City for lunch and everywhere was crowded with CBD workers. We eventually settled for TCC. It seems to be understaffed during lunch, it took awhile for our orders to be taken and for the food to be served.

I had Baked Chicken & Cheese Waffle where panko-crumbed chicken leg was sat on top of Belgium waffle, drizzled with cheddar cheese, Japanese dressing, apple-tomato salsa, served together with mesclun green and truffle fries. The portion was really generous, more than enough for me.

Saturday 25/12/21

Merry Christmas!

As 2021 is coming to an end, let's us take a break from the mundane and treat ourselves to a good feast this festive holiday. We deserve a celebration for a year of hard work.

We had our Christmas buffet dinner at Melt Cafe in Mandarin Oriental, the pyramid-shape hotel located at Marina Bay.

The restaurant is known for its extensive buffet presentations where cultures and cuisines mingle. They have a variety of stations where diners have to queue around the different stations and the staff will serve you the food you wish to get. It was really troublesome having to queue for the food and mingling with the crowds. I still prefer those days where we could just place our order from the iPad and the food was served to our table.

The sashimi was sliced uniformly and fresh, a good start to the meal. Their dessert was sweet and nice.

I'm not really a fan of buffet as I find that the amount of food ate could not match the price paid. I prefer ala carte or set meal.

Places to Dine near Robertson Quay (2021 Edition)

Robertson Quay is another popular chilling spot situated along the Singapore River. The area is booming with many restaurants, cafes and bistro bars. 

Some of the restaurants even offer the scenery of the river while you enjoy your meal. You can even walk around the street after your meal, every corner offers different view of the beauty of Robertson Quay. I have compiled a list of dining places that I have tried around Robertson Quay. You can try them the next time you are around the area.

1. Common Man Coffee Roasters

We were lucky to get a seat without waiting time at Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) as the cafe was packed with customers. CMCR is a cafe serving an all-day brunch style menu.

I had Ice Chocolate while waiting for our food.

One downside of the cafe was that the table arrangement were close to the next table such that you can hear the conversation of the table next to you.

I had Common Man Full Breakfast which consists of scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, pork sausage, tomato, hashbrown, portobello mushrooms and baked beans. I was hesitating between choosing breakfast or burger. In the end I ordered this because I wanted to eat hashbrown, but was disappointed by it as it was actually rosti. 

22 Martin Rd, #01-00, Singapore 239058

Operating hours: 7.30am to 5.30pm daily

2. JYPSY (Closed)

JYPSY is the sister outlet of PS Cafe Group that offers the fusion of Japanese and Western delight. The outlet at Martin Road is just located right beside PS Cafe.

The interior of JYPSY featured a cosy dining space with potted greenery placed around the restaurants and lush greenery outside the restaurant, providing a calming state while we enjoyed our meal.

One of their signature dish was Nest of Fries where the fries are stacked up together. The fries gave a nice crunch and was very addictive.

I had Chicken Katsu Sandwich with curry dipping sauce. The juicy and crispy chicken katsu was sandwiched between the soft toasted bread, and pierced together with a stick. Pair it with the thick curry sauce and it made you feel as though you were having curry rice.

Yuzu Tofu Cheesecake caught my attention with their melt in the mouth smooth tofu texture chhesecake nestled on top of the biscuit crumbs. The refreshing yuzu taste was not overpowering and just perfect.

38A Martin Rd, 01-02, Singapore 239072

Places to Dine near Clarke Quay

 Clarke Quay is another area that I am very familiar with as it is near my workplace. I once shared about the places to dine at The Central @ Clarke Quay 3 years ago but was saddened to know that half of them have closed down. This year is a year to explore areas closer to us and discover new gems that I have yet to try or have visit for a long time. It is about time that I do another sharing of the food choices near Clarke Quay MRT station, I will skip those that was already shared previously.

1. Craftsmen Specialty Coffee

Craftsmen Specialty Coffee is a Singapore independent coffee shop serving variety of specialty coffee and mouth-watering brunches. One thing I like about the cafe is that they do not charge GST and service charge, making it valuable for money.

I had Ice Taro Latte  where the base of the drink was in unique purple. It looked pretty on the surface but tasted a little blend when consumed. Hence, it did not leave a deep impression on me.

I had Buttermilk Soft Shell Crab Burger served with fries. The soft shell crab was huge and the battered exterior added crunchiness to the texture. It has been awhile since I last ate such a filling burger.

The coffee cafe was a cosy place for small group gathering with the limited seating. We were lucky to have a seat without waiting as no reservation was made.

The Central Clarke Quay, 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #01-59, Singapore 059817

Operating hours: 8am to 9pm daily

2. Zorba The Greek Taverna

In our second year of battling Covid-19, traveling is impossible and we just have to stick close to home. Even a small city like Singapore, there are still plenty of new places or food joints that we can explore within the city. To relieve your desire to travel to Santorini Greece, look no further than Zorba The Greek Taverna.

Zorba is an al fresco restaurant located along Singapore River. The walls are painted white, the table and chairs are in charming blue and white to bring out the feel of Santorini island.

The highlight of the restaurant is the unobstructed view of the waterfront of Singapore River in Clarke Quay. The riverside dining offers us a different view of the bustle city, allowing us to slow down our pace and enjoy the chill vibes of the surrounding.

As we were dining at alfresco, you can feel the afternoon heat at times while we enjoyed the fresh air. It was best to order a glass of cold drink to combat the hotness, I had Pear Pressure, a mix juice comprised of carrot, orange and pear. The taste of carrot stood out the most.

I decided to go for Zorba Breakfast Platter consisting of scrambled egg, sausage, bacon, Portobello mushroom, roast tomatoes, caramelized onion, avocado and toast. The portion was really huge that I couldn't finish it.

Zorba The Greek Taverna is really a great finding, I believe there are still more restaurants and cafes for me to explore around Clarke Quay.

3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-02, 179024

Operating hours: Tue to Fri from 12pm to 10pm, Sat and Sun from 9am to 10pm

3. Wanna Cuppa

Just directly opposite Clarke Quay MRT station and besides Song Fa Bak Ku Teh is Wanna Cuppa, a garden-themed café.

To match the garden-themed café, the green elements are added to create the homely ambience and to make the diners feel relaxed.

Weather was really hot nowadays, I always need a drink to go with my meal now. I had Thai Ice Milk Tea ($3.50+), feel so shiok when the cold drink went down my throat.

We got Waffles Fries ($9.50+) for sharing, I personally feel that the portion is quite little for the price paid.

I had Carbonara ($14.50+) where the creamy pasta was topped with smoked streaky bacon and parmesan. Remember to mix well so that each strand of noodle will be coated with the creamy sauce.

15 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 059385

Operating hours: Mon to Sat from 8.30am to 10pm, Sun from 8.30am to 8pm

4. LiHO

The outlet at The Central comes with some seating for you to enjoy your drinks if you want to chill. If no, you can also grab the drink and go.

I had Cookie Machi ($4.50). It was filled with sweetness and the pearls were very chewy, but couldn't taste the cookie. Nevertheless, it was still a nice drink to have.

The Central Clarke Quay, 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #01-37, Singapore 059817

Operating hours: 11am to 9pm daily

5. Muchos

Looking for authentic Mexican classics?

You can try Muchos, Mexican Bar & Restaurant, located at River Valley. Muchos offer a scrumptious and authentic Mexican cuisine. You can choose to have an unforgettable dining experience with alfresco dining at the riverside or chilling one in the indoor.

The indoor seating of Muchos brings a vibrant coloured walls and comfortable setting. We wanted to escape the afternoon heat and chose indoor. The table started to fill up shortly after we came.

We started off with Calamari which was very crunchy and addictive. It complemented well with the dipping sauce.

For main course, I had Grilled Chicken Quesadillas which comes with generous portion (6 pieces), making it a filling meal. Pair it with the accompanied sauce for good punch of flavour.

3D River Valley Rd, #01-04, Singapore 179023

Operating hours: 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 11pm from Wed to Mon, closed on Tue

Places to Dine at Chinatown Point Part 2

Chinatown Point is a shopping mall that I regularly visited for the past few months, especially after I started going back to my workplace, I began to notice some restaurants have exited the mall and new restaurants being opened. Hence, I decided to do a part 2 food sharing to update the list of food choices available at Chinatown Point (My last sharing was back in 2016 - only left with Toast Box and Nanbantei).

With Covid-19 still on-going, we don't have the opportunity to dine out as often as before since some of us are working from home on certain or most days. So now when we have the chance to dine out, I find that we are more willing to spend more on food and drinks, in a way to also help our F&B industry.

1. Tamago-EN (#01-44) (Closed)

Tamago-EN is a casual egg specialty restaurant and they used eggs imported directly from Okinawa. You can find egg in every dish.

I had Lychee Drink while waiting for our food. The drink contained a sweet and sour blend of lychee and lemon, allowing every sip to taste the fruity flavour. Totally refreshing!

Chicken Stew Omu Rice ($13.90++) caught my eyes. The omelette rice was surrounded by chicken stew, broccoli and mushrooms. A very comforting plate on a rainy day and the thick gravy made the ingredients tasted fragrant too.

Be sure to mix the rice with the gravy so that the rice tasted even delicious, feeling so satisfied after finishing it.

Tamago-EN is having the seasonal dessert for sakura season, we were tempted to try Sakura Soufflé Pancake with Vanilla Ice Cream before it's gone, so we ordered it for sharing. 

The Soufflé Pancake was freshly prepared from scratch and would need 20 minutes preparation time. The Soufflé Pancake was very fluffy, soft and light, it literally melt in the mouth. Pair it with vanilla ice cream for a sweet finish.

2. Hoshino Coffee (#02-47/48)

This marked my second visit to Hoshino Coffee within two week, the restaurant is very cosy and the food is great. However, do note that they have a restriction of 1 hour dining. The timing was just nice for our lunch so we don't mind. For those who prefer to prefer a longer dining time, this place will not be suitable for you.

I was here for their pasta last week, so I decided to try their brunch menu this time round. I had Pancake & Omu Souffle with Smoked Salmon. This was one of the hearty brunch I had, the smoked salmon was very tender, the omu souffle was flavourful when paired with the tomato sauce and ended with a sweet note we had the pancake drizzled with the maple syrup.

Although Hoshino Coffee is famous for their hand dripped coffee but I am not a fan of coffee so I opt for Ice Royal Milk Tea, you can choose between with sugar or straight. I opt for straight where the milk tea contained zero sweetness with a bitter aftertaste. I need to choose with sugar next time.

3. Paulinni (#01-05) (Closed)

Everything I walked past Paulinni, I was always being attracted by their wide selection of low fat gelato but there are just too many other selection of food that captured our attention. Hence, I only tried it after so long. Well, it is better to be late than never.

Paulinni offers casual dining ranging from healthy salad, baked pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, baked pastas and wide selection of low fat gelato. The seats are limited with less than 10 tables, be prepared to eat and go during peak hours.

Thick toast with 2 scoops of gelato - chocolate mint and cookie & cream.

The cookie & cream is my favourite flavour because I look the combination of the two ingredient. The perfect sweet note to end off a meal.

4. Kiwami: Teppan . Ramen . Gyoza (#02-38)

Nothing beats a bowl of ramen on a rainy afternoon.

Kiwami is a Japanese restaurant known for their signature Kiwami Tonkotsu Ramen, featuring top-notch ingredients imported directly from Okinawa.

Kiwami has a cozy vibe with wooden brick decor and an extensive menu for us to choose from, there are so many things we want to try.

The restaurant does not served plain water, so you might want to order a drink. I ordered Cold Genmai Tea ($1.80++).

I had Premium Kiwami Tonkotsu Ramen with egg ($14.80++). The tonkotsu broth was simmered over 10 hours using 100% Japanese pork bones. Each strand of noodle was soaked up with the broth and each spoonful was mouthwatering.

We decided to add on some side dishes for sharing, first was Chicken Karaage ($5.80++).

Last but not least was Tomato Cheese Gyoza ($7.80++). The gyoza selection at Kiwami is very unique and different from the traditional gyoza dipped with soy vinegar sauce. The tomato and cheese gravy enhanced the flavour of the gyoza, they complemented well together.

5. Monster Curry (#02-45/46)

Monster Curry is not a stranger to us as they have many outlets available in Singapore. They are known for their monstrous bowls of curry rice and noodles with different levels of spiciness that can cater from spice friendly to daredevil.

I had Ice Matcha Latte ($3.50++), I like that the milk boasted a good balance of sweetness and smooth out the bitterness of matcha. 

I had Tori Karaage Curry with Omelette. It has been a long while since I last had Japanese curry rice, the curry and rice combination is so good that keep me revisiting again. As I opt for level 1 spice level, the spiciness was just perfect without having the need to gulp down a drink. The fried chicken was crispy on the outsider and juicy on the inside, mix it with the curry rice to enjoy the full flavour.

Stay tuned for more dining places at Chinatown Point.