Places to Dine near Raffles Place and Downtown

 Raffles Place and Downtown is strategically located in the Central Business District (CDB) of Singapore, home to some famous hotels, dining places, corporate buildings and tourist attractions. Raffles Place is also conveniently located along two MRT lines (Green and Red line) while Downtown (Downtown line) is walkable from Raffles Place via the underpass, making the area easily accessible for everyone. 

I have compiled a list of dining places that I have tried around Raffles Place and Downtown, providing you with dining ideas for lunch with colleagues or after work gathering with friends.

1. The Providore

The Providore is located at basement 1 of Downtown Gallery, it is the flagship outlet in Singapore.

I had Ice Chocolate ($8.50++) which I could taste the hints of cocoa in every sip. The drink has moderate sweetness from the chocolate.

I had English Breakfast which comes with scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, roasted tomato, grilled Shulz bacon & bratwurst sausage, sourdough toast. It was delicious and filling, but the portion was a little too much for me that I couldn't finish the sausage and bacon.

6A Shenton Way, #B1-07 OUE Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815

Operating hours: 8am to 10.30pm from Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm on Sat, 9am to 6pm on Sun

Nearest MRT station: Downtown

 

2. So Ramen

As we wanted to avoid crowds during peak lunch hour, we chose a less crowded mall for lunch at Marina Bay Link Mall. 

We settled for So Ramen which offers value-for-money quality ramen. Food ordering is done via kiosk. There is no service charge so we will have to collect our food via the counter. 

I had Cha Shu Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen ($13.90) and topped up $3.80 for a set which entitled to one drink and one side dish, I had Tori Karaage and Ice Green Tea. I have underestimated myself, the spicy ramen was packed with powerful fiery that was slightly above my spice tolerance. Thankfully, I have the glass of Ice Green Tea to ease the heat.

If you returned your own tray after the meal, you can claim a complimentary dorayaki ice cream. A very good way to encourage people to return their trays.

8A Marina Blvd, #B2-04 Marina Bay Link Mall, Singapore 018984

Nearest MRT station: Downtown

3. Infinity Cafe

Marina Bay Link Mall always comes to our radar when looking for a mall that is less crowded/quiet for lunch, we tried Infinity Cafe, an open concept cafe, this time round.

Feeling thirsty, I had a glass of Misty Cool Lime Fizz which was very refreshing. It was an excellent thirst quencher, great companion to go with while we chatted and waited for our food. 

Decided to go for something healthier, I ordered Baked Chicken Roulade ($16). The portion was just nice for me and I savour every piece of the chicken roulade, the meat was tender.

8A Marina Boulevard #B2-11, Marina Bay Link Mall, 018984

Nearest MRT station: Downtown

4. Erwin Gastrobar

Erwin Gastrobar is located at level 1 of Marina Bay Link Mall (ground plaza), an Italian gastrobar that provides great comfort food accompanied by great drinks.

The interior of the gastrobar  looked cosy with the wooden tables and chairs, nice place for gathering with a group of friends.

Chicken Parmigiana ($19.50++) came in a big portion that I couldn't finished. The crumbled chicken breast gave a good crunch, it was toppled with Napoletana sauce and mozzarella which was satisfying. It was served with small mesclun salad and fries.

I ordered Berry Smoothies ($8.50++) which consists of mixed berries, banana and yoghurt. The smoothie was not really to my liking as the taste was little weird and carried sour notes from the berry.

8A Marina Blvd, #01 - 01, Singapore 018984

Nearest MRT station: Downtown

5. Charlie's Restaurant & Bar

We visited Charlie's Restaurant & Bar which is located along the stretch of shophouses that extend from Clarke Quay to Raffles Place. What attracted me to this restaurant is their picturesque view over Boat Quay that we can enjoy while consuming the food.

We got the seat directly next to the river which offered an unobstructed views of the river and many iconic buildings and museums.

Though we were at the CBD area, we don't feel any bustling vibes over here. We felt very peaceful instead, partly because the place was less crowded in the day. Definitely a great place to unwind and get absorb in the scenery.

I had Chicken Quesadilla which has quite thin layers and not much ingredients in it.

Still not feeling full, we went for Mini Churros. Dip the hot mini churros into the chocolate sauce for a sweet finish. The vanilla ice cream came as a surprise for us because we didn't expect the churros to come with ice cream.

32 Boat Quay, Singapore 049821

Nearest MRT station: Raffles Place

The Durian Bakery Review: Durian Cakes and Patisseries

 Spending majority of our time at home does not mean we can't enjoy good durian dessert island wide and can only confine to the limited choices around our neighbourhood, everything is possible to order with online delivery being the trend now.

My family is a fan of durian. I was so glad to be introduced to The Durian Bakery, a bakery that specializes in durian-infused cake and patisserie.

Thanks Best in Singapore for the recommendation and awesome finding. Their website is very informative, ranging from food to technology to entertainment to services and finance, they got everything cover.

The Durian Bakery is established in 2020 with the aim to provide the best durian culinary experience in Singapore. They use the most premium of ingredients and best recipes to create the richest durian experience.

The delivery arrived at 1.50pm which was within the chosen slot of 1pm to 5pm.

Islandwide delivery throughout Singapore except for restricted zones

Free delivery: For orders $50 and above (Each time slot is 4 hours from 10am to 10pm).

$10 delivery fee: For orders below $50.

$15 for express delivery: Pre-order same day 30 minutes in advance.

Here's what I have from The Durian Bakery:

The Durian Bakery offers 8 different types of Durian Cakes under cake selection. Among the selection, Mao Shan Wang Durian Mille Crepe Cake caught my eyes.

The signature freshly baked Mao Shan Wang (MSW) Durian Mille Crepe Cake (Sale price: $88, original price is $108) is about 1kg and able to cut into 8 slices. Just perfect for sharing with my family.

The Durian Mille Crepe cake was like a work of art with a total of 39 layers of creamy goodness, containing 20 layers of thin handmade crepe skin and 19 layers of thick MSW SilkyGold Durian puree. The signature Durian puree was blended through a special process to derive the creamy texture.

It amazed me that how the handmade crepe skin was so thin, yet able to withstand the weight of the generous spread of Durian puree. The pair worked well together to create a rich taste and airy texture that melt in my mouth. The bittersweet taste of the durian puree lingered after every mouthful.

Mao Shan Wang Durian Mille Crepe Cake won the praise from all my family members. I definitely see us ordering again for birthday celebrations (candles and knife provided) because my family loves durian.

Other than cakes, patisseries are available. If you are like me who love to try different variety of patisseries, I recommend you to get Signature Pastries Taster Bundle. The freshly baked bundle (Sale price: $51.90, original price is $55) comes with:

- a box of D24 Durian Choux Puff (12 pieces)

- a box of D24 Snowy Mochi (6 pieces)

- a Dark Choco MSW Mousse

The Snowy D24 Durian Cream Puff was our next favourite. The light airy choux puff pastry was accompanied with generous D24 cream filling in it. 

The richness of the cream filling boosted the richest durian experience and brought out a stronger bittersweet aftertaste than the crepe cake. I enjoyed popping the whole puff into my mouth, letting the flavours burst with each bite and enjoying the durian fragrance that lingers. 

The Dark Choco Musang King Mousse looked too pretty to be eaten with its dome like chocolate shell and shimmered with edible 24k gold dust.

Tucked within the dark chocolate mousse was fresh musang king durian pureed and whipped into a thick creamy texture sat on hazelnut palette feuilletine.

The rich dark chocolate integrated well with the durian puree, you could taste the best of both worlds in just one bite. Though both ingredients are bittersweet in nature, it did not result in the mousse to become even bitter, but complement each other and bring out a different aroma.

My favourite part was the crunchy hazelnut base being added that created a contrast texture of the smooth puree.  

Last but not least was Snowy D24 Durian Mochi which was nicely sealed in a plastic cover. Perfect to place the whole pack in the freezer and have it when we want (can be kept for 30 days in freezer).

Beneath the soft snow skin of mochi was D24 puree. Each bite promised a bursting durian fragrance as though you were having the real durian.

If you are looking for durian cakes and patisseries delivery for celebrations at home, The Durian Bakery is an option for you. Alternatively, you can pick up your orders from their location at The Commerze @ Irving #02-26.

Visit their Facebook and Instagram for more details. 

This post is a collaboration with The Durian Bakery and expressed in my own opinion.

Places to Dine near Labrador Park

Labrador Park is located at the southern part of Singapore which is home to many office buildings, residential areas and nature reserve. It is also home to many restaurants, bistros and cafes that make a good spot for office workers and residents to relax for a great meal during lunch or after a tired day at work. I have compiled a list of dining places near Labrador Park that you can try the next time you visit.

1. Ichiban Sushi

Drizzling day made me want to seek refugee in a mall but must be somewhere less crowded, so we went to Alexandra Retail Centre. It was a small mall with just a couple of eateries and restaurants that we can pick on. Ichiban Sushi caught our attention and we got a seat immediately.

Ichiban Sushi offers a wide range of combination set meals at affordable prices (less than $20++). I opt for the Chicken with Garlic Sauce set that comes with tofu and sashimi. Definitely a comfort and hearty lunch.

460 Alexandra Rd, #02-22 Alexandra Retail Centre, Singapore 119963

Operating hours: 11.30am to 10pm from Mon to Fri, 11am to 10pm on Sat and Sun

2. SBCD Korean Tofu House

SBCD Korean Tofu House is known for their delectable traditional Korean soft tofu stew that is hand-made fresh daily using imported soybeans from Paju, South Korea.

SBCD wasn't high on my list for Korean restaurants to try out initially, but this visit has made me change my mind because the food here was really delicious and authentic.

Wanted to try both their tofu soup and hot plate, I went for the combo meal which gave me the best of both world. SBCD has a long list of variety just for Korean tofu soup, aka Soontofu (means soft tofu). I opt for Dumpling Soontofu. Just a note that the combo meal came with mini bowl, not the original size.

The Soontofu was served piping hot with fresh cracked egg in it. The first time I did was to break the egg yolk and let it blend into the soup. Even though I opt for mild spicy level, the broth was spicy enough to make me feel the burn after consuming. The tofu and dumpling had soaked up the flavour of the broth that immediately whet up my appetite.

I had Deep Fried Chicken with Orange Sauce for hot plate which featured a sweet sauce and balanced the spiciness of the soup. A full and satisfying lunch.

The rice was served in traditional Korean hot stone bowl. 

Since we don't intend to travel to Korea via VTL, the trip to SBCD definitely satisfied my cravings for Korean cuisine.

460 Alexandra Rd, #02-21 Alexandra Retail Centre, Singapore 119963

Operating hours: 11.30am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm from Mon to Fri, 11.30am to 10pm on Sat and Sun

Places to Dine at CHIJMES

CHIJMES is a gothic-style 19th century church located in the heart of Singapore. This Singapore Icon houses plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars within the block that will make you spoilt for choices. You can even hop around one place to another. It took me so long to discover this perfect place for a meal or drink with friends or colleagues. Here is the list I have tried:

1. Hakata Ikkousha Ramen (#F1-07)

Hakata Ikkousha Ramen is originated from Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, and Tonkotsu ramen is their specialty. The pig bones were boiled over long period of time to create the thick and creamy texture of Tonkotsu soup.

It is a small eatery that can house less than 20 pax with the current safe distancing. We were lucky to get a seat immediately. Perhaps because it was a weekday, I don't think will have such luck on weekend.

I had Tonkotsu Standard with egg added. I have been craving for ramen for awhile as I missed the comfort tonkotsu broth and the springy noodles. Nothing beats a bowl of ramen for lunch.

Gyoza is a must order whenever I had ramen, so I chose Hakata Specialty Hitokuchi Gyoza. The gyoza was enclosed with generous portion of meat.

2. Hvala (#01-04/05)

Situated along the same stretch as Hakata Ikkousha Ramen, Hvala is a modern teahouse that specializes in Japanese teas and matcha dessert, a great place to gather after your meal for tea and dessert lovers.

I had Yuki Matcha Latte where silky shot of freshly-whisked matcha was layered onto fresh milk. Give it a good stir before drinking. It was one of the best matcha latte that I had where the sweetness was just right and very smooth.

I was attracted by their Matcha Mont Blanc Tart which looked aesthetically pretty. The buttery crust swirled with a fragrant mix of matcha chestnut paste, chantilly cream, toasted genmai and almond frangipane. A complete meal definitely has to include dessert for me.

3. Konjiki Hototogisu (#01-17)

Tokyo Michelin Star Bib Gourmand, Konjiki Hototogisu, won the crown of “No.1 Ramen in Japan” with their premium ingredients. Visited during weekdays lunch hour which explained the lesser crowds.

I had Tokotsu Original Ramen where the broth was light and flavourful, while the ramen was silky and smooth when soaked up with the broth.

Apart from ramen, we also had Ice Hoji Tea, Fried Tofu with Bonito Flakes and Gyoza. I love the big cube of fried tofu that has thin crispy exterior drizzled with sauce and topped with bonito flakes. It was savoury good.

**

Exploring Singapore: Georges By The Bay

As it was still raining, we sat in the sheltered area rather than the seat close to the edge. So not much of a view.

I had Cold Honey Lemon ($6.90++) to quench my thirst after the long journey, the drink has the perfect balance of sweet and sour note.

As we were not feeling hungry, we decided to order bites instead of main course. I had Mushroom Soup to start my dinner.

We also had Crispy Chicken Strips ($11.90++) and Onion Rings ($6.90++). With our stomach filled to the brim, I needed some walk to ease the fullness. Thankfully the rain has stopped after we finished our dinner.

It was only 7pm and the sky was turning dark. I wanted to come here early to catch the day view of scenic coasts and Punggol waterway. Due to the rain, we can only came here at this hour. This area is a popular spot for residents living at Punggol.