Lawry's the Prime Rib (Part 2) - Easter Lunch

Easter Lunch has always been a special affair back home where I come from, so to celebrate Easter here in Singapore, the husband and I went to Lawry's the Prime Rib.  I was here for my birthday last year and have always wanted to come back for their fantastic prime rib.

For appetizers, we had the Pan Seared Atlantic Scallops (SGD 19.00).  I loved the corn salsa on this dish.  This was a nicely light and refreshing starter.

Pan Seared Atlantic Scallops

We learned from our past mistake of ordering a cut that was way too big for our appetites, so this time around we went for smaller portions.  I had the California Cut 160g (SGD 68.00) while my husband had the English Cut 200g (SGD 78.00).  The cuts were perfect this time around.  And the meat was just wonderfully succulent.  Each bite melts in your mouth.  The horse radish sauce was just as perfect with the beef as I remembered it from the past.

The California Cut 160g (SGD 68.00)

The English Cut 200g (SGD 78.00)

The remarkable and consistent quality of the prime rib at Lawry's makes this an obvious favorite for carnivores like me.  I also love the very warm ambience that this place has which makes it perfect for a weekend steak indulgence.

Lawry's the Prime Rib

333A Orchard Road

#04-01/31 Mandarin Gallery

Tel #: 6836 3333

Jones the Grocer - Gourmet Food Store & Restaurant

The husband and I had brunch at Jones the Grocer in Mandarin Gallery over the weekend.  This was my first time to visit the Orchard branch, and it has the same bustling industrial yet charming feel to the place like the Dempsey branch.  The place itself has a certain appeal that draws in a crowd for casual meals.

For starters, we had the Cheese and Charcuterie Board (SGD 29.00) where we had a choice from any 3 cheeses or meats.  We had the Iberico chorizo, gorgonzola piccante cheese from Italy, and balarina cheese from Holland.  The cheeses were outstanding.  The chorizo however did not have that melt-in-your-mouth quality as I was hoping for from an Iberico cured pork.  I also ordered truffle honey (SGD 4.50) on the side which went absolutely perfect with the cheese.

Cheese and Charcuterie Board (SGD 29.00)

We had the Duck Confit Salad (SGD 16.00) which had spinach leaves, shredded duck, blue cheese, pears, and candied walnuts.  I thought the use of duck was unnecessary as it did not really add to the flavor or texture.  However everything else was enjoyable, especially the lovely candied walnuts.

Duck Confit Salad (SGD 16.00)

Last of our orders was the Rustichella Rigatoni Pasta (SGD 28.00).  This was nothing great, and was a rather lack luster pasta.  It was also definitely too pricey for the quality and serving size.  Definitely not a dish to be repeated.

Rustichella Rigatoni Pasta (SGD 28.00)

The gorgonzola and balarina cheese dipped in that wonderfully sweet truffle honey were top notch and the most memorable of the lot.  Though the other brunch dishes were nothing exceptional, I find that great cheese plates are pretty hard to come by (yes I love cheese that much!)  so I don't mind going back just for that.

Jones the Grocer

333a Orchard Road 
Level 4 #21-23 Mandarin Gallery 
Tel #: 6836 6372

Privé Cafe (Part 2) - Comfort Food

I have written about having brunch at Privé Cafe in a previous blog entry and how much I enjoyed their eggs benedict.  I decided to give their dinner menu a shot since I know they serve good comfort food.  The husband and I were instantly attracted to the wagyu burger choices and decided to indulge on these beefy dishes.

The husband had the Brie-licious Burger (SGD 26.00).  This was a wagyu beef patty topped with brie cheese and grilled pears.  Lovely combination of ingredients, and the wagyu beef was incredibly juicy.  I love the bun used as well which was reminiscent of an old fashioned home-cooked burger.

Brie-licious Burger (SGD 26.00)

I had the Simply Privé Burger (SGD 26.00) which also featured the wagyu beef patty, but this time topped with streaky bacon.  The wagyu beef was really phenomenal.  This version is more suited to meat-lovers like myself.  For my fries, I had asked for truffle mayo to be served on the side which gave me the truffle flavor I have been craving for.

Simply Privé Burger (SGD 26.00)

On the side, the husband also had Privé's Signature Mushroom Soup (SGD 13.00).  This was one of the better mushroom soups I've tried -- very fresh taste with just the right amount of cream.

Privé Signature Mushroom Soup

The dinner choices were just as satisfying as their brunch menu, so we were quite pleased with our meal.  The burger was fabulous, and portions were really generous as well.  In fact for those with lighter appetites, you can do with splitting a burger between two people.

Privé Cafe

2 Keppel Bay Vista

Marina at Keppel Bay

Tel #: 6776 0777

Tanjong Beach Club - Meal by the Ocean

We wanted to hang out by the beach last Sunday and did so at Tanjong Beach Club at Sentosa for brunch.  I really like the Tanjong Beach area since the place is not as crowded as Siloso and Palawan Beach in Sentosa.  The entire area is extremely dog friendly as well, which is perfect for pet lovers like me.

I had the Chicken and Corn Quesadilla (SGD 14.00).  This was a nice and light quesadilla.  No jalapeño or any other spices so this makes it suitable for breakfast. They have a spicy chorizo version which would be a better choice for those who want a kick in their quesadilla.

Chicken and Corn Quesadilla (SGD 14.00)

The husband ordered TBC Pancakes with fresh blueberries (SGD 12.00) and bacon (additional SGD 4.00).  The colors on the plate were very appetizing.  My husband normally likes thinner pancakes, but he still very much enjoyed these fluffy pancakes.

TBC Pancakes with fresh blueberries (SGD 12.00)

For sides, we had the TBC Black Truffle Fries (SGD 14.00).  I could not taste any hint of truffle whatsoever and could only make out the disproportionate amount of salt.  There are definitely better truffle fries out there.

TBC Black Truffle Fries (SGD 14.00)

I had a Cappuccino (SGD 7.00), and of course I'm such a sucker for cafe art so this was obviously very appealing to me.  Pretty steep pricing though for a cup of coffee.

Cappuccino (SGD 7.00)

Tanjong Beach Club has a really lovely view of the ocean, and the brunch menu is pretty decent.  Service was efficient, and our waitress was extra friendly and accommodating.  Pricing for the food is acceptable, though I feel the drinks are too expensive for my liking (coffee averaging at SGD 7 and a bottle of Heineken at more than SGD 20!).  Overall it was a pleasant experience, and the location and ambience is enough in itself to warrant some repeat visits.

Tanjong Beach Club

120 Tanjong Beach Walk

Sentosa

Tel #: 6270 1355

Glow Juice Bar & Cafe - Organic Food and Drinks

Over the weekend, my husband and I tried out Glow Juice Bar & Cafe located at Hilton Hotel in Orchard.  They specialize in serving organic food and drinks.  I had my apprehensions as I've never been a fan of organic and healthy cuisine.

For starters we ordered the Caesar Salad (SGD 24.00) which is part of their weekly specials.  It's a pity this is not part of their regular menu since my husband and I really enjoyed this.  The lettuce was very sweet, and I loved that they added strips of sun-dried tomatoes on top which was just delicious.

Caesar Salad (SGD 24.00)

For mains I had the Grilled Lamb Cutlet (SGD 29.00).  This was served with a spiced vinegar sauce on the side which complemented the lamb very well.  The meat was also cooked perfectly medium, just like I had asked.  There were crispy julienne slices of ginger which I thought was a nice touch -- this removed the gamey taste of the lamb.  I enjoyed this dish thoroughly.

Grilled Lamb Cutlet (SGD 29.00)

My husband had the Grilled Alaskan Black Cod (SGD 28.00).  This was also very well executed.  The tandoori spices used was excellent on the cod, and the crispy papadum was scrumptious as well.  The mint yoghurt sauce served on the side however was not our cup of tea, and therefore we did not touch much of it throughout the meal.

Grilled Alaskan Black Cod (SGD 28.00)

Everything we ordered at Glow was commendable and very enjoyable.  The meals did not taste too "organic" at all, and I thought the seasoning of each dish was perfect.  However like all things organic in Singapore, pricing is not cheap.  But I would still recommend this place for a visit for wholesome and delicious food.

Glow Juice Bar & Cafe
581 Orchard Road
2nd Level Hilton Hotel
Tel #: 6730 3397

Lawry's The Prime Rib - Slow Roasted Prime Rib

I had credit card vouchers for a 1-for-1 main course at Lawry's the Prime Rib located in Mandarin Gallery.  I've been waiting for an opportune moment to use the voucher, especially since a lot of my friends have raved about the delicious steaks at this place.  So I was incredibly delighted when my husband had a steak craving this weekend and therefore headed straight to Lawry's.

For starters, my husband and I each had the Lobster Tail (SGD 27.00 for 1 pc and SGD 52.00 for 2 pcs).  A simple steamed lobster with lemon butter sauce is always a hit for me, so this was right on the money. 

Lobster Tail (SGD 27.00)

At Lawry's, any order of prime rib comes with a serving of the famous Spinning Bowl Salad.  The waitress put on a nice show of spinning the dressing into the greens.  The salad had a very nice and refreshing flavor.  Given that I am not a  veggie fan, any time I am able to finish up a plate of salad should be a good sign of how good the dish is.

Our waitress preparing the famous spinning bowl salad

Spinning Bowl Salad (Comes with any order of prime rib)

There are several cuts available for the prime rib, and my husband and I decided on the Lawry's Cut (SGD 83.00) which as the name suggests is the most famous of the cuts.  This was a massive piece of meat weighing 270g.  The meat was incredibly juicy.  The whipped horseradish sauce served on the side really brings out the superb flavor of the meat.  Despite being a huge carnivore though, the Lawry's cut was too big for my appetite.  My husband and I had difficulty chugging down such large amounts of protein.  They have other smaller cuts available which I will try out in the future.  And what I realized was that unlike your typical steaks, since the meat is slow roasted whole, a smaller cut/ slice will still allow you to have the benefit of the juiciness of thicker cuts.

Chef carving out the Prime Rib

Lawry's Cut (SGD 83.00)

For dessert, my husband and I shared an order of Lawry's Crepe Suzette (SGD 29.00).  They prepare this fresh in front of you which to me always adds a nice touch.  The crepes were pretty good -- simple and tangy.  If you are not a fan of tangy/ sour dessert, then best to order something else.  I quite liked this and thought it was a nice way to end an otherwise very heavy meal.

Crepe Suzette being prepared fresh

Lawry's Crepe Suzette (SGD 29.00) -- split into two,
so the photo above is a half-order

Lawry's definitely lived up to our expectation, and the quality of the beef did not disappoint.  As mentioned, I suggest getting a smaller cut for those with not such massive appetites.  Next time I come back, I will either try the California Cut (small cut) or the English cut (3 thin slices a la yakiniku cut).  The price tag is not cheap for the prime rib, but definitely worth it for those looking for exceptional quality meat.

Lawry's The Prime Rib

333A Orchard Road

#04-01/31 Mandarin Gallery

Tel #: 6836 3333

Cha Cha Cha - Mexican Restaurant & Bar

I was craving for Mexican food and decided to head out to Cha Cha Cha in Holland Village.  Thanks to the new Circle Line, Holland Village restaurants are now a breeze to get to.

Cha Cha Cha is pretty much a no frills restaurant.  There is no air conditioning, but service is very fast and efficient.  Tables are spacious and comfortable so no complaints there.  The prices are also very reasonable and portions are generous.

For starters, my husband and I had Nachos (SGD 13.50).  Their nachos were pretty good with hefty toppings of cheese and other goodies.  Do share as this was definitely too much for 2 people.

Nachos (SGD 13.50)

We also had the Chicken Quesadilla (SGD 13.50).  This was served with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa on the side.  I really liked this as well and thought the toasted tortilla had a nice crunch.

Chicken Quesadilla (SGD 13.50)

Last of our Mexican feast was the Soft Taco (SGD 13.50).  This was alright, though I thought the beef could have used a little bit more flavor.  Perhaps it was just a little too plain for my taste.

Soft Taco (SGD 13.50)

Cha Cha Cha serves pretty decent Mexican food.  If you share (and not over-order as my husband and I did!), it comes out to be pretty affordable too.  I think I'll try out the burrito or chimichanga over the soft taco next time.


Cha Cha Cha
32 Lorong Mambong
Holland Village
Tel #: 64621650

Privé Bakery Cafe - Brunch by the Bay

My cousin was visiting me in Singapore this weekend, so I took her out for brunch at Privé Bakery Cafe along Marina at Keppel Bay.  We both love eggs for breakfast so this place was perfect.

Privé Bakery Cafe is located beside the yacht club/ marina so the place has a really beautiful ambience.  I love eating here for leisurely Sunday brunches with a great outdoor view of the water.

My cousin had the Eggs Benedict (SGD 16.00).  The eggs were perfectly poached with just the right amount of yolk oozing out once sliced.  The hollandaise sauce was rich but very tasty.  The arugula salad on the side was  a perfect contrast to the rich dish.

Eggs Benedict (SGD 16.00)

I also had a very similar dish which was the Eggs Royale (SGD 16.00).  Instead of ham like what's used in the Eggs Benedict, this dish uses smoked salmon.  Fantastic combination as well with the eggs, muffin, and salad.

Eggs Royale (SGD 16.00)

I had a Cappuccino (SGD 5.00) on the side.  I love artwork on cappuccino so I could not help but take a photo.  

Cappuccino (SGD 5.00)

I really like this place and have enjoyed all my visits here so far.  It's a little bit out of the way, but it's worth the commute for a lovely Sunday breakfast.  Egg-lovers like me will certainly enjoy the selection of poached egg dishes in their menu.  They have really yummy cakes and pies too, but I was way too full from my meal that I couldn't order dessert anymore.

Privé Bakery Cafe

2 Keppel Bay Vista

Marina at Keppel Bay

Tel #: 6776 0777

Fremantle - Australian Seafood Market (Restaurant Week Series)

Restaurant Week in Singapore is heaven sent for foodies!  For those who are not familiar with Restaurant Week, DiningCity.com hosts this event for 2 weeks in a year where several posh restaurants offer a very affordable set menu (ranging from SGD 25.00 to SGD 55.00 per person).  The whole objective is to get more people to try out new restaurants during these weeks.

Our first stop for this October's restaurant week is Fremantle in Clarke Quay.  This is an Aussie place which specializes in seafood.  The dinner set menu was at SGD 35.00 per person.

For starters, I had the Entrée Choice A: Transparency of Lobster, Manchego Cheese, Roasted Bell Peppers, Croutons, Roasted Garlic.  The use of too many ingredients looked a bit intimidating, but everything actually meshed well.  The manchego and white anchovy combination was surprisingly good.

Transparency of Lobster, Manchego Cheese, Roasted Bell Peppers, Croutons, Roasted Garlic

My husband had the Entrée Choice B: Alaskan Crab, Dungeness, Mud Crab, Prosciutto, Aioli Sauce.  This was not my cup of tea, but my husband thought it was delicious so I guess this is a matter of preference for crab cakes.

Alaskan Crab, Dungeness, Mud Crab, Prosciutto, Aioli Sauce

For the mains, my husband had the Main Course A: Pan-Roasted Dry-Aged Beef Steak, Asparagus-Morel Ragout, Bone Marrow, Stone Salt.  This was our first encounter with stone salt.  It's a little hard to describe -- it added a very nice earthy-salty flavor to the steak and the marrow which we thought was excellent.  The serving portions were really generous, so do share this if you are ordering this ala carte.

Pan-Roasted Dry-Aged Beef Steak, Asparagus-Morel Ragout, Bone Marrow, Stone Salt

As for my main couse, I had the Main Course B: Crystal Bay Prawns, Scallop Milk Risotto, Micro Sprouts, Asparagus Purée.  This was a very well executed risotto.  The asparagus puree was very subtle, but added a light flavor to the creamy dish.  The prawns and scallops were nicely flavored as well.

Crystal Bay Prawns, Scallop Milk Risotto, Micro Sprouts, Asparagus Puree

The dessert was a Praline Cheesecake, Caramel Sauce.  This was a little too sweet for my taste.  The ice cream on the side was a bit much for an already heavy dessert.  Again I may be biased as I am not typically a fan of cheesecake.

Praline Cheesecake, Caramel Sauce

My husband and I were very happy with this first restaurant week experience in Singapore.  Each dish in Fremantle was enjoyable, and for SGD 35.00 this was a steal.  I now know where to go to for serious seafood cravings.

Fremantle

Blk 3E River Valley Road, #01-05/06

Clarke Quay

Tel #: 6337 1838

Astons Specialties - Steaks and Burgers

There are several food courts available near our office, but once in a while my officemates and I like to indulge in some western food at Astons Specialties.  They serve very reasonably priced steaks, burgers, and pastas.

Their regular steaks range from about SGD 15 to 25 (depending on the cut) which comes with 2 side dishes.  I was craving for some really good meat that day so I decided to order something a little pricier, the Wagyu Steak - Grade 6 (SGD 39.90).  I normally like my steaks thicker, but I guess for the price the serving portion is good enough.  The meat was solid -- juicy and had the beautiful marbling you look for in wagyu steak.

Wagyu Steak Grade 6 (SGD 39.90)

My other staple in Astons is their Wagyu Burger (SGD 12.90).  Thankfully my officemate ordered it so I was able to take a photo.  This is a simple, no frills burger which has that homemade burger quality I like.  The patty is very flavorful and holds on its own with no sauce or dressing.

Wagyu Burger (SGD 12.90)

I recommend Astons if you are looking for a good place for casual, reasonably priced, and decent western food.  They specialize in grilled meats, and they have a good spread of fish, chicken, and beef choices.  They have some cheaper dishes versus those we ordered above, so it's ideal too for those on a budget.

Astons Specialties
Mapletree Business City
20 Pasir Panjang
Tel #: 65703067
* They have several other branches around SG.  Check out http://www.astons.com.sg/locations.html.

DB Bistro Moderne - French-American Food

DB Bistro Moderne is another celebrity chef restaurant at Marina Bay Sands.  "DB" stands for the restaurant owner Daniel Boulud who is a michelin-star rated French chef based in the US.  DB Bistro Moderne's concept is a casual French-American bistro.

We were a group of friends, and for starters we ordered the Seafood Platter (SGD 270.00) to share.  This was good for a whole battalion!  It came with assorted fresh seafood like oysters, lobster, crab, mussels, shrimp, and snails.  This dish was fine, but the seafood was not exactly the freshest I have come across so I felt it was too pricey for the quality.  It was presented very beautifully though in a  tub of ice.

Seafood Platter (SGD 270.00)

I also had the Heirloom Tomato Salad (SGD 26.00) as starter.  The dish had several types of tomatoes paired with goat cheese and some balsamic vinegar.  I normally love tomato and goat cheese, but I felt there was something missing in the dish.  Perhaps a sweeter dressing may have done the trick as the tomato-vinaigrette combination was a bit sour for my taste.

Heirloom Tomato Salad (SGD 26.00)

I heard that this restaurant is known for their burgers, so I could not help but order The Original DB Burger (SGD 38.00).  This was a sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs and foie gras.  The beef patty was extra juicy, so the meat definitely gets an A+ for me.  The taste of the foie gras was not as prominent as I had wanted, but it does provide a very soft texture and adds a bit more flavor to the burger.  Probably my only complaint is that the burger is too tall, so I had to eat it with a fork and knife.  Call me old fashioned, but I still believe burgers should be eaten by hand!

The Original DB Burger (SGD 38.00)

My friends ordered other dishes which they said were also very enjoyable.  Since I was too full from the appetizers and my meaty burger, I did not get to taste my friends' dishes anymore.  They had the Cauliflower Soup (SGD 15.00), Snail and Oyster Chicken Fricasse (SGD 24.00) and Traditional Coq Au Vin (SGD 34.00).   The Coq Au Vin is a braised chicken dish served with mushrooms onion and bacon.  

Cauliflower Soup (SGD 15.00)

Snail and Chicken Oyster Fricasse (SGD 24.00)

Traditional Coq Au Vin (SGD 34.00)
Photo Courtesy of Pocholo Ignacio -- I didn't have any decent photo of the dish from my camera

My husband had the Yellow Fin Tuna 'Ala Plancha' (SGD 36.00).  I had forgotten to take a photo of his order.  Unlike my friends, my husband thought his order was nothing spectacular.  He has tasted better seared tuna in other places, and he felt this did not live up to his expectation.


In summary I think most of our orders were fine.  For the price though I would have expected each dish to wow us, but I guess this is one of those restaurants where your satisfaction is dependent on how good you are at choosing your order.  I would still recommend this for those looking for good juicy gourmet burgers as I really enjoyed my burger.  The location is also quite convenient for those needing to grab a bite before going to the Marina Bay Sands Theatre.

DB Bistro Moderne
10 Bayfront Ave.
#B1-48 Marina Bay Sands
Tel #: 66888525

PS. Cafe at Dempsey Hill- Comfort Food and Great Ambience

My friends and I decided to have lunch at PS Cafe today at Harding Road in Dempsey Hill.  The ambience is just lovely.  There are both al fresco and indoor dining options with a good view of the garden surrounding the place.  Since it was a public holiday, we had to queue up for quite a long time.

One of our friends recommended I try the PS Steak Sandwich (SGD 29.00).  I shared this with my husband as the serving is quite generous.  I really liked this sandwich.  The steak was soft and juicy, and the dressing used went very well with the meat.  I also like that the sandwich is thin enough to be eaten properly by hand (it's sort of a weird criteria I have for sandwiches and burgers).

PS Steak Sandwich (SGD 29.00)

Close-up of the Steak Sandwich

On the side, we ordered Truffle Shoestring Fries (SGD 15.00) to share.  They basically drizzled the fries with truffle oil and parmesan cheese.  Very savory indeed.

Truffle Shoestring Fries (SGD 15.00)

My husband and I also shared the PS Caesar with Rosemary Honey Dijon Chicken (SGD 24.00).  I realized my photo below does not show it, but this was served with a poached egg in the middle.  This was a pretty good caesar salad, though I thought the chicken was just a tiny bit overcooked.  The gigantic croutons and the shaved parmesan were very enjoyable though.

PS Caesar with Rosemary Honey Dijon Chicken (SGD 24.00)

My friend ordered the PS Greenhouse Salad (SGD 19.00).  I know that a garden salad is a garden salad, but I couldn't help but take a photo due to the really eye-catching colors all the vegetables had.  Definitely looked very pretty.

PS Greenhouse Salad (SGD 19.00)

For drinks I had the Crushed Mint and Lime Soda (SGD 9.50).  I hardly ever remember drinks that I order in restaurants and also never felt the need to blog about them, but this drink is really refreshing.  I really enjoyed the lemon-mint mix, which was perfect as an afternoon thirst quencher.

Crushed Mint & Lime Soda (SGD 9.50)

For dessert I ordered the Affogato (forgot to take down the price!).   This is a double shot of espresso served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  It's like a classier and more refined version of a mocha frappuccino.  I absolutely loved this dessert.  If not for the overdose of caffeine, I probably would have ordered one more.

Affogato (Forgot to take down the price!)

I will definitely be back!  My staples would be the Steak Sandwich for mains, the Afogato for dessert, and the Crushed Mint & Lime Soda for drinks.  The ambience was also very inviting that I have a feeling I will be frequenting this branch of PS. Cafe for brunch dates with my husband.

PS. Cafe

28B Harding Road

Tel #: 64793343