Foodie Paradise

Happy Chef Western Food
466 Crawford Lane
11am to 10pm daily

Ratings: 6.0/10 

Along Crawford Lane, there’s not only the lip-smacking Hill Street Tai Wah Pork Noodles, there’s also great western food located in the same coffee shop. 

According to ieatishootipost, the owners of Happy Chef have just returned from a 15-year stay in Sydney, hence explaining the Australian flavour in the western food that they sell at their stall.  The Sydney Morning Herald also voted their restaurant in Sydney as Sydney’s top 10. 

There is a great variety of western food sold at Happy Chef.  Chicken Kiev, Pork Cordon Bleu, BBQ Pork Ribs, Fish and Chips…the list just goes on.  When I first looked at the extensive menu at the stall (which is made up of delicious photos of the various food they sold at the stall), I was shortly lost for words because I got no idea what I should choose.

In the end, I tried the BBQ Honey Chicken and the Country-Style Baked Fish.

BBQ Honey Chicken 

Country-Style Baked Fish 

One thing I have to rave about Happy Chef is the lovely garlic bread with sesame seed that it serves along with each order.  The bread is very delicious.  I could definitely have lots more of that bread!

Besides that, each order also comes along with fresh vegetables (made up of carrots and French beans) which I felt had a homemade taste.  That’s another highlight of the meal because most western food stalls that I tried (i.e. those in food courts or coffee shops in general) often served salads that either are slightly staled or tasted like canned food. 

I also loved the BBQ Honey Chicken.  The chicken is tender and tasted very good.  For the Country-Style Baked Fish, although the fish was fresh, it tasted salty.  Without that salty taste in the fish, I’ll have adored the Country-Style Baked Fish a great deal, since freshness is one of the most important quality when tasting seafood.  However, I have to point out that the stewed mushrooms that came along with the fish tasted great.

Another part of the meal that I didn’t like that much was the slightly soggy fries that came along with the meal.  I am very particular about my fries, since I’m such a fries lover.  Hence, if the fries are crispier, I’ll love Happy Chef even more.   

However, I’m very sure of one thing.  I’ll definitely go back to Happy Chef to taste the rest of the items on the menu, because my first Happy Chef experience had been an enjoyable one.

New York New York
No 1 Raffles Link #B1-47A
Citylink Mall

Ratings: 5.5/10

With its brightly coloured and open concept theme, New York New York is definitely one attention-grabbing restaurant along the Citylink Mall.   Moreover, with the loud blasting of pop music, young serving crew, pool table in the middle of the restaurant, comfortable booth seats, and self-service cotton candy machine, it’s no wonder it’s a hit with the teenage crowd. 

Though I no longer belong to the teenage crowd (my younger cousin who was also there love the place lots), I like the loud presentation of the restaurant, which I felt was unique in our local restaurant scene. Compared to the other similar restaurants such as NYDC and Cafe Cartel, New York New York has definitely won the upper hand in terms of the hip quotient and the quality of food.

BBQ Ribs - $14.90

Chicken and Prawn Combo - $17.90

Bratwurst wrapped in Bacon and Cheese - $10.90 

Among the three main courses that I had tried that day, I love the BBQ Ribs the most.  The ribs were tender and nicely marinated with a lovely sweet taste.  I definitely prefer the ribs at New York New York to those from Cafe Cartel.  The Chicken and Prawn Combo tasted decent.  The bratwurst, on the other hand, tasted average.  I was slightly grumbling about the bratwurst when I had my first bite because I felt that it tasted much like the hot dogs that I can also get at supermarkets.  Luckily, the cheese-covered parts of the bratwurst redeemed the dish a little.  Well, it’s hard to grumble about a dish that had been sinfully covered with cheese. 

All three main courses came with nicely fried fries and wedges.  As I’m such a fries lover, that definitely gave the meal some bonus points.  Who can ever say "no" to lovely fries?!!?

Deep Fried Mars Bar - $7.90

Waffles with Chocolate and Ice Cream - $7.90

The most disappointing part of the meal was actually the desserts.  I was going to give New York New York a 6.0/10 rating because I had enjoyed its main course so much that day.  That was until the desserts were served, which instantaneously caused me to drop its rating.  The ice cream was okay, besides, who can ever go too wrong with ice cream?  However, both the waffles and deep fried mars bar were tough to bite.  It was a jaw exercise getting through the desserts.  That dampened any enjoyment we could have derived from the desserts.

Overall, for a decent meal in a loud and bright theme, New York New York is the place to go.  However, if you are craving for desserts, please move on to the TCC or Geláre nearby, which definitely serves much better desserts. 

Corduroy and Finch
779 Bukit Timah Road (Near Sixth Avenue)
Singapore 269758 
Website

Ratings: 6.5/10

Café  Latte

Set in the corner of Sixth Avenue, Corduroy and Finch is a continental European upmarket deli-cafe.  Besides serving food, this restaurant also has a walk-in wine cellar and a food aquarium.  

What I love most about my Corduroy and Finch experience is the chic decor of the place - a predominantly wood decor that is complemented by tall glass panels that allows in ample of light into the restaurant.  The place exudes a laid-back atmosphere with a modern touch to it, making it a comfortable place to laze the afternoon away.

Afternoon tea, selection of patries and sandwiches, $15

 

In terms of food, there were hits and misses.  The sandwiches that came along in for the afternoon tea selection of pastries and sandwiches tasted decent.  The cookies, on the other hand, were a delightful addition to the afternoon tea.  Tasty and crunchy, I love them so much that I was so tempted to grab a packet of these cookies on my way out. 

 
Corduroy’s Cheese Cake - S$5.50

I also tried the Corduroy’s Cheese Cake and the Grand Cru Chocolate Carre.  The Corduroy’s Cheese Cake was delicious.  Glazed with berries, there was a lingering lovely taste of cheese on each bite.  The most sinful treat of the day has to be the Grand Cru Chocolate Carre.  I was hit by the divinely taste of chocolate on my first bite.  Each subsequent bite was filled with thick and smooth taste of the chocolate.  The sweetness of the cake was also just right, not overwhelmingly sweet as one might expect of a cake that has three different textures of chocolate in it.  It is a definite must-try for chocolate lovers.

Perhaps I did have a higher expectation on the quality of food at Cordoroy and Finch before stepping into the restaurant, considering that it does have the help of the German chef Ralf Spika, who has two Michelin stars to his name.  The only things that had gotten me raving about the place was the cookies, the Grand Cru Chocolate Carre and its decor.  As for the rest of the food that I had tried, they were mostly decent but forgettable.   

However, I will definitely be going back to Cordoroy and Finch again, simply because the décor of the place has totally bought me over - the laid-back atmosphere that is perfectly integrated into the "shopping area" within the restaurant.  I am a sucker for restaurants that have a chic decor and ample of natural lighting.  This sort of décor always makes me feel like relaxing my afternoon away while watching the world goes by with a good book in hand.  I supposed I would definitely be back again to try the breakfast, as I am sure the place will have that perfect breakfast feeling that I am absolutely love.

N.Y.D.C Cafe and Restaurant
1) #02-19 Wheelock Place
2) #B1-012, Fountain Terrace, Suntec City
3) 30 Lorong Mambo

Website 

Ratings: 4.5/10 

From left to right: Dynamite Pizza, Mushroom Madness Spaghetti, Parmesan Pizza ($13.95 each)

Many years ago, when I was still a teenager (suddenly I feel so old), my friends and I love to frequent N.Y.D.C.  The pull factors that brought us back again and again to the place were obvious – the latest pop songs blasting through the speakers of the restaurant, young waiters and waitresses, hip décor, decent baked rice and spaghetti dishes that cost below $10 (not counting the GST and service charge), and the sinful desserts, especially the Mudpies and the cakes!  I still remember those days where I used to scroll through the menu looking at those innovative names for the dishes, such as the Romeo and Juliet Baked Rice, Destiny’s Child Baked Rice, Jedi Mudpies, etc.

Many of these pull factors that used to draw me to the place are still there.  However, some of these essential pull factors are gone.  There is now a new but still creative menu.  However, the prices of the food have increased.  The food there, sadly, has deteriorated.  When I was back there a few months back, I was so upset with the food that I ate there, so much that I left brusque comments in their feedback forms.  The baked rice seemed soggy and the spaghetti was lacklustre.  I was so disgruntled that I no longer enjoy my food there as I used to during my teenage years.

I was back there with my friends last weekend.  This time round, I ate Dynamite Pizza.  There was too many chicken slices in my pizza such that I got rather sick of my pizza quickly.  The pizza was average and unimpressive.

Maybe I have over-pampered my taste buds over the years, hence explaining why I cannot find that joy in eating those food that I used to adore in my teenage years.  Somehow, I no longer find the factors that will pull me back to N.Y.D.C to eat again.

I once wrote a raving review about Fish and Co.  However, my recent dining experience at Suntec’s Fish and Co. had left me as a frustrated and angry customer instead.

We went in a big group of eight and had to wait for 45 minutes before we could get a table.  While dining, the service was slow.  The cutlery was placed on the left hand side of the diner instead of the usual right hand side.  They only gave us two plates of sauces even though there were eight of us dining, and we had to request many times before the extra sauces were given to us.

Food wise, the portion seem to have shrunk as compared to the other Fish and Co outlets (I last dine in other outlets only one month ago).  The Fish and Chip that my friend and I were sharing was slightly saltish and the fish and chip didn’t taste as good as I had remembered it to be.

It’s definitely upsetting, when you encounter bad food and bad service at the same time in one of your favourite dining outlets.   

P.S: Fish and Co often offers mints to its customers after they had foot their bill.  According to my friend, those lovely mints can only be found at the Fish and Co outlets, and they do sell them to you in packets if you request for them.

Fish & Co
Website

Ratings: 4.0/5.0

I hate dining in the city area. Food court meals are usually lousy, and it’s the same fast food places and restaurants over and over again.

"Fish & Co." is one of the mid-range restaurants around the city area that I love to visit again and again without getting sick of it. It’s just like its tagline, "“one bite & you’re hooked!" I’m hooked to "Fish & Co".

When I first tried "Fish & Co", the fish and chips vaguely reminded me of those that I had in Australia. From that day onwards, I’m hooked. My favourite outlets of "Fish & Co." are the outlets at Wheelock Place (where the photos are taken) and the Glass House. On some nights, there’re bands playing at the Glass House but I always seem to miss it whenever I’m there. The Wheelock Place outlet has become my favourite "Fish & Co." outlet these days. Simply because besides the delicious food it has there, the view from the restaurant is lovely. Food always tastes better when it’s coupled with a great view and great atmosphere.

Compared to some other local restaurants or food chains that have sprung up almost the same period, "Fish & Co." is the only restaurant that makes me wants to go back to it again and again. Sometimes, the more outlets the restaurant have, the more the restaurant lost its magical touch that had made you fall in love with it at first. Somehow, "Fish & Co." is different regarding this aspect, and that is what makes this restaurant chain special.

When I first tried "Fish & Co." a few years back, the menu was a board and everything they had was listed in a booklet pasted on the board. There were many nice items on the menu, but I felt that the choice offered to me was limited. Since then, many new items have been added to their menu and I love its current menu now.

New York Fish and Chips

Mussels Penne with Garlic and Lemon Cream

One thing that I’m very particular about eating seafood is that it has to be fresh. No matter how the seafood is going to be prepared, may it be fried or smoked or steamed, as long as it’s fresh, it’s going to taste good. And that’s the reason why I like "Fish & Co." One item that I love there is the "Mussels Penne with Garlic and Lemon Cream". I love the creamy sauce that comes along with the pasta. It’s thick and delicious, and it doesn’t give me the sick feeling even after finishing the entire plate.

For the first time, I tried the desserts at "Fish and Co" last week. It’s yummy! It’s Ben & Jerry ice-cream, with coco pops, mini Oreos, and M&Ms. It’s the ultimate sinful combination. *drool* I’m tempted to try the other ice-cream combinations they had there, but I guess I’ll do it the next time instead. :-p

Updated: Fish and Co Part 2