To gather Cafe (the more we get together the merrier we'll be!)

Place is not near any MRT but it is quite near the ever popular Bedok North Blk 85 Food Centre.

I was pretty surprised that there is such a cafe in such a obscure place. Upon reaching, the decoration is modern and clean.

Originally expected the sitting space may be pretty tight but i was pleasantly surprised that this place is made up of 2 shopfront. Its pretty comfortable to move around and we have lots of seats to pick.


Best: most food is under S$12  so it is very very affordable. Total damage after meal is S$25.70. 

We started off with Soup of the day ($3.90). Today's soup of the day is tomato soup. I loved it to bits. I wish i could have the entire bowl of it to myself instead of sharing it with hubby. I don't usually have tomato soup but this is just the right amount of tanginess. Heavenly. 

Grilled pandan chicken ($9.90) is served with fries and salad. The main show stopper is the chicken. It is grilled to perfection. Skin is crisp and meat is juicy and tender. The sauce that is drizzled on the chicken is a little harder to contend with. Its a mix of coconut and cream. But i love the pineapple salsa. It takes the entire dish to a different level.

Pork Cordon Bleu ($11.90) is a little complicated (quoting hubby word for word) and i tend to agree. It has too much going on for it. Cheese, pork and ham. Too much flavour but lacks punch. 

Overall, i like the pricing of the food and the food i had today is above average so i will be so keen to try again without blowing a hole to my pocket. 

Food tasted 19 July 2017

ToGather Cafe

84 Bedok North Street 4
#01-25/27
Singapore 460084
Tel: 6445 1011

Xiao Ya Tou - Little Badass Girl

This is a fusion restaurant mixing chinese, japanese and western food together.  The interior decoration is distinctively rustic going back to maybe the 1980s?  with the smoking chinese wannabe badass girl as its logo. Not sure who its trying to appeal but i really like the giant neon lights of the badass girl form displayed at the back. 

Food served can be categorised brunch, lunch and dinner. We didn't make a booking since its a public holiday and we wanted to take things easy. 

We are the very first customers so we had the entire place to ourselves for a good 30 -45 mins till all those who reserved arrived.  Plenty of time for some self-indulgent photoshoot. 

We ordered Unagi Benedict(S$16) and  XYT Lu Rou Fan (S$13, kinda of heavy for brunch but whatever).

Food plating is very westernised and modern. Giving out all the right vibes, yea? 

Hubby is perfectly happy with his Unagi egg benedict. The egg benedict is made up of low temp egg, mushroom duxelles, hollandaise and prawnand potato kewpie mayo salad. He says that it is a superb and perfect marraige of japanese and western cuisine. I guess it really depends on whether you like unagi. I personally don't like unagi so this combination does not appeal. I tasted a mouthful and though its quite nice but not a great as what hubby described. 

I had the Lu Rou Fan which is braised wagyu beef on rice with low temp egg, pickles, shredded seaweed and scallions. Its is definitely yummy and oh yes wagyu beef but i will prefer a real pork lu rou fan at half the price. This dish just didn't blow me away.  

I had such high expectations because the people behind this restaurant are the folks behind symmetry. I will go back to symmetry but not this place because while the food is nice there are so many other places to try and at better price point. 

Food tasted 26 June 2017

Xia Ya Tou

6 Duxton Hill 
Singapore 089592
Tel: 6226 1965

The workbench

I went on Monday evening but was disappointed that the information on google is not accurate. The store is closed on Mondays! So I had to go there again this week.

The set up is simple but I preferred the indoor seating. The walkway is quite uncomfortable in my opinion. I was keen to try the salted egg chicken burger while Hubs ordered the Pulled Pork burger

The pulled pork burger is described as slow cook with tender smoked pork with purple slaw($16.90), while the salted egg chicken burger is buttermilk fried chicken topped with salted egg sauce, curry leaves and chilli padi ($16.90).

Our meals are paired with strawberry cooler($4.50) and honey cooler ($4.50).

The drinks are served first and it’s a blend of syrup with carbonated water that reminds me of 7-up. Both drinks are quite nice.

I went out to catch pokemon as I keep seeing meowth and jigglypuff showing up at my sightings. Came back after a while after catching nothing. 

The pulled pork burger was served first but soon after the salted egg chicken burger is served. Between the 2, I like the salted egg chicken burger as it is more savory. The pulled pork burger though taste nice but is on the sweet side and the meat looks that it has been cannibalized. I prefer to chew through my food. My chicken cutlet is huge on the bread though.

Overall, I think it’s a satisfying meal. It could have been better if the plate served is bigger. My fries keep landing on the table as there is no room for cutting up the burger and a little salad on the side will also be nice.

Food tasted 22 Sept 2016

The Workbench Bistro

 332 Ang Mo Kio Avenue

#01-1881 Singapore 560332

Open on:

Tuesdays – Thursday: 12:00 – 22:00

Friday: 12:00 pm– 23:00 pm

Saturday: 10 am – 23.00 pm

Sundays: 10 am – 22:00 pm

Saveur at The Cathay - Impressed on first visit, mixed feelings on second try

I had a very good impression when I was visited in 2015. I’ve been wanting to revisit this place ever since. 

When we were seated, was informed from the mains menu only duck confit, pork belly, beef bourguignon is available. There’s also only left with 3 sets of half oven roasted chicken. The rest is sold out. As the 3 course dinner menu looks very value for money, we decide to give it a try and to supplement it with the saveur pasta.

Saveur’s pasta, chilli oil, chopped kombu, pork sauce, sakura ebi. The saveur’s pasta was upsized to S$8.90 but I could easily finish up in a few big mouthfuls. The angel hair pasta is too dry and the pork sauce too thick and dry too.

Rated: 5.5/10

Three course dinner menu – foie gras with lentils, beef bourguignon as mains and chocolate & hazelnut as dessert. ($29.90 + add on $2 for ice lemon tea).

The foie gras was served first. I like how the foie gras is pan fried till crisp ,a little charred on the surface but still soft yet cooked on the inside. I didn’t like the lentils as the taste and looks reminds me of green bean soup. Rated: 6.5/10

Beef bourguignon is very soft and tender but has a very strong gamey taste of mutton. Rated: 6/10

The chocolate and hazelnut is the favourite part of tonight’s dinner. As its as chocolaty as it is mousse with crumbles and choc bits mix with a little sourish berries. Makes it’s a light and yummy dessert. Rated: 7/10.

Overall, the servings are small but taste wise is slightly average.

Food tasted 19 June 2016.

Saveur The Cathay

2 Handy Road  #01-11/12 The Cathay Singapore 229233

Tel: 6735 1141

Opening Hours: 

Monday - Sundays: 12 pm - 9.30 pm 

Symmetry - One of the great brunch places

It was late in the morning and we have run of places to eat. Back and forth, me and hubs eliminated each of our proposal. 

Exasperated i decide to turned to google. Symmetry came up, we explored the menu and finally something both of us can agreed on. We are fortunate that we got one of the few parking lots available without waiting too long. 

 The decor is Quirky! and reminds me of the movie the corpse bride.

The Flan (berkshire pork cheek, mushroom ragout, soubise sauce, mashed potatoes and prommety mustard) was highly recommended by other bloggers so i decided to give it a try. S$23

The flan dish is right on the spot on so many counts. The mushroom ragout is creamy and light. The pastry is thin and crispy. I suppose the 2 brown pieces refer to the pork cheek but i really can't quite decipher  the taste. Neither could hubs. The eggs is perfectly runny and the whole dish was phenomenal.
Rated:7.5/10

The Egg benedict (S$20)was described as poached eggs, aged cheddar, smoked bacon, cream baby spinach with onion hollandaise .

The Muffin is very well toasted and crunchy. The bacon is a perfect complement with the hollandaise sauce. This dish is savory, yet sweet and light. Its so delicious that Hubs cleaned out the plate in seconds.
Rated: 8/10

Between the 2 dishes, the egg benedict is the more delicious but the flan is the definitely more unique. I haven't seen it anywhere else yet. 

The cappucino (S$6.50) is served with the signature gingerbread man which i thought was cute. Taste wise, the brew is stronger and slightly bitter but still above average. 

Rated: 6.5/10

 

Food tasted: 23 April 2016

Symmetry Restaurant and Bar

Tel:6291 9901
9 Jalan Kubor #01-01 Singapore 199206

Opening Hours: 

Monday: 10 am - 9 pm, Tuesdays-Thursdays: 10.30 am - 11pm, Fridays: 10.30 am - 12 pm, Saturdays: 9 am - 12 pm Sundays: 9 am - 7 pm