D.O.C at Tanjong Pagar

So I am honestly kind of afraid that this shop will not last that long considering how empty it is everytime we walk by during lunchtime so we decided to drop by for lunch one day.

Ordered the grilled salmon ($18). Woah the slab of salmon fillet was huge and very nicely grilled. I love that crispy salmon skin. 

Returned a few days later to try their risotto with prawns and asparagus ($16) and it was good! Unlike the usual thick and cream-based risotto, this risotto was cooked in prawn stock and tasted so light!

Service was attentive and the staff was helpful. It is a very nice place for a quiet meal with some friends, and I highly recommend it in the bustle of Tanjong Pagar.

Am definitely returning soon to support d.o.c more often and hope that business picks up soon!

21 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-01

Singapore 088444

11 am to 1030 pm on Monday to Thursday

11 am to 10 pm on Sunday

11 am to 1 am on Friday and Saturday

62261631

Modesto's, Vivocity

Friday date night with the boyfriend sometime back. We were in Vivocity and I wanted to go somewhere for a nice meal. Our initial plan was to join the crowds at Marche but when it became obvious that the queue was painfully long, we headed to Modesto's instead.

Did not take us long to be seated at a small table along the wall and we looked through the menu quickly. We chose the Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($18) and Portobello Pizza ($24 - Regular) to share.

The Spaghetti Aglio Olio, tossed in olive oil and filled with chili and garlic slices, was decent. However, it was a little too salty and oily. Might be better if less olive oil was used. 

The Portobello Pizza with portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese was delicious! Slices of pizza covered with cheese, juicy tomatoes, and tasty portobello mushrooms. 

A convenient Italian restaurant in Vivocity which is comfortable and affordable. I would not make a special trip here just to dine in Modesto's but I would return if I am in Vivocity and Marche is too crowded again.

#03-11 Vivocity
63769808
Daily: 12:00 - 22:00

La Pizzaiola, Jalan Riang

It was a gloomy Monday and for some reason I was in no mood to hit the gym. I wanted a quick dinner fix so we headed to La Pizzaiola at Jalan Riang. If you have not dropped by Jalan Riang, I would strongly recommend that you do. This little stretch of restaurants nestled in the middle of a bunch of private houses is totally worth a visit. I have previously discovered the magic of Cajun Kings and Wimbly Lu and now La Pizzaiola is becoming a strong contender for my tummy space if I decide to make a trip to Jalan Riang.

The prices at La Pizzaiola is really reasonable for an Italian restaurant. I usually have to fork out between $20 to $30 for a pasta at most Italian restaurants. But pastas and pizzas at La Pizzaiola are between $15 to $20! Great food at a great price. Check out the menu below.

We ordered Parmigiana (around $12) which is eggplant baked with tomato sauce and cheese. I love Parmigiana in general, and I love the one at La Pizzaiola! Soft mushy eggplant coated with a generous layer of cheese and zesty tomato sauce. Yums. I should totally learn how to make this dish because I'm just so in love with it. 

We had Ravioli (ricotta and spinach filled Tuscan dumplings in butter and sage sauce - around $14) and Squid Ink Tagliatelle with Crab Meat (around $15). The ravioli was good but the "skin" of the dumpling was a little too thick. I would have preferred a thinner "skin" which ruptures and spills all the delicious fillings into my mouth. The spinach filling was good and the sauce was rather light for butter.

The Squid Ink Tagliatelle was good! Robust squid ink and white wine sauce, al dente tagliatelle, and a generous serving of crab meat. This dish is good. I would recommend going for this if you visit La Pizzaiola.

Getting to Jalan Riang is a major pain in the ass but I can assure you the food here will definitely satisfy your taste buds. We did not make a reservation when we dropped by and it was fairly crowded on a Monday night so I would advise you to consider making a reservation if you wish.

15-3 Jalan Riang

Mon - Sat: 11:30 - 15:00

Mon - Sat: 17:30 - 22:30

Sun & PH: 11:30 - 22:30

Picotin Express, Quayside Isle

I had to collect tickets from the Sentosa ticketing counter for our retreat the following week so I asked the boyfriend to drive us in on a bright sunny Saturday. We decided to park at the Sentosa Cove village where the parking was $3.20 per entry. We took Bus 3 to Merlion where the ticketing counter was located and collected the tickets. We spent some time walking around Imbiah Lookout so that I knew where the attractions were before taking the Sentosa Express back to Beach Station. Strolling along Siloso Beach, we watched as the setting sun spread a warm glow on the beach clubs and the crowd milled around nosily. After awhile we decided to take Bus 3 back to Sentosa Cove.

Quayside Isle is a new dining establishment in Sentosa Cove. It is located near to the Sentosa Cove Village right beside the docks where the boats are moored. There are many restaurants and cafes at Quayside Isle with familiar names such as Kith Cafe and Brussel Sprouts. It was not too crowded in the late afternoon and many patrons were nursing a beer or wine in the hot sun. 

Dusk arrived quickly and we were greeted by a spectacular sunset. It was quite cloudy at first but the clouds parted slowly, revealing a huge ball of gold in the distance. It was breath-taking watching the sun creep slowly into the waters below. I love sunsets.

We chose to have our dinner at Picotin Express and placed our names on the waiting list. It took us almost 30 minutes before we were seated. I would strongly advise all who wished to visit Picotin Express to make a reservation in advance. 

Being inside Picotin Express made me feel like I was eating at a little seaside diner in Bali or Krabi. The interior design was dark and modern, with large fans whirling overhead. You could have your dinner with an unobstructed view of the dock and the marvelous sunset. When night fell and the warmth from the sun receded, a steady night breeze filled Picotin Express. It was calm and peaceful; I could probably trick myself into believing that I was at another beach getaway.

Portions were hearty and well worth the price. The Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas was pretty decent. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender within, with a thick slice of fish inside the batter. They served vinegar with the Fish and Chips ($25), just the way I like it! I am particularly fond of dousing my fish with vinegar. However, the fries were quite limp and cold which suggest that the fries were left sitting out in the open for a very long time. 

The 12 inch Falabella Pizza ($22) was nicely baked, with a thin crust and lots of ham, mushroom, and cheese. I like skinny pizzas and this one at Picotin Express was happy comfort food indeed. It was definitely not spectacular, but it does make me happy.

The truffle fries were a complete winner. Not only were the fries thick and fat just the way I love them, the truffle oil was extremely fragrant and the cheese slices were just so tasty! Definitely one of the better truffle fries around.

Prices are definitely not the cheapest around town, but that is to be expected since Picotin Express is parked right in the middle of the luxurious Sentosa Cove.

I like Quayside Isle beyond a shadow of a doubt. I like the fact that it is located beside the sea which momentarily satisfies my desire for a beach getaway. I like the fact that it is away from the city crowd, away from the noise and bustle, away from everything familiar. I like the fact that it is not a shopping mall because I am just so tired of shopping malls. I like the fact that we can hide away for one Saturday and not think about anything at all. I am not bombarded by signs and symbols of city life, of a constant rush of activities, of work and commitments. Instead I am surrounded by luxurious residences which I know I can never own, boats which I will probably never set foot in, a lifestyle that is completely out of reach. And I can trick myself into believing that I am not here, and suddenly everything that ever worries me is a million miles away. It is indeed a million miles away. 

#01-06 31 Ocean Way Quayside Isle

64384747

Opening hours:

Mon - Fri: 5 pm - Midnight

Saturday: 12 noon - 1 am

Sunday: 12 noon - Midnight

Public Holidays: 12 noon - Midnight

Jamie's Italian, Vivocity

Happy Chinese New Year everybody! The best part of Chinese New Year is definitely being able to spend time with your loved ones and feast. Sadly, my flu continued to plague me through Chinese New Year and I had to resist the large array of New Year goodies displayed at my granny’s house. I have a soft spot for Bak Kwa (barbecued pork slices) though and decided that a few slices were worth any unhealthy consequences the next day. I woke up the next day with a raspy voice and a bad sore throat.

Anyway, I had reunion dinner at my granny’s house on the eve of Chinese New Year and had a really enjoyable time with my baby cousin. On Chu Yi (first day of the Chinese New Year), I went on my usual visiting rounds and lazed around my granny’s house for another sleepy afternoon with my baby cousin. Wore the blue woollen miniskirt and carried the nerdy black backpack that I bought at the shopping district around Ewha Women’s University in Korea! Check out my new kicks – purple glittery Vans which were on discount at ABC Mart in Myeongdong, Korea.

On Chu Er (second day of Chinese New Year), I visited the boyfriend’s family where I had a fun time chatting with his family. He came home with me after that and we spent some time at my place before he continued his Chinese New Year visiting. In the evening, we headed over to Vivocity where I decided, against my better sense, to have dinner at Jamie’s Italian.

When Jamie’s Italian opened its doors, I was deterred by the long queues that greeted me each time I attempted to have a meal there. As more foodies tasted Jamie’s Italian and more reviews began streaming into the Internet, I was deterred by the lukewarm reviews that seemed to suggest that I was better off spending my calories and money somewhere else. Still, something about the place (perhaps it is the lack of a queue) caught my attention that Saturday, and I pulled my boyfriend in for dinner.

The place is dimly lit, with nice relaxing music in the background, and a comfortably laid back vibe. The boyfriend commented that it felt like Potato Head in Bali and I completely agree. Jamie’s Italian made me feel like I was no longer in Singapore which was good for a moment.

I ordered the Prawn Linguine while the boyfriend took the Lamp Chop Lollipop. The food was truly mediocre. My Prawn Linguine was done al dente which was good, but the linguine did not absorb the watery tomato sauce and tasted quite bland. The prawns were really small and not fresh. The boyfriend’s Lamp Chop Lollipop was quite tender but nothing much to write home about.

The mediocre standard of the food means that I won't be back anytime soon. Little wonder the queue at Jamie's Italian's door has disappeared. 

#01-165 Vivocity

Pasta Brava, Craig Road, Duxton and drinks at Blue Mist

Stef and I wanted to check out Duxton at night since we were usually only there for brunch. After spending some time on Google Maps, we decided the fastest way from City Hall was to take a bus instead of the customary walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT. So we hopped onto a bus in front of the Supreme Court and alighted one stop after Maxwell Food Center. Crossed the street, walked along the shop houses and found ourselves in the Duxton area. We took a nice evening stroll around the Duxton area before eventually settling down at Pasta Brava for dinner.

Pasta Brava was extremely crowded for a weekday night. In fact, it was so crowded that we were settled outside in the single al fresco spot beside the door. Thankfully there was a ceiling fan providing a weak breeze throughout the night which alleviated much of the heat. Reservations are strongly recommended if you are intending to have dinner at Pasta Brava.

Pictures are horribly dark since I was taking them with my Samsung smartphone in a dimly lit area. We ordered an Eggplant Parmagiana (oven-baked eggplant with cheese), Vongole Spaghetti, and Squid Ink  Seafood Risotto.

The Eggplant Parmagiana was heavenly. Deliciously fragrant, soft, and coated perfectly with the right amount of melted cheese. It went perfectly with the rocket leaves and was a fantastic starter. I've always liked  Eggplant Parmagiana but this was definitely one of the better ones so far. 

The Vongole Spaghetti was done al dente, nice and springy, with a very generous amount of clams. The clams were fresh, juicy and so yummy. My only grouse was that the Vongole Spaghetti was, for some reason, served cold. It was not hot or warm, but really cooled. We joked that the staff might have taken awhile to find us since we were sitting alone outside the restaurant. The spaghetti must have cooled while they were walking around trying to find us.

The Squid Ink Seafood Risotto might not look much since it seems all black and gooey in the lousy picture below but it was very good. The dish was served piping hot (yay!) with thick squid ink, fresh juicy seafood, and well-cooked risotto. Will definitely return for the Squid Ink Seafood Risotto.

Ended the night with drinks at Blue Mist, a bar beneath the HDB block opposite Orchid Hotel. Blue Mist was very crowded with many office workers having their after-work drinks but it was just a nice laid back bar with nothing much special.

Pasta Brava: 11 Craig Road
Blue Mist: #01-03 Tanjong Pagar Plaza

Rubato Modern Italian Trattoria

A good friend's recommendation took us to Rubato at 3 Clover Way, near Marymount MRT station. I took the Circle Line from Paya Lebar to Marymount. Rubato is a short walk away among a cluster of private properties. 

I am always amazed to find such little restaurants in obscure locations. Cajun Kings was another mind-blowing restaurant nestled among private properties. I was really anticipating dining at Rubato since reviews sounded awesome and I enjoyed eating at places which are secluded and remote. 

It was all about risotto that day so I had the seafood risotto while the good friend had crab risotto. My seafood risotto was a little too heavy and became too cloying towards the end. They were generous with the seafood and I had a large serving of clams, mussels and prawns. 

The good friend's crab risotto. Rubato mixed the crab meat within the rice grains so the crab risotto was not as smooth as mine. However, because the crab meat was mixed within the risotto, it lacked the punch which huge chunks of crab meat would have been able to deliver. I would have preferred it if they had cooked the crab meat in chunks instead of mincing it and mixing it within the risotto.

Chocolate fondant because I'm a huge fan of chocolate lava cake and because tiramisu was not a chef's recommendation. I am obviously of the opinion that the chef would have a better idea as to what constitutes awesome food in his own restaurant. The chocolate fondant was average. The chocolate lava did not ooze out of the cake steadily like I expected and it seemed a little over-baked because the exterior was really hard.

I wouldn't recommend making a trip to Rubato just for the food here because I find the food really average. Unless you have friends or family living in the area, or you are studying or teaching in the Raffles area, I don't reckon anyone should make a purposeful trip to Rubato to eat. However, Rubato is really quiet and secluded, so if you would like to have a private chat and you aren't too concerned about the food, Rubato is the place to go. 

3 Clover Way

Bene Spaghetti, Circular Road

Finally, finally a dinner where all four of us can make it! The stars weren't aligned previously and we couldn't arrange a date where all of us were available in the past few months. We finally managed to fix a date this week and I'm thankful that they were so understanding about having to eat around my office. Was getting worried that it was going to be another late day and I did not want to leave them hanging high and dry again, so I suggested that we meet around my office. I went around asking for recommendations for nice dinner places near my office and one of my sweet colleagues recommended Bene Spaghetti at Circular Road!

Now Circular Road is an awesome place for lunch, second probably only to Hong Lim Food Centre, but I've never actually explored that area during dinner. So I was totally excited about checking out Bene Spaghetti for some Japanese-Italian food. The restaurant is situated pretty near to to the start of Circular Road, and the eye-catching deco and the large flag of Italy are pretty hard to miss.

Greeted by a super cheerful waitress who brought us to our seats and handed us a couple of frozen towels to wipe ourselves with. We were quite amused by the frozen towels because they really were frozen and so stiff! The waitress also handed us a "clapper" - this tool which we could shake when we wanted to get their attention. We focused on the dinner sets because they were so value for money. After much deliberation, we decided to order three dinner sets to share namely the Clam and Mussels with Tomato Sauce Risotto, Smoked Pork and Blue Cream Cheese Pasta Dinner Set, and Shrimp and Squid with Aurora Sauce Gratin Dinner Set.  

The green salad, focaccia and antipasto came first but I was so distracted by everything that I only remembered to take pictures of the salad. The salad was nice and refreshing, the focaccia was fluffy and warm, and the antipasto was a few bowls of potato salad, egg plant, and sauteed fish which tasted great!

This is the Smoked Pork with Blue Cream Cheese Sauce Pasta Dinner Set. This was set on our table for 5 minutes while the pasta was steamed within and small puffs of smoke floated out through the small hole at the top. When 5 minutes was up, the bell rang crazily and the waitress came over and lifted the lid. The pasta was in a thick blue cream cheese sauce with thick slices of smoked pork, mushrooms and vegetables. The sauce did not have the pungent taste of blue cream cheese. In fact, it tasted like normal pasta in cream sauce. However, the pasta was still very tasty and the smoked pork was nice and tender.

The Shrimp and Squid with Aurora Sauce Gratin came next. The sauce was nice and rich with a large amount of yummy cheese on top. The Gnocchi Gratin was nice and chewy, going very well with the sauce.

I love the Clam and Mussel Risotto best!!! It was marvelous. The clams were fresh and juicy, the risotto soaked up the tomato sauce to perfection and the sauce was super yummy. The dish came with basil leaves and some chicken soup. They advised us to grind and mix them up and pour them into the risotto if we wished. However, I prefer the taste of the risotto without the basil leaves and chicken soup.

We ended the meal with a Bamboo White Wine which came with bits of grape fruit within. The white wine was light and sweet, totally yummy with the chewy bits of grape fruit within. 

The service at Bene Spaghetti was perfect. They were attentive from the start to the end and were always quick to respond to our requests. The Japanese waiter and waitress even ran after us while we were leaving to hand each of us half a loaf of focaccia bread for breakfast the next day! However, the restaurant is a bit noisy as the vibe of the restaurant is a cheerful noisy place. Not a problem if you are a bunch of friends looking to catch up over food, but perhaps not too ideal if you are trying to get to know somebody on a first date.

I would highly recommend this place to everyone, especially those who work around the area!

83 Circular Road

Mad Nest

Dropped by for dinner the other day as some friends commented that it was a good place for dinner and the reviews were all quite positive, so we made our way to East Coast Road for Mad Nest. It is situated right beside Two Fat Men, which serves Thai and Western food with a large array of beers. I would say that after my dinner at Mad Nest, I would gladly drop by Two Fat Men any other time instead.

The ambience of the place was marvelous. Quiet, and dimly-lit, this place looks perfect for a date if you are intending to bring someone special out for dinner. But bear in mind that neither of you should have very high expectations of the standard of the food lest you give a bad impression on your very first date. I like the little paintings on the wall, decorating an otherwise plain white wall. I also liked the concept of the brightly lit bar at the end of the room, lending its glow to the dining area.

Now, to the food. They serve a large variety of fusion food - there's Japanese, Indian, Italian, and all-day brunch. I ordered Smoked Salmon and Spinach Eggs Benedict from their all-day breakfast menu while my friend ordered Katsu Curry Udon from the Japanese menu.

The Katsu Curry Don was a huge disappointment. The katsu was thin and very dry, unlike the fat juicy katsu that I'm used to at other places. Also, it tasted slightly stale, like it had been kept frozen for a really long time and was just removed from the refrigerator and thawed like 5 minutes before. The curry was really spicy and  that's about it. I can't really taste any other flavour in the curry as it was just so spicy. 

The Smoked Salmon and Spinach Eggs Benedict was better. The Eggs Benedict was good with the smoked salmon and the thin layer of avocado beneath. The spinach, however, was incredibly salty. The roasted tomato was ripe, sweet and juicy, and I loved the taste of it. Overall, this dish was decent, but I certainly would not come back for more.

Come to Mad Nest if you would like a large variety of food and don't really mind the standard of the food served. Or come if you are so engrossed in staring at your partner's face and soaking in the lovely ambience to notice the disappointing food served.

To get there, I took Bus 12 from Armenian Church and alighted right opposite Mad Nest. It's about three stops after Katong Shopping Centre if I am not wrong. 

378 East Coast Road

Kith Cafe

Visited Kith Cafe sometime back as the best friend and I were thinking about new places to check out and she suggested Kith Cafe. So we decided to visit the Park Mall outlet for dinner one night after work. 

The cafe is situated in the corner of Park Mall. If you are walking over from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, simply turn left before entering the main door. The entrance to Kith Cafe is situated outside Park Mall and is extremely easy to find. In fact, there is a little chalk board at the entrance pointing you in the correct direction.

Not very crowded for dinner, I would say. Which is good since I was too hungry to queue much longer for my food. The place was simplistic with a casual vibe and I spotted some magazines behind my seat at the back row. Needless to say, it would be great to flip through a magazine over brunch at Kith Cafe some day.

We both ordered pasta and I ordered the Linguine and King Prawns with cherry tomato and pesto sauce. The king prawns were really fresh and juicy, soaking up the pesto sauce completely. I enjoyed the linguine although it was a little salty and oily. But overall, still a pretty good dish.

If you would like a quiet place to have dinner in town without the crazy crowds, then Kith is your answer. A simple, fuss-free cafe with pretty good food, it certainly beats having to brave the crowds for the same types of food over at the shopping malls. 

#01-01E Park Mall

Al Forno

The previous time I dropped by Al Forno was a long time ago, probably back when I was still in university, and I came by here only because there was a DBS promotion going on which allowed for a 1-for-1 main course. Fast forward a couple of years and there are no more credit card promotions and the crowd has definitely thickened considerably. 

We came here over the long weekend to celebrate my dad's and bro's birthday. Was thankful that my mum did eventually get around to making a reservation or we would be stuck waiting outside for a long while judging by the size of the crowd. Every table was filled and there were people milling around outside waiting and some eventually gave up and decided to order takeaway instead.

We ordered a parmigiana to share which is egg plant baked in tomatoes and cheese. It was totally heavenly. I loved the juicy slices of eggplant that have absorbed the essence of the tomatoes and cheese and the sweet ripe tomatoes bursting in my mouth. Awesome.

We also ordered a pizza with parma ham and rocket leaves to share. This was my own recommendation as I was craving for parma ham and all of us agreed that this pizza was fantastic. Al Forno pizzas truly never disappoints! It's always so good. Lots of mozzarella cheese beneath the thick slices of parma ham and the thin crust was crispy and yummy.

My dad, brother and I each ordered a pasta for our main dish while my mum ordered a pan fried chicken in white wine sauce. The pan fried chicken came looking really healthy, but it tasted a bit bland and the chicken meat was too dry. The mash potato was really buttery and filling but I wouldn't recommend this dish.

My dad ordered Linguine with Lobster in cherry tomato sauce. The linguine was done al dente but the lobster was slightly overcooked which resulted in the meat being quite tough as it lost all its essence in the long cooking process.

My brother ordered seafood spaghetti in tomato and cream sauce. He could hardly finish his plate of pasta towards the end of the meal as the sauce was too creamy and it left him feeling very uncomfortable in the tummy. The seafood was really fresh though!

So I made the right choice after all. I ordered Spaghetti Vongole which is spaghetti with clams tossed in white wine and olive oil. It was delicious! Al Forno was really generous with the clams and I had a plate overflowing with fresh juicy clams soaked in white wine. The spaghetti was al dente and tasty with the white wine. I loved my pasta!

Not exactly in the most convenient location, Al Forno can be accessed by bus (alight across from Two Fat Men and walk along East Coast Road to the Peranakan Hotel) or you could drive there and park along the  slip road beside Al Forno.

Do remember to make a reservation if you are intending to have dinner here over a weekend!

400 East Coast Road