Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant @ Vivocity, Singapore

Serenity is the first of its kind in Singapore serving authentic Spanish cuisine at the heartlands of Singapore. Up to date, Serenity has two branches locally, one located at Vivocity, and the newer branch at Ngee Ann City. Dear and I have passed by their former branch practically every single time we head to Vivocity, but hesitated because Spanish dishes might not be our cup of tea. Nevertheless, we decided to give Serenity a try as our fourth year anniversary dinner.

I have absolutely zero complaints for their ambience and services. In fact, service was polite and efficient, and I always appreciate it when either the service staff or the manager asks us for feedback (like "how is everything so far?"), which they did. We chose to dine al-fresco, set amidst the soft instrumentals and voices of the live band, with the occasional sea-breeze.

Saint Marc Cafe @ Vivocity, Singapore

Since its opening early this year, St. Marc has been my favourite cafe to chill out after a heavy meal. Boasting more than a whopping 300 stores in Japan alone, it mainly sells authentic Japanese pastry, bread and desserts, including their signature chococro (well, we will come to that). Oh, don't ask where is St. Marc, their beautiful glass display of desserts is sure to attract any passer-bys, and probably make them salivate as well.

At St. Marc, there's only one problem: you will be very much be spoilt for choices. For starters, Choco Banana Split is set to satisfy any cravings of your sweet tooth. Here's why you should try out this dessert: One, soft serve holds approximately 10% lesser fat than normal ice cream. Two, there's bananas, so you won't feel as bad while indulging in this dessert. Third, don't ask, just eat.

The King Louis Bar & Grill @ Vivocity, Singapore

If you are intrigued by all those medieval knights donning a hardened suit of crimson at Vivocity, you are not alone. Those man-sized armoured models are actually advertisements or signboards for the first and only medieval castle-themed restaurant in Singapore, also known as The King Louis Bar & Grill. To have another restaurant by the name of Queen and Mangosteen, which is nestled at Vivocity fascinates me for some reasons.

That is not all, stepping into The King Louis is similar to entering a world of medieval in Ancient Europe - furnished with classic, specially crafted wooden furnitures, accompanied by a life-size white tiger model. What is a castle without knights? Well, the restaurant is guarded by knights as well, so don't try to think of any funny ideas. Ah yes, it features a scenic view of the harbourfront as well. Therefore, if you want the best seats, do yourself a favour by placing reservations early.

Chilli's Grill & Bar @ Resort World Sentosa, Singapore

After a fun, fulfilling day exploring Sentosa's newest attraction - Adventure Cove, as well as S.E.A Aquarium which features the world's largest aquarium, one is definitely expected to be hungry. If not, your stomach would probably tell you otherwise.

With a humble beginning as a Dallas burger joint, Chilli's has seen developed and expanded with restaurants situated all around the globe. Despite having four outlets nestled at major shopping malls locally, it was actually my first time having Chilli's, partially because of the huge quantity of negative reviews about both their food and services. However, since the birthday girl has made the choice, I went on with it.

I am sure my avid readers would know that I don't usually start reviewing on desserts, but when I do, it means that it is real good. And that is the case for Chilli's Molten Chocolate Cake (S$15) - a huge, satisfying classic French dessert topped with chocolate-encased vanilla ice cream. I am sure everyone knows what is the best part - warm chocolate fudge flowing out gently. So much so that Todd Wilbur, an American cookook author decides that this is worth "cloning" into his bestseller titled "Top Secret Recipe".

If you are a molten chocolate cake lava, be sure not to miss out this.

Marine Life Park: S.E.A Aquarium @ Singapore

Instead of doing the weekend routine, which probably differs no less than watching movies, shopping or even staying at home, why not make a trip down to Sentosa's newest attraction to experience the world's largest aquarium. Home to more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species in a whopping 45 million liters of water, some of its residents include the majestic manta rays, moray eels, hammerhead sharks and the controversial Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and yes, animal rights activists has made quite a big fuss on this particular issue.

Thye Hong Fried Hokkien Mee @ Food Republic, Singapore

Recently, my distant relatives from Malaysia came over to visit my family, as well as to take the opportunity to tour around our little island. Being their "tour guide" for the entire trip, food - especially traditional Singapore cuisine is something not to be missed on the itinerary. The first places that come to mind for good, yet affordable food are hawker centres and food courts, such as Food Republic - an upscale food court by Bread Talk, which offers popular international cuisine.

Besides the usual scrumptious foodfare like Hainan chicken rice, laksa, satay, roti prata (and the list goes indefinitely), Singapore's version of Hokkien Mee, or prawn noodles is also a must-try for any tourists, and the straw-hat chefs at Thye Hong Hokkien Mee definitely know how to whip out a plate of oh-so-good Hokkien Mee, set upon a dried banana leaf.

The white/yellow-paired noodles were nicely cooked, being  just al dente with the right firmness and texture, and is drenched in plenty of flavourful stock, which makes licking the plate so irresistable. It is then topped up with fresh juicy prawns and squid, as well as the usual add-ons of lime juice and homemade chilli. Prior to online research, most diners had mixed reactions towards the chilli, some complained that it does not pair with the noodles, some complained that it is not spicy enough, but for me, I thought that it was alright - nothing to be make a fuss about.

What amaze me the most is the chef's ability to cook a big wok's amount of Hokkien Mee (S$4/6/8). It is definitely not simple to control the quality especially at such huge portions, but I'd say that they did it quite well (although the last plate of the batch might be softer.) Therefore, if you missed the batch, you would have to wait up to 15 minutes. But again, peak hours might be an ideal time to visit Thye Hong to ensure that there is a fresh batch of piping hot noodles every time.

Thye Hong Fried Hokkien Mee

Opening Hours
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Food Republic
1 Harbourfront Walk
Vivocity

Tokyo Fruit Paradise @ Vivocity, Singapore

Tokyo Fruit Paradise, under the well-known Ajisen Ramen chain, offers fruit tarts made with natural goodness by using only the freshest and most delicious fruits, carefully selected by their Japanese Patissiers every day. Not only that their tantalizing tarts taste as delicious, their presentations look visually aesthetic as well, making salivating uncontrollable at the sight of these little pieces of haven.

I would say, the Japanese are one of the best in presentation, making the simplest ingredients look sophisticated and artistic. Take for example, one of their top sellers - A hearty slice of custard-based Nutty Caramel (S$6.80/slice) tart, topped with fresh caramelized fruits, crunchy nuts and bittersweet chocolate garnish is my personal favourite when it comes to satisfying my sweet tooth.

The main filling of every Western-style fruit tart is a selection of either chocolate, custard or cheese, then topped with an array of exclusive and artistically concocted  mixture of fruits, frosting and garnishes. One of the aspect I thought they did well was the crust, its texture was crisp and just of the right thickness, but enough to support the whole tart.

Such as the cheese-based Mango (S$6.80/slice) tart, which is topped with a pleasant amount of luscious mango slices, sprinkled with a thin layer of sugar icing - a perfect combination for both cheese and mango lovers.

Besides the impressive array of fruit tarts, Tokyo Fruit Paradise serves a wide selection of fruit juices, as well as English blended teas, making it a recommended choice for high-tea or somewhere to chill out with a cup of tea.



Tokyo Fruit Paradise

Tel: 6376 9978

Opening Hours
Daily: 11:30 - 22:00

1 HarbourFront Walk
#01-59
Vivocity

Xi Men Ding @ Vivocity, Singapore

I am pretty sure the well-known shopping district in Taiwan - Xi Men Ding is no stranger to most of you. A fast-rising source of fashion and culture, Xi Men Ding is also home to the greatest food in Taipei. Since popular local food stalls which boast authentic Taiwanese delicacies are on the rise nowadays, one can easily enjoy a taste of Taiwan here.

Girlfriend Peiyi and I would be heading to Taipei soon in mid-November 2012, and we thought, why not try something in preparation for our trip? We were in Vivocity at that point of time, and Xi Men Ding was quite the obvious choice. There was a short queue of approximately 6 people, but we were seated within 5 minutes.

Anyway, we took notice of their signature fried rice - an impressive looking Taiwanese-style Grilled Roe Fried Rice (S$11.00). It was quite a disappointment when the grilled fish roes came 50% smaller than the ones in pictures. (Blame it on the "for illustration purpose only") Nevertheless, the fried rice was well fragranced and everything - the crunchy cabbage, spring onions and scrambled eggs came to mix perfectly with the heavily flavoured roes.

Another speciality - San Bei Chicken with Basil (S$18.90) was slightly bland and overcooked, resulting in juice-less and hard chicken chunks. As a matter of fact, with the exhorbitant price, I could get better quality as well as quantity, at the neighbourhood tze char stall below the block. 

 

Fresh Fish Slices w/ Miso Soup (S$6.90) was delectable with the generous portions of mushrooms and fish slices (you don't see it in the picture cos' they are at the bottom).

Xi Men Ding also serves a selection of Flower Tea Balls and Floral Tea. With the typical soft drinks going about at the same price, we rather go for a healthier alternative. Hence, we had Osmanthus Tea (S$8.00). I supposed that osmanthus tea emits a strong, sweet fragrance, but this was just bland.

 

Contrary to what many food reviews said about their terrible service, I found it acceptable - the service staff smiled and greeted us. That is pure basic service techniques. However, there was once I requested a waitress to clear up a minor spillage on our table, but she totally forgot about it. Xi Men Ding is probably another restaurant that I will say "this is my first, and the last", as they failed to create any "wow" factors (except for the pricings) or any other reasons I should visit them again.

Xi Men Ding Taiwan Cuisine

Tel: 63768018

Operating Hours
Daily: 12:00 - 22:00

1 HarbourFront Walk

#01-51A

VivoCity

Malaysian Food Street @ Resort World Sentosa, Singapore

Mother Kook was born and raised in Selangor, Malaysia. She is forever raving about her favourite roadside hokkien mee stall. Therefore when the Malaysian Food Street announced its opening in RWS, there was little need to travel hundreds of miles to Malaysia just to savour the street food. I knew I had to tag my mother along.

Officially opened on January 2012, this nostalgically designed (from the 1970s) food street with 17 stalls offering authentic Malaysian favourites, which includes the famous Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee, Huen Kee Claypot Rice, Fung Wong Confectionary, KL Kampong Chicken etc. Do you know? - The 17 stalls in this food street are specially hand-picked by RWS after trials and rounds of selection.

We ordered a large Huen Kee Claypot Rice w/ salted fish (S$12.00 + S$3.00 for salted fish). It is cooked using the traditional way of using charcoal stove, with charcoal placed below and on top of the claypot. Unique, isn't it? Apparently it is use to lock the flavours, resulting in a pot of fragrant rice coated with black soy sauce and well-marinated chicken. There is a slight tasteful crunch to the rice and the chicken meat is soft and tender. The overpriced salted fish did add some additional flavours which complemented the claypot rice, but it is totally fine without it. 

And obviously, we had the highly anticipated Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee (S$6.00) - noodles cooked with dark and light soya sauce, which comes with homemade belachan sauce. The Hokkien Mee has a slight chewy texture, imagine Japanese udon. Although this dish is delicious overall, Mother Kook commented that this is nothing from the original, authentic ones she had back then.

We also had the KL Wanton Soup (S$4.00 for 8pc), which was pretty decent. Each wanton is wrapped with just the right amount of ingredients, which includes juicy minced pork and shrimps. Well actually, we ordered it as an alternative to the overpriced drinks. 

Overall, Malaysian Food Street is one place to have a decent and affordable meal whilst you're at RWS. Although definitely not a substitute for the real deal back in Malaysia, it offers a quick fix for anyone who misses the taste of iconic Malaysian dishes.

Malaysia Food Street

Opening Hours
Mon, Tue, Thurs 11am - 10pm
Wed Closed
Fri, Sat 9am - 11pm
Sun 9am - 10pm

8 Sentosa Gateway
Resort World Sentosa

Queen & Mangosteen @ Vivocity, Singapore

This British-influenced pub surely has an unique name - queen and mangosteen, you might ponder what is the link between those two. There is a rumour that the mangosteen was reputedly Queen Victoria's favourite fruit, and apparently she allegedly offered a reward to anyone who can bring this purple fruit to her. Hence, the clever name, but do not be mistaken for they do not sell any mangosteens (or queens) here.

Located within Vivocity with a spectacular paronomic view of the scenic waterfront and Sentosa, Queen & Mangosteen has one of the best ambience among the lesser atas restaurants. Upon entering, you'll be greeted by huge chalkboards with today's specials and promotions, plush couches, high tables and bench seatings which creates the contemporary British pub setting. It is half air-conditioned and half al-fresco, completed with an ornate island bar that overlooks the beautiful waterfront.

Without futhur ado, we ordered their signature Fresh Mesclun Salad (S$12.00), paired with roasted Roma tomatoes, pear and walnuts, Stilton Blue Cheese and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. I thought that this refreshing appetizer was texture-rich, the sweet crunch of pear and walnuts, the bright crisp of the greens, the sour chewiness from the tomato and cheese, and not to mention that the elements complemented each other as a whole.

Next up, I had Sirloin Steak (S$32.00) completed with thick cut chips, Yorkshire pudding, garden vegetables and served with mushroom pepper sauce. Like always, I had my steak's doneness at medium. It was firm and chewy, but I was disappointed as the meat was drier than expected. (I had to eat with lots of mushroom sauce.) The pudding was slightly crispy with a tad of grease on the exterior and soft inside, it tasted so good.

Peiyi had one of their most acclaimed pub grub, Fish & Chips (S$16.00) served with homemade curry tartare sauce. The fish fillets used were fresh and coated in a light crispy batter, however their tartare sauce was of mediocre standard only. The potato chips were thicker than the usual and has a nice crunch to it.

Queen & Mangosteen also serve quite an extensive menu of alcoholic beverages here, one might want to order some pub grubs to go along with your drink. Perfect for drink buddies.

Overall, the food standard is above average, thumbs-down for value wise, but it definitely scores big on it's picturesque ambience.

Queen & Mangosteen

Tel: +65 6376 9380

Opening Hours

Sun–Thu: 11am – Midnight
Fri–Sat & PH Eve: 11.30am – 1am

1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-106/107
Vivocity

Barcelos Flame Grilled Chicken @ Vivocity, Singapore

Barcelos Flame Grilled Chicken was another dining place where we passed-by so many times without trying. Donned with the huge rooster signage, one can hardly missed it. So on last Saturday, while Bromance buddies (Brother Tim and ZR) and I were hesitating between Xi Men Ding and this fast-food chain, we decided to go for some chickens (no pun intended) instead.

Boasting their signature marinade recipe and the finest quality chicken, they are marinated the traditional Portugese way for 24 hours, 100% flamed grilled and seasoned to perfection. To see whether they proved their point, we ordered their chicken, all marinated with their Supa Peri sauce.

Note: It comes with four different level of spiciness, in the following order: Tangy Lemon, Mild Peri, Veri Peri, Supa Peri.

I can't make up my mind on what to eat, so I went for their Twin Mixed Skewers (S$14.95) - one skewer of chicken and another of beef, which also comes with salad and one regular side dish. The beef was well-seasoned and juicy, but the chicken counterpart was over-cooked. I love the garden salad - fresh and crisp. I tried adding their peri peri sauce on it, and it tasted uniquely amazing.



Brother Tim and ZR had their 1/4 Chicken Meal (S$14.95), which comes together with either two sides or one side with a drink. Unlike my chicken skewer, their meat was very well-marinated, juicy and tender. Both chickens were nicely charred, which adds to its' distinctive smoky taste.

The potato sides (especially their wedges and fries) are lightly salted and crisp, dipped in their Supa Peri sauce - one of the nicest I had.

This is definitely not the last visit, but to be honest, I prefer Nandos though.

Barcelos Flame Grilled Chicken

Tel: +65 6376 9534

Opening Hours

Daily: 10am – 10pm

1 Harbourfront Walk

#02-91

Vivocity

Shin Kushiya @ Vivocity, Singapore

A dear aunt of mine introduced me to Shin Kushiya when it opened not long ago, I have frequented this Japanese restaurant quite a bit since then and till now, it has remained as one of my definite favourites.

Shin Kushiya is well-known for their authentic Kushiyaki, or skewers grilled with Bincho charcoal (aka King of White Charcoal) imported from Japan. One can truly taste the quality of the fresh ingredients used and the distinct smoky flavour. Paired with their homemade tare sauce, Kushiyaki is definitely a must-try. Perfect for quite bites before main course and sharing. Prices ranged from S$2.00 onwards per skewer.



Platters of mouth-watering Kushiyaki

Still craving for more small bites before your main? Why not try out their softshell crab temaki (S$3.40) or a plate of crispy, tasty whole crab for sharing? 

We ordered the Sanshoku Don (S$17.80), a delicious combination of fresh salmon, maguro and kaki on top of a bed of soft Japanese rice. Ever heard of sashimi melting in your mouth? This is it. Sanshoku (三色) actually means toppings with three different colours. They are not only limited to sashimi, but also to other ingredients (i.e. dango, eggs, vegetables) as well.

  

Their Pork Cutlet (S$16.80) is crispy on the outside and tender inside. Dipped in their spicy tare sauce and paired with the crunchy fresh salad, I bet you'll be begging for seconds.

Good and authentic Japanese food, without burning your wallet. Shin Kushiya is the place to head to.




Shin Kushiya

Tel: +65 6275 8766

Opening Hours

Mon – Thu: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Fri – Sun: 11.30am – 11.30pm

1 Harbourfront Walk
#02-120
 Vivocity

White Dog Cafe @ Vivocity, Singapore

Last Friday, Peiyi and yours truly headed to Vivocity with not a single idea what to eat. Although I frequent this mall oftenly, I wanted to try something I never had. It is when we stumbled upon Barcelos Chicken and White Dogs Cafe, I had quite a hard time deciding, before we settled for the latter. After approximately 15 minutes of waiting, we were ushered to a table near the entrance, not what I hoped I'd get because I would really like a table with a Sentosa view.

I ordered their Seafood Marinara (S$14.00) - the linguine pasta is cooked al-dente, but the sauce can do with a little more salt. Their portion of seafood is larger than usual, with a generous serving of succulent prawns, mussels and squid rings. However, I thought that the overall appearance can be improved. (Currently, it looks like the chef dumped the whole chunk of seafood-mixed pasta on the plate.)

Peiyi had their special set menu, which includes Grilled Half Chicken, Soup of the day (which you can upgrade to premium for S$1) and a glass of drink. The upgraded appetizer tasted lumpy, which is already a huge down point. But at least the garlic bread tastes crispy and fragrant. 

For the Grilled Half Chicken, we substituted the french fries with a really bowl of mashed potatos. It also comes with coleslaw salad and their signature peri-peri sauce. The chicken is soft and tender, with the flavour of the seasoning fully absorbed. I highly recommend eating together with the spicy sauce.

White Dog Cafe is one of the restaurants that I will visit again, but not in the near future. The next time I visit, I'll definitely book earlier to get a table with the panoramic scenery and of course, to save myself the waiting time.



  

White Dog Cafe

Tel: +65 6376 9970

Opening Hours

Daily: 11.30am – 9.45pm

1 Harbourfront Walk

#02-131/132

Vivocity

Marché @ Vivocity, Singapore

Marché is probably one of my most frequented restaurants, especially their Vivocity branch, which sits on the roof top garden, overlooking the harbour front and Sentosa island. 

What makes this restaurant so special is their attentiveness to the details of the authentic Swiss culture - service staff are dressed in traditional costumes, a dimly-lit dining area with wooden tables and chairs, balconies and barrels, and not to mention, their lovely cow mannequins.

If it's your first time here, do approach the service staff and familiarise yourself with their paying system because Marché uses "credit payment" - where you first make your purchases with a card (valued at S$100) and pay before you leave the restaurant. Do be warned though, that if you misplace your card, you'll be charged the maximum of $100.

Now, without further ado, this is what I usually spend my credits on:

Rosti w/ Smoked Salmon (S$14.50) is an all-time favourite at Marché. Their signature pan-fried potato strips are crispy on the outside, soft and firm on the inside, and topped with their smoked salmon and a wallop of sour cream, this is definitely a must-try.

Crêpe with Blackforest Ham and Mushrooms (S$12++) was introduced to me by one of my mates when we had our little gathering some time back. How could I have missed this savoury treat! The skin of the crêpe is tender and firm, while the combination of thinly sliced mushroom and ham, dipped in their buttermilk sauce, just makes me want a second serving. 



Grilled Salmon and Cream of Mushroom are two of Marché's many classics too. I highly recommend their mushroom soup as a starter to whet your appetite.

  

Do also grab a bottle of Bundaberg Root Beer (S$4.50) - Good Ol' Australian root beer, traditionally brewed to an old aunthentic recipe. Although overpriced (to be honest), it's one of the cheapest drinks at Marché.

Marché is a perfect place for gatherings, meet-ups, or even a romantic date. Although I would admit that the bill burns a slight hole in your pocket, Marché is still a place which I would definitely frequent again and again for it's the experience that counts, isn't it?

Tips: Do leave some stomach space for their signature ice cream crêpes and other desserts too.

Marché

Tel: +65 6376 8226

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat – Sun & PH: 10am – 11pm

1 HarbourFront Walk
#03-14

Vivocity

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar @ Vivocity, Singapore

Every time I walked pass the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar located at the ground floor of Vivocity, I cannot resist but take a few more whiffs of that chocolatey goodness lingering even beyond their doorsteps, just to excite my sense receptors. As someone who looks after his calories, it is even a sin to think about walking into the bar. The story goes on and you all know how it ended when I had this entry up.

My girl, Peiyi and yours truly decided to give it a first try for tea-time. With the help of a friendly staff, we managed to get a table in the middle of the bar in not more than a few minutes. The seatings were quite cramped however, and would be no doubt, slightly uncomfortable for longer chill-outs/talk-cock-sing-song sessions.

Peiyi ordered their popular Hot Chocolate drink (S$7.50) topped with marshmellow bits, which comes in this cute-looking "hugmug". It is true when they say marshmellows and hot chocolate are a couple made in heaven. I can totally justify that. This is a real treat.



For me, I had the Chai Latte which was a little too tangy for my liking, nothing else to rave about, except this unique dispenser, where the drink flows out from below when pushed against the mouth of a cup.



The "main course" was Chocolate Pizza, topped with nuts and marshmellows and drizzled generously with pure melted chocolate sauce. It came slightly late (approx 20 mins), but it was worth the wait. The ingredients complemented each other, and the texture was that good (imagine melting marshmellows on a bed of soft pizza crust). Before we know it, this lovely creation was gone. I could say that this is the best chocolate pizza I ever had.

"Chocolate is not just about taste. It’s a symbol of different aspects in our lives – of romance, of sensuality, of decadence. These aspects actually create the new chocolate culture of Max Brenner."

Extracted from their menu about "A Chocolate Love Story"

Yeah. It was that good.

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar was a "Willy-Wonka" delight. Although it is on the slightly pricier side, I am definitely going back for their highly acclaimed Chocolate Souffles and suckao, but it had to wait until my guilt subsides.

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

Tel: +65 6278 4218

Opening Hours
Sun –Thu: 10am – 9.45pm
Fri – Sat: 10am – 11pm

1 HarbourFront Walk
#01-116
Vivocity