handBELLO is running a 20% off promotion during P2HA right now, & online orders are usually ready in an hour. I received a call 1 min after I submitted it online to confirm my pickup timing, which I appreciated because I was able to eat this while still hot upon collection 👏🏻
La Nonna’s (U.P. $22.00 nett) is a cheerful dish with a refreshing zesty lemon twang & spicy fun from the chilli flakes in every bite. The casarecce was cooked al dente, & I enjoyed the crunchy texture (& healthiness haha) that the broccolini added.. However, the Kurobuta pork sausage was overwhelmingly salty & overpowered the other flavours each time it was in my bite.
Nonetheless, still quite keen to check out the other pasta dishes that #handbellosg has to offer. I’ve got my eye on the Fun-Guy & Pink Vodka 😁
Tanuki Raw honestly needs no introduction… Happy Hour from 5-8PM daily; their drinks aren’t anything to shout about, & I only order them because they are a prerequisite to get the happy hour bites.
Plate of 12 Oysters (max-ed out our limit with 2 drinks)
Oysters at $2++ a pop (which is half off the usual price of $4++ a piece) if you order a drink (max 6 oysters per drink); these were well-shucked & delightfully creamy to my preference.
Thiccc Salmon Sashimi
5 slices of salmon sashimi for $7++ (limited to 5 slices aka 1 set per drink); I can’t eat raw fish so I can’t say much, only that they look fairly thick – but my dining partner said these were okay.
Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao
Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao at $5++ a piece. Again, didn’t try this but here’s a pic for reference.
Truffle Yakiniku for a Beefy Good Time
Tanuki Raw’s Truffle Yakiniku ($19++) hasn’t changed much over the years – decently delicious, an average sized portion. However, quite disappointing to see that our request to serve the onsen egg (of another bowl, not in picture) separately was not taken seriously. It was indeed in a separate bowl, but had egg white remnants on the beef slices. If the diner requested for this & had an actual egg allergy.. 🤔
But wait, there’s more! That wasn’t the ultimate turn off during this particular visit. Get this – we were reminded FIVE times from 20:53 – 21:12hrs that we had to leave by 21:15hrs, as that was when they were closing.
We had already been informed of this upon arrival at 19:53hrs. Reminding us once would be acceptable but 5 times in 20 mins? Especially when you can clearly see we were in very intense conversation throughout dinner? How rude.
However, let me try to make the most out of this occurrence. I interpret this ferverent frequency of reminders as a reflection of how important this is to them.. So here’s me doing my part & making a public service announcement: To all who dine here, GTFO by 9:15PM, alright?
Our waiter was in such a hurry to clear our table that he spilled food back on the table in his haste to do so, & didn’t clear it up properly. Omg, punctuality is really so important at this outlet.
“You all are the last ones here already,” he barked at us, & even rapped on our table with his knuckles to bring his point across. Ok… Can.
What a way to make your customers feel so welcomed. Not sure if any other diners had experienced this before, but I certainly hope not.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 📱 Accepts GrabPay 👨👩👧👦 Only seats the group when all are present 💦 Water is not chargeable
Seng Coffee Bar – another cafe whose interior decor I really like! Am plugged in to their WiFi & streaming my Spotify playlist with earphones on – for some much-needed me time. & I do feel quite relaxed. 😁
Crabmeat Egg Benedict
I ordered the Crabmeat Egg Benedict ($18+), as I was craving something brunchy & unique. It’s conceptually appealing, but I felt there was something missing from this. Would’ve liked more dimension to the flavours.. Some form of heat or acidity would be welcomed. Maybe some cherry tomatoes or a dash of cayenne pepper?
Hot White Coffee
The Hot White Coffee ($5+) was goooood, though. Would return to have a cup of coffee & try the other food items on their menu. I have my eye on the salted egg chicken burger (yes they have lunch mains too)!
💳 Accepts credit cards 📱 Accepts GrabPay 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 📶 Free WiFi 🙋🏻♀️ Service charge applicable 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable
I discovered Happy Ending Pizza on Burpple Beyond during Phase 2 of Circuit Breaker, when they were a hole-in-the-wall space in Orchard Towers serving only takeouts.
It was a cool October night; I’d ordered 2 pizza sets from them 2 hours in advance. Stood by the roadside eating my piping hot pizza, & I was impressed. The Mushroom Madness & Green Hulk I ordered were delicious, but I couldn’t finish everything – so I kept the leftovers in fridge & heated them up the next day.
Standing outside Orchard Towers gobbling pizzas
Guess what? The 2nd-day pizza still tasted good. & that, my friends, was the beginning of my happy ending. They’ve since relocated to City Gate, where you can enjoy their pizzas with a dine-in experience.
Janan, the founder of Happy Ending Pizza’s shared his pizza philosophy (pizzalosophy?) & the genesis of his brand. Essentially, he believes that the entire pizza should be enjoyed, with nothing left behind.. Including the crust. & the crust is what makes a happy ending (to your meal) (what were you thinking, you filthy animals).
New dine-in space at City Gate, neon lights aplenty
You’ll believe it when you try it for yourself. Even the non-crust-lovers at the table didn’t have a crumb left on their plates. The pizzas come with sauces as well, which is unique as much as it seems strange. I’m a carb-loving monster that could eat these fluffy crusts on their own, but if you need that extra flavour, go ahead & dip your crust into the sauce for a flavour explosion in your mouth.
As a hardcore fungi & fun guy lover, Mad About Mushrooms ($27) was actually my favourite of the night. A simple savoury pizza topped with 3 different types of mushrooms, gooey stretchy cheese, & drizzles of fragrant truffle oil. The earthiness of the mushrooms are comforting to me, as much as the chewy pizza base is. If you’re looking for a reliable/traditional pizza option to fall back on, you won’t go wrong with this one.
Mad About Mushrooms
Should you be on the hunt for something more quirky, give the Holy Crab! ($28) a shot. They actually use real crab meat here – plump, juicy, succulent pieces. It’s slathered with their special chilli crab sauce which is also served on the side as an excellent crust dip. I liked how this isn’t crazy spicy, & that the flavours stay quite true to what you’d expect of a chilli crab inspired pizza. Definitely a winner in my books.
Holy Crab! with dipping sauce
If you’re in the mood for more heat, Spicy Babe ($28) might be for you.. This one is for the mala lovers. The toppings are fairly simple – beef, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella & parmesan cheese. The pizza base is mala-infused, but the real heat comes from the sichuan chilli slathered all over the toppings. It packs a decent punch, while still remaining quite remaining palatable.
Beurre’s Oyster Happy Hour: Mon – Sat, 5-7PM. With a minimum order of 2 drinks, you can get these babies at $2++ a pop. Do read the fine print, though – with a minimum purchase of 6 oysters & maximum of 12 per bill, there isn’t much wiggle room IMHO. I reckon a table of 2 diners would optimize this perfectly…. Or a single solo yolo diner like myself 😂
My 6 Oysters & a Pinot Grigio
So these oysters… They are the bomb, man. While not the plumpest, they are juicy enough for my liking. Slightly creamy & with a tinge of brineyness – which is the flavour profile I enjoy. I ordered 6 oysters for myself & tbh as I sit here typing this, I’m tempted to order 6 more to finish on my own…
I enjoy my oysters best with a squeeze of lemon & a nice glass of wine. Pleased to find that Beurre’s drinks menu has some pretty affordable options. I chose the Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio. A light & fruity one, it has hints of pears & apples, which sounds easy to drink – & that it was. It also complemented the oysters nicely, warranting a double thumbs up from me 👍🏻👍🏻
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🖥 Accepts reservations – I used Chope 🍽 Burpple Beyond Partner (1-for-1 set course menu)
I was recently able to secure a slot to purchase some mochi muffins from Tiky Mochi Muffin, a hot home-based bakery which I’m sure needs no introduction. Snagged a CNY Bundle Box ($25.50 nett, PayNow payment only), which comprises of a mix of 3 CNY + 3 Original flavours of choice.
My selection – 🔸3 CNY Flavours: Honey Butter Cornflake, Red Velvet Cream Cheese, Ondeh Ondeh 🔹3 Original Flavours: Thai Milk Tea, Double Chocolate, Matcha Adzuki
Inside a box of 6 Tiky Mochi Muffins
After sinking my teeth into the first muffin, I regretted not buying more (limited to 3 boxes per order though 😂). The texture of the muffins is pleasantly chewy. For some reason, I expected the texture to be similar to the Pão de Queijo from Four Leaves. Using that as reference, it’s actually much denser, & makes for a solid, firmer (but still chewy) bite.
The good variety of flavours are appealing, too, with seasonal flavours rotating to keep things interesting. If I had to pick a favourite, it’d be the Red Velvet Cream Cheese (CNY flavour) & the Matcha Adzuki (original flavour). These can keep for a couple of days (details/instructions are provided), however I found that these were mfost satisfactory on the day I collected them.
Happy to support local businesses & even more so when it’s one run by a friend. Congratulations Tiky Mochi Muffin on your 1st anniversary! They’re running a crazy promotion for February where delivery is only $1, which is insane. I self-collected my stash, & while it was a fuss-free experience, I’d gladly opt for $1 delivery in a heartbeat.
Can’t decide what I love more about Lean Bento – that their food is delicious & healthy, or that they constantly innovate to keep things fresh & exciting. This festive season, check out their unique Lo Hei specialties, served from 14 Jan – 26 Feb 2021 (excluding Sun), in the various portion sizes that you need.
Plentiful Wealth Lo Hei Gift Box
Pictured above is the Plentiful Wealth Lo Hei Gift Box for 1 pax – yes, that’s right, I can lo my own hei by myself! Perfect for my solo dinner on a busy work day. This $29.88 deal comes with a set of cutlery & a bottle of water. TBH, I’m not hot about disposables, but I acknowledge the convenience if you want to eat this outside of home.
Bottled water for thirsty people like me
It’s presentable too, which makes it great as a gift. With an ingredient cheering label in Chinese on the inside of the cover, that gets plus points for convenience (but remember, don’t flout the rules this CNY). More importantly, it’s delicious & healthy 😄 My favourite ingredient is the freshwater unagi. A great substitute to the traditional sashimi that you’d usually find – a particularly meaningful replacement for me as I can’t eat raw fish.
Unagi in Lo Hei? It actually works.
To me, this is the star of the show. Grilled lovingly & with a velvety smooth texture, it glides down your throat for that oomph shiok factor. Against a bed of fresh homemade ingredients – julienned carrot, white radish, dragonfruit cubes, golden egg crepe, citrus & melon strips, & so on. Topped off with a great miso dressing – there is no lingering saccharine taste from the sweet sauce in traditional lo heis. With such complementary flavours, I actually used up the whole sauce portion – which I normally don’t, but this was too good to pass up.
Might I add, also – the golden crackers, a hot crowd favourite? These are low-fat, tasty & guilt-free. I mean, I don’t count calories… But for what it’s worth, this dish in its entirety is under 650kcal a serving, with Protein 35g, Carbohydrate 62g, Fat 29g, Fibre 8g.
Thank you Charleswanmushi for sending over this Lean Bento gift box! A great start to the oxpicious new year 🤩
My quietest Dining City Restaurant Week thus far – still playing it safe while COVID-19 is still out there. I’m only heading out for special occasions & this was one of them – & I’m glad it was with Monti; I enjoyed the experience & their lunch menu very much.
Monti’s Lunch Menu for DiningCity Restaurant Week 2020
This originally had been the last weekend of Restaurant Week in July 2020, but good news! This had been so successful for Monti that they decided to extend their menu into the month of August – both for lunch & dinner.
AMUSE BOUCHE
Starting off with the Amuse Bouche & Warm Bread
♦️ Chicken Liver Pâté Served in a Cone with Balsamic Pearl I am typically not a Pâté person, but I’ll eat it if presented in front of me. This was delightfully creamy & not too offensive on the tastebuds. A good start to the meal!
APPETIZERS
Appetizer: Burratina Ice Cream
♦️ Burratina Ice Cream & Eggplant Caponata with Parma Ham, in Artichoke Basil Scented Soup
Unfortunately I found this underwhelming, nothing much to rave about… I would’ve been much more satisfied with a hunk of burrata cheese tbh.
Appetizer: Grilled Asparagus with Egg
♦️ Grilled Asparagus with Sous Vide Free-Range Egg, Caramelised Red Onion, Cream of Parmesan, Veal Reduction & Toasted Almond Flakes
I still had my bread when this eggy goodness arrived. Broke the yolk, dipped it in & it’s like yakun on steroids. Getting my hopes up now are we…
MAIN COURSE
Main: Saddle of Lamb
♦️ Roasted Saddle of Lamb with a Pistachio Crust, on a bed of Braised Savory Cabbage with Pancetta; Token Caramelized Apple & Mustard Sauce Quite impressed with the tenderness of the meat. Pistachio crust adds great crunch & savoury cabbage gives a welcomed sourness that refreshes your palate in between bites.
Main: Duck Leg
♦️ Slow Cooked Duck Leg slathered with Morello Cherry Sauce on a bed of Roasted Truffle Potato, alongside Porcini Crocchetta & Baby Carrot
Also quite tender & flavourful, I enjoyed this duck that was paired well with the fruity-sweet cherry sauce.
DESSERT
Dessert: Tiramisu
♦️ Tiramisu This needs no introduction, really. One of the better ones I’ve had here in Singapore. Very well balanced, & each bite left me wanting more.
Happy Birthday!
Last but certainly not least, a birthday surprise for my dear friend who took time out of her busy birthday weekend to dine with me! Thank you Monti for acceding to my request 😍 This sweet gesture, the top notch service throughout, in a classy yet cosy environment with a great view made our afternoon absolutely perfect.
Monti @ Fullerton Pavilion
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope, but for Restaurant Week please go to DiningCity’s website
I knew about Dirty Buns when circuit breaker was still in full swing, but hadn’t taken action ’til now. Besides delivery & self-collection, they now also accept walk-ins, though take note there is a daily limit of 80 burgers daily.
Dining in at City Sprouts, where Dirty Buns is located
At $11 nett for a double patty burger, & only $8 nett for a single patty one, these burgers are a steal. After hearing such rave reviews about them, I had to give them a shot. Filled out their easy peasy online Google form & paid via PayNow to confirm my order.
Collected my order at Okome, one of the food stalls at City Sprouts
The journey to City Sprouts to collect my burger was somewhat painful & I got lost several times on the road. Wondered several times if I should’ve just paid for the also-affordable delivery fee of $5 (lol). But eventually I got there, & collection was fuss free. Parking is also free. Just like America, with their freedom of speech & all.
Double Patty Beef Burger with Fries
Is it worth the hype? A resounding YES. The buns maintained good fluffyness despite being squished in the neatly bundled wrapping. The patties were seasoned well & remained moist. Some have said the patties are heavily seasoned but I beg to differ – maybe they tweaked the recipe?
Overall, this traveled well on the journey home. The fries were okay, I don’t think I should judge fries because I was 20 minutes late in collecting my order (read: it had been sitting there for a while 😭).
But 20 minutes late & I’d still order the burger again? Think that says a lot. My dad also enjoyed this burger, so that’s 2 thumbs up from our household!
Order online & skip the queue – you’ll thank me for it. When I waltzed in to Two Men Bagel House at Holland Village (this was just when circuit breaker measures were freshly introduced), all 15 people patiently waiting in line to order were bewildered.
I checked with them to make sure they were in the ordering (not picking up) queue, then waltzed right past them to the pickup counter to grab my bagel order & go.
My Biggie Smalls
The lady whom I asked stopped me (nicely) on my way out to ask how she can pre-order instead of having to wait in line… I told her it’s simple, just go to their website, pay for your order, & you can pick your order up in 30 – 60 mins.
Two Men’s bagels honestly sell themselves – their incredulously aesthetic bagels teeming with amazing, hearty ingredients. I just wanted to post this photo to highlight that yes, you can order online, & also doesn’t this look SO DELICIOUS!?
& before JB from FB comments to kaopeh about why I never say what bagel this is – this is the Biggie Smalls. It contains flank, caramelized onions, charred broccolini slaw, mint gremolata, aioli, & sells for $15.00 SGD.
But hor, their website is very simple to navigate. Just go there & play match-the-picture/ingredients & read a bit of English lor. Corright or not, JB from FB?
Bui Bui Eats 