Unfortunately, here’s another non-aesthetic photo… Even more so because the cup is opaque & you can’t see through it π But hear me out!
Cupfy Golden Oolong Tea with Lime
I ordered Cupfy’s Golden Oolong Tea with Lime ($5.90 nett) with less ice (doesn’t cost additional) & added Taro Balls (+$1 nett). Had my usual 0% sugar level – which made the lime taste even more distinctly sour. I didn’t mind that (I love sour drinks), but as a result I couldn’t really taste anything Oolongy, which apparently is their specialty.
Maybe this wasn’t the best combination to order. Coupled with the fact that the only option for pearls is taro balls (no regular tapioca/konjac/etc pearls)… That was an odd pairing. But it’s my habit to never drink bubble tea without pearls!
Just wanna put a couple of factual things out there as well, in hopes that this info will help someone:
πΉ This is NOT an actual store with a storefront; it’s prepared within Grab Kitchen Aljunied (@ Victory Centre, #02-08) πΉ Order from them on GrabFood – delivery & self-collection options possible πΉ At the time of writing, I made use of a 15% off self pick-up coupon on the Grab app πΉ If you’re self-collecting & driving, Victory Centre’s carpark has a 10-mins grace period, which is sufficient time if there’s no queue…
Gravitea’s Oolong Cheese Tea ($4.50 nett) with Pearls (+$0.50 nett) left much to be desired, though. Tea was disappointingly diluted, albeit I was comforted by the chewy, nicely done pearls.
I finished the pearls, but couldn’t bring myself to do the same for the tea.
Also took a while to be prepared – which I can overlook if this was a good cup, but it unfortunately wasn’t.
Oolong Cheese Tea with Pearls
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats only
I’m actually quite impressed with Le Yi Bei (δΉδΈζ―)Taro Fresh Milk (M: $3.80 nett/ L: $4.80 nett, pictured). The taro taste is pretty robust. Pearls (+$0.50) are on the small side, but have a good chew & bounce to them.
Would buy this again! In fact, I’d like to try their’s actual teas – couldn’t do so today as it’s late in the evening & I do want to sleep tonight π
π΅ Accepts cash only ππ»ββοΈ Membership card available for free (collect stamps!)
Had a really enjoyable night with a plethora of delicious food, good variety of cocktails & even better company. I enjoyed listening to the unique stories behind each of these & Iβm sure you will too. All part of the experience & good vibes here.
Bar seats at Laut
So the food at Laut – how do I summarize it, if thatβs even possible. Each dish has a story of its own, inspired by local flavours, staying quite true to that yet managing to be unique/intriguing.
Sometimes, you just need to try a dish to really be wow-ed by it. Describing it doesnβt do it justice (or maybe itβs just me π). The Burnt Eggplant Dip ($12+) was that for me. Itβs essentially that, with a tomato & onion relish – served with curry spiced papadums.
Burnt Eggplant Dip
First of all, props to the papadums for being fresh & crispy, because thereβs nothing like a soggy papadum to ruin your day. Secondly, what sorcery is exactly in this dip?? Such distinct yet harmonious flavours: The smokeyness from the char, creaminess of the eggplant, & flavourful spice (not heat!) from the papadums. This was a hot favourite for the original days when customers would order this during CB 1.0 for delivery. &, of course, it still is.
Bergedil with Umami Soil
The Bergedil ($15+) is another dish that has a cool story to it. It does remain true to its tasty fried potato nature – with good fragrance & flavour which I believe is in part from the Madras curry oil, balanced with the earthiness from the trumpet mushrooms. But what truly takes the cake is what they call the umami soil. Thatβs where the story gets pretty cool to me! Iβll leave that to the good folks at Laut to tell it to you. I was quite fascinated as Damian took me through the narrative. π
I had a Malay-speaking friend who asked me if Laut was seafood-inspired cuisine, as laut translates to seafood in Malay. The scrumptious sharing plates I enjoyed had seafood as the main star. When dining restrictions open up, Iβd recommend dining in with a sizeable group, so you can order more items off this sharing menu.
Squid Gado
I hate it when squid/octopus are overcooked, rubbery & tough to the chew. Lautβs Squid Gado ($27+) was anything but that. The seared whole squid was done so marvellously that it was almost melt in your mouthβ¦ I had to pause to think about whether I actually put the correct thing in my mouth π (just an excuse to have a 2nd bite, amiraiiii?)
& the βGadoβ in the name – you guessed it – the peanut sauce in the Gado Gado we all know & love.
Otah
BUT WAIT, thatβs not all. Introducing the Otah ($37+) – by far the most atas otah youβve ever hadβ¦ & dare I say, it is worth it. The mix of fish? Oh, no big deal, just some awesome barramundi, blended mackerel & squid. π§
This otah really left me wanting more. Its texture is bouncy & firm, & the rempah mix was on point with good flavour. I loved the Nyonya Achar on the side as well, which provided nice refreshing acidity in between bites. It actually also goes well with the otah in a single bite, too. On the whole, this was an addictive dish & one of my favourites of the night.
Now, on to the drinks. I tend to be wary when cocktails arrive at my table very pretty. I appreciate good aesthetics, but not at the expense of bad taste, i.e. saccharine sweet or artificially syrupy. This was anything but that; & the variety of bespoke cocktails here is quite impressive:
πΈ Kopi O ($21+) – strong flavours, but thankfully I was able to sleep that night. Personally enjoyed the creaminess of the coconut oil that goes well with the coffee. β‘οΈ Trigona vodka, nitro charged Sumatra coffee, toasted bread vinegar, orange pekoe tea, coconut oil
πΈ Mata Kuching ($21+) – as a sweet treat, this isnβt my typical cocktail profile, but is likely an easy drink for some folks. β‘οΈ Aged malt, smoked longan distillate, rambutan & lychee soda, cat whiskers flower (they upsized our flower for us haha)
πΈLengkuas ($21+) – refreshing, beachy vibes, feels like a summertime drink without the scorching heat or sunburn β‘οΈ Aged Malaysian Molasses, Citrus Granitas, Laut triple spiced ginger beer.
A well-established tempura specialty chain in Japan, Tempura Makino, has come to our shores! Conveniently located at #02-305/308/311 of Suntec City’s West Wing, it’s near Donki (if you need a landmark) & nearer to Esplanade than Promenade MRT.
Within the premises, there are options to dine at booth or counter seats – if you’re seated at the latter, you get a good view of chef freshly preparing made-to-order tempura.
Tempura Makino’s Interior – Booth/Counter Seats
Tempura Makino’s style of tempura is right up my alley. As you can see, the batter is light & crispy. Really appreciate how it’s not dripping (or even soggy – eeks) in oil. They even have Mochi Ice Cream Tempura ($4.80++/piece)!? There are 2 flavour options: Strawberry/Matcha. Mochi gives this dessert a chewy texture, alongside the ice cream which is creamy & takes a while to melt. While I don’t have a sweet tooth, hence am undecided if I’d order this again, this gets plus points for novelty.
Mochi Ice Cream Tempura
I am a MASSIVE lover of eggs, & their Tempura Egg ($2.50++/pc) me greatly π After seeing Jamie’s Instagram stories & hearing her rave about it, I must say it lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed every slurpy bit of it & could totally eat this on its own to savour the creaminess of the yolk. But I found myself pairing it together with the other tempura we had & enjoying it more that way.
Tempura Egg
Speaking of creamy – know what else is creamy? These Tempura Oysters ($3.80++/pc)! They were absolutely bursting in my mouth.. & I was shocked when Jamie revealed these are priced so affordably. IMHO they tasted & felt more lux than that. Will definitely order this again the next time I’m here.
Plump Tempura Oysters
Special shoutout goes to the noods, which are available in cold/hot options – we picked cold for both.
I loved how silky smooth the Inaniwa Udon ($7.80++) is, & enjoyed the Soba ($6.80++) that I nicked from Evan. Both are good for sure, & it probably is a matter of preference as both of us had a different favourite carb choice.
Cold Inaniwa Udon & Soba Noodles
Wash down your meal with some refreshing ice cold draft beer – I had a pint of Asahi Super Dry ($13.80++/pint, $8.80++/half-pint)…
A pint of Asahi Super Dry
… Or pair it with their housepour sake: β [Cold] Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo ($48++/300ml, $30++/180ml) π₯ [Hot] Hakushika Nadajikomi ($30++/300ml, $20++/180ml) πΆ They also have other sake bottles available for the discerning ones (i.e. not me)
Housepour Cold Sake – Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo
Other tempura items on their food menu include: β‘ Prawn & Vegetable Tempura ($16++): A nice platter of Prawns (3 pieces), Eggplant, Maitake (mushroom), Butternut Pumpkin, French Bean, Lotus Root
Prawn & Vegetable Tempura
β‘ Chicken Fillet ($5.80++/plate): I’m not a huge fan of chicken tempura, but this is one of the better ones out there. The chicken was juicy & thankfully not dry
Chicken Fillet Tempura
β‘ Mentai Seaweed ($6.80++/plate): A heaping amount of mentai in this one – personally too overwhelming for me, but A+ for generosity! Probably best eaten with rice to balance out the salty flavours. Seaweed remains crispy alongside the light tempura batter ππ»
Mentai Seaweed
β‘ Asparagus ($2.80++/piece): My favourite veggie tempura of them all – well executed, with a lovely crunch to the bite. There’s an Asparagus with Bacon ($4.80++/plate) option as well, for the porky lovers. I’d imagine that’d add a nice savoury touch to the Taste of Green.
Asparagus Tempura
β‘ Okinawan Mozuku Seaweed ($5.80++/plate): No this is not hair LOL. It’s quite a sight to behold, also delightfully crunchy, & I think this is where the light batter really shines. I can’t imagine this being enjoyable in a thicker batter & dripping in oil. I loved chowing down on this goodness with the tempura egg π
Okinawan Mozuku Seaweed
Thanks Jamie/EN Group for the invite & hospitality! π
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.. π€
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.
When I’m alone, I usually sit at the bar for a nice view of the bottles & the occasional chit chat/playful banter. But at Set of Six, it might be a tough call.. Both seem like good options. The seats look quite comfy & yes that is a disco ball π
Set of Six’s premises
Doesn’t look like something I’d typically order, but looks can be deceiving – Orchard Smash ($25++) is a cognac-based cocktail with citrusy goodness. Deceivingly refreshing with Dry CuraΓ§ao & Mint, go slow & savour it in all its cheerfulness, despite the temptation to slurp it all down. It’ll hit you with a fairly nice buzz after.
Orange Smash
Didn’t have much time to spend here, but glad I made it & I will certainly be back. Make your reservations early as it gets packed as night falls. Yes lol I was here at 5pm on a Saturday – was able to walk in, but not before they asked me how long I’d be staying.
45 mins, I laughed. Hehehe.
Everyone takes a photo here (outside the bathroom)
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats only π₯ Accepts reservations online/by phone π¦ Water is not chargeable
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 π
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 ππ»ππ»
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available β Al fresco seats available π₯ Accepts reservations – I used Chope π½ Burpple Beyond Partner (1-for-1 set course menu)
Check out my latest beer stash from Crust Brewing! I shared their Instagram post & tagged them to get $10 off & free delivery. Sweet deal.
I love bread, & I love beer. I also love “optimizing” every part of my life. To know that the founders of Crust believe in maximizing their resources & reducing waste.. I like that. This seems like a great fit for my alcoholism, tastes & beliefs π
Crust was born out of their love for beer & founded on their strong belief in sustainability. Making use of fresh surplus bread from various sources (bakeries, hotels, grocers) in the brewing process, these bread are given a new lease of life instead of going to waste. π π»
They currently have 5 beers available; 2 flagship & 3 collaborations. Quickly DM them for details, limited stock available!
My Happy Family of Crust Beer
Unfortunately, with circuit breaker rules in place, Crust Brewing can’t produce or bottle more beers at the moment. But hopefully once these restrictions are lifted, their online store will be up & running for us to GO GO GO π€π»π»
Also worthy to note: Don’t throw the beer bottles out when you’re done – you get a 50Β’ refund per bottle on your next order when you return them. They also reuse their carton boxes for delivery, so keeping those to return to them would be helpful too.
Free delivery on all orders, by the way
So how do the beers fare?
Breaking Bread Ale (5% ABV)
Breaking Bread Ale (5% ABV)
Crust entered the market with this flagship light ale. An easy pale ale to drink, the tasting notes are crisp & floral fragrant. Its caramel notes linger around, but it isn’t sweet. Not sure if I’m imagining it (placebo effect or issit I’m drunk liao), but I do taste a faint yeastyness of bread.
I like it! Would order this again. I am glad that the “duplicate beer” (6 bottles but only 5 kinds of beer, remember?) is this one π»
Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV)
Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV) with The 1925 Brewing Co.
The aftertaste is quite reminiscent of kaya – just a hint, only – without the saccharine sweetness that I dislike. This creamy stout has notes that remind me of roasted coffee beans & caramel.. The flavour profile isn’t too strong, but it is nonetheless delicious. A well-executed, easy-to-drink stout that I am impressed with.
The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV)
The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV) with Edible Garden City
Crust’s pioneer collaboration brew with Edible Garden City has hints of green mango. Not from actual mangoes (but my photo gets an A+ for effort, right?), but from ulam rajas grown right here in Singapore. Don’t know what that is? Google it. I had to. No shame in that, I’m always curious to learn π
I’m not a huge fan of IPAs, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked how refreshing this was with the slightly fruity notes.. Yet the characteristic hoppyness of an IPA was not lost. Made it easier to drink than your usual IPA.
I’d order this again – hopefully I’m not too late as it’s running low in stock. It’s a popular one!
Beerguette (4.5% ABV)
Beerguette (4.5% ABV) with Tiong Bahru Bakery
Another collaboration brew, this time with Tiong Bahru Bakery. This pilsner-style beer uses TBB’s fresh surplus baguettes. I found it to be rather bitter & too hoppy for my liking; in terms of flavour profile, I (expectedly) didn’t taste much breadyness in this one.
Not really my kind of beer – but everyone has their preferences, right? I’d still say give it a shot if you haven’t tried it before. I recommend starting out ordering a 6 pack so you can try Crust’s full variety of 5 types of beer. Then re-order your favourites next time.
I Knead An Easy IPA (4.7% ABV)
I Knead An Easy IPA (4.7% ABV)
Right off the bat, I love this pun on their 2nd flagship beer. Second to that, this is quite the easy IPA to drink. The hoppyness is balanced with the fruity flavours.
Out of their 2 flagship products, though, I prefer the Breaking Bread Ale for its crisp/clean profile. Unfortunately, that’s sold out for now – when they’re able to start bottling again, grab that quick!
Tucked in a corner of Onze @ Tanjong Pagar, an inconspicuous condominium nestled in a cul-de-sac, I don’t think That Coffee and Beer Place gets much passerby traffic. It was Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deals that brought me here.
The Entrance to That Coffee and Beer Place
Burpple Beyond Premium Membership gives you 2 Coffee/Tea deals, 2 Set Meal deals. I originally wanted to just get a coffee, but the breakfast set (served 8 – 11AM, Mon – Sat) deal was pretty tempting.
Interior of That Coffee and Beer Place
Breakfast Set = 1 Baked Good + Coffee/Tea. There are 2 different price points: $6.90 or $5.90 per set. I bought the more expensive one, choosing both options for baked goods to cover all ground:
Turkey Ham & Cheese Croissant
Smoked Salmon Quiche
Both of these are $5.90 on their own, so this set is really worth it. & when you swipe Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal, you save even more!
2 Breakfast Sets
My croissant was deflated by the time I reached home, probably from being heated up before being packed away π’ It looked sad, but was surprisingly delicious! Sufficient saltiness from the turkey ham, harmonized with the slight creaminess of the emmental cheese. The croissant wasn’t crispy anymore, but if you saw this as a light & flaky piece of bread, I guess that’s ok π
I thought I’d like the quiche more, but I wasn’t a fan of the mushyness of the salmon. I’d prefer larger flakes of chunky fish.. But that’s my preference. Taste wise, it was okay. It is pretty dense, with a good crumbly crust.
Which one would I order again? The croissant, actually. Even though the quiche is substantially more filling. I just liked the flavours a lot better.
What I liked best, though, was the Cafe Latte. It was creamy & smooth. Started my day off on a good note. I’d head back here again just for this when I next drop my sister off at work!
Great Latte
Or maybe I’ll try the $5.90 breakfast sets: Butter Croissant, Chocolate Danish, JalapeΓ±o Cheese Brezel… Which one sounds good?
Ps: As you can infer from their name, they also serve beer here! I also love how they have a cute bottle opener mounted where the cash register is π
Craft Beer on Tap
π΅ Cash/NETS only π¬ Air-conditioned seats only π½ Burpple Beyond partner πΆ Free WiFi available π¦ Water is not chargeable ππ»ββοΈ No service charge π« No GST
Bui Bui Eats 