Took me a while to get acknowledged by the staff at The Oyster Bank – waiting at the “please wait to be seated” sign for almost 5 minutes didn’t exactly give me a very good first impression to begin with.
Happy Hour here is from 12 – 9PM daily, & Happy Shucking Hour is 5 – 8PM on weekdays, 3 – 6PM on weekends. Double reasons to be happy. This was the reason why I came here in the first place.
The Oyster Bank’s bar area
During Happy Shucking Hour, naked oysters go at $2++ a pop (usual price $3.90++). You can order a maximum of 6 naked oysters per drink.
6 naked oysters
I ordered a glass of Somerton Cabernet Sauvignon ($10++ HH / $13++ U.P.); was shocked to find a glass of white wine delivered to me. They messed that up, but nothing unforgivable lah. Sent it back & got a glass of the correct wine shortly after.
Naked oysters with red wine? Yes.
The oysters are pretty delicious; not crazy plump, but I love how they are quite creamy & with a hint of brineyness to them. Wine was not bad, so in all I’d return for Happy (Shucking or otherwise) Hour again.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🛋 Bar & table seats available 📶 Free WiFi (Funan is a CapitaLand Mall)
I still remember my first trip to Fat Belly, before Burpple Beyond even existed. Fond memories, & glad to be back here again. They still have their regular menu, but the Tasting Menu ($80++) is something new.
You get 6* courses in this tasting menu, & if you’re a Burpple Beyond member you can swipe to redeem the 1-for-1 deal on this here. The Consommé & Starter Duo were served together, so I consider this as 1 course on its own.
Scallion oil was drizzled over the Consommé, which is made from clarified beef bone broth. Delicious & comforting, it was a good way to warm my tummy by waking it up gently.
The Starter Duo was a savoury tart & a financier. I preferred the former; the tart base crumbled nicely in my mouth with the softness of the truffle mascarpone. & the air dried beef, aged for 24 months, added a nice saltiness to it. The financier was a bit dry, its saving grace was really the foie gras mousse & duck fat to give it flavour & moisture. But I’m still not really a fan.
The Short Ribs were served with a Potato Pavé; both were easy to cut through, I enjoyed these cute cubes together very much. In fact, the greedy devil in me wished the cubes were bigger.
I appreciated the thinly sliced layers of potato that gave the Pavé good texture, & the little bit of Crème Fraîche balanced it out fairly well.
The meat was juicy & tender – & to be honest, I didn’t need the smoked sea salt flakes, as it was flavourful enough on its own already. I did dip it in the chimmichurri on occasion just to switch it up, but it was mighty fine on its own.
The Char Siew is one dish I’d kick the habit for – that is, my habit of always peeling fat away from my food. Nicely charred, the beef rib fingers were a little bit sweet & pretty dang orgasmic with the fats melting slowly in your mouth.
Served on a bed of wilted kale that does not have the characteristic bitterness of kale that most don’t enjoy. In fact, it was slightly crisp & I polished the whole plate of it clean!
Fat Belly’s Bikini was served quite quickly after the Char Siew – but don’t be mistaken, these are actually separate courses. I can’t decide what the best part of this dish was – the cheese (which you can see), or the bak kwa (which is hidden but is sizeably thicccc).
I actually don’t like bak kwa, but I loved this. Maybe because it’s wagyu beef. Maybe because it wasn’t dry or tough. Maybe because it was tasty. Probably all of the above. Enveloped by the melty emmental cheese, & sandwiched with 2 slices of crispy bread. I’ve probably just had pretty nasty bak kwa all my life. I’m glad this is one of the good ones!
We waited a while for the Tri Tip Wagyu to be served. The timing in between courses was quite inconsistent, but it might not matter to you if you’re dining with someone you can make good conversation with.
Tri Tip Wagyu. Hot damn.
Just look at that beauty. AusKobe F1 Wagyu Marble Score 4-5. If none of that matters to you, just know that this was hunky juicy tasty. The smoked king oyster mushrooms were also juicy, but had an unusual tangyness to them which raised an eyebrow or two.
I will preface this that it isn’t the best steak I’ve ever had. But I was fairly happy at the end. It paired nicely with the pomme puree – super creamy mashed potatoes, & the fragrance of the sprinkle of burnt shallots on top.
The last dish in this tasting menu – the Sweet. I was worried this would actually be too sweet, but my fears were unfounded. I surprisingly enjoyed it! It wasn’t too sweet. The pistachio mousse was smooth & light; the 2 little cherry cubes & 2 meringues on the side provide good variety between sour & sweet that you can alternate between.
Shopback GO led me here – surfed the app for cashback boost locations & this piqued my curiosity. So I made the trip down to The3Peas. Interesting to note that this hidden bar is actually located along my usual running route… So I pass by at least twice a week. Considerably incognito, I love it.
Don’t hunt too hard though – it’s located on the riverside bank opposite The Warehouse Hotel; just look for the 7-11 & it’s right next door. You’re welcome!
On the opposite bank is The Warehouse Hotel
I started off with something from their specialty cocktail menu – they have 7 on the list, but can whip up something to suit your preference. This is the beauty of a bespoke cocktail bar – & an added plus to me: Prices here are very reasonable.
My poison of choice, a little predictably, was the Glen O’ Fashioned ($20 nett) – Glenfiddich 12 whiskey, snow pear demerara reduction & acanthopanax bitters. Served in a chilled glass with a burnt orange slice. Sipped on it slowly as I did my own thing at the bar seats, & also talked to Eunice who was very friendly, chatty & passionate.
Glen O’ Fashioned
Aside from specialty cocktails, The3Peas also serves alcoholic bubble tea.. Fascinating. As a 0%-sugar bubble tea drinker, I was slightly hesitant to try this. But after talking to Eunice & hearing her take me through their alcoholic bubble tea offering, I knew I had to try one.
Their 3 standard offerings cover whiskey, gin & rum: Frambo-licious, Peach Ginie & Gingerbread Snap respectively, all at $15 nett a pop. But they can also do a bespoke surprise for you at $20 nett, which is still quite affordable.
I chose Peach Ginie (gin-based), which has freshly whipped cream on top a base of jasmine green tea. I enjoyed how the tea wasn’t bitter, even as I sipped on its fresh clearness – if you know what I mean (milk tea drinkers where ya at)
When you reach the bottom, you get the creaminess to end off the drink on a very lovely note. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!
Alcoholic bubble tea – served just like actual bubble tea
The pearls in these alcoholic bubble teas aren’t your traditional tapioca flour pearls. Think sizable fruit pops that burst in your mouth to reveal fruity flavours.
Don’t misinterpret these as saccharine sweet balls that will make you gag. They are only slightly sour if anything at all. I loved them. Mine were lychee, but they also have mango & strawberry fruit pops.
The whipped cream ends off your drink on a superb note
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🍽 Shopback GO partner 📶 No free WiFi 🙋♀️ No service charge 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable
Not gonna lie – this isn’t the best plate of wanton mee ($3.50 nett) I’ve ever had. However, a few notable points: I love how sizeable these wanton are, the charsiew ain’t half bad (I am curious to see how their roast duck/meat noodles/rice fair), & the sauce is somewhat special.
Not too shabby
I am not a fan of the noodles, being slightly clumpy & on the soft side. But nothing that a little chewing can’t handle.
Not worth a special journey down but as it is a convenient lunch location for me on weekdays, I’d come back again. The uncle is quite friendly too, although he tried to speak to me in Cantonese & I could only smile back. Nice chirpy chap.
Smoking is permitted in this coffeeshop – only at the designated smoking “zone” of a single row of tables facing the main road. But we all know how smell travels…. 🚭
I’ve always wanted to visit The Guild, having heard so much about their food as much as their drinks. This place is a collaboration between Hong Kong’s Young Master Brewery & Chef Vinny Lauria – so the fine balance of food & tasty beverages shouldn’t come as a surprise, really.
Entrance to The Guild
I mildly panicked when I learned that a new menu was being rolled out, but my fears were alleviated as I learnt that the hot favourites were being kept on the menu. Phew!
Chef Alton Huang working his magic
Our night unfolded in magnificent chronology – starting off with some Small Plates. Their In house Smoked Local Sea Bass ($13++) was impressive even to a non-fish-lover like myself. The skin was crispy – & y’all know I hate skin, but I ate this & enjoyed it! The fish meat itself was smokey indeed, but not in an off-putting way. That’s the Lychee Wood talking, & it pairs well with the home-made laksa pesto drizzle.
This beauty comes on a delightful salad of fennel, fresh green apple & herbs tossed in a tangy Young Master Brewery Vinaigrette. An intense yes accessible dish.
In house Smoked Local Sea Bass – an item from The Guild’s Small Plates menu
General Tso’s Frog Legs ($16++) is one of the hot favourites at The Guild. While frog dishes aren’t too uncommon in Singapore, having them as an appetizer is quite unique! Frog meat tastes like chicken to some (myself included), & I envisioned this to be like some sort of elevated chicken wing dish.
I wasn’t disappointed – each of the meaty frog legs is deep-fried & slathered with a generous coat of homemade sauce. The harmonious blend of orange, ginger & soy is great, & lays a good base for the chilli which packs a PUNCH! If you can’t handle spice at all, this isn’t for you. Very shiok to wash it down with a nice cold beer… Of which The Guild has plenty, by the way.
General Tso’s Frog Legs – like chicken but better
The Brawn Terrine ($13++) exemplifies what The Guild calls “nose to tail eating”. Sustainability & minimising food waste is admirable; this dish is made using pig’s head (which supposedly contains a high level of collagen!). Brined for 6 days & thereafter braised for another 6 hours, this is what gives the meat that meltingly tender texture.
Brawn Terrine – “nose to tail eating”
Understandably, some may be squeamish at the thought of eating pig’s head. I guess this isn’t for everyone, but it was memorable for me. I particularly liked its uniqueness, & also the flavours – robust, meaty, & served with pickled vegetables that cuts through that flavour, on top of crispy charred bread.
Pig’s head ain’t that bad…
The Guild’s Mac N’ Cheese ($21++) is LEGENDARY – for its crazy intense flavour, but also how picture-perfect it is. Just look at that house-cured egg yolk in the middle; it’s pure liquid gold. Mixed in with the rich AF cheddar sauce, this is possibly the most heavenly Mac & Cheese I’ve ever had.
Consider this fair warning, though – this is crazy creamy, I doubt anyone could comfortably finish this on their own. Not even a Bui Bui like me! Best shared amongst friends over good conversation.
Legen-dairy Mac N’ Cheese
The Salisbury Rubbed Hanger Steak ($37++) met with oohs & aahs as it was served. 250 grams of chunky hunky, this is one dish that I DON’T WANT TO SHARE because damn it’s good & you can never have enough beef 😂
I could honestly eat this on its own, but the roasted garlic aioli & laksa pesto are great for those who want added flavour & sauciness.
250g of Salisbury Rubbed Hanger Steak
The Guild’s vegetables menu is quite cool too. Egg(plant)ception ($18++) is a mind-boggling dish of eggplants cooked in 5 different ways: Marinated with Balsamic Vinegar, Breaded & deep-fried, Pickled, Smoky Purée, & Butter Roasted. My favourite is the butter roasted one 😉
An eggplant & an eggplant & an eggplant… 5 times over
The Grilled Spicy Cabbage ($14++) is another one for the spicy lovers. Lovingly charred, the acidity of the the tomato vinaigrette was delicious, & the spiciness very welcomed & refreshing. Topped off with a motherload of scallions for that added crunch – as if the cabbage itself weren’t crunchy enough already. Good way to get your veggies & fibre in!
Grilled Spicy Cabbage
In all, The Guild is a great place to tuck in to unique creations, & you’ll appreciate this place even more if you are someone who enjoys alcoholic beverages.
Aside from the plethora of beers they have on tap, they also have Gin & Tonic, & Highball Whiskey on tap. These are very popular; the Guildhouse G&T & Guildhouse Highball both go for $16.00++ a pop. & they also make a pretty mean Negroni..
Thanks Danielle & The Guild for the hospitality, & Damian for the invite! 💕
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
My usual favourite stall at Alexandra Village Food Centre was closed for 2 weeks, so I ventured to another one. Prawn Mee was the craving of the day, & it being past 2PM on a weekday, I didn’t have as much options at this hawker centre as compared to during regular lunch hour.
Gave Wei Zhong Qi Prawn Noodle 味中奇虾面 (#01-87) a shot, & ordered the large prawn noodles ($6.00 nett) because I was hungry.
In theory, this would have been good. Substantial ingredients: Several sizeable peeled prawns, fishcakes, thin pork slices that weren’t tough, & bean sprouts. However, this fell short of expectations & I knew it the moment it was served to me.
A lacklustre bowl of prawn mee
You can tell why, too. Just look at how overcooked the prawns are. & looking at the texture, the freshness is questionable too. My first bite into it confirmed this, & I struggled to finish the rest of the prawns in my bowl.
The soup also felt salt-laden, & didn’t have that umami flavour that I love. I also struggled to finish that, as well… Which is so unlike me.
Overall, unfortunately a disappointing bowl of prawn noodles that I wouldn’t recommend or order again.
Finally. I made my way down to The Feather Blade. Shopback GO may or may not have a part to play in this….. There was 10% cashback boost til a couple of days ago, I knew I had to visit! That promotion’s done with, but their usual 5% cashback is still pretty bomb.
Queued for 15 mins slightly past 8PM on a weekday; got a seat at the bar counter for myself. Not too shabby.
Popcorn to snack on while I waited
Wasn’t asked how I’d like my steak ($21++), but it was done medium rare, which is how I’d like it to begin with. Very pleased with the steak as much as the side of Mushrooms ($7++) that I ordered.
Juicy steak with a side of mushrooms
If you’re looking for #propersteaks, this is the place to be. Yes, it reminds me of Flat Iron in London, but so what? Give me a delicious steak & you’ll make me very happy. 🥩
#propersteakshere
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🍽 Shopback GO partner 💦 Water is not chargeable
Itching for something to do after work on my birthday, I decided to head down to 6 Grey Bar. I tried being a good student & do some homework beforehand, but I didn’t find much info online.
Entrance to 6 Grey Bar along Jiak Chuan Road
So… I’m not a gin expert, but their variety here is impressive. Chit-chatted quite a bit with Jo; we skipped past Brockmanns, Gin Mare, Botanist, Roku, Bulldog… All of which are delicious, but which I’ve tried before.
Extensive collection of gin
Then the fun started. Jo introduced me to several unique gins that I’ve never heard of before. Think Wasabi Gin, Ant-infused Gin… You might assume these are gimmicky. I’ll admit, they drew me in. But that aside, the flavours are pretty special. Worth a shot (or two 😂).
Gin with actual green ants inside
Wasabi gin!
I’m an early bird, & if you’re like me you will love the quietness of this place – they also have an excellent playlist, btw. I enjoyed my French Earl Grey Gin & Tonic ($22 nett) as much as I did my Me Time.
My G&T
On Fridays/Saturdays (depending on when they have events planned), it gets crowded here as the night goes on. DJs lined up & all! Looks like I’ll have to return when my party mode is on 🎉
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 📶 Free WiFi available – from Hotel 81 next door 😂 🙋🏻♀️ No Service Charge 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable
Oops I did it again. Shopback GO brought me here with their 20% cashback deal. I’ve dined at Nipong Naepong before – I am a sucker for pasta & I love soupy things, so their menu is right up my alley.
Hooray for 20% cashback on Shopback GO!
Before you even order, you get a little plate of appetizer served to you. This whet my appetite as I eagerly waited for my meal.
A little spicy appetizer
I looked around & noticed each table had a clean container for diners to put their mussel shells in. Makes eating very convenient.
Interior of Nipong Naepong – spot the mussel shell container
Being a seafood lover, I ordered the Il Pong ($15.80++). Not much to plating or instagrammability here, which I don’t care much for. Huge mountain of pasta under the seafood ingredients – I initially thought this was disproportionately carby, but as I ate on, I realized a good amount of seafood was at the bottom.
The dash of chilli oil gives this dish a decent level of spice that might cause the average person to break out in a sweat, though I personally found it pleasant & enjoyed it. If you don’t like spicy food, try ordering something else; they do have non-spicy options.
Il Pong – soupy, seafoody, slightly spicy
You WILL be very full after this meal; small eaters be warned!
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🍽 Shopback GO partner 📶 Free WiFi available (JEM‘s WiFi)
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I should be eating this much post-workout. But by the end of my meal I was like, Workplace Espresso Bar y’all did goooood.
Basic salads here cost $9.90 nett, includes 1 grain (but you can chose 2 types) + 2 cold proteins + 4 toppings + 1 sauce.
My DIY salad bowl at Workspace Espresso Bar (sauce on the side not pictured)
I opted for soba & couscous (you can mix 2 types for variety or just choose 1 type), chicken & diced prawns, grilled sweet potato, edamame beans, hard boiled egg, mushrooms, & lime cashew sauce on the side. Portions are big here; I was definitely full at the end of my meal.
I was particularly impressed by the chicken, as it wasn’t dry or tasteless. It was surprisingly moist & tasted slightly tangy too. Premium ingredients cost more – the chicken isn’t premium, but the diced prawns are.
Still a decent variety at the end of the night
Despite it being the end of the night (by the time I left, one of the staff was mopping the floor already), they still had a decent variety of ingredients, though some ran out (e.g. pulled beef).
Happy that I discovered Workspace Espresso Bar out of sheer coincidence; impressed with the quality, quantity & price point. Will definitely come back here to dine healthy again.
Even happier that I got to boost my cashback via Shopback GO to 20%, as it was my first visit & it coincides with this promotional period! After my first visit, it goes back to 3% cashback but that’s still a good deal.
A pleasant surprise from Shopback GO – just a tap of a button & my cashback is boosted!
My cashback was tracked in a matter of minutes after I paid, though I understand with some cards & some merchants it may take a while longer.
Shopback GO tracked my cashback very quickly
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 📱 ShopBack GO partner 📶 Free WiFi available
Bui Bui Eats 