The Pensieve

Highlander Coffee

Ambience: 6.5
Coffee: 7
Directions: along row of shophouses directly facing the Outram bus interchange…

An immensely popular and convenient place especially for people working in that region, Highlander’s is the place for a lunch time meetup, a quick cuppa to boost you for the rest of your grueling day at work, or simply a light lunch. The coffee’s easy to drink, not too acidic and yet still flavorful. My only grouse is the tables are rather tiny and the chairs even more so. Not very comfortable for a long sit-in afternoon tea and gossip session for gal pals… (probably for good reason…)

I had their latte and Tandoori chicken wrap… not bad but not the best I’ve had so far. Gotta respect that it’s a coffee place and not an Indian gourmet kitchen. Anyway, for all keen to check out this place, do note that they are closed on weekends :(

La Villa Enrique - Dempsey
Ambience: 8/10 (especially outdoors at night)
Food: 7/10
Service: 6/10

Selection of 6 tapas - 3 hot tapas (mejillones, chorizo y croquetas), 3 cold tapas (jamón serrano, patata ensalata…

Mains - Pescado a la planca (in short)

Mains - Pollo cocido con pimientos rojos

Dessert was crema catalana (which was just like creme brûlée).

La Villa is tucked away in a deep corner of Dempsey. It has fantastic outdoors sitting with a beautiful outdoors bar and real fires haha… Good for an evening get-together after work or a company event too! Inside, the setting is rather quiet and there’s lots of space allowing a certain degree of privacy which makes it perfect for a night of romance too. As for me, it was a night out with the gals in celebration of just being US :) The sangria was quite good there too, not the watered down crap you get elsewhere… It certainly serves food of a better quality and taste than a certain other probably more well-known Spanish restaurant in Dempsey.

Food: 6/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 8/10

Hosted on the Patio is nestled in the private compound which used to be the ITE. It has both inside and outside seating with bar-seats available too. It’s also able to cater for large groups and events too. Quite a few people have mentioned how difficult it was to find the place, but I think it wasn’t actually too hard in fact…

What struck me most about this place was the excellent and very friendly service we had there. I think that good service in restaurants is about as rare as a four-leaf clover these days in Singapore, so special mention should be made of the ever attentive staff with great initiative which made the dining experience very enjoyable indeed. When we first got to the restaurant, we were given a place in the innermost area where there happened to be a large group dining. Due to the rather ‘echoey’ acoustics of that place, we would hardly hear ourselves over the din. The staff very understandingly opened up a table in the al fresco area for us. Though it was kind of warmer (cos there wasn’t any air-conditioning there) it was nevertheless much quieter. To top it off, when one of the tables at the comfy quieter inside area had been cleared they even transferred us there. It was really nice of them to take that extra effort of setting and then clearing a table. They were also always there to top us our water (yay, there’s free water here, even warm water if you wanted it hah!)

We had the seafood angel hair pasta (in olive oil), the roasted barramundi and the pork rack. I’d say the pasta was a tad too salty for me (but then I do possess a rather bland sort fo palatte). The fish and pork were very well done though the portions were really small and don’t contain carbo…

Overall, I’d say that it’s a bit on the pricey end, I’d probably prefer to go for drinks and finger food :)

Visit to see for yourself!

The Scarlet - A Boutique Hotel

Having had all our previous movie nights at big commercialised type of hotels (which were really wonderful), we decided to go for a boutique hotel this time round. The Scarlet had long attracted us with its decadently luxurious website and the rich colours they employed.

Chanderlier at the lobby
Absolutely stunning is the chandelier which hangs above their lobby… (heh heh I so like bright and shiny things…) The hotel’s facade is interesting too. They’ve some very unique settees and chairs gracing the front door, and a separate bar and small parlour next to their main lobby. It’s all so ‘Victorian-like’ and rich… velvet, warm strong passionate colours… It’s definitely the opposite of spartan or Zen. :)

Executive room

Bathroom

The rooms were clean and neatly done up, very cosy but quite small for a movie night event… Haha knowing how we might just have up to 4 people in the room… (yes I know that’s frowned upon) . The Scarlet is a perfect place for a weekend getaway for couples or a very pretty and affordable hotel hotel for anyone visiting Singapore. It’s located in a prime location that offers treats from the many facets of Singapore - ranging from the rich and colourful cultural exposee in Chinatown, to the quiet leafy surroundings of many restaurants and bars in Duxton Hill and the nearby Maxwell market full of local delights.

There was a rather dominant and exotic theme that night as most of our movies were quite ‘foreign’, with the exception of ‘When In Rome’ (a romantic comedy). The favourites were easily ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘My Name is Khan’ (think we bawled our eyes out for that one…) ‘Coco and Chanel’ (starring one of my favourite actresses, Audrey Tantou) was very enjoyable as well. :)

PS: I think I will watch ‘3 Idiots’ again soon :)

This is a really dated entry on Restaurant Week that was like months ago…

Anyway, it’s quite a good deal and a great opportunity to try out some of these really atas restaurants…

Le Bon Marché
Ambience: 7/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 9/10

The Hungry Epicurean is an absolutely deliciously written blog and has an entry on Le Bon Marché as well. The highlight of this quaint little place is its friendliness. The staff is lovely and very cheerful. It really adds a lot of to the dining experience. As for the food they offered on their set menu for Restaurant Week, it was a little bit disappointing. It didn’t really taste very ‘French’, rather it seemed to have some Asian flavours mixed within… The taste was still good though and the dessert was quite special. Nevertheless, I think a normal day dining experience there would have been more exciting given the great variety of other dishes to try (which also looked and sounded more tempting than those offered that night)… On the other hand, it could have been the fact that I was feeling under the weather that contributed to some impairment to my tastebuds :)

It’s a place I’d consider returning to a weekend brunch… Just to soak in the sights, smells and of course, the cheery and homely atmosphere there.

Infusion@Dempsey
Ambience: 7/10
Food: 6.5/10
Service: 6/10

Infusion is located deep inside Dempsey and has both inside and outside seating, able to accomodate approximately 40+ people in total… It’s also known for its whiskeys apparently… The girls and I had a good experience there though no one tried the whiskey… It seems too decadent to be imbibing spirits at noon.

For starters I had the mushroom soup with a light cream broth. It’s one of the best mushroom soups I’ve ever had, and they serve it in a very interesting way. The platter arrives with the cream broth already on it and they pour the soup over it.

Mains - Pan seared lemon-lime infused salmon fillet served with potatoes puff & charred grilled baby asparagus with a whisky beurre blanc sauce

Herb roasted chicken leg stuffed with seafood farce with apple-potatoes puree & almond butter garden vegetable

As usual I think anything stuffed usually doesn’t taste that good… Probably just a preference thing on my part…

Fresh mango yogurt chessecake with passionfruit salsa

Dessert was quite heavy… Cheese lovers will love this very thick and creamy concoction.

Dark bitter sweet chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, ice cream & strawberries

Didn’t try this but it sure looks delicious!

Food For Thought

Ambience: 7.5/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 8/10 friendly, helpful staff

Within 10 min walking distance of Bugis MRT and just right beside the Singapore Art Museum, Food for Though @ 8Q is a perfectly lovely and cosy place to enjoy a relaxing brunch with friends or while away a quiet afternoon with a cuppa. The food’s simple yet nicely done and the cafe is special in that it donates a portion of its profits to support good causes.

Above is one of the causes supported by the cafe (although I don’t exactly know the details of how to promote kind acts…) Note the cup of Earl Grey Latte at bottom right corner… yes… heavenly! Was really good and frothy on top :) Just the way I like it!

I had the mixed berry pancakes and it was yummy :) I lurve all kinds of berries anyway, and these are fresh ones, not the dried ones you see in fruit cakes. Best to request for your cream and gula melaka on the side though, cuz it can be very sweet. I’d definitely go back again and go forth to try their original cafe at North Bridge road.

The perfect way to assauge one’s guilt ;) (and blame it ALL on work!)

Spruce
Ambience: 7.5/10
Food: 6/10
Service: 6/10

Spruce is a rather out-of-the-way place where you’ll likely need a car to get to (or yes you could take bus 132 which drops u along the Brunei embassy and then walk up into Phoenix Park). It has one of the best settings amongst restaurants and would have been perfect if not for the heat. It was totally humid and hot the day I went… There’s outdoor sitting as seen in the above picture, which is highly desirable… Booking is advised if you want to drop by on a weekend. Indoors sitting is available for the heat intolerant at the expense of the ambience.

Before I went to Spruce, I’d googled it on HGW and was quite taken aback by quite a number of complaints regarding their ‘lacking smile’ service and I thought ‘ah these people are probably expecting too much…’ Little did I know that I was to come away with the exact comment. They really need to smile more and be a bit more prompt with service… We never got the warm water we’d asked for and they didn’t have any salt/pepper on table nor did they offer these condiments after they’d served brekkie. *Hrmph* In this aspect, I would say PS Cafe triumphs ALL cafes…

As aptly put by kok (who joined us ‘virtually’ from a continent away) Spruce needs to ’spruce up’.

Spruce Big Brekkie: the piece of roast potato (which is actually just a piece of hashbrown) was left out of my brekkie.

When compared alongside other brunch places like PS Cafe, Wild Honey, Jones Grocer and Marmalade Pantry, Spruce pales in comparison… It’s not that I’m being harsh here but I have to say I’m totally disappointed. The bread was dry and just well, dry… Bren’s poached eggs tasted weird according to her and she left them largely untouched… I was tempted to try the Prawn parmigiana but seeing how everyone was choosing one of the more breakfast options decided against it. Can anyone comment on their lunch/dinner dishes?

Bar Restaurant On The Hill => BROTH.
Ambience: 8.5/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 8/10

I just found that out when googling for their webbie. I’ve been wondering why and how a restaurant came by the name of broth. In my dictionary, ‘broth’ is some kind of gruel one eaten by the ill and infirmed. Haha…
Went to BROTH somewhere earlier this year for my birthday :) yay!
It’s one of the nicest placest I’ve visited :) (and it helped that I got the coolest pressie then too, double yay!)

Tucked away in Duxton Hill, with many other similar gems, BROTH is a truly delightful place for quiet fine dining, a good refuge from the hustle of the city, and also a very good place for anything romantic.
Portions are quite small so I’d suggest guys have some food elsewhere first… It’s great for girls on a date I suppose cuz you can actually eat something, finish the portion and yet look very dainty (heh heh). Contrary to what some gals believe, I have (on good authority), that guys prefer a girl with a reasonable appetite than someone dining on grass and greens only.

Check out the pictures…

The bar

Restaurant proper

Starter - Truffled eggs with smoked salmon

Mains - Fish of the day (can’t remember what it was…)

Mains - Scallops(big, succulent and yummy heh heh)

As for dessert, for the life of me, I can’t remember what it is and sadly, I do not have any photos of it. Therefore I can only have one conclusion - it was probably something that didn’t look too impressive (such that I wasn’t inspired to take a snapshot) and probably something really delicious (such that I can still feel a sense of cloud9 whenever I think of it)… I remember… really good dark chocolate that wasn’t too sweet, with some ice cream and I think it had a dash of liquer?

Let me know if anyone visits.

Brunch is my absolute ‘favouritest’ meal of the day! For one, it means that I combine two meals into one (yes, for the sake of convenience and calories) and two, it reminds me that I won’t have to work on any day that I can afford to have brunch! The places I like best and always return to would be PS Cafe and Marmalade Pantry :)

PS Cafe
Ambience: 8/10 (except for Paragon branch)
Food: 7.5/10
Service: 8/10 (Palais Renaissance branch)

PS Cafe @ Harding Road: the prettiest of all their cafes, set in lush greenery and wide opens spaces, high ceilings and filled with fresh flowers everyday. :) It’s a crunch over there at the weekends which would probably be one of the best times to go, if you do get a seat. At night, the atmosphere is completely transformed and rather romantic as well.

PS Cafe @ Palais Renaissance: one of my regular haunts, since it’s more easily accessible than Dempsey and just next to good ole Orchard road. Brunch, lunch, tea and dinner! I can’t comment on service in the other branches but I totally dig the service at this, they’re highly attentive, helpful, cheerful and also quite the eye candy! :)

PS Cafe @ Paragon: the smallest of all their cafes, and the only one combined with a small shop at the side. It’s more of a drinking-dessert-tea place rather than a place for a full meal. I wouldn’t really like passerbys walking around where I’m lunching nor do I like the rather cramped confined of their ‘in-the-shop’ sitting. Shopping there is strange too, as the smells of pancakes and truffle fries assail you while you try to choose a bag.

PS Cafe @ ASH Park: this is one of the places I’d like to go soon, in addition to exploring Ang Siang Hill which has its many hidden gems, I’ve also heard that this is the one outlet where kids aren’t allowed… (Kids oftentimes intrude upon my quiet conversations with besties @ many restaurants…)

They have a lovely brunch menu, as well as for regular lunch and dinner complimented by one of the hugest portions of desserts ever.

Marmalade Pantry
Ambience: 7/10
Food: 7.5/10
Service: 6/10

My next favourite place for catching up with my friends. Many a romance, gossip & whining session have taken place in this place… I first visited when it was still at Palais Renaissance, but didn’t have an entirely fantastic impression of it until it shifted over to ION, Orchard. It’s all thanks to Lizzie that I made my acquaintance with this place :) I love it for the casual yet atas feeling, the interesting range of food (although I’m never very adventurous) but most of all I associate it with wonderful times spent with my friends :)
PS: Anything with pine nuts in them is good.

Wild Honey
Ambience: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10

Wild Honey lives up to its name occupying a cozy corner of Mandarin Gallery. It’s filled to the brim every weekend without fail and since no reservations are allowed, you should look forward to going there early, or be faced with a long, long wait if you don’t. My longest waiting time was over an hour! The main draw of the place is the very homely atmosphere with lots and lots of comforting foods and smells. The layout is slightly cramped but very comfortable still. Actually the food isn’t anything really unique or uber tasting but their theme of all-day brunch and items from different countries is quite interesting. For example, you get the ‘English breakfast’ or the American bangers and mash, Tunisian, French etc… It’s a great place to bring yr date or bosom friends but I wouldn’t go back there too often as I don’t fancy their food that much.

Mimolette
Ambience: 7/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 5/10

Here’s my review of Mimolette. It’s not flattering and I’m not going back to that place again.
A google search just revealed that apparently, Mimolette seems to have been reshaped, refashioned and re-introduced to the world as Mimo. Instead for the French-American approach with lavish decorations, it seems to have been replaced by a cutsey tongue-in-cheek approach. I wonder if they’ve retrained the staff too. Couldn’t find any review on Mimo in HungryGoWhere but I did find it on Urban Journey offering rather attractive discounts… Hmmm… Comments anyone?

Jones the Grocer
Ambience: 7/10
Food: 6.5/10
Service: 6/10

Jones Grocer @ Mandarin Gallery: this branch is cramped and often has long waiting times too (but not as bad as Wild Honey’s). The place is replete with sideboard offerings of various cheeses which is also one of their draws (for the cheese-lovers). Other than that, Jones Grocer’s has very standard brunch food… My parents enjoyed the experience but felt that they were paying more for the ambience and experience rather than the food, which I agree with.

Jones Grocer @ Dempsey: a very interesting place to go because apart from the food, this main branch houses their shop as well. It’s filled with cookery books, sweets, coffees, teas, and chocolates from all over the world and at such exorbitant prices… There’s chocolate at 80 bucks a slab! During festive seasons such as Christmas, they have specialty items as well… For this reason, I prefer the branch at Dempsey rather than Mandarin Gallery’s. However, I would be cautious to seat myself a little further away from the rather strong-smelling tables right outside their cheese store.