Spruce @ Phoenix Park

Spruce, in a midst of Phoenix Park around Tanglin area, is not an easy place to reach unless you are staying around the area or you drive.

Been hearing how popular this cafe is so it's about time to visit it when we got chance.

Didn't make any reservation and kinda regretted it once we saw how packed the place was. Both indoor and outdoor, was asked to wait for around 20 mins at the back area downstair facing the children playground. Felt like 20 mins had passed and not sure whether it was only my gut feeling, but, we walked up to the reception before any call and within 5 mins, got our table.

It was one hot day but the open surrounding, trees and water fountain with ceiling fans certainly helped.

The staff were so busy but it wasn't that difficult to get their attention. The order came quite promptly but when my cake order came, there was no utensil given and staff failed to see there was no more utensil left in the holder.

I could see why Spruce is popular with expats as it may resemble more outdoor & nature kinda venue that commonly found outside Singapore. It maybe convenience if you are driving but if not, it is quite a hassle. In addition to the outdoorsy feel, Spruce also has some sort of painting gallery and wine bar.

If you are looking for an outdoorsy dining venue and not around Dempsey area, this could be a good choice. Though, the dishes are average but I bet it's good enough for everyone to enjoy.

These lantern like lighting caught my eyes as their focal points for outdoor area

How full the place was

That was the indoor seating area cum gallery cum wine bar

The staircase on the back to waiting area and playground

The water fountain

View to playground from our seat

Perhaps since we were seating with our back to the fountain, I didn't feel so humid

Table arrangement

Brunch Menu

Quite a shot here..Aerial View :p

Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit

Spruce Lemonade with Mint..This IS A MUST!

Crab Cake Benny

Ciabatta, Crabcake, Poached Egg, Back Bacon and Hollandaise

For crabmeat lover, you would love this

Australian Steak and Egg

Grilled Steak with Red Wine Jus, Fried eggs, Wild Mushroom and Tomato

A bit hard on the steak even though was asked medium well but it was okay

Lemon Tea Cake

In my mind, it was Lemon Tart Cake..Ha Ha..so imagined my surprise when this came. Too full due to my steak so I got this as take away

The lemon taste was there but the cake was a bit dry

This was our next table and I was surprised to see the cups arrangement, clever idea, don't ya think?

View to the entrance and open carparks

Spruce @ Phoenix Park

320 Tanglin Road

S 247980

Tel: (65) 6836-5528

 

http://www.spruce.com.sg/

 

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 10.30 am to 10.30 pm

Sat, Sun and PH from 9 am to 10.30 pm

Bars open till late

Bangkok Jam @ Wheelock Place

Anyone passing by Wheelock Place 3rd floor will notice Bangkok Jam as it has such a chic modern decor. Well, that what happened to me and it made me noticed Bangkok Jam for the first time, later I saw another interesting outlet decor of it at Plaza Singapura.

Its decor was the key attraction and thinking it is a Thai cuisine, nothing could go wrong here. 

The first time I tried was around few months ago and it was around 7 pm which was quite packed, I asked whether I could make reservation for an hour later but seemed the staff were not being experienced in giving explanation to patrons, she just said, we took reservation but we would not even take down your contact number if there was a table or anything. It immediately discourage me to return here.

So happened, we were around Wheelock Place this time around 6 pm and when walking past, I thought giving this restaurant another chance and voila, we were welcomed in.

One thing for sure, the waiting staff were really inexperienced in a real sense of a restaurant staff. They do act like it, talk like it and walk like it but somehow it still fail when it comes to attend to the patrons. 

We asked for plain water beside our drinks, it didn't come until end of the course, with me asking twice. It was not crowded until by end of our course.

They were so busy walking around, clearing this and that, watching around, carrying this and that. And when we asked for our dessert to be served, the staff we asked was asking another staff for dessert menu to be given to us, which puzzled me when being handed a menu again.

I didn't feel the staff has any supervision from an experience staff who manned the whole floor, everyone was thinking they did their job at best.

Food at first was promising when my Lemon Grass Fish Cakes came but it just average for its main courses.

This is an example of where a restaurant has got the right concept on how the interior and decor, what cuisine they are serving, good location but the heart and soul are still missing, which are the good service and food quality.

Will I return here? Hhmm, at present, quite unlikely but it may not be the case for other, seeing it always has quite a sizeable crowd at this outlet and Plaza Singapura.

Again, I bet everyone will say 'Nice place + Thai cuisine', what can go wrong there...

Another creative idea, its coaster

View to the main door

This lamp shades are the focal point

Really good idea for the lamp shades

Laid back yet modern kind of furnitures

Loving this wallpaper

Sizeable seating area, don't you think? And those clocks, I didn't manage to see which time zones 

The wall adornment, this side on poster and other side by using wallpaper

The big menu

The set of coasters on our table

This restaurant really went all the way out for decor, got this line up TVs displaying the Bangkok Jam graphic designs. We could see they put a lot of work into their restaurant decor

Strawberry Lychee

Strawberry and Lychee on ice-blended

It was okay and refreshing for sure

The Lemon Grass Thai Cakes

I think it a must to try, it's tender and moist with sweet Thai sauce

Chilli Fried Rice with Shrimp

I thought something different to order this time as never saw this menu before, and it being served in a very nice presentation. Unfortunately, the rice was soggy and quite tasteless. The spiciness was there but other taste wasn't

Stir Fried Egg Noodle with Bacon and Crabmeat

Another staple that we never saw before, but it tasted quite bland, somehow, there was something lacking in the spices. 

Thai Sweet Red Ruby with vanilla ice cream

It was sweet alright, but I thought the slices of jackfruits added a nice balance

The open door concept that attracted me in the first place.. :p

 

Bangkok Jam @ Wheelock Place

501 Orchard Rd
#02-04/05
Singapore 238880
Tel: 6836 0989

http://www.bangkokjam.com.sg/

Opens daily from 12 pm to 10 pm

Halia @ Raffles Hotel

Halia, famous for its location at Botanic Garden, has opened another outlet that is more accessible at Raffles Hotel. I was pleasantly surprised to know about this as I previously I only had 1 experience at Botanic Garden and not a fan to go all the way there for a meal.

We walked through the Raffles Hotel Arcade, it was on the other end of the arcade as we walked from Raffles City crossing to Raffles Hotel.

I noticed there is also Al-Fresco section, more for drinking/Bar area, for lunch, we were seated on the inside.
We came quite after the lunch hour and it was only few tables that were occupied.

Pleasantly surprised to see the real tree at the corner of the room, it is quite a nice addition to the colonial black and white tiles and window frames. Natural lighting were abundant as the windows were a full height one. Such a chic design concept.

The staff were friendly and prompt in catering to your needs, the dishes were done nicely but somehow I felt it was just okay to my liking especially my main course.

I imagine Halia will be a good venue for business lunch/dinner as it is quite an ideal place to have your business meal compare to few restaurants around there. It's unpretentiously chic with good service and the dishes were quite good but somehow, for me, I felt there was a certain lack of appeal to return for meal here. 

Luving the concept of this colonial chic

Beautiful chandelier

I was thinking back and forth, was this a real tree and I think it is Real!!

The simple menus

Heavenly Halia

Fresh Ginger, Pineapple, Peach Liqueur, Blue Curacao and Sprite

Halia Mint Berry

Ginger, Mint Leaf, Fresh Blueberries and Sprite

The drink was indeed refreshing welcome for such a sunny day

Ginger Jive

Fresh ginger, fruit punch, orange and honey

Another cold and cooling drink that quite refreshing with less ginger taste

Deepfried Squid

This was my fave dish of Halia, the squid were fried nicely, and Lime Syrup dip and Piquant Mayo dip was excellent. 

I commended the presentation, so surprised to see it was nicely served like this

Halia Chili Crab

Spaghettini, Spring Onion and Egg

It was quite a huge portion and it wasn't so spicy as the name implied, it spiciness was just done right.

My Angus Tenderloin

This was the first steak I've ever encountered that presented so refine, all cut up for me to dip into the sauce with french fries in a bowl

Halia at the Raffles Hotel

1 Beach Road

#01-22/23 Raffles Hotel

Singapore 189873

Tel: (65) 9639-1148

http://thehalia.com/raffles/raffles/restaurant/

 

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday from 11.30 am to 10 pm

Weekend and Public Holiday from 10 am to 10 pm

Egg3 Cafe

I think the best word to describe my visit to Egg3 Cafe was the one that goes like 'Should go before it's too late'  That's exactly what happened to me when I visited this cafe. Wanted to go there when I first read it opened and how the concept of everything on the cafe was for sale.

I thought it was a great idea since Egg3 has established itself first as selling home decor then furniture then clothing, bag, jewellery. But since this cafe location is quite not easily accessible unless you drive, so I always delayed my visit there.

First of all, it was not easy to look for as it was inside some sort of school complex and not around main road.

There was no patron around and only 2 waiting staff inside the cafe. A bit taken aback as from what I remembered years ago (was it that long??) that during weekend, it was quite a bustling cafe and popular with those looking for laid back atmosphere. But the surprise didn't end there, the staff told me that now they only served Salad and Dessert...Oh oh, and I went there for lunch! Didn't expect that during my visit, this new concept just started.

Well, luckily I kinda had big brekkie so got no option than to order a salad and dessert for me.

Browsing around the cafe cum store actually quite a therapy, surprising to me was some of the handbags were labelled under Egg3. 

The drinks and salad with my cake was quite good and the staff were great but it just that quiet and lonely feeling in out of nowhere location kinda dampen the spirit..

Just when we were about to leave, there was a couple entering the cafe...Wait, What, Really?? That was my thought..Turned out, this cafe was not so out of bound as I thought in that quiet Sunday noon..

View to the entrance

The store area for clothing, shoes and handbag and few jewellery

There even a corner changing room with waiting sofa in front of it..how cute..

The simple menu that made my heart stopped a bit.. when I saw it was really only salad, sandwich or dessert being on offered

The kitchen counter

From these stackable chairs, I guessed there may be more buzz during weekdays as it is surrounded by children schools or tuition centre around it

The Tuna Avocado Salad, which was good and quite a filling actually

My strawberry cake with Lychee Ice Drink

Egg3 Cafe

231 Mountbatten Road Blk D
(Guillemard Crescent Entrance)
#01-06/07 Singapore 397999
Tel: (+65) 6241 3823

http://www.eggthreecafe.com/

Opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 6 pm
Closed on Monday