OChaCha @ Paragon

When you been to Paragon shopping mall basement area, you are bound to pass by this small shop with its green predominantly design, offering light meals and green tea beverage as its speciality.

It was indeed turned out to be a good spot to have a light lunch meal and as lover as green tea, I fell in love with its genmai cha (roasted brown rice with green tea leaf)

Simple and unpretentious were the impression that came to my mind at OChaCha, from its menu to its shop design. Its light meal menu varies from breakfast during morning time which offers Japanese breakfast style such as porridge and one time I spotted natto menu too.  For lunch and dinner, it has noodle and few sandwiches. Its green tea beverage menu are its speciality.

I love their Smoked Sliced Chicken with its cold somen; it was simple yet delicious with just the right portion. It may seemed like a simple cooking but I thought the way the somen cooked (al-dente like) and not bland added with the smokiness of cut sliced chicken meat was the right combo.

Added with its genmai-cha which served warm in a small pot, it gave you a simple satisfying light lunch/dinner meal.

On weekday, the patrons would be quieter compared to weekend but you were bound to find a table or few being occupied.

I would say it was a better choice to have a rest when Starbucks is full and you are in need to have a seat after going around Orchard Rd.

Ocha-ya is one of my fave spot for light meal or having a drink while resting around Orchard Rd. Will be trying other light meal and their green tea selection

Predominantly Green and White furniture and design and O shapes everywhere



View to Starbucks

View to entrance

Ordering and preparing counter

Displaying some of traditional cups for Green Tea ceremony

Befitting display

Cold Smoked Chicken Somen with Genmai Cha (they will provide 1 cup or 2 cups depending of no of pax)



Though it was cold but it wasn't bland and the smokiness of sliced chicken and mushroom enhanced the flavour

Fave green tea, Genmai-Cha; there is a roasted taste

 

OChaCha

290 Orchard Road

#B1-25 Paragon

Singapore

Tel: +65-6737 3889

 

https://www.facebook.com/ochachasingapore

 

Opens from:

Mon - Tue: 9:00 am - 9:30 pm

Wed: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm

Thu: 9:00 am - 9:30 pm

Fri - Sat: 9:00 am - 10:30 pm

Sun: 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

 





 

 

 

 

Old Hongkong Kitchen @ Square 2

Was on the craving for dim sum while being in an unfamiliar territory around Novena. Recalled of seeing this HK restaurant and voila, there was dim sum in the menu.

We came in slightly early than lunch time, glad we did that, as by lunch time ticking down, corporate crowd streaming in to fill up the tables.

The menu was extensive, from dim sum to ala carte Chinese - HK cooking menu. It certainly meet the corporate and family expectation for this type of restaurant.

Staff were prompt and you would see more of senior staff in this establishment which is always a plus point in my opinion.

Food was served promptly in sequence, even though, it was during peak hour serving. Dishes were delicious and just in the right portion.

A must-try in this restaurant was their Carrot Cake, I was not usually a fan but I fell in love with their carrot cake. It had balanced flavour, good portion for sharing and you could tell the ingredients used were fresh.

Dining here was certainly reminded you of dining in HK, where service and food serving was done promptly in a busy venue.

A good Chinese restaurant in Novena area for corporate or family dining in.

Always love seeing a pretty table ware like this



Wish this outstanding traditional Chinese dress was displayed in more prominent area  



Like this wall ornaments décor, clever idea



By the window seats



Modern yet oriental looking lighting



Our appetizer

Dim Sum in the Cage



Wanted to take the photo when it was being served in cage but our waiting staff opened it up and took the cage cover

It was assortment of dim sum items; Steamed Prawn Dumpling, Steamed Shrimp and Pork Dumpling with Abalone, Steamed Mushroom Dumpling, Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumpling in Superior Soup, Deep-Fried Shrimp roll with cheese, Baked Egg Tart with Bird's Nest and Fresh Milk



This Dim Sum Cage came with delicious item and good for 2 pax sharing



The 'Carrot Cake'



Pan-Fried Carrot Cake with Bean Sprouts and Egg in X.O. sauce

Words difficult to describe but it is a Must-Try here!



Kailan with Garlic

Cooked perfectly in its crunchiness and garlic sauce to taste



Egg White Fried Rice with Spring Onion



First tried it in HK and how much I love it since. It did not disappoint me here!



Full house by lunch time roll



 

Old HK Kitchen

#02-80, Square Two, 10 Sinaran Road

Singapore 307506

Tel: +65 6397 7023

http://www.oldhongkong.com.sg/

Opens daily from 10.30 am to 11 pm

 

 



Violet Oon's Kitchen

When I read about Violet Oon's Kitchen, I was intrigued to try as she is a known local chef and Peranakan cuisine is her speciality so it is bound to be good. If it wasn't due of its location, I may had visited it sooner.

We arrived without reservation, thinking it was early for lunch, still around 11 am. Turned out, they opened from 9.30 am on Saturday and Sunday, well, they info we read from website and facebook was still indicating 11.30 am. Someone needs to update their opening hours info.

Walking in but no one paying attention as all staff huddle around the beverage counter. One staff saw me and signalled what looked like 'please wait' but didn't approach me. Stood for another 5 mins and no one approached us until I signalled again and the first guy who saw us instead of coming to us, he called out to his friend. This should had been the sign that something was not right in their service area.

The 2nd guy informed us that inside seating were full and since they were running full house, it would take about 40 minutes for the food and asked whether we were okay with it. We were fine with alfresco seating and waiting time for the food. I could understand the waiting period as I saw someone just collected boxes and boxes of food from kitchen, perhaps for the catering order.

Sitting at the alfresco for almost 10 minutes and not one staff came to us with menu. Tried to call but apparently, they were 'busy' standing by (again) at the beverage counter. Lost bit of our patience, walked inside and asked the 2nd guy again (apparently only him who was assigned to talk to patrons, even on the inside) whether anyone would be serving us if we were seating outside. He apologized and quickly gave us the menu and offered the ice water.

When I looked on the menu, turned out they served ' Western Style' brunch until 3 pm. I was immediately disappointed as our intention of coming here was to have Peranakan cuisine. Luckily, I asked him whether there was any Peranakan menu beside this and only then he informed us that by 11.30 am, we could order the regular Peranakan menu which was on the other page. And since, we were already past 11.30 am so we were entitled to order it.

Made our Peranakan cuisine order and then he returned to informed us that the Beef Rendang set was out and the Ngo Hiang which I read was one of the best seller was also out. We settled for other main course dish but then he returned and said, there were still 1 portion of Beef Rendang that we could ordered.

The food waiting time was shorter than those 'brunch' order cause we were the 1st patron to order this lunch menu while everyone else were still at the breakfast menu.

All the dishes were good, delicious and generous portion; perhaps too much for 1 person if we also had ordered appetizer. If there was no appetizer, the main course set menu would be sufficient to fill up a starving tummy.

Even though the location was not very accessible and if it weren't for the poor service, I would be happy to return here whenever I have Peranakan cuisine craving as the food was excellent but experiencing that kind of service on our first visit, made me hesitant to have our 2nd visit.

I like how they made the table setting simple yet modern from typical Peranakan



Black and White and Steel dominated this alfresco area; I guessed Mrs Oon's children added the touch of modernity when they had the idea to open her restaurant



This was another couple waiting for someone to attend to them



Ice Coffee



Ice Lime drink



Pie Tee with Prawns



This was the best Pie Tee I've ever had, prawn filing and those radish cuts were succulent and this portion were good for 4 pax. Presentation was so appealing to the eyes..



Beef Rendang Main Course Set



These beef rendang were tender, succulent, flavourful and huge portion!!

It was served with Indonesian Style Yellow Rice which was a plus point. Gotta try this!



Tempra Fish Main Course Set Menu

This dish was heavenly for any fish lovers..

I was expecting it to be sweet but it turned out well balanced and with steamed white rice topped with shallot, it complemented the fish tempra very well



  

Loving all these salad that went with these main courses

 
Will I return? Perhaps..but not that soon...

 

Violet Oon's Kitchen 

881 Bukit Timah Rd

Singapore 279893

Tel: +65 6468 5430

http://www.violetoonskitchen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/VioletOonsKitchen

Opens from:

Tuesday to Thursday from 11.30 am to 10 pm
Friday from 11.30 am to 11 pm 
Saturday from 9.30 am to 11 pm
Sunday from 9.30 am to 10 pm
Close on Monday