Island Cafe @ Tang Orchard

Island Cafe at Tang Orchard is my comfort eating place, if you couldn't find any seats around Orchard, just come here and most probably you will get one. 

Service is always excellent, friendly and attentive service from familiar faces.  Selection of dishes are very palatable to most of patrons. It has Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Western dishes for your selection.

From what I've tried so far, the ones we like are Penang Char Kwey Tiauw, Crayfish fried rice, Chicken Rice set (the most popular as sometimes it ran out), Chicken Briyani Rice and my fave appetizer, the Tahu Telor, their version is the best one compared to others.

I do hope Tang will continue to keep the Island Cafe once they are done with renovation, it's quite a gem and anyone who comes across this cafe most likely will like it and return for 2nd time.

What I also like from this cafe is their selection of drinks, it's quite comprehensive from teas to mocktails, and special drink menu also appears for alternate months.

If you never been there and happen to be around Tang, just proceed to 4th floor and it is located at the other direction of the elevator/near the escalator.

Will return again and again...

The entrance to Cafe

View to tables along the window, they have some seats at the balcony area

Wall decor, it changed from my last visit

View from our table

I do like how the decor of this cafe, it's simple but feel the warmth and cohesive even though it has different textures, patterns and materials.

Simple menu packs with punches

The special drink of the month, I wanted to try these teas next time

The normal arrangement on table, they will change the utensils after your order if necessary.

The best I've encountered for Penang Char Kwey Tiauw in Singapore, it's definitely my liking and I could request for No Cockles. Far cry from Singapore version that usually oily, mix with yellow noodle and with sweet soya sauce.

It has prawns, squid, chinese pork sausage sans cockles as per my request

Trying the special of the month, Soursop Smoothies..Refreshing and Sourish for sure

Island Cafe @ Tangs Orchard
310 Orchard Road 
Singapore 238864
Tel: 6737-5500

http://www.tangs.com.sg/lifestyle-concepts/islandcafe.php

Opens from: 

Mon - Thu, Sat: 10.30am - 9.30pm

Fri: 10:30am - 11:00pm
Sun: 11:00am - 8.30pm

Salt Grill & Sky Bar - Part II

Back to Salt Grill and Sky Bar and this time, I did remember to take photo of the interior before it got dark, that's why I am posting this restaurant again; and first time I tried their steaks range.

This time we got the table closer to the slope going up to Sky Bar but still by the window seats.

Service standard is still excellent and prompt as usual.

Again, it's one of my fave place for celebrating an occasion or to impress your guests.

 

Always admired the ceiling

The pretty standing chandelier

View to kitchen counter

A impressive work

The tasty breads, I couldn't get it enough with those seeds and vinegar oil dips

The Luke Mangan's Martini

My lycheetini

The champagne

My fave appetizer, the 'glass' Sydney Omelette of crab meat and miso broth

The striploin with green beans and red wine au jus

Rib eye with red wine au jus

View on the night

A stylish modern restrooms

Illuminating view to the city from restroom..:)

While waiting for our elevator

The elevator, reminded me of Le Jules Verne at Eiffel Tower

Salt Grill and Sky Bar by Luke Mangan

ION Orchard, Level 55

Private lift from Level 4

2 Orchard Turn

Singapore

http://saltgrill.com/

Opens daily with hours for:

Lunch from 11.30 am to 2 pm

Dinner from 6 pm to 10 pm

All Day Bites from 11.30 am to 5 pm

Sky Bar from 6 pm to 11.30 pm

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Wild Honey @ Scotts Square

Wild Honey is such a popular venue for your brekkie, lunch and dinner. Reservation is a must for Scott Square venue like weeks in advanced if you are eyeing for those meal times.

We were late around 5 minutes, but the Reception Staff was quick to know my name when I mentioned our reservation time and informing us that they were a table clearing soon so we just need to wait for a while.

True enough, we waited around 10 mins and a table was given to us. While waiting, those walk-ins were being put on waitlist and would receive a call back. This I experienced before and they did go by the list, even telling us, how many patrons ahead of us to give us ample time in walking back to restaurant from where ever we were.

I think it was a good idea, Wild Honey has an iPad on the counter table, always near the entrance, to showcase the breakfast menus they have. If not, it's quite difficult for you to picture out what is what even with all the description, as it says, Picture paints a Thousand Words.

Service was friendly, prompt, young waiting staff; attentive to top up your water and clearing your tables.

I do like Wild Honey interior on Scott Square, it such a pretty eclectic with such a warm colour combination and homey feeling.

Scott Square has a Verandah area, which can be as smoking area and private area too.

Definitely something different to try on and with such a good quality food, no wonder this restaurant remain popular after few years on the scene. As the tagline goes 'Wild Honey is all about Beautiful Breakfast'

View from entrance, a couple browsing through iPad to see how the menus look like

Good idea indeed! You would have difficult times to imagine how Corsican, Tunisian, etc brekkie looks like

Counter seating with jars on display

View to the dining area

So retro!

Green napkins punch a vibrant colour to the earth tone col scheme

Simple looking light pendants

Simple wall decor and such an eclectic vibe

The beads curtains

Our Wild Honey Iced Teas..refreshing

Corsican Breakfast; very very fluffy omelette filled with goat's cheese, feta cheese, shredded basil leaves drizzled of lavender honey with slightly burned ciabatta. I swore this was the best ciabatta I've ever had

Tunisian Breakfast; sizzling pan of spicy shakshouka, with Chorizo sausage, two fried eggs, signature brioche and Israeli salad

 The English Breakfast; scrambled eggs, back bacons, Cumberland sausage, sauteed mushrooms, grilled vine ripened tomatoes, signature brioche with baked beans sauce.

Wild Honey Scotts Square
6 Scotts Road, 3rd floor
Tel: +65 6636 1816

http://www.wildhoney.com.sg/10/index.htm

Opens from 9 am to 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday
Opens from 9 am to 10 pm from Friday to Sunday and PH eve

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison

For Tonkatsu in Singapore, I’ve always visited Tonkichi chain which in my opinion is very good and similar resemblance to a good tonkatsu I had in Tokyo. So, when I saw Ma Maison at Mandarin Gallery also claiming Tonkatsu speciality, I was not keen to try. Then, I changed my mind after reading few comments on how good Ma Maison on their Tonkatsu, with something different on its menu compared to other Tonkatsu restaurant.

So, I called up on Thursday and turned out, the Reservation quota was already full for Saturday so we could only walked-in, which was still ok for 12 pm but there was long queue from 12.30 pm onwards.

When I read the  menu, it struck me that Ma Maison originated from Nagoya, no wonder it has certain style of Tonkatsu, different from other Tonkatsu restaurants.

Staff mostly are young and prompt in service, but not that personable, still alright though for Singapore What I disliked was the closeness of tables, less privacy for sure.

I felt my Hire Katsu was firmer compared to Tonkichi version. And the sesame was put inside a container which when  you turned, it will be grinded on same time, I do prefer the one we grind ourselves, it has more richness in it, whereas the ready made didn't feel a thing.

What I like most from Ma Maison that they offer Mixed Grain Rice instead of White Rice, this is certainly commendable.

Not my fave Tonkatsu restaurant, it is not as refine as Tonkichi style.

Felt a tinge of irony when I saw this lamp shades..ha..ha..

The pot that usually used for storing sauces, as a display ornaments near the entrance

View to kitchen, ceiling are painted black

Some display ornaments on the wall

 The external seating area, near the elevator..

The menu

The table arrangement..authentic Japanese table style like those in Japan

The Tonkatsu Sauce, there is also Curry Sauce in brown pot

The goodness of radish, my fave... it was provided in Ma Maison..another difference

The Hungarian Rosu Katsu, I felt there was a bit of smell (?)..maybe just my smelling sensory...

My Jumbo Hire Katsu, I thought they heard me wrongly, as my expectation of Hire was a small fillet and not katsu sized fillet but turned out, as the name Jumbo, it came in bigger fillet

The mixed grain rice..my fave of the day

The dessert that came with the set

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison
333A Orchard Road
#02-35/36, Mandarin Gallery
Singapore
Tel: +65 67334541

http://www.ma-maison.co.jp/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/mamaisonsg?sk=info

Opening hours:
Mon to Friday from 11 am to 3 pm / 5 pm to 10 pm
Sat to Sunday & PH from 11 am to 10 pm