The Stock Pot

Going on a diet? Maybe The Stock Pot could help you:

"Stock Pot soups are not just ordinary soups but outrageously delicious soups that are served up with an attitude for pleasing the palate and the waistline."

Or so we would like to believe (about the waistline part). With an enticing top-up of a half-sandwich and a glass of ice lemon tea at just $5, would we really stick to just our soups and stick to our plans to be well... stick thin? And oh, the accompanying bun is free too. I was asking how much more would it cost if I add another bun and the girl replied sweetly, "Don't worry, just go ahead and take one more", and added another bun on my plate. Diet anyone?

Mushroom Ragout: 4/5
Creamy Lobster and Crabmeat Bisque: 3.5/5









Daphne prefers this mushroom soup to the one at The Soup Spoon because it's not too thick or creamy. I guess it's really a matter of preference because I'm sure there would be others who like their soups really thick and almost gravy-like. My lobster and crab bisque on the other hand was more like a stew, with relatively adequate portions of lobster and crab-meat. I would have preferred a tad more ingredients in the soup though, and it would be a good if it was a wee bit less salty. Somehow or another, this soup just didn't live up to my expectations, especially after that hyped-up review on the newspapers some time ago. The accompanying buns were delicious by the way.

Peppery Beef Sandwich: 2.5/5


I'm afraid this didn't leave much of an impression because somehow or another the ingredients just didn't come together. While I like the way the bread was toasted with the hint of butter, everything else was lacking in taste.

Service
Friendly.

Price
$6.90 for the mushroom ragout
$7.90 for the creamy lobster and crabmeat bisque
$5.00 for an additional drink and sandwich

* Prices inclusive of GST. No service charge.

Place
Esplanade, #01-01/03.

Sour Puss Cafe

Formerly known as "2Hot Halal Cafe" at the Esplanade, SourPuss cafe emerged out of a marketing makeover following slow business and less than positive reviews. Unfazed by this, I brought Daphne here for dinner and thankfully it turned out alright. The only problem (for many pampered Singaporeans) is that it's al fresco dining and the ceiling fans may not do enough to keep you cool and comfortable especially if it begins to get more humid, as it often is these days.

Masala Fish and Chips: 3.75/5


Fried to a deep golden brown, the fish was certainly something unique given its masala-flavoured batter. The fish was very fresh and smooth, while the fries were simple but served hot and crisp. Probably one of the better fish and chips that I've tried. Interesting taste indeed.

Devil's De Souza: 2.5/5


I think the beef burger was disappointing because the patty wasn't thick enough and was just not "beefy" enough for me. The patty was over-cooked as well. Thank goodness for the healthy portion of fries.

One-for-one drinks


One-for-one drinks after nine in the evening.

Service
Really good, friendly, obliging and attentive all at once.

Price
$14.90 for the masala fish and chips
$9.50 for the devil's de souza burger
$4.00 for a bottle of snapple

* Prices subject to 10% service charge.

Place
Esplanade Mall, #01-13E.

Additional Comments
1. Certified Halal.
2. There are some board games to keep you entertained if you're here with a group of friends.

Al Dente Trattoria

Happy Birthday.......... to ME! *Smiles*

Daphne was very attracted to the idea of rooftop dining and brought me here for my birthday. The view's really pretty good, so as long as you keep your head towards the skyscrapers and a bit of the waterfront, and not the up-and-coming integrated resorts. It's especially good for couply pictures like this one:


Truth be told, we did not spend more than ten minutes on the rooftop because it was a tad too humid, so we went downstairs (air-conditioning!) to have our dinner instead. The staffs were very polite and attentive indeed, and it's quite surprising really, considering how this place has taken quite a beating from harsh critics on the Hungrygowhere forum. If we had to rate service, it would be a nine or even full marks for us.

Complimentary Bread Basket




Linguini con frutti di mare: 7.5/10


"Linguini in white wine ragout with tiger prawn, baby clam, mussel and fresh basil". This was good, I liked the generous serving of clams all around the pasta and the white win ragout was really nice. The one thing that I was pointing out from the time the food was served till now is... the size of the "tiger prawn"! Perhaps they ran out of tiger prawns, but three small sized prawns is just too little. I didn't want to kick up a fuss, so I ate it anyway. I've read that some people have complained about the pasta texture but I think it's fine, to be honest I think they may have little idea what "al dente" is when they stepped into this restaurant! Add chilli flakes for that extra taste!

Tortellini di formaggi e di pomodoro essicato al sole: 7.7/10


"Tortellini of farm ewe cheese and sun dried tomato, chipolata sausage in chicken jus reduction". Daphne liked this a lot, I didn't exactly though. I have to say this dish is quite an "acquired taste", and you've really got to like your cheese and cream to like this one. The rating above is hers, I would put it way below five, but as you can see taste really is just subjective. Daphne says, "Don't underestimate the six pieces of house-made cheesy pasta. It looks little, but it's very filling!"

Service
As I've mentioned above, the service was really very good. Perhaps the forumers on Hungrygowhere did have a less than pleasant experience previously, but it's possible that Al Dente Trattoria is slowly, but surely, taking steps to do something about it.

Price
$26.00 for the seafood linguini
$28.00 for the tortellini

*Prices subject to the usual 7% GST and 10% service charge.

Place
The Esplanade, #01-13.