Al-Ameen Eating House III

Daphne was craving for some coin pratas, and since I've tried them from both Al-Azhar and Al-Ameen along Cheong Chin Nam Road, suggested we go for the ones from the latter, for obvious reasons of course.

Coin Pratas: 8.3/10


The last time I was here, I gave a score of 7.5 because it somehow tasted a little salty, probably from the ghee or butter. This time round there wasn't this problem, instead the pratas were thick inside but very nicely crispy on the outside. I liked it a lot, though I wasn't too fond about the dhal (a type of curry that uses pulses as a primary ingredient) that was served with it. Ask for the usual roti prata curry. As I've mentioned before, this dish is not in the menu, but they've got it when you ask for it. Usually they would ask you to get the "set" which includes chicken or mutton curry, but this time round we did away with the meat.


As much as I was pleased that the pratas tasted much better now, there was another inconsistency and that's the size of the coin pratas. Instead of being of similar dimensions, it was more of two usual sized ones and three really mini ones, about half their size! Not that I am complaining because I personally liked the crispy smaller ones, but if they're going to make the coins so small, then they should make more of them then, otherwise it wouldn't be worth the money!

Butter Naan: 6/10


I decided to go for a butter naan and butter chicken dinner because it would resemble the Indian dinner I had in Hong Kong (sounds a bit odd I know, you would probably be asking, what about the dim sum?!) a couple of weeks back. It's a pity that this naan didn't quite measure up because one, I couldn't really taste the buttery flavour, two, it was quite oily, and three, it was quite burnt on the undersides. Actually, now that I've tried this butter naan from Al Ameen, I would think the one at Noor Jannah's is way better (and to that effect, deserves a higher rating too).

Butter Chicken: 7.7/10


This was not bad, I think the chicken was baked "tikka"-style before it was added to the Indian tomato cream. Very tender chicken slices indeed, and quite a lot too, just nice for two to share. The gravy was a wee bit salty though, so I didn't slurp it up too readily. Good as a dip for the naan of course.

Egg Roti Prata: 7/10


It's alright I guess, this was ordered by Daphne since she was still feeling quite hungry. The coin pratas were probably too small. This egg prata was a bit too oily for her liking though.

Service
We came here around 5.45pm when it wasn't crowded, and service was pretty prompt and they smile at you too. I'm only saying this because I'm suggesting there's an inverse correlation with the staff here, as I understand they're often in too much of a hurry (that they may appear rude or hasty) when the place is more packed.

Price
$3.00 for the coin pratas (non-set)
$1.50 for a butter naan
$7.00 for the butter chicken
$1.50 for the egg prata

Place
Cheong Chin Nam Road, Bukit Timah.
Opposite Beauty World / Bukit Timah Shopping Centre.

Additional Comments
1. Accompany the meal with a cold, sinfully thick and awfully sweet glass of iced milo.
2. Complete the meal at the end with a hot and refreshing cup of teh tarik.
3. Open 24 hours!

Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie

It was my sister's birthday and my family bought a cake for her, and knowing my sister she wouldn't settle for anything from the common bakeries. Since it was just for the five of us, ahe agreed to choose something small.

Gateaux Chocolat: 8/10


"Dark chocolate cream, flourless chocolate sponge decorated with triple chocolate shards." On appearance, the cake looked very simple, with only the chocolate shards adding some abstract aesthetic appeal to it. The first thing that you would probably notice about this cake is that it's of a very dark brown colour, confirming that it's made up largely of dark chocolate.


The cake's pretty good, and you can really taste the bitterness of the dark chocolate. A part of me felt that this is a refreshing change from the usual (milk) chocolate cream cakes, though I have to admit that a small slice is all that you can take because it's really quite thick and fills you up quickly. Somehow or another, something seems to be missing. Maybe try adding some Bailey's Irish Cream or just plain vanilla ice-cream to a slice of the cake. I'm sure you would be very satisfied =)

Price
$33.00 for a 500g whole cake.
Available for $6.50 a slice at Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie branches.

Place
Orchard Road, #B1-25 Paragon.
Also: Robertson Walk, Shaw Centre, Raffles City Shopping Centre.

Swensen's Restaurant II

It's good to have a Swensen's card because the waitresses are so quick to spot it and would immediately ask you for your choice of complimentary drink. Trust me, a nice hot cup of coffee at the end of the meal is all you need to complete it and leave you feeling satisfied. =)

Hot US Fries and Dips: 8.3/10


Everyone loves these fries, and for good reason. It's always served hot, it's not too thin nor thick, and it's always crispy. In other words, I really think this is how fries should be. Goes very very well with the tartar or chilli/bbq sauce dips!

Sourdough 49ers Chicken: 7.7/10


"Chicken slices, turkey bacon and cheddar cheese sandwiched between sourdough football buns." I was contemplating having the "Mega Burger" but decided to hold back and try this "All-Time Favourite" (so the menu says) instead. It turned out to be quite good actually, even if the chicken slices aren't that big. It's just nice and not too filling.

Chilli Fish Pasta: 8.5/10


"Golden-fried snapper fillets with spaghetti in spicy oriental sauce." Daphne was having this, but she gave me many forkfuls of fish and pasta and I did not complain one bit. I think these fish fillets were cooked in a much better batter than the actual Swensen's Fish and Chips, the latter of which has a rougher surface. And it's not one but two pieces! The pasta meanwhile tasted great too, because of the chilli and peppers that added a tantalising spicy ring to it.

Fish & Chips


"Golden-fried fillet of fish, served with tartar sauce, U.S. fries and coleslaw." My Dad had this, but as I've mentioned the fish slices from the Chilli Fish Pasta tasted much better and less... ordinary.

Teriyaki Chicken Pasta


"Grilled chicken thigh smothered in teriyaki sauce served with spaghetti and poached vegetables." The chicken tasted as though it would do better in between two burger buns, but it was fine with the pasta too. The teriyaki sauce is pretty good, sweet and thick.

Mega Burger


"A gigantic burger! Juicy beef patty, ham, bacon, grilled vegetables, onions and melted cheese with a fried egg to top it off!" I was quite surprised that my Mum, who isn't exactly a big eater, chose to order this, but I think it had something to do with the really enticing picture on the menu haha. But no kidding, it was quite big indeed, with two slices of ham and bacon to top it off. Even the fries, as compared to the sourdough burger and fish and chips, seem to be more. The beef patty could be improved though, it does need to be a little thicker and, for lack of a better expression, a little "beefier". I have a preference for thicker, fuller beef patties when it comes to burgers.

Service
I really liked the service in this Swensen's branch at Orchard Park Hotel, because not only are they friendly but they are also very attentive, from refilling your glasses with iced water, clearing your plates, to just looking out for a raised hand or two. One of the waitresses, Gina, for instance, had a bright smile on her face wherever she went and smiled at every request.

Price
$5.90 for the US fries and dips
$13.20 for the sourdough 49ers chicken
$15.20 for the chilli fish pasta
$14.50 for the fish and chips
$16.20 for the teriyaki chicken pasta
$15.20 for the mega burger

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

Place
Park Hotel, 270 Orchard Road.

Additional Comment
Open 24 hours, with a special Asian-cuisine menu.

Food Junction @ Bugis Junction

Roti prata, Japanese food, omelette rice, yong tau foo, soups and noodles, teppanyaki, Malay nasi padang, pasta, Indonesian grills, and more. There's really quite a range of food to choose from at this food court and I have to admit that a lot of them did look very appetising indeed.

Handmade Beef Patty + Curry Chicken Teppanyaki: 7.7/10




I was pretty hungry actually, and the strong aroma from the Teppanyaki stall was all I needed to make a beeline for it. The curry didn't exactly taste like "curry" because it wasn't spicy at all, but was instead very very sweet. The beef patty was quite good, and I liked the grilled onions that came with it. The sunny side up was a great side to complete the meal.

Price: $7.80.

Beef Omelette Rice: 6/10




Daphne liked the soft omelette but didn't like the hard carrots that came together with it. The both of us watched as the staff merely picked a beef patty from one of the containers and put it on the warm pan, but it did little to heat up the otherwise cold patty. For me I thought this dish turned out to be quite disappointing, since it wasn't some handmade beef patty but seemed more like out of one of those frozen machine processed packets that you could easily get from the supermarkets. The rice and eggs were far far far too sweet for my liking, because not only was the rice tomato-flavoured, the added (generous) serving of ketchup only made it even sweeter.

Price: $6.90.

Place
Food Junction, Bugis Junction #03-30.

New York New York

New York New York is invading the heartlands indeed, with outlets at Jurong Point, AMK Hub, West Coast Plaza and Choa Chu Kang Lot 1. I was quite surprised actually that this branch at Lot 1 in particular has a "No pork, No lard" kitchen, though I was told by the staff that this is the only one of the nine NYNY restaurants that is pork-free. Perhaps it's a sales experiment of sorts, just like what Pastamania did some time ago with a few of its outlets.

American Breakfast: 6.5/10


I wasn't exactly hungry and thought I would order something light. It's a very ordinary dish, toast tastes like toast and fried sunny side ups taste like fried sunny side ups. The "bacon" strips are not too bad though.

Mo' Mushroom Sandwich: 7/10


Daphne prided herself for making such a "healthy" choice with this sandwich. It's packed with tasty grilled mushrooms, and although she would prefer white toasted bread, I think the focaccia bread here is better as it added a herb-like flavour (and fragrance) that I found quite good. If you somehow have not heard of focaccia bread, do pick one up at a NTUC supermarket (for a picture, click here and scroll down) and see if you like it!

Service
Good.

Price
Less than $10 per dish.

Place
Lot One Shoppers' Mall, #01-05,06,07.

Carousel @ Royal Plaza on Scotts

My extended family brought the customary reunion dinner forward for the Chinese New Year festival because we wanted to do something different and have a reunion high tea at the Carousel of Royal Plaza on Scotts. My parents love this place and actually come here quite often, but it's my first time here and I must say that this is definitely one of the leading buffet restaurants in Singapore. The service is excellent and the food, for most parts of it, is great stuff too.


The Royal Plaza on Scotts is just one of three hotels in Singapore that has Halal buffets, the other two being Straits Kitchen at the Hyatt and Tiffany Cafe at Furama City Centre. I've not been to Straits Kitchen yet, but I do know that both Tiffany Cafe and Carousel at least have been awarded the Simply Dining's "Singapore Top Restaurants 2008" awards for their remarkable buffets.


The impressive thing about Carousel is the service. Not only do they have staff in-charge of your table (and dining area), but they are also extremely quick in clearing your plates, refilling your drinks (be it coffee, tea or iced water) and even helping you take a picture or two. They take every request with a smile, and I've never seen anyone so excited to sing a birthday song. We were joking that they were a bit too efficient actually, because they were clearing the plates so quickly eventhough my younger cousins were just planning to walk around before coming back to their little morsels of food. Still, thumbs up to all of them.

The Counters

Here are pictures of some of the food counters at Carousel. I did not include the two rows of cooked food, nor did I take any pictures of the soup pots! I think a couple of the chefs were keeping an eye on me, thinking I'm some food paparazzi (indeed, I am) on an under-cover mission, so I tried my best to look like a wide-eyed tourist instead haha.


Bread, Sandwiches and Croissants
For those making up for breakfast


Cold Dishes like Sashimi and Soba
For those wanting to make their money's worth


Cold Salads
For those pretending to be on a diet


Asian Rojak
For those usually amused at how hawkers do it


Cheese and Durian Roti Prata
For those who like unique pratas


Asian Popiah (Springroll)
For those who like to queue


Muah Chee
For those who would pay $40 and then eat something that costs $1.50


Chicken Kebab
For those who want something warm and tender


Ice Kachang and Chendol
For those who want to play with the ice-shaving machine


Cakes and Pastries
For those with a sweet tooth


Chocolate Fondue
For those who believe heaven is made of chocolates


Fruits
For those deluding themselves that they're having a healthy meal

My Plates

I tried to eat as many different items as I possibly could, but there's really far too many things to eat in one sitting. I didn't take any of the soups, nor did I touch the cold dishes. I heard that in the past there were seafood items like crabs, mussels and prawns, pity that they have scaled down and only offer these at lunches and dinners now. Here's some pictures of the food I tasted.


(From bottom left, clockwise direction) Deep fried chicken wings, fish otah, nasi lemak, ikan bilis, sambal chilli, eggs, deep fried tofu with chicken and prawns.


(From bottom left, clockwise direction) Fried kway teow, fried sotong balls, deep fried tofu with chicken and prawns, prawn fritters, Thai fish cake, white carrot cake, fried chicken dumpling.


(From bottom left, clockwise direction) Fried meat pastry, har gow, Italian pizza, chicken kebab slices, pita bread.


Kueh Pai Tee and Popiah


Chicken Porridge


Laksa


Muah Chee


(From bottom left, clockwise direction) Macaroon, chocolate tartlet, kueh salat, chocolate cake, pandan cake.


My Nicely Decorated Ice-Cream Sundae


Ice Kachang


Marshmallows in Chocolate Fondue


Macaroons

The Shop (Certainly Not Included in the Buffet!)

I thought some of the cakes looked pretty and I couldn't resist taking pictures of them. Great for special occasions I'm sure.







Overall Comments: 9.5/10


It was truly an enjoyable experience at the Carousel. Although it would have been better if they brought back the seafood, this is high-tea after all and I'm not expecting too extensive an array of food. The desserts are brilliant, don't underestimate the wide spread of colourful and tiny pastries. And if you find the macaroons, grab them, they are a Carousel specialty. To be honest, a staff told me that it's just a "garnishing" for the cakes, but because I had asked her initially if they would be bringing more in, the manager personally took a plate and filled it up with macaroons straight from their little stall at the entrance! Talk about good service, these people really take it up a notch, well done. Little things like this goes a long way to leaving a lasting impression really. The food is good, but if you're looking for even more variety I'd suggest you come for lunch or dinner instead, where you'd get your sushi, crabs, mussels, prawns, sirloin steak etc. Otherwise, the high-tea here is just great and worth the money you're paying for.

Price



Place
Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts
25 Scotts Road, Orchard.