Ebiboshi Shotengai @ Illuma

Ebiboshi Shotengai is located at Level 4 of Illuma Bugis. It comprises a cluster of foodshops and you can get oden, shabu-shabu, noodles (ramen,udon, soba), teppan, tonkatsu, sushi and sashimi, kushiyaki and desserts amongst them. Of course, the other attraction is its automated ordering system using a pen-like electronic device.

Japanese food-street decor

interesting ceiling lights

The interior of the shops are cosy, but depending on where you are seated, you may end up with smokey and oily smell...

The service crew are generally helpful, and all beginners will be taught on how to use their ordering device.

point electronic device to such labels, and you will hear corresponding responses

The menu looks extensive and it has almost everything that you can find in Japanese foodshops. We ordered sashimi (salmon, maguro and hamachi 3 pieces each) + mekajiki (4 pieces), oden with curry rice, deep fried salmon curry rice, beef teppan, kani (crabstick) salad and yakitori set (5 pieces).

napkin

cute dainty plate

sashimi

kani salad

The sashimi was alright except for the maguro which has 'veins' and that made it rather chewy.

my favourite hamachi

dipping sauce

appetising salad

The food quality is somewhat similar to other Japanese food-street concept eateries in Singapore. I find that it was somewhat ok, but nothing quite stands-out.

oden with curry rice

beef teppan

yakitori

I had the yakitori as mains, and discovered that the meat sticks were better than the bacon wrapped ones.

meat yakitoris, the mayo one was tasty~

bacon wrapped (asparagus/enoki)

There were ample seats, and the place was quite empty on a Sunday evening.  We paid $28 per pax (there were 4 of us) for the food and green tea. Didn't order any desserts as we were stuffed.

La Cantina In Venezia @ Changi Village Hotel

Located at Changi Village Hotel at Netheravon Road. The hotel looked spanking new amidst the laidback charms of Changi Village. On the day of our visit, the hotel car park was full. Waiting for a lot, proved futile and in the end, alternative parking outside of the hotel was the only solution.

We got the outdoor seatings, and the wind was blowing extremely strong that night. It felt almost, like a mini typhoon. Almost.

menu

It offers nice view of the sea and the golf course.

golf course view

hotel pool

sea view

While awaiting for the rest of the group to arrive, we were served with warm bread with olive oil balsamic vinegar dip.

olive oil balsamic vinegar

bread

We ordered carpaccio (beef) for starters. Do have the service staff repeat your orders, because the carpaccio order nearly turned into a cappucino instead! A friend ordered mushroom cream soup, as she doesn't take beef. For mains, we had lobster pasta (special of the day), crabmeat pasta (linguine al granchio), risotto porcini (mushrom risotto) and scallopine al vino bianco (pan-fried pork loin in white wine sauce).

mushroom soup

carpaccio

carpaccio close-up

The mushroom cream soup was really creamy. The mushroom taste was rather subtle though. The beef carpaccio was light and enjoyable. 

lobster linguine

risotto porcini

linguine al granchio

scallopine al vino bianco

The main courses, sadly, were rather disappointing with probably one exception, crabmeat pasta. The mushroom risotto does smell and look better than it taste! The rice was hard, and lacked flavor. The lobster pasta while enjoyable, was a little too salty. And, the person who took our order said the price of this special of the day was about $35+. Imagine our shock when the bill came up to ~$44+ (excluding service charge) for this dish! 

The scallopine dish was a letdown as well. The overcooked pork loin was sour and tough when cooked with the white wine sauce. Not sure if this is the intended outcome. The accompanying vegetables (carrots and zucchini) and potatoes tasted better than the meat. Can you imagine? It's like the sidekicks did their job, but the main cast just didn't rise to the occassion. Overall, the scallopine was heavy handed in salt seasoning as well. 

The only saving grace was the linguine al granchio which has robust flavors, and was up to expectation. Blame it on the weather or strong wind, but as the pasta was cooled down at a much faster rate, and hence, the dish became quite 'heavy' (jelak) after a short while.

Ambience was good, but do choose your food wisely. Expect to pay about  $40-$50 per pax without drinks.

Ootoya @ Orchard Central

Located at Level 8 of Orchard Central. We decided to head there for lunch on a mid-week, sort of like pre-Christmas celebration.

wall deco and warm lightings

The place was fairly busy and we went without reservation. However, we managed to get our seats in just 5 minutes time. Many chicken dishes were listed in the menu, thus I ordered the tori salad (chargrilled chicken served on a bed of shredded cabbage with some salad leaves, capsicum and sliced hardboiled egg, drizzled lightly with basil sauce. My friend ordered katsu jyu (fried pork with egg and rice). We also had a plate of maguro in soy sauce to share.

chopsticks

condiments

First up, was the blue fin tuna dish. Thin slices of maguro doused heavily with soy sauce with a sprinkling of white sesame, and some shredded spring onions.

blue fin tuna slices in soy sauce

closer view

The maguro slices were light and enjoyable, but not outstanding. Next up, our main sets arrived. Each of the set was served with rice, cucumber, simmered item and miso soup.

katsu jyu set

tori salad set

japanese rice, yummy!

cucumber with plum sauce

lotus root, carrot, mushroom and konbu

thick slices of pork!

covered with egg

rosy and tender

delicious chargrilled chicken

egg with basil sauce

The katsu was thick yet tender. I liked those parts that had a little fats on it. The chargrilled chicken really had me at first bite. Was quite captivated by the chicken. The skin has a hint of smokey flavor, while the meat was moist and tender. Yums!

The salad was quite 'dry' as the sauce (oil based basil sauce) was quite minimum which was good in a way. More healthy. Haha. The miso soup was quite light tasting, but it did have a chockful of ingredients in it!

miso soup (has onions, potato, chicken bits and kelp)

It's a pleasant experience having lunch at Ootoya. Good food, reasonable prices. Green tea is served free. This meal costs about $52 (after 10% UOB discount) for 2 pax.