Hansang Korean Family Restaurant @ Novena Square 2

Located at Level 3 of Novena Square 2. Dropped by for lunch, and they were packed. Mostly office crowd and the occassional tourist. There weren't any tables left for 2 pax, so they decided to let us sit at the BBQ table meant for 4. Cool.

BBQ?

Plenty of options during lunch hour. One can opt for ala-carte dishes, or BBQ buffet, or set lunches or daily special etc. Set lunches is at $15++ for one pax. Got myself a bowl of jajangmyun (炸酱面) @$8.90++. This is part of the special menu where one must place the order between 12pm to 1pm. There's bibimbap and ramyun options as well, amongst others. All served with side dishes and without drinks.

banchan (kimchi, fish cake, chives flower and pickles)

The pickled something was nice. Piquant, sourish sweet. Can't tell if it's a fruit or radish...

jajangmyun (자장면)

The jjajang noodles was tasty and not overly salty. A bit sweetish too. Plenty of onions and some minced meat. The single prawn was of a good size too. Quite enjoyable but could get a bit boring, if not for the banchans.

Iced water is served here. Service was good even though lunch hour was a busy period. The lady manager was courteous and helpful.

Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant @ Robertson Quay

Located at Riverside View, Robertson Quay. It's at the same cluster as Aburiya and opposite of the Laurent Bernard's cluster. It was easy to walk past Sugisawa without realising that we had done so. And that's exactly what happened to us. Haha! Hardly surprising since the last visit was almost two years ago.

signboard

Were quite famished after having the pre-dinner drinks at Verre Wine Bar, so we came to Sugisawa for something more substantial than bar food.

Friend had enjoyed her bento the other time, so I knew I wanted to get a bento set too! Another friend ordered the beef paper hot pot, which I think was a pretty good idea. Hot soup in the tummy is a good hangover cure. Not sure if I did qualify for that, since it has just been less than half an hour since the last glass of bubbly. *hic*

hot tea at Sugisawa

The place was crowded and walk-ins will need to wait for about 10-20 minutes. We got ours within 10 minutes because another table was already finishing their dinner. Lucky us.

same same yet different

The beef paper hot pot (without rice) was the first to arrive, followed by unagi bento set. Most items are below $20 except for unagi bento set priced at $25. The soup from this paper hot pot was sweet but not overly. Warm and soothing, but unless you eat like a bird, this might not last you through the night.

beef kaminabe

And there shall be sashimis.

ika (squid), hamachi, (yellow tail) salmon, maguro (tuna), ebi (prawn) sashimi

Had a piece of maguro and the ebis. Liked the thicker cut of the tuna.

Both of our orders of beef yakiniku bento set were the last to arrive. Starving already.

stir fried beef with onions, pickled item,  stewed/boiled items and sashimi (maguro and salmon)

I think it's a good deal for this beef yakiniku bento set. Ample slices of thin beef, stir fried in sweet sauce. Goes well with the rice. Bento set comes with a bowl of rice and seaweed tofu miso soup. In the stewed items compartment, one could find bamboo shoot, juliened turnip, tamago, sweet carrot, konyaku, a slice of fish cake, mashed potato and a boiled prawn.

carbs

It was rather difficult to get the tea refill. Tried four times and was successful on the fourth try. Busy busy place!

Dinner costs about $121 for 4-pax.


Click here to view more of first visit.

Verre Wine Bar @ Rodyk Street

Located at 8 Rodyk Street, Robertson Quay. Along the same stretch as Bar Bar Black Sheep, Merry Men, Anthesis Cafe etc.

Thought this place was new but alas, it has been around for 2 years now. True. Have not been to Robertson Quay for quite awhile now. Time to get re-acquainted!

Verre's Happy Hour is till 7pm on a Mon-Fridays and 6pm on weekends, where there's a 1-for-1 deal on all wine and champagne by the glass, cocktails and beers. WoOoohOoo, sounds great!

interior

A short perusal of the drinks menu and we're ready to order.

drinks menu

choice of drink

Guy Charlemagne Brut Classic

During Happy Hour, and with every 3-orders of the champagne by the glass which eventually equates to 6 glasses, Verre will serve a bottle for the table. Nice.

Bellini

Ordered some snacks to accompany the pre-dinner drinks.

tarte flambee and fries

Forestiere @$11 - light sour cream, onions, bacon and mushroom

Service was friendly and sincere. Seldom order champagne by the glass, so was a tad surprised when they brought out the bottle. "Did I accidentally ordered a bottle?" I thought. Hahaa, think I was abit suaku.

It's part of the service and for champagne by the glass, it's poured by the table. Thank you to the service staff who attended to us. Sorry if I couldn't catch what you were saying. The Guy Charlemagne Brut Classic tasted fruity, light and semi-sweet.

The tarte flambee was a nice snack though the flavours could be stronger.

Verre is quite cosy and when night falls, the ambiance was pretty nice.

when night falls

wine bar came alight~

Total cost for 2 alcoholic drinks, an iced coffee and snacks came up to $70+ for 3 pax.

Tanuki Raw @ Orchard Central

Located at Level 2 of Orchard Central. Visited on a Wednesday evening. This place has been around for awhile, and why it took so long for me to visit? Because I'd thought that it'll be very crowded here.

Happy Hour is from 5pm till 8pm, where martinis go for $10 and each alcoholic drink will entitle patrons to half a dozen oysters at $2 each.

outdoors, high stool, city view

menu

promo menu

Got myself a mojito for $12 (HH) and half a dozen oyster to share. We weren't hungry. Friend got the saketini for $10 (HH).

saketini, mojito and oysters

The oysters were.... rather flat. Well, can't complain for that price. Friend felt it was quite worthed it. Briny and salty.

oysters @$2 a pop

The alcohol in the cocktails gave us quite a buzz. Had another lychee martini and the third one was a cocktail recommended by the staff. Didn't finish the last one because it had a spicy and non-likeable taste. Had a basket of truffle fries and a plate of salmon sashimi.

The thing about outdoor seats was that it was pretty noisy from the birds between 730 to 8ish in the evening. Had to like speak louder times three, if you want to be heard.

Spent about $43 per pax that night.

[Valentine's Day] Arossa Wine & Grill @ Scotts Square

Valentine's Day is just round the corner, and are you perhaps, looking for a place to have a quiet meal with your loved ones?

Located at Level 2 of Scotts Square, this place may be just what you're looking for. Its Valentine's Day Special Menu would like to invite you to fall in love, all over again, in six plates.

flowers to brighten the day

waiting for love?

"A hungry person, is an angry one." So feed him/her quickly!

complimentary bread served warm, to stave off the hunger pangs

Someone said, "Food is the way to your lovers heart..." But do you know, which food do your partner really really likes?

une amuse

First plate, an amuse to start. A dainty looking Mascarpone Tart with Orange Marmalade. A very light touch, a teaser. Leaves you curious for more...

1st Course: Salmon & Scallop Tartare with Oscietra Caviar

Plate Two, sashimi appetiser. Glad that the salmon and scallop weren't too finely chopped up. Tried spreading some on the bread, and it was actually quite nice.

The aroma of truffle wafted up as the plate for the Third Plate, was set. This is the one dish, that I will not want to share. Nope, non-negotiable.

2nd Course: Roasted Foie Gras with Black Truffle Risotto

closer view of foie gras and risotto

Well-cooked grains, strongly flavoured and my favourite foie gras. Everything about this dish was likeable! Except for one. Its amazingly tiny portion.

But, perhaps, it is to save some stomach space for the Fourth Plate? A pasta course of home-made ravioli.

Pasta Course: Home-made Lobster Ravioli with Bisque Sauce

Much accustomed to minced fillings in ravioli, but here, one could find tiny pieces of lobster meat inside the ravioli. Such luxury. Although its a pasta dish, it still felt quite light.

Plate Five, means you have a choice. The man would probably opt for Braised Beef Cheek in Red Wine Sauce, served with mashed potato while she would probably enjoy the Roasted Seabass with Sauteed Sea Urchin & Persimmon Sauce.

Plate 5, main dish: Braised Beef Cheek

Plate 5: Roasted Seabass with Sauteed Sea Urchin

As expected, the beef cheek was good. Flavourful, firm and slightly gelatinous. Yums. Didn't get a chance to taste much of the seabass though, but it looked pretty.

Of course, the meal should end on a sweet note, hence lastly, dessert.

Plate 6: Chocolate & Hazelnut Semifreddo

Googled and semifreddo is a "light semi-frozen Italian dessert." True. It's mousse-like with chunky hazelnut bits. Not too sweet.

The Valentine's Day Special six plates, can be enjoyed for $120++.

Also sampled some items from the ala-carte menu. For starters, the oysters were really good. Plump and juicy, yet not too briny.

oysters half dozen @$38++

plump and juicy, that screams "Eat me!"

Or, you may fancy the beef carpaccio that was really thin, plenty of rocket leaves and a very good drizzle of balsamic.

wagyu beef carpaccio @$26++

tasty and tangy pork chop

As with occassions, how about some wine? The Zinfandel from California has a nice pinkish hue, sweet and sparkly.

But then, if one is drunk on love, any other drink would've tasted as sweet, yes?

Sparkling Rose @$75++ per bottle

Thank you Arossa and Publicist PR for the invited session.