Scallops with a nice dash of pesto atop. Each scallop was well executed, with a slightly charred exterior yet still being very tender. Have to say that it’s not the most affordable starter though.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
Seafood rigatoni in pink sauce served all wrapped up in aluminium foil. Loved the pink sauce - a good amount of creaminess, tanginess, bit also spiciness which added to the flavour. The prawns and scallops were in decent portions, though it would’ve been way better if they were fresh seafood instead. That being said, the alfresco ambience and service was top notch, which made the meal even better.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟🌟
A bowl of cold noodles with lots of vegetables — not just kimchi but your cut vegetables you’d usually find in a bibimbap. I thought this was quite interesting, especially with how the texture of the soba worked out well with the crunchiness of the vegetables. The kimchi also helped to give a gentle, tangy flavour to it all. I can only imagine how much better it’d be with a fried egg with runny yolk, instead of just a boring hard boiled egg.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
Hearty and comforting meal located along Orchard Road, but come at non-peak hours if you want to avoid the crowd and secure a table. The beef seafood soup was decently enjoyable, though I thought it could do with slightly more flavour and spice, as well as a thicker consistency. It felt a bit too watery for me after a while.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
True Breakfast is a small shop selling Taiwanese breakfast fare at the unassuming basement of Cuppage Plaza. Headed there around noon on a Sunday and there was a sizeable crowd, especially with the limited seating capacity. Yet, it seemed like customers did not wait too long to get seated.
Went for the Guo Shao Egg Noodles which looked interesting - kind of like your local Ee Mian but the texture of the egg noodles were indeed a bit different. Slightly rounded than flat, and on the softer side - not much of a bounce nor chew. The broth was very light, but had hints of umami and bonito flavour, which I thought was interesting, but very unlike the soup of ban mian like you’d expect. Got the scallion pancake to pair with the noodles, but would love to try the Taiwanese omelette one day as well!
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
My experience with Founder’s can very much be described as confusing. The dishes there feel almost as thought it was lacking something, which made the meal pretty unsatisfying. Ordered both the Premium Ribs & Premium Short Ribs to see which would’ve been more tender, but both were almost equally tough. While I like my soup peppery, this was somewhat in the middle of peppery and herbal, yet, it lacked a distinct character of Bak Kut Teh, almost amounting to a type of blandness. The tau pok was missing a distinct braised flavour, and the you tiao was not fresh and hot at all. Not sure if it’s just the branch, but I did think that the pork here had a much stronger gamy taste and pungent smell.
Rate:🌟
A South American inspired wood-fired lamb dish. The lamb was tender and made less gamy with the sauce, which was full of thyme and rosemary flavours. I however liked it paired with the sauce, which seemed like a creamy minty sauce - not sure if it’s a rendition of chimichurri + mint! That being said, the portion of this was really small, and a bigger plate (300g) would’ve cost $67. Not the most wallet friendly dishes here, but I guess you’re paying for vibes, views, and service.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
The crust of these empanadas gave one warm and toasty experience despite the really hot weather. I don’t really know how else to describe it other than a non-spicy vegetarian curry puffs. While it doesn’t sound impressive, it packed a nice spiced flavour with a combination of leek, cheese, potato and corn. Complemented by the sumac ranch, it gave every bite a refreshing tartness.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
Miso cod fish was well fried with a nice umami hint to it. Brioche bun was nicely toasted, though not as fluffy and soft as desired. The truffle fries were just decent. Overall, quite a nice cafe to hang out with friends considering it’s aesthetic interior.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟
Rwanda Nova beans with hints of redcurrants, black plums, and roselle. Very smooth texture and delightful flavour to the coffee.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thick, fried pork belly embraced in two toasty, crusty buns. All was good, but what sealed the deal was the combination of daikon and zucchini pickles and rosemary plum sauce, which gave a very pleasant, appetising punch to the sandwich. It’s a huge portion for one, and I’d highly recommend sharing - especially when you can get their bakes on the shelf (the chocolate ganache cake was way too good).
Rate:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Both toast sets with kopi by the side and soft boiled eggs. Beyond the very nostalgic atmosphere people talk about - the old, (rather stuffy) coffeeshop here surprised me with its soft and fluffy toast. While the butter sugar was just decent, the kaya butter combination worked much better in my favour, with the sweet kaya lathered on the white toast and topped with a slice of almost, melted, salted butter. The eggs that came with the set were also beautifully done (not pictured), and the coffee was also rich and strong.
Rate:🌟🌟🌟🌟
