After dinner at Star Vista, my family and I were on the lookout for a dessert place and happened to chance upon Plan A Dessert Cafe. Located away from the bustling crowds on the lower levels of the mall, the cafe is situated on the second floor, offering a dining view of the Star Vista Atrium.

They have a wide selection of Bingsu flavors, and after some deliberation, we settled on a large bowl of Choco Banana. Firstly and most importantly, the shaved ice was perfect—soft like snow and deliciously milky. The toppings of banana, chocolate ice cream, oreo bits, and whipped cream were fantastic, making for a fail-proof flavor combination.

I will definitely be back again when I am in the area to try their other Bingsu flavors. I highly recommend Plan A if you are looking for a pleasant dessert place to enjoy great Bingsu with your friends and family or to treat yourself!

Went for a weekday dinner with my family at Boon Teng Kee Happynest, located at the basement level of Star Vista. The restaurant offers plenty of outdoor seating and a few indoor tables. Given the Singapore weather, I opted for the indoor air-conditioned seating, which was a comfortable choice as the place was about half full.

We ordered their signature boiled kampong chicken along with a few other dishes to share. The kampong chicken tasted okay, but given the price, I expected a larger portion. It's worth noting that kampong chickens are typically smaller and less meaty but offer a softer texture and better flavor. The saving grace was the chili sauce, which wasn't too spicy but had a nice kick and complemented the chicken and rice well.

The other dishes we tried included Stewed Pork Belly with Mui Choy, Spinach with Assorted Eggs, Salted Egg Prawns, and Crispy Beancurd. While all the dishes were decent, my personal favorite was the Crispy Beancurd. The skin was thin and lightly fried, with a hot, steaming, and soft beancurd inside, paired perfectly with the wasabi mayo sauce.

Overall, for the price point, some aspects could be improved, particularly the portion sizes. I believe their other branches, especially those at coffee shops, will be a better option.

Had my much-needed and long-awaited Friday night dinner at Market Bistro, located on the first floor of Marina Bay Financial Tower 3. Conveniently situated within walking distance from several MRT stations in the CBD area, it is an ideal spot for a relaxing evening meal.

I ordered two of their extremely popular dishes. To start, I had the Fried Baby Squid with Spicy Aioli Sauce. The squid was battered and fried to perfection, but what truly elevated the dish was the house-made spicy aioli sauce. The mix of chili flakes and oil blended with mayo created a unique and delicious sauce that paired perfectly with the baby squid.

For mains, I had the Steak Frites. The steak was cooked to the exact doneness I requested, and the fries were crispy, just the way I like them. The jus (thick gravy) was not too overwhelming and complemented the meat well.

Major props to the service staff, who were very friendly yet professional and attentive at the same time. The ambience of the place was classy yet comfortable, making for a pleasant dining experience.

All in all, Market Bistro offers great food, a pleasant atmosphere, and excellent service. I highly recommend trying it out if you are looking for a quieter date night dinner spot in the CBD area.

Went to Mr & Mrs Super Crispy Prata for a late breakfast on a weekend, introduced by my partner who knew my love for prata, and it definitely did not disappoint.

Tucked in a small coffee shop on Joo Chiat Street, it is extremely popular among the locals. As the name suggests, their prata is consistently crispy yet not too oily, with great-tasting dough.

My personal go-to dishes, which I highly recommend, are the plaster prata and the egg cheese prata. The plaster prata features a perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk, which pairs extremely well with their signature sambal sauce. Their sambal is on the sweeter side but is packed with flavor. Combined with the curry, it creates a match made in heaven for their prata. The egg cheese prata is thick and hearty, with a generous amount of cheese packed within the egg and dough.

The coffee shop is relatively small with limited seating, and on weekends, the prata may run out quickly. So, do come early and be prepared to wait for both seats and food. Nonetheless, it is worth the trip to indulge in their sinful yet delectable prata.

Celebrated Father's Day dinner with my family, and what better way to do so than with a good old Mookata in the heartlands. Bangkok Street Mookata has several branches across Singapore, but I've always felt that the one in Ang Mo Kio is the best. I used to visit frequently, and when I returned last Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the coffee shop had been renovated for the better. There are more seats, better spacing, improved lighting, and cleaner facilities, including a much-improved toilet. Overall, the atmosphere has significantly improved following the renovation.

The mookata was as good as ever, with generous portions at reasonable prices. Their garlic chicken remains the superior go-to dish and is a must-have. Other recommended dishes include bacon, quail eggs, luncheon meat, and, of course, tom yum maggi. What truly sets them apart and elevates their mookata experience are their two chili sauces. One is a thick, sweet chili, and the other, my personal favorite, is a wetter, spicier chili that resembles chicken rice chili sauce.

A new addition is their collaboration with the Thai cuisine store, allowing customers to place orders from them as well. We tried the Moo Ping, which was excellent—rightfully so, as it is run by a Thai family. I look forward to trying more of their dishes, such as basil chicken rice and tom yum soup, on my next visit.

The staff are nice and attentive, always ready to help change the gas or refill the soup. It can get quite crowded, with long queues on weekend dinners, so be prepared to wait a bit. Nonetheless, it's worth the wait, and Bangkok Street Mookata is a great place to gather with friends and family for a hearty meal. Highly recommended!

Went to the OG Springleaf Prata Place at Springleaf Garden on a Saturday night for a late dinner and to catch up with friends. Having discovered this gem many years ago, I've returned countless times. It's one of the most popular prata spots in Singapore, not just for their yearly specialty prata creations, but because their prata is consistently top-notch, always leaving me in awe. There's something special about their dough—it’s perfectly fragrant, with an ideal balance of chewiness and a crisp finish.

The dining environment is comfortable, with air-conditioned seating inside that doesn’t compromise the authentic ambience of a local prata place.

During my most recent visit, I ordered two of my all-time favorites: the Murtaburger and Roti Bomb. The Murtaburger, part of their ultimate series, is inspired by the famous Ramly burger. It features lamb patties and various sauces, all executed perfectly, with a generous portion size. The Roti Bomb is the best sweet prata choice, with perfectly melted sugar glazed over their perfect prata dough—truly a life-changing experience.

Beyond these two, I highly recommend some of my other favorites. The cheese prata is excellent with a huge portion size, while their specialty series Plaster Blaster offers a unique experience with poached egg and hollandaise sauce over prata. If prata isn’t your thing, their other mains such as Mutton Briyani and Maggi goreng are seriously good too.

While they used to be open until the early hours, they now close at 11 pm due to operational changes. The queue can get extremely long, especially on weekends and some weekday nights, so plan for some additional waiting time. However, the food is served relatively quite quickly once ordered.

In my opinion, Springleaf Prata Place truly stands at the top. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a unique yet authentic prata and dining experience.

I visited the Paparch store and got the trio set, which consists of their original flavor and two other rotating flavors.

This is my second time getting the mini square trio set. Previously, I had the set with Chocolate Praline and Pistachio Berry, both of which were executed extremely well and quickly became my favorites.

In general, all of Paparch's cheesecakes have a gooey interior with a firm yet soft outer layer, providing an incredible gastronomic experience of contrasting textures.

This time, the trio set included Salted Gula Banana and Yuzu Thyme flavors. The Salted Gula Banana was slightly watery inside, and the banana flavor was lacking. However, the Yuzu Thyme was exceptional. The refreshing citrusy yuzu paired perfectly with the herby taste and flowery scent of thyme, elevating the uniqueness of this flavor.

Nonetheless, their original cheesecake remains consistently the best. It’s a fantastic cheesecake, and theres nothing more one can ask for.

The store is somewhat out of the way, located in the basement of City Gate. They are open for walk-ins on selected days, while other days are reserved for delivery only. I recommend checking their website for exact details and to see which flavors are available.

I will definitely be back to get their original whole cheesecake soon, while eagerly waiting for the return of the incredible Chocolate Praline and Pistachio Berry flavors. I recommend Paparch if you are looking to treat yourself or your family and friends to some delightful sweets!

I had dinner at Chili Padi Nonya Restaurant on a Sunday night with my partner and her family.

Chili Padi has been a household name for Nonya cuisine and has long been a staple in Joo Chiat, the epicenter of Singapore’s Peranakan scene. The restaurant recently completed renovations, which explains their contemporary Nonya décor, furniture, and fittings. The ambience is modern and clean, yet retains its authentic Peranakan personality.

We ordered the chef-recommended Ngoh Hiang, Laksa Goreng, and Nonya Chap Chye, all of which were excellent. However, three dishes stood out as particularly special.

First was the Sotong Hitam. The portion was generous, and the squid ink blended with spices paired perfectly with the firm and springy squid. Secondly, the Bak Wan Kepeting stood out with its clean yet flavor-packed soup and soft, delicious meatball.

The highlight for me was the Buah Keluak gravy, a Nonya staple and their specialty. We chose the pork ribs option (they have chicken as well), and the ribs were cooked to perfection—soft and tender. The Buah Keluak sauce tasted authentic and had a unique flavor profile that is unparalleled in other cuisines.

I highly recommend Chili Padi if you are looking for an exceptional Nonya dining experience with friends and family.

I visited the Brawn and Brains Hamilton Branch this afternoon for my Sunday brunch. It was my first time here, as I usually frequent their East Coast branch.

To start, I had the mentaiko curly fries. The flavor was fantastic—not too heavy—with mentaiko sauce topped with seaweed and sesame seeds, making it a perfect beginning to the meal.

I then ordered their signature baked molten egg. It was so enticing that I dug in as soon as it arrived, hence, I didn’t manage to snap a photo. But trust that it lives up to its reputation!

Next, I had the Masala Chicken Taco, a dish I had previously enjoyed at their East Coast branch. The chicken was perfectly spiced with a slight kick of heat, wrapped in a crisp taco shell. The papadum retained its crunch even after being left out for a while and was fried to perfection.

I also tried their recommended favorite, the chicken avocado sando. The combination of chicken and avocado was excellent, but what really elevated the sando was the nicely toasted house-made brioche bun.

For drinks, I have previously enjoyed their iced chocolate, iced mocha, and iced white, all consistently great. This time, I decided to try something new and opted for the slightly indulgent BnB Kopi Shake, which turned out to be a delightful treat.

Highly recommend Brawn and Brains for a great brunch if you're in the area!

A friend of mine was in the area, so we decided to have a quick, last-minute catch-up at Nutmeg & Clove. It was a Friday night and the place was packed, so without a reservation, we had to settle for the outside seating.

Nutmeg & Clove boasts an extensive cocktail menu, all uniquely inspired by local Singaporean culture, with each priced reasonably at $25. I had the Stylo Milo while my friend chose the Oriental 50. The Stylo Milo was a delightful surprise as it was served warm—my first experience with a warm cocktail. The ingredients blended well, and the alcohol was both strong and well-balanced.

I would definitely return, but next time with a reservation, to explore the many other intriguing cocktails that caught my eye.

I have been visiting Ginza Tendon for many years now. First introduced to me by a friend, I have since brought my family and numerous friends, all of whom have loved it. The prices remain affordable, and the portion sizes have been consistently generous.

Ginza Tendon offers a variety of options to suit different preferences, from vegetable-only dishes to seafood and pork lovers options. My personal favourite is their speciality mix, which includes a delightful assortment of vegetables, mushrooms, juicy chicken breast, and ebi prawn, all expertly battered and fried. I do not know how they do it, but their eggs are always cooked to runny perfection.

The accompanying sauce is exceptional, and I always spam it over the rice. Every set also comes with authentic miso soup and chawanmushi. Additionally, they offer rare Japanese sodas in a wide variety of flavours.

Weekends and Friday nights can be quite busy, and they do not take reservations. To avoid long waits, the best advice is to arrive early. 😋

Visited Meadesmoore few nights back to celebrate 520 (Chinese Valentines) with my partner.

For the appetizer, we indulged in the Kuju Kushima oyster mornay, beautifully presented on a bed of ice. The freshness of the oysters was impeccably balanced, offering a subtle saltiness that was not overpowering. The combination of cheese and spinach complemented the oysters perfectly, adding a unique, tangy twist.

For the main course, we selected the Meadesmoore house cuts, which featured a trio of exquisite meats: juicy ribeye, ribeye cap, and tender undercut. This dish provided a perfect blend of textures, further elevated by the two accompanying sauces. Each sauce offered a distinct flavor, ensuring that alternating between them kept the experience exciting and prevented any flavor fatigue from the generous portion of beef.

Just when we thought the meal couldn't get any better, we moved on to dessert. Their specialty tiramisu was a revelation, leaving both our minds and taste buds thoroughly impressed. The dark rum, used to perfection, harmonized with the cream and chocolate, creating an unforgettable dessert experience.

The ambience at Meadesmoore was sophisticated, with dim lighting enhancing the elegant atmosphere. The service staff were extremely attentive and friendly, contributing to an overall exceptional dining experience.

I would highly recommend!