Treasures of Tanjong Pagar
The ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ ($26), stuffed with generous portions of soft shell crab and crispy crab stick, was excellent as well.
The ๐ช๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ ($38) was sublime as well. Amazingly tender and juicy, pairing it with the crunchy fried garlic was the epitome of enjoyment.
Both sets came with sashimi, salad and Chawanmushi. I was highly impressed with the sweet and briny clam miso soup, which same with the sushi set.
Sushi lovers, check out Mitsu Sushi Bar. The stunningly scrumptious lunch and dinner sets are an absolute steal!
The ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฟ๐ถ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ต๐ถ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ ($38) is a must order. The seven pieces of torched sushi were mind-blowingly magnificent:
๐ฃTuna w spicy sauce
๐ฃFlounder w simei sauce (sweet sour)
๐ฃSalmon w wasabi
๐ฃAmberjack w salted egg
๐ฃSaba w black pepper
๐ฃScallop w truffle sauce
๐ฃTamago
We also tried the ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ ($19). While the beef chunks were tender, the gravy couldโve had bolder flavours. Thumbs up for the creamy mashed potatoes as I could detect real potatoes inside.
I felt the Beef Stew was a bit of a hit and miss, but the Fish & Chips is definitely a must try!
Lad & Dadโs ๐๐ถ๐๐ต & ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ๐ has often been hailed as one of the best in Singapore. It comes in two sizes, 150g ($19) and 300g ($29).
The beer battered haddock was firm and flakey. Encased in a shatteringly crispy batter, it was sensational. The tartar sauce enhanced its flavour, while the thick cut fries were excellent complements. I didnโt fancy the mushy peas, though.
Bidding farewell to the iconic Keong Saik Bakery at 33 Keong Saik Road. As part of its moving out promo, it was giving away free pastries for six consecutive weeks (a different one each week) to the first 30 customers everyday. I managed to get the ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป, whose crispy, flakey exterior and sweet, creamy filling were divine.
We also tried the ๐ฆโ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ ($12) was decidedly decadent. The crumbly texture was delightful, though it was too sweet.
There are about a dozen ice-cream flavours available. The scoop of refreshing ๐๐๐น๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ (comes with the brownie) alleviated the brownieโs sweetness somewhat.
Allpress Espresso from New Zealand has opened a pop-up cafe at Duxton Road. From 9 to 14 May they are also offering 1-for-1 espresso-based coffees.
The ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ ($6) was aromatic and robust, while the ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ ($6) was very smooth.
One of the number of new cafes opening in the Tanjong Pagar area in the past month or so is FiftyFive Coffee Bar. Its opening hours are, amusingly, 9.55 am to 5.55 pm.
The specials are what caught my attention. Pipagao is a viscous, black cough syrup that I took as a child. Here, it is used to concoct the ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ($8.50). Unfortunately the Pipagaoโs minty flavour was too strong and I could hardly detect the strawberry milk or espresso.
The ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ธ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ ($7.50) fared better. Initially I only tasted the sweet scent of the honey, but as I drank further, the savoury profile of the miso milk shone through. The combination was very palatable.
Perhaps Iโll stick to a normal coffee; the Pipagao drink isnโt my cup of teaโฆ or cough syrup.
We also tried the ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ($11.90). Succulent scallops were served sizzling in a hot plate. Floating in a heavenly wafu sauce, the scallops were superb.
The service rendered by Simon was also impeccable. Polite, articulate, highly knowledgeable in Yayoiโs offerings and extremely attentive to customersโ needs, he made the dining experience an absolute joy.
The ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ป ($30.90) had five items intricately arranged on a tiered wooden platform. The pork katsu, salt-grilled mackerel, chicken dumplings and salmon sashimi were good, but the captivatingly crispy prawn katsu stood out.
Yayoi, a stalwart of Japanese casual dining, has recently revamped its menu after a decade in Singapore.
The ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ป (base price $24.80) came highly recommended. Customise it by choosing the type of meat (we picked the ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ, + $4). Grill the protein, resting in miso paste on a magnolia leaf, for 30 seconds per side. The leaf imparted a subtle fragrance to the tender pork, while the magnificent miso paste made it more delectable.
The accompanying tempura prawns, salmon sashimi and salad all tasted great. The ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป (+ $2.90), rice fried in a fish stock, was very fluffy with an intoxicating aroma. The complimentary ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ provided a sweet ending.
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