It was a night out with the girls and Oriole Cafe & Bar could not have been a better venue for the occasion.

Despite its relatively hidden location, the cafe was completely packed that night by 8pm and we were sooo happy that one among our group had the foresight to make reservations. The cafe was rather dimly lit, but the comfy seats and cosy settings made up for it in the ambience department. That, plus the $6.50 happy hour deal for drafts/housewines/housespirits. (:

We started off with the Spicy Calamari and Thick Cut Fries with Aioli. The Spicy Calamari was a little too soggy for my liking, but the seasoning spinkled over the dish and the chewiness of the squid was just right. Should the batter be crispy, this was have been amazing. The Thick Cut Fries were really fragrant and came with a nice cold, creamy dip. Again, would have been perfect if it were more crispy. :p

Having done my homework, I arrived at Oriole already knowing what to order and I tell you, their Chicken Casserole was really really good! This humble, frumpy-looking dish, served hot in a shallow ceramic pan, included moist & tender chicken pieces sitting among crunchy capsicum slices and chewy chorizo chunks in a really hearty tomato-paprika sauce. You'd wish there were more than 3 slices of toast baguette to mop up the sauce with! At $20, I thought it was rather pricey (considering the Beef Cheek Tagliatelle was going for only $15) but as I worked my way through the dish, I realised - this dish is quite big! For the portion and quality, the Chicken Casserole was worth every cent, and more. Slurp!

I had a bite of the Beef Cheek Tagliatelle, but didn't quite like because of some citrus-y smell and aftertaste. My friends slurped it all up anyway, so I guess it was good for those who enjoy a touch of zing in their mains. I also tried the Chicken Tikka, which I felt was juicy and had a nice smokey flavour to it, but unfortunately was not very memorable compared to my awesome Chicken Casserole :p

I particularly enjoyed the service here. Even though it was a full crowd with only about 5 servers working the floor, it never was a challenge getting someone's attention and all our orders were served rather promptly. They were also really accommodating when it came to dealing with our strange requests of ordering a beer at 745pm but only wanting it served at 815pm (yes, that's us - the cheapskates trying to squeeze in one more happy hour deal) and never hurried us even as we sat there chatting over drinks til closing time.

I had a great time, and I will definitely be returning. (:

Craving some steak and refuge from the usual foodcourt lunch crowd, we decided to head to Jack's Place to try out their set lunches. While the sets were absolutely value for money, the restaurant's languid lackluster service left much to be desired. 

Everyone in our group of 5 settled for the same item, Sirloin Steak with Caramelized Onions, with 3 Mediums and 2 Medium Rares. When the steaks arrived, we realised that the doneness of all the steaks were the same regardless of our specifications and the individual steaks were disappointedly inconsistend - with the outer 2 inches of the steaks done till brown and the absolutely middle so red and rare it was even bordering on being cold. When a colleague requested for her steak to be cooked further, what came back was the same cut slice of meat steaming hot on the outside but still red on the inside. Curious.

Eager for them to improve, we informed the waitstaff who cleared our dishes that they messed up all the orders for our table. The waiter replied that he would check up on it, and we witnessed as he repeated our feedback to the manager - who promptly brushed off the comment and did not bother to respond to it.

True that $13 for a 3-course meal is rather economical. But considering the rather watered-down Pumpkin Soup for starters, the rock hard scoop of low-quality ice cream for dessert, the management's lack of respect for service and their nonchalant attitude towards feedback, I think I'll prefer to stick to Pepper Lunch and cook my own.

If I'm ever in Queensway or IKEA Alexandra, Joe's Kitchen would definitely be on my agenda for a cosy, quick meal.

A small eatery under a HDB flat, you would probably would right past it without knowing if you weren't looking out for it in the first place. Despite it's incognito-ness, Joe's Kitchen is so popular that you'd probably not get a seat indoors if you didn't make reservations.

I started the meal with a Mango Salad (minus chilli padi), which was really fresh and crunchy but, unfortunately, tasted too much of fish-sauce for my liking. Next up was a two-person-portion of the Pineapple Fried Rice. This was really comforting for the soul for me - warm, chewy, sweet rice with just enough pineapple flavour. The rice probably wouldn't be very satisfying if taken on its own but definitely makes a great choice of carbo for a meal. They said it was for 2, but my mom and I finished just over half the plate and had to bring the rest home.

I ordered a small portion of the Seafood Tom Yum and requested for it to be made less spicy. The resultant dish was perfect for me. Served with a generous amount of very fresh seafood and rich in flavour without making me cry from the spice. My mom loved it so much she slurped up the soup down to the last drop. Tom Yummmm.

My favourite dish at Joe's Kitchen? The Thai Prawn Cake! I learnt from my last visit here and ordered one cake for each person. Deep-fried til crunchy without being oily and packed with succulent prawn chunks. I love this. And you must try this!

The food isn't authentically Thai, but it suits my palette just fine. The price isn't coffee-shop cheap, but definitely is worth what you're getting. And the service doesn't belong in the first class "bow-at-your-feet" genre, but I felt that all their staff were friendly, attentive and most importantly - efficient. I'll be back (:

There are a few things you need to know about Brotzeit Raffles City: there's no air-conditioning, happy hours end at 8pm and the pork knuckle has got some pretty decent crackling.

Flagging off the feast with a half-litre of Original Munich Lager Dunkel, Brotzeit delivered what it promised - a smooth, dark, cloudy lager with a sweet malty finish. Due to the alfresco setting, the beer got warm pretty quickly but thankfully, did not turn bitter and remained malti-licious to the very last gulp.

A friend insisted on the Meeresfrüchtesalat (seafood salad) and boy am I glad we ordered it! This healthy concoction was a generous serving of leafy greens (and purples) with juicy grilled zucchini, smoked salmon slices, smoked tuna chunks and huge succulent grilled prawns. Tossed with a unique sour cream dressing and dotted with orange slices and olives in between, this was a great way to start the meal and even would be a rather satisfying healthy treat if taken as a main course. Very good.

The star of the day? The roasted Pork Knuckle of course! Said to be a portion for 1 (though its size and price point suggested otherwise), we happily ordered this to be split among 2 and it nicely sufficed. A little on the tougher side, the pork knuckle was packed with flavour, lean and chewy. There is supposed to be a thin brown sauce served with the knuckle, which our waitress forgot about, so make sure you get yours. And the crackling? Well salted, crunchy, attached to a thin layer of fat (well, it is what makes the dish awesome) and, as always, divine.

The alfresco setting may be a slight turn-off for some, but area was rather windy when I dined there so there won't be any complaints of heat from me. The high ceilings and open-aired concept helped to ensure that the noise level never got beyond an audible buzz despite everyone talking at the same time, making Brotzeit a great place to hang out with friends.

I'll be back. (:

A "3 course plus coffee/tea" set lunch; of good quality and impressive portions; in a French themed bistro; with great service; on a weekend: for less than $30 nett. Tell me a place with better value and I'll make you my idol.

Entrée: Half dozen baked Burgundy Snails with Tomato and Garlic Butter
Mmmm, this was yummy. The flavour of the generous pile of herb-garlic-butter was thoroughly infused into the chewy snails and I mopped the rest of the sauce up with the leftover bread from the bread basket. Warning though: these snails come hot so be careful not to burn your tongue with it!

Main: Minute of Beef Rump Steak served with Shallots Confit and French Fries
When served, this dish look deceptively small. But start eating it and you'll realise - this is a full portion. Done to Medium Rare upon request, the steak was a little on the tougher side but still relatively chewy, and very very flavourful. The fries? Crispy and decent, though nothing spectacular.

Dessert: Bread and Butter Pudding with Fresh Vanilla Beans
Now, I'm a little confused here. Though it says "bread and butter pudding" on the menu, what was served looked (and tasted) very much like a Crème Brulée. In fact, a friend ordered a Crème Brulée at Au Petit Salut (the sister outlet) previously and was served the exact same item! Name aside, this was good. Not too sweet, not too buttery/creamy and served in a generous "hand-sized" portion. I ate it all.

The service here is attentive without being overwhelming. Our water jugs were never less than half full and we never felt rushed to leave despite staying on past 3pm (their last order was at 230pm). And service here, was always with a smile.

However, having been to both Au Petit Salut and Bistro Petit Salut, and trying the same items at both establishments, I must say that the quality at the more "atas" Au Petit Salut is slightly better. Or maybe it was just a one-off experience. I'll dine at both sides again and come back with the results :p

Relax Bistro, though honestly not very impressionable, is one of those places that does everything just right and leaves nothing for you to complain about.

True to its name, Relax Bistro is all decked out for you to take a rest from your day's work (or shopping). Think comfortable squishy chairs, minimal items set on the table and a decent amount of elbow space for each diner - you just can't help but heave a sigh of relief as you melt into this unhurried space in 313.

For starters, I tried the Escargots and the Warm Spinach Salad. The Escargots were competently done - chewy and infused with a fragrant hint of butter. I personally would have preferred it with a slight bit more herbs but, really, there's no other fault you could find with it. The leafy Warm Spinach Salad was served with fresh succulent chunks of grilled prawns beneath a generous coating of bacon bits and fat. Thought far from healthy, the bacon added lots of flavor to the otherwise simple salad - a perfect "Introduction to Salad" option for carnivores.

For mains, I had Linguine Aglio Olio with Prawns. A word of caution: this is one spicy dish! The prawns were really really fresh and juicy and the linguine was superbly tasty - but the spice level was a little too high for me and I kept having to dose the fire in my mouth with water. I'd order this again if I could request for a less spicy version. :p

Speaking of water, this was a plus point for the bistro. Unlike other chi-chi "still or sparkling?" restaurants, Relax Bistro not only serves tap water, but considerately slices strawberries into them, so the tap water comes infused with a slight strawberry sweetness. I like. (:

While I was there, I noticed that the bistro serves a 3 course set lunch at the very reasonable price of $12.90. I look forward to coming back for that.

It was a girls' night out and Marmalade Pantry could not have been more perfect a location for the occasion.

The shift from Palais Renaissance to Ion Orchard saw Marmalade Pantry undertaking an entirely new decor concept, from the previous privacy-providing tall white walls to the overly open concept that even allows people coming up the escalator to see everyone dining at a glance. A little disturbing, but still tolerable.

A friend and I shared the Crabmeat Caesar and the highly touted Crabmeat Linguine between us, which were essentially the same dish presented in different ways - one on vegetables and the other on pasta.

While these dishes were undeniably well-executed, they were utterly overshadowed by my friend's order of Scrambled Eggs on Toast with Field Mushrooms. (There was supposed to be sausages too but she replaced them with extra eggs.) Oh my - these were the bestest, fluffiest, perfectest scrambled eggs I ever had! They were buttery and milky and light yet substantial all at the same time. Slurp. And the side of fries that the dish came with were amazingly crunchy and crispy without much traces of oil too. I'd go back for this.

For desserts? I ordered the Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. It was exactly like I remembered it to be - divine. The pudding, served warm, was densely packed with sweet toffee and date goodness. The portions were just right and you'd feel just satiated, neither craving for more nor nauseated.

Everything washed down with a glass of sweet and yoghurty Joy - a perfect meal.

One thing that bothered me though, was that the service standards seemed to have dropped a fair bit. I felt rushed all the way through - from the stern "this way, please" instructions at the entrance when I spent an extra second admiring the cupcakes on display to the insistent "can I clear your plate" requests when I placed my cutlery down (separated) for a rest. The staff also didn't seem all that happy to be working that night as my friend's request for more milk for her tea was greeted with a frown, and the lady who gave us our bill just reached out for my friend's credit card without even offering to let us look through it. No more vibes of an unhurried dinner or signs of "service with a smile". They should look into that.

In a moment of folly, I chose to arrange dinner with an Indian friend in little India and was issued a challenge "Haha, Okay. Let's see where you bring me for dinner." After searching a little on HungryGoWhere ("Briyani near Little India" filtered within 500m and sort by food score), I found this little gem and decided to give it a go.

Reading through the list of must-tries by other reivews, the Mutton Briyani naturally made it as part of my order and I must say this is one of the better briyanis around! Presented as a little pot of vibrantly coloured Basmanti rice grains, this was more than a pretty face. The rice grains (boiled twice to remove most of its starch content, or so I was told by my friend) were so light, I finished 3/4 of the pot all by myself. The little mutton chunks were superbly tender and tasty, providing a complementary heavier touch to the dish.

My Mango Lassi was not too thick, not too sour - just nice. And the Gulab Jamuun desserts, though not as densely packed as other places, were surprisingly not too sweet - a great way to end the meal.

Good food, pleasant service and great location - I'll be back again.

Happiness = Reality / Expectations
I went to Giraffe expecting a establishment only worth of a 5.6 rating and left a rather happy camper.

We were ushered to our seats quite swiftly and duly informed of the Happy Hour promos (til 8pm, valid only for the lousiest selection of each alcohol type) as well as the specials of the day. The bread slices arrived soft and warm (yay!) with a dubious looking black dip that was in fact a mix of herbs, olives and anchovies. Interesting.

I tried their Herb Sirloin Steak in Black Pepper Sauce (Medium Rare). Aside from its slightly tougher texture and smaller portion, the steak was done just right and the sauce was peppercorn-ly tasty - no complaints. (:

The best dish of the day? My friend's Fried Mediterranean Fish. This was a HUGE chunk of very fresh fish served with Capers Basil Butter sauce. I found the batter a little oily and overly salty, but still found the dish to be very much value-for-money for its portion, freshness and price.

Service wise, I'd say this varies greatly depending on the waitstaff in question. While a waitress managed only a helplessly clueless expression when I asked what the "black goo" bread dip was, another waiter was very competent in answering all our questions and even gamely sang a birthday song for our friends when bringing up our cake. It's not there yet - but they're trying.

Overall, Giraffe isn't all as bad as some reviews make it out to be, but definitely has much room for improvement.

P.S. this place doesn't serve tap water, even after you've ordered drinks - a minus for me.

I've walked past Fruit Paradise countless times and have always been drawn to them by the drool-worthy tarts on display at the counter, but never had the chance to sit down for a slice as I was always in a rush. Last Saturday, I did.

Unlike most places, Fruit Paradise amazingly produces tarts that look exactly like their plastic-moulded counterparts on display - full points for presentation. I had the Mixed Berry Tart and very sadly, didn't quite like it.

Although the chef was very generous with his sprinkling of berries, I felt that there were too many blue-berries in the mix and feeling 3 or 4 of them pop in your mouth with every bite wasn't all that fun after a while. Replacing some with raspberries may have yielded a better experience. Hidden beneath all the berries was a few inches worth of chocolate mousse, which (frankly) tasted more like cream than chocolate mousse. The tart at the bottom? None of that fragrant buttery goodness that most other biscuit bases would have promised. And all the different parts of the tart just couldn't complement each other well enough to "fit" as a nice, single slice of tart.

As a disclaimer, it is not to say that the tarts here were bad. But the presentation promised much more and as a result - I left disappointed.