Tag Archives: Set Lunch
Shoebox Canteen @ 36 North Canal Road
Shoebox Canteen along North Canal Road is one of the latest additions to the CBD area to look out for. Diner by day and cocktail bar- Bitters and Love by night, this unique 30 seater space with clean finishes seeks to serve up fuss-free affordable fare to the office crowd. The concept here is simple. Orders and payments are made directly at the cashier before the food is served to your table and you can leave once you are done. This comes extremely handy especially when you have limited time for lunch and want everything to be done “chop chop” so you can be back in the office with a satisfied tummy but still before your boss steps in.
Serving up mainly fusion cuisine with both East and West influences, the menu here changes every 3 weeks or so, just to mix things up for the customers. Set lunches which include a Salmon Rillette + Cream of Mushroom Soup + a choice of main go for only $19 nett while ala-carte mains price from $15-$19 nett.
Our first main was the Ranch Beef Burger served with a homemade beef patty, onion rings and home-cut fries. Though the kitchen did not ask how I wanted my beef to be done, I personally enjoyed the result of having left that option to them. The patty was moist, juicy, made from good quality ground meat. And adding an element of spice was that gherkin relish that had an earthy mustard feel with a subtle sweetness to the burger. The home-cut fries too was enjoyable and I would have loved a bigger portion!
COMMUNAL | Diner. Bar. New American Restaurant
COMMUNAL, the newest addition to the CBD area, along the busy North Canal Road, is Singapore-based American chef Ryan Jette’s first restaurant to his name. With a glowing resume and experience from top restaurants all around the world, including New York, San Francisco, London, under his belt and most recently as executive sous chef at The Sentosa Hotel, Chef Ryan hopes to glamorize diner food in his latest venture with quality ingredients and big flavours, all while maintaining pocket-friendly prices.
The menu here though limited, leans towards mostly American comfort/diner food with offerings of Burgers, Mac N Cheese, Fried Chicken and Thick Milkshakes for under $30. The lunch crowd can look forward to a 3 course value set lunch which includes a sandwich, soup/salad and drink, all for $15.
And just its name suggests, half of the seating here is ‘communal’ with a long bar counter table that stretches across the restaurant, where diners sit on black wooden stools facing the open kitchen. The remaining seats in this contemporary-chic themed eatery, with a rustic flair contributed by the red-bricked walls, are booth seats which hold more privacy for conversations.
The Meat & Poultry section is modest with only three choices of Fried Chicken $18, Seared Black Angus Strip Loin $38 and Braised Beef Cheek $24. Three very different ways of cooking three different types of meat with three different price ranges. Clean-cut and straight to the point. We settled for the Braised Beef Cheek just because we felt like it was a beef day.
And it was a great choice. Braised till amazingly tender and moist, with all rounded succulence, these braised beef cheeks were infused with a beautiful rich flavor of oyster sauce that was nicely concentrated. The mashed potato too was a bed of velvety smoothness that was warm and comfortingly indulgent with notes of buttery creaminess.
Made from three types of cheeses- Parmesan, Gyuyere and White Cheddar Cheese, this Lobster Mac and Cheese Gratin $20 is one of COMMUNAL’s signatures. While purists may frown upon the absence of that thick gooey melted cheese sauce, I found that their sauce though less rich in intensity, complimented the elbow macaroni well instead of drowning it. The lobster meat added to the casserole was not scanty either and was instead found in chunks, in almost every spoonful of macaroni we picked up.
Prego Springs To Life With Colori Di Primavera
One of Singapore’s longest standing Italian restaurants, Prego at Fairmont Singapore celebrates the arrival of Spring adorning bright colours, bold flavours and fresh produce with its new Colori Di Primavera (Colours of Spring) menu which will be available from 1st March 2013- 28th April 2013.
Prego’s predominantly orange and brown hued landscape lends a gloriously welcoming demeanor to its spacious premises. The lovely touch of fresh flowers around the restaurant with a stalk of yellow gerbera on each table draws you into this homely rustic Italian restaurant which has stood the test of time. And it is with this inviting thought in mind that has inspired Chef de Cuisine Antonio Facchinetti to create these flavourful Spring dishes to user into the season.
**Do note that these are tasting portions
Embrace the au naturale colours of this **Lobster with Yellow and Green Zucchini Salad $28++, prepared simply so as to not overwhelm the raw sweetness of both the shredded zucchini and boiled lobster flesh. Crunching through the tangled greens was decidedly delightful, with just the right drizzle of lemon juice/olive oil dressing to jazz things up a little.
For a more refreshing and colourful alternative, the **Spinach Salad with Red Onions, Pine Nuts and Strawberry $19++ is a charm. Extremely light and subtle, while rich in antioxidants and iron, this is power packed and healthy with a capital ‘H’!
I was quite taken by the Pan Roasted Cod with Sauteed Broccolini and Vine Tomato $48++ which came served in parchment paper. The ensemble of bright green broccolini, zesty yellow lemon, black olives, cherry red tomatoes and a generous slab of cod fillet could not have brought out the essence of Spring more. The pan roasted cod flesh itself was so delicate and smooth. Quite easily my favourite of the day.
Made up of three staple Roman ingredients, this **Tagliolini with Artichokes, Guanciale and Pecorino $36++ is yet another of Chef de Cuisine Antonio Facchinetti’s thoughtfully prepared handmade pasta dishes. Finished table-side in a Pecorino cheese wheel made from sheep’s milk, this was a light and textured dish made extra special by those fatty crispy bits of Guanciale (pork cheeks).
Restaurant Ember @ Hotel 1929
Located at boutique hotel lobby 1929 at the start of Keong Saik road, Restaurant Ember sits unassumingly and modestly without any airs. The decor of the restaurant too is minimalistic and neat with its bare clothed- tables and warm woody brown hues. Barely accommodating no more than 50 people, Restaurant Ember is full house at every lunch seating and reservations of at least 2 days in advance are mandatory to avoid disappointment.
I was initially quite apprehensive about forking out $39.50++ for a 3 course set lunch but after the best friend’s vehement insistence that it was extremely worth it, I knew I had to give it a chance. For starters, the variety and choices Restaurant Ember offers you for each of the courses is generous and extensive. I often prefer the ala-carte option over set lunches because the latter is limited in options. This place however, has more than 6 choices of appetizers, mains and desserts for you to choose from and for the Foie Gras aficionados, there are Foie Gras appetizers done different ways- roasted, poached and pan-seared just for you.
Pan-roasted Scallop with Parma Ham, Citrus and Tarragon Vinaigrette
A clean canvas of fresh greens tossed in Vinaigrette with slices of grapefruit and orange which cuts through the flavour with its zest and citrus flair, this was made extra special with those beautifully pan-seared scallops wrapped with parma ham.
Deep-fried Soft Shell Crab with Sweet Wasabi Aioli
I really enjoyed this crispy fried soft shell crab that was honestly just plain cute and with all its parts still intact especially with the full pieced carapace. The touch of Japanese was contributed by the sweet wasabi aioli which elaborated the overall taste with its creamy texture and hint of spice, enough to tickle your taste buds and without that burning sensation through your nose. Simple and elegantly executed.
Nam Nam Noodle Bar @ Raffles City Shopping Centre
The latest venture by the Les Amis Group, Nam Nam Noodle Bar is a casual Vietnamese bistro that has recently opened at the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre. The concept is simple- authentic Viet food, fuss-free service and an affordable price tag. The dining area of Nam Nam Noodle Bar is cosy, with mostly bar counter seats and a few wooden tables and stools that are packed so close together, it might actually trigger a few memories of eating along the streets of Vietnam, short of the gratuitous sounds of motorbikes and the crazy honking of cars stuck in traffic.
Tip no. 1 if you are planning a visit here, avoid the lunch crowd of 12-2pm or you will find yourself waiting in a really long queue, rushing with everyone who are also jumping onto the bandwagon for a good bargain of a $9.90 nett set lunch or hearty servings of Banh Mi for only $5.90. With 11 different types of bowls of Vietnamese noodles from as cheap as $7.90 and 6 savoury Banh Mi choices, ranging from pork to tofu and chicken, it is no wonder that crowds are flocking to this month old eatery.
The drill here is simple really. Using the order sheets and pencil provided at the table, tick off your choices, before proceeding to the counter to make your payment. The food will then be served to you. No service charge and GST is already included in the prices stated on the menu.
Between the two of us, we ordered a 3 course set lunch which came with a bowl of Beef Pho, Vietnamese Spring Rolls and a choice of coffee or lotus tea for $9.90 nett and an additional bowl of Dry Sauteed Lemongrass Pork Noodles for $7.90.
