RAINBOWS.

It's been so long since I actually posted, mainly because I was afraid that I would run out of places to write about. That being said, I thought it would be nice to start 2015 with one of my favourite desserts, the very tempting and visually-appealing Rainbow Cake. Honestly, I personally prefer the visual aspect of a rainbow cake compared to the actual taste of the cake (TLDR, instaworthy cake). That being said, although I am more attracted to the aesthetics of a rainbow cake, I find it important that the reviews are of a decent nature before I decide to try them. 

Rainbow Cake from Medzs

Medzs was a place that used to serve up rather good desserts, and I was looking forward to trying the cake here as it had been advertising that they had been voted as one of the places serving one of the best rainbow cakes in Singapore. As you can see, the cake looks pretty enough, but the taste was rather underwhelming in my opinion. The individual layers did not taste like sponge, but something analogous to that of a light-medium cheesecake. Credit where credit is due, this is where this rainbow cake is distinctive relative to the others. I tasted the individual layers but there was nothing very noteworthy with regards to the taste. Priced at $6.80, I would say that it is average in terms of value.

Rainbow Cake, Dean & Deluca

Rainbow Cake, Dean & Deluca

Dean and Deluca's rainbow cake is probably my personal favourite, although some have critiqued for it tasting like candy. While it is slightly on the sweet sight, I feel that is it one of the better rainbow cakes as you can actually taste the individual layers of the rainbow cake. The light cream on top is also not too heavy, although you might not want to eat all of it. Priced at $7, it is of a good price-quality-taste balance, and it is certainly the place I would recommend for those who have yet to try rainbow cakes at any location. The coffee here is sadly nothing to shout about, a good flat white would have been a great accompaniment. 

Rainbow Cake, NOM Cafe.

I recall making quite a pilgrimage to get to NOM Cafe, which is located at Macpherson Community Club. As you can probably tell, the instaworthy-ness of the cake was what attracted me the most. They had a selection of rainbow cakes on display, with the main difference between the choices being the cream cheese used. This was a decent-sized cake with some good flavour, with the only peeve being the cake being too sweet. However, taking a flat white without sugar does help to counteract the sugar-overdose. That being said, the accompanying coffee was not really impressive except to serve the purpose of being a caffeine fix. 

Medzs Milennia Walk
#01-46, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard

Dean and Deluca
181 Orchard Road, 04-23/24, Orchard Central

NOM Bistro and Bakery
Macpherson Community Club Level 1 - 400 Paya Lebar Way, Singapore

Cups N Canvas @ Selegie Road

One of my good friends recently suggested that we go to a cafe that we haven't gone to before, with the only condition that it had to be near the Orchard area has he had errands to run later on in the day. I'll admit that it was rather challenging for me. The Orchard district and cheap and good cafes are hardly synonymous with each other, owing to the higher rental costs of the area. Hence, to stumble upon a place such as Cups N Canvas gives one a good feeling. A short walk off the corner of School of the Arts Singapore, Cups N Canvas blends in well with its surrounding shops and eateries, and you would easily miss it if you're not looking for it. I had read positive reviews on its food and coffee here, and therefore I had fairly high expectations for this place. Imagine my delight when I found out that there happened to be a lunch special ongoing at the time. Since we were all pretty hungry, we decided to place our faith in the reviews and not even look at the menu before entering the premises.

The interior of the cafe is partitioned into two, with one side being the main cafe area for the consumption of food and beverages, and the other being the place for art classes and activities. During days when classes are being conducted, the seating in the cafe will be restricted to the main area, and this could lead to insufficient seating space when this happens. However, on the day that I went, we pretty much had the luxury to choose which seat we wanted. We settled on the art area as the higher tables made it more suitable for the consumption of food. The smell of paint was faint, but pleasant, something I'd not felt since I used to take Art classes in my Secondary school days. The lunch specials were written with markers on drawing block, which I found practical and in line with the theme of the cafe. As you can see, art pieces adorn most of the free spaces on the walls, making it an art lover's abode.

The three of us decided to try the lunch specials, despite having her good things about their bacon pasta, Blanc Bacon. Maybe on a future visit (: We had the BBQ Quesadillas, Crispy Chicken with Mango Mayo and Pan Seared Dory with tomato salsa. We were surprised to receive a beverage that looked like orange juice, and it was to our delight that it was a complimentary drink due to the Chinese New Year period. Kudos to them for really going the extra mile to making the customer happy.

Crispy Chicken with Mango Mayonnaise

Probably the safest item on the lunch specials, how do you go wrong with fried chicken cutlet :D The cutlet was tasty but could have done better with more meat as the chicken was dry overall. The mango mayonnaise was nice, especially since mango has always gone well with chicken. The fries were nicely done, with them not being too salty. The salad dressing was strange though (not in a bad way), and tasted like grapefruit dressing. It left a strong bitter aftertaste though.

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

I don't really eat Quesadillas often, and hence I can only judge it based on its overall taste, as I have only tried quesadillas on another occasion at T.G.I.F. The skin was nice and soft, but did not taste that flaky. Also, the dish was definitely on the healthy side as it didn't really taste salty at all. The BBQ Chicken also could have done with more seasoning before preparation, as it comes out flat overall. Same grapefruit-like salad served here.

Pan Seared Dory with Tomato Salsa

I enjoyed this the most (perhaps because I'm partial to seafood). The fish fillet was very succulent, and was good enough to be eaten on its own without the salsa. The fish was also well seasoned with herbs and did not have any fishy smell at all. The salsa was good though, being a bit on the spicy side. The portions are also much more reasonable, though I wouldn't say it would be more filling than the fried chicken option. 

The above-mentioned orange juice-tea drink. 

Having heard good things about the coffee, we ordered a ristretto latte and a soy latte. The soy milk in the soy latte overpowered the coffee and the result was not being able to taste the caffeine. The soy milk choice might have been questionable because it wasn't a very smooth combination. I had higher hopes for the ristretto latte, as I had been promised that it would be much stronger. The result? Yes, it was stronger, but lacked the aroma that I was expecting. It was certainly better than the soy latte but still ended up tasting quite normal as the coffee was a bit too weak-bodied to be expressed in a latte.

Menus for your viewing pleasure and reference. Updated as of 27/01/14

Overall it was a pleasant experience here! Was glad to be away from the daily grind, and also to enjoy such cafe comforts a short walk away from the Orchard district. The food is good enough, and I would say it is better than average, especially for its price. I enjoyed the complimentary orangejuice-tea drink more than the coffee though, but it's a passable standard for most people. The price for the drinks might be on the higher side for its quality. Would definitely consider meeting up with friends here because of the quiet ambiance.

Expect to pay: $10-20

Cups N Canvas
139 Selegie Road

Dean and Deluca @ Orchard Central

Many people have walked around Orchard Central and it would be almost impossible to miss Dean and Deluca, which took up the space left vacant by Gelare Cafe. The cafe space is ever-changing due to accommodate the retail section of Dean and Deluca, but for the better as the seating spaces have increased. I like to be nearer to the counter rather than at the far end nearer to their delicatessen. The place is usually noisy and full of people around brunch time, and it only really frees up around 2pm. This is in spite of the 37% user review reflected on hungrygowhere. Given it's location, I would say it's a nice place for friends to meet as the high (or lack of) an immediate ceiling means that the place feels spacious. The seats are also adequately spaced so that one can have his or her own private conversations. I like to drop by to just get a few muffins for breakfast the next day as they are cheap and good ($3.50 for a very filling and wholesome muffin). Their regular mains are good, but not extremely so. Their drinks are rather underwhelming as well,  and perhaps this is why they've garnered such low ratings. This is because their prices aren't exactly for the budget-conscious. Therefore, I don't usually go for their mains but I usually like to custom my meals ala carte as I get what I want at a slightly cheaper price.

Pan-seared Salmon steak, Herb Mixed Vegetables

Normal-tasting salmon that is a little on the dry side. Needed much more of the lemon butter sauce but couldn't get more. The more fatty parts of the salmon tasted good though, and they're pretty stingy with the greens. I ordered mixed herb vegetables which included beetroot, pumpkin and potatoes to accompany this dish so I managed to get this combination for under $15.

Angus Beef Bulgogi Aglio Olio Linguine

Extremely tasty and it only costs $13.50. You're unlikely to get this deal at the moment, but one can always hope. I got this under the "Pasta of the Week" promotion, which recently increased their price to $14 for the week's pasta. Not sure if this promotion is still ungoing though, but it was certainly good over the weeks when it lasted. The linguine was adequately tasty and not too oily, which I enjoyed. The angus beef was also very flavourful and slightly spicy. The portion was also enough to satisfy me, and it's certainly a steal for the price.

Spicy Marinara with Soft Shell Crab

Another one of my catches during the promotion! The pasta here is definitely more moist due to the tomato base sauce. I liked the taste of the herbs they used to season the pasta, and the mashed tomatoes were good. There was a decent portion of soft shell crab, which was nicely battered. However, the crab was a little cold by the time I ate it, but it was still tasty nonetheless. It tastes better on its own and just perhaps with a dash of the tomato or tabasco sauce. Otherwise, the batter will turn soggy and the crab won't be as pleasant-tasting.

Boston Shrimp and Avocado Sandwich

Another budget alternative, one can always try the Chef Special that is slightly cheaper than their all-day breakfast mains. However, the quality of the chef's special changes and it really depends on the individual if you want to go for it. Here, the sweet taste of the shrimp bathed in a light mayo sauce tasted great. The avocado was fresh and sweet too, and hence it provided a nice texture to the sandwich on a whole. There is a sizable portion of a side salad, and potato chips that go well with the BBQ sauce that they provide. Or you could be like me and have chips drizzled with Tabasco sauce. Not the most orthodox way of eating it but oh well.

Portobello Cheese Burger

Angus beef steak, with porotbello mushrooms (obviously, lol!), gouda cheese, tomato and lettuce. The bread patties simply cannot contain the burger, which is almost certain to fall apart when you try to eat it. The beef patty is good, definitely very tasty and juicy. Only eat this if you do like beef, as the taste can be a bit strong. The lettuce and tomatoes are normal, but sufficiently fresh. The gouda cheese is a good alternative and goes well with the burger on a whole, and having just the portobello mushrooms with the gouda cheese is pretty heavenly. Their serving of fries is quite large, so it might take a while for you to finish it. That being said, the burger isn't that filling on its own. Have this with the BBQ sauce that they provide at the counter. However, it was slightly expensive in my opinion for a burger.

Chicken bacon and Apricot Roll

Another one of my budget selections! This is pretty filling on its own, and it wasn't as dry as I had expected it to be. The chicken bacon is extremely tasty, and goes well with the flaky pastry of the roll. The apricot flavour is nice too, and the sesame seeds help to make the roll more fragrant overall.

The New Yorker

One of Dean and Deluca's signatures, I had high hopes for this, especially since I was paying $25 for it. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon in a sesame-seed bagel accompanied by a vine-ripened tomato. Although I wasn't disappointed by the dish's taste and appearance, the price was rather high. For the same price, I would have gotten much larger servings and better service at Wild Honey. The smoked salmon had a strong smoked flavour which was enjoyable, but the slices were bordering on stingy. The scrambled eggs were good, and so was the freshly-baked bagel. However, this dish is certainly not filling because of it's small size. I would have liked another vine-ripened tomato too because mine was a little small for me. 

The verdict for Dean and Deluca? I would say that it's a nice place to start your day for brunch, and perhaps for their stack of pancakes which look delicious. I wouldn't come here specifically for their drinks or for their food though. Definitely a bit overpriced for its quality. If you don't mind experimenting with their ala carte dishes, you probably can come up with something nice and value-for-money. This is because I find their normal menu much nicer than that of their all-day breakfast. However, with it's location at Orchard and the relative ease of getting a seat, it's definitely a good place (for larger groups especially) to meet up. I would recommend, however, their baked goods such as muffins and cakes, especially for a takeaway.

Expect to pay: $20-30

#04-23/24

Orchard Central

181 Orchard Road

Odeon Beef Noodle @ Food Republic Wisma Atria

Just a short post to promote my favourite beef noodle. Take note that this probably isn't the original because they have a whole slew of franchisees, but I find this to be one of the better ones. This is primarily for convenience as I am in Orchard much more than other places. This  costs $6 currently for the whole set including the beef soup with beef balls at Food Republic's Wisma outlet. I used to eat this when it was located at the basement of the current Scott's Square, years before their overhaul. What makes me like this version of beed noodles so much is its gravy. Sure, it's starchy, but just the right amount and is extremely flavourful. The beef soup is also AWESOME, but I would take it dry as the soup doesn't taste as good when you order their beef noodles in soup. The cook here is rather generous with the beef slices, which are well done. Like I mentioned earlier, this isn't the original so the sauces aren't as nice as I remember them to be, but they're better than average. Do give this a try the next time you're at Food Republic Wisma Atria

Expect to pay: $6 onwards

Wild Honey @ Scotts Square

When people talk about breakfast, brunch or cafes, the first place that comes to mind is always Wild Honey. Therefore I'm going to give this place a solid, wholesome review (: This is because I feel that they are one of the few places that dedicate their efforts into giving you, the customer, the best breakfast experience possible. Their all-day breakfast is available at both their outlets, at Scott's Square and Mandarin Gallery. However, there are certain menu items that are only available at either one of the two outlets, and there are occasional daily specials as well. Wild Honey is definitely a one-stop joint to experience breakfasts from all over the world, and they are particular about their presentation as well. Each picturesque dish is definitely instagram-worthy on its own, and looks even better on a DSLR or after some post-editing. Lastly, you are GUARANTEED a quality breakfast each time as they maintain high standards when preparing your food. 

Both cafes are generally vibrant and noisy, with the nondescript furniture at Mandarin Gallery giving it an extra homely feel. However, seating space between tables and at tables is rather tight, and it can get slightly uncomfortable in big groups. Carrying bulky items is definitely not a good idea as you're highly likely to bump into someone or something. However, it's definitely very cosy and good for a romantic date as the lighting is dim. If you're meeting a friend, however, I would definitely recommend you to go for their outlet at Scotts Square. For starters, the ceiling is much higher and the space is very much bigger. It still retains it's cosy feel but I find seating here much more comfortable (BACKRESTS!) as most of the chairs are spacious and for the ladies, you can place your bags behind you rather than on the floor. The service here is also great in general, although you can see that some staff are markedly more enthusiastic than their lacklustre counterparts. However, it can get a little hard to get the attention of the servers during peak hours (12pm-2pm) but other than that, no big issue. If you are queueing, be prepared to wait up to an hour to get your seat, especially on weekends.

The Wild Honey menu items are named after their country of origin, which really gives a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that I like, instead of giving names that are hard for the common man to grasp. 

Wild Honey Bread Basket

Such a pretty basket of bread! An assortment of bread that can be shared by up to 5 people, it's a good way to start the meal if you're hungry and can't wait for your mains to arrive. I would advise you to ask for sharing plates and try their different freshly-baked breads as each has its own individual taste and textures. Condiments include butter, chocolate sauce, raspberry jam and a zesty lemon jam.

Norwegian

Poached eggs on wheat toast, wrapped with Norwegian smoked salmon and grilled asparagus, topped off with Hollandaise sauce and salmon roe. This pretty much looks like the cousin to the European (pictured below later), but the Norwegian replaces ham with smoked salmon, which is a match made in heaven. Furthermore, the salmon roe bursts with flavour when you bite it, and really every bit of this dish tastest great. The eggs are poached perfectly and do not taste too rubbery (which often is the case) and I like to let the yolk ooze out onto the toast to make it more moist. A must-order for those who love salmon.

European

2 poached eggs on toast, wrapped with imported Italian ham and drizzled with Hollandaise sauce, topped with sauteed mushrooms. Although this is perhaps one of their other more ordinary offerings (the other being the English), the ham is seasoned well and has the right amount of saltiness to go well with the runny eggs. Similarly, I like to soak my toast in the yolk before eating it. The sauteed mushrooms are also tasty and it's one of the little things that make the European more special. I generally prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon dishes, but it worked well with this one. 

English

Scrambled eggs, back bacon, pork sausage, baked beans, grilled vine-ripened tomato, breakfast potatoes and 2 slices of Wild Honey's signature brioche. As I mentioned in another post, I like to try the "big breakfast" that each restaurant has to offer, and although I have to say the English is good, it's definitely not one of Wild Honey's better dishes. This is no fault of theirs, but I feel that the wide range of other alternatives doesn't make this a first choice for many diners. That being said, the bacon and sausages are delicious. The breakfast potatoes are also well done, and the baked beans go well with the scrambled eggs on toast. I loved the vine-ripened tomato which was grilled to perfection, and it is extremely juicy. Vine-ripened tomatoes are certainly a class above your ordinary tomato or cherry tomatoes. Parents, feed your kids with this to start them on vegetables (: Wild Honey's brioche is probably the best around, but 2 slices of it might be too much for the conservative eater to finish. Do order this on your first visit to Wild Honey though, English breakfasts don't get much better.

Tunisian

I'm just going to lift the description off Wild Honey's website as I doubt I can do justice to this dish with my mediocre judgment of its ingredients. Sizzling pan of spicy shakshouka (tomato, red onion, pepper chilli), studded with Chorizo sausage, crowned with 2 fried eggs, signature brioche and Israeli salad. Sounds funky doesn't it. The Israeli salad is simple, with cucumbers and tomatoes inside but I don't find this exceptional. This is best eaten by just tucking into the stew directly, and dipping the brioche as and when you feel like it. I don't find this dish that spicy, and it's certainly edible for those who don't like spicy food. The Chorizo sausage, however, might be a put off for people who aren't a fan of sausages as it has a strong meat flavour, and tastes a bit like salami.

Spanish Hash

Diced Chorizo sausage, corned beef and potatoes, with poached eggs in Hollandaise sauce, and with ciabatta bread. I had this recently when I met up with a friend and I have to say I was a little envious of her Norwegian. The dish tastes great, but it can get a bit monotonous after eating corned beef and potatoes for the majority of the dish. I also wish that there was more Hollandaise sauce (despite my claim above that I prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon). I think my main grouse was that by ordering this, I deprived myself from having my favourite brioche at Wild Honey. However that is my personal bias for the brioche, and looking back objectively, ciabatta was probably the better choice to match the dish. The bread was filling, and so was the rest of the dish. Definitely one for the big-eaters.

Boulevard St Michel

Baked Spinach Souffle, Savoury french toast with double-baked cheese, grilled back bacon, slowroasted vine-ripened tomatoes, and poached egg with cheese batter. My current favourite dish at the moment, due the assortment of flavours and colours that this dish offers. The spinach souffle is tasty, and is a good complement to the back bacon which is a little on the salty side. The spicy tomato chutney goes best with the Parmesan coated poached egg, as well as the souffle. The vine-ripened tomatoes, like its counterpart in the English, is extremely juicy and this juice explodes in your mouth when you bite it. The portion of the french toast is decent enough such that this dish is filling, but not to the point that you'll feel bloated. 

Breakfast Hangover Sandwich

Club sandwich with back bacon and scrambled eggs, served with breakfast potatoes. Don't feel like having one of Wild Honey's breakfast sets? This is a safe choice for most people, as you can't go wrong with bacon and scrambled eggs. The serving of breakfast potatoes is also substantial, and extremely well-seasoned. Your meal here is also well presented, and can be shared by 3 people for a light appetiser in place of the Bread Basket mentioned above.

Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Hot Chocolate

This is probably the best Hot Chocolate that I know of. Needs no introduction, just sweet hot chocolate that has just enough of the taste of bitter cocoa to keep true chocolate lovers satisfied. The marshmallow on the side is a nice touch, and it's super squishy. I wish I had more of them to go with my drink. On my must-order list each time unless I am in a desperate need of caffeine.

Macchiato

Wild Honey's coffee is perhaps it's weakest selling point, with the coffee being good, but not something to come back for. This is because it lacks a strong aroma and a unique taste that will make you come back wanting more. That being said, the macchiato was well prepared with the right level of milk and foam.

Cafe Mocha

Can't decide whether to have either the Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Chocolate or the macchiato? Why not both? Enter the Cafe Mocha, which is well-balanced between being a comfort drink for chocolate lovers and giving the caffeine kick that many people need to get their day going. However, I would still stick to the Bittersweet Chocolate if you really want a wholesome chocolate drink as the chocolate flavour is simply better without the caffeine.

Bostok

A weekend-only dessert, Wild Honey's signature brioche is dusted with almond flakes, icing sugar and jam. It's a simple, homely dish that is guaranteed to satisfy. Well, expect maybe for the price tag. For it's price, I would probably venture into Wild Honey's other dessert offerings in the future. This goes very well with the Bittersweet Chocolate though. 

Wild Honey is, and probably will continue to be my favourite breakfast/brunch in the near future. Although prices are bit on the high side, it's definitely worth saving up for (Eat biscuit lo!). Eating here is not merely a consumption of food, but the enjoyment of a beautiful breakfast experience. Do push the boundaries of your comfort zone and try new dishes each time as every dish is pretty much good, if not excellent. If you are going in larger groups, you should definitely make reservations at the Scotts Square outlet, where the Verandah is available for large groups. Furthermore, you can book the same Verandah, which overlooks Orchard Road, for private functions. Good for meet-ups, first dates, family meals, and even business meetings. If you haven't tried Wild Honey before, you're really missing out.

Expect to pay: $25-30

#03-01
Scotts Square
6 Scotts Square

#03-02
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road

Nam Nam Noodle Bar @ Suntec City

What's better than the satisfaction of find a new place to eat that's good? Well, that it's wallet-friendly. I paid a visit to Nam Nam Noodle Bar after much coaxing from my friend who said that she absolutely loved it. Hence I decided to meet one of my schoolmates for lunch here. There was a steady stream of people queuing up for the food, and the probable reason is that good-quality Vietnamese food is being sold at reasonable prices. I spent about 15 minutes in the queue which personally I deem to be negligible. Seating is allocated when you reach the counter, and you are given seat numbers. The bar tables also come with little hooks beneath the marble table for ladies to hang their handbags which I found to be thoughtful. Throughout the visit, a video documenting food in the streets of Vietnam was shown, but sadly people were too engrossed in their own conversations or busy eating to pay much heed to the video. Still, the ambiance here is decent especially after lunch hours when it starts to quiten down a bit. The lanterns certainly add to the charm of the restaurant, and there is a variety of sauces at each table (I didn't photograph this as I was sharing a common table) which you can add to your choice of lunch.

So I mentioned earlier that the food here was cheap. This can be attributed to 2 reasons - there is no service charge! and GST is already included in the price they charge so you can pretty much say that it's nett. Their ala carte prices are generally $8 for pho (noodles), and even cheaper for their Banh Mi (sandwiches). What made my visit better was that they had this lunch set which costs $9.90. Called the Saigon Street Favourite set, it has Fresh southern rolls with sweet shrimps, egg and fresh herbs. You can choose either chicken or beef pho, and the meal is completed with either a classic iced coffee with condensed milk or an iced lotus tea. For this outing, I also ordered their daily special, the Sweet Potato Net Rolls.

Sliced Beef Pho

Vietnamese Noodle Soup with beef slices. As you can see, they added chilli and lime to the broth, which gave it an oriental flavour. The beef slices were also tasty and not too chewy, and I enjoyed the noodles as I personally have a soft spot for kway teow. Overall, the soup was not really spicy, making it suitable for those who don't really like to eat/are unable to take too much spicy food. Furthermore, you can take out the lime if you don't want the soup too taste too sour. However, this is definitely more mild as compared to Thai food.

Fresh southern rolls with sweet shrimps, egg and fresh herbs

For me, the best things about the rolls was the peanut sauce that came with it. The sauce isn't spicy and is sweet, making this dish suitable even as a dessert. This is because the rolls themselves are not exactly flavourful, and the dish would have been underwhelming if not for the sauce. There were also fried shallots in the sauce which varied the textures in the rolls by adding crispiness to it. 

Daily Special: Sweet Potato Net Roll (2 pcs for $2.90)

I'll be honest and say that I didn't even check how many pieces of sweet potato roll I would get for one serving, but although the portions were slightly smaller than what I would have liked, I would have to say the rolls were good. I felt that the icing was unnecessary as the sweet potato was already quite sweet on its own, but the sweet potato tasted average otherwise in general. I might want to try some other dessert on a future visit.

Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk

Your typical kopitam kopi, I wasn't expecting much from this drink. However, the coffee flavour was stronger than I was preparing myself for, and even when the ice melted a little over time it did not become too diluted for enjoyment. 

It certainly has been fulfilling for me to try out Nam Nam so long after they have opened, as I usually have my Vietnamese food at Food Republic. Even then, I usually stick to having rice over noodles. For those people who haven't tried it before, I would strongly suggest you make a trip down to one of their 3 outlets (especially before they increase their prices). If you're looking into having an Asian or Oriental alternative to Western food in Singapore, it's certainly a plausible option as compared to other Thai joints such as ThaiExpress. They also have a breakfast set which promotes their Banh Mi. 

Expect to pay: $10-15

#B1-131

Suntec City

Temasek Boulevard

#B1-47
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road

#B2-02
Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road

PS Cafe @ Palais Renaissance

PS Cafe is one of the other so-called "controversial" cafes in Singapore, because the big question is, is it worth to try the food there? I will attempt to give an answer to the best of my ability below. I have visited their outlets at Palais Renaissance and Paragon, and even then the experiences between the 2 locations vary greatly. The pictures below are mainly from their PR outlet, whilst the desserts are from their paragon outlet.

At first glance, you have to admit that PS Cafe is extremely posh and classy. Looking in from the outside, one would probably hesitate to enter if he was wearing casual wear like bermudas and slippers. Furthermore, it is set in the pretty "atas" location of Palais Renaissance. That being said, the patrons here are not necessarily well-dressed, as I found out when I entered. The decor of the cafe in PR is reminiscent of a hotel lounge, as you can see with the extensive use of wood and marble tiling. Inside, however, it is constructed to resemble a barn or farmhouse, with reflective mirror panes replacing the standard glass panes. 

PS Cafe still has a pretty strict no-photograph policy which I find annoying. I would understand totally if I was invading the privacy of someone else, but why can't I take pictures of the interior or the food? That being said, #YOLO so the pictures below are for your viewing pleasure.

PS Big Bacon and Eggs 

2 poached eggs, grilled asparagus, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, salami sausage and toast. That's what I remember was in my dish anyway heh. I have a policy of usually trying what the cafe touts as their "big breakfast" when I visit them for the first time, and I ended up satisfied with the Big Bacon and Eggs. It was fairly filling, but not to the point that one would feel bloated. The poached eggs are excellent, and the spiced sausage is a refreshing change from what you would normally get from other brunch places. The toast is definitely not in the league of that served in Wild Honey, and I expected more from the tomatoes and mushrooms. They didn't taste exceptional to me. The "atas" touch? The asparagus, which was grilled well and added flavour to the dish.

Chicken in a Basket

I was surprised at my friend's decision to have this - after all, we came all the way to PS - but it was a good solid meal of fried chicken. As you can see, the basket is filled to the brim with lightly-battered chicken which was well seasoned. and wasn't too oily. The fries were pretty normal, although PS Cafe's truffle fries are good. Be warned though, a serving of truffle fries would probably require like 4 people to finish it comfortably, and leave enough room for dessert. This dish comes with ketchup and lemon sauce on my last trip. The greens are just average, but the carrot sticks are decent I suppose.

The pictures below are from my trip to PS. Paragon. There are 2 areas open for seating, one being the normal one within the mall, which I feel is too open and lacks privacy. Nothing special about the outdoor seating area. The rest of the cafe shares its space with a retail store called Projectshop BloodBros. The tables here are fairly small and the area is dimly lit. As you can see, the main source of lighting is supplied by tealights, which is really romantic in my opinion. GOOD FOR DATES *cough cough*. However, I would rather have my main meals over at PS's other outlets, as it's brighter, and I would probably only come to Paragon for dessert. That being said, the desserts at PS are reason enough to go back, even if their prices are on the high side.

Banana cake with Butterscotch Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

This is my personal favourite dessert at PS. The banana flavour is prominent in the cake, and it makes it extremely fragrant. The butterscotch sauce is not overbearing, and it isn't sickeningly sweet. The vanilla ice cream goes well with either the cake, the sauce or both at once. Although overall the dessert on a whole is on the sweet side, it's still extremely enjoyable and it goes well with the coffee they serve (especially if you take their drinks without sugar).

Double Chocolate Blackout Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

PS's signature dessert. As the name of the dessert suggests, it's just CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE. Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate mousse in between and drizzled with chocolate sauce and its paired with vanilla ice cream. Guaranteed sore throat after eating this but it's well worth it if you're a chocolate lover. The cake is extremely moist on its own, and even it acts as a sponge of sorts to soak up the chocolate sauce for even more chocolate flavour. 

In summary, PS is undoubtedly a good place for meeting friends or bringing your special someone out on a date because the ambiance is generally better than other restaurants in the area. The food is of a good standard, but it's definitely not something that is out of this world. Furthermore, the prices aren't exactly wallet-friendly either so you wouldn't be really heading down there every week. My verdict? Above average food, Good desserts, but both at high prices. Make sure your pay is in before heading down.

Expect to pay: $30-35 for food
                      $15 for desserts

Outlets visited
#02-09A
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road

#03-41/44
Paragon Shopping Centre
290 Orchard Road