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Birdfolks
with the nation somewhat overwhelmed by the influx of various (mostly Korean styled) fried chicken joints, we found a (literally) hidden gem at West Coast that provided a different interpretation to the serving of one of our favourite poultry dish. located inside NEWest, a very quiet mixed development beside the AYE, Birdfolks serves American-inspired fried chicken dishes with an Asian twist. the first challenge was to locate the building and the store. Operated by some budding entrepreneurs making their foray into the F&B business, the restaurant has taken a unit inside the mall where almost all their neighbouring units are still available for rent. the place was in fact so quiet that during our visit, the carpark gantry was up and parking charges were waived.
however, beyond the challenges of starting out in a slightly more obscure location, there is absolutely nothing rookie about the Birdfolks' delivery of American-Asian fusion fried chicken. the meat are infused with an interesting blend of Asian herbs and spices, with dishes being served with different types of chicken rice or fries. their signature chicken pieces are all brined boneless, which takes finger-lickin-good to an all new level. given the quality we experienced, the fact that this eatery remains largely anonymous is indeed quite perplexing.. 
we went for their Signature Chicken Rice, which was essentially their fried chicken thigh strip infused with Asian spices. The chicken was totally boneless and made absolutely easy for all of us to chew down everything. the dish is served with a specialty flavoured rice that comes in 4 choices, a sous vide egg and some assorted greens. we picked the cilantro lime flavoured rice which turned out to be a somewhat acquired taste and made us curious to try out the other rice flavours next time. there was alot of rich tastes in the rice dishes and the chicken was crispy and juicy at the same time. 
the more conventional patrons can go for the Thigh & Drum dish, which is practically a 2-piece chicken meal served with fries. the boneless chicken thigh ensures that we'd get more bang for our buck, and the blend of Asian herbs and spices together with the caramelized crust and oregano fries makes this one of the most enjoyable fried chicken meals that we have had. the meals are all reasonably priced and given the size of the portions, certainly good value for money. if you're coming in a bigger group, you can try the different types of chicken wings that Birdfolks offer as well. 
the menu actually carries other types of chicken rice, such as teriyaki style chicken and also a variety of chicken sandwiches, various flavours of fries and even chicken nuggets. Gourmet chicken fast food indeed. the drinks selection offer a variety of local coffees and teas, though we felt that given their menu, cold drinks would likely be more well received. we went for a cup of ice lime tea to quench our thirst after whacking on the fried chicken. All in all, we felt that the version of chicken dished up at Birdfolks makes them serious contenders amongst the fried chicken players. we hope that they obtain the recognition they deserve and that they could gain a strong enough following, from their hidden location. 
Birdfolks 1 West Coast Drive #01-75 NEWest Singapore 128020 Opening Hours Daily: 12 pm to 9 pm (closed on Tuesdays) fried chicken made with tender loving care using a special in-house brine.. Labels: #2piecechicken, #americanasian, #birdfolks, #chicken, #friedchicken, #fusionfood, #westcoast, #westcoastdrive The Palmary
Enter the new year and in a flash, it's 2018. we start the year talking about an up and coming district in Singapore - Farrer Park. with a string of new restaurants and cafes opening up in the area, we think that Rangoon Road and Owen Road may one day become the new Keong Saik. Of course, they have still some way to go, as the area is still relatively less discovered, with more of the second generation shop owners still occupying the conservation shop-houses.
The Palmary along Owen Road is less than a year old as this is written, but the Mediterranean-Asian fusion bar and restaurant has already racked up a host of print and social media coverage. To some extent, the founding group of young entrepreneurs seem to have built alot of traction with their interesting food menu, unique blend of drinks and very Instagrammable interpretations of their dishes. to top it off, they seem to be earnest in going back to their roots by both including local flavours into their menu and in remembering the previous shop-house owner - a vintage bicycle shop. 
we could have disappointed the bartender a little, by ordering a bottled craft beer after his strenuous efforts introducing several blends. do read this beer as you see it, but at the same time, please Google its meaning, lest you think we are being offensive on a family-friendly webpage. to be fair, The Palmary has quite an extensive selection of signature blended drinks, from its cocktails to its hard liquor mixtures. we recommend the Palmary's Bicicletta - and do ask them about the story that inspired the drink. 
we thoroughly enjoyed the food, and this standout dish practically made every visitor's hero-shot when they covered this restaurant. The Mentaiko Cream Lobster Linguine is a very popular dish here, served on a large jaw-bowl with a generous serving of cream-based linguine, a large Boston lobster and sprinkles of garnish, the dish is as tasty as it is attractive. do note the chef's recommendations for wine-pairing to go with the main dishes that you order, they are listed on the menu itself. we also ordered the "must-try" Mediterranean Duck Confit which was served with quinoa salad, kale and a Mediterranean spice mix. we've read mixed reviews about this dish, but it was probably our lucky day. the duck skin was crispy, the meat tender and the well-seasoned spices gave the leg its needed flavour. 
in fact, we enjoyed the food and drinks here so much that in our opinion, the slight let-down was the dessert. The Earl Grey cake we had lacked the flavour of the earl grey finish and the almond pecan brownie wasn't quite warm enough. anyways, we don't think this restaurant should be measured by their desserts when the starters, entree and drinks are already more than ample to provide a hearty meal. the staff are friendly and the cosy dim setting makes this restaurant perfect for dates and gatherings. watch this space, as we think The Palmary would get bigger in 2018. 
The Palmary 142 Owen Road Singapore 218941 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 6 pm to 11 pm Fridays and Saturdays: 12 pm to 11 pm (closed on Sundays) Asian Fusion Cuisine with an artisanal range of cocktails and craft beers Labels: #asianfusion, #cocktails, #fusionfood, #lobsterlinguine, #owenroad, #thepalmary The Masses Singapore
one of the folks behind the successful Saveur brand have come up with another affordable experiential dining concept. The Masses is located along Beach Road, where the store comes to life through its almost full height glass facade, vibrant crowds and of course backed by its strong social media following. the place is not very large to begin with, so reservations are strongly encouraged in order to avoid disappointment. similar to their past creations, dinner times and weekends tend to be the busiest and a short wait is expected.
The Masses' theme revolves around dishes of tapas-styled starters that replicate a fusion-European feel. they come in well-presented portions and are priced affordably, which probably encourages groups of patrons to order a few more dishes for good variety. the mains are designed with a slight fine-dining edge to it (akin to underground restaurant Maggie Joan's) but is definitely more competitive to reach out to the masses. 
This C n C pasta is one of the signature dishes, it can come both as a starter (small portion) or as a main dish itself. it's actually a cold dish of pasta with caviar and crabmeat, served in a lobster sauce. along with other highly Instagrammable dishes like The Egg, a chawan-mushi like dish served with Ikura, Tobiko (types of fish roe) and potato chips, the starter menu listing for this restaurant rates high on taste and talkability. 
probably quite high-risk and exotic at the same time, working on octopus dishes can go very wrong if not done appropriately. The Masses hit the right buttons with their interpretation of their Aus Frementle octopus tentacle, well-presented, grilled to the right tenderness and going well with a Mediterranean aioli sauce, this dish is one of the must-trys when coming to this place. we also tried the salmon confit, that is served with tomatoes, fish skin and pineapples - a pretty refreshing combination. 
on to the mains and this simplistic dish surprisingly came out tops. The much reviewed honey garlic miso chicken breast has been featured by most food bloggers and praised for its tenderness and clever food pairing with the honey garlic miso sauce for a tinge of sweetness. and if even chicken breast can be made to taste good, i guess this is a high accolade to be given to a very creative food entrepreneur. We expect greater things to come from The Masses and truly enjoyed our dining experience here. 
The Masses Singapore 85 Beach Road, #01-02 Singapore 189694 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 12 pm to 9.30 pm Fridays & Saturdays: 12 pm to 12 am Sundays: 12 pm to 9 pm using fresh, seasonal produce and allowing recipes to be simple yet dynamic.. Labels: #affordablefinedining, #beachroad, #fusionfood, #themasses, #themassessingapore |
..ThE lEgEnD..
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Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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