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Pura Brasa (Singapore)
we have alot of fond memories of our European trip, and in particular, our time in Barcelona. we loved the Spanish culture, the architecture and certainly the local tapas and other dishes. it was a welcome surprise that one of the restaurant chains from Spain, including several outlets in Barcelona, actually opened a branch at the new Tanjong Pagar Centre.
Pura Brasa prides itself internationally as a place that understands the act of eating, and hopes to enable its patrons to enjoy dining in a pleasant, modern and casual ambience. this principle is evident from its welcoming entrance and spacious interior. the staff are generally very helpful and would engage you in making some recommendations for the dishes. the menu ranges from main courses such as pastas, burgers and meat, to a variety of Spanish tapas and cocktails. things are a tad pricey, but certainly of good quality. 
The signature dish and a must-try here would be their charcoal grilled seafood Paella, a rice dish that i personally thoroughly enjoyed when i was in Spain. the rice is served warm, a little moist and extremely fragrant. though it seems like a large platter, it actually serves about 2 persons per pan quite comfortably. we ordered this together with some popular tapas choices to immerse ourselves in a culture-trip back to Barcelona. 
The grilled casserole dishes are pretty much a Spanish staple, we tried the prawn casserole that was served in a hot-plate of garlic and olive oil. it was sprinkled with some chilli pepper to give it some spice and came with crispy garlic bread as well. another popular casserole dish that is highly recommended is the octopus casserole where the meat is well grilled and served with a potato puree base. if you are in a small group with limited options, we'd suggest to go for this casserole as the preferred choice. 
Other very "Spanish" must-trys would include this Jamon or Spanish Iberico Ham. they are very finely sliced and served on a wooden platter usually with some tomato bread. i recall having alot of Jamon back in Spain and we're happy to say that the quality of ham served at Pura Brasa is pretty good. the bread itself is also very flavourful, with a rich taste of sweetness from the tomatoes blended with olive oil. we topped off the meal with some Spanish fruit wine or Sangria which absolutely concluded a nostalgic evening of fine Spanish cuisine. 
Pura Brasa (Singapore) 5 Wallich Street #01-16 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078883 Opening Hours Sundays to Thursdays: 11 am to 11 pm Fridays and Saturdays: 11 am to 12 am a series of dishes that will take diners by surprise thanks to their originality and taste.. Labels: #paella, #purabrasa, #purabrasagrill, #purabrasasg, #sgspanishfood, #spanishfood, #tanjongpagarcentre, #tapas Fynn's
as i prepare for a work voyage to Australia, we visited a casual modern Australian restaurant at the recently opened South Beach Singapore. There are not many write-ups online about the eateries at South Beach, and even though the place is easily accessible via Esplanade MRT station, the crowds are still pretty manageable, making the places very comfortable for chill-outs and gatherings.
Fynn's comes with an al-fresco dining area and an indoor restaurant. The natural ventilation technology employed at South Beach ensures that it is pretty cooling outside even in the warmer afternoons. The restaurant has a different menu for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch where they serve a good selection of starters, pastas, mains and desserts. the food quality is actually pretty good, and we think it'd only be a matter of time before this place gets more popular. 
the Prawn Capellini is actually from the brunch menu, it's done aglio-olio style with spaghetti, spinach, chilli bread crumbs and garlic, giving it a somewhat spicy kick. pretty light and easy-going, notably one of the more popular choices amongst the weekend diners. we've some praise for Australian coffee, which we've always loved since we tried Dimbulah and the ones served here are equally aromatic and rich. 
dinner starters while waiting for everyone in a group gathering to arrive can be a good conversation starter. these deep fried baby octopus drizzled with lime and some savoury squid-ink sauce make a very crunchy and fast-moving snack. another highlight of this place would be their Spanish Octopus which is pan-seared and served with lemongrass and some apple-slaw, very Instagram-worthy indeed. 
For the pastas, we found this Cavatelli dish pretty stand-out and unique. priding themselves for hand-made pastas, this is served with broken pork sausages, red-wine braised octopus, and decked with parmesan and a savory tomato sauce. along with their other pasta dishes, we think this delivery gives Fynn's that extra thrust over its competitors here. In all, this is a nice restaurant for gatherings and catch-ups. It should be pretty cosy for now, although a tad pricey for some. If you ask us, it is definitely worth it. 
Fynn's 26 beach road #B1-21 South Beach Avenue Singapore 189768 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Fridays: 11 am to 3 pm; 6 pm to 10 pm (closed on Mondays) Saturdays: 11 am to 3 pm; 6 pm to 10 pm Sundays: 10.30 am to 4.30 pm where food is at its uncomplicated best.. Labels: #australiancasualdining, #brunchcafe, #brunchfood, #cavatelli, #fynnssg, #pastaplace, #southbeach Prego
The Italian restaurant at Fairmont Singapore is somewhat of an age-old family restaurant that is familiar with many. even if you haven't eaten there, you'd probably have passed by its store on the way to Raffles City and would have a glimpse of its pretty open concept bar counter, butchery and pizzeria. and while Singapore actually serves up many options for Italian fare, Prego has survived the test of time to prove itself as the ones who'd be here to stay..
the interior of the restaurant is typically always buzzing. and for dinners which run up to 10.30pm, the crowds including hotel guests do stream in till pretty late in the evenings. while Prego prides itself for its freshly made pastas, pizzas and cheese, the wine pairing selection is also something to look out for when you're here. another special mention are its bread that is served as an appetizer together with balsamic vinegar and hummus. very good. 
the key selling point of Prego would be their wood-oven grilled pizzas. their specialties are written on the chalkboards around the store, of which we tried the Prego Pizza that is essentially topped with mozzarella cheese, ham, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh cream. authentic Italian food is typically simple, unpretentious and rich in cheese; this pizza absolutely exemplifies that. other pizzas that are recommended would be their Parma Ham pizza and roasted pork belly pizza. 
we're a little bit uncertain about the pastas. the cream based ones that we went for, like this Penne Funghi was a tad too creamy, with the parmesan cream sauce taking away the freshness of the pasta and the sauteed mushrooms. similarly, while our Carbonara Linguine was very generous with good quality bacon and egg yolk, the cream sauce kind of took their taste away. we've seen good reviews of the tomato based and pesto based pastas, something that we'd come back to try next. 
if you're not topping off your dinner with wine, the dessert at Prego is also pretty good. their selection of cakes and sorbets are popular amongst their customers. We went for this Tiramisu which has a very mousse-like texture but very strong on the coffee and cocoa taste. On the whole, Prego is an authentic Italian family restaurant that is popular amongst local and overseas guests alike, their menu has a wide spread, including very good vegetarian options and would have something to offer for anyone. 
Prego 80 Bras Basah Rd Fairmont Singapore Singapore 189560 Opening Hours Breakfast - 6 am to 11 am (daily) Lunch - 11.30 am to 2.30 pm (Mondays to Saturdays); 12 pm to 3 pm (Sunday Brunch) Dinner - 6 pm to 10.30 pm (daily) one of Singapore’s favourite Italian restaurants that offer diners an authentic Italian family style dining experience.. Labels: #fairmontsingapore, #familyfriendly, #italianfood, #pizzaandpasta, #prego Brunches Cafe
this really came up randomly when we just searched for "brunch" and "rainbow cakes"; more interestingly the name of this eatery is pretty much in-your-face, they've called themselves Brunches Cafe. Located along Rangoon Road, where there's alot of competition from established local joints such as Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh and Lam's prawn and crab noodle, as well as ice-cream and cafe joints, Brunches Cafe stands out with its thematic vintage setup and story-book-like decor.
one highlight of this place is dining inside "the car". there's only one such table in the whole place, where up to four people can cosy up inside a vintage mini-cooper. do make a reservation if you'd like this to be part of your visit experience. the cafe also has some vintage collectible items that are up for sale, adding some character to the restaurant. besides an all-day brunch menu, they offer a unique high-tea set daily (limited to 10 sets per day) served in a very instagrammable bird-cage. 
i guess a visit to Brunches Cafe should come with at least one order of brunch food, so we went for this D.I.Y breakfast set called Pimp My Brekkie. consumers get to assemble their own big breakfast by selecting their choice of eggs, 2 breakfast mains - such as smoked salmon, bacon or sausages or even 1 large main dish like a ribeye steak. it'd then be accompanied by tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, potatoes and lettuce. 
moving on to the other main dishes, we tried this Moroccan Lamb Burger set, which was essentially a herb-infused lamb patty with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber sandwiched between a black-sesame bun. the dish comes with fries and salad to top off a very hearty meal. another popular main that people order was the Crispy Duck Leg Confit with Balsamic Glaze served with tomatoes, mashed potatoes and greens. the lamb was pretty good, though the duck confit turned out rather normal. 
i guess one of the highlights of this cafe would be their dessert spread. from their rainbow cheesecakes to pistachio cakes being signature choices, they have this 4-flavoured waffle combination topped with Movenpick ice-cream and fruits. i personally like the pairing of chocolate ice-cream with charcoal waffles. in all, Brunches Cafe is a very quirky and casual diner that makes for good photography and group catch-ups. the dessert and brunch menu is probably stronger, and if you visit, do make it a point to sit inside the car.. 
Brunches Cafe 96 Rangoon Road Singapore 21838 Opening Hours Mondays to Fridays: 10.30 am to 9 pm (closed on Tuesdays) Saturdays and Sundays: 9.30 am to 9 pm Everything with a price tag in our shop are for sale.. Labels: #brunchcafe, #brunchescafe, #brunchfood, #familyfriendly, #lambburger, #minicooperseat, #rangoonroad 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 En Sakaba (Capital Tower)
this Japanese tapas bar has been drawing the crowds at its first outlet at Orchard Central. focusing on its sashimi, small japanese bites and its sakae, the restaurant fuses the Izakaya concept (Japanese bar-top concept) with that of a full-fledged sashimi joint. A couple of other outlets at JEM and Clarke Quay later, En Sakaba opened its Singapore flagship at Capital Tower in Tanjong Pagar recently. being located near the office, we went to check out this increasingly popular concept by the EN Group.
the fit-out of this outlet is in chic gold, a very attractive proposition from the outside and since its opening, always bustling with activity from the CBD faithful. the offerings range from the conventional Donburi and sashimi sets, to the recommended pairings of tapas and their wide selection of sakae. we had a big group on the day and managed to try several of their popular dishes. 
The litmus test of all sashimi-grade seafood would probably be the salmon sashimi. We tried the Sokyu Salmon Don where the fish was proven to be fresh and sweet. served with ikura and on vinegared rice, it would be no question that this ought to be a safe and regular choice for most patrons. we tried other interpretations such as the Buri Sashimi Don (yellowtail sashimi rice bowl) and enjoyed the same quality of freshness. 
for those who preferred cooked rice sets, the Wakatori Teriyaki Don stood out for its generous portions, well-marinated chicken thighs and poached tamago egg. all rice sets came with salad and a bowl of miso soup to complete the dish, making each set a pretty hearty offering. also with grilled freshwater eel being all the rage these days, En Sakaba has their own Tororo Unagi Kinsi Tamago Don or grilled eel with shredded egg and grated yam rice bowl, which was very good as well. 
there are several Japanese tapas dishes available that would make good wine and beer pairings, particularly popular at their Clarke Quay outlet. the more popular one includes this deep fried camembert or breaded cheese bits. other well-received dishes include chicken wings, scallops and the Okinawa pork belly skewers. these options bring about good variety for patrons who would like to enjoy their sakae with different Japanese small bites and against the backdrop of En Sakaba's setting, makes it a very pleasurable experience indeed. 
En Sakaba (Capital Tower) 168 Robinson Road #01-10 Capital Tower Singapore 068912 Opening Hours Mondays to Saturdays: 11 am to 11 pm (closed on Sundays) offering a variety of Japanese influenced tapas that are best paired with sake and beer.. Labels: #capitaltower, #donburi, #ensakaba, #ensakaba.sg, #japanesefood, #japanesetapas, #sashimi |
..ThE lEgEnD..
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