Showing posts with label Ribs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ribs. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Sampan @ Boat Quay - Pan Asian Flavours And Avant Garde Cocktails

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If I were to just tune up my imagination and visualise a vast white beach in front of me, replacing the Singapore River, this is The Sampan at Bali, not Boat Quay. Though I'm not, with the whitewash tiled walls, wooden furnishing and homeware, former Ku De Ta Bali General Manager, Steve Collinson has quite successfully brought that atmosphere into this 3-storey high restaurant and bar. Drawing inspirations from restaurants and cuisine in Asia, both food and beverages here exude a strong deal of pan Asian flavours and characters.

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White Sangria 3/5 and Mango & Chili Smash 4/5

White Sangria ($18) is an elegant cocktail with white wine, june liqueur, clove, calamansi and Asian pear. The woody nuances of the clove stands out which complements the sweetness and acidity of the cocktail. Mango & Chili Smash ($17) surprised me more with its rather simple ingredients - tequila, mango, mint, sugar and lime. It tastes almost like a full-bodied mango juice but accented with an alcoholic bitterness and elevated with refreshing herb, spice and acidity.

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Pork and Chicken Choi Bao 4/5

As a start, accompany your cocktails with Light Bites & Salads. I have tried Choi Bao in one of Melbourne's bars before and what's left of that memory is its intensity of wok hei that hit me. If that is the defining trait of this dish, The Sampan's version Pork and Chicken Choi Bao ($3.50/pc) is even more successful with the integration of lap cheong into the pork and chicken bites. The smell of the caramelised dark soy sauce when it is served, will tempt you as much as a plate of black carrot cake.

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Mushroom San Choi Bao 3.5/5

A meatless option would be Mushroom San Choi Bao. Texture itself is similar, thanks to the good mix of black fungus, enoki and shitake mushrooms, and the level of wok hei is pretty intense too. But that lap cheong bits are still the winner.

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Blue Swimmer Crab and Pomelo Salad 3.8/5

If you like the flavours of Thai and Vietnamese salad, Blue Swimmer Crab and Pomelo Salad ($14) will be right up your alley and beyond, with all the greens adorned with pieces of fresh Blue Swimmer crab meat.

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Sichuan Pepper Chicken Spare Ribs 3.8/5

Among wings, drumsticks and spare ribs, I would choose the latter. Sichuan Pepper Chicken Spare Ribs with Spring Onion Salad ($12) is almost like chicken tenders but more succulent and flavourful. The exterior remained crispy even after a while.

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Stracciatella and Curried Lentils 4/5

Stracciatella and Curried Lentils ($6/2 pcs) may appear to be modest in many ways but each and every of this modish Pani Puri is a darling to be savoured upon. The original recipe calls for sweet, spicy and tangy flavours, and this unique blend of milky stracciatella cheese, cucumber and mint yogurt and curried lentil, not only hit all the quintessential notes that the original recipe calls for, it is even tastier with the freshness of the yogurt mixture soothing out the spiciness of the curried lentils.

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Mini Banh Mi 3.5/5

Similar to Choi Bun, Mini Banh Mi ($12) is small in size but big in flavours. The grilled pork neck was well marinated, with slow cooked pickled cucumber to cut its richness. I like the use of rye bread which is firmer and drier compared to a brioche, giving this rich filling a more balanced support.

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Crispy Chili Beef 3/5

Crispy Chili Beef with Green Mango Salad and Crispy Noodles ($18) is too overly done with seasoning and dressing. The wok-fried beef itself is quite salty to begin with and the gluey salad dressing weighs the entire dish down even more. It would have tasted a lot better should the green mango salad be clean of sauce and seasoning, and simply toss in to complement the beef.

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Valrhona Chocolate and Tofu Mousse 3.5/5

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Mango Pudding 4/5

For desserts, you can't get any more Asian with this Mango Pudding with Coconut Sago and Mango Sorbet ($12). The pudding was almost like a solidified puree and the mango sorbet was mango to the core. On the other hand, the chocolate mousse in the Valrhona Chocolate and Tofu Mousse ($14) with Chai Spiced Shortbread and Passionfruit Curd was quite addictive with its saltish-sweetness, coupled with tang from the passionfruit curd.

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Boat Quay does need some rejuvenation and I think The Sampan has come in pretty strong with its concept and offerings. Level 2 and 3 spaces are available for private functions or corporate events as well, if you are keen.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Sampan
63 Boat Quay
Singapore 049851
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 12midnight
Sat: 430pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down Upper Circular Road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to the river front. Turn left and walk down Boat Quay. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Outback Steakhouse @ Orchard Gateway - Celebrating 30 Hearty Years Of American Food And Australian Fun

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In conjunction with their 30th anniversary, Outback Steakhouse at Orchard Gateway would like to reward their customers with a '30 and Better’ campaign. Between now till 30th September, enjoy great discounts off your meals that gets bigger as more of you fill up the tables! 30 and better indeed, with that years of experience in serving you Australia-inspired American fare, Outback Steakhouse put together a new menu which offer dishes made with improved recipes and ingredients, fine tuning their steaks to satisfy every angle of your taste buds.

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Typhoon Bloom 3.8/5

This Typhoon Bloom is said to be synonymous with Outback Steak, an appetiser set to leave you in awe. Very thinly coated with batter, I was surprised by how sweet and juicy these fresh onion strings were. Spiked with Outback’s secret seasonings, it was really tough to stop the moment it was served to our table, especially so when the tangy dip added on to the pleasure.

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Appetizer Platter 2.8/5

Appetizer Platter ($21.90) allows you to try their new Crispy Volcanic Shrimps, Kookaburra Wings and Lemon Butter Calamari. The Volcanic Shrimps was sweet spicy with sriracha aioli sauce and the Kookaburra Wings was finger licking good crispy exterior and succulent meat, not forgetting the blue cheese dip. The calamari, however, tasted very much like frozen stock.

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Ribeye 3/5

For steaks, we chose the Ribeye 10z ($47.90) with Coleslaw and Loaded Baked Potato. Seasoned and seared with their secret 17 seasoning blend, the Ribeye was chargrilled over open flame to draw out the flavours from the meat and fats all together. The Loaded Baked Potato was soft and fluffy, my Coleslaw was sadly too dainty a portion.

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Baby Back ribs 2.8/5

If you look for meats that fall-off-the-bones, the Baby Back Ribs ($25.90 half) here would probably disappoint you.

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Toowoomba 3/5

You might be better off with their pastas which we enjoyed it much more than the ribs. We had Toowoomba ($29.90), the tomato cream sauce was easy on the pasta and worked really well with the prawns. The price can be a lot friendlier though. That's when the discount comes in handy!

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Apple Pie 3/5

We had an Apple Pie Ala Moda ($15.90) to sweeten the deal. Although it looked like a "failed attempt" with a flatten crust, when the cold ice cream meets the thick and chunky layers of warm apples in my mouth, the flavours fell into place.

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As the level of discount increases with the number of pax dining in, it does make a lot of sense to come in groups and try out more of their new items.

30% off for 4 pax
20% off for 3 pax
15% off for 2 pax
10% off for 1 pax

Terms and Conditions:
· 1st August – 30th September 2018, Monday to Sunday
· Available for a la carte food items only
· No minimum spend required
· Present above image to enjoy the perks
· Not applicable with any other promotions

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Outback Steakhouse
Orchard Gateway
277 Orchard Road
#04-01
Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 67026842
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Morganfield's @ Orchard Central - Launches Limited Time Ribs Specials to Celebrate Mother's and Father's Day

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Known for its signature sticky bones - authentic, good ol’ fashioned, prime pork ribs slow-cooked and smoked to tender perfection, Morganfield’s is claimed to be the home of the best ribs in town. This time back with a new promotion, Morganfield's presents two new mouth-watering Sticky Bones sauces for a limited time only in May and June, namely the Candied Peach BBQ and Smokey Bacon Bourbon in conjunction with Mother's Day and Father's Day. Mark your calendar for you might take your parents out to Morganfield’s for a well-deserved treat.

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Bacon Wrapped Meatballs 4/5

With a variety of appetizer to choose from, we started off with the Bacon Wrapped Meatballs ($11.90) which comes in deep fried pork meatballs wrapped with crispy bacon. The side of Garlic Aioli sauce dip is a great complement to the savoury pork and bacon.

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Pop Corn Pork 3.8/5

The Pop Corn Pork ($9.90) features a basket full of pork cubes marinated with Morganfield's secret spice mix & deep fried till crisp. Dipping it into their homemade Garlic Aioli & BBQ Ranch Sauce adds a sweet tangy and smoky flavour to the savouriness of the meat.

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Golden Fried Wings 4/5

We had the Golden Fried Wings ($12.90) as the third appetizer. Marinated with a secret recipe, its outer skin is fried till a golden brown crispiness, while its meat is tender and juicy. The appetizers are best paired with a glass of beer in hand.

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Summer Peach Cooler 4/5 and SweetWater Blue 4/5

For drinks, we had the Summer Peach Cooler ($6.90) and SweetWater Blue ($10). The former is a refreshing blend of sweet peach & orange flavour with a splash of fizzy soda, while the latter is a fruit beer which has a refreshing and fruity taste, light with a hint of fresh blueberries. With an ABV of 4.8%, the craft beer is easy to drink and finishes extra clean.

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Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones 4.2/5

The highlight of the meal is the limited-time Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90). Created specially for the ladies, it is made with slices of juicy peaches and rich honey, which constitutes the perfect blend of sweet and tangy over the generously-portioned and well-executed ribs.

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Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones 4.5/5

Another one of their highlights - The Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90) features a slab of tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, topped with a hearty, rich and smoky sauce infused with bourbon, hand-chopped bacon bits and strips of candied bacon. With a flavourous luscious coating atop the savoury meat, the dish displays the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

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Bread Pudding 4/5

End your meal on a sweet note with the Bread Pudding ($11.90). This comforting homemade bread pudding comes served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream & whiskey sauce. A recommended dessert option for the alcoholics, as the whiskey sauce is very thick and rich in taste, that I feel might be a tad too overpowering for the dish.

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Chocolate Brownie 4.2/5

For chocolate lovers, try the Chocolate Brownie ($13.90) which comes in a fudgey chocolate and walnut brownie, and served warm with vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce.

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These limited time offers are available all day, every day from 30th April to 24th June. Make a date with your Mum and Dad to enjoy this special treat at Morganfield’s.

Note: The Candied Peach BBQ and Smoky Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones are also available as part of the weekday Top Value Set Lunch promotion ($29.90), that comes with a free soup and drink.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Morganfield’s
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-03/04
Singapore 238896
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 12midnight

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

TOBY’S The Dessert Asylum @ TradeHub 21 (Jurong East) - 50% Off The New Guinness Stout Baby Ribs And Hickory Smoke Baby Ribs

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Known for its outrageous desserts, TOBY’S The Dessert Asylum at TradeHub 21 delights both kids and adults alike with sumptuous food as well. It has been away from the radar quite a while and now it's back with full force. It has introduced new mouthwatering flavours of its best selling baby back ribs which you get to enjoy at an introductory promotion price, plus an amazing beer-food pairing deal, and awaits you at the end of the meal is another decadent cake and ice cream pairing.

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Guinness Stout Baby Ribs 3.8/5

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Hickory Smoked Baby Ribs 3.5/5

Guinness Stout Baby Ribs ($19.90) and Hickory Smoked Baby Ribs ($19.90) are the 2 new flavours. My vote goes to the Guinness stout baby ribs, for that pronounced alcoholic malty flavour. But both meats were equally tender. So how do you get the promotion? Drop by any time between 3-9pm, snap a picture of your ribs and share on Facebook, that will give you a introductory promotion of 50% off! And you get to avoid the really bustling lunch crowd too!

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Toby's Deluxe Burger 3.8/5

I was introduced to its Toby's Deluxe Burger ($16.50) as well. The key to eating this burger is that you must eat it the moment it landed on your table, so that you get all the goodness of the cheese oozing out from the juicy patty and spread across your burger.

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So here comes the deal - order any bites of mains, the bottled beers (Tiger and Heineken) will be yours at only $3 per bottle! Be it a mid-day tipple or a quick afterwork 'before home' drink, it can't be more affordable than that.

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Ondeh Ondeh Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream 4/5

You hardly see anyone leaving this Toby's without trying its dessert. One of the signatures here is cake & ice cream pairing. Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($7.90) is one of the latest flavour, made with genuine Gula Melaka. The pandan sponge cake is very moist and dense which creates a balance with the cream. Pockets of shredded coconut gives this cake its characteristic and imparts that quintessential ondeh ondeh taste to this dessert. A mouthful of it with the cold vanilla ice cream (+ $4) was like slathering cold butter on a piece of toast. Yummy.

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D'Lover 3/5

Among all the cakes, D'Lover ($6.90) is a hot favourite. Layered with durian filling, that explains its popularity.

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I guess desserts make people happy and hearty meals too, which explain the joyful vibe at Toby's.

Photograph and written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Toby's The Dessert Asylum
TradeHub 21
8 Boon Lay Way
#01-35
Singapore 609964
Tel: +65 63162422
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clement (EW Line), Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 52 and 105. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 99. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 52 or 105. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Three Bistro @ Marina Square

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Conveniently located at Marina Square, Three Bistro is a modern restaurant, bar and wine space which offers a wide range of western fusion food ranging from salads, pizzas to hearty main courses and desserts. Wine lovers will be delighted to know that Three Bistro actually offers a good selection of wine that is rarely found elsewhere in Singapore.

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Take for example these three bottles of wine below. Notice the Chinese letters on the bottle? They are, in fact, French wine that are harvested and brewed in China. One of them has even clinched an award at the Hong Kong International Wine Tasting Competition!

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Classic Mushroom 3.5/5

Our dinner started rolling with some warm comforting soups. Those who love truffle oil would love this rendition of Mushroom Soup ($6) as the chef is rather generous with the serving. However, a drizzle of truffle oil might just suffice as it overpowered the mushroom flavour.

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Seafood Soup 3.8/5

This Seafood Soup ($8) resembled a fishermen’s stew with plenty of fresh fish, squid, in a perfect backdrop of sweet and sour tomato base that would rally up anyone's spirits on a rainy day.

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BBQ Chicken Pizza 2.8/5

The pizza base is gratifyingly crisp and the combination of chicken, pineapples and bbq sauce in this BBQ Chicken Pizza ($10.50) sounded like a Hawaiian dream come true. And this dream would realize in reality if fresh honest ingredients were used and a little more effort were channeled to craft the dough.

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Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu 3/5

The Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu ($12) left me in confusion because the components seemed to be isolated from one another. The pan-seared salmon in teriyaki sauce and the deep fried golden tofu were tasty on their own but there was just too little chemistry between the two, as well as the green smear of sweet wasabi custard, to inspire any beautiful love story.

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Baby Back Ribs 2.8/5

Arriving in two hunky slabs, the Baby Back Ribs ($23) definitely got me salivating over the tantalizing looking BBQ sauce. I would love to have basked in the porky glory if the flavour had penetrated through the meat. They were overdone, resulting in an arduous task of chowing through the meat.

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Duck Confit with Honey Vinaigrette Dressing with Creamy Mash Potato 3/5

Some chefs do it the crisp way; some chefs do the traditional braised way. Like it or not, the Duck Confit ($25) here belonged to the classic camp where the skin is soft and supple. The meat was fairly tender but could have retained more moisture. This would have been a good interpretation of a classic confit if the dry mash potato hadn't been "modernized" by the truffle oil.

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Lamb Shank 3.5/5

Some people might find this Lamb Shank ($27) slightly gamey but I thought the meat was a good sign of long braising, boasting of the lovely silky, almost sticky texture. The side vegetables such as carrots and onions were also cooked down to a pleasant sweet mash. Perhaps a little touch of herbs and spice would do the trick to coax out the nuances of this dish.

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Cod Fish, served with Tomato Salsa and Cream of Anchovy 3.5/5

Perhaps due to the choice of using oven-baked technique, the skin of the Codfish ($27) remained chewy, a pity because the great storage of fats could have been harnessed to produce an aromatic crisp fish. Nonetheless, it was a very healthy dish that is extremely light on seasoning, slightly too light to register on the palates of an average man. The cream of anchovy was also absent that day. That said, this is pretty ideal for ladies who are watching their diet.

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Panna Cotta 3.5/5

Back to the desserts, the Panna Cotta ($5.50) has a unique consistency of a milk jelly pudding and the sugar content is well regulated.

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Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream 3/5

Meanwhile, the Chocolate Brownie ($6.50) also made quick entrance, albeit at the mercy of the delicate ice cream that was melting in mid-way. This brownie might not be out-of-the-world delicious, but efforts still have to be credited to the chef who made this instead of outsourcing to external bakeries. It had a dense, nutty texture, which would be elevated to a next level if served warm.

Currently, the concept of the food at Three Bistro appears inherently fuzzy to me, though I sincerely appreciate the effort that goes into styling up some dishes here. If more energy is directed towards the balance of flavours and textures in each dish, I think Three Bistro would stand out as one of the quality all-day dining and chill-out spots in the CBD district. Live band music performance is also available during the evenings from 730pm go 1030pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Written and Photograph by Li Tian, a passionate foodie behind Singapore-Japan Food Blog “Dairy & Cream”. Has an eye for pastries and desserts.


Three Bistro
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
 #01- 07/08
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 63388644
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thr3ebistro
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 12midnight
Sun: 12noon - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 5 mins. [Map]