Super Simple+ @ Fusionopolis Place - Simple And Wholesome Way To Mindful Eating

Salad bars, protein bowls aplenty in our little island, but Singaporean chef Jasper Jek shall entice you differently. Chef Jek's years of training and experiences at Michelin-starred establishments in Spain, Norway, and Singapore eventually converged into Super Simple+, where an ingredient-driven philosophy forms the staple of the concept. You might have chanced upon it in the CBD area as a takeaway format, and the latest outlet in here in Fusionpolis allows you to dine in a cosy environment.

Beef Steak, House-pickled Beetroot, Roasted Pineapple 4.5/5

Build your own Small, Medium or Large box (prices start from $9.90). My customised Large Box looked amazing. Using rump cap, the Beef Steak is by far the tastier beef I had for a protein bowl - tender with flavourful fats, and it remained easy on the jaws even after it had sat there for a while. For the base, I highly recommend Bulghur Wheat. It has the lovely, chewy bite of barley and the aromatic fragrance of brown rice. The supplements shine in their own right too. Using minimal processing to allow the natural flavours of the ingredients to shine doesn't mean merely slicing and dicing them and toss them into the salad. Still, it can also be using the best way to bring out their best, such as the house-pickled beetroot and roasted pineapple. For condiments, I reckon the fresh and fragrant Petite Herb Mix, comprising chervil, tarragon and dill will best suit the Salmon or Wild-caught Barramundi, or even the Beef Steak. To add some crunch and nuttiness into your salad, the spiced Dukkah will be ideal, especially if you have a vegetarian-protein pan-fried miso-glazed tofu.

Norwegian Salmon, Scrambled Eggs, Avocado 4/5

Wild-caught Barramundi, Mushroom medley, Herbed Zucchini 4/5

You can even create a wholesome brunch by pairing the huge slab of Norwegian Salmon with Scrambled Eggs! Slow-baked in the oven, the salmon fillet was very tender and tastes exceptionally 'clean' without the use of additional oil to sear it like what some others do. However, if you like the sear on fish skin, the Wild-caught Barramundi will win you over. Slow-cooked Chicken Breast and Tandoori Chicken Thighs are also available, both in equally big servings. The menu changes every 3 months.

As all the ingredients are prepared with minimum seasonings, one gets to fully appreciate the house-made dressings. You can taste and feel the differences between the dressings here and the store-bought ones, which can sometimes be overly sweet and leave a greasy feel in the mouth. A couple of my personal favourites are the Wasabi Sesame, made simply with ground sesame and wasabi powder, and the exquisite tasting Ponzu Dashi. The Parsley Pesto packs a punch of flavours too, excellent on Wholewheat Pasta.

For beverages, try the house-brewed ice tea, just slightly sweetened with honey.

I like Super Simple+ on its excellent quality and tasty proteins, the thoughtful efforts behind the supplements and interesting toppings. Most importantly, it fills you up without burdening your senses.

Written and photography 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.


Super Simpler+
Galaxis
1 Fusionpolis Place
#01-28/29
Singapore 138522
Facebook
Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 530pm - 8pm
(Closed on Sat-Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Wok Palace @ Fusionpolis - From Running A Cafe To Operating A Chinese Restaurant

Wok Palace at Fusionpolis is founded by the team behind Coffee Hive. If you work in the CBD area, you probably are quite well acquainted with one of their coffee joints. The growth of their coffee business speared the team to venture into Wok Master, a zi char concept that caters to the suburban crowd. After 3 years of finding their way around the even more intense restaurant industry, Wok Palace marks another milestone for the team. Catering to a more corporate clientele, this new Chinese restaurant serves up a more refined menu that incorporates a contemporary take on Chinese cuisine and homemade delights, along with the local zi char favourites.

Ginseng Chicken Soup 4/5

Boiled over a slow fire for several hours, the Ginseng Chicken Soup with Sea Whelk ($12) was full-bodied and milky, with a slightly gelatinous texture which I could feel it with my lips in every sip.

Scallop Roll 3.8/5

Scallop Roll with Braised Daikon and Pork Broth ($23.80) is a sophisticated dish that uses sashimi grade scallop. Minced and rolled into a wrap, encased within is minced pork and shrimps, mixed with diced carrots and water chestnut for a right amount of refreshing crunch. What I find lacking is a better accompanying broth.

Homemade Kale Tofu 4/5

Homemade Kale Tofu ($6) brings joy to the diner with its crisp exterior and an interior so soft and tender texture, almost like a dessert soya beancurd. Wholesome with a piece of mushroom sandwiched between the tofu and tomato, bigger sized tofu would have made it into a delicious light main on its own.

Braised Beef Cheek 4.5/5

The front-page cover of the menu sits their signature - Braised Beef Cheek with Organic Kale and Confit Tomato ($28). This beef cheek is probably one of the best that I have had so far this year. Perhaps these beef cheeks have been braised and not sous-vide, which some places have chosen to adopt such a method, the meat was fork-tender and moist with a gelatinous texture, rather than stringy and flat in taste.

3 Combination Roast Meat 3/5

Wok Palace serves up pretty sumptuous roast meats too. The Roasted Pork was succulent with a jacket of crispy skin, and the Roasted Duck was very well done also, with just the right amount of seasoning. The Char Siew had a good ratio of meat to fats, but it was a tad chewy. I reckon it needed more time in the oven to break down the fats further, as well as to caramelise the exterior even more.

I feel Wok Palace is an exciting addition to our local Chinese restaurant establishments, given its background and the years they took to reach this stage.

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.


Wok Palace
1 Fusionopolis Way
#02-01/02
Singapore 138632
Tel: +65 69099856
Facebook
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 10am-10pm

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

Empress Porridge @ Fusionpolis Galaxis - 无米粥 (no rice grain) Porridge Steamboat

Empress Porridge was first established in NUH Medical Centre and has since become known for their home cooked flavours with a rotating menu of wholesome dishes. Now setting foot in Fusionpolis Place, Empress Porridge continues to warm your bellies with an expanded menu with two new additions - Porridge Steamboat and Take Home Dinner.

Porridge Steamboat 3.5/5

The Porridge Steamboat ($15) comes with a finely milled porridge base, along with an assortment of protein and vegetables. To achieve the desired grainless texture, the Empress Porridge’s 无米粥 is slow cooked for hours which at the same time draw out the sweetness of the rice.

Portion for two

Minimum 2 pax is required. Each set comes with fresh prawns, sliced fish, white and brown mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, ring ring beancurd roll including your choice of beef/chick/pork meatballs. Additional charges apply to add-on meat and vegetables. The fish slices were quite good, I like the hint of rice wine that came along with it. I do not recommend choosing beef out of the 3 meat options. I had that but I do not like the taste of it at all. Hence, best to go for either the chicken or the meatballs. The meatballs were sweet and juicy, couldn't be any better to go with the velvety porridge.

Mustard Leaves Fried Rice

A thoughtful touch added to this set is the mini bowl of Mustard Leaves Fried Rice that will be served to you to wrap up your meal. This is to make sure that you are really full at the end of this humble feast!

Empress Porridge 3/5

Solo diners can simply go for the Signature Empress Porridge ($4.80) for similar comfort. Signature Empress Porridge is cooked with a mixture of brown and white rice, simmered with dried scallops, cuttlefish, dried shrimp, tender pork collar and braised peanut. Brown rice gave it more bite which I find a lot more satisfying than just using plain white rice. The savoury taste come mainly from the dried scallops and shrimps which elevates the enjoyment of the porridge. However, there might be a need to cut back on the dried shrimps as they can get rather overwhelming after a few bites.

Carrot Cake 3/5

Prawn Paste Chicken 3/5

Other familiar delights includes Carrot Cake ($2.50) and Prawn Paste Chicken ($2.50). Pricing is economical, considering that these are not from your neighbourhood hawker centre or coffeeshop. The radish on the carrot cake is done in-house which flavoured the fluffy egg nicely, just like Cai Pok egg! The 'cake' itself is mediocre but it will satiate your craving nonetheless. The prawn paste chicken was a bit oily but if you like chicken kaarage, this is not too far off.

A quick solution to having homecooked food is their Empress' Take Home Dinner. From $9 onwards, each set comes with 1 bowl of heartwarming soup, slow-cooked daily for up to eight hours, 3 hearty dishes and 1 variation of rice dish. Check out their website for more information on pricing and dishes available.

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.


Empress Porridge
Fusionpolis Galaxis
1 Fusionopolis Place
#01-15
Singapore 138522
Tel: +65 93836788/ 69095228
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 730am - 730pm
Sat: 8am - 1pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Nam Nam GO @ Timbre+ - A New Express Concept By Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Nam Nam Noodle Bar has moved into Timbre+ at Ayer Rajah Crescent with a new express concept - Nam Nam GO, operating out of a repurposed caravan. The menu offers a variety of noodles, rice and banh mi which is ideal for the busy executives or diners in a rush.

Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls 3.8/5

The Hanoi Pho comes with 4 selections. Basically they are pork balls, chicken, beef and vegetarian. I decided to have the beef, Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls ($7.90). The soup was robust and sweet but I did not like the texture of the rice noodle. I find it too thick. The beef slices were fresh and tender but the beef balls were too tough for my liking.

Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice 3/5

The other item we ordered is the Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice ($8.90). I did not quite enjoy the rice because it uses broken rice. It did not have that satisfactory bite of the rice grains. Saying that, the rice was quite fragrant with the aroma of the lemon grass. The chicken pieces were also chunky, tender and juicy.

Nam Nam Go
Timbre+
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Revolution Coffee @ Infinite Studios - Madam Tan's Nasi Lemak Is Back

The first time I tried Chef Shen's Mod-Sin cuisine when she was at the defunct Wok & Barrel and I was impressed by her modern take of Singapore cuisine. Back in 2011, Mod-Sin cuisine is still quite new and Chef Shen has definitely elevated the common local favourites to a whole new level. I am glad that Chef Shen is back again, dishing out her signature dishes at Revolution Coffee at Infinite Studios.

Nasi Lemak Crispy Pork 4.2/5

At Revolution Coffee, Chef Shen is offering 5 different choices of her nasi lemak. There is a choice of Crispy Pork, Fried Chicken, Spice Pork Confit, Beef Rendang and Chicken Rendang. I tried the Nasi Lemak with Crispy Pork ($7.90) which is served with ikan billis, omelette, housemade sambal belachan and coffee sambal on cool cucumber slices. If you have tried Chef Shen's nasi lemak, you would know that the fragrant rice is twice steamed. Unlike others that steamed the rice with coconut milk, she used fresh coconut. It resulted in a soft and fluffy lemak rice with aromatic scent. Not to forget the deep fried slices of pork belly that is marinated in a secret marinade, that was crispy and juicy.

Buah Keluak Pasta 4.2/5

There are 3 pasta dishes on the menu - Bak Chor Mee, Fish Curry and Buah Keluak Pasta which I wanted to try all but I only have one stomach. Hence I have to made the hard choice of choosing her latest creation Buah Keluak Pasta ($19.90). The al dente tagliatelle pasta is tossed in house made buah keluak sauce, minced prawns and minced pork. It is also served with fork tender and juicy twice cooked pork belly (poached and pan seared). This is a delightful take of incorporating Asian flavours into Italian past.

Shendol Delights 4.2/5

Our favorite local dessert, Chendol is given a modern rendition in Chef Shen's Shendol Delights ($10). It comes in the form of a creamy and smooth coconut panna cotta served with gula melaka syrup, chendol and house made red bean ice cream.

I am glad that Chef Shen has decided to be back in the kitchen dishing our her mod-sin cuisine at Revolution Coffee. The permanent location means I can satisfy my craving for her nasi lemak or Asian inspired pasta dishes whenever I missed it.


Revolution Coffee
Infinite Studios
21 Media Circle
#01-03A
Singapore 138562
Facebook
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit. Take shuttle bus to Infinitel Studios. Only available on weekday 8am-8pm. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Timetable] [Map]

2) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Portsdown Road (Stop ID 18151). Take bus numbe 191. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Roxy Laksa @ Timbre+ - Continuation of 1952 Flavour In A New Location

Roxy Laksa is probably one of the oldest laksa stall in Singapore dated back to 1952 when it operated as a push cart stall outside the now demolished Roxy cinema. The recipe has since passed down to Mr Mike Lim, the grandson of Mr Lim Kiok Seng. Mr Mike Lim who used to run a hawker stall at East Coast Lagoon Food Village selling the heritage dish, has recently moved to Timbre+.

Roxy Laksa 4.2/5

I realized it as been 4 years since I last visited Roxy Laska. I am glad that it has now moved nearer to home. Unlike the normal laksa that comes with egg and cockles, Roxy Laksa ($4.50) only serves slices of fishcake, prawn and bean sprouts in their laksa.

I am not sure whether I still remember the taste of Roxy Laksa. The Roxy Laksa I remembered was light with a smooth, creamy consistency. However the laksa I tried seemed different. The gravy was become thicker and richer but still has that creamy consistency.

Handmade Otah 4/5

Besides the traditional laksa, Roxy Laksa also sells Handmade Otah ($1.50). If you get a set together with the Laksa and Otah, its only at $5.80.

It is understand that Mr Mike Lim has partnered with lawyer-turned-chef Willin Low in the new stall. Mr Mike Lim will continue to cook its laksa from scratch at the stall. At the same time, he will also be working with Chef Willin to create a production kitchen that will make hawker food on a scalable level whilst maintaining the traditional flavour.


[CLOSED] Roxy Laksa
Timbre+
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Da Shan Jiao (大山脚) @ Timbre+ - A Piece Of Malaysia Flavour At The Gastro-Park

I have been to Timbre+ numerous time and somehow I seem to miss this little humble stall at the gastro-park. After knowing about Da Shan Jiao (大山脚), I made a special trip down just to try their Pork Noodle. The reason is simple, not many places in Singapore sells this dish and I hope I can discover a new gem.

Pork Noodle 3.8/5

I ordered a bowl of their Pork Noodles ($4) to try. For a mere four dollars, I have a generous bowl of noodles that comes with many ingredients such as lean pork slices, pork offal, meatball and fishcake. The soup was really sweet and hearty, which goes well with the kway teow. It will be better if the texture of the rice noodle can be thinner and softer.

Besides the pork noodle, the stall also sells a upgrade version with pork ribs in the Signature Pork Noodle ($5) as well as Lor Mee ($3.50/$4.50). If you think noodles is a bit heavy for you. The stall also sells some nyonya kueh and homemade chive kueh that will be just right for breakfast or tea break.

The stall is run by a couple who probably around 40 to 50 years old. It is understand the lady owner comes from Malaysia and hence the couple decided to offer the dish at the stall.


Da Shan Jiao (大山脚)
Timbre+
JTC LaunchPad @ One North
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
Website
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 6am - 5pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Timbre+ @ Ayer Rajah Crescent (One North) - What To Eat At Timbre+

Will this be our future Hawker Centre? Judging from the crowd since its opening, Timbre+ seems to have got it right housing 35 different F&B brands under one roof at the latest and newest gastropark with a mix of hawkers and restaurants. I prefer to call it the hipster hawker centre.

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NAM HENG CHICKEN RICE

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While Timbre+ may house most of the latest F&B brands, it did not forget about the heritage of Ayer Raja Crescent. As per my best understanding, the original food stalls from the demolished Ayer Raja Crescent hawker centre which moved to a temporary tent nearby has been invited back to the latest iconic dining spot in Singapore. It may not be the best chicken rice in town but it definitely has its followers after all these years.

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WONG KEE WANTON NOODLES & ROASTED DELIGHTS

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Not to be missed at Timbre+ is Wong Kee Wanton Noodles and Roasted Delights. I would recommend having their Char Siew Dumpling Tomato Noodles and Beef Brisket Spinach Noodle. The tomato noodles has a hint of sweetness on top of the springy bite but the char siew can be better. I would suggest trying the beef brisket spinach noodle. The beef brisket cooked with more then 15 different spices and stewed for hours is really flavourful and tender. The savoury sauce pairs excellently with the noodles too. Another star at the stall is the chunky dumpling that is stuffed with crunchy chestnut bits, turnip and black fungus.

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FISHBALL STORY

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Many would ask what make the fishball noodle at Fishball Story so special? Douglas, 26 years old this year makes his fish balls and fish cakes from scratch using yellow tail fish only. His usual day starts from 4am to make the fish balls and fish cakes, even the sambal chilli and pork lard. I mean who at this age or his generation is willing to do this nowadays. At Timbre+, the Premium Fishball Noodle ($6) comes with fish balls, fish cakes, deep fried fish cake and fish skin.

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WANG JIAO BAN MIAN

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Normally we will order ban mian soup for its rich and flavourful soup. At Wang Jiao Ban Mian, I would recommend trying the Dry Ban Mian ($3.30). The bowl of dry ban mian comes with a perfectly cooked egg, ikan bilis and chewy homemade noodle. All these are hold together by the savoury dark sauce, bringing everything together.

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SOON HUAT BAK KUT TEH

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Sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment, Jabez Tan found a new lease of life in God. Coming up with his own Bak Kut Teh recipe, he started his F&B business in 2011 and employs mainly ex-convicts to work at the restaurant giving them a second chance in life. The signature item at Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh has to be there Dried Bak Kut Teh. Using the same soup from the Bak Kut Teh, it was reduced in a concoction of soy sauce and oyster sauce coating the pork ribs with its sweetness while the dried chilli gives it a nice kick in spiciness. The whole enjoyment is rounded off with the aromatic topping of the fried cuttlefish. This is a must try.

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TWO WINGS

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Two Wings has made a name for themselves after their first flagship outlet at Bukit Merah. At Two Wings, the wings are deep fried for nine minutes which will give them that moist and juiciness inside while crispy on the outside. Worth mentioning is the special homemade chilli sauce that is pretty potent. If you can't take spicy stuff, I advice you to skip it as it probably will numb your taste buds deterring you to enjoy the delicious wings. In conjunction with the opening of their third outlets at Timbre+, Two Wings launches its new flavour - Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings.

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ISKINA CEBU

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Iskina Cebu which sells the popular Lechon is opened by owner Chris. Words soon get around the island and long queues are formed each day at his Paya Lebar stall to taste the delicious Lechon (roasting the whole pig over charcoal fire) which painstaking takes about 5 hours to cook. Chris has also recently changed his supply using Spanish pig instead of Holland pig. It is understand that the quality is better and more flavourful.

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THE WORLD IS FLAT

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The World Is Flat is by the same folk behind Tanuki Raw, Standing Sushi Bar and Shinkasen. Offering something new in its unique pizza menu, is the deep dish pizza inspired from California. A think slide of the Fat Samurai ($9/slice, $49 whole pizza). The charcoal infused doughy crust is topped with duck confit, bacon, prawn, burnt onions, smashed US beef, roasted cabbage, Konbu mayo, balsamic Okonomiyaki sauce, crispy bonito flakes, mozzarella and brie. It is really rich and heavy in flavour. For some light bites, you may like to try the interesting Marshmallow Sweet Potato Fries.

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FOOD ANATOMY

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The most instagram food has to be from the Food Anatomy. The so called stacked food comes in a variety of combination. Each meal is $16 which comes with a choice of 3 different stacked food. We tried the Cold Soba, Organic Lasagna and Pork Cheek with Fragrant Rice. The cold soba is our favourite with the creative de-constructed cold soba idea. Pretty in presentation but I think the stall overlook the fact that it is very hard to handle and eat the dishes.

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D'S JOINT

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I have long heard about Chef Damian D'Silva's culinary skill but I never get to try it until my recent visit to Timbre+. D's Joint is Chef Damian's later concept serving up some surprises such as the Lim Peh Slider. I had a bite of the pastry, stuffed with the aromatic rendang and I could not stop eating. This is a must try.

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TEPPEI DAIDOKORO

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Teppei Daidokoro is the latest Japanese yakitori concept of Chef Teppei Yamashita. Teppei Daidoroko (“Daidokoro” means “kitchen” in Japanese) brings Chef Teppei’s characteristic high quality and reasonably-priced Japanese food with a focus on yakitori (Japanese skewers) into Timbre+. In addition, Teppei fans can also enjoy the signature Kaisen Don $16 (sashimi rice bowl), grilled/deep-fried breaded bentos/dons and Hokkaido croquettes.

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BOTTLE SHOP

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The Bottle Shop has a rotating beer and cider menu of close to 200 different types. At any one time you visit the Bottle Shop, there are at least 100 beers and ciders for you to choose from to go with the variety of food at Timbre+. For the not-so-beer-nerds, the Bottle Shop also offers a limited range of spirits and wines.

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$1 Tray Return System

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Besides the good food and drinks at Timbre+, it also introduces the first ever tray return initiative. All the trays are mirco-chipped. When you order your food and you required a tray, a dollar is charged to your total bill. When you return the tray at the centralized collection location, the system will return a dollar back to you. I find this a good initiative since the current campaign at hawker centres does not work. At least I am not seeing dirty plates lying around , stacking up and even birds eating the left over food.


Timbre+
JTC LaunchPad @ One North
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
Website
Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 6am - 6pm (hawker stalls), 11am - 11pm (restaurants)
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]