Don Signature Crab @ Toa Payoh North - From Pie Club to Crab Party

For those working near China Square Central, you should be familiar with Don Signature Crab which was serving their unique crab beehoon soup from 2000 to 2013 before relocating to its current location at Toa Payoh North in March 2015. I will share will you more about Don, the founder at the end of the article but let us dig in to the food first.

Crab Beehoon Soup 4/5

There were four of us in total, so we decided to order a couple of crab dishes on the menu to try. We started with the Crab Beehoon Soup ($25 small). Served in a claypot to retain the heat, the soup base has a herbal taste from the dang gui. The crab is considered mid size, cooked together with some vegetables, ginger and yam. However we felt that the version still lose out the one from Mellben.

Black Pepper Crab Beehoon 3.8/5

For those that enjoys a peppery kick, the Black Pepper Crab Beehoon ($25 small) would be the choice. Plated in a pile of greens and generous serving of beehoon, it is good for 2 pax to share. I do enjoy the piquant kick but on the critic side, I could not really taste the flavour of the crustacean in the beehoon.

La La Prawn White Beehoon 4.2/5

Among the 3 crab dishes we ordered, my favourite is the La La Prawn White Beehoon ($15). While it may look similar to the black pepper dish, the sauce is actually different. The sauce is sweeter, creamier and more garlicky. I felt that it complemented the seafood excellently.

The man behind it is non other than Don himself, the founder of Don Pie. When I asked him about his pie business, he declined to comment further but I can sense some form of regret and sadness in his tone. What I understand is he as already sold his pie business and now focusing on his crab stall. Anyway if you do plan to check out the stall, the menu offers other items such as Chilli Crab, Cheese Crab, Crab Laksa


Don Signature Crab [CLOSED]
Blk 206 Toa Payoh North
#01-1197
Singapore 310206
Tel: +65 96916776
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Braddell (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the road between block 109 and 107. Turn left and cut through the HDB estate. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Restaurant HOME & Bar (家) @ Cosford Road (Changi) - A New Home With Kampong Vibe

Restaurant HOME (家) owned by Chef Tan Yong Kang, also know as the first Singaporean chef to beat the Iron Chef Thailand. has moved from the rail mall to its current location at Cosford Road in Changi. For those familiar with the East, this is where Catch Restaurant used to be located. Compared to the previous premise at rail mall, the new location is bigger and it has a kampong vibe to it. Besides the indoor dining area, the restaurant also has an alfresco bar area with a bar.

A separate menu is specially curated to cater for the bar area focusing on barbecued items. We tried some of the barbecue item such as the Barbecued White Snapper Fish with Salt ($7/100gram), Barbecued Prawn ($16/order), Barbecued Sliced Beef ($16/order), Barbecued Sliced Pork Belly ($16/order) and Poached La La ($18/order). The group seemed to enjoy the barbecued sliced beef for its tenderness while I preferred the barbecued sliced pork belly for its marination and rich flavour.

Baked Golden Snapper Fish with Sea Salt 4.2/5

While Chef Tan has retained most of his signature items of the menu, he has also incorporated new items inspired by the kampong surrounding, bring cooking to its basic and showcasing the natural flavours of the ingredients. One of such dishes is the Baked Golden Snapper Fish with Sea Salt ($7/100gram). The whole golden snapper is covered with sea salt and baked to a nice moist texture which comes with slight hint of saltiness that enhanced the sweetness of the meat.

Baked Chicken with Herbal Sea Salt 4.2/5

The other dish that is worth trying is the Baked Chicken with Herbal Sea Salt ($24). The chicken is marinated overnight for the flavours to be absorbed into the tender chicken meat. It is baked for another 1.5 hours wrapped in lotus leaf and cooked with herbal sea salt before serving.

Hot-Stone Sauteed Pig Liver with Ginger and Onion 4.5/5

Not many people will appreciate the pig liver and it is even harder to cook it perfectly. Besides KEK seafood, Restaurant Home is the second place which executed the dish perfectly. The Hot-Stone Sauteed Pig Liver with Ginger and Onion ($14 small) was soft and tender which is complemented beautifully by the savory brown sauce.

La La Crispy Rice 4.5/5

A hearty and comforting dish on the menu is the La La Crispy Rice ($10/pax). Fragrant crispy fried rice is poured into the sweet clam broth. It's like having a delicious bowl of porridge in superior stock with the addition of extra crispiness from the crispy rice.

Black Pepper Crab 4/5

Singapore loves their crab and it is inevitable that the menu showcases the crustacean. We had the Black Pepper Crab ($58/kg) which is tossed in a fiery and piquant black pepper sauce. It goes well with the sweetness of the crab meat.

Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango 4/5

For dessert we had the farm to table Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango. Chef Tan grows the rosella flower himself at his garden. The dessert has a sourish sweetness that is very refreshing.

Besides the food at Restaurant Home, there new location offers a mini attraction for family and kids. It is actually located at the old Johore Battery where a huge firing barrel is still there. On top of that, Chef Tan is using the plot of land to do some farming, growing some of the ingredients that are used in the kitchen. Definitely a good education for the kids to roam and learn more about nature

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Restaurant HOME & Bar (家)
27 Cosford Road
Singapore 499549
Tel: +65 64651698
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line), Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sin: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tamplines MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tampines Bus Interchange (Stop ID 75009). Take bus number 29. Alight 13 stops later. Cross the road to Cosford Road. Walk down Cosford Road to destination. Journey time about 50 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85091). Take bus number 2. Alight 16 stops later. Cross the road to Cosford Road. Walk down Cosford Road to destination. Journey time about 55 minutes [Map]

Mellben Signature @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza

Due to the government reclaiming back the Bestway Building at Prince Edward Road, Mellben Signature has to move from its previous location to the current location at Tanjong Pagar Plaza. I like the new location as it is more accessible and nearer to the MRT station.

Australian Baby Abalone in Superior Sauce 3.5/5

Dinner at Mellben Signature started with the Australian Baby Abalone in Superior Sauce ($12/pc). The abalone was firm and bouncy dressed in a flavoursome sauce. However I find the sauce a bit on the starchy side.

Seafood Crispy Beancurd 4/5

Crispy on the exterior and pillow soft in the interior is the Seafood Crispy Beancurd ($12/$15/$18). A delectable dish that will be enjoyed by both adult and young.

Salted Egg Pork Ribs 3.8/5

The Salted Egg Pork Ribs ($15/$20/$30) are hugemongous. The meat fell off the bone with ease. Coated with the savoury salted egg sauce, this is finger licking good. If the salted egg flavour can be more distinct, that will be perfect.

Icy-Chilled Sweet & Sour Pork 4/5

This is my second time having Icy-Chilled Sweet & Sour Pork ($15/$20/$30). I had it previously at Kai Garden. I still have it gimmicky. Putting that aside, it is executed quite well. The sauce was not too sweet and the pork was firm with a good bite to it. Even though the plate will drain the melted ice water, I would still advise to eat it quickly before it gets soggy when the melted ice water comes in contact with the pork.

Stir Fried Garlic Chives with Shimeji 4.2/5

Stir Fried Garlic Chives with Shimeji ($20/$30/$40) is currently one of my favourite vegetable dishes to order at Chinese restaurant. I like the crunchy texture. It also does not have that strong earthy taste that most people dislike.

Deep Fried Marble Goby in Homemade Thai Sauce 3/5

Deep Fried Marble Goby in Homemade Thai Sauce (market price), it maybe old school but a timeless favourite among many diners.

Braised Beehoon Crab 3.8/5

Mellben becomes popular when it started its first outlet in Ang Mo Kio serving delicious crab dishes. Hence a visit to Mellben, how can we not try their signature crab dishes. The crab is selling at $65 per kg here. 

The Braised Beehoon Crab is cooked in a black pepper sauce. The smooth and silky beehoon coated with the black pepper sauce is slurping good. As this is a crab dish, I was hoping to taste the essence of the crustacean but it was overshadowed by the strong peppery taste.

Creamy Butter Crab 3/5

Aside from the sweetness and firm texture of the crab which got my thumbs up, I find the sauce for the Creamy Butter Crab lacklustre. Instead of the buttery flavour, it seems that too much milk was added to get that creamy texture.

Chilli Crab 3/5

The Chilli Crab does have a spicy kick to it with an abundance of egg white in the sauce. Best to wipe it clean with some fried mantou. However the sauce was too starchy for my liking.

Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup 4.5/5

The highlight for me at Mellben is the Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup. The milky soup probably has evaporated milk added to it for a lift in flavour and creaminess. I could also taste the essence of the crustacean infused into the soup as well as being absorbed by the thick beehoon. This is worth going back for second helping or maybe third. You can also request to add more soup and beehoon for a small cost.

Overall I have an enjoyable meal at Mellben Signature. I would highly recommend ordering the Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup. The restaurant is packed with people when I visited in a weekday evening. Hence I would advise making a reservation if you plan to make a trip down to try their dishes.


Mellben Signature
Blk 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#01-105
Singapore 081007
Tel: +65 62205512
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road at the traffic light junction. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes [Map]

Brizo @ Park Hotel Clarke Quay

Within a short 3 months period, I am back again at Brizo at Park Hotel Clarke Quay. For the period of 1 October to 27 December 2015, guests can look out for a gastronomic buffet spread from different Mediterranean regions, featuring a mouth watering array of 20 seafood dishes and a new Lobster in a Pan dish.

Some of the Mediterranean dishes available on the spread include Provencal Seafood Stew, Seafood Paella, Mediterranean Grilled Sea Bream in Paprika, Rosemary & Garlic, Black Mussel & Clam in White Sauce with Fresh Herbs and Pasta Fusilli Crabmeat Au Gratin.

Brizo has also recently added a BBQ section, guests can tuck into BBQ items such as Tiger Prawns Marinated in Cajun Spices, Dory Fish Fillet and Squid with Sambal Chilli, assorted vegetables and grilled potato.

Lobster in a Pan with Cioppino Sauce

Lobster in a Pan with Garlic Cream Sauce

The star of the Aloy! It's Seafood Night! buffet dinner is the Lobster in a Pan that contains a whole maine lobster, tiger prawns, clams, black mussels, potatoes, corn and gourmet sausages. There is a choice of garlic cream or cioppino sauce. I preferred the garlic cream sauce over the cioppino. Each pan is also served with refillable truffle steak fries to accompany the luxurious seafood.

Rest assured with the Mediterranean theme, the all time favourite crab dishes such as Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab and Salted Egg Yolk Crab will still be available in the buffet spread.

The Ahoy! It's the Seafood Night! buffet dinner is available every Thursday to Sunday, from 630pm to 1030pm at $65++ per adult. Children aged 6 to 12 years old at $32++ per child, complimentary for children under 6 years old.


Brizo
Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 65938888
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1030am, 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Clark Quay Station (Stop ID 04222). Take bus number 54. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to the end UE Square Shopping Mall. Journey time about 8 minutes.  [Map]

Crab Ah! @ Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa

Pincers and Pints await you at Crab Ah! I am not referring to the all lobster Pince & Pints at Duxton. Instead I am bringing you to Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa. The waterfront area of the resort is converted into an al fresco dining facing the South China Sea offering a feast for two which includes succulent Sri Lankan crabs and an array of appetisers, side dishes, desserts and free flowing house wines and beer.

The picturesque views of the sunset on the coast, music from a live band and the surrounding sea breeze present a perfect evening for couples to wrap up a delightful dinner. If you are lucky, you may also spot peacocks running around the waterfront or sleeping up in the trees.

Crab Ah! is available every Friday from 630pm to 9pm at $138++ for two inclusive of free flowing house wines and beer.

Deep Fried White Bait 4/5

The dinner for two started with some delectable Deep Fried White Bait. Well seasoned and crispy, this is a perfect appetiser to go with the free flow wines or beer while waiting for the mains.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab 4.2/5

Chilli Crab 4.5/5

For the set dinner of two, diners get to have a choice of four different sauces. The four sauces available are the signature Chilli sauce, popular Salted Egg sauce, black pepper sauce and superior XO sauce. I got the chance to try two out of the four sauces. Both sauces were as good. The crab was also fresh, sweet and juicy complemented by the delicious sauces. Among the two sauces I tried, I would have to be a bit bias and go for more favourite salted egg.

Deep Fried Mantou Buns 4.2/5

Golden Deep Fried Mantou Buns are also served for diners to dip into the flavourful crab sauces of their choice.

Stir Fried Seasonal Vegetables 4.2/5

Shrimp Fried Rice 4.5/5

After digging into the luscious crustaceans and getting my finger messy, there were more dishes awaiting for us to savour. Both the Stir Fried Seasonal Vegetable and Shrimp Fried Rice looked kind of plain but that's only in appearance. The stir fried vegetable was crunchy and flavourful. Each mouthful of the fragrant shrimp fried rice was filled with wok hei aroma. Thumbs up!

Pandan Ice Cream 3/5 and Teh Tarik Ice Cream 4/5

Dessert is a choice of the Pandan or Teh Tarik Ice cream. I personally prefer the teh tarik ice cream over the pandan ice cream. I find the pandan ice cream tasted more like kaya, a bit too sweet.

Assortment of Kuehs 4/5

Besides ice cream, there are also a selection of different Kuehs for diners to have a taste of the local snacks. There is even a Do-It-Yourself Ice Kachang dessert counter.


Crab Ah!
Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa
Sentosa
101 Siloso Road
Singapore 098970
Tel: +65 63711020
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/rasasentosaresort/press-room/press-releases/pincers-and-pints-await-at-crabs-ah/
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Fri: 630pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to pick up point at exit of Lobby F in Vivocity (near JPot and Nyonya & Baba Restaurants). Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 20 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) @ The Punggol Settlement

The end of Punggol Road where Punggol Jetty is located has fond memories for me. This is where my parents used to bring me to have a feast for family gathering or special occasions during my childhood days. Many years have passed and the new development at the end of Punggol Road has taken shape. It has transformed into a beautiful waterfront for both food and leisure, perfect for a family day out. The idea location  has also seen many seafood restaurants opened along the coastal line at The Punggol Settlement. One such restaurants is the popular House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) popular for their black pepper crab.

Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce 4.2/5

I probably would not have ordered the Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce ($12/$16/$20) at a seafood restaurant if not for the recommendation of the staff. It was really an excellent recommendation. The chicken cutlet coated in a special sauce was so tender and succulent, getting praises around the table. Garnished with quail egg which is an interesting pairing, is a dish to try at House of Seafood.

Stir Fried Asparagus with XO Sauce 4/5

I always find that XO Sauce is a wonder sauce that goes well with almost any ingredients. The Stir Fried Asparagus ($12/$16/$20) beautifully coated with XO Sauce was sweet and crunchy. The XO sauce gave the dish the extra lift of spiciness and aroma that will be well received by the locals.

La La 3/5

The La La ($12/$16/$22) has its hits and misses. The broth that cooked the la la was lackluster but the freshness of the shellfish with its sweet and plump flesh redeemed the dish.

Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce 3/5

The Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) was crispy on the exterior and silky smooth inside. The presentation topped with pork floss looked somewhat like the Addias logo to our amusement. The so called chef special sauce is non other than a familiar Thai sweet spicy sauce which was a bit old school in my opinion.

Pork Ribs with Special Sauce 3.5/5

The Pork Ribs with Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) received mixed opinions around the table. I actually quite like the flavour of the special sauce enhancing the enjoying in tearing the meat off from the bone.

Mee Goreng 3.5/5

Fried White Bee Hoon with XO Sauce 4.2/5

Moving on to the noodle dishes, I tried the Mee Goreng ($8/$12/$16) and Fried White Bee Hoon with Xo Sauce. I thought both were very well executed. For the mee goreng I have always preferred the Chinese style wetter version and I managed to get my satisfaction at House of Seafood. The Fried White Bee Hoon with XO sauce was really outstanding with its wok hei aromatic complemented by a superior stock.

Black Pepper Crab 3.8/5

Salted Egg Crab 4/5

Next up is the crowning of the dinner with the Black Pepper Crab (market price) and Salted Egg Crab (market price). Voted the best Black Pepper Crab in Singapore, the crustacean did come with a peppery kick. However the black pepper sauce was too pasty for my liking. The Salted Egg Crab fares better with its finger licking good creamy salted egg sauce. How I wish there were some fried mantou to wipe clean the plate.

During my visit which is a Saturday evening, the restaurant is packed. Singaporean loves of seafood and the location although far but along the waterfront proves to be a winning formula similar to East Coast Seafood Village. The Punggol Settlement probably will be the next seafood village of the North East.


House of Seafood
The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 828694
Tel: +65 64669000
Website: http://www.houseofseafood.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol temporary Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 84. Alight 6 stops later. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]