Birds Of A Feather @ Amoy Street - Contemporary Western Cuisine With Sichuan Influence Amid A Paradise Of Greenery

The legendary sun birds of Chengdu has flown onto our shore and set up their nest at Amoy Street. Birds Of A Feather is a new all day dining, cafe and bar concept in the conservation shophouses on Amoy Street. The new establishment offers contemporary Western cuisine with a pronounced Sichuan influence. The people behind it are from Chengdu who owns the Good Wood Cafe, a successful cafe chain across Chengdu.

Fried Calamari with Yuzu Tartar Sauce 4.2/5

Mentioned earlier, Birds Of A Feather is a 3 in 1 dining concept. For those planning to have a drink or two at the bar, there are around 9 items from the small plate menu which go well with the drinks. A popular bar bites is the Fried Calamari ($19). Over here, the bouncy texture of the squid is dressed in a light coat of crispy batter. It is then sprinkled with Sichuan spices for an elevated enjoyment.

Crispy Pork Trotter in a Bag 4/5

Something new to the table is the Crispy Pork Trotter in a Bag ($12). Like shaker fries, the special Sichuan spice is poured into the bag and given a good shake to coat the succulent and crispy deep fried pork trotter. A little bit salty with a little tinge of spiciness, this is perfect to go with a glass of beer.

Find the Chicken in The Chillies 4.8/5

Did you manage to Find the Chicken in The Chillies ($16)? Crispy, succulent and super spicy. It has all the elements that made me love this staple Sichuan dish. This is definitely one of the best I have eaten in Singapore.

Fortune Skewer in Szechuan Pepper Broth 3/5

Japanese Arrowroot Noodle 3.5/5

The Fortune Skewer in Szechuan Pepper Broth ($19) is like lucky dip. You never know what ingredient is at the end of the skewer until you pull it out from the mala broth. I managed to get quail egg, potato, lotus root and black fungus. You can even choose to add some silky smooth Japanese Arrowroot Noodle ($5) to make it a meal itself.

Roasted Chicken  & Avocado Salad with Szechuan Pepper 3.8/5

At Birds Of A Feather, not everything is spicy. It also have your usual western fare but maybe with a little twist. The Roasted Chicken  & Avocado Salad with Szechuan Pepper ($20) is one of the non spicy items on the menu. It comes on a bed of mixed greens and dressed in lemon juice.

Charcoal Roasted Romaine Lettuce 3/5

Another non spicy item on the menu is the Charcoal Roasted Romaine Lettuce ($16) dressed in sesame sauce. I didn't know that charred romaine lettuce can taste that good. I found the fried tofu cheese ball somewhat familiar until someone on the table reminded me it tasted like fish finger.

Grilled Cheese Panini 4.2/5

The Grilled Cheese Panini ($20) is an Asian twist with Sichuan influence. Sandwiched in between the toasted bread is braised pork belly, pickled cabbage and fried potato. An delectable combination that will be well received by the customers.

Oriental Bolognaise 4.5/5

As the name suggests, the Oriental Bolognaise ($20) is an Asian inspired pasta dish. It has both the non spicy and spicy version. Add $2 for the spicy version. The angel hair pasta comes with pork ragout, onsen tamago, wilted kale and sakura ebi. It felt like having a bowl of zha jiang mian in a slurping good way.

Tofu Burger with Mapo Meat Sauce 4/5

The Tofu Burger with Mapo Meat Sauce ($22) is made up of homemade Chinese bun with tofu cheese patty, mapo pork ragout, pickled cucumber in between. Diners also have a choice of fried potato or greens for the side. The interpretation of the classic hamburger if not on par, is as good as many burger joints out there, giving a fresh twist to the tradition.

Hot & Sour Chazuke 4.8/5

Only available on the diner menu is the Hot & Sour Chazuke ($28). This is one of my favourite dishes. A spicy pickled mustard green broth is poured into the bowl of Niigata rice with charcoal grilled barramundi and mentaiko. Mixed them together and eat it like a porridge. The salt and spicy broth is the star of the dish, bringing all the elements together for a hearty and comforting enjoyment.

Raspberry Granite 3.8/5

Moving on to the dessert, the Raspberry Granite ($16) caught my attention for the moist and fluffy earl grey chiffon. The dessert is further accompanied with milk chocolate foam, yuzu curd and almond nougatine for a contrasting finishing in taste and texture.

Poached Pear 4/5

A traditional hot Chinese dessert, the Poached Pear ($12) is given a cold treatment with a scoop of orange caramel ice cream. The softness of the poached pear with citrus, ginger, longan and snow fungus worked harmoniously for a refreshing and cooling enjoyment.

Glutinous Rice Cake 4.2/5

You probably can't find the Glutinous Rice Cake ($12) elsewhere in Singapore. The deep fried glutinous rice cake is drizzled with Okinawan black sugar syrup and topped with peanut. in my own layman term, it felt like eating peanut candy.

Feather Cheese Cake 4/5

For cafe hoppers, this is definitely a beautiful place with natural lighting to take great photos. For the not so hungry stomach, there are pastries, cakes and coffee. Immersed in the lush, relaxing and feel good atmosphere while sipping your cup of aromatic coffee, lazing the day away.

Stepping into Birds Of A Feather, my first impression was wow. The beautiful decor of the restaurant has set a new benchmark for the local scene. Initially, I was sceptical about the concept but after experiencing it myself, I think it will be a hit.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Birds Of A Feather
113 Amoy Street
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 62217449
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line). Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed: 10am - 11pm
Thu-Sat: 10am - 12midnight
Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street towards Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2)  Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Follow the covered walkway to the junction of Mccallum Street, Telok Ayer and Amoy Street. Turn left at the junction onto Amoy Street. Continue on Amoy Street to the end of the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Humpback @ Bukit Pasoh Road

The folks that brings you Jigger & Pony and Sugarhall has launched a new concept, Humpback at Bukit Pasoh taking over the space previously occupied by The Clan. The Seattle style seafood restaurant comes with its own craft cocktail bar offering white spirits based cocktails, wine and craft beer.

The highlight at Humpback is the oysters from the pacific northwest. During my visit, I got to try three different types of oysters, in the Kumamoto, Shigoku Fat Bastard and Rocky Bar.

Kumamoto - Peale, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $3) Petite in size despite taking an average of 3 years to grow in suspended trays. Deep cup, fluted shells and prized for its sweet fruity flavour.

Shigoku Fat Bastard - Samish Bay, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $2) Grown in bags that rise up and down with the tides, tumbling the oysters twice daily. Firm flesh, deep cup and clean taste of cucumber

Rocky Bar - South Puget Sound, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $2) Beach-grown, flute-shaped beautiful oysters. Mild subtle flavours with burst-in-your-mouth brine texture.

Jasmine & Pear Gin Tonic 4/5

There are 13 different signature cocktails on the menu. I had the Jasmine & Pear Gin Tonic ($22) which is a light and refreshing alcohol to go with the delicious oysters.

The menu at Humpback is categorized into Pantry, Garden, Seafood, Meat and Desserts.

Carrots 4/5

We started with the Carrots ($8) from the Pantry. The pickled carrots are served on a bed of yogurt with cumin salt at the side. Simple, nothing fancy but the crunchy pickled carrots were quite addictive that I could not help going back for more.

Clam Dip 4.2/5

The other item from the Pantry we tried is the Clam Dip ($10) in cream cheese, served with ritz crackers. The clam dip goes very well with the ritz crackers. The clam dip was so rich and good that someone in the group actually suggested diluting it to make into clam chowder.

Kale 3/5

Moving on to the Garden menu, we started with the Kale ($14) which comes with buttermilk, pear, kale chips and pecan nuts. Although I am not a big fan of kale but the buttermilk sauce gives it a very palatable dimension.

Cabbage 4.2/5

While the kale is not my preferred greens, I would definitely go for the Cabbage ($10) which is topped with herb cheese, crispy quinoa and chilli oil. The sweetness and crunchiness of the cabbage, plus the charred aroma, elevated a simple ingredients to a new level of appreciation with hint of spiciness from the chilli oil.

Calamari 4.2/5

The seafood menu at Humpback stood out for me, starting with the Calamari ($14). The lightly battered calamari comes in a bed of mashed potatoes with fried capers, in a tangy sauce that warrants another round of drinks to go with it.

Rainbow Trout 4.5/5

The Rainbow Trout ($16) delighted me with its unique combination of egg yolk sauce, almond milk and pickled mustard seeds. The beautiful presentation is translated to a beautiful ocean bed swimming on my palate.

Hamachi Ceviche 4.5/5

The Hamachi Ceviche ($22) is another clean and beautiful dish, lifted by a zest of yuzu with the almond and radish providing the extra crunch. I felt that the avocado is unnecessary, it is there for the seek of being a ceviche than complementing the dish.

Cod 4.2/5

If you enjoy the firm and buttery taste of the Cod ($20) than you will like the execution at Humpback, paired with leek, vinaigrette and chestnut puree which works harmoniously.

Beef Short Rib 4/5

Moving on to the meat, the melted in the mouth grain fed 120 days Beef Short Rib ($23) is a good alternative from the seafood. The carrot puree was an excellent choice, creating a balance to the whole dish.

Pork Collar 4/5

The Pork Collar ($16) is another great cut for the carnivorous with pear, frisee and orange glaze. To be frank, I find the pear a bit over used in their menu and I did not see any purposes of it in this dish.

Fernet Panna Cotta 3.5/5

When the Fernet Panna Cotta ($8) was served to the table, my first thought was who lost his handphone case. Anyway, the flavour came across some what foreign to me while the wobbly texture holds up well. Have it without the bitter cocoa and orange first and then with them to appreciation the different flavours it brings out.

Valrhona Chocolate Mousse 4.5/5

The Valrhona Chocolate Mousse ($8) paired with berries compote and fresh cream is deadly. Not deadly sinful but deadly addictive for the richness in chocolate. So good that we ordered a second servicing.

Humpback is a great casual and relax place to chill out with friends coupled with great selections of oysters and small plates. The seafood dishes on the menu stood out for me . Food at Humpback is served as small plates, and it is recommended to order around 6-8 dishes to be shared between 2 people.


Humpback
18/20 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089834
Tel: +65 67504461
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Turn left onto Teo Hong Road. At the end of Teo Hong Road turn left and continue on Bukit Pasoh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

NUVO @ Marina Square

The Dining Edition at Marina Square has injected some vibe into the shopping mall with the numerous restaurants in the area. Located at the far corner of the dining section is NUVO, a contemporary Italian Japanese restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Mark Richards. With Chef Mark Richards on board and a refreshed menu, I was looking forward to try the new creations at NUVO.

Dinner began with complimentary bread with truffle butter. A delightful start to dinner.

Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad 4.8/5

My favourite vegetable is spinach and I could not be more delight to have the Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad ($18) that is filled with my favourite greens. The baby spinach dressed with butter truffle oil shoyu has a subtle sweet and tangy combination that was very pleasant on the palate. Paired with pine nuts, mushroom and asparagus, this gives the salad the needed textures of enjoyment. And it is served warm.

Crispy Calamari 4/5

Another salad dish on the menu is the Crispy Calamari ($18) with arugula, togarashi, white balsamic and compressed watermelon. The crispy calamari is sprinkled with Japanese chilli pepper giving it a hint of spiciness to lift the springy calamari. Not many people enjoy arugula because of its bitterness but the compressed watermelon in yuzu was a brilliant idea for the balance of the dish.

Angus Osso Buco Stew 4/5

Stew and oyster fritters pairing on a plate is a first for me. The Angus Osso Buco Stew ($28) with the stew made from roasted bone marrow, consists of Hijiki and Porcini mushrooms that are oven roasted with thyme and rosemary. It is finished with a reduction of veal jus, parmigiano reggiano and toasted breadcrumbs. This a rich and full flavoured dish with many components working harmoniously together.

Kurobota Pork Belly 4/5 and Angel Hair Wakame 3.8/5

There is actually 2 dishes on the plate in the Kurobota Pork Belly ($32) and Angel Hair Wakame ($18/$24). The pork belly is cooked Kakuni style which is simmered in dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake. The result is a tender and flavour pork belly that is so what similar to Chinese cuisine. I remembered trying this dish at Immanuel French Kitchen too. It is not surprising as both chefs used to work at Keystone. I ave mixed opinions of the Angel Hair Wakame. While I like the texture and dryness of the pasta which resembles the Chinese stir fried noodles flavoured bythe lobster essence and rayu oil, I thought the dish somehow was one dimensional without much excitement.

Baked Olive Cod Fish 4.8/5

The next dish definitely hit the right spot for me in both taste and presentation. The Baked Olive Cod Fish ($35) with pepperoni, hon shimeiji and baby potatoes blown me off with its rich flavours. The cod fish was also cooked perfectly to tender and came with nice buttery flavour.

Japones Australian Lamb Shank 4/5

The Japones Australian Lamb Shank ($38) was a sous vided in limoncello giving it a nice fruity zest to the fork tender lamb. The gamey lamb is well suppressed by the seasoning but the highlight for me is the bed of organic pasta from Sicily known as fregola sarda. It was a very delectable bite that is similar to couscous.

Smoked Uni Cabonara 4.5/5

The signature dish at NUVO probably is the Smoked Uni Cabonara ($38) which is given a modern interpretation. The star has to be the rich and creamy uni sauce that gave the dish its character while the truffle soil completed the innovative cabonara crowned with an onsen egg. While there is crayfish in the dish, I have to say I walked away not remembering tasting it.

Wild Honey Panna Cotta 3.5/5

The smooth Whild Honey Panna Cotta ($16) comes with dehydrated fruits such as lychee and makan. I was surprised by the flavour of the dehydrated fruits. It tasted like the real thing.

Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta 4/5

Using a secret family recipe with an Italian twist, the Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta ($14) is baked with Parmesan and fresh Fuji Apple. The torta was moist ad cheesy. This is served with a scoop of fig and honey ice cream adorned with crumble and flake almonds.

Not to be missed is the 3 course Set Lunch menu ($15++) and 4 course Dinner Menu ($35++). The value for money lunch set comes with 3 courses of starter, main and dessert. The dinner menu on the other hand comes with a soup, entree, main and dessert.


[CLOSED]
NUVO
Marina Square
No 6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-100
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 68222098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nuvosingapore
Website: http://nuvo.sg/
Nearest MRT: Esplamade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

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]

Little Hiro @ Bukit Timah Road

Inspired by a trip to Hawaii, the owner of Burger Shack decides to revamp the concept offering Hawaiian-Japanese BBQ and Grill as well as renaming the cute little restaurant as Little Hiro. Fans of Burger Shack need not worry as their popular burgers is still available in the revamped menu.

Sanzoku Black Pepper Beef 3/5

Chicken Karaage 3.5/5

With the new menu and concept, Little Hiro has introduced 2 Shio Ramen Burger using Japanese ramen specially air flown into Singapore. I tried both the Sanzoku Black Pepper Beef ($8.90) and Chicken Karaage ($8.90). The burgers were definitely an interesting introduction to the burger scene however there is a flaw in the concept. The ramen burger is too messy to handle and eat. I collapsed upon handling. Between the 2 ramen burgers, my favourite was the Chicken Karaage which was more juicy and flavourful. The beef patty somewhat was gamy and tough.

Chicken Wings 3.5/5

For some light snacks, the Chicken Wings ($3.50 for 2 /$6.50 for 4) were big and juicy. Deep fried to a nice golden brown crisp, a delightful bite at Little Hiro.

Fried Calamari 3/5

The Fried Calamari ($7.90) comes with a nice thin batter that was deep fried to a nice crispy bite.

Sanzoku Double Hamburg Steak 3/5

From the Teppanyaki Rice Plates section of the menu, this is a one plate meal that is reasonable priced to satisfy one's hungry tummy. Unfortunately the Sanzoku Double Hamburg Steak ($8.20) used the same patty as the ramen black pepper beef burger which was not to my liking. The garlic butter Japanese rice on the hand was fragrant but could be richer in seasoning.

Flame Seared Teriyaki Salmon 3/5

The Flame Seared Teriyaki Salmon ($10.90) while value for money with the big slab of salmon, unfortunately was overcooked and needed a more fitting sauce to go with it.

While I was at Little Hiro, I observed that most of the patrons were students and younger crowd. I do not find the food top notch but definitely value for money with its huge servicing portion.


Little Hiro
King's Arcade
559 Bukit Timah Road
#01-01
Singapore 269695
Tel: +65 64663477
Website: http://www.hirobbq.com
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line, DT Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 930pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Botanic Gardens MRT station (Stop ID 41021). Take bus number 66, 67, 151, 154, 156,  170 and 171. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11111). Take bus number 174 or 961. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]