Comida Mexicana @ East Coast Road - New Casual & Convivial Dining Concept By Margarita's

Same same but different that is exactly how I would describe Comida Mexicana at East Coast Road. Managed by the same folk behind Margarita's, the team has revamped its outlet in East Coast Road and created a new casual and convivial dining concept offering Mexican food which in Spanish is the name of the restaurant - Comida Mexicana.

Tortilla Chips with Dip 3.5/5

We started with some freshly made tortilla chips before dinner is served. At Comida Mexicana, you order the prefer choice of dip to go with the tortilla chips. There are a total of 4 different dips on the menu and we tried the Red Salsa ($6), Green Tomatillo Salsa ($7) and Chile Con Queso ($16). Most in the group likes the chile con queso or chilli with melted cheese while I actually enjoyed the green tomatillo salsa for its spicy kick.

Enrollados 3.8/5

The Enrollados ($18) is the Mexican popiah. The tortilla is rolled up with chicken, jalapenos and cheese stuffing. It is then coated with egg and deep fried. This is topped with fresh salsa, sour cream and guacamole. The doughy bite of the enrollados was quite enjoyable with the different flavours working in harmony.

Mash Avocado Sopes 3.8/5

Next we tried the Mash Avocado Sopes ($20) which is known to be originated from central and southern parts Mexico. The crackling and light fried masa base held the pile of mash aovcado for a textural enjoyment. I only hope the flavour has more punch in it.

Crab & Avocado Quesadillas 4/5

The Crab & Aocado Quesadillas ($28) is an off the menu creation. What made it worked was actually the creamy sauce of the crab mixture. It was surprisingly very delectable, complemented by the thin and crispy tortilla.

Carnitas 4/5

Next we tried the Carnitas ($32) which is Mexican pulled pork. It comes with warm corn tortillas, salsa rojas, salsa verde and guacamole. We are supposed to eat it like a wrap with a bit of everything. However I felt the corn tortilla was too thick, masking the appreciation of the dish. Credit has to go to the beautifully cooked pulled pork which is tender and flavourful. I actually ended up having the pulled pork without the corn tortilla.

Mexican Yucantan Chicken 4.5/5

A favourite dish among the dining group is the Mexican Yucantan Chicken ($28). The chicken skewers are spiced with achiote and orange. The tender and juicy chicken was extremely delicious with the sweet marination.

Salted Caramel Pina Colada Bread Pudding 4/5

A pleasing dessert to wrap up the dinner is the Salted Caramel Pina Colada Bread Pudding ($15). The play of hot and cold, sweet and savoury together with the soft bread pudding provided a delightful finishing for a lovely dessert.

Kahbrita 4.5/5

For coffee lover, not to be missed is the Kahbrita ($14). Similar to affogato, the dessert glass consists of Kahlua and a scoop of ice cream coated with Mexican chocolate. A shot of espresso is then poured over the dessert for a bitter sweet enjoyment.

Overall I find the place and food at Comida Mexicana is family friendly which suits its neighbour. However I find the Mexican food here a bit light handed. I thought Mexican food should be more vibrant in flavours.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Comida Mexicana
404 East Coast Road
Singapore 428998
Tel: +65 64408030
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line), Marine Terrace (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Eve of PH & PH: 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon exclude Eve of PH and PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 8 stops later. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Marine Terrace MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk down Telok Kurau Road towards East Coast Road. Turn left onto East Coast Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Barrio by Mex Out @ Vivocity - Mexican Cuisine In A Beer-Garden Inspired Casual Dining Setting

With the success of its 313 Somerset outlet, Barrio by Mex Out has opened a second outlet at Vivocity offering Mexican cuisine in a beer-garden inspired casual dining setting. On weekends, it even has a breakfast deal at $12.90, which comes with a breakfast dish + a coffee (available 9am to 12pm).

Smashed Avocado on Toast 3/5

Let us check out what do Barrio by Mex Out has to offer on its breakfast menu. The Smashed Avocado on Toast ($7.80) comes with tomato jam and smashed avocado on a grilled sourdough. You can add bacon/fried egg / mushrooms for an additional cost of $3 each.

Huevos Rancheros 3/5

Comes in a Tortilla shell is the Huevos Rancheros ($12.80) that comprises of black beans, rice, guacamole and a fried egg with barrio breakfast sauce. This is a bit heavy for me to eat as breakfast though. For those with big appetite, you may want to add extra bacon/fried egg/mushrooms for an additional $3 each.

Churros with Yogurt & Fruits 3/5

How about Churros ($11.90) for breakfast with Yogurt and Fruits? It is a first for me to have churros for breakfast. Not my preference but it is quite nice though with its crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

Loaded Nachos 4.2/5

Be warned! The Loaded Nachos ($13.60) is super addictive. I have told myself not to have to eat too much but I just could not control myself from going back for more of the freshly fried corn tortillas, which is topped with a generous amount of chilli con carne, cotija cheese, moazzarella and cheddar cheese sauce, pico de gallo, coriander, sour cream and freshly made guacamole.

Pulled Pork Torta 4/5

For a more hearty bite, the Pulled Pork Torta ($15.90) is a good consideration. Sandwiched in between the deep fried brioche buns is the delectable pork marinated with Chipotle Aioli, cotijatas cheese, pickled red cabbage and mayonnaise. Be prepared to get your hands messy.

Fish Taco 4.5/5

A mush try at Barrio is their Fish Taco ($13.40 for 2pc / $15.90 for 3pc). The taco uses beer battered sea bass and topped with pickled red cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli. With a squeeze of the lime to zest up the whole enjoyment.

Barbacoa Quesadilla 4.2/5

The Barbacoa Quesadilla ($13.40) did not disappoint with the diced chargrilled flank steak encased in a crispy tortilla, paired with pico de gallo, chilli jam, cheddar and jalapenos for a delightful combination of flavours and textures.

Jalapeno with Cheese 4/5

I am great that Barrio is still servicing the Jalapeno with Cheese ($8.40) on its menu. Lightly battered for a crispy exterior, the Jalapeno is stuffed with cheese for a harmonious combination of spicy and cheesy finishing.


Barrio by Mex Out
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-116
Singapore 098585
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

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

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

Hello Kitty Orchid Garden @ Changi Airport Terminal 3 - World's First 24 Hour Hello Kitty Themed Cafe

The world's first 24 hour Hello Kitty themed cafe has opened at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. Hello Kitty Orchid Garden is designed to emulate the country's garden city vibe. Around the cafe, Singapore's national flower, the orchid is incorporated into the interior design with a kawaii flair of the beloved character.

Coffee lovers will enjoy the the selection of hot and iced brews made from the specially sourced gourmet Ethiopan grade 1 beans. I had the Latte which comes with a cute hello kitty latte art. It also comes with cute shaped hello kitty biscuit.

Hola Nachos 3.5/5

A good starter for sharing is the Hola Nachos ($15.90). The fried tortilla chips is topped with parmasan, jalapenos, olives, onions and cherry tomato salsa. It comes with luscious cheddar cheese sauce that is the star that jazzed up the whole enjoyment.

Over the Rainbow Salad 3.5/5

I do wonder why the salad dish is called Over the Rainbow Salad ($15.90). I was expecting something more colourful or at least the components on the plate resembles the colours of a rainbow. Anyway the dish comes wth mesclun salad, portobello mushrooms, pineapple, jackfruit, feta cheese, pine nuts and dressed in a laksa mustard vinaigrette. I like the idea of using the jackfruit, giving the salad a fruity and refreshing finishing. The laksa mustard vinaigrette was rather light, giving it a slight lift in flavour.

Enchanted Forest 3/5

The Enchanted Forest ($17.90) is quesadillas sandwiched with prawn, avocado, caramelised onions, cheddar and wasabi sesame mayonnaise. The toasted tortilla shell together with the choice of ingredietns is a delectable combination.

Cowabunga Wagyu 3/5

Finally something really kitty on the plate with the Hello Kitty shaped rice. The Cowabunga Wagyu ($24) is one of the few Asian influenced dishes on the menu. The dish comes with Japanese rice, wagyu beef rendang, onions and pineapple. The beef can be more tender and I would prefer the spices mix to be more spicy. This is also the most expensive item on the menu.

Big Breakfast Surprise 3.8/5

Probably my favourite of all is the Big Breakfast Surprise ($18.50). The Hello Kitty waffles comes with cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, shiitake mushrooms, smoked duck and honey lime maple syrup. I like how the subtle zest on top of the maple syrup sweetness enriched the whole experience.

Hide and Seek 3.5/5

Moving on to the dessert, we started with the Hide and Seek ($16.90) which comes with wobbly pandan panna cotta paired with vanilla gelato, gula melaka, passionfruit and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The other Asian influenced dish that the local palate will be familiar with.

The Cat in Paradise 3.5/5

The Cat in Paradise ($18.50) is another dessert we tried. The mango mousse cake comes with candied orange, hazelnut gelato, green apple and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The smooth and light mousse cake will be appropriate for those that does not like their dessert to be too sweet.

Pistachio Gelato 4/5

At any one time Hello Kitty Orchard Garden will have 8 different gelato flavours to choose from. I decided to have a scoop of the Pistachio Gelato, which is pretty good with the nutty flavour and creamy texture.

Camping Under the Stars 4/5

The Camping Under the Stars ($19.50) is probably the cutest and most photogenic dish in the whole menu. It comes with a scoop of chocolate gelato and hazelnut gelato. Graham crackers is stacked onto the gelato to make it looks like a hut. The green tea powder and toasted muesli is designed to look like the camp fire.

While the food at Hello Kitty Orchard Garden is quite decent, I felt that it lacked the in the face cutest in the dishes. Unless you are a die hard Hello Kitty fan, I doubt it is worth queuing for hours for the food.


Hello Kitty Orchid Garden
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
Arrival Hall Central
#01-22
65 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819663
Facebook
Website
Nearest: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 24hr

Direction: 
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit B. Go to arrival hall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Bumbo Rum Club @ Club Street

Long standing bar 83 Club Street has undergone a revamped and replaced with a new concept introducing Caribbean influenced cuisine and rum centric bar. Housing a whopping collection of 76 rums from more than 20 countries, 7 homemade infused rums as well as 25 exquisite rum cocktails, Bumbo Rum Club (BRC) is a rum heaven.

Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail 4/5 and Hurricane 4.2/5

Starting with some pre-drinks before our dinner at Bumbo Rum Club, we had the Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail ($24) and Hurriance. The signature cocktail at BRC is made from homemade infused rum in a concoction of red wine and strawberry. While it comes with hints of fruity berries, the rum can still be appreciated in this cocktail. For those that is not very much into alcohol, the Hurriance which is made up of white rum, gold rum, orange and passionfruit is more suitable with its more fruity and tangy combination.

Pan Con Tomate 4/5

Sometimes good food does not need to be sophisticated, simplicity allows one to appreciate the natural flavours of the ingredients even more. The Pan Con Tomate ($9) comes with tomato marinated in citrus and herbs served on toasted garlic bread. I like the extra topping of the parmasan giving it a extra boost in flavour.

Salmon Ceviche 3.5/5, Camarones Ceviche 4.2/5 and Lubina Ceviche 4/5

A delightful trio of Salmon Ceviche ($16), Camarones Ceviche ($15) and Lubina Ceviche ($14) welcomes us next. Among the three ceviche we tried, our favourite was the camarones ceviche which comes with prawn with chilli paste, coconut milk and deep fried plantain banana. The rich and creaminess of the camarones ceviche with hint of spiciness resembles the familiar taste of Indian cuisine, so good that I could not stop going back for more. The lubina and salmon ceviche on the other hand were as good too. One is refreshing with the seabass marinated in citrus juice while the latter has an interesting light and fruity flavour with the salmon marinated in watermelon juice.

Quesadillas 3.8/5

The Quesadillas ($14) is filled with cheesy beef, spicy guacamole and jalapeno. The tortilla was fresh, soft and has a delectable chewy bite to it. If the flavours could be bolder and spicier, that will make it even more perfect.

Nachos 4/5

How to resist Nachos ($14) when it is further topped with shredded pork, melted cheese and spicy guacamole. The shredded pork interestingly has an Asian flavour to it. I like the added jalapeno giving the corn chips a boost in flavours.

Accras Bacalao 3/5

The weakest link among the dishes we tried is the Accras Bacalao ($20). The cod fish beignet made from flour, onion, chilli and cod fish is served with spicy tomato sauce. I felt that the cod fish was wasted in this interpretation where the buttery flavour of the cod fish is lost.

Pollo Dulce Y Picante 4.5/5

The Pollo Dulce Y Picante ($16) was our favourite for the night. The sweet and spicy chicken with jalapeno confit was grilled to a nice charred and smoky flavour. The flavoursome chicken definitely hit the spot with its tender and juicy chicken.

Churros 4.2/5

If you prefer Churros ($9) that has a doughy innard and yet still has an exterior crisp then the one at BRC will be for you. The crunchy fried dough coated with sugar and dipped in chocolate sauce for a sweet finishing to these yummy Cuban doughnuts.

Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag (2-4 Sharing) 4/5

For big group that is looking for a great place to gather, BRC would be an idea place with its selection of rum and mouth watering food. Saying that the Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag ($60), a concoction of white rum, dark rum, gold rum, orange, pineapple, lemon and ginger ale is good for 2 to 4 pax sharing is a light and easy cocktail to kick start the night.

Step into Bumbo Rum Club and be transported to the world of Caribbean sensuality and tastes. Special themed programs are also lined up every night, there is always something to get one entertained each night.


Bumbo Rum Club
83 Club Street
Singapore 069451
Tel: +65 66907563
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bumborumclub.official
Website: http://deliciae.sg/
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line),

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 5pm - 12midnight
Wed-Thu: 5pm - 2am
Fri-Sat: 5pm - 3am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Smith Street. Cross the road onto Ann Siang Road. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

The Missing Pan @ Bukit Timah Road

After achieving raving success for its delicious brunch dishes, The Missing Pan, a cosy bakery-cum-brasserie at Bukit Timah, has launched several new main courses and light bites that are perfect for sharing over dinner. The good news is that they are available all-day just like their hearty brunches.

Chorizo Pork Fiesta 3.5/5

Highlights from the "Munch" section include this Chorizo Pork Fiesta ($10), a generous serving of intensely savory Spanish pork sausages that are bouncy on the teeth. I thought the meaty discs combined with black olives were a little too salty on their own, but the acidic crunchy gherkins and dried chili acted as good mediators in terms of both flavors and textures.

Chargrilled Squid 4/5

I am not a fan of squid but this Chargrilled Squid ($12) were so sweet and succulent that made me rediscovered the charm of this brainy seafood. The enticingly sweet and spicy "hush hush" seasoning probably won a lot of points for this dish, which implied that the side dressing of honey lime mayonnaise did not serve much purpose but this would taste equally mouthwatering even if other seafood are tossed in.

Mushroom Quesadillas 3/5

The Mushroom Quesadillas ($18) had the basic necessary ingredients such as wild mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and mozzarella but the taste fell rather flat. It was a pity because the tortilla skin made in-house was excellently crisp and fresh. Perhaps a mix of cheese and a little more spice would bring about clarity of flavors.

Smoked Duck Risotto 4.2/5

Nonetheless, regardless whether you have visited in the past for the food, the Smoked Duck Risotto ($25) provided another good reason to dine here. Instead of slices of smoked duck breast, the meat was meticulously chopped into bite sizes, blending itself seamlessly with the rest of the ingredients including hojimeishi mushrooms and baby spinach. The bright zesty flavor of the semi sun-dried tomato lightened everything instantly and served as a good foil for the rich and creamy base.

Frozen Honey Nougat 4.5/5

The vigilant eye for consistent quality food is not kept to the main courses but also the desserts section, where non-conventional pairings like thyme ice cream and nutty brownie would invite you to linger for more. Take for example the Frozen Honey Nougat ($12) that was flecked with pistachio nuts, dried almonds, and jazzed up with a delicate and aromatic coconut tuile biscuit. I was amazed how this chilled meringue was so restrained in sweetness, even when consumed with the meringue sticks. This is definitely a wonderfully refreshing and healthier confection than the usual ice cream to tide sweet cravings.

Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème 4/5

Topped with all kinds of fruits you can imagine-from the usual berries to apples, grapes and even watermelon, the humble Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème was transformed into the largest and possibly most beautifully plated version I've ever seen. This eggy pud would set you back at only $8, but increase your belt size by another hole. Begetting a long swipe through the vanilla crème and cocoa crumbs, the lush custardy interior would be perfect if it had a toastier exterior.

Pleasure 3.5/5

Besides the desserts, all the cakes and bread are churned out from the 1st floor bakery. The Pleasure ($8.50) is a classic interpretation of a milk chocolate-hazelnut cake but the dacquoise and ganache were slightly stiffened and dry. However, the hints of salt did help to enhance the elusive chocolate and pull things into a more coherent shape.

For those who love their alcohol, The Missing Pan boasts a specially curated list ranging from Thatcher Ciders, Brothers Ciders to craft beers from Belgium and UK. With a winning recipe of earnest passion and sincerity in serving good food, I am confident that the Missing Pan will continue to anchor a strong foothold in the local F&B scene.

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


The Missing Pan
619D Bukit Timah Road
#01/02-01
Singapore 269724
Tel: +65 64664377
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missingpan
Website: http://www.themissingpan.com
Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours: 
Tue-Sat: 9am - 5pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sun/PH: 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A Turn right onto Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]