Garden At One-Ninety @ Four Seasons Hotel Singapore - Breezy Alfresco Space With Lush Greenery And An Inclusive Menu

Probably not known to many, there is a beautiful, lush, botanical-themed dining place at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore. Garden @ One-Ninety is the extension of the terrace area behind One-Ninety Bar. Chef de Cuisine Pierre Barusta has put together a menu focusing on market-fresh produce and wholesome plant-based cuisine. The inclusive menu allows for enjoyable dining for all, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free preferences. In addition, it embraces the diversity and spectrum of personal dietary and lifestyle choices of today's guests.

Vietnamese Salad 3/5

We commenced our dinner with a couple of starters. First is the light and refreshing Vietnamese Salad dressed in "Nuoc Mam" sauce, better known as fish sauce. However, I find it too healthy to my liking. I am sure health-conscious customers will enjoy this.

Summer Rolls 3.5/5

Another Vietnamese item on the menu is the Summer Rolls that is wrapped with rice vermicelli, green mango, papaya, avocado and fresh herbs. The addition of fruit in the roll gives it extra sweetness and crunch.

Hamachi Tiradito 4/5

The Hamachi Tiradito is closer to my palate. The freshness is brightened by the citrus-soy and jalapeno garnished with daikon.

Pan Seared Seabass 4.2/5

One of my favourite dishes on the menu is the Pan Seared Seabass, which comes in laksa broth. What's more interesting, it even comes with thick beehoon, quail egg and kai lan bean sprout. I felt I had a 2-in-1 dish - local laksa topped with a huge piece of seabass fillet.

Garden Burger 3.8/5

The Garden Burger will be a good option for customers that are more conscious of the diet. Replacing the bread bun is pita bread, sandwiching a chickpea patty and semi-dried tomatoes. I would recommend drenching the burger with the hummus spread as the chickpea patty is a bit dry having it alone.

Dark Chocolate Souffle 4.2/5

I would recommend saving some space for the desserts here. The Dark Chocolate Souffle with Darjeeling Ice Cream is worth every minute for the wait. Soft, fluffy and chocolatey for a sweet indulgence.

Profiteroles 4.2/5

Another beautiful dessert we enjoyed was the Profiteroles with Gianduja ice cream. When it was served, both my dining partner and I had a puzzled look. It is not like the usual choux pastry dessert we know. It appears like a deconstructed profiteroles, but it tasted amazing, especially with the royaltine crunch

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Garden@One-Ninety
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
190 Orchard Boulevard
Singapore 248646
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Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 11. Walk straight down Orchard Boulevard Road. Walk to destination. Journey time is about 6 minutes. [Map]

Uncle Ho Tuckshop @ Pasir Panjang Road - Eat Like President Obama

Having been staying in the West for up to 2 years, it was only recently that I get to know that there was a Vietnamese restaurant near my place. I was researching where I can find Bun Cha in Singapore, the very dish that President Obama had with Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi. Uncle Ho Tuckshop is actually located off the West Coast Highlight, along Pasir Panjang Road inside a commercial building. It is off the main road, no wonder I have never spot the restaurant all this time.

Fried Spring Roll 4.2/5

We started will some Fried Spring Roll ($8.50) for lunch before our mains. The spring rolls were crispy and stuffed with minced meat. The full flavour and texture enjoyment is always my choice over the Vietnamese spring roll which I find it too bland to my liking.

Pho Beef Combo 4/5

A typical dish that I will always order when I visit a Vietnamese restaurant is the Pho Beef ($9.90). I had the combo which comes with beef slices and beef meatball. The sweet broth, smooth rice noodles and the fresh ingredients all came together for a comforting and hearty dish. A little disappointment is that the pho beef does not come with sides of beansprouts and mint leaves.

Hanoi Bun Cha 4/5

For Vietnamese cuisine, we are more familiar with their spring roll, banh mi and pho. However President Obama has made Hanoi Bun Cha popular to the world. This is my first time having the Hanoi Bun Cha ($12.90) in which the rice vermicelli and sweet soup is served separately.

The sweet soup comes with a mixture of vegetables, onions, grilled pork belly and grilled meatball. Some chopped chillies are added into the soup for a spicy kick. To eat, we have to dip the rice vermicelli into the soup, coating the noodles with the sweetness, for a slurping goodness. For me, the real highlight of bun cha is the grilled meatball which is well seasoned, flavourful and juicy.

Overall, the food at Uncle Ho Tuckshop is above average and it is wallet friendly. On top of that, the relax and casual dining is quite cozy during my visit on a Saturday afternoon. I would probably go back and try their banh mi in my next visit.


Uncle Ho Tuckshop
100 Pasir Panjang Road
#01-04
Singapore 118518
Tel: +65 96245791
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Nearest MRT: Pasir Panjang (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 3pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at Pasir Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down West Coast Highway along the traffic. Turn left onto Pasir Panjang Road. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

An An Vietnamese Street Kitchen @ Pasarbella Suntec City

Visited the new Pasarbella at Suntec City a few weeks ago, and this particular stall at one corner caught my eyes. Perhaps it's the yellow hue and the lit signage - An An, with the symbolic Red Star in between. What an eye catching and graphic design for a Vietnamese concept.  It was to my surprise when I found out that this is the latest concept from Madam Saigon. Back when Vietnamese cuisine was considered pretty novel more than a decade ago, Madam Saigon has already established its name at Liang Seah Street. They gave me my first taste of Vietnamese cuisine too.

The profile of Liang Seah Street has changed over the years (not in a pretty way, sadly), and they have decided to make Millenia Walk their second home. The owner definitely has a strong business acumen. Knowing that the market is ever changing and getting more challenging, one got to evolve and craft new concepts to stay afloat of the competition. An An was hence born, a Vietnamese concept with a hip factor, to draw the younger crowd with improved recipes.

Mango Salad 3.8/5

Mango Salad ($6.50). One of my favourite appetiser, I have this almost everyday whenever I visit Thailand. I find this Vietnamese style of Mango Salad much more refreshing, without the use of the Thai sauces. However, I would appreciate if the portion could be much bigger.

Prawn Rolls 3/5 and Fried Spring Rolls 2.8/5

Prawn Rolls ( $7.50 for 2) and Fried Spring Rolls ($6.50 for 2). Please don't mistaken the lettuce and carrots as simply part of the plating. I was told that the Vietnamese way to eat the fried spring rolls is to eat it wrapped with the lettuce. That reminds me of how my dad used to wrap his favourite ngoh hiang. The crisp and sharpness of the lettuce cuts away the greasiness. The carrots are pickled in house, hence please try to finish all up if you can. I prefer the prawn rolls though, which is more refreshing. The fried version is kinda skinny and dry.

Special Beef Pho 3.5/5

Moving on to their mains, their Special Beef Pho ($9.90) is hearty, with slices of beef and beef balls.  Though the beef balls ain't made in house, they were produced using An An's recipe. The broth is light, comforting and not too sweet. Before you start tucking in, don't forget that squeeze of lime!

Vermicelli with Chicken 4/5

What I want to find more exceptional from An An, is their Vermicelli with Chicken ($9.90). The chicken has a nicely charred skin, flavoured with lemon grass. Loaded with pickled carrots, lettuce and cucumber, this makes a real good summer salad. The fried shallots crisp, an essential condiment of Vietnam, together with their home roasted peanuts add another dimension to this dish. As 'clean' as it may look, it's packed with textures and flavours. I would definitely be back to try the beef version.

A trip to Vietnam and you will find that the food tastes different from what we have gotten here. Afterall our taste buds are raised differently, hence tweaks to the original recipes is necessary.  Luckily, their Head Chef is one stubborn guy who will go all out to make sure that the essence must not be lost. Honest food, this is what you will get from An An.

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.



An An Vietnamese Street Kitchen
Pasarbella Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
(North Wing)
#01-455
Singapore 038983
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Comtam Vietnam @ Kitchener Road

Used to be in Geylang, Comtam Vietnam has recently moved into their new premises at Kitchener Road near City Square Mall. In conjunction with the new location, it has also expanded its menu offering other Asian cuisines besides Vietnamese to cater for the different customer profile in the area.

Handmade Spring Rolls 3/5

Dinner started with some healthy bites in the Handmade Spring Rolls ($4.20 for 2pc). Like the fact that it is thoughtfully sliced into half for easy consumption. Make sure to dip the spring roll with the accompanying sauce to enjoy it.

Green Mango Salad with Cashews & Prawns 4/5

Next to whet up the appetite, I had the Green Mango Salad with Cashews and Prawns ($10.90). This comes with a nice kick of the signature seasonings of sweet, salty and spicy in Thai cuisine on top of the crunchy shredded green mango.

Sliced Beef Noodle Soup 2.8/5

A staple in Vietnamese cuisine is the Sliced Beef Noodle Soup ($7.50). It is a flavourful bowl of noodle but far from being the best. The rice noodle was too thick, sort of the type used in Chinese hawker noodle stall. In addition, the broth tasted overly sweet lacking a body and robustness in it.

Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork 3/5

Another noodle dish I tried is the Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork ($6.90). The rice vermicelli was smooth and comes with a nice bite. It was quite a pleasant dish except for the lackluster BBQ Pork.

Claypot Lemongrass Chicken 4/5

The next dish I tried is the Claypot Lemongrass Chicken ($11.90). The lemongrass aroma permeated the air as the dish was served. The tender chicken was nicely coated and infused with the marination, making them delectably good.

Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs 3.5/5

The Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs ($15.90) comes with a sweet coating concoction which should include some orange peels in it. Both adult and children will enjoy the special sauce made by the chef. However if the meat can be more tender than that will be better.

Overall Comtam Vietnam offers an extensive menu with some comfort food. I understand it is a commercial decision to expand the menu but I still think that they should focus on one cuisine and make it great rather than master of none.


Comtam Vietnam 
159/161 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208530
Tel: +65 81882131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comtam.vietnam
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 4am
Sun: 12pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit I. Cut across City Square Mall to the exit to Kitchener Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Kitchener Road. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

SEN Restaurant and Bar @ Geylang Road

After the discovery of Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy at Geyland Road, I met up with Chenyze and Bee Bee to check out another Vietnamese restaurant just across the road in SEN Restaurant and Bar. Chenyze has been telling me about this place and I was looking forward to find more from her recommendation.

Grilled Shrimp Surimi 4/5

We started off with the Grilled Shrimp Surimi ($7.90). Hailing from Hue region, the grilled shrimp surimi is wrapped around a sugarcane stick. A yummy starter to kick start the lunch. One can actually suck on the sugarcane stick to cleanse the palate.

Grilled Pork Rice Vermicelli Dry 4/5

For Vietnamese noodle dish, patrons usually go for the Pho but Vietnamese dry rice vermicelli is also quite popular too. The Grilled Pork Rice Vermicelli Dry ($12.90) comes with a mixture of fried spring rolls, fresh vegetables, grilled pork with rice vermicelli. To eat, pour the sauce and mix well to enjoy the smooth and silky rice vermicelli in a mix of sweet, sour and spicy.

Special Mixed Beef Noodle 4.2/5

A must try at SEN restaurant is their Special Mixed Beef Noodle ($14.90). Served with rice noodle in a robust beef broth and brewed with the finest Vietnamese spices. The Pho Bo is served with tender sliced beef, beef balls, beef brisket and a side garnish of Asian basil, long parsley, bean sprouts, lime, chilli sauce and black bean sauce. The noodle was smooth and silky, the broth was robust and tasty, it was a great bowl of pho that is both comforting and hearty.

Vietnamese Sandwiches 3/5

Vietnamese Sandwich or Banh Mi is another staple Vietnamese cuisine. Three different types of banh mi are served here. Chicken ($7.90), Mixed Ham ($7.90) and BBQ Pork ($8.20). The French influenced baguette sandwich is completed with fries and salad which is quite an substantial meal. While I applauded the flavourful and well marinated bbq pork, the baguette was a let down for me. It was hopefully for something that is more toasty and filled with more salads.

Tofu Pasted Duck Soup 4/5

The Tofu Pasted Duck Soup ($12.90) caught my attention as it is something unique. A family recipe inherited by the chef from her grandfather, this is a rare dish even in Vietnam. The duck was cooked to a nice tender soft. The soup with homemade tofu paste served with silky rice vermicelli has a complex flavour that is somewhat rich, sweet and comes with hint of sourness that is very delectable.

Overall I have enjoyed the food at SEN restaurant. The restaurant is pretty hard to be spotted from the outside due to its dark exterior. However once you step inside, a warm and pretty interior welcomes. SEN restaurant also has pretty decent lunch set offer at $14.90 that comes with 2 courses and a drink.


SEN Restaurant and Bar
704 Geylang Road
Singapore 389620
Tel: +65 68415653
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBarRestaurant
Website: http://www.sen.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk towards the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang Road. Cross the road at the junction and turn right onto Geylang Road Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

So Pho @ JEM

I got to know about So Pho when it opened an outlet at Nex Shopping Mall. I did know that they have another outlet at JEM in the West until my recent visit. The Vietnamese restaurant occupies quite a big space at the basement of JEM. The spacious place with its causal ambience and affordable pricing will be a welcome choice for shoppers at JEM.

Mixed Appertiser 4/5

The Mixed Appertiser ($10.80) consists of prawn cake, summer roll and fried spring roll. A good starter to whet up the appetite allowing one to try a bit of everything. I am not quite a fan of summer roll or Vietnamese roll because I usually find them too bland for my liking. However the execution of the Vietnamese roll here was quite good and flavourful.

Vietnamese Drip Coffee with Condense Milk 4/5

I got myself a cup of Vietnamese Drip Coffee with Condense Milk ($3.80) for my daily needed caffeine dosage. The coffee is on the sweet side due to the condense milk, you can request to have just black coffee too.

Cha Ca La Vong 3.5/5

Apparently this is quite a famous Hanoi street food known as Cha Ca La Vong ($10.80). It is fish fillet with lemongrass and dill served in a hotplate with rice vermicelli. I am not too sure how to eat this. I just take a bit of everything and ate them together like a wrap. It was nice but missing the wow factor for me. Saying that, this is the first time I am introduced to this Vietnamese dish.

Ga Bam Xuc Banh Da 3.8/5

Another interesting dish I tried is the Sesame Rice Crackers served with Basil Leaves Chicken ($10.80). To enjoy the dish, cracked a piece of the rice cracker and topped with some minced chicken. I felt that the rice cracker and minced chicken somewhat did not complement each other to make it a complete dish.

Pho Dac Biet 4.5/5

The Mixed Vietnamese Pho ($9.80) at So Pho is definitely one of the better ones I had in Singapore. The soup scented with cinnamon star anise, ginger and spices is robust and rich. The noodle is also silky smooth. Together with the slice beef, brisket and beef balls, the bowl of noodle soup is packed with beautiful flavours. This is one dish I will order again.

Overall I think So Pho offers pretty good Vietnamese food at wallet friendly prices. What is interesting in So Pho is that they have other interesting items in the menu that is not commonly offer at other Vietnamese eateries. Vietnamese cuisine is not just about their spring rolls and pho but beyond that.


So Pho
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#B1-08
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 63390938
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy @ Geylang Road

I felt like I was going to a blind date when I went to check out Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy located near Geylang Lorong 39 with Ian and Philip. It was not because of the boys but the fact I have no idea how my dinner experience will turned out. The internet has not been very helpful as there were basically no reviews about the food here. Will I discover a gem or just a waste of my calories? A big blue signage of the restaurant welcomes my arrival. Stepping into the restaurant it felt as if time has stalled in the 80s. The decor is very simple with white wall tiles, ceiling fans, wooden table and chairs.

Sour Spicy Mango Salad 3.8/5

After some recommendation by the owner, we started with the Sour Spicy Mango Salad ($4.50). The shredded mango was served chilled with topping of peanuts and dried shrimps. The salad has a good mix of tanginess and sweetness with the delectable crunch to it. Compare to the Thai mango salad, this is more subtle in flavours. I am not sure whether it is common for keropoks (prawn crackers) to be served in a Vietnamese salad dish but I am not complaining about it.

Fried Spring Rolls, Cha Gio 4.2/5

Next we have the Fried Spring Rolls, Cha Gio ($4.50). Instantly we noticed the spring roll skin is different from those we normally get elsewhere. The spring roll skin was crispy and has a chewy texture that was very enjoyable. I also enjoyed the fact that the spring roll is stuffed with ground meat instead of vegetable.

Seafood Spring Rolls, Goi Cuon 3.5/5

After getting excited over the fried spring roll, we made an extra order for the Seafood Spring Roll, Goi Guon ($2.80) We wanted to confirm that this humble eatery is the real thing. At a glance, we can see how thin the rice paper wrapped the fresh roll of rice vermicelli, prawn and vegetable. It was served with a spicy nutty dipping sauce that helped to accentuate the flavours.

Vietnamese Shaking Beef with Rice 3/5

This dish has an interesting name, Vietnamese Shaking Beef with Rice ($6.50). I asked the owner why the name "shaking". He replied that it was because of the cooking action of tossing the wok hence the name. The beef was very tender but the sauce was a bit too sweet and acquire for our liking.

Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Soup 4.5/5

When we mentioned Vietnamese cuisine, the first thought probably will be Pho or Vietnamese Roll. Lately I have started to appreciate the rice vermicelli soup which is not as popular with Singaporean. At Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy, you can try the Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Soup ($6). The restaurant gets their rice vermicelli from Vietnam directly. The quality was pretty obvious, it was not clumpy and the texture was silky. The tangy broth of fish sauce and tomato is further elevated with a few squeeze of the lime and some chopped red chilli. This is my favourite dish for the night.

Vietnamese Rice Noodles with BBQ Pork & Vegetables 4/5

The Vietnamese Rice Noodles with BBQ Pork & Vegetables ($5.80) basically is a dry version of enjoying the rice noodles. The flavourful BBQ pork was well marinated with a nice hint of smokey flavour. The bowl of rice noodles also comes with pieces of the fried spring rolls with ate earlier. To enjoy the rice noodles, poured the sauce spicy sweet sauce into bowl and give it a good toss.

Vietnamese Pancake, Banh Xeo 4/5

I was told that this is one of their most popular dish, Vietnamese Pancake, Banh Xeo ($7). The huge pancake was served with fresh lettuce. My photo did not do justice to the texture of the egg omelette. The egg omelette was as thin as a sheet of paper with a delectable crisp to it. Inside the pancake, there are bean sprouts and prawns. To savour the dish, have a bite of everything and wrapped it with the lettuce. It was quite an interesting and fun dish.

As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. To my earlier question, will I discover a gem or just a waste of my calories? I have discovered a hidden gem. The food here may not be of fine dining quality but it is cooked with passion keeping it as authentic as possible. Like my friend Ian puts it, the food remembers him of his Vietnam trip to the village. That says a lot about the food here.


[CLOSED]
Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy
749 Geylang Road (Near Lorong 39)
Singapore 389655
Tel: +65 96804363
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaigonVietnamDelicacy
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1pm - 4am

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk towards the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang Road. Turn right at junction. Continue onto Geylang Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]