Hortus @ Gardens by The Bay Flower Dome - New Mediterranean Sharing Menu Comprising of 9 Dishes

Nestled within the lush beauty of Gardens by the Bay's Flower Dome, Hortus offers diners a taste of the Mediterranean, surrounded by vibrant blooms and cool serenity. With its focus on fresh, vibrant sharing plates and rustic wood-grilled mains, Hortus presents an experience that goes beyond the food—especially with its newly launched Mediterranean Sharing Set Menu ($68++ per pax), which even includes complimentary Flower Dome admission and a buggy ride to and from the Main Entrance. A perfect little getaway without leaving Singapore!

Hummus, Olive Oil and Paprika 4.8/5

Muhammara, Roasted Bell Pepper and Walnut Dip 4.5/5

The meal kicks off with an array of five sharing starters. The Hummus with Olive Oil and Paprika was an instant hit — creamy, nutty, and elevated by the earthiness of paprika and a generous drizzle of olive oil. It is paired beautifully with the warm, fluffy housemade pita. Equally delightful was the Muhammara, a roasted bell pepper and walnut dip that was slightly smoky, nutty, and tangy — a deliciously vibrant alternative to the classic hummus.

Fried School Prawns, Calamari, Whitebait with Lemon Aioli 4.5/5

Next up was the Fried Seafood Basket, featuring school prawns, calamari, and whitebait, all perfectly crispy and light, paired with a zesty lemon aioli. It was dangerously addictive, with each piece a burst of flavour and crunch.

Yellowtail Kingfish Crudo 4.8/5

The Yellowtail Kingfish Crudo was a standout among the starters. Dressed with bergamot and green olives and scattered with pomegranate seeds, it was refreshingly bright, delicately sweet, and brimming with Mediterranean sunshine.

Kingfish Collar with Cabbage and Fennel Salad and Nduja 4.2/5

Moving on to the mains, we tried the Kingfish Collar with Cabbage and Fennel Salad and Nduja. Grilled to crispy perfection on the outside while keeping the flesh moist and tender, the kingfish was livened up beautifully by a squeeze of lemon and the spicy kick from the nduja. The accompanying salad of cabbage and fennel provided a refreshing counterpoint.

Beef and Lamb Adana Kebab with Sumac Onions 4.2/5

We also sampled the Beef and Lamb Adana Kebab with Sumac Onions. Typically, kebabs can veer on the dry side, but Hortus' version was juicy, aromatic, and full of flavour. The sweet and tangy sumac onions on top brought a much-appreciated brightness to the hearty meat skewer.

Cracked Wheat Salad with Dill, Mint, and Pomegranate 4.2/5

Rice Pilaf with Pistachio and Lemon 4.5/5

To complement the mains, we had the Cracked Wheat Salad and the Rice Pilaf with Pistachio and Lemon. Both were excellent — the cracked wheat salad was herby and fresh with pops of pomegranate, while the rice pilaf was light, fragrant, and enhanced by the nuttiness of pistachios and citrusy lemon.

House churned Vanilla Gelato, Halva, Tahini 4.5/5

Desserts were a true surprise and delight. The House Churned Vanilla Gelato, paired with halva, tahini, pomegranate syrup, and mint, was a symphony of textures and flavours — sweet, nutty, creamy, and refreshing all at once.

Rose and Cardamom Basbousa 4.5/5

The final treat, Rose and Cardamom Basbousa, sealed the meal on a high note. The moist semolina cake, topped with house churned pistachio gelato and cardamom cream, offered a beautiful blend of floral and nutty flavours that was both comforting and exotic.

Hortus isn't just a restaurant — it's an experience. The combination of fresh Mediterranean flavours, an idyllic garden setting, and thoughtful touches like complimentary entry and transport make it a memorable destination dining spot. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a leisurely meal with a view, Hortus delivers in every way.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hortus
Flower Dome
Gardens by the Bay
18 Marina Garden Drive
#01-09
Singapore 018953
Tel: +65 6702 0158
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Nearest MRT: Bayfront MRT

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 330pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bayfront MRT station. Take Exit B. Take the pathway to Bayfront Plaza Ticketing. Take for the shuttle bus to flower dome or walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

East Treasure Chinese Restaurant @ Woods Square - Bringing Their Delicious Chinese Cuisine To The North

East Treasure Chinese Restaurant at Clarke Quay has opened a new outlet at Woods Square. The Chinese restaurant under the Astons Group has been one of our favourite Chinese restaurants. Together with a few foodie friends, we went down to the new outlet.

We started with some light snacks to kick start the dinner. Artisanal done is the Wasabi Mayo Crabstick ($32) served in an ice cream cone. The wasabi is very subtle, overpowered by the pungent mayonnaise. Nothing special to shout about, but I do applaud the modern interpretation of Chinese cuisine.

White Bait 3.5/5

Prawn Roll 3.8/5

The other two light snacks we have is the White Bait ($24) and Prawn Roll ($24). They are very addictive with their delightfully crispy bites.

Double Boiled Crocodile Soup 4.5/5

A signature at East Treasure is their Double Boiled Crocodile Soup ($80). I have been a fan of their tonic that is packed with depth and robustness from the herbal sweetness. If you are not into exotic meat, worry not, as crocodile meat is exactly tasteless like chicken.

East Treasure Smoked Duck 4.8/5

Another must-have signature item at East Treasure is the East Treasure Smoked Duck ($58). The duck is dry-aged for 60 hours in their dry-aging cabinet for a more intense flavour with crisper skin. It never failed to impress me.

Jian Gu Tou 4.2/5

A new dish on the menu is the Jian Gu Tou ($32) which pig trotters and other pork ingredients such as pig's skin, sio bak etc., are cooked in fermented soy beancurd. It felt like a celebrative festive dish. The sauce brightens up the whole enjoyment though it looks messy.

Gan Xiang Yu Tou (甘香鱼头) 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Gan Xiang Yu Tou. The fish head is chunky and succulent with meaty fish flesh, coated in an aromatic sauce and spices. 

Stir Fried HK Kai Lan with Enoki 4.2/5

To my surprise, the Stir Fried HK Kai Lan with Enoki ($24) tastes exceptionally delicious and fragrant. I am not sure why but it could be the wok frying skill, retaining the delectable crunchiness.

Braised Vermicelli with Seafood 3/5

The Braised Vermicelli with Seafood ($38), unfortunately, was disappointing. The stock for the braised vermicelli lacks in flavour and depth. If they can fine-tune the dish, I am sure it will be another popular dish on the menu.


East Treasure Chinese Restaurant 
Woods Square
6 Woods Square
#01-07/08/09/10
Singapore 737737
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Nearest MRT: Woodlands (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Woodlands MRT station. Take Exit 1 or 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Lobsters & Ice Cream @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza - More Than Just Lobster Roll With A Variety Of Complementing Sauces

Lobsters & Ice Cream at Tanjong Pagar Plaza serves up U.S style lobster rolls, alongside several variants of seafood rolls. It is not here to fight with the Lobster bars that have already gained much reputation but to fill the gap in the dining options where you can get your hands on the traditional east coast style rolls in a fast and casual manner. Aside from Maine style, you get to the style that you want your seafood roll to be served. Each sauce is created to highlight and complement the delicate flavours of seafood.

Premium Lobster roll Maine style 4/5

2 types of Lobster rolls are available - Premium ($16 half-roll/$29 full-roll) and Standard ($18/full-roll). Premium roll uses live lobsters air-flown from North America (Canada and US) and arrive at the bistro every morning, which they are par-cooked and deshelled before being finished off on the pan upon order. Maine style would be the most ideal way to enjoy the quality of the lobster. Sauteed and seasoned with celery salt, oregano, pepper, thyme and a dash of lemon. I appreciate the fact that the mayo is only being spread lightly on the bread roll instead of mixing it with the lobster, which some places overdo it. That allows me to enjoy even the very faint notes of herbs, which enhance the taste of the entire roll.

Standard Lobster with Truffle Sauce (tasting portion) 3/5

Standard Lobster uses lobsters that are more common for commercial use, in which they are precooked by suppliers in large quantities. I had mine with truffle sauce (+$4). It tasted all right, but I think it is more worthwhile to spend that extra bucks on a side dish.

Seafood roll with SG Chilli Crab Sauce (tasting portion) 3.8/5

The Seafood Roll ($23) with SG Chilli Crab Sauce is highly recommended. Using a half crab half lobster mix, you have the texture from the lobster, and punch of flavours from the chilli crab layered below the lobster. That allows the buttered toast to sop up the sauce, which replicates the classic experience of fried mantou dipped in chilli crab sauce. Made in-house by the chef-owner, the chilli crab sauce is impressive. It was robust, assertive and not overly sweet.

Prawn roll (tasting portion) 3.5/5

Reminiscent of a Mexican taco, my Prawn Roll ($18) was zesty with Mexican sauce. I love the bright flavours and crunch of this Mexican style roll, especially with the addition of the punchy jalapeno slices.

Scallop Roll 3.5/5

Scallop Roll ($18) is recommended to pair with Mentaiko sauce (+$2), for the extra briny and savoury flavours. The Mentaiko sauce is not your usual mentaiko flavoured mayonnaise but made with real spicy pollock/cod roe mixed with flying fish roe. The scallops were seared to a beautiful golden brown, which imparted a smoky flavour to the roll.

What can perhaps be better is the type of bread roll used. While the bread roll is quite light and able to hold the filling well without turning soggy, a fluffier and a more buttery version will make each roll more indulgent and satisfying.

Truffle Feta Garlic Fries 3/5 and Crispy Fried Whitebait 3/5

Seafood Soup 3.8/5 and Organic Potatochips 3/5

There are several sides available to complete your meal, and I highly recommend the Seafood Soup ($7). It is almost like a clam broth, which surprised me with its depth of flavours. An interesting item is the housemade Organic Potato Chips ($5).

Cherry Beer Ice Cream 4/5

Kriek Boon Beer

A wide range of craft beers is available here too, including beer on tap. And the best part is that the team managed to churn one of them into ice cream! The Cherry Beer flavour ($5) is one of my favourites, made using Kriek Boon. Expect its texture to be a tad grainy, due to the carbonation in the beer. An extensive list of flavours to entice you, including unique variants such as whisky which tastes like a classic Rum & Raisin and Pandan Gula Melaka. I would encourage you to try the Savoury range, which offers a refreshing Lime Mirin Tarragon, and a rather rare Truffle Ice Cream.

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.


Lobsters & Ice Cream
Blk 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#02-101
Singapore 081007
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11am - 1045pm

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