The Grumpy Bear @ SAFRA Jurong - Serving Signature Chicken Chops With A Local Twist

The Grumpy Bear specialises in western cuisine and is known for its chicken chops that come with a variety of choices. It operates a few outlets in Singapore, with its latest opening at SAFRA Jurong. This new outlet has incorporated local flavours into its menu, alongside with its own range of ice creams.

Nasi Lemak Chicken 3.5/5

On the menu, you will find 2 interesting dishes with a local twist - Nasi Lemak Chicken ($18.90) and Grumpy Chicken Rendang ($18.90). Served with herb rice, fried egg and a dollop of sambal chilli, the oven-baked Lemak Chicken Chop was aptly flavoured with spices, tender and succulent. The quintessential sambal chilli was on the sweeter side, but it still very much brought out the full Nasi Lemak experience. In place of the usual fragrant coconut milk rice is herb rice that was aromatic with Italian herbs, and equally enjoyable. The fried egg can definitely be better.

Chicken Rendang 4/5

The Oven Baked Grumpy Chicken Rendang is made using herb rice topped with hearty chunks of Chicken baked and baked in special Rendang sauce. The rendang sauce was heady and robust with spices, and I love how the slices of tomatoes released bursts of tangy juiciness into the rich sauce. The rice was in distinct grains, which worked well with the rich chicken rendang.

Creamy Pasta with Prawns 3/5

There is also a variety of pasta. We tried Creamy Pasta with Prawns ($16.90). It was decent, but it wasn't satiable at all.

Mushroom Soup 2/5

As for sides such as Mushroom Soup, I suggest giving them a miss and just head for their chicken dishes and desserts. Mine had a strong taste of flour, and the croutons were simply stale bread crumbs.

Waffle with Ice Cream 3.8/5

The Grumpy Bear can also be the place of consideration for waffles and ice creams. The Grumpy Bear has its own range of ice cream, ranging from classic to premium. We tried Red Velvet Waffle with Pistachio and Blueberry Yogurt ice creams. The waffle was pretty fluffy with a crisp exterior, and the ice creams were light and not cloying.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Grumpy Bear
SAFRA Jurong
333 Boon Lay Way
#2B-02
Singapore 649848
Tel: +65 82996261
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Boon Lay (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 930pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Boon Lay MRT station. Take Exit C, D and E and walk to Boon Lay Bus Interchange (Stop ID 22009). Take bus number 251. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey about 10 minutes. [Map]

El Carbon Grill House @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 - Halal Western Food Stall With An Authentic Charcoal Grill Concept

Situated within a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, western hawker food stall El Carbon delivers quality western food at wallet-friendly prices. The storefront has a unique aesthetic appearance and gives off fancier vibes which made it different from other stalls in the coffee shop. They also have 2 other outlets opening daily at Yishun and Tampines as well.

One of the highlights is that they use a Mibrasa oven (Carbon’ is Spanish for coal, and Mibrasa Oven uses only charcoal as fuel), which employs all the great taste and rustic techniques of traditional charcoal cooking - which means a hands-on versatile process that allows the chef to push the limits of a menu. This also allows the chef to closely monitor the temperature and fire to keep different batches of food consistent in taste.

Signature Roasted Half Chicken 4.2/5

First, we had their most popular dish - the Signature Roasted Half Chicken ($9.50). It is of little wonder why as their chicken is extremely crispy and juicy inside.

Haddock Fish 'N' Chips 4/5

Haddock Fish 'N' Chips ($7.50) - Different from other stalls, they use Haddock Fish for their version of Fish 'N' Chips. Crispy, and tender yet still firm on the inside, I was pleasantly surprised that the Haddock Fish did not fall apart when cut and picked up by the fork. Dip it in to the cheese sauce or mayo for either a savoury or tangy-sweet taste which paired well with the seafood sweetness. At just $7.50, it's definitely a steal.

Angus Ribeye 3.8/5

Done medium rare, the Angus Ribeye ($13) is tender with a rich beefy flavour. Furthermore, it's only priced at $13 for such a huge portion of beef, so there is nothing to complain about.

Grilled Japanese Squid with Kicap Manis Sauce 4/5

One of the starters we had was the Grilled Japanese Squid with Kicap Manis Sauce ($9.50). An interesting dish - the kicap manis sauce used is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce which gave the tender and smoky charcoal-grilled squid a delicious spicy sweet flavour.

Cheesy Tater Totes 4.2/5

My favourite goes to the Cheesy Tater Totes ($5). The mini hash browns are crispy and fluffy inside, layered with melted cheese and mayo which gave an extra boost in flavour without being too cloying. It definitely makes for an addictive side to the meal.

Forest Mushroom Soup 4.2/5, Garlic Bread 3.8/5

Another of our favourite starter is the Forest Mushroom Soup ($3) which is thick, creamy and loaded with a rich mushroom earthiness.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


El Carbon
Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
#01-2823, Food Loft
Singapore 560721
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to traffic junction. Cross the road. Turn right and walk down Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Western Food Establishments That Offer Island-wide Delivery And Takeaway During COVID-19 Outbreak

With the latest announcement by the government to tighten measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore, all schools and non-essential business have to be closed. The public is also advised to stay at home as far as possible. Even F&B establishments are not allowed to accept dine-in customers from 07 April to 04 May 2020, subject to further extension if the so-called "circuit breaker" period does not manage to control the local transmission cases. However, takeaway and delivery are still allowed. With this new ruling, many F&B establishments have to change their business model.

Previously I have put together a list of Chinese restaurants offering island-wide delivery and takeaway. If you get sick of Chinese food during your stay home period, here is another list of Western food establishments that will satisfy your cravings or make your daily meal a little more exciting.

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Brunches Cafe

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Credit: Brunches Cafe FB

Brunches Cafe offers a wide variety of All-day breakfast, starter and main dishes.

Promotion
N/A

Order
Island-wide Delivery: https://brunchescafe.oddle.me/en_SG
Takeaway Self Pickup: Call or WhatsApp +65 8685 8488

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Burger & Lobster Singapore

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Famed Burger & Lobster from London known for their lobster roll and juicy burgers is now available at your doorstep.

Promotion
N/A

Order
Island-wide Delivery: https://burgerlobster.oddle.me/en_SG
Takeaway Self Pickup: +65 69716127

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Greenwood Fish Market

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Credit: Greenwood Fish Market FB 

A retailer and family-run restaurant serving fresh seafood cuisine. Greenwood Fish Market offers value to the table and strive to be the go-to destination for your seafood fix.

Promotion
N/A

Order
Island-wide Delivery: https://greenwoodfishmarket.oddle.me
Takeaway Self Pickup: +65 6467 4950 (Bukit Timah), +65 62620450 (Quayside Isle), +65 69779577 (Asian Cuisine)

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Hans Im Gluck German Burgergrill

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HANS IM GLÜCK elevates the humble burger into a never-boring, healthy, nutritious and delicious meal – with something special for everyone.

Promotion
NA

Order
Island-wide Delivery: https://hansimgluck.oddle.me/en_SG
Takeaway Self Pickup: +65 97385310

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Positano Risto

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Positano Risto is a Halal certified Italian restaurant, 100% Muslim owned. You can order your usual Italian fares such as pasta, pizza and grilled meats.

Promotion
15% off for self-collection.
Check out their Facebook for weekly zone exclusive for free delivery with minimum spending of $40.

Order
Island-wide Delivery: Call +65 62921866 or WhatsApp 97115833
Takeaway Self Pickup: Call +65 62921866 or WhatsApp 97115833

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The English House by Marco Pierre White

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The English House is offering Brunch, A La Carte and Sunday Roast Takeout Menu. It will be available for both self-collection and island-wide delivery.

Promotion
$10 flat delivery fee or complimentary if order over $150.

Order
Island-wide Delivery: +65 6545055 or WhatsApp +90213170
Takeaway Self Pickup: +65 6545055 or WhatsApp +90213170

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The Garden Slug

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The Garden Slug is an old school-like coffeehouse that serves rustic food in generous portions.

Promotion
Enjoy 30% off all items in the menu from not till 4th May fro all self pick-up and delivery orders*.
Free delivery for orders of minimum spending $100.
*only exclusive for http://order.thegardenslug.com

Order
Island-wide Delivery: http://order.thegardenslug.com
Takeaway Self Pickup: Call or WhatsApp +65 81668888

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The Halia

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At The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens, diners can expect to be charmed by contemporary European cuisine with subtle accents of Asian flavours. The takeaway and delivery menu range from tasty burgers, pasta and steaks.

Promotion
20% off all delivery items from now till 31 May 2020.

Order
Island-wide Delivery: https://thehalia.com/haliadelivery/
Takeaway Self Pickup: +65 87980180

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The Masses

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The Masses is an ALL-DAY Dining Restaurant and Bar. They serve contemporary Happy Food, using modern cooking techniques. Happy Food - serving fresh, seasonal produce and allowing recipes to be simple yet dynamic while keeping the prices affordable.

Promotion
$10 delivery voucher for order more than $100 to offset delivery fees.

Order
Island-wide Delivery: Call +65 62660061 or Facebook Message
Takeaway Self Pickup: Call +65 62660061 or Facebook Message

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The Mast' of Mozzarella & Co

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The Mast' of Mozzarella & Co is a mozzarella bar and restaurant that has its very own onsite cheese production laboratory. It provides fresh mozzarella, burrata and stracciatella daily. The menu features a spread of antipasti, salads, homemade pasta, pinsa and more to highlight the best of their cheese

Promotion
Free delivery for Tanjong Pagar MRT and Telok Ayer MRT vicinity.

Order
Island-wide Delivery: Call +65 65138010 or WhatsApp 96919530
Takeaway Self Pickup: Call +65 65138010 or WhatsApp 96919530


Disclaimer
Kindly note, the information may change after the publication of this article. Do call or check the official restaurant sites to get the most updated information.

Fish & Chicks @ Cathay Cineleisure Orchard - Salted Egg Yolk Fish & Chips Comes to Orchard

Fish & Chicks is a Western food stall started at a coffeeshop in Ang Mo Kio. Known for its popular salted egg yolk and chilli sauce fish & chips, it soon gained popularity on social media and crowd started to flock to the humble stall. Don't undermine the power of social media, diners need to queue up to 2 hours just to have a taste of their fish & chips once it went viral on social media. With the success, Fish & Chicks soon opens its second outlet in the food court at the basement of Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

Salted Egg Yolk Fish & Chips 4/5

I have a meeting in town a couple of weeks ago and I took the opportunity to check out their second outlet at the basement of Cineleisure. I was surprised but glad that there wasn't a long queue like their Ang Mo Kio outlet. I placed my order and have my lunch served in less than 10 minutes.

After having a bite of the Salted Egg Yolk Sauce Fish & Chips ($10.90), I can understand why the hype. The batter was deep fried to a crackling crispiness and dressed in a rich salted egg yolk sauce. The salted egg yolk sauce is the creamy type instead of the more robust grainy version. Not what I prefer but still decent. The fish itself is moist and provided the nice contrast against the batter. Doubt they are using fresh fish since it is a fast food style business concept but the quality used is good enough.

Overall I find the Salted Egg Yolk Fish & Chips above average and it is worth trying, provided you do not need to queue for hours for it. If you want to skip the queue, I would advise going to the Orchard outlet as it seems that not many people is aware of it. Furthermore it is inside a mall which is air conditioned.


Fish & Chicks
Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
8 Grange Road
Singapore 239695
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Go all the way to the ground level. Turn left and walk to the junction of Orchard Road and Grange Road. Cross the road and turn left onto Grange Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Rice & Fries @ Changi Road - Passion, Consistency and Quality Food in Neighbourhood Restaurant

It has been almost 3 years since I last visited Rice & Fries at Changi Road. In this competitive F&B scene, I have seen so many restaurants come and go. I am glad that Chef Ken and his team are still hanging around, delicately dishing out delicious food to their customers.  This time I am back again to check out their new menu.

Spam Bots 4.5/5

The Spam Bots ($9.80) is probably the best spam fries I have tried. What I like about the luncheon meat frites is the crispy exterior while the innard still retain the moist texture, unlike most places that deep fried everything to a dry almost crispy texture. It also comes with a salt egg yolk dip that made it even more addictive.

Chicken Wings 4/5

Another great snack bite is the Chicken Wings ($6.80 for 2pc). Deep fried to crispy with juicy interior, this is a delectable starter for sharing.

Somersby Apple Cider 4.5/5

The ice cold Somersby Apple Cider which is light and refreshing, is perfect to go with the spam bots and chicken wings. Rice & Fries also serve it in an interesting way, instead of just drinking it straight from the bottom. The bottle is inverted and dunk into a glass of ice of a cool enjoyment.

French Onion Soup 4/5

On the new revamped menu, we tried both the French Onion Soup ($6.80) and Lobster Bisque ($12.80). Quite a well executed dish whereby I can taste the rich beef broth together with the sweetness of the carmalized onions coming together. Instead of the toasted garlic bread at the side, it will be even better if the french onion soup is topped with crouton and cheese.

Lobster Bisque 3.8/5

The Lobster Bisque ($12.8) comes in a gorgeous thick and creamy lobster seafood bisque with crab meat, served with a toasted garlic bread. I enjoyed the bowl of soup but I thought it leaned more towards a seafood soup rather than a lobster bisque. Hence I think the dish name was a bit misleading until I read the description in details.

Salted Egg Yolk Pasta 4.2/5

One of the bestseller at Rice & Fries is the Salted Egg Yolk Pasta ($19.80) topped with a deep fried soft shell crab. The version at Rice & Fries is rich, intense and creamier, coating every stand of the pasta. On top of that, the used of curry leaves lifted the flavour, giving it an extra oomph.

BBQ Pork Ribs 4/5

The BBQ Pork Ribs ($22.80) is one dish that we have mixed options. The rack of ribs was cooked to a nice tender, falling off the bone with ease. The meat also comes with a hint of smokiness. I find that the sweet house special bbq sauce enhances the whole enjoyment of the dish but my dining partner feels that it is too sweet. That's why taste is always subjective. You can't satisfy everyone's palate.

Crab & Lobster Risotto 4.5/5

Among the mains I tried. The Crab & Lobster Risotto ($21.80) is probably my favourite. The risotto is cooked to an enjoyable grainy bite texture which is how I like it. The risotto is also well infused with the rich and intense lobster bisque, packed with generous serving of crab meat.

Lemon Tart 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we have the Lemon Tart ($6.80) and Dark Chocolate Lava Cake ($9.80). The pastry case of the lemon tart was a little under baked during our visit. It did not have the biscuity texture. Nevertheless, the lemon custard is well balanced, not overly sour which at time can be quite unpalatable.

Dark Chocolate Lava Cake 3.5/5

The Dark Chocolate Lava Cake ($9.80) with vanilla ice cream fares better than the lemon tart. The warm molten lava cake has a crusty surface that adds a layer of texture enjoyment amid the chocolate lava centre and moist body.

Overall, I have enjoyed my meal at Rice & Fries. It is great to come back to a restaurant to know that they have kept their passion, consistency and quality in dishing our beautiful food to their customers. For people living in the Kembangan area, I envy you for having such a good neighbourhood restaurant in your vicinity.


Rice & Fries
484 Changi Road
Singapore 419896
Tel: +65 97386648
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Kembangan (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm
Tue: 6pm - 11pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 12pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Kembangan MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road at Sims Ave East. Walk along the canal to Changi Road. Cross the road and turn left. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Grill Werkz @ 7 Stars Coffeeshop (Dover Crescent) - Value for Money Western Cuisine

Recently I discovered a value for money Western food stall near my place at Dover Crescent. Grill Werkz is a western food stall located inside the 7 Stars Coffeeshop. The colour theme of the stall front some what reminds me of Astons Specialities, which also started as a humble stall in a coffeeshop before expanding its business to 24 outlets across the island.

Cream of Mushroom 3/5

We started off dinner with the Cream of Mushroom ($3.50).  It is a decent and comforting bowl of mushroom soup. However I find that it is on the starchy side instead of creamy. The flavour is there and if they can work on the weak link, then it will be perfect.

Norway Grill Salmon 3.5/5

The Norway Grill Salmon ($12.80) comes in a very different cut. Instead of the usual fillet, it comes in a slab. I am not sure whether it is a good thing or not. This is because the fillet gives you a consistent texture while the slab is like eating a fish from head to tail, each section has a different textural experience.

Combo Mixed Grill 3.5/5

The Combo Mixed Grill ($15.80) is good for sharing. The huge platter comes with a variety of ingredients such as pork chop, steak, sausages, ham, egg and potatoes wedges. Definitely value for money with the huge serving portion.

Seafood Spaghetti with Arrabbiata Sauce 3/5

For the pricing, the Seafood Spaghetti with Arrabbiata Sauce ($6.90) definitely is wallet friendly. The spaghetti tossed in a spicy arrabbiata sauce is a bit over cooked for me but the generous amount of seafood in the pan, more than make up for it.

Air Flown New Zealand Ribeye Steak 10z 4.5/5

I think 7 Stars Coffeeshop just found its eighth star in the Air Flown New Zealand Ribeye Steak, 10z ($19.80). Perfectly cooked to medium rare, the ribeye was flavoruful, tender and juicy. For the cost and quality, I am surprised to be able to have such good steak at a coffeeship. Definitely much more worthy then going to some restaurants charging similar or higher price.

I am glad that Grill Werkz has opened a stall near my place offering value for money Western cuisine. While there are rooms for improvement for some of the dishes, I am sure I will be back for more of their beautiful ribeye steak.


Grill Werkz
7 Stars Coffeeshop
Blk 28 Dover Crescent
Singapore 130028
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line), Dover (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to bus stop opposite Buona Vista MRT station (Stop ID 11369). Take bus number 74 or 196. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT station (Stop ID 19039). Take bus number 14, 74 and 166. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

5 Little Monkeys Cafe @ PICO Creative Centre

When I heard about the 5 Little Monkeys Cafe, my first thought is that it is another hipster cafe serving the usual mircowave heat up food and supplier sourced cakes and pastries. I am glad that my curiosity just like the monkeys, brought me to the cafe located on the eleventh floor of an office building in Lavender. Taking up the whole floor on the eleventh level, the cafe is huge and spacious, with a great unblock city view.

Gourmet Hamburger 3.5/5

The menu at 5 Little Monkeys Cafe is quite extensive, offering items from Western Delights to Peranakan cuisine. We started with the Gourmet Hamburger ($11.80) with fries and salad from the Western Delights menu. It was quite a good burger which was moist and juicy. There are other western fares such as pizzas, sandwiches and wraps on the menu too.

Kueh Pie Tee 3/5

For some small bites, we had the Kueh Pie Tee ($3.8 for 3pc / $6 for 5pc). I felt that the pie tee cups was a bit too thick in textures, not allowing me to appreciate the spicy and sweet mixture of thinly sliced vegetables and prawn.

Sambal Prawn with Petai 4/5

The surprise discovery at 5 Little Monkeys Cafe is their Peranakan dishes. The Sambal Prawn with Petai ($6.50) comes with a good spicy kick, well coated around the sweetness of the crunchy prawns.

Beef Rendang 4.2/5

The scrumptious Beef Rendang ($10,80) was one of my favourite among the dishes I tried. The succulent beef cooked in a rich and aromatic rempah is bursting with the robust flavour with every bite of it.

Chap Chye 4/5

There are many interpretation of the Chap Chye ($5) and I would say the version by Chef Goh is unlike what I have eaten before. The mixed vegetable stew is cooked to a crunchy instead of softness. It also is not as sweet as most chap chye elsewhere.

Fish Maw Soup 3.8/5

I really appreciate the effort of the chef in the Fish Maw Soup ($10.80). He made the effort to stuffed the fish maw with minced chicken meat. The soup was clear with mild sweetness of the cabbage. Chef also added a dash of Chinese wine to bring up the flavour.

Assam Fish Head Curry 4.5/5

The highlight of the night has to be the Assam Fish Head Curry ($35). I could not resist ordering a plate of rice to soak up the delicious curry that has a mix of spiciness, tanginess and creaminess. The huge fish head is good to serve 3 to 4 pax. As only limited quantities is available each day, it is best to pre-order it. Do also allow 20-30 minutes of waiting time.

I personally think 5 Little Monkeys Cafe is a hidden gem serving good Peranakan cuisine, especially the Assam Fish Head Curry. Furthermore, who would expect to find a cafe on the eleventh floor of an office building. I am glad that my curiosity brought me to discover this little gem in Lavender.


5 Little Monkeys Cafe
PICO Creative Centre
20 Kallang Avenue
#11-00
Singapore 339411
Tel: +65 85339168
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 930am - 6pm
Fri: 930am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station.Take Exit B. Walk to junction of Lavender Street and Kallang Road. Cross the road and continue on Kallang Road. Walk to destination. Journey times about 10 minutes. [Map]