Steam Sia @ Hindoo Road (Little India)

From the olden days coffeeshop tables and chairs to the display cabinets with antique cameras and kitchenwares, stepping into Steam Sia felt like walking into a museum reminiscing the good old days. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Seah who is formerly from Jin Shan Lou in Marina Bay Sands. Steam Sia offers an extensive menu featuring Nonya cuisines to western delights.

At the bistro entrance, there is even a kachangputeh kisok that has good old days games and snacks. Customers can help themselves to the games and complimentary snacks while waiting for the food to be served.

I particularly like this cozy corner at Steam Sia, it remembers me of my living room in the late 70s.

Seafood Stuffed Sailing Boat 3.5/5

The Seafood Stuffed Sailing Boat ($8.90) is oven baked potatoes topped with seafood. Shaped like a sailing boat, I like the fact that the potatoes came with the skin. It gave that nice extra texture contrast. Topped with seafood, the creamy sauce was a perfect marriage for the ingredients.

Grilled Salmon with Fruit Salsa 4/5

My girlfriend enjoyed the Grilled Salmon with Fruit Salsa ($18.90) the most. The salmon was cooked to perfection. Cutting into the salmon revealed the pinkish fish meat while the exterior was grilled to a nice crisp. Accompanied by the refreshing and fruity salsa, it was a excellent pairing.

Tom Yam Spaghetti with Seafood 3.8/5

We already have eateries serving chilli crab and laksa spaghetti, I was eager to try this fusion creation, Tom Yam Spahetti with Seafood ($16.90). Taste wise, the dish has potential with very distinct and robust flavours. Unfortunately it was a tad salty during my visit. However, I believe with a little quality control on the salt, this can be another fusion pasta dish that the new generation will enjoy.

Nonya Curry Chicken 4.2/5

I was looking forward to try the Nonya Curry Chicken ($12.90 for 1pax, $20.90 for 2pax) with potatoes and carrots served with bread. Many that have visited the bistro gave good reviews for their curry. I was even told that the Indians at Little India also like their Nonya style curry. So did it disappoint me? No it did not. I have always prefer Nonya curry to the Chinese curry because of the thick gravy and spices used. The nonya curry chicken also came with large pieces of tender chicken that is rather value for money.

Singaporean probably will know how crowded Little India can be during the weekends. I like the fact that Steam Sia is located at the quieter side of Little India away from the crowd where I can enjoy a peaceful meal. As the vicinity does not offer many non Indian food eateries, Steam Sia will be a good alternative choice for a different. With more budgets hotels being built in the area, it may also offer the foreigners a cheaper meal alternative and an insight of Singapore in the 60s to 80s.


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Steam Sia
5 Hindoo Road
Singapore 209107
Tel: +65 63966585
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SteamSia
Website: http://www.steamsia.com/
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line), Little India (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 12 Midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit A or G. Walk down Upper Serangoon Road and turned left into Hindoo Road. Journey time about 8 minutes.

2) Alight at Little India MRT station. Take Exit E. Turn right and walk down Buffalo Road. Turn left onto Upper Serangoon Road. Turn right into Hindoo Road. Journey time about 10 minutes.

Park Palace @ Grand Park City Hall

With Lunar New Year around the corner, many families will be planning for their reunion dinner to usher the year of the magnificent Snake. Have you make plans for your reunion dinner? If not, you can check out Park Palace at Grand Park City Hall.

Golden Shunde Yu Sheng 4.2/5

Since it is Lunar New Year, how can we not have the Prosperity Toss or Lo Hei. For a change, try the signature Shunde Yu Sheng with Yellowtail ($88++) at Park Palace. Doing away with the usual shredded vegetables and sweet plum sauce, Shunde Yu Sheng is a refreshing twist from the overwhelming sweetness. The delicacy is made up of a base of crispy fried vermicelli and adorned with slender slices of ginger, spring onion, crunchy capsicums and finely grounded peanut, tossed in a special concoction of fragrant peanut oil and premium soya sauce.

Imperisal Suckling Pig 4.2/5

The Imperial Suckling Pig ($238++)  weights a good 5kg and need to order at least a day in advance. The piglet is air dried for a day before roasting. Served 2 ways, it was first eaten like Peking Duck. The skin was thinly sliced that it felt like eating crackers. I was commenting to my fellow diners that I could not find a trace of fats on the skin.

Imperial Suckling Pig - Oven Baked with Lemongrass 4/5

After skinning the piglet, it was brought back to the kitchen for a second roast with lemongrass. The suckling pig itself was already a delicacy but with a hint of fragrant lemongrass simply accentuated the flavour by a notch.

Golden Happiness Crispy Garoupa 4/5

During Lunar New Year, fish is an important dish on the dining table symbolising prosperity and vigor. The presentation of the Golden Happiness Crispy Garoupa also reminds me of the chinese phrase "Carp leaping over Dragon's Gate (鲤鱼跳龙门)" a cultural symbol of courage, perseverance and accomplishment. I find that it is very thoughtful of Park Palace to fillet the fish as reunion dinner will have old folks and children. This will avoid any bony incident.

Prosperity Flambe Pen Cai 4.8/5

Boasting a 18 luxurious ingredients, the Prosperity Flambe Pen Cai ($268++ for 6pax, $428++ for 10 pax) was flambeed with cognac to bring out the rich flavours and tastes of the ingredients. This is my first time having Pen Cai and was thrilled with joy discovering the different ingredients in the treasure pot. There were sliced abalones, sea cucumber, conpoy, prawn balls, roasted duck, roasted pork belly, duck web, soya sauce chicken, fatt choy, black mushrooms, lotus root, broccoli, radish, beancurd skin, gingko nuts and black fungus.

Auspicious Glutinous Rice with Foie Gras and Preserved Meat 3/5

The Glutinous Rice with Foie Gras and Preserved Meat combination was interesting but not my favourite. Similar to a rice dumpling, the glutinous rice came with flavourful preserved meat filling. It had a enjoyable sticky and chewy texture. I like foie gras but I couldn't help to feel it is just a gimmick for pricing purposes for this dish. The foie gras felt separated for me. It did not complement the glutinous rice. I am happy with the glutinous rice with the preserved meat alone.

Steamed Mini Pumpkin Dumpling with Green Bean Paste 3/5

The Steamed Mini Pumpkin Dumpling with Green Bean Paste was really beautiful. Unfortunately the artistic appearance does not translate to the execution. We found the flour to paste ratio was rather inconsistent. Flavour wise we also felt that it can be sweeter.

If you have not decide where to have your reunion dinner or company lunar new year function. Take the opportunity to book early to enjoy 20% of the Lunar New Year Set Menus or ala carte. Get a complimentary bottle of house red wine per table of minimum 10 pax too by quoting "SG Food on Foot" during reservation.

Chinese New Year Set Menus
· $78++ per person (a maximum of two persons)
· $288++ per table (for four persons)
· $438++ per table (for six persons)
· $588++ per table (for eight persons)
· $788++ to $2388++ per table (for ten persons)

Blog Promotion: Complimentary bottle of house red wine per table of minimum 10 pax.

Simply quote "SG Food on Foot" during reservations.

Early Bird Special: Book now and dine-in from 21^st Jan to 7^th Feb to enjoy 20%off to Lunar New Year Set Menus or A’la Carte.

Park Palace
Grand Park City Hall
Level 2
10 Coleman Street
Singapore 179809
Tel: +65 64325888
Website: http://www.parkhotelgroup.com/cityhall/
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left onto North Bridge Road. At the traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Coleman Street, cross the road to Peninsula Plaza. Walk down Coleman Street and turn right into Coleman Lane. Journey time about 5 minutes.