Senso Ristorante & Bar @ Club Street

Established in Singapore in 2000, Senso Ristorante & Bar known for its authentic Italian fine dining cuisine has been around for 12 years. Stepping into the restaurant, you are first welcome by the reception which felt like being in a hotel lobby. After walking through the front area, you felt like being transported to another world. The restaurant has an al fresco dining area at the courtyard which has a rustic charm while the main dining hall is both cozy and classy.

A basket of complimentary assorted breads were served upon placing our order.

Scallops in Shell 3.8/5

For antipasti, I have the Scallps in Shell ($28). The pan seared scallp was served with sauteed spinach and topped with candied Italian tomatoes. While I enjoyed the scallop and spinach, I though the candied Italian tomatoes was too sweet that disorted the balance of the dish.

Mediterranean Tuna 4/5

My partner ordered the Mediterranean Tuna ($26) for her antipasti. The tuna was beautifully pan seared with sesame seeds and sat on a bed of eggplant puree and eggplant caponata. I didn't try it but my partner seemed to enjoy it a lot.

8 Hour Braised Beef Cheek 'Al Cacciatore' 3.5/5

For my main, I have the 8 Hour Braised Beef Cheek ($38). The braised beef cheek was tender and melted in the mouth. It is accompanied with bacon, buttom mushroom and bread chips served with glazed carrots and Senso puree. Although I like the texture of the beef cheek, the flavour of the whole dish was abit too heavy for me. The nature flavour of the beef cheef was overshadowed.

Senso Bolo'bster Lasagna 4.5/5

I took a bite of the Senso Bolo'bster Lasagna ($32) and it was so good. The homemade lasagna with fresh lobster and tomato sauce got me excited as it is something different and new for my palate. A well executed dish with a beautiful balance of flavours and textures.

Creme Brulee 4/5

Interestingly the Creme Brulee ($16) was served in 2 version, the original and coffee flavours. It was served with strawberry and homemade strawberry sherbet. I really like the coffee flavoured creme brulee which had a nice coffee aroma. The strawberry sherbet was also very fruity and freshing.

Chocolate Lava Cake 4/5

Needing 15 minutes to prepare, the Chocolate Lava Cake ($18) served with passionfruit and vanilla ice cream was classic but delish. The lave cake was warm and moist like a hot dark chocolate eruption.

Senso Ristorante & Bar although is a fine dining restaurant, the atomsphere was rather relax. Service was also impeccable.


Senso Ristorante & Bar
21 Club Street
Singapore 069410
Tel:+65 62243534
Website: http://www.senso.sg
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line, DT Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat: 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Club Street. Turn left on Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk down Upper Cross Street to junction of Upper Cross Street and South Bridge Road. Continue down Upper Cross Street and turn right onto Club Street. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

MooJaa, Mookata Thai BBQ Steamboat @ Keong Saik Road

Arriving at my destination, I find the place very familiar. I have visited the place with my colleagues sometime back and we did not have a good experience. Upon chatting with the new co-owner, he told me they have taken over from the previous owner and kept most of the decor.They have also renamed it to MooJaa, Mookata Thai BBQ Steamboat and revamped the menu offering more authentic and quality food.

Fried Salmon Skin

While we waited for the rest of the group to arrive, we were served Fried Salmon Skin. At MooJaa, there is the Seafood dipping sauce and Chilli dipping sauce. I was told that each sauce is made from 30 different ingredients. I preferred the seafood dipping sauce to the chilli dipping sauce.

Dinner was served when everyone arrived. Well not ready, the restaurant has to bring out the charcoal first for the Mookata. At MooJaa, premium charcoal was used. It retains the heat better and there won't be ashes flying around. I am sure we don't want the charcoal ashes to fall on our food and spoilt our dinner.

Set Moo

Set Moo

Basically there are 2 Mookata Sets at MooJaa. Set Moo($39.90) and Set Gai ($39.90). It literally means pork set or chicken set. Set Moo comes with pork collar slice while Set Gai comes with boneless chicken. Each set comes with standard ingredients such as prawn, fish ball, pork ball, squid, cheese ball, sausage. golden mushroom, vermicelli, cabbage, kang kong.

An important ingredient for Mookata is Pork Lard. The pork lard is used to oil the metal dome shape area of the skillet. By doing so, it prevents the ingredients from sticking to the skillet. At the same time, cooking the ingredients with the pork lard oil lift the flavours.

Ala Carte

If the ingredients in the set menu is not enough, you can also order add on from the ala carte menu. We got to try the Kurobuta Pork, Angus Beef and Spicy Chicken.

Mookata Thai BBQ Steamboat 4/5

Overall I feel that the new owners have brought back quality in the food. I have grown to accept MooKata especially the part where the oil from the ingredients flowing down into the soup. This is supposed to fragrant the soup and made it more tasty.


MooJaa, Mookata Thai BBQ Steamboat
25 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089132
Tel: +65 65364780
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MooJaa.sg
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line), Chinatown (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 2pm (Lunch)
Mon-Sun: 5pm - 11pm (Dinner)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk towards Kreta Ayer Road. Right right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right onto Keong Siak Road. Journey about 10 minutes.

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Keong Siak Road. Continue on to Keong Siak Road at the junction of Kreta Ayer Road and Keong Siak Road. Journey time about 13 minutes.

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery @ Bedok North Street 4

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery is a traditional shop located at block 84 Bedok North facing the public carpark just behind the famous block 85 Bak Chor Mee at FengShan food centre. From its home based business in 1968 it has moved to its current location in 1987 when the business picked up. It is heartened to still see traditional shop like this painstakingly doing hand made delectable traditional kuehs. Besides selling their kuehs to the general public, Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery also supplies them to hotels and catering companies.

The owner Gavan is very kind to allow us into the kitchen to have some hands on sessions making our own Ang Ku Kueh ($0.50/pc). It is also known as red tortoise cake because it looks like a tortoise shell while red is auspicious for Chinese and tortoise represents longevity. This is usually eaten during religious offering or our baby's one month birthday celebration.

Pulut Inti

Pulut Inti 4/5

Nowadays Pulut Inti ($0.50/pc) commonly comes in plastic wrap but Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery persists to upkeep the tradition and wrapped them in banana leave. I also got to try wrapping them and it was not as easy as it seen. A very delectable snack with caramelised grated coconut sitting on top of the blueish glutinous rice. The blue colouring of the glutinous rice is made from the clitoria flower.

Ku Cai Kueh 4.2/5

While I was there, I noticed 2 workers tirelessly making kuehs throughout my visit. They were making Ku Cai Kueh ($0.70/pc), Soon Kueh ($0.70/pc)and Peng Kueh ($0.80/pc) fresh on the spot. I simply adored the smooth crystal clear skin of the Ku Cai Kueh and Soon Kueh. They were one of the best I have tried.

Steamed Yam Cake 4/5 

Fried Yam Cake 4.2/5

Yam Cake is another favourite of mine that I will order whenever I have dim sum. At Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery, both the Steamed Yam Cake ($0.80/pc)and Fried Yam Cake ($0.80/pc) comes with delectable chunky yam bites, fragrant mushrooms and dried shrimps.

Mini Huat Kueh 3.8/5

These traditional colourful mini Huat Kueh will be attractive to children instead of those tradition bigger one that is usually used for religious offering.

Kotoh Ubi 4/5

Besides the traditional Chinese kuehs and cakes, Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery also makes their own Nonya Kueh. This is my first time to come across the uncommon Kotob Ubi ($1.20/pkt). Made of mashed tapioca and caramelised grated coconut, the gula melaka is the star as the tapioca and grated coconut was quite bland in nature.

Kueh Kao Swee 3.8/5

Kueh Kao Swee ($1.20/pkt) is steamed rice pudding rolled in grated coconut. It is a bit boring to be eating it alone without any sauce. I usually have them with gula melaka.

Oneh Oneh 3.8/5

The Oneh Oneh ($1.20/pkt) although was huge the proportion of skin and filling was quite balanced. The disappointment was the lacking of the squirting surprise of gula melaka when biting into it.

Bengka Ubi 4/5

Another version of the mashed tapioca, Bengka Ubi ($1.20/pkt) is baked rather than steamed. The springy and chewy texture was very enjoyable.

Kueh Lapi 3.8/5

This rainbow colour Kueh Lapi ($1.20/pkt) brings back a lot of childhood memories. I usually had it for breakfast and like to dissect it layer by layer.

Kueh Salat 4/5

I guess this is probably one of the more popular Nonya kuehs that everyone is familiar with as it is often available on most buffet spreads. Kueh Salat ($1.20/pkt) is made up of a layer of glutinous rice and kaya custard with a hint of pandan leaves fragrant.

Ubi Kayu 4/5

Another version of the tapioca kueh rolled in grated coconut, Ubi Kayu ($1.20/pkt) was a delish snack that you can't help going back for more.

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery has been working behind the scene supplying hotels and catering companies with their high quality handmade kuehs. Knowing who is the supplier, I would probably go to them directly in my next purchase. I was checking out their facebook page the other day and I realized they also sells kueh party sets similar to Sakae Sushi type. How cool is it? I probably would get one for my next gathering.


Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery
Blk 84 Bedok North Street 4
#01-21
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 64490815
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LekLimNonyaCake
Website: http://www.kuehkueh.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 4am - 6pm
Sun: 4am - 2pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bedok bus interchange. Take bus number 14 or 222 and alight 4 stops later. Journey time about 15 minutes.