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Lunch review: Takeshi Noodle Bar at 12 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088387

October 22, 2021

I went to Takeshi Noodle Bar recently by chance for a late lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the food and place so I thought I'll share it with you guys! Located within a small boutique hotel called Hotel Soloha, the noodle bar is a small space which serves up really great value-for-money (alcoholic) drinks and delish noods. I also LOVE the decor in there - it's basically art deco x modern contemporary with a splash of rattan, plus the entire place was well-ventilated even though the kitchen cooks everything ala minute.

Here's the bar just right outside in the hotel lobby.

The decor had some retro items like books and camera amidst the terrazzo tabletops and arches.

On the menu (view on their website), this immediately caught our eye. Quite brilliant too, especially when tourism is still alive in Singapore (RIP..).

We also got a free beer for every beer ordered if we posted on social media about them, which we gladly did.

Along with the fries we also ordered some piping hot and fresh chicken karaage (S$10) with garlic wasabi mayo which was sooo yummy. Perfect with some beer.

This also caught our eyes. Seafood and mala? Seems like a great combo! But we opted for a dry version of this instead.

This was also quite tempting but in the end we went for the pork version of the ramen.

On to the food! We ordered the Honey Roasted Iberico Pork Ramen (S$15.90) with burnt miso iberico tonkotsu because it was touted as a must-try on Food King. We could pick the firmness of noodle (hard) and richness of tonkotsu (normal, the waitress said that's the recommended). And it was perfect. The Food King review was right, the broth was where the goodness went with a slightly sweet, smoky rich flavour that isn't overly salty and went perfectly with the noodles. The iberico pork slices themselves weren't that flavourful but you won't mind it cos it's all in the soup. Generous portion too for the price! 5/5 (spoiler alert all 3 dishes got full marks).

Next, we wanted something dry so we got the Mala lobster wonton noodle (S$19.90) with handmade wontons, lobster chunks, iberico char siew, crispy kale and mala base. The mala flavour isn't too overwhelmingly spicy or numbing which is perfect for us smol-spice eaters. It also allowed the rest of the ingredients to shine through and ever component worked super well with each other. Also must-try... 5/5

Last, since we were still feeling a tad peckish - we got the Angel Hair Aglio Olio (S$21.90) with seafood dash and sautéed crab lumps. Crab lumps made it sound not so appetising but when you look at the photo it's another story! This beautiful dish with the edible flowers was almost too pretty to destroy. Again it looks simple but the pasta was coated with that deep seafood flavour which gave the dish its umami-ness without overwhelming. I could probably inhale this in a few minutes, but we shared the calories :P 5/5

Overall I must say Takeshi Noodle Bar is probably one of the top finds for me in 2021 when it comes to good affordable food. I highly recommend for yáll to check em out and let me know what you think! Our local FNB places deserve all the help they can get during these times and let's try to support them!

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Takeshi Noodle Bar

Hotel Soloha, 12 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088387

Wednesday to Monday 12-3pm, 5-10.30pm

Closed on Tuesdays

Reservations on Quandoo

food review

Food Review: Luke's Lobsters goes local with 2 new rolls at Great World City, #01-152, Singapore 237994

October 13, 2021

I was invited to try out 2 new local chef collaborations at Luke's Lobster's latest and largest branch at Great World City (the first at Scotts Isetan and the second at Jewel), and man did I jump at the chance to try, having been to Luke's Lobster launch a year back. The new branch at Great World is indeed quite spacious and airy, perfect for a chillax dinner or lunch.

Here's the menu at the store - I think the prices are pretty much the same as the initial launch from 1 year ago. Very minimalistic but straightforward menu!

Here's are the rolls, along with a Clam Chowder (S$11.50) which was chock full of clams and potato chunks and VERY satisfying. It's really one of the most worth it clam chowder you can find in Singapore, I must say.

First up is the Curry Aioli Lobster Roll (S$30.50) which was available from September to mid-October in collaboration with modern Indian restaurant Chef Mano Thevar. Congrats to him for the 1 Michelin star as well! I visited Thevar I think a couple of years back and blogged about them, and felt they were super underrated, so am super glad to see them on the map and doing this collab! The curry aioli roll had the standard 4 oz. of chilled, sustainable and wild-caught lobster tossed in shellfish oil and roasted coconut chutney served on a buttered but with curry aioli, fried shallots, onions, tomatoes and green chilli along with some coriander. It was chock full of flavour and ingredients with every bite, but contrary to my expectations the curry did not overwhelm the lobster flavour, but had a nice spicy undertone. It takes skill to show restraint, and this lobster roll was an example of that. Loved the crispy shallots very much!

And in October till mid-November, they have collaborated with Birds of a Feather chef Eugene See to offer a simple looking but punchy Sichuan Mala Lobster Roll (S$30.50). And contrary again to expectations, this is NOT the kind of mala spice you'll get with the hotpot or stirfry places. Instead, the fresh lobster's cooked with Sichuan pepper oil, powder and preserved mustard greens, soy sauce, black vinegar, imported Dou Ban Jiang (preserved soybean paste), egg yolk, lemon and Birds of a Feather’s signature red chilli oil, and topped with sea salt, more Sichuan peppercorns, chilli and cumin powder. I must say, this roll took my heart away. The curry aioli one was nice, but I do prefer this more delicately spicy rendition. Maybe because it is not THAT spicy as well that I liked it.

I did a TikTok video of my visit and initial taste test, which you can watch here. And do remember to follow me on TikTok if you have an account!

@alexis.cheong
Curry aioli is avail now and Sichuan ver out end of month! 📍Luke's Lobster at Great World City. ##foodie ##foodiesg ##sgfoodie ##foodtiktok ##foodreview
♬ Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

Oh and we each got a Birthday Donut from Mr. Holmes Bakehouse (which opened this year at Pacific Plaza. Me and my friends have already had their cruffins and baked goods several times), because Luke's Lobster turned one and they are also under the same holding company. Wow to opening during the pandemic and thriving to be able to open 2 more branches. So cheers to that!

I'll recommend everyone to go try out my favourite lobster roll shop(s) in Singapore now, collab rolls or not. Thanks Daniel/Messiah and Luke's Lobster for the invite!

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Luke's Lobster

Great World City, #01-152, Singapore 237994

(Near the Zion Road taxi stand)

10am - 9.30pm daily

fine dining

Fine Dining Lunch Review: Clos Pasoh at 48A Bukit Pasoh Rd, Level 2, Singapore 089859

October 12, 2021

It really was quite the bummer when the 2-pax restrictions came back again, but at least we were still able to dine out! I recently went to Clos Pasoh for lunch because I've been wanting to visit this French restaurant for a while now and what better occasion than to have a leisurely Friday afternoon lunch to celebrate very much in advance, a friend's birthday. The restaurant itself's really beautiful. Classy without trying too hard to look hipster, pleasant without being placid.

The bar area looks enticing too! But since we went during weekday lunch it was empty.

This was my view from the corner where we were sat at.

We opted for the Set Lunch, which was reasonably priced at $42 for 2 courses and $49 for 3 and a great way to sample a restaurant's dishes without breaking the bank.

First up, some complimentary sourdough bread. Liked it! But not exactly very mindblowing.

For starters, we got the Duck rillette with foie gras and chargrilled sourdough. The pickled gherkins were a nice touch with the pointy bread (scarcely enough for the generous portion of rilette!) The rilette itself was quite gamey but not offensive.

The star of the meal though had to be this. The Bisque Coco-homard (+S$8) with a rich and creamy coconut & lobster bisque surrounding some delicately made steamed lobster dumpling. They definitely did not scrimp on the ingredients - every mouthful had the essence of the lobster. A must-order when here!

For mains, we each chose something different so we could share. My friend got the Cabillaud à la Dieppoise (+$8) which was cod fish in Dieppoise sauce with mussels, mushrooms & spinach. There are also bits of sakura or tiny shrimp in there which I thought was a bit much, but my friend enjoyed. The cod itself was fresh and bouncy, as expected, and the slightly sour sauce did its best to complement the fish. Well executed and a good choice if you like fish.

However, I did prefer my choice of the Estouffade Provençale, which was slow cooked beef cheek with grilled fennel, red wine & tomato sauce. The beef cheek was of course unbelievably soft and just disintegrates in your mouth, and it's quite rare but I enjoyed the red wine sauce very much. Sometimes I feel like chefs overdo the sauce and it overpowers everything. But here it is like a partner in crime, not so much the mastermind. Get it if you like beef!

Lastly, dessert. Actually my friend knew me so well because when I sent him this place and the menu he immediately circled the Riz au lait. I CANNOT resist French rice pudding. This also had Tonka beans, caramelized peanuts & salted butter caramel. The rice pudding was room temperature, but nicely made though I wish there were some raisins in it. Unfortunately though we made a wrong choice getting the Mousse au chocolat. We thought what could go wrong with a simple chocolate mousse with Guanaja dark chocolate, right? But TBH the mousse had an awful texture that made eating it unpleasant. I'm sorry to be so harsh in my description, but it was one of the WORST chocolate mousse I've ever had of recent times. Please do not order it if you did come across that on the menu, you've been warned!

Overall, the food and experience at Clos Pasoh is a great one (except for the chocolate mousse) and I especially like the lobster bisque and my beef cheeks main. Therefore I'll definitely recommend for anyone to check them out for set lunch first before deciding to go in for their dinner menu (I saw on Google Reviews that the seafood platter is a signature).

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Clos Pasoh

48A Bukit Pasoh Road, Level 2, Singapore 089859

Wednesday to Saturday 11.45am to 11.30pm, Tuesday 4.30pm-11.30pm

Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Reservations on clospasoh.sg or call 69800672

invited review

Food Review: Wild Child Pizzette opens at 50 Circular Rd, Singapore 049405

October 10, 2021

I was invited to try out a new pizzeria in town by The Cicheti Group called Wild Child Pizzette recently and I really enjoyed the dining in experience. Actually I had taken away a couple of pizzas during the nth no-dining in restriction, and they were good, but it just wasn't the same as having it fresh on the spot paired with some delicious wine and beverages. The Wild Child part of the name refers to the creative and free expression by the founders and I suppose the pizzette part refers to the size of the restaurant. It's quite a small seater but had a warm and cosy feel to it (can't wait for music to be back!). Right at the end of the shophouse you'll see the Italian oven that was shipped over and installed, which is a sure sign of awesome wood-fired pizzas, and you can feel the heat emanating from it if one's a bit close.

Here's the menu, which is also quite minute (yay) with just 7 starters and 7 10-inch pizzas to choose from, and 2 desserts. Prices are alright for the quality-assured food and drinks!

We started off with Cauliflower (S$14) which had roasted and charred cauliflower on top of labneh (Israeli greek yogurt) together with some coriander, mint and pistachio. This was a delightful appetiser for being light and bright with a hint of smokiness, and very unconventional as a Mediterranean dish (much like a Wild Child). 4/5

By the way, for each dish we also had a bit of a wine pairing, and each was carefully selected by sommelier and business partner Roland Kamiyama. They were exquisite!

Then we had some Kurobuta (S$17 for 200g, $31 for 400g) which again is not something that's regularly found in a pizzeria. Reminiscent of siew yok, the pork belly was crispy and tender all at once. The Crack Oil (housemade chilli oil) was also fantastic and great as a dip for EVERYTHING. 4/5

We also sampled the Bikini (S$18.50). The term refers to the ham and cheese sandwich from Catalan, Spain but here they have revised it using the slow-fermented pizza dough to encase slow-braised grass-fed beef cheek marmalade and layers of taleggio and provolone. It might not look like much here, but biting into a piece of it was like a umami explosion. So good, I think if not for the carbs, I would say this is the best starter!

Next, the wild take on the classic, traditional Margherita pizza by baking, deep frying and then baking the Crispy Fried Margherita (S$21) again for that extra crisp. It also had all the best ingredients IMO of a pizza - stracciatella, semi-dried San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and aged parmigiana, working together to create an umami symphony in your mouth. I'd say this is still one of my favs of the night! 4.5/5

The Garage Project BEER (S$10) was also a fun one - it tasted exactly like the packaging - uncharacteristic of any style (actually a pilsner) but just beer.

Another pizza we tried was a kale pizza called the Cavolo Nero (S$18.50) made with Tuscan kale, lemon and pickled onions. This sounded wayyy too experimental to me (I can imagine an Italian man recoiling in horror) but strangely it worked. The kale added a green, intense element while the lemon and pickled onions gave it a sour breakthrough. 3.5/5

Funky (in a good way) pizzas should be paired with funky drinks and that's what happened! I especially liked this Motoshibori, Akishika Shuzo (S$16 for 90m), which is a Junmai Yamahai Muroka Nama Moto. That's a long string of words but basically it is unpasteurised and undiluted sake using a traditional yeast starter. Yet it wasn't raw or strong, just fizzy and light with a pleasant rice taste.

The last of our pizzas was something I tried and liked - the Spiniata Calabrese (S$19) that was named after the spicy salami from Calabria with a spicy pepperonicino flavour, and drizzled with Sichuan chilli honey. The pepperoni-salami actually had a bit of a bakwa taste as a result! The chilli honey wasn't spicy at all, nor numbing, so it didn't steal the show. This pizza was fiery, not from the spice, but the combination of heat, oil and char. It paired excellently with an organic rosè from Tavel, a wine-growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France. You'll need to split this pizza with another! This and the Classic Margherita I think would be great for 2 pax.

We ended this delightful tasting with a Pecan Tart (S$13) that's freshly baked daily. I really liked the brown sugar-bourbon pecan pilling with the super boozy whisky gelato (such genius?) along with caramel and bourbon sauce. It's quite rich, and again made for sharing, but I appreciate the alcohol + sugar play. 4/5

We also paired it with some non-alcoholic Sparkling Tea

Overall, Wild Child Pizzette is a great new place to try out some delightful wood-fired, slow-fermented pizza dough with innovative, world flavours be it in the starters or in the drink pairings. I think the fruits of their labour in experimenting in something wild definitely paid off. I'll recommend everyone to drop by and try it for yourself!

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Wild Child Pizzette

50 Circular Road, Singapore 049405

Monday to Saturday 12-2.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm

Closed on Sundays
Reservations on here

Thanks Daniel and Wild Child Pizzette for having me!

food review

Restaurant Review: Firangi Superstar opens at 20 Craig Rd, #01-03, Singapore 089692

October 09, 2021

Touted as a a foreigner's love letter to India, Firangi Superstar is a new modern Indian restaurant that opened in June this year. I made a reservation 2 months in advance to try it out after seeing it on social media (the decor was intriguing!) and modern Indian food is one of those really exciting cuisines that I like as well.

The restaurant's facing Craig Road at Level 1 of Craig Place (just behind Duxton Hill) so you can't miss it.

The entire interior was mysterious... and very dark. Do also note that they require smart casual dressing so no shorts/slippers! I felt like I was being transported to another dimension in the restaurant.

The decor's really quite something. It was obvious a lot of thought went into it. I especially liked the portrait wall.

Gives me the vibe of a colonial tea room.. mixed with a train carriage? The train cabin design is evident in some of the private rooms.

This was one of the few big tables where up to 5 could gather (previously). Rather cosy and intimate but pity no music can be played.

Here's their cocktail menu. They have one page dedicated to just the G&Ts Express. TBH I found the prices a little high but then again, you'll be expecting such prices in 2021 and in Singapore, at such a location.

I got the Chai Ramos Fizz (S$22), pretty to look at but nothing that impressive. Pleasant, a bit tart, gave me a slight buzz!

Here's the menu I took outside cos it really is super dim in there (pardon the pics, too!) The menu was presented like a newspaper, quite interesting. And that's a huge selection of chutney!

We got the 2 for $10 chutney and raita (can't remember which now..I think roasted pistachio was one of them) that came with some papadum. It was a pleasant way to start the meal!

We first tried from their starters list, the Paneer or not (S$24) which saw burrata, alphonso mango cubes and spinach puree combined. I liked how the palak paneer dish got a twist with the softer burrata replacing the cottage cheese. 4/5

I heard the Sacred samosa (S$26) was a must-try, and I have to concur. The wagyu beef tartare sandwiched in samosa crisp with the citrus pickle and bit of caviar was quite the experience. It's sacred because cows are revered in India, I'm guessing. The combination of textures and flavours was one to remember! 4.5/5 In the background (I didn't take a pic) we also got the This is Not Aloo Gobi (S$16) which had cauliflower as couscous with masala compote and crispy potato. Yes indeed, not an aloo gobi though a deconstructed version is quite close. It was yummy as well. 4/5

Another starter, the Bombay Elote (S$14) was an appetiser of grilled baby corn with smokey corn puree and finger lime. This was super appetising - I just love baby corn as starter/side because they have this delectable tiny crunch and clean flavour! 4/5

Then on to the mains! We only had 2 mains between the 4 of us because we weren't fans of lamb (the lamb is supposedly also a must-try). We paired them with the Firangi Naan Basket (S$12) which I think was a choice of black garlic butter, cheese trio or nigella seeds. They were perfectly executed and I think a really good carb accompaniment! 4/5

We gave The Eggplant That Ate Karnataka (S$38), a vegetarian main a go, since tandoori eggplant with sweet and sour puree and vaddai sounded quite intriguing. It was simple but that allowed the flavours to shine through. And we all thoroughly enjoyed the fried dough balls! 4/5

We were hard pressed to find a meat main but finally settled on the Punjabi Frontier (S$17/100g) which had iberico pork chop from the grill along with curried fennel puree and peratal sauce. I don't think I've tried or know what peratal sauce is, but the meat was juicy, fall-off-bone and incredibly delicious! You could even taste a bit of that smokiness from the grill. The sauces were like the backup dancers in a Bollywood movie. Colourful and complements the main lead very well. 4/5

Now dessert was again as mysterious and reinterpreted as the entire restaurant. We got the Chocolate jamun (S$15) with chocolate mousse and rose creme patisserie after the waiter assured us that it is not the typical sweet jamun. Phew. This turned out to be less exotic than it sounded in the menu and quite a standard chocolate mousse. 3/5

The more unique dessert had to be the Mango mousse cake (S$12) with mango-saffron mousse and alphonso tea. That was quite interesting because the white stuff seemed like rice cakes? Anyway it was a good balance with the mango flavour.

They gave us a handmade lolly each after the meal, and a cleansing shot of soup? (tasted a bit like a seafood bisque.. quite strange but hey, open mind!)

Overall, Firangi Superstar was quite the gastronomic journey into Indian culture and food. I like how they reinterpreted it for a modern and experimental approach, though it might be a tad too much especially with the desserts. The only thing that was a bit difficult to swallow as well as the bill, which came up to $130+ each at least! OH and fyi for guys, no shorts or slippers or activewear - attire is smart casual.

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Firangi Superstar
20 Craig Road, #01-03, Singapore 089692
Lunch Monday to Friday 12-2.30pm
Dinner Monday to Saturday 5.30-10.30pm
Closed on Sunday
Reservations on Chope

Lunch review: Takeshi Noodle Bar at 12 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088387

Food Review: Luke's Lobsters goes local with 2 new rolls at Great World City, #01-152, Singapore 237994

Fine Dining Lunch Review: Clos Pasoh at 48A Bukit Pasoh Rd, Level 2, Singapore 089859

Food Review: Wild Child Pizzette opens at 50 Circular Rd, Singapore 049405

Restaurant Review: Firangi Superstar opens at 20 Craig Rd, #01-03, Singapore 089692

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