Posts Tagged ‘indian food’

Raffles Hotel Tiffin Room–Delicious Indian Buffet

January 2nd, 2016 365days2play

I have stepped into Raffles Arcade countless times, but not so the actual interiors of the illustrious Raffles Hotel. So it was without hesitation that I accepted an invitation to check out the Tiffin Room at Raffles Hotel. The Tiffin Room serves a North Indian buffet, including vegetarian curries for non-meat eaters. Interestingly, Raffles Hotel’s afternoon tea service is also served at the Tiffin Room and not somewhere else.  Did you know that Raffle’s Hotel Tiffin Room was officially named so way back in 1976?

I’d been to Tiffin Room once with my parents, many years ago, could probably have been a decade ago! I remembered it to be a posh place with lots of delicious curries to choose from and I found it difficult to try every single curry because everything was so delicious and there was just no more space in the stomach! Well, nothing much has changed a decade later, it’s like stepping back in time when I revisited the Tiffin Room a few weeks ago.

Tiffin Room

Curries and other Indian dishes are still the stronghold here, and aside from the salad and cheese bar, don’t be expecting other types of cuisine here. That’s not a problem for me because I love Indian food, but if you don’t, I’d say go with an open mind and you might just be delighted.

Tiffin Room -Kalmi Kebab (Tandoor Baked Boneless Chicken Flavored with Cinnamon Stick and Bay Leaf)

Kalmi Kebab (Tandoor Baked Boneless Chicken Flavored with Cinnamon Stick and Bay Leaf)

One of my favourite dishes of the evening as the chicken drumsticks were succulent and really tender with just a bit of charred taste.

Tiffin Room - Murg Makhanwala (Butter Chicken in Smooth Tomato Sauce)

Murg Makhanwala (Butter Chicken in Smooth Tomato Sauce)

I must say all the curries I tasted were fantastic. Even if you just had the curry itself without the ingredients, I could have finished half a plate of rice just with that.

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D’Bell – Stylish Indian restaurant in the CBD

August 7th, 2014 365days2play

D’Bell, a contemporary Indian-inspired restaurant and bar located in the heart of Singapore’s trendy North Canal Road has opened its doors. Diners can look forward to a chic and modern dining experience of light Indian-influenced offerings and classic cocktails amidst D’Bell’s stylish and luxe interiors.

I must say, my 1st impression of D’Bell was that it struck me more as an upmarket Western restaurant as most Indian restaurants that I am used to are rather traditional looking or casual looking. Prices seem quite reasonable in comparison to the other Indian restaurants.

D'Bell

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Curry GardenN

September 16th, 2013 365days2play

While we’re on the topic of PasarBella, here’s a quick post on where we had lunch after our visit to PasarBella. PasarBella takes up a huge section of The Grandstand (the former Turf City), but there is more to The Grandstand than just PasarBella. Just after you exit PasarBella’s inner exit, you will reach what I dub the restaurant row. We had lunch at Curry GardenN, an Indian casual eatery, but there are many more eateries to choose from such as MAD – Modern Asian Diner, Omakase Burger, Restaurant Hoshigaoka, The Ascot and even Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant! Click here for the directory of the full list of restaurants, cafes and other stores at The Grandstand.

Anyway, here’s what we had at the Curry GardenN. Prices are really affordable and you can definitely get a good meal for under $10. In fact, some of the items are just above foodcourt prices I feel. Of course, Curry GardenN’s not a fancy restaurant, quite no frills in fact, if you sit in the air-conditioned area. I’d actually recommend sitting at the al-fresco area, which seems to have a nicer ambience. At least you can stare at the abundant tall wild-grass plants in the courtyard next to Curry GardenN. You can’t see the al-fresco area from outside of Curry GardenN, so it was a nice surprise for us when we entered the restaurant.

Curry GardenN (2)

This is the al-fresco area of Curry GardenN

Curry GardenN (5)

I can’t remember now but I think I ordered the plain naan with mutton curry. Mutton curry was slightly disappointing, as you can see there is hardly any meat, and most of the solid things in the curry were bone. The curry itself was rather nice though.

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Food Republic at 112 Katong – Rice and more

April 20th, 2012 365days2play

*Media Invite*

Ju Shin Jung Korean Cuisine Stall Mixed Vegetables Rice in Hot Stone $7.80

Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Ju Shin Jung Korean Cuisine Stall Mixed Vegetables Rice in Hot Stone $7.80

Ju Shin Jung started out as a simple family business in Korea, which has now expanded to 3 full fledged restaurants in Singapore, with Ju Shin Jung at 112 Katong being their first express counter. I have always liked Bi Bim Bap aka Mixed Vegetables Rice due to the colourful assortment of vegetables and the mandatory raw egg right in the middle. But, when compared to Thunder Tea rice, Bi Bim Bap $$$ is on the high side, and when compared to Chinese mixed rice, this is a few times more expensive. But I guess that’s the price to pay when you want to savour non Singaporean dishes. This Bi Bim Bap was a little special as the rice was purple in colour! I forgot to ask them the reason for the colour, but the rice tasted pretty much like white rice, perhaps just a little bit fluffier.

Dapur Padang Stall Nasi Kuning set $6.90

Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Dapur Padang Stall Nasi Kuning set $6.90

What you see here is Nasi Padang, which is a traditional Indonesian cuisine. I love the way they presented the dish, don’t you find it so appetising? When you order the Nasi Kuning set, it will also be presented this way, minus the little cap on the top of the rice. Speaking of the rice, it is nice tasting but a little on the hard side, perhaps due to the fact that it was pressed into a conical shape. Of all the dishes, I found the mutton to be the most outstanding. It was supremely tender and every mouthful had the melt in the mouth sensation. Mutton tends to be stringy but this wasn’t at all. The pile of cracker looking thing on the right bottom is a pile of crispy potato and tempeh (fermented bean). I’d never had anything like it before. It was on the sweet side but I loved the crunchy texture!

Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Stall Chicken Rice with Dumpling set $6.50Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Stall Chicken Rice with Dumpling set $6.50

I think chicken rice fanatics should be pretty familiar with the name Wee Nam Kee. The flagship store is located at 275 Thomson Road, opposite the Novena Church. Rings a bell now? The restaurant was also invited to participate in the Singapore Day in Shanghai. I can imagine all the homesick Singaporeans lining up to taste Singapore’s most famous local dish! The Wee Nam Kee stall at 112 Katong is actually a mini restaurant within the food court. You can order stuff like cereal prawns, assam fish head and chilli crab amongst other things. Hey I would have liked to try the chilli crab, how come we only got to try the chicken rice???

Indian Express Stall Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan $9

Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Indian Express Stall Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan $9 (2) Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Indian Express Stall Butter Chicken with Garlic Naan $9

Have you heard of the Song of India restaurant? I’ve never been there but I love Indian food and I know that it can get expensive dining in an Indian restaurant. Now you can try the dishes without paying through your nose at Indian Express, which is owned by the Song of India. I tell you, that Naan looked absolutely beautiful when it arrived at the table. It had such an appetising and glossy sheen. Went so well with the butter chicken curry. The butter chicken curry would appeal to tomato lovers as there is a strong sweet tomato flavour too. Will definitely be back.

Fragrant Hot Pot Stall Hot Pot Ma La Triple Set $21.90Food Republic @ 112 Katong - Fragrant Hot Pot Stall Hot Pot Ma La Triple Set $21.90

Ok this Ma La Hot Pot, I will only recommend to my enemies. The dish was so so so so so so spicy that just eating 1 sliver of cabbage was enough to make me surrender! Luckily I was warned by the victims before me or else I shudder to think what would happen. In that 1 sliver of vegetable, I did detect a very strong peppercorn and peanutty taste in the broth. Unfortunately I am unable to comment beyond this for obvious reasons. I am told that Fragrant Hot Pot originates from Beijing and the Hot Pot is widely popular with Chinese nationals. What you do at this stall is that you choose the individual ingredients that you want, kind of like how you choose your yong tau foo items. The items will be weighed and you will be charged accordingly. They have lots of meat and vegetable dishes to choose from.

Pepper Lunch Stall Pepper Steak $15.90Food Republic @ 112 Katong -Pepper Lunch Stall Pepper Steak $15.90

Pepper Lunch is the 2nd mini restaurant within Food Republic. To be frank, I have never liked Pepper Lunch. I find it to be a novelty feature that I have to cook the steak myself. It is different from steamboat because if you ruin or overcook something, its a small item and there are many more items in your steamboat anyway. Ruin or overcook this steak, and there goes your lunch. Besides, I like my steaks to be medium rare. Maybe the 1st piece is fine but by the time I reach the last piece, the steak would have been well done. The one and only time I ate at Pepper Lunch, I found myself hurrying to eat the steak, and as a result I burnt my tongue. Not a very good impression eh.

Read more about Food Republic at 112 Katong Mall

https://365days2play.com/2012/04/20/food-republic-at-112-katong-snacks-and-drinks/

https://365days2play.com/2012/04/20/food-republic-at-112-katong-oodles-of-noodles/

https://365days2play.com/2012/04/20/food-republic-at-112-katong-rice-and-more/

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British Indian @ 1 Shenton Way

August 30th, 2011 365days2play

**British Indian has changed its name to Anglo Indian**

It’s no secret that I love exploring the sights and sounds of Shenton Way. Working here may be dreary, but visiting Shenton Way as a tourist sure is fun. I highly recommend taking a stroll along this part of Singapore, if you don’t already work here. Even if you do, come here during off peak hours and you might spy a side of Shenton Way you never knew existed.

Since it was my day off yesterday, I took the opportunity to pose as a tourist. It sure helps to wear casual clothes and tot a fat ass camera amongst the suit and tie types. The One Shenton Way Building has a number of new eateries to offer. Yup, that’s the gold coloured building which can be seen from the ECP. To think that just a few years ago, this place was so run down you wouldn’t think twice about going there. I should know, I used to work opposite One Shenton Way!

British Indian - Seating Area

We walked past The Bank (yes it is a restaurant), past Sumo Salad, past Jewel Coffee and finally stopped at this most charming restaurant called British Indian Cafe & Bar. Even though I’d originally set out to find a nice sandwich place, British Indian really caught my eye. Prices looked pretty affordable so we sat down for lunch.

British Indian - Chicken, Mutton, Daal and Fish Curry

They offer set lunches Monday to Friday from about 11 – 2.30pm. For $12, you can get choose a meat or vegetarian curry of the day plus daal, salad, naan and rice. For $15, you can choose 2 curries (no daal) plus salad, naan, rice and also a dessert. It was 2.35pm but the staff gladly obliged to extend the set lunch offer to us.

Turns out that there were only 3 curries of the day so it was a great idea to get 1 $12 set lunch and 1 $15 set lunch. That way, we got to sample all 3 curries in addition to the daal, without having to repeat any dish.

Picture above shows Chicken curry, Mutton Curry, Daal and Fish Curry from left to right.

British Indian - Two Meat curry set lunch

The highlight of the entire meal has got to be the fish curry. The curry was so tasty! It was light, with a tomato based flavour and was of just the right spiciness for me. The fish slices were so tender and I wished there was more of it! Between the 2 of us, we mopped up the entire dish and I very nearly wanted to lick the bowl clean as well.

British Indian - Two Meat curry set lunch (2)

The mutton curry was also very tasty, and heavier than the fish curry. There were huge bits of mutton in the dish, more than the fish slices I feel. Curry went really well with the rice as well as the naan. Only grouse was that the mutton curry was a bit too spicy for me or I would also have finished the entire bowl.

The daal and the chicken curry were unfortunately just average when compared with the fish and mutton curry. Didn’t really like the buttery chicken curry.

British Indian - The Salad

This was the salad that came with the set. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen macaroni served in an Indian meal before. I’d much rather they provide a cucumber raita, I love those!

Is it just me or do you find that a macaroni salad seems oddly western for an Indian restaurant. Then again, they do call themselves British Indian. In fact, the next time I’m here, I’m going to order the British Connection (aka fish and chips). Comes with madras curry sauce. Fish and Chips with curry sauce will be a first for me in Singapore and I’m actually really looking forward to having that.

British Indian - Naan

Four slices of naan were served along with the meal, in addition to the steamed rice. I love it that I don’t have to choose between rice or naan because the fact is that I love both! The naan and the rice served here were fragrant and tasty. No complaints at all.

British Indian - Gulub Jamun (2)

And last but not least, the Gulab Jamun dessert. Gulab Jamun is a dough made of milk solids and flour, deep fried and dunked in a rose and spice flavoured syrup. I think a lot of people may find this dessert too sweet, but I think it’s absolutely delicious! I can’t say that I’ve eaten many versions of Gulab Jamun so I can’t tell if this is the best or near the best, but whatever the case, I thoroughly enjoyed the dessert. To the extent that I really wanted to order some more! Delicious, mmmmm!!!

British Indian - Gulub Jamun

Why is it so tiny?!?!

British Indian - Seating Area (3)-horz

Love the big open space dining concept. You can also sit in the air-conditioned restaurant, but no one did so for obvious reasons. Love it that it was a cloudy and drizzly day yesterday, it just made me feel like I wasn’t even in Singapore! British Indian is right opposite the Singapore Stock Exchange. Can you see the reflection of One Shenton on the facade of SGX?

Jewel coffee (2)

And after your curry, you can hop on to Jewel Coffee for the mandatory afternoon cuppa. Coffees aren’t cheap in Shenton Way! A flat white will set you back $5.50! I’d forgotten how expensive things are in the central business district!

The Bank (2)

You could rob The Bank, but alas, it isn’t open yet.

Seriously, how cute is that??? I wonder if the owners were former bankers.

For a full list of restaurant and cafe reviews, click here.

British Indian Cafe & Bar

1 Shenton Way, #01-08, Singapore 068803

Tel/Fax : +65 6636-9410

Email: BIcafebar@hotmail.com

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