artistry cafe, bugis

great tiny little cafe just on the edge of the trendy haji lane vicinity – guys, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to come here. out of the slew of cafes that popped up in the initial mushrooming (now it’s like a never-ending landslide of such spaces), this one caught my eye with all the positive reviews.

but I had to wait until the hype ended (and then some) before I managed to swing by, and it, well, is decent. the food is decent, the portions are decent, and there’s a chocolate peanut butter cake. definitely visit-able.

feedlot steakhouse bar & grill, tanglin

pretty meh food at this steakhouse – with only a couple of dishes moving past that meh – in the tanglin post office. this place certainly looks inviting, big patio and sophisticated dark interiors, but you’re probably better off food-wise with some brunch from the nassim hill bakery, or even cooking your own with goods from that delightful swiss butchery upstairs.

I don’t know what it is about this place – the food is pretty adequate, but it doesn’t seem anything special at all, and certainly options abound if you’re looking for something better. it’s good if you’re in the area, but otherwise not quite worth the effort.

the missing pan, bukit timah

one of the better brunch places in the new morass of food establishments – how do they keep popping up?! – with generous portions, good cooking, and a beautiful space (and bad ventilation, though that depends on where you’re sitting). I’m very pleased with this place – I haven’t left so full and satisfied after brunch for a long time, service is mostly prompt and food comes quickly, and prices aren’t crazy.

very good, and well worth a visit.

ps.cafe, orchard paragon

it’s my birthday today! so while I can’t show you (yet) what I’ll be eating later today to celebrate – let’s talk cake! I’ve done this place a couple times, and usually only for cake and dessert – brunch is expensive here (as are the cakes, actually) – especially since they do a mean steamed pudding.

black angus steakhouse, orchard parade hotel

some days, it’s about the restaurants that never let you down. have a great weekend, y’all!

x

Black Angus Steakhouse
Orchard Parade Hotel
Singapore 247905
tel +65 6734 1181

p.s. previous review here.

grub, bishan

I’m adding this to my list of unimpressive brunch places – and this one is rather akin to the experience I had at the fabulous baker boys. both are located in rather beautiful buildings in a park-type environment, both have the same brunch hype going for it, and both didn’t quite live up to potential.

da paolo bistrobar, rochester park

picture-perfect, beautifully plated brunch food at da paolo’s outpost in rochester park – it’s a little expensive, but the flavors are adequate; so this place escapes the bimbotic states of some places I’ve been to (by which I mean looks masking a lack of substance), and becomes a decent place for a relaxing meal away from the city.

paddington house of pancakes, farrer park

surprisingly satisfying pancakes-and-all-that-flap(jack) at this malaysian chain outpost in the rather quiet sprawl of the city square mall. this place jumped right out of the radar because of my love for the eponymous breakfast food – but I resisted going for a while because it seemed rather too good to be true (and I got caught up in the new brunch places): my dream is for IHOP to set up in this tiny island, and this seemed a rather fortuitous manifestation of it.

but suffice to say that we were pleased when we finally came – the selection is huge, our dishes pretty much deftly executed diner-style, and we left with full bellies (and only-slightly lighter wallets).

blackbird cafe, dhoby ghaut

surprisingly good brunch food at this hideaway near the cathay. we had just caught a screening of the hunger games (no. 2), and boy, have you guys watched it? it’s incredibly exciting – though I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to thrillers and action flicks – and it seemed a good spot for brunch.

the food was good, prices reasonable – a much better option than one caramel that was previously here, in my estimation. and, it’s not overrun by hipsters or noisy teenagers – which makes brunch here the relaxing meal it ought to be.

the fabulous baker boy, clarke quay

gorgeous space, beautiful-looking food – but a complete disappointment in the tasting.

the fabulous baker boy ain’t so fabulous, really.