Verandah Contemporary Asian Bistro

Verandah is very conveniently located at the arrival square of Gardens by the Bay. I especially liked how they took inspiration from the many colonial bungalows of Singapore and dressed the place up in black & white, and with very earthly tones. They had 4 clocks on the wall showing time in Singapore, Jurong Island, Sentosa and Pulau Tekong, which had it's time set earlier than the other 3 because time always passes more slowly for an army boy in Tekong.

Soup of the day - Pumpkin Soup - SGD$7

The pumpkin soup was nicely cooked and was very refreshing.  It did not have a smokey taste, and was smooth and sweet. 

Bacon "Wok-Hei" Aglio Olio - SGD$14.80

Linguine with farm fresh mushrooms, bacon,garlic and olive oil with a serious touch of "Wok Hei"

This asian take on the Aglio Olio was a little too oily. Wok Hei it definitely had though and came with a slight charred taste.

Parma Ham with Avocado - SGD$13.80

Italian parma ham, tomatoes, guacamole, arugula, feta cheese with black pepper & sea salt

The parma ham didn't quite appeal to us. 

Singapore Laksa - SGD$8.80

Rice noodles, prawn, shredded chicken, fishcake, in spicy coconut curry broth

This dish was surprisingly good! The broth was really fragrant and sweet. It wasn't  oily as well and I kept wanting to have more.

Smoked Salmon & Avocado Salad - SGD$15.60

Smoked salmon, avocado, apple, watermelon and salad greens with citrus dressing

This came in a big bowl with 2 very miserable strips of smoked salmon. While it tasted ok, I think my initial disappointment at the lack of salmon kinda killed any excitement for this dish. At $15 bucks, I was definitely expecting more salmon and apples. The citrus flavour did help work up an appetite though.

 Tom Yam Seafood Linguine - SGD$16.80

Linguine with prawns, squid, clams in a dry-style spicy Tom Yam sauce

This dish was pretty neutral. It was a little salty and had a slight powdery texture, but the tom yam flavour was an interesting twist to the dish. The portions of seafood was quite generous also. The noodles were probably cooked a little longer than usual so that it would resemble asian noodles better in terms of softness, without being soggy.

Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles - SGD$9.80

Rice vermicelli, egg noodles, fish cake, squid & prawns (contains pork)

If you're expecting the usual Fried Hokkien Mee you find at your usual hawker stall, you're going to be disappointed. This dish was very ordinary and lacked any sort of fragrance you usually get from those cooked in the chinese wok. It was very watery and could easily be mistaken for a different dish.  

Kid's Fish & Chippy Box - SGD$12.80

Fish fingers, french fries, fresh fruit and jello

While the fish was forgettable, the fries were actually very nicely fried. The perfect nibble size and we were all stealing B's fries because they were so tasty.

Overall we liked the the ambiance very much and the fact that it's in a garden makes it very relaxing. The large french windows allows for an unblocked view of the trees and lets lots of light in as well. Greenery is always a plus for us and the big space means the kid's get to run about without us having the keep such a close eye on them. The weather that day was really nice as well. I would definitely return for the Laksa. Just to note, the waffles (not pictured) is not worth trying as well.

Verandah

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore

Le Cuisson @ Holland Drive

UPDATE: They have since shifted to
44 Prinsep Street, Prinsep Place, Singapore 188673


French cuisine in an unassuming coffee shop at Holland Drive. It's pretty easy to miss actually.

The price of French food always seems to put people off, so it's always great to be able to find affordable French food that's catered to the masses.

Foie Gras Salad - The apple bits were the most memorable actually. The foie gras was a little salty, but the salad dressing was quite good. For the price you're paying, the portion was very reasonable. Mushroom Pasta + Truffle Oil (add SGD$1 for truffle oil)- This was pretty tasty and I liked how it was a little creamy. Would order this again.  Australian Barramudi (SGD$13) - Not a fan of fish but this was pretty decent as well. The base mash was smooth and creamy, with corn and cherry compote. If you're a fish fan, do give this a try.

 The bill was less than SGD$30 but we both agreed that we probably will not be make a special effort to go there for a meal, unless we're in the area. Otherwise the food was decent and we liked the area very much. The fact that it's set in in a Kopitiam is pretty interesting as well (self service). Walkable from both Holland V and Buona Vista.

La Cuisson

40 Holland Drive

44 Prinsep Street, Prinsep Place, Singapore 188673
Tue - Fri: 5:30pm - 11:00pm
Sat: 10:00am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 11:00pm
Sun: 10:11am - 2:30pm

Broth @ Duxton Hill

Broth - Bar Restaurant On The Hill. An interesting name i guess, since they are at the top of Duxton Hill, nicely nestled at the quieter end. Called for a reservation around 5, and was surprised they managed to seat all 7 of us on a Friday night, although only outside. Nonetheless, we decided to give it a try. It's on the right side should you be walking from the public carpark, just opposite L'entrecote.

Named Broth, but really has nothing much to do with broth. Housed in a old shophouse, the high celings  and bookshelves remind more of a New York cafe. The interior is pretty bar/bistro like and definitely very cozy.

Here's the menu that I got off their website.

Appetizers

  Third of a Dozen Oyster Fritters w Wasabi mayo & Lemon Wedge - SGD$19

 The sauce was quite refreshing, and the oysters were fresh too.

Baby Spinach & Portobello Mushroom Salad w Shallots & Raspberry Dressing - SGD$19

The mushrooms were a little too dry for our liking. Other than that, the shallots were a great accompaniment to the baby spinach. The raspberry sauce also went very well with the mushrooms, making this a great appetizer.

 

Asparagus & Spring Pea Risotto w Melting Smoked Cheddar & Truffled Egg - SGD$19

 Undisputedly the best dish that night. It had a slight smoky taste, and the semi-cooked egg was really good also. Wish they had this as a main.

 

Duck, Hazelnut, Prune & Ham Terrine, w Liver Dressing, Cress Salad & Lavoche - SGD$19

Pretty normal. Nothing memorable.

Pan Fried Foie Gras w Salted Caramel Apple, Toasted Almonds & Croissant - SGD$29

 Had high hopes for this one since we like foie gras. Slightly disappointed as the foie gras was overcooked, with a slight charred taste and didn't really really melt in your mouth. The caramel apple instead was the highlight of this dish.

Main Course

Molasses Glazed Pork Ribs, Pumpkin, Sesame & Coriander Slice, Spring Salad - SGD$39

As unappealing as this looks, it was actually not bad. The meat was soft and nicely flavoured by the sauce.

Garoupa Fillet w Carrot Chutney, Cameron Green Veg & Mandarine Oil - SGD$39

 The fish was nicely grilled with a hint of sweetness. It was fresh and appetizing, but tasted a little more Chinese than Australian though.

Prawn & Salmon Pie w Mashed Potato, Spring Vegetable & Crisp Puff Pastry - SGD$39

 A disappointment as it tasted really fishy. I can imagine this dish being quite delicious if the seafood was done right. Not too sure why since they pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients.

Lamb Loin in A Green Coat On Fine Beans, Rosemary Potatoes & Mint Jus - SGD$45

This was a highly recommended dish from all the reviews that I had read. Chose for this to be medium done and the texture of the lamb was good. However, taste wise it didn't live up to our expectations.  The mint was also a little overpowering even though mutton is know to have a strong taste.

  

Pasta of the Day - Aglio Olio w Seafood & Spinach - SGD$38

The portion was huge, enough to feed 2 or more people. The cheese in the pasta probably made this a little strong tasting. Seafood included prawns, fish and crab meat. Again, was pretty normal.

Desserts

L: Omfg Chocolate, R: Sticky Date Pudding w Butterscotch Sauce & Ice Cream

 The biscuit like chocolate/sugar  of the Omfg chocolate went well with the ice cream, but was clearly lacking in the chocolate department. I was expecting a really rich chocolaty moist cake, but both cakes were a little too dry.

Overall the food was a little disappointing and mediocre, but the ambiance and decor made up for it.  It was nice being seated outside, along the pebbled street in the midst of old restored shophouses. A little nostalgic for my parents, who started talking about how it looked exactly like my mother's old house. If the weather were cooler, it would have been a perfect dining spot. One off the list for Duxton.

Parco Caffe

Finally checked Parco Caffe out after so long! The people behind Parco are the same ones behind Spruce and Alkaff Mansion. While I have not been to Alkaff Mansion, I prefer Parco Caffe to Spruce mainly because the place is less crowded. Food wise, it's great as well, better than Spruce IMHO. The restaurant is in Raeburn Park, behind Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. I see this building a lot while driving on the ECP, but never knew there was a restaurant there.

Parco means park in Italian, and is the main theme of the restaurant. The idea is to allow for a relaxing dining experience amidst lush greenery, almost like you're dining in an outdoor garden. I really liked the huge space and how there is quite a bit of natural light coming in. The indoor 'outdoor' garden dining table makes you feel like you're sitting in a garden during spring time, enjoying a nice comfy meal.

Brunch and all day dining available on weekends and public holidays

 Foie Gras & Wild Mushroom - SGD$21

2 poached farm eggs, seared foie gras, Sauteed Hoishimeiji mushroom and Hollandaise Sause

2 things I like on the same plate! Foie gras was nicely seared and melted in your mouth, while the poached eggs were nicely runny and smooth. The mushrooms were a nice accompaniment to the otherwise richness of this dish.

Focaccia and Parma Ham - SGD$18

2 Poached Farm Eggs on Grilled Focaccia, Parma Ham, Hollandaise Sauce, Jerusalem Artichokes Chips and Cold Gazpacho

Gelato with berries - SGD$14

Waffle with your choice of ice cream, maple syrup and whipped cream + berries

Berries Lovers Parco Waffles - SGD$12

Waffle with Mixed Forest Berries, Honey and Whipped Cream

Classic Parco Pancake Delight - SGD$9

3 Pancakes topped with Maple Syrup, Honey, Butter

Pancakes were a little bland. Definitely very normal.

Parco Proscuitto e Melone Salad - SGD$18

Mixed Letttuce Salad with Sliced Rock Melon, Green Apple and crispy Parma Ham in Lemon Dressing

While the menu says 'crispy', I found that it wasn't so. It was just plain ol' parma ham goodness with melon. Sometimes the simple dishes are the best.

Mushroom and Potatoes Cream Soup - SGD$12

This cream of mushroom had finely chopped mushroom bits in it and was decent, but not exceptional.

Parco Beef Burger - SGD$25

Parco 100% Australian Beef served with Sesame Burger Bun, Taleggioe Cheese, Onion, Rocket Salad and Truffle Fries

Linguine alle Vongole - SGD$18

Clam, Garlic, Chilli and White Wine Sauce 

 This dish was really good! Noodles were not too soft, and the white wine was just nice. Very savoury. Clams were fresh and overall this dish was nicely done. Definitely order again.

Parco Caffe Tagliatelle sull' Anatra - SGD$23

Homemade Tagliatelle served with 24hours Marinated Duck, Mixed Vegetables and Black Olives

Parco Caffe Chocolate Lava - SGD$12

Dark Molten Chocolate Lava Cake served with Vanilla Gelato

 Pretty decent too. Nice rich chocolate and vanilla doesn't go wrong.

 Not too sure what this is called, but it was pretty good.

The do offer a nice selection of fine wines and apéritifs as well (left of picture), so if you're looking for a nice quiet place for meal and drinks after, this is a very convenient option.

 Parco Caffe gets the thumbs up from us. Big space, check. Good food, check. Easy + Complimentary parking, check (if you spend above $25 if I'm not wrong). The food was simple and nice, and not too made up. Loved the indoor garden setting, and is perfect for an idyllic afternoon of relaxing. Would definitely recommend this place.