Blackball

Hailing all the way from Taiwan, this dessert stall has customers swarming at its counter. I couldn't resist the temptation as well and decided to get a bowl to try it out myself.

<Blackball Signature>

Consisting of grass jelly, black sugar ice shavings, yamQ, yam balls, golden sweet potatoes, sweet potato balls, red bean and pearls. It was an explosion of senses and taste. This dessert is really tasty and refreshing. The one that really stood out for me was the black sugar ice shavings. You only get it if you request for "Icy" style dessert.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Good
Cost - $2.5 to $5
Overall - Must try!

Address
112 East Coast Road, 112 Katong, #02-27 S428802
http://www.blackball.com.sg

Opening Hours
11am to 10pm

Charly T's

Charly T's. A restaurant that I walked past quite a few times but never really thought about trying as it always seemed so empty. But after reading a positive article on a certain day, I decided to try it.

 <Chef Special - Grilled Seabass>

Tasted very normal. The sauce that accompanied it was bland and uninspiring. Nothing really stood out in this dish.

<Grilled Chicken - Original>

The grilled chicken is their specialty. I ordered the original recipe along with 2 sides, mac & cheese and German potato salad. The mac & cheese was disappointing and the potato salad was so-so. The sauces that came with the chicken didn't match it at all. The chicken was better on it own and which was in fact quite tasty. You could taste the marinade all the way through in every part of the it. The spices on the chicken skin also made it quite delectable. Overall, I would rate it above average or just as good as Nandos.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Average
Cost - $15 to $20
Overall - Okay at best

Address
112 East Coast Road #03-15, I12 Katong, Singapore 428802
http://www.charlyts.com

Opening Hours
11.30am to 9.30pm

Ootoya Japanese Restaurant

 <Soy Bean with Gula Melaka>

It totally caught my attention on the menu and thus, I ordered it. It didn't disappoint. The soy bean drink came unsweetened and you are in full control of how sweet you want it to be. I ended up pouring all the gula melaka in and to my surprise, it didn't over power the soy bean. Instead, it gave it a fragrance I've never had before. I will definitely order this again when I visit Ootoya.

 <Saba Fish Set Meal>

This was my wife's order. She usually eats saba fish every time she visits a Japanese restaurant, duhz... The saba wasn't fishy and it was tasty. The condiments that came with it were also good.

<Charcoal Grilled Chicken with 5 grain rice>

This was recommended by a good friend of mine. It normally comes with normal white rice, but I had it changed to 5 grain rice. Didn't really find the rice special, it was just okay. But the grilled chicken... it was really really good. It has an awesome charred taste to it, the meat was still succulent and the skin is crispy and fat-free!

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Good
Cost - $12 to $20
Overall - Try it

Address
5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #01-30/31 Changi City Point

Opening Hours
11.30am to 9pm

Ruth's Chris Steak House

<Ruth's Chop Salad>

An example of a perfectly executed salad. Fresh ingredients checked, texture checked, temperature checked, dressing checked. It has the soft, the crunch, the hot, the cold, kick of flavour from lemon basil dressing and the pungence of blue cheese.

<BBQ Shrimps>

These shrimps were an add-on to the steak we had. Pretty normal, should have gone for the blue crab cake.

 <Porterhouse Steak>

The main highlight. The steak was well executed just as was during my first visit. This porterhouse steak was truly sumptuous. My dad preferred this over Mortons because of the buttery taste. For me, I still prefer Mortons for its dry aged cuts.

 <Grilled Portobello Mushroom>

What a huge serving. The mushrooms were juicy and seasoned nicely. Along with tomatoes and fresh boiled vegetables, it is a good alternative for those who doesn't prefer meat for the night but still be able to enjoy a quality meal.

 <Cheesecake>

Simply divine! This is officially now my favourite cheesecake. The crust on the outside has a good texture, not too hard and not too crumbly. I know it taste kinda like mcvities biscuits, but that is how I love them and with added butter. The cheese within is also awesome. Velvety and creamy but not yet overpowering. Without a doubt, their signature dessert is a standout. But be sure to share, it is quite heavy.

Verdict
Ambience - Good
Food - Great
Cost - $100 to $150
Overall - Worth a try

Address
6 Raffles Boulevard, 4th Level, Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore 39594
http://www.ruthschris.com/Restaurant-Locations/singapore

Opening Hours
Lunch: 11:30am-3pm
Dinner: 5:30pm-11pm

Han's

<Club Sandwich>

I never thought I would blog about Han's. But this Club Sandwich blew me away. Within the triple decker of toasted wheat bread, there lies a generous bed of bacon, ham, fried egg, tomato, cucumber, cheese and lettuce. Everything was spot on. Its just a little messy to eat. Overall, I prefer Han's breakfast menu over their lunch and dinner ones.

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Average
Cost - $5 to $12
Overall - Try it!

Address
5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #01-51/52/53 Changi City Point
http://www.hans.com.sg/hans.html

Opening Hours
7am to 10am

Brunetti

 <Truffle Fries>

Delicious! Crispy on the outside, fluffy and moist on the inside.The taste of truffle is just about right. It is quite a huge portion, so remember to share it with a good buddy~

 <Baked Red Snapper>

To be honest, the fish wasn't very nice. It is quite fishy and slightly overcooked in my opinion. The sauteed mushrooms though, was heavenly. There are probably 2 different types of mushrooms, Oyster and Button.

<Seafood Pasta>

Prawns, fish and mussels. All of it were fresh. But what a let down... it lacks the usual spicy kick I usually correlate to Aglio Olio style pastas. I suppose this is a true authentic Italian type of Aglio Olio?

Verdict
Ambience - Average
Food - Average
Cost - $18 to $30
Overall - Try it at your own risk (Expensive!)

Address
163 Tanglin Road #01-35/36, Tanglin Mall, Singapore 247933
http://www.brunetti.com.au/Singapore

Opening Hours
8am to 9pm