i never knew this outlet of CJLMXLB served a steamboat and dim sum a la carte buffet ($18+++ per pax for weekday after 830pm) until my mates brought me here. it sounded almost too good to be true, considering that your typical bugis steamboat buffets are almost around that price and here you get air conditioned comfort, much better hygiene plus dimsum/desserts/drinks on top of steamboat fare.

there's only a small selection of dim sum under the buffet but it includes xiao long baos, and i happen to think that CJ serves the best in sg. hence, for xiao long bao fans, you don't need to hesitate!

for the steamboat, we had a yuan yang steamboat pot of century egg and coriander soup and pork bone and corn soup. prawns are limited (only about 3 per pax, very fresh tho) but everything else is free flow. i felt the meat cuts were just ok though my mates lapped up the pork/lamb slices. there wasn't a wide variety of seafood for the steamboat but to be fair all in all it was enough and the quality was decent.

for dessert, the osmanthus jelly was light but moreish and the almond tofu was surprisingly good. you also get free flow of home-made drinks unlike the crappy syrup drinks at standard steamboat buffets.

there aren't many decent places u can dine in in orchard that doesn't cost an arm and leg. hence, oriole cafe&bar is indeed a pleasant addition to the 'hood, with its wallet friendly nothing-over-$15 menu.

3 mates and i had:

2 x fish and chips - this was really good. tasty and flaky snapper fish in place of the usual cod/dory. the thick cut fries came tossed with parsley flakes and parmesan (!), very unique.
seafood risotto - not bad but nothing too memorable.
beef cheeks tagliatelle in red wine sauce - beef was very tender, the pasta was al dente and the sauce was yummy rich. however it wasn't served piping hot so halfway through the meal the pasta turned cold which hindered my appreciation for it.
chocolate fudgecake with vanilla ice cream - my friends approached this like vultures so i barely got to try it. must have been pretty good!
iced mocha - i'm not a coffee drinker but i actually liked it. not too sweet and you can tell the coffee/chocolate used are of quality.
iced mocha with mint - this was good too but i prefer the original flavour, just because it's good enough on it's own.

the ambience of the cafe was very conducive for conversation and lounging on a saturday afternoon with the mates. service was helpful but not intrusive. interior's cosy too, with lotsa wood, welcoming sofas and shelves of cookbooks. i'm definitely returning =)

i ordered 3 things when i was here on a recent friday.

1) mango sago with pomelo - decent, but pales in comparison to the ones you get in HK or even some good canto restaurants here.
2) pulut hitam with vanilla ice cream - tasteless. don't bother.
3) aloe vera with lime and honey - now, this was strange. it was the most BITTER thing i have ever eaten. it was so bitter i almost teared. i thought the food went bad and wanted to return it, but my friends insisted that it could be just the honey or the rotten lime.

perhaps i didn't order their more popular items such as steamed milk pudding, peanut/sesame paste, etc but what i had was really nothing to shout about.

have heard abt SG&P for years, but never got down to trying it since it's so out of the way. finally came with the bf ytd for a pre-dinner snack since i had a buffalo wings craving. the view from where we sat (outdoors, overlooking the runway) was surreal - it's definitely a place to bring your date if she doesn't mind feeding mozzies and the unique run-down feel of a bygone era. however, the food was really blah. i came with high hopes for the buffalo wings ($18.90 for half dozen), but they were really nothing to shout abt. too wet, too one-dimensional (just spicy) and not exactly authentic (no blue cheese dip!). disappointing =( u can find much better buffalo wings everywhere in the US. the nachos ($17.90) fared better tho - served with salsa, chilli con carne, sour creme and piping hot cheese. some props: service was pretty good, they don't charge service/gst and beer was decently priced at $5.50 a mug. when we left, there was a looong queue, so do make a reservation if you're planning to come on a saturday evening.

my friends and i have been loyal fans of timbre for the past 4 years because of the bands that play there but ytd probably sealed the deal for me - am not ever going back.

the band was supposed to play at 1015 but we arrived at around 730 because reservations were full (it was a saturday) and we were advised to come earlier so that we would be guaranteed a seat. so we thought we'll just have dinner there as well and we ordered their thin pizzas. following that we got rounds of timbre chicken wings and drinks. to be fair the pizzas were pretty good (esp the buffalo chicken) and the wings were excellent.

you should know by now that timbre only serves 1 round of iced water but not after 1015 cuz then they switch from a restaurant to a bar concept (yeah, right) because the kitchen closes and you can only order pizzas. i really don't get this logic. why is there a limit of only 1 round of iced water when it's still a "restaurant"? i don't remember even the most atas restaurants like iggy's and au petit doing this to their customers. it doesn't cost ANYTHING to hand out some tap water to your poor thirsty customers after imbibing your salty food. do you really think this is the best way to push up sales of your really bad drinks?

since i was ill, i ordered non-alcoholic drinks which obviously just contained syrup and tonnes of ice. but on previous trips i have gotten just about the worst mojitos/pina coladas in sg, and really warm beer. (insert yucky face) even bottled beer, the safest choice in any dodgy pub can go wrong here.

the band only started playing at 1045 which made me royally pissed off and by 1115 were only done with 1.5 songs. i don't think i came to watch the band play with members of the audience (reminscent of my freshmen orientation camp days where a girl had to be the 'pole' and the guy did a 'poledance'). juvenile...

out of nowhere, the waiters started distributing the bills to everyone, without even asking if we wanted to hold the tab with a card. he just shoved it onto our table. this is obviously a signal for you to leave because they have a queue outside. downright rude, if you ask me.

the last straw came when a towering dude, probably the branch manager or whatever menancing walked over to our table and threatened us loudly in front of many other patrons - "YOU GUYS HAVE NOT BEEN ORDERING FOR REALLY LONG AND I HAVE LONG QUEUE OUTSIDE WAITING FOR YOUR TABLE. SO WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?" you can say i had the shock of my life, a table of 6 adults getting threatened like naughty school children by a meanie principal.

honestly, i don't think it's our problem because it's not like we purposely hogged the table and not ordered anything whilst we were there. we just didn't bother leaving half drunk glasses on the table like many other tables did which i saw for myself - and we get penalised for that? in addition, we were intending to get another round of drinks, and he could have really conveyed the same message in a much more polite manner. if you think pissing off your loyal customers is the way to make money, then way to go dude!

what a pity that timbre's now reduced to this. service was tonnes better when it first started out. i guess now that it's doing so well, it's all abt the turnover.

i was totally enamoured by the idea of a british gastropub with a tint of asian flavour opening in...vivocity?? in addition the name was really whimsical and i love mangosteens :D henced i dragged the bf down to vivo after work on a friday to check the place out. it was teeming with pple and we were lucky to get a seat without reservations. we sat somewhere near the al fresco area which overlooked the upcoming IR (would be quite a view when it's finally done!) and got us all sticky cuz of the seabreeze. music was really loud old brit pop (i think, couldn't recognise 80% of the songs) which was refreshing to say the least.

since we weren't feeling hungry, we ordered the spicy minced beef, thai basil, bird's eye chilli served with warm corn chips and sour cream ($12), fish and chips served with curry tartare sauce ($12) and a jug of pimm's ($35) to share. the minced beef was yummy but really quite spicy - something different from the usual nachos. the fish and chips were supposedly nibble size but surprisingly filling probably cuz of the thick cut fries. the fish was very very good! it was really flaky and sweet-ish so it's definitely not boring old cod. and i liked the choice of curry tartare though it was more sweet than spicy. as for the pimms, it had little cubes of strawberries/cucumbers/orange which makes for a very refreshing and seemingly healthy alcoholic drink - you have to try it once at least if you haven't. i would prefer it with slightly more pimm's though, since i couldn't taste the herbalish taste of the liquor at all. the pricing at q&m is definitely reasonable although we still spent quite abit despite not eating much cuz we od-ed on pimm's.

i really enjoyed q&m very much largely because it's a fresh dining option. the menu has many other enticing options such as crispy whitebait with chilli jam dip ($10), fried chicken wings with hoisin sauce ($10) and trio of mini hamburgers and chips ($16) which i would come back to try. the place also serves the archipelago series of beers which you can sample (3 mini glasses for $7.90) - totally cute!

came here last sat with the bf to celebrate our anniversary.

i had rather high expectations after reading the reviews below but left rather disappointed with the quality of food, though no doubt the prices are very reasonable. we started the meal with some beef carpaccio with rocket, parmesan and lemon juice ($15) and it was just not quite there, i've had better. it would be better with a touch more flavour. for some strange reason, there was no wine list so we relied on our waiters recommendation. we asked for smthg light and sweet but not too sweet and he recommended a sauvingon blanc ($49.90) - can't rmbr the name - from the owner's vineyard in italy. it sounded promising but it turned out really dull. as for mains, the bf's linguine with clams was quite tasteless ($16) - i think even i can cook better, and that's not saying much. plus the clams weren't fresh, alot of them were still tightly shut. my ravioli with salmon in salmon cream and caviar ($16) in comparison was much better, but by then i was kinda turned off. in lieu of the above, we didn't dare to stay for dessert, though the bf was initially excited abt finally fixing his tiramisu craving.

service was slow and a little dodgy - our waiter seemed to be BS-ing us abt his recommendations.

i had really wanted to like this place, but we vowed not to return again :S will go to le cantina venezia at changi village hotel instead.

came here with a girlfriend after work yesterday. we made reservations for 730 but only arrived at 815 because of work and our table was still available *phew*. staff took a while to serve us though, they seemed to pretend to busy around and we had to proactively approach one of them. anyway we were simply too hungry to care, i've been craving for mussels and fruit beers for the longest time ever since i had some in belgium in june.

appetiser:
"toast cannibal" = steak tartare on toast ($9.50) - we wanted something daring and non-seafood hence the choice. served with rye bread and a gherkin on the top, it was a-okay but i don't see how anyone can really dig steak tartare.

mains:
the highlight of the place is of course the mussels. we ordered 2 starter pots ($18.50 each) - vin blanc (white wine, butter, celery, onion, parsley) and a l'ardennaise (ham, leek, butter, cream, onion, parsley). the mussels were really fresh and sweet! we both liked the tasty creamy sauce in the second pot better. the white wine taste in the first pot was quite pronounced though, but i felt that it could have done with more parsley and celery as it was rather plain. there are also tonnes of other flavours, including asian styles like tom yam and chilli if you're feeling adventurous.

the complimentary thick-cut fries and the accompanying mayo were to die for as well. the second bucket of fries we had was much crispier than than first bucket though. yum! and the staff actually replaced our bucket even though we weren't done because they said we had to eat them hot. i was impressed.

beers:
forget about ordering wines here. i had fruit beers for breakfast lunch and dinner when i was in belgium, they're just so sweet and yummy! great for ladies. and because it's brewed lambic style, the taste resembles champagne. the beer selection at brussel sprouts is very extensive, and includes a lot of fruit beers. we had the timmermans framboise ($16) a raspberry beer, lindemans pecheresse ($12) a peach beer and newton ($12) an apple beer. i saw the first 2 brands are everywhere in brussels (like tiger here) and they're really sweet. newton had a bit more of a wheat taste. i would have also wanted to try a kreik bier (cherry) and the draught leffe blonde but probably next time! i liked that all the beers were served with the brands accompanying glasses.

we were too full to order any desserts by then, but the dessert menu looked really tempting.

ambience/service:
the good thing about BS is that the kitchen closes really late, and you could just eat, drink and lounge for hours by the waterfront. the friendly waiters are always ready to give some recommendations and frequently check back on you. it's quite a vibrant place so it's good for big groups who wanna make a lot of noise (including birthday celebs). or you could choose to sit by the bar which is indoors and cosier.

price:
price wise, i don't think the food is expensive, but the beers may be a little especially when u tend to knock back bottle after bottle without realising. but no where else in singapore stocks such specialty beers anyway, so i guess it's worth it!

i'm definitely going back to have the moules frites and try out more beers!! :)

i came here for my birthday lunch with the bf. it was my first time here despite hearing plenty of rave reviews about this resto, and am so glad we finally managed to try it despite not making any reservations in advance. the food here is just right up my alley. i have been so missing out all this while!

both of us ordered the set lunch for 3 courses and tea/coffee at $38+++, which is a total steal. what i like was that we had about 10 choices per course, which pretty much covers everything you could ever want in a meal. you can add $6 to upgrade your appetiser into foie gras (4 choices).

complimentary bread
-ember probably serves the best complimentary bread i've ever eaten before in singapore. served fresh out of the oven, the texture of the piping hot loaf was cloud fluffy on the inside and chips-crispy on the outside. flavour wise it was generously studded with sundried tomatoes and italian herbs, and when slapped on with the soft butter provided - tasted utterly divine. the bf and i were practically fighting over the tiny loaf. thankfully the staff don't hesitate to serve you second helpings - they must be used to being asked for more.

appetisers
-pan seared foie gras with caramelised apple, clove port and raspberry glaze: this symphony of creamy gamey goodness complimented by tarty sweetness sent me straight to foie-gras-heaven. the clove port and raspberry glaze didn't do much for me, but not that it mattered. the foie gras was just done perfectly.
-pan seared scallops with parma ham, served with salad in orange and tarragon vinaigrette: the bf's scallops paled in comparison to the foie gras as it was kinda dry. still, credit must be given as often than not, pan seared scallops almost always end up dry. i liked how the parma ham assimilated into part of the scallop and lent it flavour though. the salad was also very refreshing.

mains
-chilean seabass with mushrooms and smoked bacon ragout in truffle yuzu butter sauce: this was totally the highlight of my day. the chef here really knows his stuff. the thick creamy slab of fish, generous servings of mushrooms and bacon came together with the butter sauce really nicely, even though it got a little too salty/jelat towards the end - but it was just so sinfully good. you really have to try it yourself! if gastrorgasms existed i was definitely having one :D i'll definitely order the same thing when i come back here next.
-black miso cod: since there's miso involved, i expected it to be salty and it was. the bf's cod was also a thin piece compared to what the other diners got so it wasn't particularly juicy or tender. this was definitely not as good as my chilean seabass, which my bf ended up lusting over. to give some props, it's a novel pairing and miso masks the strong cod taste that some people may be adverse too.

desserts
-baked banana tart with lavender ice cream: the pairing does sound a little strange on paper but surprisingly, the flavours really complemented each other. i liked how the tart was unexpectedly crispy and not jelat. you could also see little lavender flower bits in the homemade icecream, and some dusted on the side for decor. pretty!
-varlhona chocolate cake and homemade vanilla ice cream: upon attacking it, warm molten chocolate oozed out of the fondant like volcano lava. the extremely picky bf gave it his stamp of approval. chocolate lovers would definitely dig this. we could also see ground vanilla pods in the ice cream, they definitely don't stinge on the ingredients around here.

tea
-earl grey tea: i didn't expect to even rave about this, but we had a few choices for teas and i picked my perennial fave, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise as they don't use teabags, but instead fresh quality tea leaves. it came with a yummy macademia and date cookie (i think) on the side. we lounged over our tea and it was a sweet conclusion to an extremely yummy meal.

ambience/service
-the moment i walked in, i was reminded of eateries in nyc because of the similar buzz, small area, and the contemporary classy look - smart dark wood furniture/leather chairs against clean white walls. don't expect much privacy here as tables are close together and coversations tend to get overheard. but come for the great food, great value and winning service - the staff were jovial, quick and unfailingly attentive.

i've been to this boutique dim sum place twice and enjoyed contrasting experiences so i'm not sure what to make out of it.

the first time i came with 3 friends, and we ordered the whole works:
har gao - nice thin skin, crunchy fresh prawn
siew mai - slightly too salty
spare ribs - no garlic, light flavour but rather yummy
honey char siew bao - very good! love the honey flavour, and i'm not even a CSB fan
custard bun - just ok
egg tart - pretty good
shrimps & chives rice roll - just ok
mushroom quartet rice roll - just ok
century egg with lean pork congee - very tasty! the congees here are winners
high calcium pork rib congee - one of their signature creations, i believe they actually grind up the ribs. slight burnt taste which was very yummy. you have to try it for yourself.
osmanthus green tea jelly - i like osmanthus, so i had to get this. refreshing and you could see the osmanthus flowers on the top layer
durian snow pearl - their famous dessert, durian mousse wrapped with snow skin. i'm not a fan of durians so i skipped it but my friends lapped it up.
red bean pancake - it was served piping hot, kinda oily but very yummy.

we vowed to come back, particularly cuz of the congees. so when i did return with the bf, this time for a light dinner, i was left rather puzzled. this was about 1 month later. while some dishes tasted the same, these didn't.

har gao - the same thin skin, but the tiny prawn didn't even taste like prawn
siew mai - still salty and the pork tasted strange
honey char siew bao - it wasn't piping hot, and somehow it just didn't taste as good
osmanthus green tea jelly - i believe it came spoilt as it was unbearably sour. the waitress explained that it was supposed to taste like this but i was sure it didn't as i liked it the previous time i had it. however they were kind enough to give us another dessert instead and waive the price of our other dessert. damage control, check.
congees - out of stock :( so that got me rather grumpy.

the bf complained about the food quality while i was left puzzled, cuz my first experience at dim joy was very enjoyable. i hope it was just because we came in the evening where turnover was low, so food wasn't freshly prepared. but even then, that's no excuse. i hope it'll be better the next time i come back, as i actually pimped it to many of my friends.