Bistro One Zero Three

Always wanted to try out this place after reading a couple of reviews here....but time wasn't on my side today, as I was just rushing back from an earlier errant ! Only have 30 mins before closing time and 15 mins before last order...so called their number and spoke to a very courteous and helpful gentleman by the name Eric. Asked him quickly what is good for " ta pau " and he recommended the following :

1) Crab meat and salmon pasta with red pesto sauce.

2) Beef strogganof with rice

I was at Bukit Timah and told Eric I will rush down before their closing time. After ending the call, I called again to tell Eric to get them to prepare the food just before their last call for last order. Eric said he'd highlighted to his chef about this and this is a plus point for someone who cares for your takeaway order...well done Eric : )

When I reached there after driving like Michael Schumacher....the place was still packed on a weekday ! Mind you...this is not your typical crowd from Pasir Panjang ! The diners are typical CBD Shenton Way folks ! So it seems this place is quite popular despite being slightly out of the way.

My order was already waiting for me....just less than 2 mins upon my arrival...as promised by Eric...and piping hot....however, being the "kiasu" fella...I asked Eric whether I can have some extra red pesto sauce just in case it's too dry when I'm home.He gladly got his chef to prepare some for me with a smiling face all the way : )

FYI I'm never fond of " ta pau " food as the taste will be alittle "off" as compared when served on the spot. So reached home again like piloting an F1 car.....ha...lucky me the food still piping hot...first tried the pasta....hmm...not bad...like many comments from other reviewers...lot's of fresh crab meat....and a generous portion of salmon as well !

Next...tried the beed stroganoff....tasted alittle like chinese dish...it's not bad really....but just reminded me of beef on hotplate...as there's some chinese "wok" taste...and not forgetting the generous amount of mushrooms...and the delicious rice provided....This is really one of the better...or shall I say best western food along Pasir Panjang....yup...even beating some CBD eateries !

I have this feeling the place will be packed on weekends due to their great service and tasty dishes...not forgetting...affordable and good value for money. And if u ever need to "ta pau" like me, fear not...the food still taste as good as you are eating there. It's really worth your trip there.

One cannot feel but welcomed by Eric and company when you enter this quaint lil' resto along Pasir Panjang Rd. It's cozy and with its rustic design, it makes you feel more at home and eating home cooked food.

Run by a family that believes strongly in good service, good food and also good price point, it's really hard to find fault with this Western food joint.

With ribs that melts in your mouth and a mountain of fries to finish the juicy spiced meat down your already full throat, you will scramble for some fluids to flush it down but then the house salads stare lovingly into your eyes and you neglect the fluids and dive straight into the lavishly dressed salad and say a prayer that you don't choke yourself silly.

It is really a great find this Bistro. I was told to go there by the sis-in-law and hoping that it's not one of those : I hate my bro-in-law so I shall intro to him a c*** place that charges an arm and a leg. NO! It was the total opposite! Eric gave me a smile and came like a roadrunner on steroids right beside the table and the untrained maître d' wanna be could easily outclass any other in 5-star restos.

The wine selection is like WOW! Plenty to choose from and sister Karen kicks some serious booty with her profound knowledge in the 'art of getting drunk', some call it casual drinking. And to top it off, they have a brand of Whiskey that makes your throat do the 'shuffle' with every glorious sip.

My only complain though is the parking, or the lack off actually. As it's along the main road, one might have to resort to parking along the double yellows. But blessed me staying a strolling 7mins away from this diamond of a resto, I pity the other patrons.

Come, eat, enjoy, be entertained, leave stuffed and still have pocket change for a ride back home (trust me, you'll rather walk as the food begs to be eaten in double portions).

Finally found a chance to check out Bistro 103 with my colleagues! Yay!! As we were celebrating a nice close to a crazy year, we went a little crazy with the ordering of: 

1) Onion Soup - this was their soup of the day with any order of mains. I liked the soup and my colleague who doesn't fancy onion soup found it very nice. 

2) Warm Mushroom Salad $7.80 - this was nice with their tiny bits of raw onions for that extra kick. yumz!! 

3) Hummus Dip $6.50 - the dip came with slices of bread that you could just spread generous amount of hummus on. Very yummy and healthy too. 

4) Salmon & Crab meat Pasta $16.90 - This pasta was very tasty with the generous amount of salmon chunks and crab meat in lovely pink sauce. I'm beginning to love pink sauce, it's the best of the two world - tomato sauce and cream sauce!! 

5) Norwegian Salmon Steak $20.90 - the salmon steak was nice, not as good as EWF's King Salmon. 

6) Mushroom Spaghetti with Red Pesto sauce $16.90 - My vegetarian friend specially requested for this version and it was great!! I know I should not be stealing from her but it was good tasting. 

7) BBQ Baby Ribs $26.90 - Tender and tasty chunks of pork ribs that's better than (I dare say) Tony Roma's. 

8) Lamb Shoulder Rack $29.90 - this is easier the best dish of the meal. The lamb was tender and not gamey in taste at all. Very very nice. 

9) Pinna Cotta $6 - this is nice. 

10) Brownie $6 - warm brownie with ice cream... Very nice. 

11) Blueberry Cheesecake $6 - If you like blueberry, this is the one for you! Sweet topping and cheesy cake. Awesome combi!

The shop front really looks ordinary and if not for the good reviews, I would NEVER go in but I am so glad I did!

I first tried Bistro One Zero Three as a result of reading reviews here. It was a bit difficult to find the first time, but well worth the drive. I have been to it a dozen times or more; it has become one of my favorite places.

Unlike so many restaurants in Singapore, the service here is always top notch. Whether they are full or just have a few customers, they really care about their customer's experience. Water glasses are filled, food is served graciously, and all of it comes with a smile.

The house salad is one of the best in Singapore. Other favorites of mine are their pasta dishes and ribs. I've sampled several items in my visits and have yet to have something I wouldn't order again. Add this to a place that only charges $8 or so for a glass of wine and you have a winning combination. 

Is a quiet place with heavy European style deco, service are very prompt , waiting time for food can be slightly longer, but when the piping hot food arrives and with the taste I am sure you will find it worth waiting, First time visitng the place no worries the staff there will be more than happy to give you recommendations.

Was an raining Sunday night, thought of a simple and hearty French place for dinner. Heard Bistro one zero three is good and value for money, thus i decided to give a try while it was really disappointing.

    Appetiser is Escargot served in cream source, almost like a soup. Well, since the cream taste is really strong and rich, I couldn't really tell they are good quality escargots, first time had escargots done in such a way.....  

  Main course i had the lamb chop, or you can call lamb rack which is very very lousy! The meat itself is not fresh and very tough, they never asked u how you would like it to be done and they just made it 100% cooked. I told the owner that please choose a less fatty part while 50% of the meat i didn't eat as half if the dish is just fat and vein.  

   I didn't try my friend's pork chop,and I don't think it tastes nice as it really looks like normal pub meat balls.....    

The price is reasonable, but i wont go back because yes it is cheap, but i didn't enjoy every cent i spent.

Smartly named after the road name, 103 Pasir Panjang, Bistro One Zero Three is located by the roadside. Be warned though, the store front looks like one that has been there through rain and storm, and hasn’t got enough to do a full scale renovation. But looks are almost always deceiving, aren’t they?

The menu’s considerably large for a relatively small / medium-sized cafe located in this area. Pasta and main dishes are what fills up the page of main courses for the dining place. And yes, allow me to touch on the feel upon entering the cafe / restaurant. Allow me, to share with you how homely I felt with their service. We were immediately greeted and led to a table upon entering the then-quarter filled cafe. When issuing the menu, the waitperson asked if we’d like some iced water – I simply, love how honest she is. I mean, people would go asking, ‘any drinks to start first?’, but no, she asked if we’d like to have some water first. It’s a very, ‘you read my mind and didn’t make us feel bad / awkward / guilty for not ordering drinks’ kind of feeling, and it’s just the start of the good service.

It might not have the nicest ambience, it might not have the nicest decor, but it sure make you feel cozy, comfy and secured. With the whole set up and the service, it gives me a very strong ‘bed & breakfast’ feeling, where food is served, and you are well taken care of, like how you are dead sure that whatever happens, someone will be there to take care of you. Like said earlier, they have quite a wide selection of food (including salad / appetizers / main courses). We decided to get our taste buds going with some Mushroom Soup, the aromatic Garlic Bread and some Escargots as appetizers.

Soup of the Day (Mushroom Soup) ($4.50++) :: Even though it might seem like it’s very worthwhile, what with it being served in a big bowl accompanied with garlic bread, it actually, isn’t really. The mushroom soup, in my opinion, didn’t really have much of the mushroom taste / smell. It’s very average-tasting.

Escargots in White Wine Sauce ($8.90++) :: I’ve always been a fan of escargots, and well, shells in general. Even though the escargots may not be as chewy as some I’ve tasted (I personally like it chewy), the cheesy sauce made it up. Cheese is good. Escargot’s good. So all is good. The garlic bread goes well with the sauce too (we thought it’s better than the mushroom soup).

We kind of had a garlic bread overload, because we didn’t know that the escargots and mushroom soup each comes with garlic bread too. Hah. Fortunately, the bread’s really ‘balmy’ and tasty.

Bacon & Ham Pasta ($16.90++) :: First try and I blurted out, ‘PastaMania can do better’. Do keep in mind though, I’m one who has always been alright with PastaMania – I know a lot of people out there who are quite anti-PastaMania, so. But really, it isn’t creamy / cheesy enough for me, and the taste is somewhere in between bland and distinctive.

Salmon & Crab Meat Pasta ($16.90++) :: When we first saw the menu, we were questioning internally if the crab meat is the real crab, crab meat or the crabstick crab meat. In the end, we decided to check it out with the approachable staff and to our relief, it’s the real crab meat. I thought the portion of the salmon is pretty generous, considering it was given as a whole piece or not shreds like what one would usually get in pastas. The red pesto sauce made the pasta doesn’t taste like the normal, organic pasta – which may or may not be a bad thing. For me, it’s alright, but I got bored with it real quick.

Crispy Duck Leg ($24.90++) :: At first glance, it might look unworthy putting the portion and the cost of the dish side by side and comparing, but after the dinner, I’d safely say that I’ll choose this over the pastas any day. We agreed in unison that the crispy duck skin is really really good, plus, the duck meat isn’t those that will get stuck between your teeth, and it’s soft. Matched with a reasonable portion of mashed potato, this dish is quite a balanced one.

Chocolate Walnut Brownie with French Vanilla Ice Cream ($6.00++) :: Even though we were already filled up to our throat, we still went ahead with the dessert. Like they always say, ‘there is always space for desserts’. Couldn’t agree more, hah. We decided on this because we’ve read quite some raving reviews on this particular dessert of theirs. The brownie didn’t look appealing when it’s presented to us – it looked rather dry and hard. This is when ‘looks are deceiving’ comes into play – it’s actually soft and tasty – just right. This is up to your liking, but the vanilla ice cream isn’t your ordinary vanilla ice cream – it’s french’s, thus some custard flavor.

Essentially, this is quite a find in my opinion. To reiterate the earlier point – this place is very homely, with excellent excellent warm service. Thus it gets 2 stars (✰✰) out of 3.

—> Note #1: It’s very hard to get to, so if you’re not driving, maybe not.

—> Note #2: Lunch’s from 1130 – 1500 and dinner’s from 1800 – 2130, so don’t go in between and get locked out.

—> Note #3: There -is- a (clean) restroom in the restaurant itself, even though it looks like this deserted place most probably won’t.

http://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/103s-bistro-one-zero-three/

I happened to chance upon the link to Bistro 103 on HGW while looking at some other restaurants and saw that the reviews for Bistro 103 seemed pretty good. One of the reviewers even mentioned that he/she joined HGW just to review on Bistro 103. I immediately thought, wow, I definitely have to try this place...

You know the saying, big expectations big disappointment?

Totally. It was not at all worth the long trip here.

We tried 2 pastas which the waitress recommended: salmon & crabmeat pasta in tomato pesto sauce + aglio olio with clams. They were huge disappointments, and unnecesarily expensive.

The first pasta was served with a miserable piece of salmon (which I can probably cook better) and... where is the crabmeat in this 'salmon & crabmeat pasta'? I certainly did not see any crabmeat (at most 1 or 2 visible pieces). Further, the pasta was too dry, and I couldn't even finish half of it.

The second pasta was probably slightly better, but even then, that could not make up for the failure of the first.

Sometimes, after several disappointing dining experiences at different places (with great HGW reviews), I really wonder if restaurants write their own reviews? I can't comprehend how people are raving about this place because from my dining experience there, it was rather obvious that they were trying to stinge on the ingredients used.

We weren't feeling particularly hungry that day. All we wanted to do was to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Since our car was veering towards the West, a colleague's recommendation of Bistro One Zero Three suddenly came to mind.

The restaurant's address (103 Pasir Panjang Rd) runs synonymous with its name. Given the restaurant's unassuming exterior, we would have zoomed past it without batting an eyelid if not for GPS. Parking is a breeze since there is a huge public carpark just behind the restaurant.

I was a little apprehensive upon stepping into the restaurant. It felt like a flashback into the 80s. The chairs were old and the furnishings felt a little dated. Even the air smelt a tad musty. After scanning the restaurant, I was slightly relieved to find 2 families tucking into their main courses with much gusto- a very good sign indeed.

Since I already had in mind what I wanted to order, I quickly caught the attention of our very smiley waiter and impatiently rattled off my orders. While waiting for the food to arrive, I suddenly felt some stares coming from the counter and realized I was being "sized up" by a group of aunties (one of which probably comprised of the towkay neo, this being a family run restaurant).

Our dishes arrived in quick succession.

Bruschetta- Well toasted garlic bread topped with chopped tomatoes, onions and a drizzle of olive oil. Flavors were simple and clean but nothing to shout about.

Mushroom soup- Couldn't help but detect a hint of Campbell's canned soup in this dish. Surely the cook could have done better?

Rack of ribs- This dish came highly recommended in the various food reviews and it didn't take long for us to realize why. The BBQ sauce boasted sufficient kick and it only took a gentle nudge from the fork for the meat to fall off the bone. The accompanying sides were equally impressive. I really enjoyed the piping hot potato wedges which were crisp on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. They tasted so good on their own that I didn't even have to baptize them in chili sauce (which is my usual practice). Even the portion was generous- Hubby and I shared this as our main course.

Dessert- Brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream- Again, Hubby and I ordered this to share. The brownie came slightly warm and tinged with nuts. Eating it brought back fond memories of our dating days, when brownie with vanilla ice cream was THE vogue dessert (that was before chocolate fondant came along).  Even the scoop of vanilla ice cream that came with it boasted a smooth creamy texture that is far superior to the icicle speckled ones you find in supermarkets.

All in all, this was a wholesome dining experience with no frills.  Prices are also pretty reasonable (SGD50 for the whole meal).

Whilst it is unlikely that we lazy Eastlanders will be making a return visit anytime soon, we would definitely drop by this unpretentious hole-in-the-wall eatery if we  find ourselves in  need for some good ol soul food in the West.

Visit below link for pictures:

http://waragaw.blogspot.com/2010/12/bistro-one-zero-three.html

read so many good reviews about Bistro one zero three, so i decided that i am going ot bring my boyf down for his birthday treat. it's near my house and form the streetdirectory, i always have to pass by it when i come home from vivocity. BUT i didnt notice it at all! so just in case, i would lose my way on the day itself, i decided to go and find it myself after school. and guess what i almost lost my way cox i was looking at the wrong side. it's on side of the road where u travel from vivo to westcoast. NOT the opposite side that seemed to have more restaurants. you cant miss the RED manhill restaurant signboard though. it's the same building

well, it only opens at specific time of the day, so when i went at 4pm that day, it was still closed. so i called up to make a reservation and left. and i told eric that i wanted a cake with a candle to surprise my bf which he rmb and brought the cake out after clearing the table, without me prompting or reminding. it had the happy birthday stick there. so sweet i thought. haha =)

the interior was really simple, cozy. we were there early, so it was still kinda empty but almost all the tables have the reserved stand there. lol.

about the food. i ordered the dory fillet ($17plus) while my bf ($26+) ordered porkrib which was said to be the more popular dish. The servings was HUMONGOUS (literally in caps). we have to tabao. LOL. the dory fillet was normal bah...cloeslaw plus the creamy dressing made me a little "gelat". i love the bbq pork rib. it's like nicely grilled and the sauce goes well with it. hahah. the brownie with vanilla would really awesome if we hadnt been so full. it's warm and moist, goes perfectly well with the vanilla. =)

For photos, please visit Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow.



This restaurant has been one of my to-check-out list for a long time but you know, the place is really quite ulu. It's called Bistro One Zero. Guess the address? 103 Pasir Panjang Road. That's in the the middle of nowhere. (Well, ok, if you drive, it's quite convenient.)

The driver had to be one who was late. OF COURSE right. So by the time we arrived, (it was a double date, quite exciting), we were famished. But two of them HAD to smoke. So my date and I went to the restaurant first.

It was strange because it was so... homely. I had expected it to be dark and sexy, something like a date place, but it was like the first storey of someone's home being converted to a restaurant, with remnants of the home. And bright too, no hanky panky places.

We stood at the entrance for a while and couldn't see anyone, so we walked in. And the servers said they would show us to our table shortly. And we stood like idiots at the door. It was not the servers' fault. (See how objective I can be.) The service was impeccable and the servers were cheerful. I don't know how they managed to be happy despite being so busy. My date and I came to a conclusion that this is a family business and the chefs (you can see them cooking, like in a house kitchen, very homey) are the parents and the servers are the children.

Still standing at the door, we were gawked at by a couple who were eating. The staring was quite uncomfortable. Later we found out that they might be food critics as they stayed behind to talk with the daughter. (I said, "Ooooh, then it makes sense that they were staring at me because they recognized me. I'm #40 on HGW, you know." And my date said, "Ha ha, yeah, they may be #100 so they see you like you're their idol!")

So hungry, we quickly ordered steak fries first. No steak fries, will wedges do? Ok lor. We already ordered and my friend asked, "So what is their speciality here?"

I said, "er..."

She said, "you're the food critic!"

And I actually felt so guilty I kept apologizing! I have been remiss in my duty! Sorry, sorry! I am so silly.

When I checked that their speciality is their pork neck that comes with wedges, I asked my friends if they wanted to cancel the wedges. OF COURSE NOT.

Wedges are created equal but some wedges are more equal than others.

My two friends and a date all said that the wedges were salty. I was like WHAT? Are you crazy? There is no salt? We thought that the wedges were tossed unevenly. But I ate three, and there still wasn't salt on them. So I said, "Why don't when you guys taste a salty one, pass it to me?" So smart right? Then when I got half of a wedge, I licked it, bit it but there still was no salt. OMG OMG OMG I cannot be a food critic anymore. I'm losing my delicate sense of taste.

But on the contrary, my taste buds are actually the most sophisticated among us because I didn't find the wedges salty. In fact, the wedges were quite perfect. They were very different from the average cafe's wedges. My friend, who hates wedges, said that the more she ate the wedges, the better they got. The cold dip--cheese with mayo I think--went wonderfully well with the wedges, bringing out the contrast of the hot wedges and cold dip, of the cheese and potato. I hate potato-related food (except for potato chips), but I like this! Even the wedges are fantastic, something really different. The difference was very subtle, but you have to eat slowly and taste properly.

Do you know why the wedges are different from other places? They actually cut the potato themselves, didn't buy from those ready-cut ones at supermarkets! It's dedication, man.

My funny date has strange eating habits. The last time I dated someone with strange eating habits, it didn't work out. I love my food too much; and TheLastTimeOne was too picky. That one couldn't even eat mushroom. This new date is diabetic (the hereditary kind), couldn't eat desserts or sweets or carbs. He also doesn't like any meat that is in the shape of, well, meat. No drumsticks, no fish, etc. Only beef patties, so he's very low maintenance. Always bring him to Mcdonalds lor. I don't know if this can work out, because trying new food is a big part of my life. Let's see.

So he ordered meatballs curried pasta. (meatballs are not in the shape of meat.) He claimed that the curry powder wasn't infused into the pasta and was in fact quite separate. I tasted half a meatball and it tasted powdery. Ikea has spoilt our taste in balls...is something a food critic shouldn't say. He gave it a 3.5/5.

My friend ordered salmon. When it came, it had a pungent stench of vinegar. Too strong. I disliked the "aroma" immediately. My date, more sophisticated, said, "I thought it's the smell of worchestershire sauce."

I ignorantly said, "I thought worchestershire sauce is mostly used on steaks." But according to Wiki, my date should be right. It's a fermented sauce (hence the smell) for meats and fish.

My friend, who is NOT a food critic, cannot describe the food, except giving it a 3.5/5.

I think when I tasted it, I was kinder. I think it is nice but come on, it's salmon. Nothing can go wrong with it, but it can't taste fantastic either. it's like selecting a bad song on American Idol you know. Safe but boring, cannot showcase the vocal talent.

My friend's date, the one who tasted the subtlety of the wedges, ordered a fish too. She gave me a morsel and I thought it was quite amazing. When they asked me why amazing, I said, "Better than Fish & Co lor." Ha Ha, I am such a great critic.

let me try again. The fish was very fresh, without the fishy stench and obviously this didn't come from some frozen product in supermarkets. The chef probably skinned and cut this fillet out him- or herself. It was fried in a such a way that the bread crumbs was crispy but not oily. In fact, the entire fish didn't seem oily. Overall, the soft tender fish, instead of fighting with the crust, compliments the crumbs, bringing out the fullness of the flavor of the fish.

My friend, who at first thought the fish was ordinary, said that she found it nicer and nicer as she ate it. See my judgement is right. I am always right. I am the food critic.

And as a food critic, I choose my food wisely. I have good taste in all things, including fashion and men. Beef stroganoff with rice. And luckily I still remember how to pronounce "stroganoff"! It's not "strong-gan-off", it's "STRAW-gan-noff."

I always thought stroganoff is just beef stew, but now that I just checked wikipedia, it's beef in sauce with a dash of sour cream. It was initially a Russian dish but it went to China, and the Chinese brought it to the world. As usual.

This dish WINS. The beef wasn't especially tender, and the sauce wasn't exactly bursting with favor, the saffron was tasty but not fantastic but when all three added together, you know what it tasted like? It tasted like home and homely love it could make you cry. The unpretentious and lacking-in-sophistication of this dish really hit your "inner soul." If you go to a Michelin-starred restaurant, you would think this is a normal dish, but if you go to a home-style restaurant, this is real, good, nutritious food, food without MSG, food that your parents would cook. Very, very nice and satisfying.

Home-made ice cream and home-recipe brownie. WIN right? This restaurant is dedicated to the MAX. I love this place. But unfortunately, I'm sorry there is no delicate way to describe it: the brownie tasted like dog food. I know, I worked in a pet shop, I have a golden retriever. I tried it three times, and nearly puked. Sorry. But...

Panna Cotta. BEST I have ever eaten in my life. Seriously DELICIOUS. You know every time each of us noticed the word on the bowl, that person would say, "Delicious." I think there is subliminal advertising here. But seriously, the thick milk chocolate, oooh so chocolatey, went so well with the yellow custard-y portion. It was ORGASMIC. I can give up 3 days of sex for 1 serving.

I really like this restaurant a lot. It gives off a very warm, cozy, homely feeling. The food is so sincere that it can make a rock cry. Full of win here. Even the brownie is a win, it's like a bad dish that your partner makes. Even if it tastes horrible, it is still made of love and dedication, man. So EAT THAT BURNT AND CHARRED FOOD, people, don't complain.

Call to make reservations. Even though it was an ulu place, a couple was turned down at 8pm because the place was packed.