Royal London Duck

London Fat Duck is was a joint venture between the Fei Siong and Akashi groups when it opened last year. The partners have since parted ways and while London Fat Duck expanded its presence from Scotts Square to VivoCity and Waterway Point in Punggol, Fei Siong has opened Royal London Duck on the 4th floor of Mandarin Gallery where jones the grocer used to be. It can also be found at Centrepoint, Compass One in Sengkang and West Mall in Bukit Batok with plans for another branch at Millenia Walk. When we visited the Cantonese restaurant at Mandarin Gallery for dinner on a weekend, only a few tables were occupied. Could neither rave about its Royal London Duck (do not expect crispy roast duck skin) nor fault the succulent Prawn Wanton Noodle Soup except that its portion was a tad small. Loved the wok-hei and aroma of egg in its XO Sauce Fried Turnip Cake which had a crisp outside with soft, not mushy, insides. A satisficing hassle-free meal right smack in the middle of Orchard Road.

Hashida Garo

Tokyo's Hashida is headed by Master Sushi Chef, Tokio Hashida while its 1st restaurant outside Japan is helmed by his son, Chef Kenjiro Hashida. Better known as Hatch (pronounced as Haa-chi), he has since opened a 2nd establishment in Singapore to reach a wider audience with his culinary creations and share his personal passion for the visual arts. Both are located at Mandarin Gallery – Hashida Sushi on the 2nd floor and Hashida Garo on the 4th. Though the latter is a place where desserts meet art, main course is also offered as part of its set menu served with Wagashi of the day and hand-picked Japanese tea of the day. These are, however, only available during lunch and dinner times and the first-flush-tea harvested once a year is not refillable. Garo means gallery in Japanese and this "unique multi-faceted space aims to hold a visual and gastronomic feast for the senses through a creative amalgamation of food with art". As my dining companions and I were there for dinner on a weekend a few months back, the menu may have changed since.

Ootoya

Passed by Ootoya, established in Japan since 1958, at both Clementi Mall and Orchard Central (it also has presence at Changi City Point) many times. The former looks empty from the outside while there is almost always a queue outside the latter. Was looking for a place to have an early dinner on a recent weekend when I finally decided to try the Japanese place, at its Orchard branch. As I would be having chawanmushi that was part of my dining companion's set order – also comes with rice, miso soup and pickles, I decided to have its Mushi Nabe as an alacarte item. It was described as steamed vegetables and Yongenton silky pork in hot pot. Served in a claypot with bonito flakes on the side, the thinly-sliced pork was tender with just the right amount of fats. Steamed vegetables comprised of lettuce, mushroom, onion and tomatoes that I could not fault. I enjoyed the pleasant dish despite the a-tad-bland soup, but not the meal due to its slow service that explained the perpetual queues.

Gyoza Ya

Gyoza Ya first opened last year at the basement of Robinsons Orchard between Laurent's Café and Sushi Goshin, also by the Akashi Group. It has since expanded its presence to B4 of Ion Orchard opposite 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken. I have been to both branches on different occasions and tried its Yaki Meshi or Seafood Fried Rice, Tokusei Tonkotsu Ramen, Pan-Fried and Boiled Dumpling with Pork. There was a lovely wok hei in the fried rice with every grain evenly seasoned nicely and no lack of ingredients to go with every satisfying mouth of rice. Special pork bone soup was flavourful yet light and springy ramen was cooked just right. But the only piece of chashu was so chunky that the fats were too cloying and the meat tough. Skin of gyoza was thin with the pan-fried version crispy on one side. Preferred this to the boiled ones. Both were packed with generous filling of delectable and succulent pork. Sit at the counter if you want to watch how these are uniformly wrapped.

You may also be interested in Gyoza King by Keisuke Takeda.

Laurent’s Café – Full Menu in Orchard

My dining companions and I were looking for a place to eat dinner on a weekend when we chanced upon Laurent's Café, tucked away in a quiet corner at the basement of Robinsons Orchard where Costa Coffee used to be. Most of us have tried the sweets from Laurent Bernard Chocolatier, with presence in Robertson Quay and Portsdown as well as takeaway counters at Takashimaya and Hitachi Tower. But not its savoury dishes and decided to give it a shot. As brunch was only served 'til 6pm, we settled for other items on the menu. We started with cold Laurent's Lemonade (orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime juice, brown sugar and soda), hot Double Cappuccino and my disappointing Café Mocha that was too diluted for my liking. Ordered a French Onion Soup and Lobster Bisque for sharing – the former was nothing like the one my dining companion had in France while the latter also turned out very different from all the versions we had in Singapore, France and other parts of Europe.

Chicken Rice – Is Chatterbox’s Worth the Price?

A dining companion, who cannot live without chicken rice, has always wanted to try the award-winning Mandarin Chicken Rice at Chatterbox. It is located on the 5th floor of Mandarin Orchard Singapore, formerly known as The Mandarin Singapore. The hotel owner had asked its very first Executive Chef then to include three local dishes on the menu. German-born Peter Gehrmann, trained at The Savoy in London, led the team to debut Mandarin Chicken Rice on the day the hotel opened its doors – 1 August 1971. While he left Singapore in the 1970s, many chefs who had a stint at the hotel's kitchen have since come out to start their own chicken rice stalls. And as part of the hotel’s SG50 celebration, the legendary Mandarin Chicken Rice was going at 50% off on its anniversary. Could not think of a better time to try this but when I called a few days before, was told the restaurant was no longer taking reservations, but would still be opened for walk-in customers. 

Shin-Sapporo Ramen

It was a weekday and we were looking for a place to have dinner. Settled on Shin-Sapporo Ramen, which was located at B2 of Orchard Gateway, as there was no queue. According to its website, Sapporo was hailed as the birthplace of miso ramen after it was created in 1954 by Morito Omiya from Sapporo. Was deciding between Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen and Tsukemen (not many places offer this) but was recommended the former. While I found the creamy rich pork bone broth cooked over high heat to extract essence of the meat and bones a tad salty, could neither rave about the bamboo shoots and vegetables nor fault the thin and straight Hakata noodles. I loved the perfectly soft-boiled egg, tender and well-marinated chashu and stewed pork chunks though would prefer more meats in my portion. Chose pork over shrimp gyoza – a good choice as the thin skin, char-grilled crisp on some parts, went well with the sweet and juicy pork filling. And the chawanmushi was smooth and lovely.

Dolce Tokyo

After dinner, my dining companions and I were looking for another place to chill out when we chanced upon Dolce Tokyo. Opened by Ministry of Food, the Japanese-Italian café can be found on the 3rd floor of Bugis Junction and 313@Somerset. It was the latter that we visited, and ordered two desserts for sharing. Chocolate Brownie Grande, served in a stone bowl that reminded me of Korean bibimbap, had a scoop of smooth gelato on top of sweet and dense (but not overly so) brownie with caramelised banana cut lengthwise and sweet sliced strawberries as well as gyuuhi and marshmallows lightly-toasted so it had a nice charred aroma and melted in the mouth. We chose black sesame over vanilla, chocolate and the default-if-you-forgot-to-choose matcha for our gelato. Could not fault Abekawa Macha Zen – Hokkaido red bean paste with Japanese rice dumpling topped with Hokkaido green tea gelato and toasted mochi. Oh, and there are savoury items on the menu too.

Table @ Pip’s

My dining companions and I met up for dinner at Table @ Pip's last Friday. Located at B2 of Orchard Central on the same floor as MEDZS, it is tucked away at a corner near the underpass to Centrepoint. Hidden from view due to the lifts in this shopping mall, the casual dining place with an open-concept kitchen emphasises the use of fresh ingredients in its unpretentious food. Items on the menu include BBQ Crocodile Rib and Italian pastas, just to name a few. Foie Gras was lukewarm at best though I loved the sweet glazed apple that the pan-seared duck liver was served with. I have had better ones, just like Escargot Bourguignon – oven-baked Brandy snails stuffed in button mushrooms coated with garlic butter and topped with parsley leaves. With no reminiscence of mud or sand, the snails were not as plump as others I have tried. A tad chewy and bland, the succulent mushrooms were needed for taste.

Milagro Spanish Restaurant

Initially, my dining companion and I wanted to catch up over a drink at Malones Irish Restaurant and Bar. Not only were we in time for happy hours, but the light bites on the menu also looked enticing. Alas, it was located along Discovery Walk at 313@somerset with no indoor seats and we could smell haze in the air. So I suggested Spanish cuisine though my only experience at a place well-known for its suckling pig was less than stellar. My usually enthusiastic companion, who seemed adventurous enough to try any cuisine, was reluctant due to previous disappointment at the paella served at this same place. Nevertheless, we decided to visit Milagro Spanish Restaurant. Tucked away in a quiet corner on the 8th floor of Orchard Central, it opened in April this year. And the owner is 27-year-old Raymond Chong, a Singaporean with double degree in accounting and finance, who fell in love with Spanish food while on holiday in Barcelona and Madrid during his overseas exchange in Denmark.

Wild Honey

While I loved Wild Honey for its hearty all-day breakfast and interior designs, could not say the same of its queues and price tag – drinks are not included, and please add service charge despite having to queue at the counter to order. First tried its signature English (another is European Eggs Benedict) breakfast at Mandarin Gallery and subsequently at Scotts Square where seats could be reserved and orders were taken at the table, and preferred it to the Canadian one. The former included soft and fluffy brioche, lovely sautéed mushrooms and breakfast potatoes with Cumberland pork sausage, grilled vine ripened tomato and scrambled eggs I could not fault as well as back bacon and Dad's baked beans I could not rave about. And the latter paled in comparison, with a stack of three thick pancakes that I found too cloying after a while despite eating it drizzled with imported Canadian maple syrup and between mouths of Canadian back bacon and yummy wild forest berry compote.

Chabuton

Located at B2 of 313@somerset beside Saboten, Chabuton is opened by Michelin-starred chef Yasuji Morizum who was named "King of Ramen" by well-known Japanese program TV Champion in 2002. With presence in Japan and Thailand, it was the first ramen eatery ever to be awarded Michelin star. Decked out in neutral colours and lots of wood, the décor was typical of most Japanese restaurants. Lunch sets include small portions of ramen with a side dish and a dessert. My choice was its signature Chabuton Tonkotsu Ramen, Hitokuchi gyoza and konnyaku jelly. The rich and creamy broth was a tad oily and salty though I loved the springy thin noodles and tender melt-in-the-mouth chashu slice. While skin of gyoza was thin, it was not crispy enough and the filling was nothing to rave about. But the sweet grape and peach jelly was a perfect end to my meal.

TungLok XiHé Peking Duck

TungLok XiHé Peking Duck, collaboration between Tung Lok Group and Beijing's XiHe restaurant group, has opened a 2nd branch in Singapore after The Grandstand. Tucked away in a quiet corner on the 7th floor of Orchard Central, its signature dish is Peking duck. But not the Cantonese version, so do not expect thin egg skin but thick pancakes. No different from most other restaurants, the roasted duck served whole (there is no half portion here) was carved in front of customers. Cut such that the thin crisp skin came with a bit of meat, this was best dipped in blueberry sauce followed by sugar so the latter popped or at least crackled in the mouth – a modern twist to the original dish and a tad sweet. We were recommended to eat the breast meat, with skin still intact, as wraps.

Noodle Place Restaurant

Queues can be seen at Noodle Place Restaurant during meal times. Shifted from across the road, it is now located on the 1st floor of Orchard Gateway beside 313@somerset. Visited not once but twice for late lunches on different weekends and tried its Shrimp Dumpling & Shrimp Wanton Noodles, Triple Mixed Roast Meat and Noodle Place Special Congee. Interestingly, preserved vegetables and braised peanuts were served only during our first visit. Both were nothing to rave about or fault, just like the shrimp wanton. Loved the springy noodles though could not say the same of its shrimp dumpling with fillings of minced pork (too mushy for my liking) and prawns, mushrooms instead of the familiar crunchy black fungus.

New Kid on the Block – Noodle Stories

With the opening of Orchard Gateway, there are definitely more places to eat in the area. Despite so, queues can still be seen at Noodle Place Restaurant which shifted from Centrepoint to the new shopping mall. In addition, Hai Di Lao opened its 2nd branch at 313@somerset and Dean & Delucca expanded its space on the 4th floor of Orchard Central. At the latter, TungLok XiHé Peking Duck opened a 2nd branch after The Grandstand while Lao Beijing was revamped to Noodle Stories. Both are located on the 7th floor with the latter serving Northern Chinese cuisine such as dumplings, noodles and soup. According to its website, the exquisite yet simple everyday fare is easy to love and its traditional comfort dishes appeal to the modern tastes with its rich and tasty flavours.

Sushi Goshin by Akashi

Sushi Goshin by Akashi opened its 1st branch on the 2nd floor of Suntec City last year. The 2nd, located at the basement of Robinsons Orchard where HMV used to be the anchor tenant at The Heeren, was almost empty when I visited on Monday evening. Replacing the physical menu (it would probably be useful to also provide a copy) is an iPad at every table to be shared between two, which I found a hassle to "flip" especially when comparing items across pages. Did not try any of its sushi but had a bowl of braised pork belly noodle soup instead while my dining companions ordered set dinners served with miso soup, rice and watermelon slices. We also shared a very small portion of sweet puffer fish, reminiscent of bak kwa and cuttlefish, sweet potato tempura I could not rave about or fault and a seasonal whole fish sashimi – thinly-sliced and a tad warmer than I liked with sweetness accentuated by its dipping sauce instead of the familiar lemon slice, wasabi and/or grated radish.

Café Mondo

Located on the 2nd floor of Orchard Central where Seventh Heaven used to be, is Café Mondo by the same people. Opened in 2008, Seventh Heaven used to be at Raeburn Park with a kiosk at Takashimaya Food Hall (basement 2). Now, its kiosks are at Gardens by the Bay and Pasarbella @ The Grandstand. But this one, opposite Central Hong Kong Café, is a full-service café serving more than desserts and drinks. Understood it was revamped and renamed with the addition of appetisers and mains on its menu. My dining companion and I were looking for a place to sip a cuppa coffee after dinner when we decided to also have its ice-cream. So we could try more flavours, chose mini twelve putts over six packs – six normal-sized scoops of ice-cream served in a muffin tray. I loved their names and presentation. Our choice of 12 small scoops of ice-cream was served in a mini muffin tray.

Shabu Sai

The 2nd branch of Shabu Sai is located on the 8th floor of Orchard Central with Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant, Ootoya Japanese Restaurant and Nolboo Hangari Galbi. Visited on a weekday for dinner and upon reaching the authentic Japanese restaurant that serves all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu (derived from the sound produced when ingredients are swirled in the hotpot) and sukiyaki buffet, I realised there were a 70 and 90 minutes time limit imposed for lunch and dinner respectively. Upon choosing two from six kinds of soup bases and deciding whether to top up for free flow of drinks and soft serve ice-cream, customers pay at the counter by the entrance before being brought to their tables with a kettle of water on each. So if the soups got too salty as the meal progressed, they could be diluted. And we did that a couple of times though the table beside us, on the contrary, requested for refills of soups. I like that the place is clean, spacious and simply furnished with lots of wood.

Togi BBQ & Salad Bar

Togi Korean Restaurant started a decade ago as a small restaurant in Mosque Street and has since opened a 2nd branch in Singapore. Located on the 2nd floor of TripleOne Somerset beside Daruma Ramen House, Togi BBQ & Salad Bar does not look like a typical Korean restaurant. Simply furnished with white walls and high ceiling, it is spacious and not filled with smoke. Clean-looking with vertical gardens on walls and overhanging from above, the place has wooden tables and chairs both indoors and outdoors. Having walked by a couple of times, I finally visited on a weekday evening and was seated immediately. First to arrive was a complimentary small bowl of porridge I could neither rave about nor fault. This was followed by six different types of banchan, of which I liked the anchovies or ikan bilis and fishcake reminiscent of local yong tau hu best.

Sumiya

Was in Orchard Central looking for lunch on a weekend when I realised that Kuriya Penthouse (while Kuriya Dining has ceased operation at Raffles City Shopping Centre, you can still visit the branch at Great World City) and NUOC were no longer there. The latter, a joint venture between Modesto's group of restaurants and a Vietnamese partner, used to serve one of the better phõ in Singapore. Though it was a tad expensive, just like Annam Vietnamese Cuisine by Les Amis Group that has also closed. Located on the 12th floor now is Sumiya, literally translated in Japanese as "charcoal house" with a retro décor inspired by the Showa period. Depicting Japan in the 1950-80s, there are 3 sections in the 100-seater 6,500 sq ft space – 1950s garden with cook-it-yourself Japanese grill over water barrels, 1960s yokochos reminiscent of pubs in narrow alleys with old posters on zinc walls, 1970-80s izakaya with masks above a traditional Japanese drum near the entrance and copper crockery.