Zuzu Kebab
49A Serangoon Garden Way
#01-32 Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre

https://www.facebook.com/zuzukebab.sg/

Butter Rice With Mixed Chicken & Beef (SGD $12)

Tabbouleh Lebanese Cafe And Restaurant
41 Arab Street

55 Bussorah Street

https://www.facebook.com/Tabboulehrestaurant41/

Mezze

Wine Mansion
20 Keong Saik Road

26 Keong Saik Road

54 Sembawang Road
#01-01 Hong Heng Mansions

https://www.winemansion.com.sg/

Seared Scallops (SGD $19)

Roots Mediterranean Tasting Session
2 Greenwood Avenue

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm


https://www.facebook.com/RootsSingapore/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, Purple Taste, Eat Dream Love, Wish Upon A Tart, and The Arctic Star.

Gratinated Mussels (SGD $18)

EPIKebabs
8 Wilkie Road
#01-17 Wilkie Edge

110 Pasir Ris Central #02-04

http://www.epikebabs.com/

Rice Plate With Egg & Hummus (SGD $8.50)

Stuff'd
200 Victoria Street
#B1-K7 Bugis Junction

180 Kitchener Road
#B1-K1 City Square Mall

Various Outlets Islandwide

https://www.facebook.com/stuffedsg/

Chicken Spit Roast

Pita & Olives Tasting Session
100 Tras Street
#03-10 100AM

7 Temasek Boulevard
#01-455 Suntec City Tower 1
Shop 4 PasarBella Suntec City

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm


http://www.pitaandolives.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PitaOlives

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Come Let’s Eat Initiative, Embassy of Israel in Singapore, Burrple Singapore, Hazel Diary, Stormscape, Lirongs, and The 4 Moose.

Zaatar Eggplant & Zaatar Cheese (SGD $8)

Healthy, Home Made, Mediterranean Dishes

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 3
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $13 ++ per person.


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Originally opening in 100AM mall in Tanjong Pagar in 2013, Pita & Olives has since relocated to PasarBella in Suntec City as of 2015. Known for their use of fresh ingredients and hearty, rustic, home made dishes, Pita & Olives offers a healthy, mostly vegetarian / vegan menu, with few meat options. Their Israeli cuisine is very similar to that of other Mediterranean cuisines, such as Turkish cuisine or Lebanese cuisine.

We attended as part of the Come Let’s Eat Initiative, which strives to promote a more harmonious society in Singapore, by connecting Singaporeans with foreign cultures, through a shared food experience. In this tasting session at Pita & Olives, we were fortunate to be hosted by representatives from the Embassy of Israel in Singapore, along with Head Chef Aviv.

Pita & Olives Facade

Pita & Olives Signage

Ambience at Pita & Olives is minimal, really just a storefront at most. Located within PasarBella at Suntec City, it shares its seating space, furniture, and atmosphere with all the other stalls located here. The place is incredibly noisy, I nearly lost my voice several times speaking over the din. The furniture is also not too comfortable, being functional at best. What stands out for Pita & Olives is that they're located in a corner, so standing at the shopfront means you won't be blocking any people walking pass.

Service at Pita & Olives is partial self-service, with ordering and payment over the counter. However, if you sit around the store, staff will bring orders to your table. But if you sit further away, it's completely self-service. The menu at Pita & Olives is small, without any dish descriptions, but this is an opportunity for the staff to display their knowledge. They are able to describe the ingredients in dishes, as well as state how it's made. You can tell they're passionate about the food they serve. Good!

Food at Pita & Olives is Israeli cuisine, which is almost similar to other Mediterranean cuisines, like Turkish cuisine or Lebanese cuisine. Food is simple, rustic, healthy, and wallet-friendly. Mostly vegetarian / vegan options, with very little choice of meat, I find eating here to be clean and healthy for the body. Dishes are tasty, and portion sizes can be finished by an individual, though sharing / communal dining of at least 2 people is recommended. Prices are affordable, possibly the cheapest store in the entire PasarBella, budget about SGD $13 per person for a full meal here.

Pita & Olives Menu

Us, Source Credits

Chef is very proud of his Pita Bread (SGD $4), baking it fresh on-site daily. The difference is obvious, the texture of the bread is soft, warm, and fluffy, quite light with a slight chew. The small pocket is perfect for picking up food, and eating with your hands here isn't a problem. We ate so much pita bread during our visit!

Pita Bread (SGD $4)

The newest item on the menu is the Zaatar Eggplant & Zaatar Cheese (SGD $8). Think of it as an Israeli pizza, with a light, thin, chewy base, topped with either savoury salty roasted eggplants that have a smoky aroma, or sharp salty firm cheese that is big on flavour. Tasty!

Zaatar Eggplant & Zaatar Cheese (SGD $8)

The signature dish here, their Hummus (SGD $4) is extremely tasty, among the best versions I've had! Texture of the mashed chickpeas paste is smooth and creamy, with rich chickpea flavour, yet isn't heavy or cloying. I wish I could spread it over everything! Highly recommended!

Hummus (SGD $4)

The Tahini (SGD $4) is a smooth, creamy, oily, mashed sesame seeds paste, served as a dip, and has a toasty, nutty, floral aroma and flavour. Our hosts from the Israeli Embassy tell us it tastes authentic, and that it's considered a staple in Israel, used as a dip, topping, or ingredient in many dishes, even in desserts!

Tahini (SGD $4)

The Labane (SGD $4) is a type of strained yoghurt, sometimes also referred to as Yoghurt Cheese, or Greek Yoghurt. It has a thick, creamy texture, with a distinctive sour taste. It is a common street food in Israel, normally eaten with pita bread or zaatar, usually with a dash of olive oil. Personally, this didn't appeal to me.

Labane (SGD $4)

The Roasted Eggplant (SGD $4) features thin, tender slices of eggplant / aubergine, roasted till the exterior takes on a smoky aroma, while the interior remains moist. Taste is savoury salty, and our hosts tell us this is used as a stuffing / topping in pita bread. I find this actually lends good flavour when paired with other dishes!

Roasted Eggplant (SGD $4)

Yes, the traditional name is really Fresh Jerusalem Salad (SGD $4), and this clean, bright salad bowl features diced tomatoes, zucchini, black olives, mint leaves, lemon juice, vinegar, sea salt, pepper, and parsley. Fresh and healthy, it can be eaten on its own, or stuffed into the pita bread!

Fresh Jerusalem Salad (SGD $4)

The Falafel (SGD $4), or ground chickpea fritters, was decent at best. What I like about this is the crumbly, grainy texture which lends itself well to chewing, and the fragrant smoked aroma, but the slightly dry texture tickles the throat, making it uncomfortable to swallow.

Falafel (SGD $4)

Falafel

What the Turkish call Dolma, and the Greek call Dolmadakia, the Israeli people call Stuffed Vine Leaves (SGD $4), or Mahshi. The Jewish / Hebrew version differs slightly from others in Mediterranean cuisine, while it still has cooked rice stuffed into grape vine leaves, and rolled into a cylindrical shape, our hosts say that sometimes it can include other ingredients such as dried figs, dried apricots, or dried dates. The version served at the stall is the common, normal, plain version.

Stuffed Vine Leaves (SGD $4)

The Chicken Shawarma (SGD $5) here is savoury, with well marinated, thinly sliced strips of tender chicken meat. The spice coating lends moisture and flavour, and the meat has a fragrant, spicy and smoky aroma from the rotisserie grill. Good enough to eat on its own, this is best stuffed into pita bread, along with the other side dishes, and eaten together!

Chicken Shawarma (SGD $5)

The Beef Kebab Pita (SGD $12) is a filling meal, featuring a warm pita bread, stuffed with hummus, tahini, diced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, and meaty savoury beef kebabs. The meat of the tightly packed beef kebabs have a fragrant smoky grilled aroma, while still being moist in texture. Good!

Beef Kebab Pita (SGD $12)

Beef Kebab Pita

The Beef Kebab Set (SGD $17) is a hearty, filling, healthy meal. Essentially, the ingredients are the same as the Beef Kebab Pita, but rather than being all packed together, this is the deconstructed version.

Beef Kebab Set (SGD $17)

Oddly, Jewish / Hebrew cuisine has adapted the Mini Chicken Schnitzel (SGD $5) from German cuisine. Our hosts tell us that this is especially popular with children, making a great finger food snack. But while the version here has tender chicken meat with a light, crisp, crumb batter, I find this to be possibly the least value for money dish on the menu.

Mini Chicken Schnitzel (SGD $5)

Overall, dining at Pita & Olives is an insight into the street food culture of Israel, and it's fitting that prices reflect the status of its common, daily diet of the people of the country. Healthy and light, yet tasty and delicious, Pita & Olives is suitable for everyday dining. Their set meals are value for money, and quite filling! Pity about the crowded place on weekends, I recommend visiting on weekdays instead.


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Qbab
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-78 Raffles City

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 9:30pm


http://qbab.com.sg/


Tasty, Good Quality Kebabs

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 4
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $14 per person.


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As their name suggests, Qbab is a small kiosk offering Middle Eastern / Turkish style kebab rolls. A cute play on words, the owners hope people "Q for their Qbabs", this stall sources chicken and lamb from Halal suppliers fresh daily, then their meat is marinated overnight. This insistence on freshness extends to their no MSG policy, and the concept of Qbab is rather fast-food style; choose a meat, choose a variety of vegetables, then choose a sauce.

Ambience at Qbab is simple but functional. The small floor space is an open concept area, divided by a long, communal dining table, and several individual tables. You can see the chefs in the open kitchen preparing the meat for roasting / grilling! Part of the appeal of Qbab is watching them handcraft your kebab roll from scratch. Furniture is functional but not very comfortable, this is very much an eat-and-go place, with quite a lot of people ordering takeaway.

Service at Qbab is completely self-service, with ordering, payment, and collection all done over the counter. At least staff are friendly and engaging, able to describe the various choices of vegetables and sauces, and they fulfill orders quickly too. If dining in, staff do help to clear empty / dirty tables, though it's encouraged that you do this yourself.

Food at Qbab is all about Turkish / Middle Eastern kebab rolls. Portions are large for individuals, and quite filling. Besides 2 types of protein (chicken or lamb) to choose from, you can also stuff your kebab roll with between 0 - 5 vegetables (lettuce, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapenos), and cheese. Qbab also offers a variety of 7 sauces, you can choose 1 or 2 sauces to fill your kebab roll. Prices are reflective of its premium, hand crafted status, rather like high-end fast food, budget about SGD $14 for a kebab roll with a drink.


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You can't miss this corner stall, smack in the middle of the walkway! When nearby, you'll even be able to smell the enticing aroma of meat roasting / grilling!

Qbab Facade

Qbab Menu

Qbab Sauce & Vegetables Choices

There is a variety of cold Canned Drink (SGD $1.50) here, along with several choices for sides. Most are packaged items though.

Canned Drink

Their signature Hand Crafted Kebab is generously stuffed with a choice of meat (chicken or lamb), sourced from Halal suppliers, along with a variety 0 - 5 vegetables, cheese, and 1 choice of sauce. There's also a vegetarian option (made with falafel) available. If you go during the day, the chef will slice the meat as you watch, stuff the kebab roll as you like, then heat it to hold everything together!

Hand Crafted Kebab

The Kebab Chicken With Garlic & Ginger Aioli (SGD $10.50) has chicken meat that is moist and chewy in texture, within a thin wheat flatbread that has a slightly crisp exterior from baking. The vegetables lend a fresh, bright, juicy crunch to texture, while the garlic & ginger aioli is sharp and punchy in flavour. Sure to linger on your breath for a while! I quite like this sauce, and actually ordered in on 2 separate occasions!

Kebab Chicken With Garlic & Ginger Aioli 01

Kebab Chicken With Garlic & Ginger Aioli 02

The Kebab Lamb With Hummus (SGD $13) has lamb meat that is slightly gamey, but still moist, and semi-tender in texture, within the same tasty, thin wheat flatbread with a slightly crisp exterior from baking. Again, the vegetables lend a fresh, bright, juicy crunch to texture. The hummus paste still has that distinct nut-like, buttery, earthy taste of smoothly mashed chickpeas, but I notice it's a little thinner in texture, because it's supposed to be a sauce instead of a dip. Still very tasty though!

Kebab Lamb With Hummus 01

Kebab Lamb With Hummus 02

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Al-Hamra Tasting Session
23 Lorong Mambong

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 10:30pm


http://chutneymary.com.sg/alhamra/Al%20Hamra.html

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from HungryGoWhere, Chubby Botak Koala, and The Arctic Star.

Reserve a table with instant confirmation at HungryGoWhere Book A Table @ Al-Hamra now!


Delicious, Authentic Lebanese & Middle Eastern Cuisine

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Budget about SGD $32 ++ per person.





Established by the same owners behind Chutney Mary, the casual North Indian / South Indian bistro, Al-Hamra is a Lebanese, Middle Eastern / Mediterranean restaurant that has been in operation within Holland Village for over 10 years. Having outlasted many of the other restaurants in the area, Al-Hamra is still quietly plodding along, serving up tasty, authentic Lebanese cuisine. Personally, I'm more familiar with Turkish cuisine, but as the Middle Eastern / Mediterranean area shares many common elements, Al-Hamra still treads somewhat familiar ground.

Al-Hamra Signage

Ambience at Al-Hamra is elegant, with a primarily Middle Eastern / Mediterranean theme. Paintings of buildings with Islamic architecture, the use of ornate framed mirrors, comfortable dark coloured furniture with plush embroidered cushions, earth coloured mosiac floor tiles, and the faux flame torch lighting overhead all contribute to the magical feeling of being whisked away on a magic carpet, to a setting straight out of Arabian nights. Really traditional! As befits the theme, Al-Hamra is not fully air-conditioned, though I still found it rather cool.

Al-Hamra Exterior

Al-Hamra Interior

Service at Al-Hamra is attentive and professional. Staff are polite and courteous, attending quickly to guests. I also commend their menu product knowledge, they're able to make astute recommendations, as well as introduce and describe each dish. Thumbs up for their proactiveness in clearing empty / dirty plates, and offering to change plates as well. However, I suspect staff may be overwhelmed during peak periods, because of low manpower.

Al-Hamra Seating

Al-Hamra Seating

Al-Hamra is one of the few remaining restaurants that still offer shisha in Singapore, until June 2016. Really destructive to health, but I love the apple flavoured shisha!

Shisha Equipment

Retro Shisha Equipment & Hand Bags

Food at Al-Hamra is distinctly Middle Eastern / Mediterranean, with a focus on Lebanese cuisine, which is very similar to Turkish cuisine, just with different names for dishes. Generally, I find their food to be of acceptable standard in taste, though it's much better when eaten immediately upon serving, when it's hot and fresh. Portions are designed for communal dining, and I recommend a minimum of at least 3 - 4 diners for it to be value for money. Prices are typical of most other lower-end fine dining Middle Eastern / Mediterranean restaurants, budget about SGD $32 ++ per person for a meal here.

Lebanese Meal

The Manakish Bi Zaatar / Zatar Bread (SGD $6.50) starts with a round, all-purpose flour dough base called a Manakish / Manakeesh, usually topped with thyme and various other ingredients, then baked. In this case, the topping is Zaatar / Zatar / Za'atar, a herb condiment consisting of thyme, oregano, knotted marjoram, salt, sesame seeds, sumac berries / dried sumac, cumin, and fennel seeds. The result is an aromatic bread, fragrant with earthy, floral, spice notes, with a taste that is fresh and savoury sweet. Texture is chewy and crunchy, rather appealing. Closely resembles a pizza, good!

Manakish Bi Zaatar / Zatar Bread (SGD $6.50)

Manakish Bi Zaatar / Zatar Bread

My personal preference is Turkish Pita Bread, as opposed to this Lebanese Pita Bread (SGD $6). The difference is that this Lebanese version is a bit more hollow and puffed up, with less dough, closely resembling the shape of a Turkish Balloon Bread, or the South Indian Puri. Still, it's a decent enough accompaniment for a meal.

Lebanese Pita Bread (SGD $6)

The Cold Mezza Platter (SGD $35) features 6 of their siganture cold appetizers, and is worth sharing between 3 - 4 people. Basically a clean, vegetarian dish. It could also be a full meal in itself!

Cold Mezza Platter (SGD $35)

The Hommos Beyrouty / Hummus Beyrouti (SGD $12), also known as Mashed Chickpeas Salad, is a popular chilled appetizer served in Turkish, Lebanese, and Egyptian cuisine. The smooth, mashed chickpeas are garnished with a blend of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, garlic, and sesame paste, served with chickpeas arranged in the middle. Light savoury flavour, you get the freshness of the sauce, and the rich, creamy, yet grainy texture. Highly recommend!

Hommos Beyrouty / Hummus Beyrouti (SGD $12)

The Moutabbal / Moutabal (SGD $12), known as Mashed Eggplant Salad, is a simpler version of the classic chilled Baba Ghanoush dish served in Turkish, Lebanese, and Egyptian cuisine. Eggplant is baked till the pulp is soft, gaining a savoury smoky taste, then mashed with a blend of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, garlic, sesame paste, cumin, and chili powder, then garnished with pomegranate seeds. No other vegetables are used in this dish. It has a savoury, smoky, slightly zesty, slightly sweet flavour, with a thick, creamy texture. Good!

Moutabbal / Moutabal (SGD $12)

The Mahshi Warak Areesh / Dolma (SGD $15), or Stuffed Grape Vine Leaves, is a savoury sour chilled appetizer that is an acquired taste. Crunchy grape vine leaves are stuffed with a mixture of Egyptian white rice, parsley, mint, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice, tomatoes, and garlic. The result is a strongly sour taste, with a hint of savoury, and texture of crunchy and chewy. I like that their version is slightly more refreshing and clean tasting, and also isn't swimming in oil.

Mahshi Warak Areesh / Dolma (SGD $15)

The Tabbouleh (SGD $12) is a refreshing, crunchy, chilled salad of rough chopped parsely, onions, tomatoes, cracked wheat, mine leaves, lemon juice, and olive oil. Very fresh, clean flavours, perfect for pairing with bread, rice, or meat dishes! Good!

Tabbouleh (SGD $12)

The Fattoush (SGD $12) is a refreshing, crunchy, chilled salad of diced cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, salt, sumac powder, toasted pita bread chips, and olive oil. Sweet with a zesty citrus flavour, and a slight sour taste. Texture is crunchy, juicy, and feels completely healthy. Excellent!

Fattoush (SGD $12)

The Hot Mezza Platter (SGD $35) features 6 of their siganture hot / warm appetizers, and is worth sharing between 3 - 4 people. Basically a heavy, meaty dish. It could also be a full meal in itself!

Hot Mezza Platter (SGD $35)

The Falafel (SGD $14) is a classic Middle Eastern / Mediterranean hot appetizer, a deep-fried ball made from ground chickpeas, broad beans, onions, garlic, coriander, and cumin. Texture is semi-crumbly, grainy, and chewy within, with a slightly crisp, golden brown exterior. Love how tightly packed this is! Taste is savoury and earthy, with a slight hint of floral spices. Excellent, highly recommended!

Falafel (SGD $14)

The Lahem Bil Ajine / Lahm Bi Ajeen (SGD $14.50) is a classic Lebanese meat pie, a traditional and ubiquitous hot snack found in almost any bakery in Lebanon. Often eaten for breakfast, it consists of an all-purpose flour dough pastry shell, stuffed with a filling of minced lamb meat, onions, yoghurt, pine nuts, salt, garlic, powdered cinnamon, powdered cardamom, lemon juice, and parsley. It's often shaped like a square pillow, with a crunch to texture on the outside, yet chewy inside. Savoury, but the minced lamb meat has a slight gamey taste though.

Lahem Bil Ajine / Lahm Bi Ajeen (SGD $14.50)

The Fatayer Bi Sabanegh / Sabanekh Fatayer (SGD $12), or Triangle Spinach Turnover Pastry, is a classic Lebanese baked triangle shaped hot pastry, commonly found in most Lebanon bakeries. A crisp, deep fried, all-purpose flour dough pastry, is stuffed with a filling of sauteed spinach, onions, tomatoes, sumac powder, pine nuts, salt, lemon juice, and olive oil. While crisp, I find the texture of the pastry shell a little thick. Also, the filling was more towards the dry side, but still edible. Taste is pretty good, with the earthy, mineral taste from the spinach, but the execution in textures could be better.

Fatayer Bi Sabanegh / Sabanekh Fatayer (SGD $12)

The Kibbey Mekli / Kibbeh Maklieh (SGD $16) is a torpedo shaped minced meat ball / croquette, a hot appetizer usually served in appetizer served in Turkish, Lebanese, and Egyptian cuisine. The version here is made with minced lamb meat, pine nuts, cracked wheat, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, all-spice, salt, and sprinkled with lemon juice. Texture is crisp outside, with a crumbly inside, and leans towards being slightly dry. Taste is intense, with a strong meaty and gamey flavour, which is how it traditionally tastes, though it may not appeal to some Singaporeans. The lemon juice is key here, sprinkle it over to cut through the heavy flavours and dry texture, making it more palatable. Bold and unashamed taste!

Kibbey Mekli / Kibbeh Maklieh (SGD $16)

The Cheese Reqaq (SGD $12) was possibly the best hot appetizer we had here, an in-house Al-Hamra creation, inspired by the Chinese spring roll. A crisp, rolled filo pastry stuffed with feta cheese, onions, and parsley, simple but so good! Texture is crisp and crunchy, while you get the tastes of the mild, slightly pungent cheese, the sharp acidity of the onions, and the bright floral taste of the parsley. Highly recommended!

Cheese Reqaq (SGD $12)

The Meat Sambousik / Meat Sambousek (SGD $14.50) is a type of hot appetizer, shaped like a curry puff. A half crescent all-purpose flour dough pastry shell is filled with a mixture of minced lamb meat, onions, pine nuts, salt, garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, all-spice, and pepper. The version here I didn't quite like, as the texture of the pastry shell was thick and doughy, while the inside was very dry.

Meat Sambousik / Meat Sambousek (SGD $14.50)

The Chicken Shawarma (SGD $25) is best eaten immediately upon serving, when it's hot and fresh, as it tastes much better. Loses some of the smoky, savoury flavour when it cools off. The stuffing of sliced grilled chicken, marinated with vinegar, sesame paste, powdered cardamom, salt, garlic, lemon juice, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, all-spice, and pepper, is served in a Lebanese pita bread, presented like a boat. The thin texture of the pita bread here means the savoury gravy tends to seep through quickly, making this messy to eat with hands. Taste is decent, and this makes for a value for money, filling meal. Good!

Chicken Shawarma (SGD $25)

The Al-Hamra Mixed Grill (SGD $35) is a carnivore's platter of grilled lamb chunks, chicken chunks, and minced lamb kebabs, served along with tomatoes, onions, and parsley. The best thing about this dish was the savoury, smoky, incredibly juicy chicken chunks, so addictive I wished for more! The weakest thing about this dish was the incredibly salty lamb chunks, though the texture is at least tender. Chef says this is the typical level of saltiness, as it's marinated to bring out this flavour... I'm not sure how many Singaporeans will find this appealing. The minced lamb kebabs were very good, moist soft texture, good savoury flavour without too much gamey taste. A hit and miss dish.

Al-Hamra Mixed Grill (SGD $35)

Al-Hamra Mixed Grill

The Lamb Cous Cous / Lamb Tajine With Cashew Nut & Raisin Couscous (SGD $29) is worth ordering. A warm, hearty, lamb stew, featuring tender, boneless lamb chunks and potatoes, served in a savoury sweet but thin tomato stew, presented in a beautiful traditional tajine pot. The couscous is nice, with a fragrant aroma and a range of textures; soft, chewy, crunchy. While each component is good on its own, it's excellent when paired, as the couscous helps to absorb and hold the thin tomato stew gravy. Highly recommended!

Lamb Cous Cous / Lamb Tajine With Cashew Nut & Raisin Couscous (SGD $29)

Cashew Nut & Raisin Couscous

Lamb Tajine

The Arabic Rice With Dried Fruits And Nuts (SGD $7.50) is a classic Middle Eastern / Mediterranean staple accompaniment. Incredibly pretty with its golden and glistening yellow rice colour, studded with raisins, cashew nuts, and almonds. Beautifully fragrant!

Arabic Rice With Dried Fruits And Nuts (SGD $7.50)

Staff tell me that the Apricot Juice (SGD $6) is made in-house. Felt it was decent, though slightly sweet for my liking. Texture seems like it was blended with a packaged drink, as it's a little too smooth.

Apricot Juice (SGD $6)

Personally didn't like the Beklawa / Baklava (SGD $6), as I was expecting a crisp, flaky filo pastry shell, and a crumbly interior of crushed pistachio nuts. This was the complete opposite with regards to texture, being dense and firm. At least the taste is sweet, with the pronounced flavour of the pistachio nuts.

Beklawa / Baklava (SGD $6)

The Umali / Umm Ali (SGD $7.50) is a warm Egyptian dessert similar to a bread pudding. Chunks of flaky puff pastry are baked along with almonds, raisins, full cream milk, cashew nuts, and sugar, till the exterior is caramelised into a sultry golden brown crust, with the interior a soft, delightful mess. Not too sweet, this dessert is rather filling despite the small serving size. Good!

Umali / Umm Ali (SGD $7.50)

Absolutely loved the Muhallabia / Muhallebi (SGD $6), which is a chilled almond cream pudding sweet dessert served in Turkish, Lebanese, and Egyptian cuisine. Made with rice flour, almond milk / full cream milk, sugar, ground almonds, and rose water, then topped with crushed pistachio nuts (a distinctly Lebanese topping) and maraschino cherry. Sweet, fragrant, smooth, creamy, luscious, decadent... excellent! Highly recommended!

Muhallabia / Muhallebi (SGD $6)

Overall, Al-Hamra serves up above average, tasty and authentic Lebanese, Middle Eastern / Mediterranean food in a posh setting, with great service from the friendly staff. The longevity of Al-Hamra in Holland Village speaks of its quiet success, and I feel it's worth visiting, if you're in the area.


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