Elegant Modern Gastrobar With A View

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $30 ++ per person.





The Westin Hotel makes a return to Singapore after a 10 year hiatus, bringing along with it new dining concepts developed in-house, such as Cook & Brew. Making its global debut on the 33rd floor of Westin Hotel Singapore, Cook & Brew exudes an old-world elegance with a touch of modern chill, offering an extensive range of rustic, classic bar food with Western, Asian, and Fusion influences.

Cook & Brew Signage

Together with a list of fine wines, over 100 different types of beers sourced from 18 countries, and the fantastic day and night view of Marina Bay and Marina South, Cook & Brew has quickly become the latest watering hole of choice for office workers from nearby Shenton Way business district.

Semi-Private Dining Area With View

Small Group Dining Area

Plush Booth Dining Area

Ambience at Cook & Brew is a mesh of posh sophisticated elegance and rustic homely comfort. The dimly lit but spacious interior boasts plush suede leather booths, rustic cowhide armchairs, tufted leather benches, the longest marble-topped bar counter in Singapore, 90-inch flat screen televisions, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Seats are laid out in communal style dining, which is very much encouraged at Cook & Brew, as dish portions are designed for sharing. Along with colours themes of black against wood, clean lines and geometric patterns, Cook & Brew has a welcoming, comfortable, chill vibe. The best part is the fantastic view of the Marina Bay and Marina South area, stretching from the offices, to the Esplanade, to the highways, and the port. Both day and night views from Cook & Brew on the 33rd floor of Westin Hotel Singapore offer a different feel, and I recommend going early!

Cook & Brew Bar Area

Large Group Dining Area With Televisions

Patterns In Space

Service at Cook & Brew is outstanding even during peak periods. Staff are friendly and polite, efficient in seating guests, taking orders, and clearing empty plates. The food takes awhile to prepare from scratch, but served quickly. Staff are able to offer recommendations on the extensive wine and beer list, and relatively knowledgable when questioned on the food menu and dish preparation. They are also able to state what sporting events the in-house televisions will be screening for the day.

Staff are more than willing to engage you in conversation, and generally seem quite happy and upbeat. Cook & Brew also has an innovative Enomatic wine system, a unique self-service wine dispenser that offers tasting, half, or full glass portions. Making advance reservations at Cook & Brew is highly recommended, as the place tends to fill up quickly!

Amber Lights

Cook & Brew Industrial Steakhouse Style Cutlery & Denim Napkin

Day View Of Marina Bay & Marina South

Food at Cook & Brew is generally delicious and tasty. The menu at Cook & Brew is quite extensive, featuring classic, rustic Western style comfort food, as well as local Asian dishes, served with a modern twist. Several dishes even come with recommended beer pairings! Portions are designed for sharing, not so much individual dining, and prices per portion are reasonable and quite affordable. Budget about SGD $20 - $50 per person for both food and drinks.

The King's Favor (SGD $17) is a house signature cocktail, made with vodka, fresh raspberries, fresh passionfruit, chambord, lemon juice, and passionfruit juice. Sweet, slightly tart, yet refreshing, the taste of raspberries was the most prominent in the cocktail.

Signature Cocktail - King's Favor (SGD $17)

The Chocolate Indulgence (SGD $17) is also a house signature cocktail, almost like drinking a thick chocolate milkshake spiked with alcohol. Made with vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, hershey's syrup and milk, this is an excellent after dinner / dessert drink!

Signature Cocktail - Chocolate Indulgence (SGD $17)

The Chili Con Carne Volcano Topped With Cheddar Cheese (SGD $13) is like a Western style Char Siew Bao. The minced beef within is well marinated in a savoury, slightly spicy sauce, while the actual bun itself is fried, with a crisp, smooth exterior and a soft interior. Topped with bell peppers / capsicum, cheddar cheese, and a fresh jalapeno slice, it's a great tasting if slightly heavy appetizer. The pairing with Beer Pure Blond didn't work so well though, as the contrasting sweet and bitter tastes clashed.

Chili Con Carne Volcano Topped With Cheddar Cheese (SGD $13)

Chili Con Carne Volcano Topped With Cheddar Cheese - Best Paired With Beer Pure Blonde

Chili Con Carne Volcano Topped With Cheddar Cheese

The Sushi Bowl (SGD $18) is similar to a Chirashizushi, or a bowl of sushi rice topped with a variety of fish and vegetables. The version here has grilled / barbecued salmon, egg roll, fresh avocado, pickled daikon radish, and wasabi mayonnaise. Despite being considered a starter, this works well as a main dish. The pairing with Beer Hitachino White Ale is excellent, the fruity taste of the beer complements the clean, refreshing taste of the dish.

Sushi Bowl (SGD $18)

Sushi Bowl - Best Paired With Beer Hitachino White Ale

Sushi Bowl

The Honey BBQ Ribs (SGD $28) features a slab of perfectly grilled baby pork ribs, sweet and savoury with the taste of the honey marinade and Asian spices like the Rendang rempah. Served with a side of freshly made in-house coleslaw and crisp potato wedges, the pork rib meat comes off the bone easily, and is tender and flavourful. The pairing with Beer Blue Moon accentuates the sweetness of the dish, and works very well together.

Honey BBQ Ribs (SGD $28)

Honey BBQ Ribs - Best Paired With Beer Blue Moon

Honey BBQ Ribs

The Cook & Brew Fried Chicken (SGD $27) features a large piece of perfectly deep fried chicken, with a crispy crust, while the chicken meat within is still moist and tasty. Served with a fresh cherry tomato & sesame spinach salad, and an addictive wasabi mayonnaise, I seem to detect a hint of Asian spices in the batter, including 5-Spice powder. The pairing of Beer Brew Dog Punk IPA doesn't really seem to add or distract from the taste of the overall dish.

Cook & Brew Fried Chicken (SGD $27)

Cook & Brew Fried Chicken - Best Paired With Beer Brew Dog Punk IPA

Cook & Brew Fried Chicken

The signature German Butcher Platter (SGD $34) contains a huge serving of pork kassler, pork sausage, chicken sausage, chicken schnitzel, sauerkraut, dill pickles, mashed potato, and mustard. Every individual component in this dish was well cooked and tasty, and we were very satisfied with this! This meaty and filling dish is a carnivore's dream, and nothing goes better with a German dish than a German Beer like Erdinger!

German Butcher Platter (SGD $34)

German Butcher Platter - Best Paired With Beer Erdinger

German Butcher Platter

I loved the Almond Nougat Ice Cream (SGD $15) with its praline-like structure, and tasty, flavourful almond nougat ice cream within. Served with fresh raspberries, shaved caramelised almonds, and a condensed milk base, it's so satisfiying to crack open the chocolate shell and watch the ice cream ooze out.

Almond Nougat Ice Cream (SGD $15)

Almond Nougat Ice Cream - In Foreground

Almond Nougat Ice Cream

The Hot Chocolate Brownie (SGD $15) typically is served with a scoop of home made vanilla ice cream, caramelised cherries in a dark cherry sauce, and garnished with shaved almonds, and mint leaves. The brownie is warm, rich with chocolate flavour, and crumbles easily when cut. Combined with the sticky, savoury, sweet dark cherry sauce, and the fresh burst of mint, this is a lovely and comforting dessert!

Hot Chocolate Brownie (SGD $15)

Hot Chocolate Brownie - In Foreground

Hot Chocolate Brownie

Take On The Spicy Challenge (SGD $20)! Eat 6 hot and spicy wings / drumlets within 4 minutes, and get 1 hour of free beer! There's a reason this is a challenge, a combination of chilis and peppers are used in the making of this diabolical dish, including the world's 3rd hottest chili. The heat and tangy sourness of the aroma hits you up close, and the burn starts the minute you bite into it, building to a mouth numbing fiery crescendo.

Take On The Spicy Challenge (SGD $20)

Take On The Spicy Challenge - Extra Spicy Wings & Drumlets

Take On The Spicy Challenge

As day turns to night, the view from Cook & Brew changes drastically. Where you could see all the features in the day, the night is lit by the city lights like fireflies. The view is beautiful, even with the construction going on around the Westin Hotel Singapore.

Night View Of Marina Bay & Marina South

The Future Tower Next Door

Overall, I had a great time at Cook & Brew, and will definitely come back for more! The delicious food, relaxing ambience, and engaging service, together with the view from the area, makes for an unforgettable experience. No surprise that Cook & Brew attracts so many diners night after night, and advance reservations for a seat is highly recommended!





Update 19-Jul-2014: Returned to Cook & Brew for a discreet visit, and I must say their service was as good as, if not better, than my previous visit! The food was as usual fantastic! I actually left my camera behind, and the staff noticed, and tried to look for me. Thumbs up! I also noticed there were several birthday celebrations during my visit, and staff took the trouble to celebrate with the diners!


The Baked Vegetable Risotto (SGD $18) was a truely excellent vegetarian dish! Featuring perfectly done risotto rice cooked with mushrooms and parmesan cheese, then stuffed into a halved eggplant / aubergine, and topped with fresh vegetables, served in a home made fresh tomato sauce. The risotto is smooth and creamy, with a slightly softer bite than normal, and the fresh tomato sauce is outstanding. The eggplant / aubergine lends a nutty, earthy fragrance to the dish, and is soft and tender. Very good!

Baked Vegetable Risotto (SGD $18)

Baked Vegetable Risotto - Halved

Baked Vegetable Risotto

The Crunchy Fried Chicken Corn Dog (SGD $13) is a rather decent take on the normal Corn Dog. The batter is crisp and well fried, savoury with chicken flavour and crunchy. The chicken sausage within is meaty, still moist, but the taste isn't too intense. Pretty good appetizer, and I like how they serve it in a little frying basket!

Crunchy Fried Chicken Corn Dog (SGD $13)

Crunchy Fried Chicken Corn Dog - Portion With Tangy Tomato Sauce

Crunchy Fried Chicken Corn Dog

The Tiki Tuka (SGD $17) is another house signature cocktail, made with white rum, coconut rum, amaretto, orgeat, grenadine syrup, and orange juice. The result is a potent combination, served in an angry tribal tiki mug!

Signature Cocktail - Tiki Tuka (SGD $17)

Irodori Tasting Session
382 Havelock Road
#03-01 Riverview Hotel

1 Selegie Road
#01-14 Pomo

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm


http://www.irodorijapaneserestaurant.com.sg/

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 HungryGoWhere, and SG Food On Foot.


Still A Pretty Good Japanese Buffet After All These Years

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 9
Budget about SGD $38 ++ per person.


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Since its founding in 2008, Irodori Japanese Buffet Restaurant in Riverview Hotel has been consistently drawing in the crowds with their delicious food made from fresh ingredients, wide variety of Japanese dishes, and very affordable pricing. Named after one of the owner's daughters, Irodori promise of a tantalizing all-you-can-eat buffet of authentic Japanese food sees them ranking among the top buffets in Singapore, and is a testament to their consistent standards. Even our former President, Mr. S. R. Nathan, has dined at Irodori.

Ambience at Irodori combines the traditional zen with minimalist. Oriental touches, clean lines, warm lighting, and wooden panelling in shades of brown and black set a homely tone. Being an ala-carte style buffet also means that Irodori has less furniture clutter around, as well as less wastage of food.

Irodori Japanese Buffet Menu

Service at Irodori is very good, and relatively consistent after all these years. The most important service element at an ala-carte buffet is speed; the speed at which orders are fulfilled, and the speed at which empty plates are cleared, both of which are performed very efficiently at Irodori. Staff are unobstrusive, quickly and neatly arranging food that is served, and also quick to clear away dirty plates, both of which require observation and a good amount of courtesy.

Irodori specialises in serving authentic Japanese dishes, mostly small bites, made using only the freshest of ingredients. For about SGD $40 or so per person, prices at Irodori are reasonable for a decent buffet. And as with any buffet, there are outstanding items you must go for, middle-of-the-pack average dishes, and everything else (don't waste stomach space items). Here are several dishes I felt most people should sample at Irodori.

The Enoki Shiitake Butter Yaki / Fried Mushroom With Butter Sauce actually features pan grilled mushrooms, in a delicious butter sauce, where the mushroom juices have flavoured the base, creating a creamy, earthy, fragrant dish.

Enoki Shiitake Butter Yaki / Fried Mushroom With Butter Sauce

The Buta Enoki Maki / Pork Roll With Golden Mushroom is savoury and juicy, nicely grilled with a slight char, and the meat just melts away in the mouth.

Buta Enoki Maki / Pork Roll With Golden Mushroom

You MUST get the Sashimi Moriawase / Mix Sashimi Platter, with its mix of only the freshest fish! Comprising salmon, salmon belly, tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, and octopus, this is the dish you cannot miss! For most value for money, get at least 2 or 3 rounds of this!

Sashimi Moriawase / Mix Sashimi Platter

Sashimi Moriawase / Mix Sashimi Platter

A rather unique signature dish, the Green Tea Tofu features a soft, wobbly, cold tofu cube infused with green tea essence, lending a fragrant, fresh aroma. Garnished with fresh cucumber, the contrast of crunchy and smooth textures work very well.

Green Tea Tofu

The Ebi Mentai Mayo / Grilled Prawn With Mayonnaise is a signature dish here, being outstanding because of its grilled to perfection texture, with the prawn being savoury and smoky but still slightly moist. The mayonnaise seems to be a seafood infused mayonnaise, with a delightfully umami taste.

Ebi Mentai Mayo / Grilled Prawn With Mayonnaise

Ebi Mentai Mayo / Grilled Prawn With Mayonnaise

The freshness of the Grilled Salmon Cheek shines through, as does the tasty, firm flesh. Simple, uncomplicated, but not so easy to get right. Fortunately, the chef here is able to get it spot on!

Grilled Salmon Cheek

The unique Dobin Mushi / Tea Pot Soup isn't a drink, or even a type of tea. Instead, it's a traditional Japanese seafood soup / broth, steamed with shrimp, chicken, soy sauce, lime juice, and matsutake mushroom, then strained. The result is an incredibly tasty and potent clear thin broth that tastes of the land and sea (surf and turf), earthy, fragrant, light, savoury, all at once. A must try for me!

Dobin Mushi / Tea Pot Soup

Dobin Mushi / Tea Pot Soup

The Korokke / Croquette may not float eveyone's boat, but is an above average dish from the chef here. What makes this Korokke / Croquette stand out is the use of sweet potato in place of regular potato, giving it a sweeter taste and softer texture.

Korokke / Croquette

Korokke / Croquette

A rather above average Shishamo / Grilled Japanese Smelt, which although slightly burnt at the head, has a wonderful amount of fish row within.

Shishamo / Grilled Japanese Smelt

The Tako Yaki / Octopus Ball is hand formed, as evident by the uneven surface. The sauce is sufficiently sweet, and the piece of octopus within is fresh, with the ratio of starch to seafood being just right.

Tako Yaki / Octopus Ball

Some of the items and dishes which I felt needed work / improvement included; the Age Dashi Tofu / Deep Fried Tofu; the Shiitake Teriyaki / Mushrooms In Teriyaki Sauce; and the Yakitori / Grilled Skewered Chicken. In the meantime, don't waste stomach space on these.

Overall, Irodori Japanese Buffet Restaurant is still the place to go for an affordable Japanese buffet with a wide range of authentic dishes, without breaking the bank. Communal dining is most encouraged, as are advance reservations because Irodori Japanese Buffet Restaurant can get very crowded during peak periods.


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Cake Spade
1 Tras Link
#01-06 Orchid Hotel

http://www.cakespade.com/


Let Them Eat Cake

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $7 per person.


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Founded in April 2013 by owner-baker Zenn Eng, Cake Spade is named after the cake serving tool, but is also a clever pun on the American fashion brand Kate Spade. With an impressive resume from At Sunrice Culinary Academy, Shangri-La, Island Creamery, as well as home baking, the sassy, easy-on-the-eye Zenn Eng decided to start Cake Spade, selling her unique, carefully constructed cake creations that have drawn rave reviews for being extremely tasty.

Ambience at Cake Spade is modern and stylish, taking inspiration for American style cafes. Grey walls and wood panelling adorn the place, with a large display for all their cakes. But seating at Cake Spade is very limited, only a handful of small tables and chairs. This means Cake Spade tends to get crowded easily, and a lot of people buy takeaway instead.

Service at Cake Spade is friendly and fast. Staff are able to make recommendations, and generally clear empty tables quite quickly as well. Zenn is often serving at the counter too, alongside her staff. Otherwise, Cake Spade is very much a self-service place, where you order, collect, and make payment on your own.

Cake Spade specialises in dessert cakes, brownies, tarts and crumbles, with a sort list of beverages to accompany. Only fresh ingredients are used, without any additives or enhancers. Each cake is carefully constructed, with a combination of complmentary tastes and textures, and baked from scratch in true rustic style.

Prices at Cake Spade are rather reasonable for the high quality of cakes you get. Expect a slice of cake to cost an average of SGD $5 - $7, with crumbles and tarts averaging about SGD $5 or so. Portions are large for 1 person, and sharing is recommended! Still, the desserts at Cake Spade aren't overly sweet or heavy, meaning you can always squeeze in dessert here after a meal!


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The stylish New York inspired cake shop has just a handful of seats, but draws in the crowds anyway.

Cake Spade Signage

The Hummingbird Cake (SGD $5.90) slice is supposedly a healthier option here, as it's made with fruits. A fragrant, coarse banana cake packed with fresh pineapple chunks, topped with toasted dessicated coconut and a rich cream cheese frosting, all 3 layers of fruits are distinct enough to taste, yet still blend together in a sweet mouthful perfectly. Said to be among the best cakes in Singapore, the Hummingbird Cake has a bright, refreshing, summery feel, and is surprisingly good!

Hummingbird Cake 01

Hummingbird Cake 02

The Brownie Bottom Cheesecake (SGD $6.50) slice comprises a rich yet smooth textured cheesecake, sitting on a base of dense chocolate brownie. A 2-in-1 combo! Topped with chocolate shavings, chocolate powder, and whipped cream, the cheesecake is flavourful with the taste of cream cheese. The brownie base isn't an afterthought either, it holds up well eaten on its own, with a crumbly texture and a dense chocolate flavour. The magic happens when both are combined in 1 mouthful! Nice twist on 2 classic cakes!

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake 01

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake 02

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake 03

The incredibly light and easy to eat Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake (SGD $5.90) slice features a digestive biscuit base, and fresh strawberries encased in a light strawberry jelly. The texture of the tofu cheesecake is light, not too rich or sweet, and slightly firm. The strawberries have a nice balance of sweet and tart. A perfect dessert!

Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake 01

Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake 02

The pretty looking Lemon Tart (SGD $4.80) is the weakest item I had here. While I liked the slightly sour, slightly sweet, tangy and smooth texture of the lemon cream filling, the overall dessert was sorely let down by the tough, not so well baked crust. Difficult to cut through in some parts, stringy in others, the crust was terrible.

Lemon Tart 01

Lemon Tart 02

Lemon Tart 03

The Double Chocolate Brownie (SGD $3.20) is rich in chocolate taste, yet the texture is light and crumbly, not dense and heavy. I feel like someone could easily eat more than 1 of these! Staff will offer to pair it with ice cream if you choose to dine in, which I suppose makes it a full fledged dessert, but I tried it plain... And it's still very good on its own!

Double Chocolate Brownie 01

Double Chocolate Brownie 02

The Red Velvet Cheesecake (SGD $6.80) has a texture more similar to a red velvet cake than a cheesecake, being crumbly and coarse. The cake is tasty with vanilla and buttermilk, not too dense, easily consumed. I love the cream cheese frosting, which is light, and presented beautifully with swirls!

Red Velvet Cheesecake 01

Red Velvet Cheesecake 02

The Victoria Sponge Cake (SGD $5.90) is a twist on the classic British English high tea cake, the Victoria Sponge, which is usually served with raspberry jam and vanilla cream. Here, strawberries are used instead, and the sweet cream filling is sandwiched within the soft, sponge layers of the cake. A very good rendition, albeit not very traditional, more similar to an American style cake instead.

Victoria Sponge Cake 01

Victoria Sponge Cake 02

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