So Pho So Good!

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $17 per person.





Vietnamese cuisine is quickly becoming trendy in Singapore, and one of the latest to jump on the bandwagon is So Pho. Operating as part of the Katrina Holdings Pte Ltd, So Pho offers popular Vietnamese street food in a casual, contemporary setting. With their value for money pricing, and tasty, healthy dishes, So Pho has slowly been pulling in the crowds.

Ambience at So Pho is casual, comfortable, and modern, with touches of Vietnamese decor. The spacious but dimly lit interior boasts colours of black and red, with large but rather nondescript furniture. Random bursts of greenery spread around So Pho help to partition off areas, while the bustling kitchen and noisy atmosphere lends an air of street food dining, albeit in an air-conditioned environment.

Service at So Pho is partially self-service. Ordering is done through a chit, though staff check off and repeat your orders, as well as serve it to your table. But payment has to be made at the counter. There is minimal interaction with staff beyond making requests, which I'm happy to say they carry out efficiently and quickly. Most of the staff are familiar with the menu and can answer simple questions on preparation and ingredients, though they have to check with the kitchen on more complicated questions.

So Pho, as its name suggests, specialises in Pho, a thin but flavourful broth served with beef or chicken, fresh vegetables, and rice vermicelli noodles. While the focus is on the street food of Vietnam, plating and presentation is European contemporary. Portions are generally large for one person, and pricing on average is less than SGD $12 per dish. In Vietnamese cuisine, there is a strong emphasis on the use of fresh ingredients and a balance of the 5 elements (spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet), both of which are evident in the food at So Pho.





I love the Pho Dac Biet (SGD $9.80) for its thin yet flavourful broth that has a strong taste of beef, herbs, and spices. Style is South Vietnamese, with garnishes of lean beef flank, beef brisket, and beef meatballs. I like that the meatballs have a slight bounce in texture, and the beef brisket is tender and soft. The beansprouts and onions add a crunch to texture, while the various herbs lend a floral essence and enhance the sweetness of the soup. Very good!

Pho Dac Biet 01

Pho Dac Biet 02

Pho Dac Biet 03

The Sparkling Vietnamese Limeade (SGD $3.80) is a refreshing but fizzy thirst quencher, though I did feel they used too much ice, which diluted the drink. I preferred the home brewed Lemongrass Tea (SGD $3.20), both for its light refreshing texture, and not too sweet taste.

Sparkling Vietnamese Limeade

Lemongrass Tea

The Banh Mi Kep Bo (SGD $5.90) features a small but crisp French baguette, stuffed with savoury grilled beef and fresh vegetables. I loved the meaty, slightly salty beef, and the satisfiying crunch of the bread and vegetables. While I thought it looked small, it's surprisingly filling!

Banh Mi Kep Bo 01

Banh Mi Kep Bo 02

Banh Mi Kep Bo 03

The Cha Gio Chien Fried Spring Rolls (SGD $4.80) weren't that great, as the skin was borderline limp and soft. The filling was tightly packed though, which was good.

Cha Gio Chien Fried Spring Rolls

The Chao Tom Prawn Cake With Sugarcane (SGD $6.80) is slightly small in portion, but packs good flavour. You can taste the distinct flavour of shrimp and herbs, enhanced with a little sweetness from the sugar cane, but I find the level of spiciness a bit lacking.

Chao Tom Prawn Cake With Sugarcane

I thought the Goi Cuon Summer Rolls With Prawn & Lemongrass Chicken (SGD $4.50) was very good, thanks to the savoury and meaty grilled chicken, which was tender and slightly moist. The crunchy vegetables and shrimp is a burst of sweet freshness that hits you first, then the taste of the chicken follows. Recommended!

Goi Cuon Summer Rolls With Prawn & Lemongrass Chicken

The Mixed Appetizers (SGD $10.80) is a good sampling portion of the various appetizers on the menu, but having tried this, I can safely say I'll probably only order the Goi Cuon Summer Rolls With Prawn & Lemongrass Chicken next time, and skip the rest.

Mixed Appetizers 01

Mixed Appetizers 02

The Marmalade Pantry
55 Fairways Drive

2 Orchard Turn
#03-22 ION Orchard

http://www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg/


Not As Good As I'd Hoped

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 4
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 4
Service: 5
Value for Money: 3
Spent about SGD $36 per person.


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The Marmalade Pantry first opened its city outlet in 2009, enticing diners with its 'modernist larder' concept, which promises fresh, healthy and tasty food that is prepared quickly. Drawing rave reviews, especially for their creative and pretty cupcakes, pastries and cakes, I was left feeling confused when I experienced poor food and poor service at The Marmalade Pantry during a recent visit... perhaps it was a bad day for them.

Ambience at The Marmalade Pantry has an elegant colonial charm, with fine tableware and colours of black and white offset by gold and wood trimmings. Love the open concept of the city outlet, perfect for people watching and relaxing. But the cramped floorspace means less privacy, and you can easily listen in on the next table's conversations.

During my visit, I received below average service at the The Marmalade Pantry. First, it was difficult to attract staff's attention, even though the restaurant wasn't packed. Second, they forget to serve my dessert after I asked for it, and I had to remind them again. On the plus side, staff did offer greetings when I stepped into The Marmalade Pantry, and food was served quickly.

Service during a subsequent visit didn't fare any better. Staff again forgot the dessert order after being reminded. Worse, there was no staff on standby even though the restaurant had opened, and the Brunch menu and several desserts wasn't available on a weekend morning. These were finally made available 1 hour later.

I'm rather ambivalent about the food at The Marmalade Pantry. While I commend the use of fresh ingredients, and the beautiful plating of dishes, the actual execution of the dishes fell flat. For a upper-range cafe with higher than average prices, I expect better quality and skill than what I got, as such, I feel that The Marmalade Pantry is not value for money.

Portions sizes are decent enough for one person. I think the desserts at The Marmalade Pantry stood out for me as well, very pretty presentations, with good taste, though some are overly sweet. Overall, I would probably only recommend The Marmalade Pantry for desserts, not for main courses.


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The aggressive looking Lemon Meringue Sponge Cake (SGD $8) has a sweet, airy, and light meringue that shatters easily, revealing the soft cake within. The cake is somewhat dry, but stands out for its zesty lemon cream that is a burst of flavour in the mouth.

Lemon Meringue Sponge Cake

The Granny's Apple Cupcake (SGD $4.80) features granny smith green apple slices, spiced with cinnamon sugar, topped with decadent cream cheese frosting. Lovely and sweet, with a nice textural contrast with the crunch of the apples and smoothness of the frosting.

Granny's Apple Cupcake

The Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake (SGD $8) may look plain, but the richness is evident in each bite. Smooth in texture, the flavour of the cheese and caramel is intense, cut through with a hint of the sea salt. Pretty good!

Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake

The Mocha (SGD $6.50) was decent at best, but slightly higher priced, with a somewhat muted chocolate flavour. The coffee shot is pretty strong though, but I wouldn't visit just to drink their coffee.

Mocha

I loved the Peony Jade White Tea (SGD $7), with its light body, delicate floral aroma, and sweet fruity taste of lychee and passionfruit, with a slight bitter finish. Excellent choice for an afternoon high tea session!

Peony Jade White Tea

The Wuyi Keemun Black Tea (SGD $6.50) is intense with smoky, earthy flavours of wood and herb, with a slight sweetness of dates, yet very little bitterness. Warm and comforting.

Wuyi Keemun Black Tea

The Bananas And Berries Hotcakes (SGD $16) is served with a medly of berries (blueberries, strawberries) and honeycomb infused butter. The problem was the poorly cooked pancakes, which were limp, dry, and slightly tough in texture. Not satisfiying or tasty at all, in fact, The Marmalade Pantry received several complains about the poor quality of this dish from diners that day. Avoid!

Bananas And Berries Hotcakes 01

Bananas And Berries Hotcakes 02

The Seared Scallop And Prawn Fettuccine (SGD $24) was actually good. The fettuccine pasta was cooked well, and the seafood of scallops and prawns were plump, meaty, and fresh! However, the tiger prawn bisque sauce tasted similar to the Prawn Noodles soup you'll get from your local coffee shop, making this a fusion style dish, with Italian and Singaporean influence. Also, I felt the stock was too intense, and the aroma of crustacean was so overpowering the table next to ours could smell it. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that I was eating something that tastes like a Singaporean Prawn Noodles soup.

Seared Scallop And Prawn Fettuccine 01

Seared Scallop And Prawn Fettuccine 02

The Chicken Arrabiata Linguine (SGD $24) features marinated chicken, sundried tomato, garlic, chili padi, parsley, tomatoes, and linguine pasta. The taste of the tomato sauce is rather muted, not as intense or as fresh for my liking, though there is sufficient to marinate the chicken, which was dry. Could have been slightly more spicy too. Average at best.

Chicken Arrabiata Linguine 01

Chicken Arrabiata Linguine 02

The huge slice of Fluffy Coconut Cream Cake (SGD $8) is sufficient for 2 people, though the coarse vanilla and coconut cake was dry instead of moist. This was relieved somewhat by the sweet and fragrant coconut infused cream frosting, with a subtle taste, and the texture of dessicated coconut meat on top. Decent dessert cake.

Fluffy Coconut Cream Cake 01

Fluffy Coconut Cream Cake 02

The Pandan Kaya Cupcake (SGD $4.80) was created to celebrate Singapore's National Day by resident pastry chef Louie Moong, and features a soft, moist, pandan and coconut flavoured cupcake, topped with a swirl of coconut meringue, with a dollop of kaya / pandan coconut egg jam at the center. Good, although she felt it was overly sweet.

Pandan Kaya Cupcake 01

Pandan Kaya Cupcake 02

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D'Bell Tasting Session - Closed
43 North Canal Road

Opening Hours:
Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 11pm,
Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 6pm - 12am,
Sat: 6pm - 12am,
Closed Sun


http://www.dbell.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, Fundamentally Flawed, and Epicurious Caniggia.


Modern Indian Fine Dining

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 9
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $40 ++ per person.


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First established in November 2013, in Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, the D'Bell Cafe & Lounge quickly garned rave reviews, packing in the crowds. The owners behind D'Bell have since expanded their operations to Singapore, with their first D'Bell outlet in 43 North Canal Road. Styled as a modern Indian fine dining restaurant, lounge, and party area, D'Bell looks set to establish its claim on the modern Indian dining niche.

D'Bell Exterior

D'Bell Interior

D'Bell Lounge

D'Bell isn't your typical Indian restaurant, and the ambience reflects that. Elegantly designed, with blended elements of East India and East Asia, don't expect to find drapery, carved statues, or mosaics here. Instead, the interior features plush velvet banquettes, elegant wrought iron vintage chandeliers, gold rimmed mirrors, and modern furniture befitting a classy, sophisticated Western fine dining restaurant. Sleek silver chairs line the marble bar counter. Their Indian roots are evident in the ethnic pillow designs, soft, plush and colourful, contrasting well with the dark toned lounge chairs. However, I didn't quite like the overall dim lighting, though staff say the level of brightness is adjustable.

The 1st level of D'Bell differs greatly from the 2nd level. While the 1st level is laid out in a stylish fine dining restaurant style, the 2nd level doubles as a classy, chic, sophisticated lounge and private function area, with a private bar, and a private VIP party room that is soundproof. Projector screens display sporting events, while the awesome sound system makes the place seem like a club, playing anything from the latest Bollywood club hits, to classy International music. The luxe surroundings here are very inviting!

Dining Table

Dining Corner

Dining Booth

The service at D'Bell rest-o-lounge is impeccable. As befitting its fine dining status, staff are friendly and polite, offering greetings upon entry, and are able to hold conversations with you. They seem well versed and knowledgable on the history of D'Bell, as well as its menu, being able to describe the roots / inspirations behind each dish. Efficiency is great, offering more drinks proactively, topping up water discreetly, and clearing empty plates relatively quickly. Also noticed that during events, staff will go up to guests with empty hands to offer drinks and canapes. Excellent service, professional and courteous!

Executive chef Satish Madaan heads up the D'Bell kitchen team, bringing to bear his 14 years of experience to create great tasting and creatively plated dishes. This 3 time Gold medal winner of the Food Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge is known for his use of fresh ingredients and authentic cooking methods that result in flavourful dishes.

Mirrors

D'Bell Bar Seats

D'Bell specialises in Modern Indian cuisine, made using authentic Indian recipes, but plated in contemporary Western style. While the taste of each dish remains traditional, D'Bell refrains from using butter or ghee in their cooking, choosing to prepare dishes using olive oil instead. This makes D'Bell food healthier than other Indian restaurants, and you can barely taste the difference! The extensive menu is an eclectic mix of North Indian and Western (American, Italian) cuisine, available in both regular portions, and canape portions for events. D'Bell also has off-menu items, depending on what chef Satish feels like preparing!

D'Bell encourages communal dining, so regular sized portions are sufficient for 2 - 4 people to share. I noted that most of the dishes tasted authentic, even without the use of butter or ghee, and were very flavourful. Some had been purposely toned down to suit the Western / Singaporean palate, but staff assure me that you can still request for these to be prepared the classic, traditional way it's served in India. Prices at D'Bell are very reasonable for a fine dining restaurant, budget about SGD $40 - $60 per person. I daresay this is considered a low price range for a fine dining restaurant that provides this high quality of food and service.

D'Bell Private VIP Party Room

The Cocktail Golden Moment (SGD $20) is a refreshing summer drink, made with vodka, fresh mango juice and pulp, fresh passionfruit juice, and a hint of kaffir lime and chili. An excellent thirst quencher!

Cocktail Golden Moment (SGD $20)

The Cocktail Masala Punch (SGD $20) has a deep flavour of spices, and warms the body. Made with house bourbon, a secret masala mix of Indian spices, and stirred with a cinnamon stick, the flavour is deep and rich, with a slight heat at the front.

Cocktail Masala Punch (SGD $20)

An off menu item, the Lamb & Couscous Kofta With Lime Juice is served as an amuse bouche. Little balls of minced lamb are rolled in a fresh tomato paste, then coated with perfectly cooked couscous. Taste is like a cross between a kebab and a pasta, akin to an Italian meatball. The home made lime juice, while refreshing, acted as a palate cleanser, but I couldn't see how it paired with the Lamb & Couscous Kofta.

Lamb & Couscous Kofta With Lime Juice

The Western style Lobster Bisque (SGD $12) is excellent! Rich and deep with the flavour of the ocean / crustaceans, the texture is thick but not gloopy, and the taste isn't overpowering. Warm, hearty, and satisfying, I could drink bowls of this! The crisp garlic bread that accompanied was great for dipping, though the texture is softer than typical toasted garlic bread.

Lobster Bisque (SGD $12)

The D'Bell Kofta Kebab (SGD $18) On Plain Naan (SGD $5) was served as a canape / tasting portion. The Plain Naan was good, with the correct doughy texture and bite. The D'Bell Kofta Kebab, made with minced beef stuffed with cheddar cheese and prunes, then dusted with semolina, was tasty and flavourful. I felt that while the exterior was rather moist, the small size made the interior somewhat dry.

D'Bell Kofta Kebab (SGD $18) On Plain Naan (SGD $5)

The Tawa Wali Fish (SGD $22) was excellent! Firm, meaty butter fish cubes are glazed in coconut milk and curry leaves, then grilled to perfection. The moist, flavourful fish was among the outstanding dishes I tried here!

Tawa Wali Fish (SGD $22)

An above average rendition, the Tandoori Chicken Tikka (SGD $16) features boneless chicken leg cubes, marinated in a mix of Indian spices and yoghurt, then cooked in a tandoor. Unlike other Indian restaurant versions, this isn't dry at all, being somewhat moist in the middle, an example of the skill of the chef.

Tandoori Chicken Tikka (SGD $16)

The Crispy Veggie Relish Pappadum Cone, With Tamarind Fruit Chutney, Minty Yoghurt, Indian Pickles (SGD $5.80) is a signature appetizer here. Fresh bell peppers / capsicum, onions, carrots and arugula are stuffed into a crisp pappadum shell that shatters when bit. Fill it with the tangy Tamarind Fruit Chutney, delightful Minty Yoghurt, or crunchy Indian Pickles for bigger flavour!

Crispy Veggie Relish Pappadum Cone, With Tamarind Fruit Chutney, Minty Yoghurt, Indian Pickles (SGD $5.80)

Crispy Veggie Relish Pappadum Cone, With Tamarind Fruit Chutney, Minty Yoghurt, Indian Pickles

The Amritsari Dal (SGD $12) features a mix of split Bengal gram beans and whole black gram beans, simmered overnight on a charcoal flame. While more grainy in texture than other versions elsewhere, the flavour is intense and full, thick and savoury with some chew. I like that it's not too salty, which is a common mistake. Pairs well with Indian bread or rice!

Amritsari Dal (SGD $12)

The signature Chilli Cheese Naan (SGD $8) is a unique item, combining the best of cheesy pizza-like dough, with heat from Indian spices. Stuffed with cheddar cheese, onion, bell peppers / capsicum, and studded with fresh coriander leaves, the result is a filling and satisfying staple, that pairs well with any curry, and can also be eaten on its own!

Chilli Cheese Naan (SGD $8)

Among the best dishes we tried, the Kadhai Vegetable (SGD $12) features a medly of fresh vegetables, including cauliflower, bell peppers / capsicum, tomatoes, onions, cooked in a mild curry of Indian spices, garnished with coriander and cashew nuts. The result is a savoury dish, rich in fragrant spices (not spicy). The curry paste coating the vegetables is complex in flavour but light on the palate, instead of heavy or cloying. Although it's cooked in a Kadai / Kadhai metal pan, the plating and presentation is Western style. Excellent!

Kadhai Vegetable (SGD $12)

The rather healthy Pudina Paratha (SGD $7) is made with whole wheat, cooked in a tandoor oven without any butter or ghee, and dusted lightly with mint. This light Indian flat bread is perfect for light eaters, healthy eaters, and everyone in between!

Pudina Paratha (SGD $7)

The heat from the Kerala Fish Curry (SGD $18) has been vastly toned down to suit local palates, though you can still request it done the traditional, classic, tongue numbing way. I loved the firm, meaty, fresh butter fish used in this dish, slow cooked in a mix of coconut milk, curry leaves, and masala spices, giving it a rich, deep flavour with only a hint of spicy heat. The curry is thick, and goes great with rice!

Kerala Fish Curry (SGD $18)

The Mutton Rogan Josh (SGD $20) is served in a tomato and masala spice mix based curry, and the mutton has been slow cooked within till the flavour infuses the curry gravy. The meat itself is soft and fork tender, pulling apart very easily. The level of salt in this dish clings to you though, and the more you consume, the more it builds thirst.

Mutton Rogan Josh (SGD $20)

The Basmati Rice (SGD $4) is fragrant and fluffy in texture, cooked with bay leaves, star anise, and cardamom. The rice grains are well cooked and seperate easily.

Basmati Rice (SGD $4)

The Kashmiri Naan (SGD $8) differs greatly from other versions elsewhere, which typically use 1 or 2 dried fruit like cherries or raisins. Here, there is a greater variety of dried fruit used, including apricot, and the overall taste is sweeter and more fruity. A very good example of what a Kashmiri Naan can be!

Kashmiri Naan (SGD $8)

Considered the best dish we sampled, the Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani (SGD $15) has fragrant, aromatic rice that is flavourful and satisfiying. The chicken is cooked within the rice, infusing it further with flavour, while keeping the meat moist and tender. Currently only available on the set lunch menu, it's served with Raita (SGD $6), a dip of home made yoghurt whisked with fresh cucumber and tomatoes, and Pappadum (SGD $6). Now if only they made it available throughout the day!

Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani (SGD $15) With Raita (SGD $6) And Pappadum (SGD $6)

Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani

The Gulab Jamun (SGD $7.50) feature reduced milk balls, served in a fragrant rose syrup. I thought the texture of this dessert was more firm than it should be, and not as easy to eat. But I loved the rose flavoured syrup, as well as the addition of chopped pistachio nuts. But overall, not that great a dessert, I've had better elsewhere.

Gulab Jamun (SGD $7.50)

A decent Chocolate Brownie Topped With Strawberry Gelato (SGD $8.50), for those seeking a Western style dessert. Pretty good, the brownie is moist with good chocolate flavour, but overall, it's rather average. The touch of strawberry gelato does lift the flavour though.

Chocolate Brownie Topped With Strawberry Gelato (SGD $8.50)

Ras Malai (SGD $8.50) is an East Indian dessert, consisting of a cream coloured ball of paneer cheese, served in a sweet clotted cream and cardamom flavoured syrup. I love that the version here retains its chewy texture, without being crumbly, and is much lighter and not as sweet as other versions elsewhere. Very good!

Ras Malai (SGD $8.50)

I thought the Masala Tea (SGD $6) was decent. Loved the presentation akin to a Western cuppa, with a biscotti and cinnamon stick for stirring! Pity the biscotti wasn't too good.

Masala Tea (SGD $6)

Overall, D'Bell makes a strong case for healthy, yet authentic, classic Indian food, that still tastes great. Prices are reasonable for the thought and effort put into each dish. I definitely plan to return to D'Bell, if only to relax in their luxurious lounge, feast on the fantastic Indian and Western bar food, and soak in great music!





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