Hot Tomato Steak And Prawn Combo

When I went to Hot Tomato Cafe & Grill at NEX shopping mall for dinner last weekend, I was surprised to find out that the steak and prawn combo costs only $13.50.

Topping up $3.50 for the set meal upgrade of soup, garlic bread and drink, I ordered the steak and prawn combo which comes with a large piece of steak, two grilled prawns and aglio olio (spaghetti with garlic and oil). The service was fast as I got my main course within 15 minutes after ordering. Although nowhere near the best that I have tasted, the steak is thick and delicious and the prawns are fresh and juicy.

 

Even though I would prefer my steak to be slowly grilled and served on a sizzling hotplate, it was nevertheless a satisfying and value-for-money dinner at Hot Tomato Cafe & Grill. Indeed a lovely place for a casual Western dinner, do bring your family there too but remember to go early as the queue can be long especially during weekends. 

 

7.5/10

Hot Tomato Cafe & Grill
NEX
23 Serangoon Central Mall
#B1-47

The Bark Cafe

Hidden in a far corner of Upper Changi Road North, beside Changi Chapel and Museum, is an al-fresco cafe with lovely ambience and delicious food named The Bark Cafe. Even though I lived in the East, I didn't even know that it existed until a friend brought me there some years ago. Since then, I have occasional cravings for its signature crayfish hor fun and fried chicken wings and this led me to drive there on a weekday evening for dinner. Parking is free and readily available at the open space just in front the cafe.

Well-known for its fusion concept, the Bark Cafe serves Western cuisine like steak, fish and chips, burgers, salad, soup as well as local favorites like hor fun, fried rice and mee goreng. The signature crayfish hor fun, which may seem rather exorbitant at $17.90, comes in an enormous portion that is satisfactory for two. Expertly fried with a remarkable wok hei fragrance, the hor fun is coated with thick savory seafood gravy and topped with fresh crayfish, prawns and sotong. The specialty chicken wings, priced at $15.90 for 6 pieces, are extremely cripsy and juicy.

Overall, the Bark Cafe impresses me with its tranquil dining experience and its outstanding crayfish hor fun. If you are looking for a romantic place for dinner away from the hustle of the city, I strongly recommend the Bark Cafe.

8/10

The Bark Cafe
1000 Upper Changi Road North
Singapore 507707
http://www.thebarkcafe.com/

Arnold's Fried Chicken

Strongly recommended by some listeners on a popular radio show recently as having the best fried chicken in Singapore, I decided to try Arnold's soon after hearing about it.


Conveniently located at Hougang Green Shopping Mall not too far away from my home, I ordered Arnold's two piece chicken set which costs $6.40. Served with fries and coleslaw, the fried chicken was indeed hot and crispy on the outside while fleshy and tender on the inside. What I found lacking in Arnold's chicken, however, was the "eleven herbs and spices" that make KFC's chicken "finger-licking good".

In terms of freshness and crispiness, Arnold's chicken certainly has the advantage over other fried chicken. But when it comes to flavour and value for money, I still prefer KFC over Arnold's. Come and try for yourself if you haven't.

7/10

Arnold's Fried Chicken
21 Hougang Street 51, #01-49
Hougang Green Shopping Mall
Singapore 538719

Astons Specialties Wagyu Ribeye Steak

Even though I am not a steak connoisseur, I could not resist the temptation of trying the wagyu ribeye steak from Astons Specialties which was offered at a promotional price of $38.90 for 200 grams.


Served with two free side dishes (baked potato and tasty rice), the Grade 5/6 wagyu steak is well-marbled with an exceptionally smooth texture and a remarkably tender consistency. Another differentiating factor of wagyu beef is its delightful succulence with mouthwatering juices exuding with every bite.

Given its expensive price, I certainly had very high expectations of Astons' wagyu ribeye which unfortunately, failed to impress me to return for more. Somehow I still prefer its prime ribeye that is not only more robust and flavorful but costs less than half the price of the wagyu.

7/10

Astons Specialties
Sembawang Shopping Centre
#03-14
604 Sembawang Road

Char-Grill Bar Char-Grilled Chicken

Yet another rapidly expanding Western food chain that infiltrates coffee shops in Singapore, Char-Grill Bar certainly gives Astons and Botak Jones a run for their money.

I ordered the recommended char-grilled chicken which costs only $5.90 inclusive of 2 free side dishes. I decided to have California raisin rice and baked potato with my chicken. The service was fast for a weekend lunch and I received my order within 15 minutes.


Topped with a thin layer of savory mushroom sauce, the specialty char-grilled chicken is fleshy and delectable, though the charred aroma could be more distinctive. The California raisin rice is sweet and tasty while the baked potato is fragrant and flavorful.

Besides grilled chicken, Char-Grill Bar also has an impressive variety of Western dishes eg steak, fish, burgers, salads, sausages etc at affordable prices.

7.5/10

Char-Grill Bar
Kim San Leng Coffee Shop
Blk 417 Yishun Ave 11

Chef Hainanese Western Food Mixed Grill

My recent fascination with Western food brought me back to Chef Hainanese at the newly renovated Commonwealth Drive Food Centre. Previously tried and blogged about its grilled steak two years ago, I decided to have its mixed grill for dinner today.


Incredibly priced at only $6, this must be the cheapest and most comprehensive mixed grill in Singapore. Believe it or not, the fabulous mixed grill comes with pork chop, chicken chop, fish fillet, fried egg, sausage, French fries, baked potato and salad. I seriously couldn't think of anything else I would like to have in this mixed grill. In spite of its remarkable value for money, the superb quality of the dishes was not at all compromised.

If you are a foodie like me, you must not miss Chef Hainanese's mixed grill which is simply sumptuous and gratifying. Just by looking at the picture, I'm sure you will be craving for it very soon.

8/10

Chef Hainanese Western Food
Commonwealth Drive Food Centre
Blk 3 Commonwealth Drive
#01-04

Western Barbeque Mixed Grill

Having blogged about its chicken chop previously, I decided to try the mixed grill from Western Barbeque at Old Airport Road Food Centre today and it was simply extraordinary.


For only $7.50, the sumptuous mixed grill comes with an enormous piece of chicken chop, a juicy slab of pork chop and a tasty chunk of lamb chop. Enjoy this wholesome combo meal with French fries, a fried egg and a butter bun.

Other than the expensive meaty buffet dinner at Carnivore, I cannot think of any other meal that is as sinful as this mixed grill. If you are a meat lover like me, you must not miss Western Barbeque's mixed grill which will certainly leave you feeling very satisfied and wanting to return for more.

8/10

Western Barbeque
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-53

Western Barbeque Chicken Chop

The recent opening of Dakota MRT station of the Circle Line has greatly increased the accessibility of Old Airport Road Food Centre which is well-known for many delicious food eg fried kway teow, fried Hokkien mee, Western food, lor mee, wanton mee and cze char, just to name a few.


When I was there for dinner last night, I decided to try this stall named Western Barbeque which features several awards from Makansutra, Channel U and I Weekly etc. I ordered the chicken chop which costs $5 and comes with French fries, bread and baked beans. Fabulously grilled with a crispy charred outer layer, the chicken chop is remarkably tender and fleshy and tastes great even without any sauce.

No special flavors like teriyaki or black pepper, no side dishes like corn or coleslaw, Western Barbeque has the traditional old style chicken chop which impresses with its simplicity. If you crave to sink your teeth into a thick and fleshy piece of chicken chop, come down to try Western Barbeque today.

7.5/10

Western Barbeque
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-53

Wow Wow West Chicken Chop

Behind this Western food stall in ABC Brickworks Food Centre is a heartwarming story of how the owner, who spent part of his childhood in Boys' Town, decided to give ex-convicts a second chance by hiring them to run his stall. However this is not the reason why Wow Wow West is so popular. Instead it is well-known for its Western food that is not only very delicious but comes in super generous portions.


I ordered the chicken chop which costs $5. Although it was a crowded Friday evening, the service was efficient and I was served within 15 minutes of ordering. Indeed living up to its reputation, the generous portion of chicken chop is the largest that I have seen so far. Perfectly grilled with a delightful charred aroma, the tender chicken chop is topped with savory black pepper sauce that accentuates its distinctive flavour. The complementary coleslaw is also plentiful and tasty.

Enough said, the chicken chop is one of the best that I have tasted in Singapore. While a heartwarming story may entice customers to try the food, it is the outstanding culinary standard that will keep them coming back for more. Wow Wow West has both.

8/10

Wow Wow West
ABC Brickworks Food Centre
#01-133
Closed on Sundays

Western Chow Hainanese Beef Stew

After trying the delicious beef stew from Jacob's Cafe, I decided to embark on a journey to try the other beef stews in Singapore. My next stop is Western Chow at Bishan Central.


A plate of Hainanese beef stew, which costs only $6.50, comes in a generous portion that is certainly worthwhile for its price. Served with carrot and potato, I was delighted to find huge chunks of beef inside the stew. Creamy and peppery, the savory stew goes very well with the rice. While extremely tenderised, the beef seems to have lost its natural beefy flavour which is something very essential in a dish like beef stew.

Although Western Chow's Hainanese beef stew is cheaper and comes in a larger portion, I still prefer the beef stew from Jacob's Cafe. Nevertheless if you crave for beef stew but do not wish to travel all the way down to Changi Village, Western Chow at Bishan Central is certainly worth trying.

7/10

Western Chow
Blk 504 Bishan Street 11
S-11 Coffee Shop
#01-444 S(570504)

Holy Grill Teriyaki Chicken

There are at least 3 Western Food stalls in Old Airport Road Food Centre but the one that caught my attention was Holy Grill Authentic Western Cuisine. From the menu displayed on its brightly-colored signboard, I decided to order the teriyaki chicken which costs $5.50, with coleslaw and tasty rice as my two complementary side dishes.


Having waited for 30 minutes, I was famished when my dinner was finally served. Topped with thick teriyaki sauce, the grilled chicken chop comes in a very satisfactory portion that is indeed worthwhile for the price and the wait. Expertly grilled with an outer layer that is delightfully charred and crispy, the delicious chicken chop is tender, fleshy and flavorful. Together with coleslaw and tasty rice, it was a very sumptuous dinner.

With competition from neighbouring Western food stalls, Holy Grill certainly has an outstanding grilled chicken chop. I have yet to try its other signature dishes eg grilled salmon and prime ribeye but from the long waiting time, I can guess that they must be as good, if not better.

7.5/10

Holy Grill Authentic Western Cuisine
Old Airport Road Food Centre
51 Old Airport Road #01-27

Jacob's Cafe Beef Stew

After I read the book Tell It @ Jacob's Cafe written by Towsoon Lim, the founder of Jacob's Cafe, I was curious about its famous beef stew, so I went down to the restaurant at Changi Village on a Friday evening to try it for myself.

Seated at the alfresco section of Jacob's Cafe, I enjoyed the cosy and soothing ambience and almost did not realise that I was actually on the void deck of a HDB flat. I ordered a bowl of beef stew and a plate of rice which cost $10.20. With no service charge and no GST, the prices on the menu are exactly what you pay on the bill.


Indeed value for money, the delicious beef stew comes in a satisfactory portion served with generous chunks of beef and pieces of carrot and potato. Concentrated with the sweet essence of beef, the mouthwatering soup is delightfully thick and irresistably flavorful. The beef chunks, though tasty and fleshy, could have been less tough and more marinated.

Overall it was a sumptuous dinner at Jacob's Cafe. I absolutely loved the special ambience of the place and would certainly bring my family and friends down to try its other recommended dishes eg Hainanese mutton stew and chicken curry.

7.5/10

Jacob's Cafe
Blk 5 Changi Village Road
#01-2049 Singapore 500005
Closed on Sundays

Chef Hainanese Grilled Steak

I always wondered if this stall at the old Tanglin Halt Food Centre had permanently closed down. After all, it was closed when I walked past on several occasions during lunch and in the evening.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Chef Hainanese Western Food open when I went there at 7pm today. Finally I had the opportunity to taste its $4 grilled steak and it was indeed impressive.


Served with baked potato, baked beans, salad and french fries, the $4 steak comes in a reasonably satisfactory portion. Topped with savory black pepper sauce, the mouthwatering steak is fresh, tender and flavorful.

No where else in Singapore can you find another steak that is as cheap as Chef Hainanese's. I will certainly return for its grilled lamb chop and its grilled chicken chop which cost $4 too.

7.5/10

Chef Hainanese Western Food
Tanglin Halt Food Centre (Old)
Blk 3 Commonwealth Drive
#01-242

Astons Express Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

Located in an old coffeeshop in Serangoon Garden, Astons Express is a franchise of Astons Specialties which is famous for its mouthwatering steaks. As its name suggests, you don't have to queue to be seated at Astons Express unlike at Astons Specialties. Having tasted the fantastic steaks from Astons Specialties and Astons Prime, I decided to try the grilled teriyaki chicken for a change.


Reasonably priced at $5.50, the grilled teriyaki chicken comes with 2 free side dishes of your choice. I chose tasty rice (butter rice with carrot pieces) and corn cob to complement the main course. Topped with a savory layer of teriyaki sauce, the tender chicken is flavorful and modestly grilled without the slightest burned taste.

Though delicious, the grilled teriyaki chicken just lacked the distinguishing factor. I also felt that the teriyaki sauce was too salty. However my opinion may be biased as I prefer my grilled chicken to come with a distinctive charred flavour. Nevertheless Aston Express is still worth a try if you have a craving for Astons' steaks but not keen to go all the way down to East Coast

7/10

Astons Express
New Huat Hin CoffeeShop
56 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555952
Closed on Thursdays

The Garden Slug

When my friends first mentioned about going to a new restaurant in Telok Kurau named The Garden Slug for dinner, I immediately rejected their suggestion. With a distasteful name like the Garden Slug, I doubt if the food can be anything fantastic. Several months later, I happened to read the excellent reviews of the food online and realised that it might be a mistake to write it off.


When we finally went there for dinner last weekend, I ordered the recommended ribeye steak which costs $18.90. Evenly grilled to a medium doneness and lightly topped with savory sauce, the mouthwatering steak is extremely tender and juicy, every bite exudes a flavorful taste and a smoky fragrance. I must admit that this is one of the most impressive steaks I have eaten in Singapore.


We also ordered the Wasuga chicken wings which were well-marinated and well-grilled and the pan-tossed mushrooms & zucchini which were delightful and appetizing.


Apart from the delicious food, the beautiful ambience was soothing and the efficient service was commendable. The Garden Slug is certainly the ideal restaurant for a relaxing meal with family and friends.


7.5/10

The Garden Slug
55 Lorong L Telok Kurau
#01-59/61 Bright Centre
Singapore 425500
Tel 63460504

Borshch Steakhouse

Let me begin by introducing Borshch Steakhouse as the restaurant which serves the best and most affordable Russian food in Singapore. Located at Serangoon Gardens, opposite Chomp Chomp Food Centre, this restaurant is surprisingly quiet despite its inexpensive set lunches and set dinners. Maybe it's the lack of publicity. Maybe it's the lacklustre surroundings. Or maybe it's the old-fashioned layout. Nevertheless I decided to give it a try and I was extremely impressed.

I ordered the set dinner which comes with shrimp cocktail, Borshch soup, sirloin steak, peach melba and coffee for only $13.80 ($14.50 after service charge and no GST). Where else in Singapore can you get a sumptuous Western set dinner at such a price?


The shrimp cocktail which is delightful and appetizing, serves to prime the taste buds for the irresistable main course. The authentic Borshch soup which comes with cabbage and mutton, is absolutely mouthwatering with a kaleidoscope of flavors ranging from sweet to spicy to sour.


Served sizzling on the hotplate, the impressive sirloin steak is tender, succulent and fingerlicking good. Every portion of the sirloin steak is evenly grilled with a distinctive charred aroma and an unforgettable smoky taste.


Complete your sensational dining experience with peach melba which is vanilla ice-cream topped with a slice of peach.


This Russian restaurant is indeed praiseworthy for its affordable food and prompt service. However its dim lighting and poor ventilation can be improved. Nevertheless Borshch Steakhouse left me a great impression and I will certainly be returning for more.

8/10

Borshch Steakhouse
58 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555954
Tel: 6280 4351
Opens daily from 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm

Astons Specialties

Whenever I walked past Astons Specialties, I always felt so tempted to try its famous steaks but more often than not, I was discouraged by the perpetual long queue outside. Even though I have recommended and blogged about Astons Prime, a neighboring restaurant recently set up by the same owner, I have never dined at Astons Specialties before. The golden opportunity finally came when I went there for lunch yesterday, soon after it opened at 11.30am, when the crowd was still not overwhelming.


I ordered a Prime Ribeye Extra Cut, with coleslaw and tasty rice as my two complementary side-dishes. The service was prompt and commendable and I was served within 15 mins after placing my order. Even before I sink my teeth into the mouthwatering steak, I was already impressed by the generous portions of coleslaw and tasty rice. The delicious coleslaw was flavorful with well-blended sweetness and subtle sourness. The tasty rice was delightful with unmistakable butter fragrance and lived up to every bit of its name.


The highlight of the lunch, the prime ribeye steak, was simply a masterpiece. Thoroughly and splendidly grilled, the steak exudes a distinct smoky aroma and an exceptional sizzling taste. The meat is extremely tender and juicy, every bite is simply irresistable. The special sauce accentuates the meaty flavour and leaves an unforgetable aftertaste on the taste buds.


The sumptuous Prime Ribeye Extra Cut (with two free side dishes) costs only $15.90 with no service charge and no GST. It is almost impossible to find such excellent steaks at such incredible prices in other Western restaurants. Indeed Astons Specialties has the BEST STEAKS IN SINGAPORE AT THE MOST AFFORDABLE PRICES.

8.5/10

Astons Specialties
119 East Coast Road
Singapore 428806
Tel: 91474627 / 62477857
Closed on Mondays

Jack's Place

Whenever I have to think of a romantic and affordable Western restaurant to bring my loved one for dinner, Mariners' Corner Restaurant comes to my mind. Similarly, when I have to think of an equivalent restaurant for lunch, Jack's Place comes to my mind. No other restaurant provides sumptuous Western set lunch at such affordable prices than Jack's Place. And as there are so many outlets in Singapore, there is almost always one near your workplace.

The set lunch menu differs from day to day and outlet to outlet. Hence you don't have to worry about lack of variety. And if you are not a steak lover, you can always go for chicken or fish. The value-for-money set lunch costs $8 (chicken or fish) or $9.50 (steak) and comes with the main course, soup of the day, garlic bread, pastry and coffee or tea. With service charge and GST, it adds up to only around $12 per person.


When I went to Jack's Place last Friday, I upgraded my set lunch to rib eye steak for $13 and it was indeed worth every dollar spent. The succulent rib eye steak is tender and mouthwatering and comes with complementary side dishes of baked potato, salad and corn. The barbeque sauce accentuates the meaty flavour, making every bite seem irresistable. Last but not the least, the sweet dessert which consists of pastry and coffee or tea completes the satisfying lunch experience.


May Jack's Place continue to make delicious and affordable steaks available to everyone in every part of Singapore.

7.5/10

Jack's Place
http://www.jacksplace.com.sg/main.html

Astons Prime

Much has been blogged and discussed about Astons Specialities in our online food communities over the past year eg Dr Leslie Tay's ieatishootipost blog and Astons Specialities blog.


There is no doubt Astons' mouthwatering steaks are value for money but questions have surfaced about the inconsistencies of service and food quality which are aggravated by the perpetually long queue and setting up of franchises.


On the contrary, little is known about Astons Prime that is recently set up in Joo Chiat near to Astons Specialties. With dark-colored glass windows and the absence of a queue outside, many food enthusiasts are curious about what is happening inside Astons Prime. Are the prices in Astons Prime similar to Astons Specialties? Is the quality of the food as remarkable?


So I decided to take the opportunity to have lunch there today. Glancing through the menu, I noticed that the prices of the food were slightly more expensive than Astons Specialties. I ordered the New Zealand Rib Eye Steak which was highly recommended in many forums & blogs. Indeed the service was quite slow and I waited impatiently for around 40 minutes for my steak to arrive.


When I took my first bite into the rib eye steak, I finally understood why the long wait was so worthwhile. It was unbelievably fabulous, more than words can say. The meat was extremely tender and succulent, every bite is wholesome and satisfying. In addition, it was well-grilled to the right extent, it exudes a characteristic smoky aroma and an irresistable meaty taste. The New Zealand Rib Eye Steak cost $18.90 and it was indeed one of the best steaks I have ever tasted.

Overall it was a memorable lunch experience and I certainly look forward to returning to Astons Prime for more.

8.5/10

Astons Prime
467 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427678
Open 11.30 to 11pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Call 63442447 for reservations

Eddy Western Delights

Situated in a Kopitiam within walking distance from Heartland Mall, this stall, run by a couple, sells the best and the cheapest Western food you can find in a neighborhood coffee shop. I first came across it two years ago when I saw almost everyone in the coffee shop eating Western food, even though there were four other stalls. Ever since then, I fell in love with it and never fail to patronise it at least once every fortnightly.


My favorite is the chicken chop. For only $4.50, you get a thick and generous piece of chicken topped with delicious mushroom sauce. The chicken is tender, well-marinated and well-grilled with a smoky aroma. I usually prefer to have my chicken chop with rice, salad and baked beans but you can always ask for bread and fries instead. Even though business can be extremely good during dinner time, the service is always prompt and the quality is consistently great. For steak lovers out there, you can enjoy the sirlion steak or black pepper steak at only $5.50.

8/10

Eddy Western Delights
Kopitiam
Blk 210 Hougang St 21
Closed on Thursdays.