Kenny Rogers Roasters

Kenny Rogers Roasters, along with restaurants like Sizzler, Jack's Place and Swensen's were the kind of places that we used to go when we were young to celebrate special occasions. 

Although I've not eaten at Kenny Rogers for what must have been a decade, the corn muffins are still my favourite! With cupcakes shop sprouting everywhere, nobody cares about the dainty cupcakes' distant cousin, the slightly coarser muffin. Don't mind me, I'm just a little sentimental that it's the end of an era for Gramophone, a place I used to buy all my CDs from.

Anyway, these muffins came out fresh from the oven- warm, not too sweet, and with little corn bits! How often do you see square muffins anyway?

I ordered the famous Roasted Chicken which came with two sides. The roasted chicken was absolutely delicious- juicy meat, non fatty skin and a nicely peppered skin!

The food here brought back memories of what it was like to be a kid, where eating Kenny Rogers was a treat. But now, it's simply not a place where you would pop by if you had a million other food options staring at you. It's just a place you would feel an urge to step into if you haven't gone there for a long time.

Kenny Rogers Roasters 
Parkway Parade
80 Marine Parade Road
Tel No: 6345 9117 

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Ellenborough Market Cafe

I have been to Ellenborough Market Cafe at least 3 times in the past few years and I think standards (both food and service) have slipped. 

Fresh sushi.

The seafood was absolutely disappointing. The prawns were not fresh, the mini lobsters were ridiculous because there was very little meat within the shell. After trying these two, I didn't bother trying the crabs but apparently they weren't fresh also.

An interesting selection of salads- curry chicken salad, squid salad etc. There was also a Peranakan section which had my favourite kueh pie tee. Chinese food was pretty ordinary. Soup (Seafood chowder) was far too salty.

The only thing that everybody remembers about this place is the durian. How often is it do you get to eat durians without your hands smelling like durians? This was addictive.

Keep a lookout for the replenishment of desserts because after this batch ran out, they changed it completely to kueh lapis and mini tarts. The Chocolate Ganache was so-so, the kueh lapis were okay, mini tarts looked like supermarket pre-made plus the kueh lapis was slightly cold and slightly warm at some parts- totally gives away that these didn't come out fresh from the oven.

A pretty good selection of kueh as well. There was a crepe station where you get to get your crepes freshly made and they will scoop whichever flavour ice cream you would like. Queue can get pretty long, so, if you want just the ice cream, too bad you still have to queue. The chocolate ice cream is rich and sufficiently bitter!

All in all, the food wasn't particular impressive but not so bad that it would enter my won't-eat-again-list. What this place sorely lacks though is good service- plates being stacked up at our tables, not getting our cups of water, water not getting refilled etc. Although they tried to spread the stations out, there was still bottlenecks and overcrowding. For $48, I think I can get a better stretch for the buck somewhere else.

Ellenborough Market Cafe 
Swissotel Merchant Court
20 Merchant Road
Tel No.: 6 239 1848

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Tonny Restaurant

Ever since I read Straits Times food reviewer, Tan Hsueh Yun's review on Tonny Restaurant, I knew I had to come here. I find it slightly amusing that this place is draped in red at every corner. Well, I guess that's how traditional Chinese restaurants typically look like. 

Photos of the chef with celebrities are plastered on the glass panels of the restaurant. This chef is a bit of a big shot- Renowned chef from Hong Kong who frequently appears on Channel 8 programmes. 

This is the famous Crispy Yam with Truffle Oil ($12). This starter consists of very thin strips of deep fried yam, coupled with a light drizzle of truffle oil. This made a perfect starter- not oily and appetising.

Another famous dish- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon ($9 per pax). At this point, I was already starting to get pretty impressed with the way ingredients come together. Here, we have some lobster puree cooked with egg white. This might be enough for two to share. The egg white consistency together with the crispy shell made a perfect combination. Plus the garnish on top the lobster puree added more flavour to this already impressive dish.

The Pan-Fried Cod Fish Filled with Soya Sauce ($33) was absolutely delightful. Fresh fish with a flavourful sauce which was not too thick or salty. I'm starting to wonder, whoever's cooking these dishes has been blessed with lots of culinary talent.

I was enjoying all the food in between that I didn't even bother capturing the photos of the dishes. What happened in between- we had Crab Congee ($36- this depends on the amount of crab you want in the porridge) and Beans with Dried Shrimps ($14). 

The crab congee wasn't as impressive as I thought it would be. Anyhow, it had the interesting addition of green beans. The Beans were crunchy and the dried shrimps were deep fried and aromatic. 

Lastly, we had some noodles ($14) to round off the dinner. This had salted egg yolk in it, which made the texture of the noodles slightly different than what we are accustomed to. 

In all, this meal for 6 people cost $200. Worth every cent to try good and innovative dishes. Ambience nothing to rave about but service was pretty decent as well. Recommended!

Tonny Restaurant 
325 Joo Chiat Road
Tel No.: 6 348 9298

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Cafe Brio's

It's a known fact that I love eating buffets. The more I eat, the clearer I am of which buffets really stand out and which are those that should never be visited. Cafe Brio's was average at best. 

They had quite a bit of local food. This was the nasi lemak station. I took a bit of rice try to test if it's good, didn't waste my calories on the deep fried items. The rice was a little dry and not fragrant enough.

They also had a laksa station situated outside- that was good. Slurp worthy laksa soup and a small enough portion not to overeat!

They also had chilli crabs which is not often seen at lunch buffets, unless you go for a crab buffet. As with all chilli crabs, the crux of it lies in the sauce. This, unfortunately, didn't make the cut. The crabs were pretty fresh though.

There were also other deep fried items such as You Tiao Squid. I think they failed to put the typically served mayo next to it.

I promise you will regret if you tried the fish and chips. No matter how alluring they may look, these fish and chips were pretty horrible. The fish didn't taste fresh.

Make your own kueh pie tees- these were pretty good!

These prawns were so fresh, people just kept coming back for more. Juicy and succulent, I think this was my favourite dish of the buffet.

The Japanese sushi tastes as sad as they look.

Desserts were a complete letdown. It was sorely lacking in variety. There weren't many fancy-schmancy cakes around here. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw cupcakes- they looked like what primary school students would make out of a pre-mix. Needless to say, I didn't try them. The kuehs were decent and the durian thingy was quite good- they didn't get refilled as quickly as they got taken though.

I'm quite sure I wouldn't return here again with the $42++ price tag for lunch on weekends. For $10 more, I definitely can get something much better. That said, service was good and plates were cleared from the tables quickly.

Cafe Brio's
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
392 Havelock Road
Singapore
Tel No.: 6 233 1100

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Pizzeria Mozza

The last time we went to Pizzeria Mozza, we couldn't get in without a reservation. So, this time we decided to be smart about it and make a reservation a day before hand. 

We shared a Pizza with White Anchovy, Tomato & Fresh Red Chiles ($28).  I found this one of the best pizza crusts I have eaten- thin but fluffy at the same time. However, I didn't really enjoy this pizza because of the white anchovy. I don't know what I was thinking when I placed the order. But the anchovies were really salty and were a little slimy. It might be enough for two girls with small appetites, but definitely not for two who eat a lot!

This Banana gelato pie with hot fudge and candied hazelnuts ($19) was real dazzling. This is the first time I've eaten such a dessert- the banana ice cream was not too sweet, and the pie crust was addictive. Everything about this dessert was just so sinful.

Really liked the dessert, price was a little steep though. If I ever go there again, I would try a different pizza!

Pizzeria Mozza
Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-42/46
Tel No: 6 688 8868

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Trattoria Canzona (Zadar)

After dumping our bags at the hostel, we decided to get some good food in town at Trattoria Canzona. Everything about Zadar is so chill- people eating lunch at 3 p.m. and watching the world go by... 

... and cats basking in the afternoon sun!

I think the pictures can speak for how good the pizzas were. Look at the generous amount of ingredients they have! And by the way, these pizzas were huge. 

The Pizza Capriciosa (45 kunas). 

Frutti Di Mare (55 kunas) with lots of fresh small prawns and mussels- not near the Adriatic sea for nothing!

Trattoria Canzona
Stomorica 10,
2300 Zadar 

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Lehka Hlava (Prague)

Lehka Hlava is ranked #5 on Tripadvisor with lots of rave reviews- now, can somebody please explain to me what the big deal about this place is?

Vegetarian food pretty much appeals to my friend and me (although we don't intend to turn vegetarian any time soon). That, combined with the ranking of this restaurant on Tripadvisor made us walk through several alleys to get to this hidden restaurant, away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy streets. 

Once in there, you will see the beautifully designed restaurant. Little marbles, blue and white, were arranged meticulously below the glass covering the surface of the table. The music didn't really appeal to me though. It might have been some music they use to clear your head (Lehka Hlava means Clear Head) but the music actually made me want to leave the place.

Food wise, I ordered a Mushroom Risotto (175 CZK). The risottos I have eaten so far are moist. This, on the other hand, was pretty dry. I loved the combination of mushrooms they had in there- chanterelles, portabello, shitake and oyster mushrooms. But after a while, the taste of everything started getting a little monotonous.

Best to make your reservations here because every table had a "reserved" sign placed on it.

Lehka Hlava
Borsov 2/280
Prague 1 - Old Town

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Trezo Restauracja (Krakow)

Normally, we don't harbour high hopes of entering into any restaurant which is ranked within the first 10 of Tripadvisor's recommendations (this place is ranked #2). BUT this was a true exception. A neat place with affordable food.

They have set lunches and you have to check with the waiter what is available or simply look outside at the board which states the menu both in Polish in English.

For 15 Polish zloty, I got myself a soup, main course, salad and drink. First to come up was Chicken Soup With Noodles. Although there was a layer of visible oil floating on the surface of the soup, it did not taste oily at all. Instead, it just tasted like food to cure a cold or to keep one warm.

The main course I ordered was Grilled Neck with Pepper Sauce and Rice. I never figured out which part of the pork is actually the most tender. It's either the way they cook it or the part of the pork, but the meat was really easy to shred and wasn't the least bit dry. I liked the black pepper sauce as well which was not too overpowering.

The drink was a Kompot which the waiter simply explained as home made juice. It's supposedly a mixture of fruits in water but didn't taste anything like it. I gave up drinking this halfway because it tasted a little weird to me.

I also tried some Pierogi/Dumplings fried in butter with sour cream and thyme (14 zloty). These little pockets were pretty addictive.

The food was well worth the price and service excellent as well.

Trezo Restauracja
31-052 Cracow
Miodowa 33 Street

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Hungarikum Bisztro (Budapest)

Hungarikum Bisztro offers a value for money set lunch. After walking at the nearby Danube, we decided to drop by for lunch. 

Homely setting. Local folks kept entering in the restaurant. We went there at 12 and they were serving only set lunches then. If you want to order their a la carte, be sure to check out what time they start serving dishes on the a la carte menu!

We chose the 3 courses (1390 HUF) option. This included choices between three kinds of soup, three kinds of main courses and two desserts. I had the Cream Soup of Mais- a little too dilute for my liking but still pretty alright.

The Creamy Stripes of Turkey with Rice was something I imagine a European mother would cook for her child when he or she comes home from school. A totally unpretentious dish. Haven't really figured out how the rice is seasoned but a google search tells me that it might be pilaf. The cream sauce was done just right and went well with the rice and turkey.

The best way to end a meal is always good dessert. The Chocolate Tartlet with Marmalade was made with slightly bitter chocolate, with a dollop of Marmalade on it.

The meal here does not seek to impress. It just tries to make you feel at home without breaking the bank. The service here is also compatible with the food they serve- down to earth and very friendly.

Hungarikum Bisztro
1051 Budapest, Steindl Imre u. 13.

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Restoran Vinodol (Croatia)

This was hands down one of my favourite meals this trip. After a 7 hour walk at Lake Plitvice and a bus ride from Lake Plitvice to Zagreb, I told my friend, "I could eat a cow now." We then decided to go to Vinodol to reward ourselves after a day of walking. 

The terrace outside the restaurant was completely filled. There was a nice bustling atmosphere but we didn't care too much about it because we'd rather not put up with the smoke. Instead, we shifted into the restaurant where only two tables were occupied.

We ordered a Tomato Soup (20 kn) which brought much needed comfort to our hungry tummies. Their bread basket also offered a larger variety of bread that other European restaurants serve.

But this, really, was the star. I had the Grilled Trout with Almonds (62 kunas) together with Homemade Croquettes (28 kunas). The trout was really fresh, along with some salt sprinkled on it. I never knew what a magic combination almonds and fishes could have. That with the lemon juice squeezed on it made a very impressive dish.

The waiters were all very busy and a couple of them weren't friendly. Nevertheless, the one who served our table was alright.

A nice ambience with great food! It's in a central location, so no reason to miss out on this place.

Restoran Vinodol
Ulica Nikole Tesle 10
Zagreb 10000, Croatia 

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Villa Lika (Croatia)

Everything about Lake Plitvice is beautiful. Even Villa Lika, the place we stayed at, was cosy and aesthetically pleasing.

1) Location: Reaching here by public transport
We took the bus from Zadar. Be sure to stop at the Mukinje bus stop, which is a stop or two before where everybody normally alights at the lakes. Otherwise, I assure you that you would like to kick yourself in your leg when lugging luggage down the roads without proper pavements.

2) Location: Getting to the Park from here 
To get from Villa Lika to Entrance 2 of Lake Plitvice, first turn right then turn left to reach the main road. You will be walking on the road, right next to vehicles, so be wary. It's about a 30 minute walk before you reach a bridge. Cross it, walk a little more (good directions are given within the park) then buy your entrance tickets to the national park.

3) Room
There is free and good wifi connection within the premises. The beds were comfortable and the toilets were lime green in colour with a good showerhead. There was also air-conditioning. It was also the first time in our trip that we actually managed to watch many international channels on the TV.

4) Where to get food supplies
There is a restaurant in the villa which serves dinner and breakfast. For a three course meal, it cost 15 Euros. We didn't opt for that so we went out to a nearby ski resort and got a much cheaper meal instead. Food quality might not be comparable but we were just looking for a cheaper option. There is also a small supermarket but you have to walk about 20 minutes up the hill to reach the market.

5) Overall
For the 70 Euros a night we paid, I think it was well worth it, even though it wasn't located within the park. The people who were operating the place were also friendly.

Villa Lika
Mukinje 63
Plitvice Lakes National Park 53231, Croatia

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