The Refinery Singapore

Sorry my friends, the weather and air have been really bad that I kept falling sick for past few months. I finally make an effort today to write this review because a good friend of mine requested.. :) So Lin, here you go..

The Refinery Singapore at Jalan Besar..technically, it's at 115 King George's Ave, right at the end of the same block where AEIOU is.

You will not miss this place with this entrance..

My lunch kaki and I were trying to recall all the characters on the wall..can you recognize all of them?

The other side of the cafe..I love the high ceiling concept, added so much space and feel to the place.
This place became so packed during lunch hour, so do come as early as 12 noon.

Look at the chairs with rim legs..there was free flow of water beside this table..great!

This is the view I got for sitting under the window.

A nice touch of table deco..I love the plant but not the "vase" because it looks like the bottles you see in hospital..

We ordered this side dish, Cauliflower Fritters ($10), battered cauliflowers with Togarashi mayonaise dip. These were delicious, they were crispy outside (thin crust), nicely cooked cauliflowers inside (not overcooked), seasoned with mild chili power and spring onion. My favorite so far..

Our set order when you add $5 with your main, come with Agadashi toufu and a drink. Cranberry juice for the lady (me), original price at $6, it was refreshing but too sweet for me. Latte (U.P. $4.30) for my lunch kaki. He's a man with very few words, he's review for his latte was "so-so". His expectation very high.

This is my lunch kaki's spicy mee ($12) with pulled pork, homemade sambal, pork balls pork lard and Signature 72 degree Onsen Tamago (and side dish Agadashi toufu). He said the pulled pork was marinated well but noodles were too soft and soggy. As you can see, it was spicy with chili oil and he's satisfied.

I love the Agadashi toufu, it was perfect.

Hohohoho...this was my lunch, Refinery Waffle ($12)! It comprised of Vanilla Waffle, strawberries, sea salt caramel ice cream and crushed pistachio. The waffle was crispy but not hard and chewy or bready. I don't like my waffle texture to be like bread, so this was good for me. Ice cream was rich, creamy and not too sweet..strawberries were sweet and fresh and the pistachio was aromatic...yum!

They do serve alcohol during lunch and dinner.

Also everyone, there is no service charge! And they have clean toilets which I appreciate too..hehe..

Check out their website at http://www.therefinery.sg/.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therefinerysg.

xoxo

Les Patisseries

Walked past after a hair cut and decided to have a cuppa. This is a newly opened cafe at Toa Payoh Central. They have brunch menu from 10am to 3pm with sandwiches, truffles, salads, waffles etc..there are other food as well.

I always love to sit at the back of the cafe to observe everything. The staff was friendly and I hope he can smile more :)

Cozy corner, but red may not be a good color to relax.

Long Black ($4) was fruity, not bitter and slightly aromatic. I really enjoyed this long black during my first visit.

 Mocha ($5.50) was thick, creamy and sweet enough.

 Cappuccino ($4.50)

 Ice Mocha ($6.50). I could taste more cocoa than coffee and it was sweet.

Classic Fraisier ($5.50) was really creamy and moist, slightly sweet for me. The strawberry was not sour and quite generous too.

Non-alcoholic Tiramisu ($7). This is a non traditional tiramisu with almonds and just a hint of coffee taste.

Opera ($7) was slightly sweet but moist and texture was great. It has nuts in between, not for my buddy and people who are allergic to nuts. The chocolate wasn't bitter at all, great for kids.

Waffle with maple syrup ($7.50) presentation was colorful and healthy with blueberries and raspberries. It was crispy and light, definitely not the bready, chewy kind that will fill your stomach after a quarter of it. This will go very well with ice cream but I only ordered it with maple so that I could eat it at its purest and it didn't disappoint me. It was indeed pure and pleasant.

Overall, I find the service here was quite good with a personal touch which I really appreciate. I was even asked if I need warm water after I've finished my coffee. Which cafe will do that?

However, I think the air ventilation has to improve. I cannot go on a date there because my hair and dress will smell after going in. After my first visit, I stick to al fresco and did my order fast inside the cafe.

 

the dream cafe

I used to have a dream to open my own cafe..the idea used to be an internet cafe but as time goes by, we all know internet cafe does not work anymore.

Well.......

At least, there are still people proceeded with courage and opened the dream cafe which provides cozy and humble ambience..Went to Gardens by the Bay this afternoon to relax myself (didn't seem to work because of the crowd) and I yearned to go to the dream cafe after that. This was my second trip to the cafe and I wanted to try out their hot food this time. I've combined my two visits in this post...

 Good "window" seat if you like to see passers-by and the road..

 The cafe does not have alot of tables, but I'm happy with the peace and noise level there..

 Mocha. The presentation was really good, texture was thick but too sweet for me.

 Latte. Again, presentation and texture were great but too sweet for me.

 

Belgian waffle with Hazelnut ice cream and Chocolate Lava. Together with the latte, it costs $10.90. The ice cream wasn't too sweet at all, the waffle is crispy outside and chewy overall..can be quite filling...If you like bitter chocolate lava, this chocolate lava is for you. However it will be even better if the chocolate flows out of the cake when it is cut..

Lasagne with minced chicken. Together with the Mocha, it costs $11. I must say, this was quite good! The Bolognese sauce was appetizing and the layers of pasta and meat in between..heartwarming and yummy..

Another thing I like about this cafe, it has some hints of cats here and there..

Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedreamcafe. I will still go back to relax with coffee and waffle..

Address: Blk 163 Toa Payoh Lor 1 #01-1016

Next...the Cat Cafe!

Wish everyone happy long weekend and Selamat Hari Raya!

Shrove Tuesday

A belated congratulations to Shrove Tuesday on its opening during the first quarter of 2014 at Toa Payoh..I'm finally able to blog about your effort after tasting the products for the second time lately..

They had put in so much effort decorating the entrance, and if you visit them once a while, they do update the decorations..

 All the ice cream and cakes were waving at me saying "pick me pick me!"..

 My eyes were so overwhelmed with all the variety of staircases to heaven..

 Evening time will not be as cozy and spacious as you see here..I went during mid weekend afternoon.

Youth energy lingers everywhere..

Really love the tiled table..so special, so Peranakan. I have soft spot for Peranakan culture if you have followed my post on Baba House and Peranakan Museum..

This is like a small reading room..I had my orders here and enjoyed it until the crowds started to arrive..

Brownie ($3.50). Based on my experience, brownies come in many versions: chewy, slightly crispy, spongy, wet, melt in your mouth...this is the spongy version, which is....not really my type..but good effort!

Cafe Latte ($4.50). Freshly brewed latter with coffee beans flew over from Italy..quite aromatic and thick. Mostly importantly, nice coffee art. It's a swan right?

Oh....I couldn't resist to try out their rainbow cake ($6). Look so pretty and dreamy. It has layers of colored sponge cake divided by pieces of white chocolate..not easy to eat it gracefully as it fell apart together with the hard white chocolate..overall..I think it can be improved if the sponge cakes are more moist.

Finally, this was what I came for...waffle with chocolate sauce and maple syrup ($5). Honestly, it has improved alot since the first time i tried before their opening..it is crispy on the outside, thin and soft on the inside..not those bread and chewy texture. Very light and has slight aroma. To me, the texture and after taste are important for a simple pastry like this to outshine other waffle places. It must have its uniqueness and selling point for me to keep going back. Nonetheless, keep improving Shrove Tuesday! With your vibrant  energy, be receptive to customers' feedback and strive for better customer experience will bring you to success. Keep it up!

Check out their website at https://www.facebook.com/ShroveTuesdaySG

xoxo

Createaf Waffles

Had a great visit to the National Museum one Saturday morning with my buddy and then he was kind enough to allow me to try out Createaf Waffles at the Cathay. Sorry buddy this has been awhile ago but I really couldn't find time to post this until now (while waiting for the World Cup Final...hehe..).

Anyway it was a pleasant visit and simple brunch with my buddy at Createaf Waffles. The place is humbly small but there were alot of young young couples..kind of make this place sweet and relax..

This place not only have waffles and ice cream, they have their own tea which you can buy and enjoy back home..

Green Tea Honey and Rose Oolong ($4.90 each). Light teas...made us calm and take life easy for awhile..so calm, I forgot to stir my tea with honey at the bottom..

My Lovely Peach ($6.90 for half size, $9.90 for full size). I ordered full size as I was starving...the waffles were crispy and filling with bread texture...as you can see, they are very generous with the peach..love them..I ordered Vanilla ice cream and it wasn't too sweet at all, enjoyed it especially the vanilla seeds..yet I couldn't finish everything..

Banana Chocolate ($6.90 for half size, $9.90 for full size). Buddy also ordered full size and he finished everything! He ordered Rum and Raisin ice cream and it was not bad! Not too alcoholic and there were alot of banana slices...

Overall, the service at the counter was good and I did not need to self service at all...a really simple place to have a short rest and enjoy your company with good tea...

Check out their website at https://www.facebook.com/createafwaffles.

xoxo