Went to dinner with my housemate at this bistro last night after we had their takeaway fish and chips a couple of weeks ago. It was packed and so we had a few minutes to look around the retail store before being seated. I hadn’t read any of the other reviews prior to our visit so we were just basing our decision to eat there on the tasty takeaway we’d had. Anyway, service was quick and attentive while we were there. We got our water and a Moosehead beer, for me, quickly. Choices were simple enough for us; calamari was essential and we also went with the softshell crab for starters. Mains were the House Fish and Chips (crumbed rather than the other choice of batter) with the Hot Smoked Mackerel Linguini for me. The photos I took with my phone don’t really do justice to the dishes but me give an idea of the portions (something that has been criticised in blogs I read this morning).
We were delighted with the starters. The calamari was soft and tender, none of the squidgy, stringy stuff you often get while the soft shell crab went beautifully with the mango dipping sauce. The soft shell crab had a lovely slightly caramelised something flavour to it.
The linguini was fantastic. It’s so long since I’ve had mackerel that I’d forgotten just how great it is smoked. They had added a little sliced chilli to the sauce – which I’m assuming was a fish stock based sauce and this set it off brilliantly. I think it’s one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had. C really enjoyed her fish and chips which was similar to what we ordered to take out albeit about twice the price. Perhaps the salad which was absent from the takeaway contains some expensive variety of lettuce :)
We don’t normally go for desert but decided something sweet was in order so I went with the Sicilian Pistachio Creme Brulee and C went for the white chocolate parfait (can’t remember the title as on the menu). I loved the creme brulee, though if I am to be critical I would say that the sugar on top could’ve been more caramelised rather than leaving the amount of sugar granules they did. The parfait went down a treat and from my tasting of it seemed to have delicate flavour that maybe could’ve been lifted a little. Hard to be sure though after eating my creme brulee.
I’m going to give this a hearty recommendation because I know I want to get back there soon.
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Technorati Tags: food, singapore
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