Ramen Ten: Stomach Killer

9.45 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and this was the only restaurant still surviving in the vicinity.

Tomyum Beef Ramen,   S$8.90++,   

A nice touch of Thai and Japanese mix. The tomyum soup was spicy and sour enough, although the colour didn't seemed really right. Ramen noodles and beef slices were thin, absorbing the rich tomyun flavour from the soup, yet retaining their original tastes.

Teriyaki Salmon Dry Ramen,   S$9.90++,   

Ramen Ten is the first originator of dry ramen dishes in Singapore, like this. The noodles were soft and springy - quite likeable for someone who've never fancied ramen. However, the ramen and salmon were flooded by some kind of sour and spicy sauce, and not the teriyaki sauce as promised in the menu. The more you eat this dish, the more you will grow sick of it.

Chocolate Freeze,   S$4.90++,   

This restaurant doesn't serve plain water, so we were made to order (expensive) drinks. S$1.50++ for a bland tea bag Hot Green Tea, and S$4.90++ for this glass of Chocolate Freeze.

First impressions was that it tasted like Milo Dinosaur from a prata store, and only on second taste, it was pretty not bad - thick, milky and chocolatey. But for its price, I think I'm better off having my Milo Dinosaur.

VERDICT
The reason for calling this restaurant a "stomach killer", because I ended up with a good reward of food poisoning from them. Apart from the three other Ramen Ten outlets (namely Far East Plaza, Jubilee, and Orchard Point), this is the first and only outlet to be semi-open-air. As far as hygiene is concerned, I leave it up to you all the decide. Food pushed out of the kitchen were left at the counter, until some (attentive) servers pick them up, (they were all busy chatting), and houseflies could be seen flying all around. Clean indeed.

Ramen Ten - Tampines
#01-37, Century Square
2 Tampines Central 5, (S)529509
(+65) 6789 7566
Mon - Sun: 11.30 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.
http://www.ramenten.com

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Kuishin-Bo: Worse After Renovation

I remember I used to be very excited going over to Kuishin-Bo for a buffet meal, but sadly, I no longer feel the same now. After a renovation in April 2007, standards dropped - both variety and quantity.

This afternoon, I went for Kuishin-Bo again, for the third time after its renovation. (I didn't take any pictures in the previous two rounds.)

Sushis,   

Colours and presentation were attractive. They made decent sushis, except for the rice being too hard, and they didn't stick together very well. Anyway, just grab a bit of these to start off, and then move on. Don't stock up your buffet stomachs with carbos!

Sashimis,   

We all love free flows of Sashimis, because they are fine, fresh, and always aperitive. Japanese people believe that Sashimis should be eaten first, before other strong flavours affect the palate.

Seafood,   

The seafood section was quite pathetic. Kuishin-Bo used to serve fresh oysters before the renovations, but now they'd replaced them with mussels instead. Prawns were pretty fresh, while the conches were just sick (at least to me and a few others). Yellow brainy juice (or whatever that is) oozed when I dugged out the conch flesh, and it was utterly appalling to my mouth - tasteless tough rubber.


I didn't take anything from the deep fried section because nothing tempted me there.

Teppanyaki,   

Beef, chicken, dory and salmon - the four standard meats good enough to have in Teppanyakis.

Beef Kaminabe,   

The best dish of this restaurant I supposed was the Kaminabe (Japanese paper steamboat). Given the cold weather lately, it was much of a joy to slurp through a pot of boiling hot soup. Rich overflowing sapidity streaming into your throat, and down to warm your stomach. Terrific.

(From top left, and clockwise down:) Soba, Cha Soba, Udon,   

The cold noodles were merely passable - they just made it through the mark; and soba sauces were towards the "too salty" side.




Expansive selections from the dessert sections.

Desserts,   

Desserts came cute, tiny, and in delectable assortments. The chocolate fondue was irresistably fudgy (it goes best with the bananas); eclairs exploded inside mouths with icy cold ice cream; fruit tarts were good; mini donuts were covered with overly sugary coatings; and mini cakes were acceptable. Though the quality was fairly good, the best bet was that they were all bite-sized :) Sweet sweet treats.

VERDICT
The first time there is always a good experience, but subsequent visits would deem Kuishin-Bo as "not so nice" anymore. If you really want, add an approximate S$10 more and go for the dinner instead - you get free frow of expensive snow crabs, and special items like baked lobsters, candy floss and such. But still, the price could probably get me better buffets elsewhere.

Kuishin-Bo, The Authentic Japanese Buffet Restaurant
#03-002, Suntec City Mall
3 Temasek Boulevard, S(038983)
(+65) 6238 7088
Mon - Sun: 11.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
http://www.res.com.sg

Buffet Lunch:	S$24.80++ (Weekdays)
	S$27.80++ (Weekends)
Buffet Dinner:	S$33.80++ (Mon - Thur)
	S$39.80++ (Fri - Sun)

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Nexus Gourmet: Don't Belittle this Unaesthetic Restaurant

Who says nice food only comes from posh restaurants with rocket-high prices? This homely modest restaurant here shall prove you wrong.

Roasted Duck and Mango,   S$7.50 nett,   

A taste bud kicking appetiser to start with. Slices of roasted duck tossed with mangoes, cucumbers and beansprouts - a fine balance of airness, crunch and sweetness. Chilies and plum dressing added the spicy and sour zest to it, which we believe many Singaporeans will fancy.

Tropical Hawaiian Pizza,   S$9.50 nett,   

This homemade Hawaiian Pizza was a wrong dish to choose. The thick pizza base was too doughy and dry; sliced chicken and ham were not even tender; tomato sauce was dry too; and the mozzarella cheese came in stingy amounts. The whole pizza just felt like a big chunk of stale bread, and the only relieves were the juicy canned pineapples.

Barbequed Chicken,   S$14.50 nett,   

Now now, this one is good. Grilled chicken leg, accompanied with mashed potatoes, broccolis, carrots and mushrooms, glazed with a special BBQ sauce. Not tough, not fatty, just soft and tender succulence, for every bite of the chicken you make. Mashed potatoes were unbelievably heavenly - velvety, fluffy and pepperish. Splendid!

Tiramisu,   S$6.50 nett,   

When my spoon first sank in, I knew this wasn't going to disappoint us. Kahlua (coffee-flavored liqueur made in Mexico) rushes its way out and ends up in your mouths with lingering transcendence. And the fact that the Tiramisu was presented in a cup, each of this dessert is exquisitely and individually made.


The layers of strong Kahlua soaked Savoiardi (lady fingers cookie), topped with rich creamy mascarpone cheese, and then dusted with bitter sweet cocoa powder.

Crème Brûlèe,   S$4.50 nett,   

This is the dessert which kept us coming back to this restaurant thrice. Crème Brûlèe means "burnt cream" in French, and is created by burning sugar under a blowtorch, resulting in the hard layer of caramel on top of the custard base. Because of Nexus' brilliant effort to add in oranges and orange zest, the whole Crème Brûlèe was jazzed up, becoming an unique dessert to die for.

VERDICT
Due to its location, Nexus Gourmet is usually loaded with office crowds in the afternoon, but quite unpatronized at night. It may not be a bad thing though, because it could always become a good spot to celebrate special occassions more privately. (Birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) Service here is very warm and friendly, and yet they do not charge anything for that. Yes! The prices on the menu are nett, meaning GST and service charge absorbed. And for that kind of (extremely) reasonable pricings, you get incredibly delectable food. We seriously recommend this restaurant to all!

Nexus Gourmet
161 Telok Ayer Street, S(068615)
(+65) 6223 3376
Mon - Sat: 11.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Sun: 1.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
PH: Usually Closed
http://nexusgourmet.blogspot.com

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