V8 Cafe: Predictable Quality from Prices

We've never been to a restaurant where the chicken steaks, fish fillets (especially salmon), and beef tenderloins cost exactly the same price. Even the lobster spaghetti cost the same price!

Cheesy Potato Wedges,   S$4.80++,   

A great sinful appetiser to start with - deep fried skin on potatoes, warm and fluffy, accompanied with a mass of melted cheese and a sprinkle of red chilli powder.

Chicken Shawarma,   S$8.80++,   

The pita bread, with a dry and stretchy texture, is known to be low in calories and full of fiber. According to the menu, it also contains selenium, which is essential for healthy immune functioning and even helps infertile men improve the motibility of sperm cells! (No wonder our guy friend insisted on ordering it. Haha!)

The main seemed like half a curry puff, loaded with chunks of roasted black pepper chicken, and clad in yoghurt dressing. Taste wise, not bad, but it could be better off if it was more moist. French fries were skinny and soggy, and the coleslaw didn't felt really fresh with traces of yellow cabbages.

Citrus Salmon Fillet,   S$11.80++,   

You have two choices of fish for this dish, either salmon or dory. We chose the former, and it turned out to be pretty disappointing. The Citrus sauce was already wrong to start with, sourly sweetness a total clash with the salty grilled fish fillet. Salmon was stale and hard, and again, it lacked moitsure.

V8 Cafe Signature Dish,   S$11.80++,   

Something more comforting at last. V8 Cafe's new in house signature dish which consisted of freshly grilled chicken baked with bacon and cheese. The pool of special V8 sauce went in harmony with the tender meat, along with soft boiled vegetables, mashed potatoes and coleslaw.

FYI, all the main courses came together with a soup of the day - cream of corn for our case, and they tasted exactly like canned soup variations, perhaps even diluter.


The cakes on dispay looked darn tempting, so we decided to get one each.

American Cheese Cake,   S$3.80++,   

Though plain and boring, there are really nice American Cheese Cakes around. This one was just normal.

Chocolate Truffle,   S$3.80++,   

This didn't turned out as chocolatey as we thought it would be. However, the layers of cream and cake were firm, and they tasted quite delectable after awhile.

Green Tea Cake,   S$3.80++,   

Maybe it was too dry, because the cake collapse into bits of fragments when we sliced our fork through. There are balls of Azuki (red bean) paste at the bottom, pale green weird tasting cream in between, and green tea cake with green tea powder coated on top. I didn't really enjoyed it as a green tea lover.

VERDICT
With TV screens all around playing movies repeating the same movie, V8 Cafe created quite a unique concept. The movies are silent though, and they were useless without any subtitles sometimes. And sometimes they even screen gore and war shows while you are indulging in your meals. Nevertheless, the low prices for the atmospehere and average food served still makes it a good spot for a simple meal with friends. Just don't harbour high hopes.

V8 Cafe
#03-29, Parco Bugis Junction
200 Victoria Street, S(188021)
(+65) 6333 4434
Mon - Sun: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Food:
Ambience:
Value:
Service:

Peperoni Pizzeria: Whopping Large Surprise

Secluded in a private estate, the cluster of restaurants at Greenwood Avenue look everything like they're only meant for the rich and posh.

It was lucky for us to discover Peperoni Pizzeria, a warm cheerful family restaurant serving hearty Italian fare, with prices friendly to our pockets.

We opted for the Al Fresco dining, which was coupled within an Italian styled courtyard - warm painted walls with vines and leaves to complete the cosy feel. A perfect place to enjoy a big sumptuous dinner in total serenity.

Calamari Fritti,   S$12 nett,   

Squid rings, together with onion thins, were deep fried till crisp golden goodness. The batter used was well seasoned and coated thinly, so it doesn't feel too heavily floured. At the same time, the texture and taste of the squid were distinct. You could feel them all fresh and springy inside, and it was sure a joy to dip them in the lemon mayo and tomato sauce provided alongside.

Suprema and Salmon Family Pizza (21" XXXL),   S$44 nett,   

When the staff delivered the pizza to our table, she jokingly exclaimed, "This was meant to be a surpirse for you!" Seriously, we never knew such a humongous piece of pizza actually existed, and glad to say, it was certainly a pleasant surprise. To help you visualise, here's a photo of the pizza in comparison to a human.

The restaurant specializes in thin-crust pizzas, served piping hot from the traditional wood-fired oven - the kind that will explode in crumbles inside your mouths.

We chose two flavours for the family pizza, Suprema for one half, and Salmon for the other half. Both halves were tomato sauce based topped with mozzarella cheese; with the Suprema side consisting of Shitake mushrooms, chicken and garlic sausages, onions, and red chilli; while the Salmon side was covered with sliced smoked salmon, caramel onion, and capers. It was definitely a well mix of abundant toppings with crispy pizza crust! Crunch!

(By the way, the pizza was too large to be completed by both of us, so we had them packed home in two separate regular pizza boxes.)

Tiramisu,   S$8 nett,   

Savoiardi (lady fingers cookie) soaked in coffee, mascarpone cheese, and a dusting of cocoa powder made up this delicate Italian dessert. The Tiramisu here tasted just as nice as it appeared, except that the alcohol taste wasn't very evident.

VERDICT
A restaurant which deserves a praise in every aspect. Delicious food served by warmhearted approachable staffs, in a homely laidback environment, and with menu prices you wouldn't mind paying for (such quality). Peperoni Pizzeria is definitely worth your visit!

Peperoni Pizzeria
Hillcrest Park
6 Greenwood Avenue, S(289195)
(+65) 6465 6556
Mon - Sun: 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Food:
Ambience:
Value:
Service:

Chewy Juinor: You Gonna Love It

Have you guys gotten sick of donuts? Then you should must try this fusion between Beard Papa and Donut Factory!


Though with other branches located at more convenient spots, and also with longer operating hours - Bugis Junction, Bukit Merah Central, and Tiong Bahru Plaza, we always insist to buy from the original stall at Tanjong Pagar Plaza. The puffs here look more pudgy and tasty!

Chewy Cream Puffs (9 Pieces),   S$8.50 nett,   

These puffs are going for S$1.10 each, but trust me, you wouldn't stop at one. Most likely, you would end up in at least a box of six at S$6, or nine at S$8.50, or even a dozen at S$11. Every flavour seem exciting, and you really do feel like trying all.

From the original sweet menu, they have yummy chocolaty, fruity, and cheesy variations. And for those who prefer something more filling (with food), you can choose from the savoury menu, which includes chicken, potatoes, vegetables, etc. Alright, humans are all very visual creatures, and instead of leaving you to imagine those Chewys on your own, you can click here and here for the pictorial version of the menus.

One chomp and you know that this is not the ordinary kind of cream puffs you get to eat everyday. With rich and generous toppings, Chewys are such a marvel to much on - crispy on the outside, yet soft and chewy on the inside. This unique creation was actually an accidental blend of recipes from Japan and Mexico.

VERDICT
Despite the long queues during lunch times, Chewy Junior is definitely worth every second of your wait, because the satisfaction level you get in return is maximum! We strongly recommend this!

Chewy Junior - Tanjong Pagar
#01-18, Blk 1, Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Tanjong Pagar Road, S(082001)
(+65) 6222 8867
Mon - Fri: 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Sat: 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sun / PH: Closed
http://www.chewyjunior.com.sg

Food:
Value:

Killiney Chee Cheong Fun: Exotic Flavours

Along the stretch of shophouses in Killiney Road, lies the famous Chee Cheong Fun stall most of you have heard of. Decided to check it out one fine afternoon, and before I knew it, I was already returning back time and again for more!

Staff were speedy and attentive. The very instant we sat ourselves down, we received our menu almost at the same instant.

Fresh Prawn Chee Cheong Fun,   S$4.20 nett,   

Chose the Fresh Prawn Chee Cheong Fun, cause we thought that it was a traditional and most common filling which many people would go for. This plate of plain looking rice roll doesn't look exactly appealing without its dressing of sesame seeds (my friend didn't like sesame). However, don't be too quick to judge until you try your first mouthful.

Thin silky folded sheets of rice flour slip quickly into our mouths, and together with the company of soya sauce, it was simply indescribably shiok.


Prawns were full of crunchiness, but they weren't exactly the super fresh and juicy kind. Because the fillings were laid in big sheets of rice flour before cutting, you might find up to three prawns in some (cutted) portions, and in some, you find none.

Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun,   S$3.20 nett,   

Now now, another traditional flavour, and this, I swear, was seriously heavenly.


The Char Siew (barbecued pork) was lean, yet with the appropriate amount of springyness and moisture. And the thing is, the meat blended in so flawlessly with the rice roll and the sauce, making it a perfect combination. We were pratically raving about it from the very first bite, till the last bite.

Mushroom Chee Cheong Fun,   S$3.20 nett,   

It was a mere personal liking for mushrooms that made me ordered this.


It turned out to be just mediocre - not anywhere near bad, but not extraoridnary either. The mushrooms were a bit too hard.

What makes this Chee Cheong Fun stall stands out from the rest, is their assortment of innovative fillings to choose from. There is the savoury type served with soya sauce and a sprinkling of sesame seeds - Cheese Lobster (S$12), Tom Yam Seafood (S$8), Braised Intestines (S$6.50), Abalone (S$6), Otar (S$6), Fresh Scallop (S$6), Unagi(S$5), Crab Meat Stick (S$3.20), Chicken (S$3.20), Mixed Vegetables (S$3.20), Fritters (S$3.20), plus the three reviewed flavours on top.

For the sweet-toothed, there is also the dessert variant served with crushed peanuts. The fillings include XO Durian (S$4.20), Mango (S$3.20), Strawberry (S$3.20), Banana (S$3.20), Apple (S$3.20), Yam (S$3.20), and Green Tea (S$3.80).

Despite many encouraging reviews of the XO Durian Chee Cheong Fun, which was also what this eatery is famous for specializing in, we were still quite reluctant to try. Went ahead with something safer to 'test out' first.

Mango Chee Cheong Fun,   S$3.20 nett,   

Sad to say, the Mango one wasn't very impactful on us, and we conveniently skipped the XO Durian one as well. Even with slight exuding juice from the mango cubes, the Chee Cheong Fun still felt rather dry, and the crushed peanuts worsened it. Then again, it might be a biased view, because I don't like peanuts.

Green Tea Glutinous Rice Balls,   S$3 nett,   

Four pieces of Green Tea Glutinous Rice Balls served in a bowl of traditional sweet peanut soup. (Peanuts again!) Green Tea paste was gooey and sticky, and Rice Balls were a tad hard.

VERDICT
Whack any of these Chee Cheong Fun flavours in random, and you are sure to find your hidden favourite here. If you need something more substantial, try the porridge which also comes in a variety of ingredients. Or, you could also order from its special selection menu for sharing in a group, with dishes like Stir-fried Vegetables, Jelly Fish, Drunken Chicken, Frog Legs (just to quote a few examples).

House of Rice Roll and Porridge
75 Killiney Road, S(239529)
(+65) 6736 1355
Mon - Sun: 8.30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Food:
Value:
Service: