Jack's Place: Old School Steakhouse

Thinking back, Jack's Place was one of the pioneer batch to bring in affordable western food into Singapore, and it was so 'hip' back then. But with so many more competitors and better choices available now, it had long lost its popularity.

We decided to revisit Jack's Place after so many years (out of limited choices), because it was the one of the few restaurants in Century Square which required no queuing on a weekend dinner.

Fresh Lobster Bisque,   S$4.50++,   

What warmed us up and got us started was this rich bowl of Fresh Lobster Bisque. Use it for dipping with the complimentary garlic bread for a twist of sweet crunch. Don't hunt for 'lobster' meat in the S$4.50 soup though. If you happen to get more, it'll come in as a surprise then!

Grilled Salmon Steak,   S$17.80++,   

The Salmon Steak wasn't fresh, and it felt rather dry and pappy. I guess the flow of fishes is bad here, because this is just not the right place for sea creatures.

N.Z. T-Bone Steak,   S$19++,   

If you like your steaks to smell and taste very beefy, this is the right dish for you. Sizzling hot in a plate, rest assure to get your fill with such a thick hearty cut of 350g T-Bone Steak together with one whole baked potato, crowned with lots of mayonnaise and crunchy bacon bits. Delicious!

Jack's Special Steak,   S$23++,   

It was unexpected that this Jack's Special Steak actually tasted so good! The steak was tender and succulent, topped with asparagus and homemade black mushroom sauce which blended in perfectly. Juicy flavours leaked out with each sensational bite, you just can't wait to gobble everything up.

Mixed Grill,   S$18.50++,   

This is a mixed combination of chicken, beef steak, lamb chop, sausage, and bacon, topped with a sunny side up. Ideal for people who wants to try a bit of every different kind of meats, and S$18.50 for a dish like that, it was really a steal!

VERDICT
Revive your childhood memories by paying Jack's Place a visit if you've not done so in years. Frankly speaking, we think that their food and variety had made quite a huge improvement.

Jack's Place Steak House & Restaurant - Century Square
#B1-25, Century Square
2 Tampines Central 5, S(529509)
(+65) 6788 5508
Mon - Sun: 11 a.m. - 10.30 p.m.
http://www.jacksplace.com.sg

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Hokkaidolicious: Worth Every (Air-Flown) Cent

Get a taste of Hokkaido without having to spend a lump sum travelling there? There we were, squeezing in the fun on the second last day of the Hokkaido Fair.

The human congestion was ostensively insane, not any lesser than those seen in I.T. and mega food / travel fairs. Singaporeans really do follow the whiff of good food.


The Boiled Taraba Crabs (on the far left) is sure a delicacy to one's stomach, as well as an expensive S$130 bomb to one's wallet.


Sea of healthy Japanese beans.

Mochis, or also what known as rice cakes, are made from pounding glutinous Mochi rice till soft, then molded into spheres or cubes and filled with (usually) bean pastes.

Green like "The Hulk", soft like a jelly, we present you the Green Tea Mochi.

Green Tea Mochi,   S$2 nett,   

Just a gentle reminder, this is strictly a green tea lover snack, because once bitten, the heavily coated green tea powder will flood your entire mouth with its dry bitterness, and reveal its hearty red bean paste center.


Voila! The outstanding long queue caught our attention, and we too joined in the wait for..


these Butter Manju Cakes!

Butter Manju Cakes (10 Pieces),   S$11 nett,   

Being "true" Singaporeans, we were 'kiasu' enough to buy 20 pieces at one go to make our one hour queue worthwhile. The pancakes came two flavours, namely red bean and custard.

The touch of these bouncy cakes simply urges you to pop them into your mouths and start chewing right away.


Both flavours are unique to each of its own. The red bean one felt more coagulated with substance, while the custard one is more of the rich and smooth kind.

Grilled Sweet Potato,   S$6.85 nett (According to Weight),   

What you are seeing now is not the any one kind of Sweet Potatoes selling in the streets. Behold and beware, this is bounteously loaded with custard inside and highly addictive. The prolonged sweetness of the potato chunk, and the chilling custard that flows with every nibble dangles you for more of it!

Grilled Scallop,   S$5.20 nett,   

Rubbery when cold, the Grilled Scallop is best eaten piping hot from the grill, where the savoury seafood freshness and aromatic sauce spurts madly in all directions inside your mouth.

Soft Grilled Scallop with Cheese (200gm),   S$36 nett,   

Even in dried form, these Japanese scallops are still OMFG yummy, if not, yummier! By fishing the second last packet explains how popular these dried scallops are despite the steep pricing.

Shinori Matcha Cake with Chestnut,
S$10.45 nett (According to Weight),   

You are having the best of two worlds within a single join of this green tea and cheese synthesis. Dense and tight, yet not too heavy to take; bits of soft hidden chestnuts pile on to the sweet surprises.

Rich Stick Fromage (6 Pieces),   S$15 nett,   

If you think that Beard Papa cheese cake sticks are one of the best, wait till you try this. We never had one with such full-blown superiority before! Fluffy yet firm, the cheese has a tinge of loveable sourness and upon the caress of your tongue, the cake melts into globs of satiny cream. Ultimately a dessert to die for!

VERDICT
Thinking of trying it? Sadly to say, all left behind are just memories kept in our hearts and taste buds, because we won't have the chance of trying these again until the next Hokkaido Fair in 2009. Till then...

Hokkaido Fair 10th Anniversary
Level 1 (Atrium), Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5, S(529510)
Presented by Isetan: 4 - 13 July 2008
http://www.isetan.com.sg

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IKEA Restaurant: Everyone's Favourite

You should never visit IKEA with a full stomach, because you'll regret missing out the food served there. I guess many of us Singaporeans should be pretty familiar with this IKEA restaurant, and many of us wouldn't mind the long queues during lunch and dinner times (especially on weekedends).

Poached Salmon,   S$6.90 nett,   

The salmon meat wasn't really fresh, and they broke into brittle bits when we sliced our forks through it. Potatoes were a tad dry; broccoli was cold. However, the Chive Butter Sauce rounded everything up and brought them together in unison.

Swedish Meatballs (10 Pieces),   S$6.50 nett,   

This is one of our personal favourites, and we are sure most of you agree. Beefy meatballs, dipped in heavy sauce and lingoberry jam - a classic combination that sends you craving for more.

Chicken Wings (6 Pieces),   S$7.50 nett,   

We never fail to order the fried Chicken Wings from IKEA too. Hot yummy juice oozing out with every bite. These wings are less oily and much healthier than the usual fried ones you find.

Almond Cake,   S$3.20 nett,   

The Almond Cake turned out to be surprisingly pleasant, especially for a non-nut-lover like me. This dessert was crumbly and delicious, and the top was coated with a rich moist layer of studded almond nuts.

VERDICT
Don't hold too much expectations for the word 'restaurant'. No pretty ambience and no serving waiters / waitresses - You have to wait for your own seats among the crowds; you have to queue up for your own food; you have to clear your own plates after the meal (though a lot of Singaporeans do not practice that). This place is self service, and it's more like a canteen kind of concept. Nevertheless, the prices you pay for the quick bites and resting place you get, are definitely worth your time and money.

IKEA Restaurant & Cafe
Level 4, IKEA Tampines
60 Tampines North Drive 2, S(528764)
(+65) 6786 6868
Mon - Sun: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
http://www.ikea.com.sg

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