Bakerzin: Grab Your Main Course Elsewhere

Hmmm.. The sounding name in desserts which Bakerzin had built up..

Just in case you were still hesitating, the enticing dessert displays are bound to clear all your doubts and lead you straight into the restaurant.


A clean-cut decor extended its warmest and unpretentious welcome. The only unexpected was a much tighter space.

Café Affogato with Rum and Raisin Ice Cream,   S$6.80++,   

A shot of espresso added to a scoop of ice cream, with choices of caramel / chocolate / manjari / sumatra white chocolate / vanilla / rum and raisin flavours. It was a pretty combination between awakening bitterness and lingering sweetness.

Tomato and Cheese Bruschetta,   S$8.80++,   

Thick cut country bread layered with tomato slices topped with molten cheese, every bite was a defined hard crunch - too hard perhaps, and too dry for our liking. Mesclun salad made a pleasant side though, with young supple leaves dressed in complimenting olive oil.

While deciding on our main courses, we realised that our choices were unknowingly narrowed down to pastas only, as we mentally striked out the sandwiches, pizzas, and especially the 'just like home' section. Sorry, but we simply couldn't imagine Assam Prawns or Braised Pork Belly with cheesecakes and strawberry mousses.

Seafood Pasta,   S$15.80++,   

Flooded with a plethora of tiger prawns, squid, mussels, and clams, this dish has indeed fulfilled its name as 'Seafood' Pasta, unlike some others with crappy crab sticks and pathetic minces of shrimps. The linguine was soaked in delicious tangy tomato and white wine sauce, cooked till Al Dente. Portion wasn't big, but able to satisfy yet leave some stomach space for the not-to-be-missed desserts.

Every dessert looks alluring, and with Bakerzin's clever marketing strategy to 'wholesale' their Dessert Tapas, the struggle of choices becomes so much easier. You could order three tapas / ice creams / sorbets from their petite range for S$9.80++, five for S$15.80++, or even seven for S$21.80++! Great for sharing in a group.

Vanilla Crème Brulee,   (Dessert Tapas) 3 for S$9.80++,   
Coupe Cheesecake,   (Dessert Tapas) 3 for S$9.80++,   

We enjoyed the Vanilla Crème Brulee, made of a burnt caramel layer above the chilled custard. It would have scored more if there were more mouthfuls. The Coupe Cheescake consisted of cheesecake base crumbles, covered with lightly cheesecake flavoured ice cream and strawberry sauce. A unique creation we would say.

Banana Pizza with Cinnamon Ice Cream,
(Dessert Tapas) 3 for S$9.80++,   

This came in two slices of caramelized bread bases, melted cheese and bananas, plus an additional scoop of Cinnamon Ice Cream. We liked the hot and cold composite, with a fragrant toast taste of the flaky crumbs.

VERDICT
Though we only pinched a small taste of Bakerzin's renowned desserts, we could already tell that they were good. With an already stable speciality, Bakerzin could perhaps work harder by offering a wider array of (less weird) main courses.

Bakerzin - Vivo City
#01-207, Vivo City
1 Harbour Front Walk, S(098585)
(+65) 6438 8700
Sun - Thur: 10.30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Fri - Sat: 10.30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
http://www.bakerzin.com

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Vienna Buffet: Could Be Cheaper

Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet Restaurant on a Saturday afternoon.

Once you get your butts settled down, you'll be immediately served with a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (which you can get more from the buffet), and a cup of complimentary drink, with fruit juices and soft drinks to choose from.

The buffet area has an wide array of mouthwatering food ranging from Chinese, Western, Japanese to Italian cuisines.

(From the top, and clockwise down:) Peking Duck, Cha Soba, Sushis, Fruit Salad, Cheese Scallops, Smoked Salmon, Grilled Unagi

Teppanyaki,   

I thought that the Teppanyaki was very good, especially the salmon and dory fish. They were grilled to the right amount of crispyness and tenderness, leaving fresh fish juices in your mouth. The rest of the meats: chicken, beef, lamb, and shisamo were like just any other Teppanyakis - nothing really special. There's beansprouts and vegetables too, but it's advisable to get those in moderation. Because after half a plate, you will get pretty tired of chewing the hard and tangled vegetables.

Seafood,   

Only the fresh oysters, prawns and crayfish were worth the eat. Others, either the meat is quite rough and musty, or you fight through a lot to get a small piece of not-really-worth-the-fight meat.


I like the way Vienna presented their buffet servings. Small and delicate - it makes eating them easy and enjoyable, and you will still have the stomach space to go for other varieties.

Desserts,   

Generous portions of whole cakes simply ruled the desserts section.





VERDICT
I'm spoilt for choices over the variety I get. However the seafood section, (which is the most expensive section,) wasn't really fantastic. And somehow, I felt that the buffet price could be a tad lower.

Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Buffet Restaurant
#B1-01, United Square
101 Thomson Road, S(307591)
(+65) 6254 6686
Mon - Sun: 11.30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
http://www.viennabuffet.com

Buffet Lunch:	S$27.80++ (Weekdays)
	S$29.80++ (Weekends)
Buffet Dinner:	S$34.80++ (Weekdays)
	S$36.80++ (Weekends)

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