Aston Prime / Aston Specialities / Aston Express

Name: Aston Prime / Aston Specialities / Aston Express
Place:
Auston Prime @ Joo Chiat
Auston Speciality @ East Coast / Cathay / Sports Club / Sembawang SC
Auston Express at Various Location
(Exact Location please refer to www.astons.com.sg)

I tried the outlet at Sembawang shopping centre. It was a new outlet and despite me hearing of Aston name, I have not tried it before. So that was my chance.

I ordered one Hickory BBQ Chicken, one pork chops and a Dinner Burger. Portion is generous and food is good. Comes with 2 side for the Chicken and the pork and one side for the burger.

My comment: Pork is just average while the chicken and the burger is good. For the chicken, I would not use the word fantastic but I would say that it is one of the better one that I have tried. And for $6.50, it is a steal.

The dinner burger is actually a bigger portion of the rest of the (cheaper) burger you see on the menu but they let you add one side. It is like buying a chicken burger and add one side. Works out to be cheaper if you have the dinner burger because you get a bigger burger and pay slightly less for the side.

As for the size of the burger, think of Carl's Junior Chicken Club. Something to the size or I would say that this is slightly bigger.

Although it seems to be like a restarant, there is
NO SERVICE CHARGE AND GOVERNMENT TAX!!!
(at least for the Sembawang Store)

So just add up the total of what you order and that's it.

And although there is no service charge, service there is fantastic. Quote this incident when I was in a queue (i need a table for 2) and there was a family of 5 that was behind me. When I was the first one in the queue, it happened that there was a big table (seats 6) that was ready. Naturally, I would not want 2 of us to hog the table for 6 and I would expect them to usher the family there before me.

They did, but before they do, they apologised to me (which I think it is not necessary) for letting me wait and they told me that they have a table for 2 that was empty but not ready. They told me to wait for another 2-3 mins and would let in me as soon as they have finished clearing the table. After doing so, then they ushered the family over.

I think that they have taken an extra step to ensure the service standards is there and I think I will be happy to pay for service charge in this case.

Menu:


More photos to be uploaded.

Ikea Cafe / Restaurant

NAME: Ikea
PLACE: Alexandra / Tampines

If you are looking for quality food at a bargain price, Ikea Restaurant will be one place that I will recommend you. Notice that I didnt use the word 'cheap' because comparatively it is not really cheap but you do get quality and aircon comfort.

Must try: Everything on the menu from poached salmon to nasi padang (less those side dish which you take out from the fridge.

Really must try: Swedish meatball for it uniqueness, chicken wing for its favour and nuggets.

Funny thing is that where isn't there a Halal section in Ikea Alexandra?

Ishi Mura @ Northpoint Extension

Name: ISHI MURA Japanese Theme-food Court
Place: Northpoint New Extension Level 3

Fresh and new concept of Japanese Theme Food court by the people who came out with this concept. In the food court, you find a variety of Japanese food range from Bento set to Ramen to Pizza to heated Stone Bowl Don to Japanese Burgers.

Price hovers at around $4.90 - $6.90, which most dish at $5.90. Reasonally cheap for Japanese food.

Heard that they are opening another similar outlet at Paradize centre, so if Yishun is too far, there could be another alternative soon.

Photos:

Kopitiam Tze Cha @ Toa Payoh

NAME: Unknown
PLACE: Toa Payoh
ADDRESS: Blk 124 Toa Payoh Lor 1
MUST TRY: Pork Ribs, Fried Rice, Hotplate Beancurd, Vege, Cereal Prawns, etc

Simple Kopitiam Tze Cha stall that serve great food. Food are simply yet tasty enough.

Comments:
A rare find among dozens of Tze Cha stall around Toa Payoh. A simple Kopitiam yet a Tze Cha stall that can produce food that can shame some more reputable restaurants.

Rating: 4.5/5. A must try.

Photos:

Working mobile?

[Invalid Post. Subway decides that electricity is too precious for them and they would rather keep it to themselves rather than sharing it with patrons.]

If you have the opportunity to work mobile with your laptop and have need to have a power socket to charge your battery or power up your laptop, one good and cost effective alternative suggestion other than the often crowded MacDonalds is Subway.

Located in major shopping malls and popular neighbourhoods, it is usually not hard to find a subway whereever you are. Majority of their stores have power sockets at some corner of the store and they are usually generous enough to let you tap a little bit of the power without approaching you.

The cost effective part is that buying a drink from them will cost you only $2 plus dollar and should you need a refill, you just need to top up $1 for the 2nd cup and beyond.

A meal, like many fast food, will set you back $6 - $8 but you eat healthier stuffs rather than junk food in MacDonalds or other fast food restaurant. Cheap, I'll say for using the place for a few hours i say. Put it the other way, a normal coffeeshop meal cost you about $4 - $4.50 with drink and a difference of $2-$3 frankly isn't a lot more to pay for for a air conditioned comfort and an area for you to do your work.

Yes, there are other alternatives but to me Subway offers a cheap, non-crowded environment for me to have a good meal and to do my work there at the same time.

The Best Bubble Tea.

If you are around bugis area and dying to have a drink, try this stall in Bencoolen Plaza. (The one that sell watches beside OG). The stall is located on Level 1 of the complex, somemore in the centre.

Its attraction: 1 cup for $1.
(For most of the drink there)

Bubble Tea is one of the better one around in terms of sweet-ness, blend. I particularly like Blue Coral from the stall.

Awon Korean Restaurant [Closed]

NAME: Awon Korean Restaurant
PLACE: Town
ADDRESS: Excelsior Shopping Centre, Level 4
MUST TRY: Korean "Traditional" Steam-grille steamboat

I want to say one thing all other reviews on other food blogs or website say about the buffet.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BIG SPREAD BUFFET, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.

In fact, there are only
3 types of meat(Chicken, pork, beef), prawns, vege, mushroom, noodle and tanghoon, Kimchi, orange

The whole spread there can be sum-ed up in less than 2 lines here.

Okay, so if there is no big spread, what is the point then? After-all for buffet, we want to eat as much as we can.

Okay, first there is steamboat pot / pan, whatever you call it that is special. I guess we are all tired about the normal flat pan bbq grille style which we find everywhere including Seoul Garden, one of this restaurant's competitors. The steam-grille style make the meat tender and juicy, yet allow the 'cook' (who is yours truly, me) control the kind of outcome. Want to make meat more steamed, add soup on top. Want to eat BBQ style, dont add soup on top. (Trust me, it is not so simple when you do it yourself)

Then there is the meat. Not the freshest or the tastiest, but something different. The meat (chicken and pork) actually taste a bit sweet while the seasoning is not overwhelming. In fact, from the serving tray, it is hard to tell that the meat is seasoned before.

The environment is another factor to consider. Cheerful lady boss, friendly waiter / waitress, etc, etc.

Comments:

Still that word, don't go if you are looking for a big spread. You can, however, order items from the menu ala carte rather than buffet.

Rating:
4/5 for the orginal-ness of Korean Cusine.

Photos:

Korean Starters for every diner there.


The STEAMBOAT GRILL!!!


THE STEAMBOAT GRILL - TOP VIEW!!!