With the advent of global burger joints in Singapore in the past year, there comes a discussion amongst burger fanatics over what constitutes the best meat-in-buns concoction – is it the glazed and juicy patty, seared to a perfect medium doneness? The fluffy, toasted buns? Or the entire presentation of a no-nonsense, clean burger?

Inspired by his love for steak and food in general (vibing with practically everyone), Alexandre Pini founded Burger Frites with dedication to quality and value-for-money.

Read Between The Buns

Burger Frites’ mantra is a no frills, no-nonsense approach to the age-old burger, yet with modern culinary finesse — using only the best U.S. Angus beef, artisanal brioche buns and hand-crafted french fries, it represents a good mince of old-school and new-school.

Situated in the quaint neighbourhood along Joo Chiat Road, the shophouse unit is dressed in a modern interior design of soothing teal colours and leather seats, giving you a taste of modernity to a traditional gastronomic experience.

Their menu is also considerably simple: Choose between 3 different type of patties (180g Angus Beef patty/Crispy Chicken/Breaded Brie Cheese), and choose the style of burger (plain single patty, cheese burger, bacon burger, or a combination of cheese bacon burger). Get your frites (fries in French) with cheese or not, and try out their signature milkshakes!

Prices start from $16 for a plain burger to $19 for a cheese bacon burger (add $8 for double patty).

Verdict

Sticking true to their motto of “Quality Food, Quality of Life”, you can certainly taste the uncompromising commitment to quality and fresh food, without reducing the authenticty of and over-complicating something straightforward like a burger; from the meat to the vegetables and even the sauces, it’s definitely worth the calories. Top tip, get the classic frites and enjoy their housemade sauces!

More Information

Burger Frites
340 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427592
Opening Hours
Tue – Fri 5pm to 11pm
Sat – Sun (Inclu. PH) 12nn – 11pm
Email: contact@burgerfrites.sg
Facebook | Instagram (@burgerfrites)

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Eatsy-ing Into Your lunch

Having lunch on a weekday, especially with your BFFs at work usually entails one of two (sometimes both) scenarios. One is the never-ending crowds as office gophers like myself simultaneously come out to forage for food. Even after you (finally) get your food after a long wait and finish your meal, someone will kena “arrow”  (read: involuntarily assigned) to be on accountant duty and figure out exactly how much each person pays (top tip: the magic no. is 1.177 for including service and GST in Singapore).

via GIPHY

One pretty good solution to that however, is using Eatsy, a collaborative mobile app that allows diners to not only order ahead, but also pay for their orders all in-app at their favourite local eateries and coffee shops.

You can just order the items you want through in-app e-menus, hit order and pay through the app, all at once! The venue will then prepare your food ahead of time, and you can simply arrive to piping hot delights without the wait (and you get to cut everyone’s queue with swag). Works for BOTH takeaway and dine-in services!

Emphasizing on the “collaborative” part of the app, Eatsy also allows your friends to ‘join’ your table if you are dining in. No more worry about splitting bill as you can set the payment mode to be “Let’s go dutch” and vola! No more headache about Linda arguing to round up to the nearest $0.10, or Clarence insisting on splitting the sides 4 ways because he only had 1 piece out of 10. Did I also say you can enjoy cashback from paying through this app?

More about Eatsy

Eatsy Technologies, the firm behind the dining app made up of a group of youthful and talented foodies, was founded in September 2017 by CEO Shaun Heng, who formerly worked in Corporate Development at RedMart. The collaborative order-ahead app aims to partner with the best and busiest quick service restaurants and cafes in Singapore to give them a competitive and technological edge to drive up profitability, and also provide a more personalized way to connect with their customers. Notable names in Eatsy’s current list of the merchants include crowd favourites – Tanuki Raw and Park Bench Deli. To date, Eatsy has also seen an impressive gross transaction value growth of 80% month-on-month!

“Imagine it is lunch time and you are helping to order take-away for your colleagues. With the app, you don’t have to jot down everyone’s orders and queue anymore. Just add your friends in the app – they “piggyback” onto your existing order and send it through. The restaurant will start preparing your orders, so just head downstairs for collection once it’s ready. This ‘collaborative ordering’ saves a lot of time for customers and drives incremental orders for merchants. Our mission is to make mobile ordering and payment the new way of life when dining out.”

Mr Shaun Heng, Founder and CEO of Eatsy Technologies. 

Trying It Out @ Park Bench Deli

To try out the app first hand, we were hosted at Park Bench Deli (PBD), a hole in the wall in its own right along Telok Ayer Street. Inspired by the culture of no-frills sandwiches and subs from delis in North American cities and neighbourhoods, where white collars in fancy suits enjoying their deli-bought subs on a park bench are common sight.

Although the menu has slightly changed over the few years it has been in business, their focus is on bold sanwiches, made with swagger and lots of spunk. From sous-vide Fried Chicken dipped in buttermilk to Philly Cheesesteaks on hoagies, with hand-melted gruyere cheese whiz (my favourite), you can find something for yourself to chomp down while questioning life’s meaning. It certainly helped that Eatsy was so fuss free to use, so less playing footsy with the bill, and more eating!

I’ll be back with a bigger review soon

More Information

Eatsy

For holeinthewall.sg readers, enjoy $5 off your first Eatsy order with the code “HITW5“. Valid till 31st July 2018! Not valid with other promo codes. Other Terms & Conditions in-app may apply.

Check out their website for a full list of restaurants: https://eatsyapp.co
Download the app here (Apple App Store | Google Play)

Park Bench Deli

179 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068627
Reservations: chope.co
Phone: 6815 4600
Facebook | Instagram | Website

This post is brought to you by Eatsy. Download it now on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

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Mandarin Orchard Singapore’s award-winning and pretty famous atas buffet restaurant, Triple Three, marks Independence Day in the United States of America with the return of The Great American Buffet!

Making Buffets Great Again

In what can arguably be regarded as one of the national hobbies of the USA, the buffet features both classic American favourites as well as some with a local twist, You’ll be spoilt for choice with the massive spread of premium meats, seafood, desserts, and a great variety of sides—all prepared with a dash of freedom!

RIght at the centre stage are grilled and roasted meats prepared to succulent perfection, such as the Smoked Barbecue Pork Ribs, the Oven Roasted USDA Prime Black Angus Ribeye, and the ever popular Smoked USDA Short Ribs which packs an intense smoky flavour from the special dry rub marinade.

Something else not to be missed is the Creole Gumbo, a rich stew from southern Louisiana, featuring rock lobster, mahi-mahi, scallops, clams, mussels, and browned sausages. This delicious medley of ingredients is cooked for hours in hearty stock requiring layer upon layer of flavours and spices.

Executive Sous Chef Sam Chin adds his own twist to the American classics in his rendition of the Lobster Roll, where toasted buttery brioche replaces the traditional white bread hotdog buns. Chef Sam also wants you to try his Gourmet Beef Sliders using premium Black Angus beef patties, caramelised onions and melted cheddar, sandwiched between two slices of toasted brioche (seems like we know his favourite choice of bread).

On top of all these delicious creations, there’s also several other American delights, in all fried and roasted (freedom) goodness!

Dear ladies and your dessert stomachs, you have not been forgotten! There’s also a wide range of desserts to let you fill up that second space. With a selection like the Apricot Almond Tart, the Vanilla Panna Cotta, and the Bourbon Pecan Pie, AND the traditional Apple Pie, Key Lime Pie, and Blueberry Cheesecake, you can be sure that you leave with delight.

Triple Three at Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Named after the location which the Mandarin Orchard Singapore sits on, Triple Three, with its iconic three 三 (Japanese/Chinese character for the number 3) logo, is a Japanese-inspired buffet restaurant that is known for an extensive international buffet selection. Apart from the the seasonal specials such as the above Great American Buffet, it’s also known for fresh seafood and other international delights such as Chinese and Indian cuisine.

Book Now And Be Free!

The Great American Buffet runs from 4th (Wednesday) to 15th July (Sunday) 2018, and is for dinner at 6:30pm to 10:00pm daily. So go get yourself some freedom before it’s gone!

More Information

Triple Three
333 Orchard Road
Mandarin Orchard Level 5
Singapore 238867

Price: $108++ (Adult) | $48++ (Child 6 to 12 years)

Credit Card Promotions: DBS/POSB/UOB card members enjoy 50% off every second adult diner (up to eight diners per card)

Stand a chance to walk away with an exclusive dining experience for 2 worth $576++ when you dine at Triple Three! Click here for more information!

For reservations and enquiries:

Online Reservation – www.meritushotels.com/diningorchard
Tel – (65) 6831 6288
Email – dine.orchard@meritushotels.com

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Right at the middle of downtown is Freehouse, a bar opened in 2016 that “was birthed from a thirst that could only be quenched by good beer and cider”. With up to 16 rotating taps of craft beer (they’re usually almost at full capacity), you can be sure that you’ll only be thirsty for that guy/girl down the bar Situated in a shophouse in the Telok Ayer area, its intimate settings ensures you that there’s definitely “no strangers here”.

Week of the Dog at Freehouse

Yo Dawg, so I heard it’s the Year of the Dog, so Freehouse’s got some (hot)dogs at the week of the dog, so you can dog while you dawg!

Just over the last week, while basically half of the bars you frequent were closed over the Chinese New Year week, Freehouse started the year of the dog with a week long event starring their very own bar manager, Christian!

The Week of the Dog featured a special event-only menu made of gourmet sausages, corn dogs and more importantly (to me), TATER TOTS “smothered in homemade meat/beach chilli! With Christian in the kitchen (no sandwiches today), we devoured most of the brutally-named menu, such as the Brat-tallica, a Bratwurst topped with home-made braised red cabbage, Sauerkraut, Bacon, Hefeweizen Cheese Sauce, Spicy Mustard and Devil’s Ketchup; or if you’re in camp Dave Mustaine, there’s The Megadeth Corn Dog, that’s dipped in a special honey-infused buttermilk batter and deep fried to golden glory!

We also checked out good ol’ Trogdor the Burninator, our favourite strong-armed winged beast represented with Tater Tots smothered in molten Cheddar Cheese (that’s enough to make Torbjorn breathe heavily), Home Made Stout Bean/Meat Chilli, Srircha, Sour Cream and Devil’s Ketchup. Beware of the fire-breathing dragon!

No Strangers Here

Beyond the special menu for the week, Freehouse also offers a pretty wide range of bar snacks and dinner items (they’re usually not open for lunch). Favourites include the Cereal Frog Legs, Grilled Eggplant and Japanese Curry Fries just to name a few. Food menu may also change time to time, so find out the latest while you’re there!

Of course being one of the increasingly popular craft beer bar in Singapore, Freehouse offers a rotating selection of delicious craft beer from around the world, as mentioned previously having a capacity of 16 taps in full view of their white tiled display wall. New and seasoned craft beer enthusiasts are more than welcome, as your friendly neighbourhood bar guy Christian will surely put the right beer in front of you. Events and tap takeovers from particular breweries (such as the recent Battle Royale of Vietnamese breweries Pasteur Street and Heart of Darkness) also happen regularly, so be sure to like their Facebook page to keep yourself updated. For a good deal, head down to their Pint & Grub Mondays, where any pint with a side from a selected list go for only $20++!

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”5″]
Price: [star rating=”3.5″]
Quality: [star rating=”4″]
Overall: [star rating=”4″]

More Information

Freehouse
21A Boon Tat Street
Singapore 069620
Email: info@freehouse.com.sg
Opening Hours: 5:00pm to 12:00am (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 3:00pm to 12:00am (Fridays only). CLOSED MONDAYS.
Facebook|Instagram|Website

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Fun fact: Depending on the region of Germany you’re at, the same festival takes on different names: Karneval, Fasching and Fastnacht. Read more here.

Karneval @ Brotzeit

From now till 25 February 2018, Brotzeit is bringing the flavours and Gemütlichkeit (a feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer) of Karneval to Singapore! While you can’t get a parade here, Brotzeit has launched a specially-curated Karneval menu, featuring festival favourites and exclusive Karneval-only craft beers from Germany during this festive season.

We were greeted by Brotzeit’s Group Executive Chef Wolfgang Ranner, who gracefully brought us through some of the common menu items that you can get at the actual Karneval in Germany. After starting the party with hearty “prost” over a refreshing pint of Karneval-exclusive Gaffel Kölsch, we were presented with a really long sausage on an equally big bun. #thatswhatshesaid

The Gaffel Kölsch a fresh speciality beer from Cologne with a delicate blend of a bitter yet pleasant and slightly hoppy taste. Brewed according to a time-honored family recipe and the German Purity Law of 1516, Gaffel Kölsch is clearly distinguished from all other Kölsch brands.

Brotzeit’s Half-meter Sausage Challenge

Ready your stomachs, and test your might to take on their Half-metre German Sausage Challenge. Teams of two will each have four minutes to finish a half-meter of Brotzeit’s Deutsche Halbmeter Wurst, featuring classic Nürnberger sausages, served with sauerkraut and potato salad in a baguette. That’s about as long as an entire adult forearm, or about 2.7 banana for scale. Any team that completes the challenge within the stipulated four minutes will enjoy the sausage on the house, and being able to have bragging rights to have TESTED YOUR MIGHT and be called Brotzeit’s Wurst Champions.

We were lucky that there were 6 hungry people to wolf it down, and we probably took longer than four minutes anyway. Accordingly to a manager from the team, the record at that time is(maybe was) 3 minutes 44 seconds!

Another feature of Brotzeit’s Karneval menu is Zweierlei von Huhn (Duo of Chicken), which is basically chicken served two-ways; a tender oven-roasted chicken, and golden fried chicken (done like chicken schnitzels). Marinated generously, the roasted chicken was as tender and juicy as you can imagine, while the fried chicken was on point with the amount of batter and crispiness to it without being dried out. Served with potato salad and Fries, it’s a good sharing dish!

Ever been in the situation where you have a big party and everyone wants everything? Or conversely, you really want that one dish in a platter, but you got to deal with the others that make you go ‘meh’? Brotzeit’s Deutsche Tapas (German Tapas, 3 for $15, 6 for $28, 12 for $45) is the solution for all diners! Choose from a list of TWELVE different tapas items, totally customisable to your liking below. Want 12 meatloaves? Yes please!

Bierbeisser (sausage), super food salad (Chef Ranner lol’d), spicy chicken sausages, currywurst, golden fried chicken, cheese spätzle, meatballs, seabass filet, fried mushrooms, meatloaf in a mini kaiser roll, chicken schnitzel in a mini kaiser roll, and their meat patty in a mini kaiser roll.

To finish off the evening, we were given special off-the-menu Berliners (German doughnuts with fillings), but you can check if you can get lucky too

More Information

Brotzeit Singapore
Outlets in Singapore: 313@Somerset, VivoCity, Raffles City, Katong, Westgate (click to see opening hours and reservation info)

The post Karneval @ Brotzeit Singapore [Media] appeared first on You Otter Go There.

Morganfield’s Orchard Central

Morganfield’s, of Sticky Bones – American BBQ pork ribs, slow cooked to tender perfection – has just opened their 4th outlet at Orchard Central! Perched high up at level 11, you can expect the same delicious ribs in town, smokey, juicy and tender, slathered with your favorite sauce! Best washed down with a nice pint of beer, mmm.

Speaking about beer, a new feature at Morganfield’s Orchard Central is Bar MF, the highest craft beer bar in Orchard Road. This craft beer bar aims to make craft beer more approachable and accessible, and they serve up to 10 rotating beers on taps from all over the world. Don’t worry about being called a noob if you’re new. Simply approach the friendly bartender, and he will be more than happy to introduce you to the wonderful world of craft beer, and find one that suits you best! Expect crowd favorite brands, and crafted seasonal specials as well.

We were invited to their launch event where some of their favourites were served, such as the Pulled Rib Sliders, Crispy Golden Pork (must try) and Candied Bacon (!!!). Being at the pinnacle of Orchard Road dining means that the restaurant is a great place to gather with friends for a hearty meal or colleagues for a round of after work drinks, away from the bustling city crowd. You can expect great quality food, and equally great beers here!

Check out their regular promotions too, like their Weekend Ribs Buffet where you get free flow ribs at $40++ every weekend and public holidays from 11am to 4pm. Did I also say that kids eat for free on weekends too (with every purchase of any mains, up to two kids’ meals per table). Check out their website (link below) for more information.

Beerfarm – Established For The Future

Breaking the duck for both Morganfield’s, as well as their own appearance in Singapore is Beerfarm brewery, from Metricup, Western Australia. Living by their mantra “Established For The Future“, Brewmasters Neal and Peter came to Singapore for the first time to tell about how Beerfarm prides itself as a brewery that makes award-winning beer in a sustainable fashion that grows with their local community.

We were treated to a wide selection of their beers, ranging from the light, crisp West Coast Lager to the punchy, hoppy India Pale Ale (IPA) and the milky Milk Stout. Each had a distinct character and taste; a hallmark of the dedication to stringent brewing practices and quality ingredients. My personal favourite was their Belgian Sour and all its tarty glory, and the Barrel Aged-Marmalade Saison, of which the Seville oranges were actually picked from a tree from their own farm.

New or seasoned craft beer enthusiasts, do check out their decorated India Pale Lager, or “the beer the brewers make for their own selfish pleasure”. Bagging the “Best International Lager” at the 2017 Australian International Beer Awards, it is a vibrant mix of tropical fruit flavours and the aroma of a few hop varieties (Magnum, Mosaic & Saaz for the nerds), matched with a light maltiness and fiinshed with a crisp bitterness.

GIVEAWAY

Score some free chow at Morganfield’s Orchard Central! Stand a chance to be the one lucky winner to walk away from a $50 voucher*! To participate:

Instagram:

Follow @MorganfieldsSingapore and @holeinthewallsg on Instagram and comment on this post:

• What do you look forward to seeing in Morganfield’s Orchard Central
• Participants to tag someone you would like to visit Morganfield’s Orchard Central with!

Contest is open to all Singaporean/PR residents with a public Instagram account. Remember to set your profile to public! This contest ends by 22 December 2017 11:59PM.

More Information

Morganfield’s Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-03/04
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Reservations: 66341828
Facebook | Instagram | Website

Beerfarm
177 Gale Road
6280 Metricup, Western Australia
Australia
Email: orders@beerfarm.com.au
Facebook | Instagram | Website

p.s. Thanks Neal for the beer talk!

The post Morganfield’s Orchard Central X Beerfarm (Media/Launch) appeared first on You Otter Go There.

The flower doesn’t dream of the bee. It blossoms and the bee comes – Mark Nepo

Hustlin’ with Sunday Posies (@sundayposies)

Having a job these days, is never a bad idea. Having a job you love? Even better! However it’s not something that you can snap your fingers and a genie appears magically to grant you that wish. So having a side hustle or hobby does help keep your sanity in check amidst the bustle of the day job.

Sunday Posies (@sundayposies) was the brainchild of @gigglemenot (as she prefers) as she #somekindofeatpraylove for a while, away from a hectic job. Strolling among the florists in markets of Melbourne, she found therapy in floral arrangements and decided to make some money at the same time. Check out her social media profiles (Facebook & Instagram) and if you need a bespoke florist with some pretty good vision and skillz, you know who to look for!

Wheeler’s Estate

From the people that brought you one of Singapore’s top 10 Instagram-ed cafe (Wheeler’s Yard), is another to-be highly Instagram-ed cafe with the name updated to specify a bigger space (estate). It’s so big, that it’s classified into 6 7 different sections: Restaurant, Alfresco, Bar, Events, Entertainment, Picnic and Cycling! Can’t buy bicycles here though, so I guess this is their side hustle in a way?

Situated in what used to be part of Selatar Airbase, Wheeler’s Estate is part of the wave of rejuvenation of the area now known as Seletar Aerospace Park. Traverse down the relatively ulu road and you’ll be greeted by one highly Instagram-ed icon; the silver caravan/camper van endearingly named “Bambi”:

Facing a modestly-sized but lush green field, it’s one of those fewer places where you can fit right in, whether you’re there on a date, a family Sunday brunch, or a high school reunion. Or you really just want to escape the F1 buzz in town for the weekend. There’s even the playground nearby at The Oval (that is well, literally an oval-shaped street) where you can bring your kids, or act like one (don’t we all?).The seating space is also generously spacious, although if you really look at it there’s not that many sheltered options available at the first floor. There are however several long benches for big groups and a indoor dining hall at the second level, which has a stairwell, and a corridor that is also (another) highly Instagram-ed spot.

Wheeler’s Estate serves up some casual Australian cuisine good ol’ alfresco style (of course you may choose the comfort of the air-conditioned veranda but it gets echo-ey. There seems to be a rotating menu so you may not get the same food every time you come here. When we were there, we had a very unique twist of the Philadelphia Steak (philly steak) where instead of it being in a sandwich, it was a marinated beef steak on a tortilla wrap and garnished with chili and caramelised onion. Very different from tradition, but without compromising on taste and complexity!

Other usual favourites that we were recommended were the fish and chips, and the chicken cordon bleu that was served in a similar deconstructed fashion. Seems like these guys don’t just take apart bicycles!

When the sun goes down at Wheeler’s, things are different too. Under the dim fairy lights and slightly blaring live music, the weather also becomes more tolerable as the alfresco seating becomes more filled with people who want to revel but also prefer the chill vibes. You can also take a stroll in the park which is adjacent to Seletar Airport’s airstrip, and get some *ahem* quiet time if you need.

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”4″]
Rather challenging to get to unless you drive or take a taxi, it’s definitely out of the way by Singaporean standards.

Price: [star rating=”2.5″]
It is quite expensive at the average range of $30-40 per head including drinks but not dessert, and portions were not THAT bad either.

Quality: [star rating=”4″]
While expensive, they do try to be innovative with their menu and presentation. At least the food is fresh!

Overall: [star rating=”3.5″]
My only gripe was that despite having an army of part timer youngsters I felt pretty neglected during my visit there. For example we wanted some cutlery and water, and were told by no less than 3 different servers that they’ll get it for us, but conveniently forgotten after (I wanted to get it myself in the first place, had to do it anyway). I guess some organisation will help, which is evident in some of their ratings on social media as well. It’ll be a waste if disorganised service spoilt an otherwise nice ambience and honest, casual cuisine!

More Information

Sunday Posies
Enquire more on bespoke floral services
Facebook | Instagram

Wheeler’s Estate
2 Park Lane
Seletar Aerospace Park
Singapore 798386
Reservations:  6262 0001 (recommended if you’re going on a weekend)
Facebook | Instagram

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The post Wheeler’s Estate with Sunday Posies (@sundayposies) appeared first on You Otter Go There.

26@Marina Bar & Bistro

26@Marina is a bar & bistro that took root (geddit) right at the far corner of Satay by the Bay; a good distance away from the tourist crowd in the Gardens. Being at the side means they’re shielded from the smoky satay and BBQ seafood fumes, and not to mention the hustle and bustle that comes with it. With ample seating, it’s great for one, or with your entire bike/e-scooter gang while you crack a cold one with the boys.

So anyway, after grabbing a pint of ice-cold beer to cool off the heat, I was introduced to one of their specialties the crispy pork belly (i.e. sio bak) salsa. While the pork has all the juicy goodness to match the crunch of the skin, the real hero of the dish IMO is actually the sambal chilli, which is V E R Y S P I C Y. PEDAS. 很辣. காரம். Do take it sparingly if you’re a ketchupboi/ketchupgal! By the way, the chilli (aptly named Woo-La-La! Sambal Belachan) is available for sale in bottles at the counter if you want… BUT BE WARNED.

Feeling really hungry, we went straight for the mains. A new creation of theirs at that time is a charcoal burger, served with a generous 180g beef patty, and a breaded portobello mushroom stuffed with cheddar cubes. That’s right, an entire portobello mushroom, not one of those uppity burger joint burgers that only have a few slices of mushrooms ‘for the flavour’. Dressed well in cheese and sauces, the beef is done properly (medium) and I can only complain that I don’t have mushroom left in my stomach after eating! There’s going to be more burger creations apart from this one, so be sure to check out their social media or their menu when you’re there! (Newly launched: Mushroom Swiss Burger & Double Cheeseburger, +$2 for truffle fries)

Despite being a casual diner in an al-fresco setting they take their food seriously. The U.S. pork chops that we ordered came along not overcooked (common gripe) and well-seasoned too!

Incoming Promotion!

In line with our 52^nd National Day (SG52), 26@Marina will have a promotion from 3 August onwards! With any purchase of a gourmet burger (including the charcoal burger I ate, while stocks last) gets you a bottle of Tiger white (wheat beer)/black (dark lager) for just $5.20 (U.P. $8.50)! While stocks last!

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”3.5″]
It’s a bit far-flung from public transportation, but still rather accessible. We took an oBike here from MBS and it only took like 7-10 minutes? Also there’s free parking on weekdays for lunchtime (12-2pm)!

Price: [star rating=”4″]
Standard bistro prices, about $20-30/person. Which isn’t bad considering it’s right next to Gardens, a major tourist attraction.

Quality: [star rating=”4″]
Everything is freshly made, and by including an entire portobello mushroom that’s the same width of the burger patty, it shows they mean business!

Overall: [star rating=”4″]
A nice change from the Satay (hence Satay by the Bay) and other overpriced local fare, you should come to this watering hole for a ice cold pint and that F-L-A-M-I-N-G HOT chilli!

More Information

26@Marina Bar & Bistro
18 Marina Gardens Drive
Satay by the Bay
Singapore 018953
Opening Hours: 11:30am to 11:30pm Daily
Reservations: 6702-0739
Facebook |Instagram

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The post 26@Marina Review – There’s Not Mushroom Left After This! appeared first on You Otter Go There.

“Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” -Napoleon Bonaparte

Burgers. Originally just served as a meat patty in Germany (Hamburg, hence the name to hamburger and then burger), the modern burger was debatably developed by a few different sources in early USA history, but one thing in common was the mobility and ease of mass production it brought. Especially to a fast-paced metropolis like the big apple: New York City (cue nasal voice), the land of opportunity.

Jolie Hwee

When not learning how to scalp (literally, guys) people on surgical tables, Dr. Jolie turns to looking for new places to dine at. Check out her Instagram!

So when told of a burger joint that’s so obscure it literally doesn’t even have a front display and entrance, she had to come take a look.

Burger Joint Singapore

Of Le Parker Meridien down 56th St, NYC fame, Burger Joint opened their first outlet in Southeast Asia down in the Telok Ayer/Amoy Street area. Why am I being so vague? That’s because instead of a prominent front display, it is actually situated in what could have been a kitchen/pantry/worker’s quarters in the early 20th century. To access it, you would have to go round the back, along Gemill Lane before you spot the ubiquitous neon burger sign plastered next to a inconspicuous door… only to go in and be greeted by a dark corridor lined with curtains, and yet another neon burger sign.

Once you (finally) reach the restaurant, you’ll be greeted with a familiar sight (if you’ve ever been to the one in NYC; I haven’t though): the worn-looking wooden furniture and walls in a dimly lit room. If you come in a group you can try your luck at one of the booth seats, but most are happy at the standing tables or even to chill at the bar, where they serve a decent spread of cold beer and good ol’ American whiskies.

Ordering a burger here isn’t… too many layers of work. You are free to choose whether you want a plain hamburger or load it up with cheese, bacon, jalapeno peppers, or all of the above! For best results, go for ‘the works’ when asked for your vegetables. But of course in a capitalist free world, more will cost you.

The burgers come wrapped in paper bags and perfectly grilled to your liking (medium rare’s great), and piping hot. Now chomp on to that freedom and opportunity all the way from the East coast!

Yes, the burgers are quite expensive. Yes, the servings are not exactly very big. But does it matter? Not really, when you have the freedom of choice. If you like what you’re getting, feel free to scribble your words of praise or greetings on literally any surface you can find (most people choose the walls though) too! Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”5″]
The only giveaway of any semblance of a restaurant is the neon sign in the door so yes, hole in the wall.

Price: [star rating=”3″]
For prices starting at $17 excluding taxes, it is definitely on the steep side when it comes to burgers. You do get quality meat that is grilled to your liking though. BUT I only found out after that they actually are on the entertainer app, so you can bring a friend along, or simply take two burgers!

Quality: [star rating=”4″]
I give credit that they make it up in quality, that their meat, vegetables and even buns are freshly made (buns are made in-house).

Overall: [star rating=”3.5″]
A good concept with no-nonsense and no-frills food, but I probably will only come here once in a while if I were on a budget. I mean, we’re free to choose right?

Wishing all readers from the USofA a happy 4th July!

More Information

Burger Joint Singapore
115 Amoy Street
#01-03
Singapore 069935
(Entrance at back on Gemmill Lane)
Tel: +65 6221 8648
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The post Let Freedom Ring! Burger Joint Singapore with Jolie (@joliehwee) appeared first on You Otter Go There.

A Bagel is a Doughnut with the sin removed – Anon.

Random fact: contrary to some beliefs, the bagel was not created in the shape of a stirrup to commemorate the victory of Poland’s King John III Sobieski over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. It is however, thought to have appeared at around the same century with it being mentioned as a gift for women in childbirth. Whatever the truth of its origins, the bagel (believed to be derived from the transliteration of the Yiddish ‘beygl’, which came from the Middle High German ‘böugel’ or ring) made its way from western Europe to the North America by means of Polish Jew immigrants, it developed into a totally different food culture with the round staple in New York (read: Bagel Brunch in New York).

Two Men Bagel House

Not to be confused with two other guys nearby, Two Men Bagel House started what they claim to be Singapore’s first out and out bagel house since 2014 “located in the depths of Icon Village“. Bros Jerome Lam and Jereborne Lam (real bros or not, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re good bros)  dish out freshly baked, handmade rings of different flavours.  From caramelised onion (my favourite) to multi-grain or melted cheddar cheese , they don’t make that many for each variation (about 9 usually, check their menu for a list), so on busy days some could run out before you can even smell (if you smell…) any trace of bagel goodness!

A usual favourite of mine whenever I’m there would be their all-day breakfast selections, endearingly named with porcine names like Porky, Piglet or even Babe, with one aptly named spam because of the namesake topping. The “bagelwiches” are served piping hot to order and cut in half for easy devouring. Although you have to get ready some napkins because it WILL get messy.

Hold your piggies everyone. Other than some ham, they also have a fuller-bodied menu with pork ribs, beef briskets and more. From time to time, they also have random special edition creations whenever the bros feel inspired! Also , as long as you’re someone who sell bagels,  you MUST have ‘schmears‘, or basically spreads if you so prefer something a bit less savoury and voluminous. Like cream cheese for example!

The Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”3″]
You’ll need to wind around the back wing of icon village, away from the main walkway of big chain restaurants and outlets to find the corridor they’re at, but nothing too challenging if you follow your nose!

Price: [star rating=”3.5″]
A small premium to pay (about $10-12+ for the regular bagels, and $4-6 for schmears) for freshly baked bread and made to order bagelwiches, but nothing too surprising given its CBD environment

Quality: [star rating=”4.5″]
The breakfast bagelwiches could get a tad oily (expected), but otherwise I’ve got nothing on them!

Overall: [star rating=”4″]
They ain’t no jabronis, they’re got thick rings!

Bonus: Watch a video made by some NYP mass communications students!

More Information

Two Men Bagel House
16 Enggor Street
#01-12
Icon Village
Singapore 079717
Tel: +655094125
Email (orders in advance/catering): hello2men@gmail.com
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The post Two Men Bagel House Review – Sin It, Don’t Bin It! appeared first on You Otter Go There.