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Never quite a fan when it comes to hip places because that generally equates to unnecessary waste of time on long queues. A shopping trip along Orchard Road unexpectedly brought us to Mandarin Gallery and while we were really looking for a place to get away from the crowd and rest our legs, we landed at Sacha & Sons.

With a label that reads "family recipes since 1927", I thought that it would be worth a try until tmcy reminded me that this was the hip 'New York Delicatessen" that drew quite a fair bit of attention...in Dec 2014. "Well...better late than never" was her response, accompanied by forlorn glances.

Politely handed over a All-day brunch menu by one of the servers as we loitered at the entrance, the sight of bagels and pastrami on it caught our attention and there we go!

Grilled Reuben - Pastrami with Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut and Russian Dressing | S$20++

While we were contemplating ordering sides to share, the sandwiches come served with homemade coleslaw. Not usually a fan of coleslaw, I actually enjoyed the clean taste, juxtaposing the otherwise commercial renditions which are typically excessively creamy and satiating.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Moroccan grated carrot | S$6++/100gm

If there is one side you must have, please choose the inconspicuous-looking Moroccan grated carrot. I promise that it is more than grating your own carrots at home. With fresh mint and parsley leaves folded into the bed of grated carrot and juicy raisins, be guaranteed a refreshing burst of flavours powered by orange and lemon zest. Touched by the acidity introduced by the citrus elements, I found balance in flavour complemented by the natural sweetness of the carrot.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Scrambled eggs & Toasted Bagel with Smoked Salmon and Caramelised Onions | S$18++

It would be a crime, almost, to not try their bagels. Hand rolled, boiled and baked from scratch - never deny the old school way of doing things right. Comes complete with a generous slab of cream cheese, liberate yourselves and indulge a generous spread on your freshly toasted bagel.

With a choice of sesame or pumpkin seed bagels, we opted for the latter though the order was mixed up and was served the former. Quite frankly, I did not notice it until doing this review as I was already fighting to put off my impulsion on tucking in immediately - of course our cameras have the privilege of being first-to-eat.

I enjoyed the crispness of the bagel while the dough gave a nice chewy texture. It reminded us of our university days back in UK where we would wait out between lectures and seminars over our favourite smoked salmon bagel!

Mildly disappointed by the appearance of my smoked salmon as I was expecting it to come untarnished. It was actually tossed into the scrambled eggs and while you could still enjoy chunks of it, I generally prefer my smoked salmon whole and not cooked. The salinity and smokiness were balanced out by the richness of the cream cheese which added depth and flavours to the innocent looking bagel.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Paris Hot Chocolate - Varlhona Chocolate, Whole Milk & Marshmallow | S$8++

Theatrical displays in any form always draw attention in a restaurant setting. The extended presentation of a simple cup of varlhona-based chocolate drink served in a separate canister before being poured into the porcelain mug made us sit-up for my usual Long Black Coffee (S$5.50++) hardly needs an introduction. If you are a fan of brews from Common Man Coffee Roasters, you would not be disappointed with the coffee here as they come from the same source.

The richness of the chocolate was enough to please the lady though she still preferred Angelina (Hong Kong) but the homemade marshmallow made a difference. The only complaint was that the drink could have been served warmer as the relatively cold environment cooled the drink quite quickly.

Verdict: 8.0/10

(Credit: Interior and exterior photos of the restaurant were taken from Sacha & Sons Facebook Page as we were too satisfied with our meal that we conveniently walked off thereafter)

Overall, we enjoyed the food and experience though during the visit, it was relatively quiet so I cannot say for sure on a busy Sunday brunch session at 12pm. The service was immaculate as we were greeted upon entering and leaving the premise. They were attentive to the levels of our water glasses and needed no reminders to top it up at any time. If you do not know what to order, ask for recommendations and the folks would be more than happy to help out. The best part - they do not oversell as I wanted some sweet treats but they told us that our orders would be quite filling for two pax and could wait till we are done with our meals before ordering desserts. Nonetheless, they recommended the sundae and that would be on our to-try list in our next visit. 

A note on payment, unlike a typical restaurant, expect a deli experience. Place your orders and payment upfront at the till and food will be served to you after.

Will we return? For sure, and I already have my orders planned.

Overall Verdict: 8.5/10

Sacha & Sons | NY Delicateseen

33A Orchard Road,

#03-02

Mandarin Gallery,

Singapore 238897

Tel: (65) 6735 6961

Website: http://sacha-deli.com.sg/

The first question you might have is what really is The New Americas cuisine? It is essentially Northern and Southern American food with an Asian twist. The development within the F&B scene internationally or even in Singapore is somewhat phenomenon to say the least as innovative concepts continue to drive changes in the industry. 

Raven is the latest concept to join the ranks of the rising new generation of restaurants at Chijmes which seems to have seen quite a fair turnover over the years. Quite frankly, food is somewhat commoditised and it seems like a trend that owners find themselves competing on concepts, ambience, service and any other forms of value-added propositions to distinguish themselves. 

Can Raven impress? Let us find out.

Fried chorizo croquettes | S$13/++

    

While there are quite a few restaurants in Singapore claiming to offer the American dining experience, you know you are in safe hands when the owners originate from US. Not only did they bring their home-style cooking methods and recipes to a cosy space at newly renovated Claymore Connect, they also brought along experienced Chef Nicolas who has 18 years of culinary experience under his belt.

Drawing on Chef Nicolas' expertise in grills, he specialises in dishing out quality steaks and seafood. With classic recipes and traditional methods that have been passed down for generations by owner John's family, expect many familiar East Coast favourites such as Virginia-style crab cake and oyster biscuit on the menu. With a focus on the food rather than sauces, RedBank believes in quality ingredients speaking for themselves and takes pride in that. 

Let the calories do the talking then!

Virginia-style Oyster Biscuit | S$18/++

For those familiar with American biscuit, they are somewhat similar to the British scones only different with the pairing of food. While both are quickbreads made with flour, butter and fat, baking powder and buttermilk in this case, the American biscuit is really an everyday carb that serves the same purpose as our breads, only more for the savoury dishes. 

While we enjoyed this oyster biscuit, we felt that the proportion of the oyster, which is fresh and deep-fried, to the American biscuit was slightly off, hence we were left wondering which is the supposed star of the dish since both tasted great.

Virginia-style Crab Cake | S$18/++

Some classic appetisers which the Americans might be familiar with - not so for us but we do appreciate quality calories when it come our way. We enjoyed the freshness of the crab meat and how it was neatly packed to form a very satiable bite while sipping some wine or beer as the mains are being prepared. Served with a light mayo on the side and do give that wedge of lemon a squeeze for the acidity helps balance out the robust flavours of the crab meat.

Brown Derby Cobb Salad | S$22/++

An inspiring story about how this salad was created - all leftovers found in the fridge were tossed together and there we go. The usual culprits for a very generous portion were there of course - iceberg, cherry tomatoes, avocado, egg, bacon, cheese, chicken and of course some crispy croutons. 

For the mains, each grilled meat comes with a side of fries while the seafood and poultry mains come with a choice of rice pilaf or fries. Trust me, you would want to give the other sides on the menu a try because they sure were calories worthy!

Twice Baked Potatoes | S$15/++

Baked potatoes are a common sight but twice-baked, not so. What makes it special is not that it was baked twice but the lovely emmental cheese that was added together with a beautiful sour cream and chives that complement. The potatoes retained a much-desired crisp texture that juxtaposed the soft and mashy carbohydrate. A must-try for potato and cheese lovers!

Mac & Cheese | S$12/++

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of cheese but for those have a penchant for mac & cheese, this dish is sure to delight!

Hush Puppy | S$12/++

When I heard that we were served hush puppies, it was no surprise that everyone at the table cast discerning stares at the serving waitress. In fact, hush puppy or cornbread ball is a savoury side made from cornmeal batter deep-fried or baked. The dish derived its name from the creators ranging from hunters, fishermen to cooks who would fry some cornmeal mixture and feed it to their dogs to "hush the puppies" during cook-outs or fish-fries!

We loved the soft mashy texture on the inside and the gorgeous golden-brown tan and crisp surface of the hush puppy!

Grilled Deviled Chicken | S$28/++

Using Josper grill, one of the best in the world for grills used by top chefs and restaurants such as Heston Blumenthal's kitchen at Mandarin Oriental in London, it was no wonder that the meats were cooked to perfection. The beauty of the oven-like grill machine is the two adjustable draughts - one at the bottom to draw in air and one on the top to let out smoke and combustion gases which operates in a similar fashion to the Aga cooker - a staple in English country kitchens!

The lovely crisp skin on the succulent chicken made this dish one of my favourite dishes of the night. Spotting a beautiful char, it was perfectly balanced with a white wine reduction.

Mixed Seafood Grill | S$33/++

For those who love their seafood, go for the mixed seafood grill which has a sizeable chunk of prawn, salmon, sea bass and tuna with a cup of pilaf rice dressed with capsicum sauce.

Rib Eye Steak | S$65/++ for 500gm

It is hard to resist slicing through a beautifully grilled steak - just look at those nice criss-cross lines that charred the tender meat. Cooked to perfection, medium rare, it was a succulent slice that made me return for more. Sharing the philosophy that less is more, Chef Nicolas adds little seasoning to his quality ingredients with just salt and pepper, allowing the cut to shine on its own merits.

Creme Brulee | S$12/++

When it comes to American dining, expect portions to be magnified and desserts are no exception. A perfectly done creme brulee that has a rich custard base and topped with a caramelised crust.

Chocolate Chip Tiramisu | S$12/++

Whilst innocent-looking, this glass of sinful calories is rich with flavours and the chocolate chip added a variation in texture to the otherwise velvety tiramisu. A must-try for coffee and chocolate lovers!

Lemon Pie | S$12/++

One of my favourite desserts after a rich meal - a refreshing citrus treat. The lemon pie here surely fit the bill with a nice tang that was enough to please everyone's palate. The firm golden brown crust contrasted beautifully with the lemon curd and soft meringue.

Chocolate lava cake | S$12/++

After trying one of the best chocolate lava cakes at Bistro du Vin, we struggled to find a comparable rendition but this was a close match. We loved the crisp surface of the chocolate lava cake only to be complemented by the viscous chocolate lava on the inside. 

RedBank Bar & Grill

442, #01-02

Orchard Road

Singapore 238879

Tel: (65) 6694 5376

Website: www.redbanksg.com

Taking a stroll down East Coast Road, one would certainly be charmed by the abundance and diversity of food in the area. Ranging from your local delights such as chicken rice at Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice to Mexican treats at Lower East Side Taqueria, there is surely something to please one's palate.

Located just next door to Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice and opposite Holy Family Church, Full of Crab (FOC) is an American styled restaurant that promises to bring the original Cajun influence to Singapore. The name of the eatery spells the emphasis of crab as a key dish at FOC and this is no wonder with its offering of Sri Lankan crab, King and Snow Crabs! Taking great pride in their food, special care is taken to ensure that all crabs are killed only upon order. The Sri Lankan crabs are imported into Singapore on a daily basis just to serve the needs for the day. For those particular with their crabs, you would agree that if the crabs were left for a couple of days, the meat would be mashy when cooked and tastes dull. In order to ensure freshness and quality of the crabs, FOC strictly serves live crabs, not even the dying ones which tend to release a stench.

Captain's Choice Combo | S$98/+ or Market Price

Recommended as one of the popular combos on the menu, the Captain's Choice is fit to feed up to two pax. It comprises a 2-pound (or roughly equivalent to 1kg) Sri Lankan Crab and about a pound (around 500gm) worth of shrimps. With an add-on choice of either the corn or baby potatoes, the bag full of goodies guarantees to fill your stomachs.

There is also a board in the middle of the restaurant that has the updated market prices for the various types of seafood. We however understood from the owner that the prices are quite consistent, in fact, he had lowered it to make it more appealing to the price conscious!

After choosing your catch, there are three flavours to choose from - the classic Cajun, Garlic Butter or house special of Fully Loaded. We were recommended the Fully Loaded, which is essentially a blend of Cajun and Garlic Butter. Thereafter, diners get to choose the spice level of the sauce and after having the heads-up from the friendly lady who took our orders, we settled for the medium level, which promises to make us break into a perspiration.


There are also a couple of other add-ons such as broccoli, button mushrooms which you can pair with your combo at a small charge of no more than S$4. What we highly recommend is the warm baguette that would absorb the sauces readily so that you can enjoy the gorgeous flavours in the sauce.


Fish and chips | S$13.90/+



Surely some interesting graffiti left by some of the customers who had visited FOC and with the number of different nation flags scattered across the walls and pillars, you would imagine quite a diverse crowd of foreigners who had similarly gotten their hands dirty!