Mentaiko Soft Shell Crab burger ($20.90)

While tasty, I felt that the price was rather steep for what it was. The truffle fries were really ordinary though, just the usual shoestring fries that were almost on the soggy side.

As for the starters, the escargots were great. Loved the garlicy sauce that had a very pronounced flavour, with the escargots served while still in their shells. Not a fan of the foie gras though, felt the sauce was a little too sweet?

Had a little taste of the two other mains that we ordered, and I'm not a fan of the squid ink risotto either. But their "Stacked up burger" was fairly well done, with a substantial patty to boot.

Overall, pretty decent food for a cafe, but to be very honest, it's nothing extraordinary.

Burger Joint had been in my Wishlist for the longest time, and so when I heard about the Amoy street Bloc Party, I decided that it was finally the time to stop by. It was everything I expected it to be, thick and juicy patties, and perfectly balanced flavours even with the use of raw onions which normally overpower every other component. The only gripe is that the burgers were slightly under seasoned, but that's just my humble opinion.

A good burger? Yes, definitely. Is it the best burger I've ever had? Probably not. The burger itself costs upwards of $16 which is slightly high, but reasonable given that most of their ingredients are imported. Thankfully, during the event, the burger came with a portion of Mcdonald's-esque fries (thats a good thing) for only $16!

Back here at Alibabar for Garcons again, but this time in the blazing hot afternoon. Known for their authenticity, their escargots weren't as I expected. It lacked the punch of flavour, and the substantial bite of the escargots were absent. Their sauce was slightly on the dry side too.

Wagyu Rump Steak ($26++)

Yes, it's not the best cut, and it's not the best grade. But it's decent, and they cooked it a perfect medium rare as per requested. While the taste of the beef itself is nothing out of the world, it was unexpectedly served with light grated wasabi that really elevated the dish to a whole new level. Steak and wasabi is a real killer combination.

There was a live band too, which just adds to the ambience of the restaurant. It was relatively empty on a Wednesday night too, which is a plus to me as I loathe crowded places. If you're looking for a place to chill and hang out with some friends over drinks, this place is rather appealing.

Cabillaud aux champignons ($29.90)

Beneath that fancy name is a simple, yet sophisticated cod dish. Juicy, moist, and perfectly cooked filet of cod, atop a red wine sauce that sort of eases the juxtaposition between the earthy mushrooms and fresh cod. It's easy to go wrong with fish dishes, but Paul certainly nailed it here.

Ordered the sirloin steak as well, and was blown away by the immense flavour and buttery texture that is reminiscent of Wagyu beef. Wasn't expecting much initially because Paul is known for their pastries and not their mains, but the quality of the steak really shone through. It was a pity that the tenderloin was sold out though.

Ended off with waffles and chocolate ice cream. And while there's nothing really to shout about, the chocolate ice cream is rich, without having that bitter taste associated with dark chocolates. In fact, there was a rather subtle sweetness that really plays well with the waffles.

As far as Swiss/emmental cheese and mushroom burgers go, Wolf Burger seems to have nailed it. Gooey cheese and juicy patties are what makes a good burger, and the Magic Shrooms ($10.90) has done it's job.

Truffle short rib bowl ($14.90)

Still the same awesome experience when it comes to the taste, but it seemed as though the serving was much smaller. Beef slices were so much thinner than I remember?

Honey-glazed pork ($15). While the texture seemed a little too tough, the meat was flavourful from the thick layer of fats.

Great food at reasonable prices. Love the dim sum here, especially the prawns in beancurd skin. Service was great too, with attentive and friendly staff who even bothered to remember our names.

Have always been wary of chain Japanese restaurants because the freshness of their sashimi and the quality of their ingredients normally wouldn't compare to boutique restaurants. Yet, Sushi Tei has consistently proven themselves to be an exception - with relatively fresh sashimi and great quality cooked food as well. All that at such an affordable price point (think $10 kurobuta pork belly don), there's really nothing to complain about.

Definitely for one of those days when your wallet is overstretched, but still need your Japanese fix.

Bara Chirashi ($14)

Decent quality for the price, and actually quite filling as it comes with a rather large portion of rice, as well as miso soup. Sure, it won't be as fresh as many other sushi bars, but for this price, you really can't expect more. Quality should be on par with the likes of Teppei, albeit with a smaller serving of fish. Would definitely come back here if I need a quick Chirashi fix that would not hurt the wallet at all! Service was really efficient too.

Bistro ($24) + truffle fries ($2)

Blue cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions, lettuce, and a pickle. Not to forget the huge 220-gram NZ black Angus beef patty that is flame-grilled. Paired with some of the best fries that I've ever had - hand-cut and super crispy with the skin on. All of which make up a pretty substantial burger that already filled me up when I was halfway through. Love their brioche bun too, which is apparently freshly baked - fluffy, but not soggy.

Now to the bad points - they asked for my preferred doneness, to which I answered "medium rare". Well, it was grey all the way through, not a tinge of pink in the centre. That being said, the burger did pass the juice test, with browned fats from the beef dripping all over the wooden serving tray. The blue cheese isn't my thing really - dry, and too strong. But that's just my personal preference. I would have asked for American cheese, but I doubt that would pair well with the mushrooms. Probably something like emmental cheese would be nice.

Truffle fries ($8)

I've always favoured thin-cut fries over thick-cut ones simply because the former is generally crispier and less filling. However, the fries here are REALLY good - crispy on the outside, slightly soft on the inside, perfectly seasoned, with the skin still on.

Rather pricey for such a small serving, especially given the fact that the truffle flavour was close to absent. Just go for the normal fries, probably more worth it.