Singapore food - generally very poor quality

[Primrose Hill]

What's even worse is the supposedly fine dining places that are overpriced, have terrible service and food that is mediocre at best.

Yeah, that was my biggest take away. Most of the trendy hipster food places people raved online usually sucked. At least compared to similar venues in the West. Perfect example, Baker And Cook's $25 Egg Benedict. Sure it was decent, but it was $25 fracking dollars. Even a trendy hipster cafe in Silicon Valley or San Francisco which is just loaded with hipsters begging to throw money away wouldn't charge more than half that, and it would be *really damn good*.

Eggs Benedict in London unless you know your way around, cost something like GBP12-15 but of course the portions are bigger

[JR8]

Eggs Benedict in London unless you know your way around, cost something like GBP12-15 but of course the portions are bigger

Good grief, I don't think so! The overheads in London (rents, wages, taxes) must be double what they are here... nonetheless...

http://mybrunchguide.tumblr.com/eggsbenedict
I'm not sure I'd consider the Wolseley or Ivy as being 'everyday' brunch-spots! They are the only ones that fall within your suggested 'normal' price range, AND that is specifically for a 'Large portion', rather than the standard one.

Even Daylseford Organic on Westbourne Grove 'only' charge £9 (and that's together with organic etc own-farm ham). You will of course know how achingly fashionable that place is...
http://daylesford.com/nottinghill-breakfast/



--- I think people are so short of things to do in SG, that all it takes is a couple of reviews (PRd or not) of some 'new place', and half the youth of the country are thrilled to pay $$$ for $$$t just to get a seat there and be seen. If they had more choice, I imagine this wouldn't happen.

Singapore is perhaps the only country on earth, where the local equivalent of the Time Out dining guide, has an entire category on it's homepage...
-----
'What to Eat
Hot New Restaurants
Latest joints in town to eat, drink and be seen at'
-----
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/

So QED, that's the local priorities right there in black and white.

[Primrose Hill]

Hungrygowhere has sold out, their reviews, iffy.
Yeah, talking about a Ivy. Love Wolsely for the decor.
I try not to go to Westbourne Grove, as it's too uber fashionable for me.
Usually pop to my local, Chammomile.
I do like PS Cafe for brunch. Relish does nice burgers and Hubers for their roast. Jones the Grocer can be a hit or miss with their eggs. Brunetti's brunch is awful.
Paul's isn't too bad.

[zzm9980]

PS Cafe is one of the few overpriced trendy Western style places in Singapore that I actually think has decent food. Still very expensive compared to what I can get outside SG, but good. Most places in Singapore catering to that market segment have much worse food.

[IronMac]

Avoid Jamie's Italian...terrible food.

[IronMac]

I can't imagine living on Hawker Centre food everyday - don't think its healthy at all.

a few favourite hawker stalls (although I find some of them lack consistency on occasion!)

Totally agree on both points. Especially with the first point...when I started living here, I was shocked at the amount of fat and sugars that were being offered at the hawker centers. It is terrible stuff, healthwise.

And, on a slight off-tangent, the meats in the country are some of the worse I have ever eaten and I've eaten in over a dozen countries. Have to admit that SG is the first Asian country that I've eaten in directly. But the beef...aiyah!

Now, let me rant about the so-called kampung chicken. What is that all about?! I've seen pigeons in Toronto that are bigger!

[Primrose Hill]

Totally agree on both points. Especially with the first point...when I started living here, I was shocked at the amount of fat and sugars that were being offered at the hawker centers. It is terrible stuff, healthwise.

And, on a slight off-tangent, the meats in the country are some of the worse I have ever eaten and I've eaten in over a dozen countries. Have to admit that SG is the first Asian country that I've eaten in directly. But the beef...aiyah!

Now, let me rant about the so-called kampung chicken. What is that all about?! I've seen pigeons in Toronto that are bigger!

Had a carrot cake the other that was sweet, what was that all about?
Kampung chicken - organic?

[martincymru]

Try the healthy alternative "Subway". Google them first though, food scare with their bread.

Subway now is " no way "

Labelling of all food has to be the way forward.

[the lynx]

Now, let me rant about the so-called kampung chicken. What is that all about?! I've seen pigeons in Toronto that are bigger!

Kampung chicken is supposed to be leaner, because they are not fattened like the ones in poultry farms. They are left to run around the kampungs. Guess you can tell the amount of exercise they had by how 'meaty' they feel.

[triste]

And, on a slight off-tangent, the meats in the country are some of the worse I have ever eaten and I've eaten in over a dozen countries. Have to admit that SG is the first Asian country that I've eaten in directly. But the beef...aiyah!

ITA with most of the comments so far. We cook at home most days and only eat at Hawker Centers if we're out and a rare favorite stall is nearby.

As for the meat, it is really not nice. And in the grocery store, it isn't identified clearly. You'll see several different cuts that all say "roast". I can't identify cuts on sight so I have to ask around until someone can tell me what part of the animal it came from. Then google to see if it will cook well slowly and fall apart or is more like stew meat. When I'm in the area, I'll buy from a butcher, but in the local store there really isn't anyone who knows much about what they are selling.

[Thatguy]

I've been living in Singapore for quite some time now. When I first got here, I lost 4 kg as my body refused to take the oily cuisine that is typically found throughout the island. This ruled out any local food across all different price points, so I only ate Western/ Japanese and Korean, which is expensive here.

I now eat at home most of the time... eating out a max two meals per week. However, do note that most of the fresh produce comes from our friendly neighbour up north... you know that one who Singaporeans respect so much , so the food quality is not that great. An example would be the leafy vegetables that have absolutely no taste whatsoever. I am pretty sure that all suppliers send Singapore their worst harvests/ produce as the local palate seems to be not so discriminating - no hate, but I was led to believe this because of the numerous times I've accompanied "foodies" out to try the best... in town.

I now pay premium, or import what I need directly.

[rajagainstthemachine]

So we went to this place called chouppinete or something near Botanical gardens, I've never had such rank bad service in my life, and the food was quite frankly horrible.
The place advertised eggs Benedict as the main specialty for Brunch, but considering that it was 1:30 pm it wasn't I fancied so I ordered a burger and a glass of water, my friend orders a soup and sandwich and a cup of tea.

1. The waiter says there are no seats, we'll have to wait so we say yes. ( There were two empty tables which needed cleaning)

2. he then says " this WILL be your table, like we have no say in the matter anymore. The unfriendliness in the tone of voice is unmistakable.

3.The cup of tea arrives after 15 minutes, first an empty tea cup, which we stare at for a while before the tea pot arrives.

4. No water yet.

5. A couple now sits in the table next to ours, they arrive ten minutes later. They order eggs Benedict, get their meal in five minutes.

6. its now 20 minutes, and the couple next door have almost finished their meal, no soup, no sandwich and no burger and no water yet.

7. The waitress comes over says sorry, and wants to know how i'd like my burger cooked lol. I say rare

8. then after 30 minutes of waiting everything appears, the burger is so rarely cooked that its almost cold.
the salad consists of four rockets and 2 slices of tomato and some fries dumped next to it.
The sandwich is fair price ham toasted on bread with some cheese. there were two small dead insects in the salad and still no water.

9. this whole thing cost 63$. A complete debacle, I'm not sure if i was at fault here for ordering something that was not a popular choice on the menu item. Even if i did, the waitress could have suggested that it would take a long time to cook.
A place I'd never go back to again. whats more trip advisor and the yelp and hungrygowhere are raving about this place, my experience was quite opposite I must say.

[Brah]

So we went to this place called chouppinete or something near Botanical gardens, I've never had such rank bad service in my life, and the food was quite frankly horrible.

A place I'd never go back to again. whats more trip advisor and the yelp and hungrygowhere are raving about this place, my experience was quite opposite I must say.

What have you said on those portals about the place?

I really do feel we have a responsibility to call places like these out, and commend the many that deserve it. And in those exact three sites - you can cut and paste the same review in all places.

I wonder if this particular one however is safe, as we know one of our own had a tough time being outspoken about a local company, not a restaurant but I suppose the same thing could happen with one.

[rajagainstthemachine]

So we went to this place called chouppinete or something near Botanical gardens, I've never had such rank bad service in my life, and the food was quite frankly horrible.

A place I'd never go back to again. whats more trip advisor and the yelp and hungrygowhere are raving about this place, my experience was quite opposite I must say.

What have you said on those portals about the place?

I really do feel we have a responsibility to call places like these out, and commend the many that deserve it. And in those exact three sites - you can cut and paste the same review in all places.

I wonder if this particular one however is safe, as we know one of our own had a tough time being outspoken about a local company, not a restaurant but I suppose the same thing could happen with one.

I haven't posted any reviews on any of those websites, I've heard stories where the owners have threatened legal action against patrons posting bad reviews and thereby hurting their business.
I don't want to get into that muck, I'd rather tell people on here to avoid some places that are not worth eating at.
The ones I have frequented however need to be commended, maybe in a new thread?

[JR8]

The ones I have frequented however need to be commended, maybe in a new thread?

Or in the topic... where I see you've posted before. That topic was started with the idea that food that stands out can be elusive to find. Hence a place to share tips and suggestions...
'Getting to eat 'proper food' again...'
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/viewto ... 3&t=103262