robyng

Well - 6000 km away - about the distance from my home in Florida to London - just doesn't seem around the corner to me . OTOH - my husband's favorite wines these days are from AU/NZ - so he'll be delighted to find they're relatively easy to find in Singapore.

Too bad people haven't been more enthusiastic about the local beers. OTOH - I've printed out a list of top rated local beers. Perhaps people aren't so enthusiastic because a beer like Brewerkz Xtra IPA - which is top rated - isn't (widely) available on tap/in bottles? Robyn

robyng

Apart from any philosophical issues - I just don't know how restaurants with counter seating (and a lot of high end restaurants are like that these days) could cope with every person/couple at a counter bringing his/her own bottles. That type of seating makes it very difficult to use traditional by the bottle wine service accoutrements. Which is I guess why so many places like this have wine pairings or wine by the glass these days.

BTW - the only interesting "celebrity chef" restaurant to me at MBS was Waku Ghin. But I rejected it because it I don't like "large number of courses" "single tasting menu only" option restaurants (too much food for me - even if it does have a Japanese "aesthetic"). If the restaurant were of interest to me on a food level - I sure wouldn't reject it because I couldn't bring a bottle of wine from home there (I can always drink my wine from home at home - but can't dine at Waku Ghin unless I'm in Singapore).

We do plan to go to MBS - to see the place itself - the Annie Leibovitz photo exhibit - and the science museum. We'll probably have lunch at 1 of the 8 Chinese restaurants there. There's probably better Chinese food in the MBS than the whole state of Florida . Robyn

robyng

Which - unless something is really wrong - means the crab will be very fresh. Robyn

SQ319

Hahaha. Which chinese restaurant are you currently looking at?

uk1

Remind me to avoid eating in Florida.

robyng

I was just looking at the 8 places in the MBS (as opposed to the "celebrity chef" restaurants there):

http://www.marinabaysands.com/restaurants/chinese.html

I'm sure there is better Chinese food in Singapore - but I'd place a wager at the casino that all of these 8 restaurants are better than anything we have in Florida.

Our Chinese food here is so awful we don't bother eating it anymore. We just save our appetites for Chinese food for places where it's good or better. Which means that the last time we had Chinese food was last year when we were in Toronto.

BTW - I didn't mean to imply that all our food here is awful. Far from it. A local chef made us an absolutely stunning 5 course southeastern US meal for our anniversary last week (example - quail served 2 ways - fried and seared - with cornbread stuffing - lamb bacon - chicken liver mousse - and natural jus). It's just that a lot of "ethnic" food here is best avoided (not only Chinese but Indian and Japanese as well). Robyn

tentseller

+1 Avoid ethnic food in Florida.

There are many good seafood and more local cuisine in Florida. I am sure robyng would recommend. ^

robyng if you are ever in Toronto or Hong Kong PM me and see if I am around.

uk1

It would be a shame to travel all the way to Singapore and then just choose restaurants on the basis that it was closer to your hotel and better than Florida, which is what it comes across as being your approach.

SQ319

I hardly ever go to MBS and have Chinese food but that's what you're planning, among the list I would only recommend
1. Din Tai Fung
2. Imperial Treasure

With these 2 options at least your assumption that the food would be better than FL will most likely be true. Both are chain restaurants which does manage to keep to a pretty consistent quality in my meals there...

At least 3 of the Chinese restaurants are within the casino, I wouldn't recommend them at all as I believe they are there only to cater to the large number of Chinese tourists who visit our casinos and are more interested in their game than what they eat...

markcwj

If you're interested in a Champagne Brunch, the Mandarin Oriental Singapore has a pretty good one if you prefer quality over variety.

Click here to see my photos and report: http://www.theshutterwhale.com/blog/...-brunch-review

alphaod

I read about Andre a few years ago, so I went there myself (yes, solo) and I can tell you the experience did not disappoint. I felt for such a highly rated restaurant it wasn't particularly expensive. The food and the wine pairing was excellent and I was always looking for an excuse to go back, but never did.

Anyways I have booked another dinner with them this coming October for a birthday. I had been trying for a few months (as a special date) and apparently they've been booked out for a while. Anyways, the dinner date I chose coincided with their anniversary date, so there will be a special menu for that day and I look forward to that.

feizhu

I wouldn't do Imperial Treasure @ MBS. It's more expensive and food quality is inferior to that of the Imperial Treasure @ Crowne Plaza, Changi Airport. Do order the truffle mee pok which isn't on the menu.

iluvcruising2

If you are staying at the Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road, check out the Spices Cafe which serves a decent Harvest of the Seas buffet.

italdesign

We have been enjoying hawker center food every day and would like to try something different. Not $100/person different, but maybe $40/person. Preferrably modern/innovative and/or with a view. Any suggestion?

On the more upscale side, any experience with Equinox restaurant @ Swissotel (looks like a great view) or the restaurants @ the Fairmont?

italdesign

there are reports (example) that Amex Platinum card offers 50% discount at SG Fairmont and Swissotel restaurants. I have the US version of the card. Does that qualify?