Tocha Bistro: New Drinking Spot in Lavender with All Day Crazy Happy Hour on Monday with Beers as Low as $7.80

Tocha Bistro...


We, Millennials, are always on the constant lookout for new drinking spot to chill with our friends and colleagues. Personally, I prefer a place that is quieter (makes talking easier) and of course with good Happy Hour deals. Located within Hotel Boss, Tocha Bistro is a modern Western restaurant/bistro that not only has an extensive menu selection but also crazy Happy Hour promotions. They have an insane All Day Happy Hour on Monday where bottled beers are as low as $7.80++. So, if you want to chase your Monday blues away, you know where to go!

Usually, I don’t have a high expectation of the food from a bistro because they focuses mainly on their drinks and maybe their appetisers but Tocha Bistro proved me wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by how well executed their dishes were. There were definitely rooms for improvement but I was generally impressed with their dishes, especially their addictive Top Shells.
In frame, Smoked Duck Roll, Top Shells, Mushroom Soup, Chicken Wings, Lamb Rack, Grilled Cod Fish and Tiger Prawn with White Wine Sauce.

Cocktails were not too bad but I’m more of a beer person!

Mushroom Soup
When you need some warm food before you hit all the alcoholic drinks, you can start with this comforting bowl of Mushroom Soup. It is rich, flavourful and creamy.


Chicken Wings with Belachan Sauce
Chicken wings are an essential if you are drinking with friends or colleagues. The wings were well-marinated and crispy. Dip it into the in-house belachan sauce for more flavour and spice. P/s: It is very spicy yet addictive at the same time.


Smoked Duck Roll 
The tortilla wraps were not too thick or doughy, and the duck was tender and flavourful. Combination was not too bad but it would be good if they had some sauce (maybe XO sauce on the duck) because it was a tad dry for me.

Top Shells
All of us were going crazy over this dish! It’s really rare to find places in Singapore that serves Top Shells, and even more difficult to find a place that is able to cook this dish so well. It was flavourful and deadly addictive! All I need now is an iced cold beer! A MUST-TRY!

Lamb Rack
Thank GOD! The lamb rack did not have any game smell or taste! It was well-marinated, flavourful and very tender (literally melts in my mouth).


Grilled Cod Fish
Cod fish was well-seasoned and well-cooked, with the skin very crispy and the fish very flavourful and melty.


Tiger Prawn with White Wine Sauce Pasta
Pasta was decent, with a balanced white wine flavour. Tiger prawns were fresh and sweet. If you don’t know what to order, you can stick with this safe pasta! Hard to go wrong!

So, mark your calendar because you would love to visit Tocha Bistro on Monday because of their insane All Day Happy Hour Promotion! See you there!





Nearest Mrt Station: Lavender
Location: 500 Jalan Sultan, #01-20 Hotel Boss, Singapore 199020
What To Order: Top Shells, Chicken Wings, Cod Fish and Lamb Rack
Restaurant Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 7.5/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

Toby's The Dessert Asylum: Hidden Space in the West with So Many Attractive Promotions (50% on All Mains)

Toby's The Dessert Asylum... 

Back when they were still in Parkway Parade, this casual American restaurant was known for its mouth-watering desserts. After moving to the West for about two years now, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has raised their bar with several impressive American dishes, moving away from the general perception that they are only good with their desserts.

Situated within Tradehub21, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum is a laid-back restaurant that serves an extensive range of affordable American eats. Away from the hustle and bustle, it is also a good space for you to spend some time with your family or friends over a meal. The warm hospitality from the friendly staffs further makes the dining experience a wonderful one!

On top of that, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has rolled out a series of attractive promotions from Monday to Sunday! Tell me, how not to visit this hidden gem in the West? Read on to find out more about the promotions!

Like what I’ve mentioned earlier, other than their desserts, Toby’s The Dessert Asylum has definitely outshined themselves in their Western dishes. I was impressed with most of them! In frame, Smoked Duck Pizza, BBQ Pork Ribs, Toby’s Deluxe Burger, “New” Taco Fried Chicken Wings and Battered Button Mushroom.

Lychee Lust
If you a fan of lychee, you will probably like this! One thing for sure, the lychee flavour is really strong! A tad too sweet for me! 

Dark Vortex
I prefer this than to the Lychee Lust. Chocolate flavour was strong but not too overpowering and jelat! 


Battered Button Mushroom
The button mushroom was well-seasoned with paprika powder and well-fried (not too oily). It was very crispy. Actually, I don’t really need to dip it into the tartar sauce because its already flavourful. Very addictive!


"New" Taco Fried Chicken Wings
Similar to the Battered Button Mushroom, the wings were well-marinated and crispy. It wasn’t dry and goes well with a bottle of beer. Four is definitely not enough! Also, don't worry the wings aren't spicy at all!


Smoked Duck Pizza
The first thing I thought when I saw this was to compare it with the one at Timbre Substation! Toby’s rendition was not too bad, portion was undeniably big and the pizza was very flavourful. The only thing that I thought could have been improved would be the crust. If the crust was thinner, it would have been great! Nonetheless, still a dish worth trying here!


BBQ Pork Ribs
From the picture, you can see the pork ribs are beautiful glazed (damn shiny). The BBQ flavour was strong and it was a little sweet. I enjoyed the top layer of the pork ribs because it was soaked with the BBQ flavour. The bottom layer was a little too dry for me though. 



Toby's Deluxe Burger
If you are a burger-lover, you will go crazy for this! Hidden within the patty lies an explosive melted cheese which ooze out once you slice the patty. This oozing cheese lava burger is really very pleasurable to the taste bud, and I highly recommend you to eat this while it’s hot. Snap your photos quick because you wouldn’t want your cheese to harden inside the patty! 


Split Personality
Thank God, this wasn’t as sweet as it looks! I really enjoyed it, and literally couldn’t stop myself from finishing it. Chendol-inspired, this is a Must-Try! Damn worth the calories gained! 


Leaning Tower of Toby's
Don’t say I never warn you ah! This has to be shared! I had a hard time trying to finish it alone! The pastries were crispy but a tad too dry if you eat it alone without the ice cream!

PROMOTIONS

#One Nation Together
TOBY'S Celebrate 52 years of Nation Building!
 Pasta will be @ 52% off
Terms and condition applies
 *upgrade to set meal @$6.90 for soup & drink
 *dine in only
 *not valid with other promotion or privilege card
 Valid after 3pm daily till 31th Aug 2017


Tea Time Specials to satisfy any sweet cravings! Have a slice with a hot cuppa for just $6.90+.
Available daily from 2pm - 6pm.


TGIF at TOBY'S!
Enjoy 50% off your 2nd Main Course.
Valid 3pm-10pm.
Available with all our Pasta dishes, Burgers, Sandwiches, Baked Rice, Pizzas, Salads and House Specials!




Nearest Mrt Station: Clementi
Location: 8 Boon Lay Way, #01-35, Tradehub21, Singapore 609964
What To Order: Mushroom, Burger, Pork Ribs and Split Personality
Restaurant Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 8/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

OTC Café: Unpretentious & Cosy Café in the National Library (Good for Taking a Break & Relieving Stress)

OTC Cafe... 

I spent my last lap of university in the National Library researching for my Final Year Project. It was really a nightmare! Everyday, I will wake up early in the morning, rush down to the library to get a seat and I’ll just stare at my laptop until the library closes. The cycle repeats itself until the day I submitted my project. I was mentally and physically drained. There wasn’t a place that I know of that was near to the library where I can relieve my stress when my brain is blocked. It was only recently that I found out that there is actually a nice café in the National Library.

Situated at the 3rd level of the National Library, OTC café is an unpretentious and cosy café that serves a wide range of Western treats at an affordable price. If you need a break from your books, this is the place to go. Grab a good cup of coffee or have a nice meal at OTC café to recharge yourself before you start drilling your brains. It is also the perfect spot for a family meal after a trip to the library. So, if you ever visit the National Library, do check this place out! I am so in LOVE with their Iced Matcha Latte which comes in the form of cube that resembles a rose.
What a good start to the weekends! In frame, Cheeky Chicken, Special Egg & Cheese Portobello Mushroom with Grilled Bacon, Special Truffle Mushroom 8’ Pizza and Nacho Cheese Fries. 

Iced Green Tea Latte
If you have been following my blog closely, you will know that I’ll go crazy over matcha-related food or drinks. This is one of the prettiest Iced Matcha Latte I have ever come across. 100 points for the presentation. All you have to do is to pour all the milk into the matcha rose-cube and stir it until all the cube melts. Matcha flavour was definitely strong and fragrant. Definitely put a smile on my face!

Iced Mocha Float
When you need a good coffee and ice cream in the morning, this Iced Mocha Float comes in handy. The coffee and chocolate was well-balanced, and the ice cream on top is a life-saver, especially under the hot weather. 


Nacho Cheese Fries
This is what I call a stress-reliever! The nachos cheese fries were addictive, with generous servings of nachos cheese, fries and bacon bits.  

Special Truffle Mushroom 8' Pizza
The truffle flavour was so aromatic that it already captured my heart when it was a distance away. Initially, I thought the pizza was going to be tough because I had a hard time trying to slice it. I was wrong because it wasn’t. The crust was crispy and the pizza was flavourful. I can foresee the school kids going crazy for this! A must-try!



Special Egg & Cheese Portobello Mushroom with Grilled Bacon
I can’t believe I didn’t manage to get a shot of the eggs flowing out of the Portobello mushroom. Yes, hidden within the Portobello mushroom and melted mozzarella cheese lies a baked egg which was super runny. Portobello was well-sautéed and paired very well with the cheese and egg. The only thing that I thought could have been improved will be the bread. It will be good if the bread was toasted.


Cheesy Chicken
Just looking at the runny egg! Definitely a hearty brunch! The chicken was well-marinated and crispy. Burger-lovers might want to try this!

Special Avocado Affogato
The perfect way to complete your meal - Ice Cream. The avocado ice cream and espresso were a good combination. Avocado ice cream was creamy and sweet while the espresso is bitter! Once you start, you can't stop!




Nearest Mrt Station: Bugis
Location: 100 Victoria Street, 03-01, National Library Building, Singapore 188064
What To Order: Iced Matcha Latte, Cheesy Chicken, Pizza and Avocado Ice Cream
Café Rating: 3.5/5
Food Ratings: 8/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)

(NEW) Buono Trattoria: Affordable Italian Restaurant Opens at Vivo City

Buono Trattoria...

If you are looking for a quick Italian food fix, the newly-opened Buono Trattoria at Vivo City is the place to go. With nothing beyond $20, it is also the perfect lunch spot for office people working in HarbourFront. You can have a decent Italian meal without having to spend a bomb. So, if you are working near Vivo City, you might want to check this place out!
Overall, I had a good experience at Buono Trattoria. Food was value-for-money. This was one of my favourite dishes at Buono Trattoria and probably the cheapest yet delicious Panna Cotta I have ever come across. 

Chicken Wings (6 pcs) // $8
The chicken wings were not too bad! It was well-marinated, and I really like the subtle spiciness from it. It was definitely crispy and I don’t really need to pair it with any condiments. Highly recommended to get the wings to munch before your main course! 

Fritturadi Calamari // $12
The calamari was a little heavier, in terms of flavour, as compared to the wings. It was a tad salty for me. If you like your calamari rings to be a little saltier, you will probably love this! P/s: squeeze the lemon to lessen the saltiness. 

Cream of Mushroom Soup // $5
Comforting bowl of rich and flavourful mushroom soup. Cannot complain lah! It’s only $5! 


Creamy Shrimp & Bacon Risotto // $15
The risotto was flavourful, with a strong white wine flavour that lingers in the mouth. Risotto was well-cooked, not too tough or too soft.


Baked Porcini Mushroom Ravioli // $15
If you are a cheese-lovers, you will probably love this. It was flavourful but I thought the ravioli was a little too tough (could have been better if they cooked it a little longer). Other than, this dish is pretty stellar for the price you are paying.  

Panna Cotta // $5
Like what I mentioned earlier, the Panna Cotta is probably the cheapest I’ve ever come across. The coconut and mango flavour was well-balanced, complementing one another very well. It was addictive, got me bite after bite! A must-try!




Nearest Mrt Station: HarbourFront
Location: #B2-27, VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
What To Order: Wings, Risotto and Panna Cotta
Café Rating: 3/5
Food Rating: 7/10

Written by: Yong Wei Kai (Follow me on Instagram @yongweikai or @sgcafehopping)
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Yong Wei Kai Founder of SgCafeHopping Promoting Singapore's food scene has always been my dream.

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