Jacob's Cafe (3 visits)

Banking on the concept of nostalgia and old world charm, Jacob's Cafe is all about rediscovery, fresh food and simple, laid back relaxation. Established since September 2000, Jacob's has been serving and belting out tasty country meals for families and couples alike.

Location: Block 5 Changi Village Rd #01-2049 Singapore 500005

Contact: 65431106

Website: http://www.novabell.per.sg/

Namecard

Jacob's Cafe

Comfortable Interior

Wines and counter

Jacob's features an al fresco dining area which makes up the bulk of the seating arrangements and the inner sanctum which has only limited seats of up to 10 people. The seats in the restaurant definitely brings with it a rustic charm and a comfortable atmosphere but the trade off is that after the meal, you'll come out smelling like one yourself. The al fresco seats have no such problem but lighting and visibility will be a little lower.

Pumpkin Soup(Part of the game hen meal)

Bread Roll(Part of the game hen meal)

Our first visit there was more of a trial, we wanted to see exactly how good the place was since FZ mentioned the bread roll here has to be the best in Singapore. Thus, we ordered one of the specials on the board. This being the oven baked game hen set meal which came with soup, bread roll, coffee and the game hen of course. For starters, the pumpkin soup was very creamy, a little sweet and definitely opens the pallet. Not the best i had but its decent enough. The bread roll needs a little more description. It will not be immediately apparent why this bread roll is good, but a few bites into it will convince you otherwise. Reason being, its the only bread roll i've had that is completely balanced in having a reasonably hard crust while still maintaining warm and soft inside. You can't even compare it to any other bread roll thus far for that matter. There are no problems with biting into it and separating it as compared to some french loaves you find outside, where eating it is a challenge in itself. Make no mistake, this bread roll is better. Try it to find out.

Oven Baked Game Hen ($25.90)

The game hen came as quite a large portion. Definitely bigger then the spring chickens you can find at the food court. It came with 2 sides, assorted greens and fries. The fries were normal enough while the boiled greens were sauteed with a little butter to enhance the taste while remaining moderately crunchy and soft. The game hen was plump, juicy, tender and very fragrant. The sauce made it slightly salty but it suits the dish well. There's meat enough to go around for 2 people so basically, if you order this, it can be shared for 2 small eaters. I like the way the juices are locked in so that the hen remained tender without being dry. Worth a try.

Jacob's Pizza ($16.90)

Ah yes...Jacob's pizza. I always love ordering food that bears the restaurants namesake because its very important what they put their name on to represent themselves. This pizza, does not disappoint. It came chock full of toppings and cheese with a thin and crispy crust to boot. And the important thing is, you get to see them prepare it fresh before they pop it into the oven and serve to the customers. No issues on freshness here. This is definitely worth a try if you are here. Do note the waiting time for it extends by up to 20 minutes so its wise to order something else while waiting.

Apple Crumble and Vanilla Ice Cream ($7.50)

Having fallen in love with the apple crumble at coffee club, i make it a point to order it when i try out a new place. This is no exception here. However, lo and behold, it turns out to be the first disappointment of the day. Every item up till now has been above average but this sank the experience down quite a bit. To describe how it tastes is easy, its bascially Mcdonald's apple pie with a nicer crust and ice cream thrown into the fray. Definitely leave this out of the meal.

Coffee (Part of the game hen meal)

Our meal came with coffee as well and while its not exactly a gourmet cuppa, i do appreciate them including it and it does complete a meal pretty well.

Bill

The total bill for this visit came up to $50.30 with no gst nor service charge. Oh! The service here is really good as well. And the price is definitely justified as the quality of food is of a certain standard.

Score for this visit: 7.5/10

Barely a week later, me and my gf returned once again to re experience Jacob's and find out if it is still as good as before.

Mushroom Soup (Part of the Ribeye Set)

This time around, i ordered the ribeye set which also came with soup, bread roll and coffee. We had mushroom soup this time and its more watery with chunks of mushroom in it. Its quite bland but still pretty decent. The bread roll is as good as ever though.

Ham and Sausage Combo ($19.90)

My gf ordered the Ham and sausage combo which is actually called the meatloaf on the menu. It arrived as a huge plate with sides of mashed potato and sauerkraut with some mustard for dipping. The mashed potato was pretty good with some peppery taste and a some chunks of potato in it as well. The meatloaf or ham looks like a huge piece of luncheon meat actually and tastes a little like luncheon meat as well but is firmer and juicier. The sausages were definitely fragrant and very tasty.

Ribeye Steak ($28.90)

Another huge serving, the steak came with 3 sides, a tomato with pepper and celery, boiled greens and mashed potatoes. The steak i ordered was done medium rare as i ordered and is very very juicy. Its also a tad salty and had some parts not evenly done as there were portions that were a little too rare. Still, its a decent main dish. However, i probably won't recommend ordering it since Jacob's has other items that are much better.

Pecan Pie ($4.60)

During the first visit, the worst item was the dessert which thankfully isn't the case this time. By recommendation, we ordered the pecan pie which is supposedly a rather rare item in Singapore. This dessert is moderately sweet, crunchy and different in a good way. Its served hot, as in very hot and is something easily recommended. Try it.

Total bill for this visit is $53.40.

Overall Score: 7/10

And for my third and last visit (so far anyway), we had yet again, a different choice and different items.

Fresh Farm Salad (Part of the Jacob's Chicken Pie Set)

Part of the Jacob's Chicken pie set, this is basically farm fresh salad drenched in balsamic vinegar for good effect. Sour, sweet and fresh, the salad definitely opens your appetite for the meal that follows.

Frankfurters Set ($8.90)

I ordered this thinking that i would be getting the thick and big versions of these little sausages but i was wrong. What was served was extremely small and measly. Taste wise, it doesn't taste any different from the run-of-the-mill sausages you could get outside. This is the second disappointment i've had at Jacob's.

Hungarian Beef Goulash With Bread Roll ($13.50)

I've been wanted to have a go at the Hungarian Goulash ever since i saw it in the menu. Now, i've finally had the chance to try it. For the price, the serving is huge. You get a huge plate of beef, carrots, potatoes and tomatoes in a delectable stew and the choice to have it with either rice or bread roll. I obviously chose the bread roll since its still without a doubt, one of the best bread rolls i've had. The goulash tastes like a cross between beef stew and sardines actually. It doesn't sound very good but in actual fact, it works. Its difficult to describe it further but you'll get a strong beef taste along with a sweet and sour broth which goes really well with the roll. Worth a try.

Jacob's Pie ($16.90)

Another Look

My gf's Jacob's pie was actually a really small serving given the price but of course, you need to factor in the salad that came before as well. The pastry it came in had a nice buttery taste which i immediately took to and its very crusty and crispy as well. The pie ingredients itself were potatos, green beans, carrots and lots and lots of chicken pieces. The thing i like about the dish was the crust and the fact that the pie is a little bland. Do note that its also superbly hot when served so its important to be careful while eating. Not too bad but not exactly mind blowing either.

Tiramisu with Vanilla Ice Cream ($8.50)

The tiramisu this time was rather good as well. There is a clear distinction on where the cake starts and where the cream ends. The only gripe is that its note evenly done with some portions thicker then the rest. The rum is easily discernible but not overwhelming. I'd say the pecan pie was better though.

Bill

The bill this time clocked off at $47.80 for 2 people for a filling and satisfying meal.

Overall Score: 7/10

Last Word:

Out of 3 meals, i can't say there were no misses. But for what its worth, the experience was still above average and if you asked me, i'd gladly go for another meal. The fact that there's no service charge or gst only serves to sweeten the draw for going back.

Kushinbo

I believe everybody is familiar with the song on television that goes: "Dom Dom Kushinbo" etc etc. And this is my second visit to the place in 4 years if i'm not wrong so there's quite a few new things we can talk about. Here we go>>>

Location: 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-002 Singapore 038983

Contact: 62387088

Price Range: $27.80 per head (Lunch buffet)

Namecard

Pictures of assorted platters

Steamboat

California Rolls and Maki

Salmon, dory and beef

Japanese buffets are without a doubt one of my favorite buffets to have. The one offered by Kuishinbo certainly has alot up for offer.
As per my previous visit, some things have changed. The interior being one of the changes and the amount of food offerings as well. Not exactly for the better in my opinion, the seats and ambiance seem to have taken a step backwards and just feels less friendly then before. Service and clearing of plates this time seemed to have improved though.
On to the food, you get a whole lot of choices to begin with. Cold dishes like sashimi, cha soba, sushi and california rolls are yours for the taking. Then there are the deep fried dishes which had ebi tempura, chicken, hotate and other fried items. There are also soups, paper steamboats and assorted other items which could be cooked on the spot for you. Desserts are piled with cakes, ice cream, fondue, puffs and biscuits. Coffee and tea are also available for the taking.

Basically, the food is decent albeit nothing really stays with you after you finish eating. The sashimi are alright though the quality is definitely questionable. I liked the california rolls they had. The tempura had way too much batter and not enough prawn. The steamboat is simply too sweet for comfort. The miso soup here is the worst i've ever had. The cooked salmon is normal, the dory is nicely sweet and tender while the beef was overcooked and rubbery. Basically, their sushis were moderately decent. The dessert was alright if you simply go for the fondue and the cakes, the puffs, cookies and brownies really need improvement. And that about sums everything up.

Bill

Total bill came up to $65.44 for a stuffed stomach and a less then satisfied pallet.

Overall Score: 5.5/10

Last Word:

The buffet we had was lunch which meant we didn't get to have any crab. I was told that the crab served during the evenings were much better and worth a try. But as it stands, i'm probably not going to return for another try at least for the next year or so.