Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
109
Shimbashi Soba
Value
Kids
JAPANESE It's easy to identify S himbashi's specialty
from the chef who works behind a glass wall, preparing fresh soba noodles at every stage
from the grindstone that mills the wheat into flour to the table where he kneads and rolls
the dough before slicing each noodle by hand. Glance at the walls, and you'll see photos
of the fields in H okkaido and Tasmania where the buckwheat gr ew. Whether you slurp
them hot in a clear , tasty broth or munch them cold and dipped in sauce, these ar e the
best in town. Reservations aren't accepted, and if y ou hit the lunchtime or ev ening rush
you might have to wait, but the line moves quickly. The busy wait staff are really friendly
and pleasant with kids.
#B1-41 Paragon, 290 Or chard Rd.
&
65/6735-9882.
Reservations not ac cepted. Set meals S$13-S$37
(US$8.70-US$25/£5.85-£17). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-9:30pm.
7
RESTAURANTS A LITTLE FARTHER OUT
Many travelers will choose to eat in town for convenience, and although there's plenty of
great dining in the mor e central areas, there are some other r eally fantastic dining finds
if you're willing to hop in a cab for 10 or 15 minutes. These places are worth the trip—
for a chance to dine along the water at UDMC or go for superior seafood at Long Beach
Seafood Restaurant. And don't worry about finding y our way back: M ost places always
have cabs milling about. If not, restaurant staff will always help y ou call a taxi.
6
EXPENSIVE
Halia
CONTINENTAL/FUSION You really need to come to Halia, most notable
for its location within the aromatic ginger garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, for
a daytime meal—either a weekend breakfast buffet, relaxing lunch, or weekday high tea,
if you want to enjoy the lush greenery of the surroundings. Cuisine is contemporary fare,
with ginger permeating quite a fe w of the r ecipes—
halia
being “ginger” in M alay. The
specialty of the house is the chunks of seafood stewed in Asian flavors of chili and lemon
grass served over a bed of
papardelle
pasta. To get ther e, ask the taxi driv er to take y ou
along Tyersall Avenue, and look for the halia signboar
d at the Tyersall Gate near the
Ginger Garden.
1 Cluny Rd., in the Singapor e Botanic G ardens, Tyersall Gate.
&
65/6476-6711.
Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses S$26-S$43 (US$17-US$29/£12-£19); breakfast buffet S$18 (US$12/£8.10). AE, DC,
MC, V. Daily noon-3pm; high t ea 3pm-5pm; dinner 6:30-10:15pm; br eakfast/brunch Sat-Sun 9am-
3:30pm.
MODERATE
Imperial Herbal
CHINESE After 20 y ears at the M etropole Hotel, Imperial
Herbal has moved to a bigger site at the VivoCity shopping center. However, loyal regu-
lars are still coming for the healing po wers of the food ser ved here, enriched with herbs
and other secr et ingredients prescribed by a r esident Chinese herbalist. U pon entering,
you'll be usher ed to the herb counter . The herbalist, D r. Foo, who is also trained in
Western medicine, will ask for the symptoms of what ails you and take your pulse. While
you sit and or der (from a range of set menus or an extensiv e a la car te menu of meats,
seafood, and vegetable dishes), he'll prepare a packet of ingredients and ship them off to
the kitchen, where they'll be added to the food in pr eparation. Surprisingly, dishes turn
out tasty, without the anticipated medicinal after taste.
