After my visit to The Good Batch, I wanted to return to try the dinner menu. So I suggested to my partner that we try something different for our Friday night dinner.
Parking is a pain in Uptown and we had to park some distance away.
We were there about 7:30pm and the banquette seating was all taken. Well, actually there was a seat available for two but it was too close for comfort, so we took a table.
There were fresh flowers on every table. Nice. Within 10 to 15 minutes after we were seated, the place started to fill up. It's a good thing we came early.
Looking at the menu, my partner was looking for something familiar and that's when asked me about fish and chips. I actually feel bad bringing him here as this is not his kind of dining venue. As I have mentioned before, he is more the tai chow or Chinese restaurant food type and he is not so comfortable in these angmoh style places.
Since there is no fish & chips to be had, I suggested the pasta selection to him. Again, nothing familiar to him as there was no spaghetti bolognese. Adoi. So I suggested the Crispy Duck Aglio Olio.
For me, I chose the Pan Seared Duck Breast and 5-Spice Chicken Lollipop to share.
For drinks, a Mango juice for him...
and the Good Iced Tea for me....
I asked the server if there is sugar in the tea and I was told, yes, it is already premixed but not that sweet. But I found it a tad sweet.
The 5-Spice Chicken Lollipop are chicken drumettes served with a yogurt dip. My partner commented that the chicken was "tasteless". What he meant was that it was not well seasoned. I had to agree. But eaten with the very nice yogurt dip, it was all right.
It's a pity really as the Chicken Lollipop was very meaty, moist and tender. My partner ate only two and the rest were mine whoohoo!
My partner's Crispy Duck Aglio Olio was served next. It was quite a modest portion. The pasta met with his approval and he let me try some. It was tasty but we both agreed that the duck was too salty.
Finally my Pan Seared Duck Breast was served.
The duck breast though not as tender as I had expected, was nevertheless well seasoned and I was quite pleased with my order. But I admit that I could do without the the sweet plum vinaigrette that added a slight tartness to the duck. I had no complaints with the other accompaniments on my plate.
When my partner was taking care of the bill, I had a peek at the cakes.
Aiya...regretted did not order desserts.
Not a fan of Red Velvet Cake.
Lagi regretted did not order dessert. My partner noticed me staring longingly at the cake and asked if I wanted a slice of the Peanut Butter Banana Cake. No lah... no lah.... hah...hah....
I am still pining for that cake. So maybe I'll drop by for tea heh...heh.....
Chicken lollipop bland, never mind. Can dip into that yogurt for more taste.
ReplyDeleteGeez. I tasted crispy duck aglio olio once and the meat was tad salty for me. Wonder it was meant to be salty.
Hope you get to try its cake the next round you are here.
Not sure about the crispy duck. They also have it with kerabu but I have yet to try.
Deleteno dessert cos you are still on a low carb meal plan? you all did not try parking in starling mall upper floor car park? I think I may try your duck dish but nothing suitable for my spouse as well as he is more of a siew yukperson, lolx!
ReplyDeleteIt was because I was quite full, if not sure I sapu one slice of cake hee..hee... We decided to try to find parking outside first. If can't get, then Starling is the next option.
DeleteI think the reason why your duck breast was not as tender could be due to the duck being overcooked. In not so capable hands, it's quite easy to overcook duck. For it to be tender, it has to be pink. Is that a sweet potato mash underneath? Hmmm, so the chicken was bland and the duck was over salted...they can't seem to get their seasoning right! >_< Btw, this is the first I hear of someone preferring banquet seating (and, by that, I take it that you mean shared communal table) to having a table to themselves. I would always want a table to ourselves even if there were only two of us, more privacy when it comes to conversation.
ReplyDeleteYour are right it was overcooked. The mash was pumpkin mash and it was quite noce. The seating I was referring to is the long seat seat against the wall, I hope you know what I mean. I don't know if I used the correct terminology hee..hee... I find it more cosy (for the person who seats on the inside). It's my brother's preferred seating as he has phobia of breaking the chair.
DeleteOh, I see what you mean. You got the terminology correct...I just didn't know it's called banquet seating (as in built-in benches)...I'd just call them bench seating...haha! :D
DeleteWhen with my brother, I sit on the chair and with my partner, I sit on the inside hee..hee...
DeleteI thought parking in Uptown is easy now after the mall was opened as the thoughtful developer designed the parking lots with accessible entrance that faces 4 directions.
ReplyDeleteI thought the lollipop chicken looked cute but the taste didn't please you guys.
Once I signed up to baking classes just to learn to make Red Velvet Cake and regretted that it is nothing so great. I wonder why it is so over rated. I should learn to add more colours to make Rainbow Cake instead for birthday parties.
No lah, still very congested as people still wanna park outside and not inside the mall. I agree with you that Red Velvet cake is just a novelty. Nothing outstanding about the taste.
DeleteI suspect the reason you refused to take his offer for the cake is because you want to revisit the place haha...
ReplyDeleteYou can read my mind hah..hah...
DeleteYour duck breast came with quite a generous portion, must be quite filling with that portion especially when there is pumpkin/sweet potato puree~
ReplyDeleteIt was filling and I liked the pumpkin mash.
DeleteThe pan seared duck breast and the chicken lollipop look good! Peanut butter banana cake looks great!
ReplyDeleteThe cooking could be improved hee..hee...
DeleteNo prices stated? Lollipop? I thought they usually call that boxing chicken but that one, they push the meat to make it into a ball at the end of the bone like a boxing glove - lollipop would be a more appropriate name, I think.
ReplyDeleteI love red velvet but more often than not, the ones outside are rather dry and coarse - nowhere near the awesome one my dear departed friend, Jimmy, made, may he rest in peace.
Not a fan of Red Velvet cake unless if it is outstanding like the one your late friend baked.
DeleteI am more like your partner.. tai chow fan instead of western food.. but once awhile I yearn for the latter.. As for for the desserts, the peanut butter banana cake very ngam me! :)
ReplyDeleteVery susah to take him for western, so I go alone or with my brother.
Deletechicken, duck and duck - a fowl dinner! :D
ReplyDeleteHow true! I just did not see it until you mentioned it :)
DeleteThe banana cake looks very inviting, you have good self control, my mom same as your partner, also the chinese restaurant type of person
ReplyDeleteActually it was because I was full, or else I would eat the cake hee..hee..
DeleteWahhhh, he is so in tune with your longing looks and noticed.
ReplyDeletePity you didn't take up the chance and have desserts anyway. Hahaha
hah..hah...but I did go back to have the brownie and ended up disappointed :(
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