Cheap KTV in Singapore? It's too good to be true.

If you know me in person (or even if you do not), it is not difficult to guess that I frequent karaoke places quite frequently.

With the uprise of karaoke places, the prices are getting competitive - and I would say many are offering cheap rates for a few hours.

There is this particular KTV which I am sure many karaoke goers may be familiar with - It's so freaking' affordable ($10 for 5 hours session!?) and with the offer of free-flow drinks, what is there not to love about the place, right?!

NOT.

Yes,  I am not going to mask the name here because I feel that everyone ought to know how they have been treating their customers - in such a way that will leave them feeling emotionally scarred. 

To the management of Ten Dollar KTV Club, it was not my initial intention to post about my negative experience but I really felt that the customer service rendered was too outrageous for me to leave it at that.

So what did we get for paying the $10+ price?

- Being accused by your staff

- The receiving of long, cold, hard stares

-Being shoo-ed out even before our last song ended

Let me elaborate on what happened before anyone thinks I am just being unreasonable. Well, you guys can judge for yourselves whether these are acceptable if you were in our shoes.

As Ten Dollar KTV Club claims that there is a free-flow of drinks (in other words, unlimited) , of course we would utilise it, right? (We even did it reasonably by ordering the next drink ONLY after we finished our first)

And the only way for us to order the drinks is through the service button that's provided in the Karaoke system. (It works in such a way that the staff will only come in upon customer's request after activating the button)

The first time I ordered my drink, I just felt odd that there was a weird vibe (which I ignored) from a male staff who came in. He opened the door with a poker face and looked at me.

'I would like one iced honey water'. I gave a polite smile and said my thank you.

Without a word nor acknowledgement , he turned around and went off. 

Alright, that's fine. I was not really bothered about it. 

(He did serve me the drink eventually.)

As we sang our hours away, we had to order more drinks. Afraid that we would trouble the staff too many times, my friend decided to go the extra mile and walk to them instead to place our orders.

Surprisingly, he came back in soon after with a puzzled look.

He was not sure if the staff acknowledged his orders.

"I am not sure.. He did not look at me when I was talking to him and kept playing with his mobile phone," he said.

He attempted to order a second time.

"So you girls want 1 cup of Barley each right?" my friend confirmed again.

Before we could even answer him, the door swung open and in came the male staff.

He did not seem amused. He looked at my friend and started his accusations.

"你跟他們說我沒有理你？我是有聽到！我沒有不理你！" (Translation: You told them that I did not give a hoot about you? I DID HEAR you okay?!)

All of us stared at him as we were taken aback by his sudden outburst.

"Huh?" my friend stared at him blankly.

The staff stared back and began pointing his finger at him.

"You told them that I DID NOT give a hoot about you right?!"

At that moment, I was sure that he had misheard my friend when he said the word "BARLEY" (which sounded like 沒有理妳)

But he did not stop to listen to any explanation and went out.

After a long while, he came in (black-faced) and placed our drinks on the table. 

HE DID NOT EVEN GET MY ORDER RIGHT. 

I ordered barley and he brought in a coke. 

But well, I did not make noise about it so as not to make matters big.

(Seriously, we did not dare the drink them anymore as the male staff looked as though he would've spat into them anytime)

And this was not the end.

When 3 of us made a trip to the toilet, we spotted him sitting on a chair as we walked past him.

After we were done, he had a colleague with him and both of them were giving us LONG, HARD stares as we walked past them - All 3 of us saw and felt the stares ; it was most uncomfortable.

Like erm, hello?? Did we offend you in any way?

But well, again.... This was NOT the end.

When we were finishing the KTV session, we were already at our last song. 

Suddenly, the counter girl came in and started to MANUALLY switch off the electricity. She switched off the TV, etc and said nothing to us. She did NOT even look at us in any direction at all when she did all these.

The message was clear. 

We were totally not welcome and they couldn't wait for us to leave the place.

And all because of? I could think of nothing that we could've offended them. I mean, I would understand if there was anything that we said or did wrongly - but for the whole time, we did not and all I could remember was them giving us a bad attitude right from the beginning.

Yes, I understand that the prices are seriously one of the cheapest in town - but that does not mean that the price I am paying is inclusive of such treatment, making me feel like an unwelcome/unwanted guest.

 I was even very polite throughout the session,  smiling and saying my thank-yous. 

If your staff was losing patience because of the fact that the customers kept requesting for drinks after they had finished theirs, then why on earth would your company offer "FREE-FLOW" drinks and making it compulsory for us to request for service every time we need a refill?

Seriously, get a container and I would not mind refilling my own drinks.

And to the staff who offered such a bad attitude, why on earth are you still working there if you are really THAT unhappy about your job and taking it all out on the customers?

After all, we DID PAY and just wanted a pleasant karaoke experience - Is it that difficult to grant such a simple request? 

Honestly, this was not my first time experiencing black-faced staff from the same place - but I did not pursue previously as I deemed that as a small matter. 

But to the extent of accusing, staring and chasing us out? That is just too much for me to stay silent anymore.

If you guys are planning to head down to Ten Dollar KTV Club, be sure to check out their faces. Almost ALL of them are black-faced (which I have no idea why) - I guess one of the criteria to be able to work there is to have a default black face?

Oh well.

GO AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU WERE WARNED.

[Media Food Tasting] Machida Shoten - No 1 Lekei Ramen Restaurant in Japan

It's not easy to search for authentic Japanese quality food in Singapore.

And when I do, I share on my blog with my readers to share the joy!

With thanks to Alvin from DessertingBeauty for inviting me to the media tasting, I have one more To-Go Japanese restaurant added to my list.

Located conveniently at Wisma Atria, which is just a stone's throw away from Orchard MRT station - It is not difficult to locate Machida Shoten, especially with its prominent Japanese-style decorations. 

(I was amazed to know that the brand has already opened 45 outlets in Japan!)

They offer a wide variety of appetisers and small bites as well.

Cha-Shu Croquette ($6)

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the Cha-Shu Croquette is made with seasoned minced pork that will tease your taste buds into yearning for more. If you were to ask me, I would say it is definitely a good appetiser before the main dishes. Don't worry as the sizes are considered small so the portion will not be taking much of your stomach storage space! Hahaha.

Here's a close-up of the minced pork fillings: - They tasted really fresh and soft! The exterior is really crunchy to a T so do have it while its hot to do justice to it!

Disclaimer: Tempting photos ahead. Not recommended to be seen if you have an empty stomach.

Homemade Shrimp Gyoza ($9.80 / 5 pieces)

The Homemade Shrimp Gyoza features the whole tiger prawn as well as shrimp encased in a crunchy exterior.

When I flipped the gyozas over, their base appeared to look burned or overcooked - but they are actually not because that is where the crispiness was derived from! 

Yes, I really the taste - No complaints about it. The encased tiger prawns were as fresh as they could possibly be, and had a "bouncy" texture to them. Soft and crunchy at the same time, I felt that I could finish all 5 pieces by myself. (But of course I couldn't as I can't be selfish lah)

Garden Salad ($9)

And for people who love salads, Machida Shoten has it too! Temper the meat indulgence with their Garden Salad, it is drenched with homemade curry dressing as well as non-oily ova leave vinegar for a flavourful finish.

Initially, I did not think that curry dressing would even be compatible for any salad (LIKE COME ON, CURRY?!?!)

But it was an unexpected twist for me as I somehow find the taste appealing after tasting one bite of it.

Seasoned Iberico Squareribs ($14)

The Seasoned Iberico Squareribs is an indulgent offering that are first boiled till they are tender, and then seasoned with Machida Shoten's very own original sweet soya sauce. I am one who is quite picky when it comes to pork ribs, but I will give it a A grade its tenderness!

I could literally taste the sweet sauce - The pork ribs are very well-marinated and the sweetness is penetrative to the taste buds.

Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice ($10)

Note: Yes this is quite spicy (Spicy level: 3/5) but spicy enough for my liking!

The portion appears small, but actually it can be VERY filling! Each mouthful exploded with the fragrance of shrimps (Trust me, you will LOVE it if you like the taste of shrimps)

However, do note that it will not be recommended for people who are allergic to prawns/shrimps. 

Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen ($14)



One of the must-try dishes at Machida Shoten is the chef's recommendation, Shou Tonkotsu. This is the signature Yokohama-style irked ramen, and it serves the perfect combination of soya sauce and pork bone broth. You can enjoy noodles cooked to your desired softness or hardness and even choose from 3 levels of doneness for your noodles! The noodles are then immersed in a tonkotsu and soya sauce broth. There are various add-on ingredients, from seasoned egg to cha-su just by topping up a small amount.

I would say this fares better than many other typical ramen I've eaten at other places. The noodles did not taste "too overly cooked"but in fact, it was just right. It's no wonder this is classified as a chef's recommendation! I will give it a TWO thumbs up. 

Garden Veggie Ramen ($15) *Exclusive to Singapore outlet*

When it was first served to the table, I almost thought it was another plate of salad - but look closely, it's actually ramen! It looks so colourful, right?!

It comprises of 12 different fresh vegetables in a bowl an the broth is made with 7 types of vegetables too. Fried garlic oil is added to enliven the flavour. 

Honestly, I wouldn't say this is my favourite of the lot as the taste was more to the bland side - and I would suggest you to have this first before trying other ramens of stronger flavour. 

Miso Tonkotsu Ramen ($14) *Exclusive to Singapore outlet*

Don't be fooled by the photo - THIS BOWL OF RAMEN HAS AN OVERPOWERING TASTE.

This Miso Tonkotsu Ramen fuses the goodness of miso and tonkotsu soup base, and the miso that the restaurant uses is a blend of red and white miso. The dish is then topped with sweet corn, cabbage and butter for an extra kick.

If you were to have this before the Garden Veggie Ramen, I am sure you would not be able to taste any flavour from the Garden Veggie Ramen at all.

Personally, I feel that this is too strong for me (and I am not a fan of corn); so I wouldn't exactly classify it as a favourite.

One thing that I noticed though - The portion of their ramen seems to be huge; I would recommend sharing with a friend unless you are a big eater. 

Something random -I find this sign kinda cute - it is a guide of different ways to eat your ramen!

My favourite of the lot? I would still pick the Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen.

And here's the chef behind the scenes - Many were actually going gaga over him as he looks quite cute! A young hunk who can whip up good Japanese dishes... I am not surprised everyone finds him attractive!

I feel like such a stalker. HAHAHA.

Address:

MACHIDA SHOTEN

Wisma Atria Level 4

435 Orchard Rd

Singapore 238877

Opening Hours: Daily 11AM – 11PM

Directions: Alight at Orchard MRT Station (NS22) and exit at Exit D towards Wisma Atria B1 (do not exit to Ion Orchard). 

Take the escalator (after OCBC bank) up until level 4, where the Food Court is located. Walk past it and you will see Japan Food Town. 

At the main entrance, walk further in and Machida Shoten is the second restaurant to your left.

Are Polyclinics for REAL?!

Sooo.. A few days ago, I came down with fever and had to call in sick.

Visiting private doctors are not on my priority list as their services can get really expensive, hence I always choose the cheaper option like most people - Visiting Polyclinics.

But how much can you trust the diagnosis by Polyclinic doctors?

I am not trying to say that ALL polyclinic doctors are bad. No. I believe some of them can be really good,  but probably it was unfortunate that my PERSONAL encounters with them were not on the positive side.

My most recent experience was one of the more appalling ones.

 I suppose it is a standard procedure for everyone to have their temperature/blood pressure checked before waiting in line to see the doctor. Everyone knows it.

To my surprise, I was told that checking of my temperature was unnecessary and the staff did not bother to attend to me after that.

Another patient who was waiting in line as well was surprised when I told her that they did not take my temperature.

Well, since I thought the doctor would be doing the necessary later on - I just sat down and waited for my turn.

After 2 hours of what seemed to be endless waiting, my number was finally called. 

"Hi, how may I help you today?" the doctor asked.

"Oh, I had high fever yesterday night but it seemed to have gone down today. I'm feeling a bit groggy though."

At this point, ANY standard procedure would be to at least CHECK my temperature, right? 

Well, WRONG.

There was NO checking of my condition at all, and I was only told to turn around so he could listen to my heartbeat through the stethoscope.

"Okay, very good".  He concluded.

"Any flu or running nose?"

Remembering that I indeed had running nose earlier that morning, I reported accordingly.
"Yes, I had it this morning, but I do not have it now."

 So that was it.

Imagine my surprise when I collected my medication.

It turned out to be a packet of medicine specially for RUNNING NOSE.

So here's another encounter:

I remembered there was once I had a slight infection on the side of my face. It was so freaking' itchy and I had nasty little bumps that were really ugly. Errk. I went to the Polyclinic to get my condition diagnosed and was told by the doctor that those were HIVES.

Seriously? It doesn't take a fool to see that those nasty bumps have nothing to do with hives. (It's a pity that I did not take any photo of my condition back then else you guys would know what I meant)

I went to another doctor in the clinic eventually and was told a different story. The second doctor told me that they looked like they were ONLY PIMPLES and gave me a pimple cream.

And behold - Both are doctors from the same polyclinic.

One of my friends shared with me her encounter, too -and hers was more of a horrific experience. 

She was concluded to be normal and healthy at the polyclinic but was later found to be a tumour when examined by a specialist.

ISN'T THIS RIDICULOUS OR WHAT?! IT CAN KILL A PERSON!!!

There is another thing I realized about Polyclinic doctors - Some of them treat the patients like they are here to CHEAT THEIR WAY FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE (MC).

Personally, I am one person who do not like to take MC.

There were times I rejected MCs from Polyclinic doctors for non-serious issues. Do they think that everyone's purpose for visiting them is to GET A MC?!

Does that give them the right not to give a proper diagnosis? 

I have always felt that they are not 100% serious about giving a proper diagnosis - and more often that not, issue MC like they are FREE. 

It's no wonder why many students like to abuse the system and get countless MCs just to skip school lessons. 

I had no idea before, but I DO NOW. Witnessing how the system works in polyclinics, I can only shake my head and seek private clinics in future. Granted that they may be more expensive, but the diagnosis is more precise and I don't get brushed off easily, at least.

[Highly Raved] Best Frog Leg Porridge and Stingray!

Okay, this is a HUGE sacrifice for me to even post this entry as I am pretty sure I am going to go hungry after typing everything.

BUT I JUST HAVE TO SHARE! 

(See? I am such a good person. I eat and I share awesome stuff with you guys! Now it gives you more reason to read my blog! Heh)

So I was at Ang Mo Kio the other day for my usual facial appointment (Thanks to my fabulous BFF, Pei Wen, for accompanying and even willing to wait nearly over 1 hr for me *guilty*). As both of us are "Westerners" (I mean, we live in the West side of Singapore), Ang Mo Kio seems like a foreign area to us.

However, we are open to exploring the place and ended up having one of the BEST days of our lives when we checked out a BBQ stall that was highly raved online. I'll post the actual address of the place later.

(Check out the compliments on FourSquare! https://foursquare.com/v/s11--amk-ave-10/4b408402f964a520a9b825e3)

Sorry, no high quality photos as of now as everything was taken using my humble phone's camera. Not to mention that I didn't have much time to take many photos as both of us were just TOO hungry.

Here's the Frog Leg Porridge/Congee (or whatever you call it)

A close-up of the Frog Legs:

(Ok lah, my phone's camera not too bad lah, hor???)

Words can't even describe how tasty this pot of stuff is - The frog legs are meaty and wonderfully blended with the sauce. (You can request for less spice if you ain't a fan of spicy food) You won't regret this, I assure you! Do request for more sauce if you can.. You will get "addicted" pouring it in your porridge.

The meat was just soooo tender and soft... Urgh, you just have to try at least once to believe it! 

Sometimes... Online reviews are indeed believable if they are highly raved by Netizens.

Beware though, once you tasted it.. It will be unforgettable and gonna stick to you for life...

As if that is not enough, we ordered Stingray as well! (Yes, it's from the same stall! How convenient and perfect!)

To be honest, this is a very generous serving. At $12, it's considered HUGE. I mean, I have tried $12 versions in other places and the size isn't even half of this.

To top it all, the chilli tastes really good. Not that I am trying to exaggerate, but I almost fainted from overwhelming excitement. I just couldn't believe I was enjoying such heavenly food. Life felt SO beautiful in that instant and I wished time would just freeze.

Here's the leftovers:

Just a piece of bone...

Okay, I felt that my life is complete.

Here's the address: - (I earn nothing from them for this blog entry, but I just purely wanted to share!)

Geylang Lor 9 Fresh Frog Leg Porridge 

Blk 530 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 S560530

(It's inside S11)

Yes, there is no need to travel to Geylang just to enjoy such a great taste. I am so jealous of you people living in AMK or even near AMK now. I wouldn't mind eating this everyday!

P/S: Damn, now I'm gonna cook myself some instant noodles as my stomach is indeed growling after posting this entry!

[Event] FullHouse Signature Singapore Opening Ceremony!

With thanks to the invitation from MapWerkz, I was invited to Fullhouse Signature Singapore's official opening ceremony on 30th November 2013!

*Squeals in excitement*

I was given the opportunity to invite my boyfriend and colleagues as well. (And we had a blast!)

We reached on time; just at the perfect timing to capture the below photos! :)

I spotted these cute mascots (they are EXCLUSIVE to Fullhouse Signature ONLY); and I quickly pounced on the opportunity to take a picture with them. 

(I felt so small standing next to the gigantic mascots! Hahaha)

Once in a lifetime, yo!

We were handed a goodie bag each before proceeding to the 2nd storey! :)

Heading up.. ...

I was taken aback by the sight that greeted me when I reached the 2nd floor.
I don't exactly know how to describe it, but it was like stepping into another world altogether. *gasps*

Don't believe me? Read on and you'll understand why!

The interior design of the whole restaurant is simply breath-taking; and I just love, LOVE, LOVE their wedding concept!

One thing I felt about Fullhouse Signature Singapore is that they are different from any other typical restaurant.

In fact, they are MORE than just a restaurant.

The place has been designed to look like a house that was built in Dreamland (no kidding); and even the seats are so DAMN cozy. I could make myself at home immediately with all the soft and squashy seats!

At a glance, you can tell that each and every corner of the restaurant has been painstakingly designed.

There was a small stage area (it reminds me so much of a wedding ceremony) and they have invited talented singers to perform for us:

(I was stunned by their powerful voices. Gosh)

The four main mascots of the restaurant in the form of soft toys!

It was a pity that they were not for sale at the time being (but I heard that they will be available next year). 

BUT I had the honor to view (and HUG) them first!! *Exited max*

Aren't they just so irresistibly cute?!!

I placed our drinks on the table to make them look like they were drinking from it. LOL.

Both my boyfriend and I had such an enjoyable time exploring every angle of the restaurant. We snapped photographs everywhere and anywhere!

It was like we could spot something nice in every shot.

For example, THIS:

I realized that they have alot of white dove props in the restaurant; and they really add life to the ambiance!

They have an area that specially caters to their very own merchandise as well!
From keychains and flash drives to mobile phone cases.... I am sure there is never a boring moment.

Mobile phone cases!

I just feel that they are so innovative! I bet you can see the reason why Fullhouse Signature stands out from other restaurants now.

I went on a crazy pose-and-shoot spree with anything that I spotted:

*Hao lian*

*Acting like I am the queen of a gigantic bird cage*

I actually fell in love with this cage! Imagine having one of these in your own house as you spend a peaceful afternoon alone while listening to some classical music... *feeling sentimental*

No, I swear I am not trying to strangle the dove:

And I pulled my momo in for a sudden self-shot:

These are phone quality pictures; so there is an auto filter to it!

Okay, I am sorry for spamming your computer screen with our faces. 

But I can't help it. *shrugs*

OH yes, there was lion dance troupe gracing the ceremony and it was such a delight watching them.

I guess I stood too close to the lion head..

Introducing my friendly colleagues, Jeffery and Shiqi. I believe this is the first time their faces are appearing on my blog here! :)

Random photo of the chandelier on the ceiling:

(I don't know why, but I think I have a fetish for taking pics of chandeliers. Hahaha)

Mascots making their appearance onstage!

We were treated to a sumptuous lunch buffet at the event!
They were actually cooked by their own chefs specially for the occasion.
(Sorry, I didn't manage to get good shots of this one as I did not want to jam the queue.)

 

I am not surprised if you are salivating now... Cos' I am!! This is so silly because I am salivating over my own photos. Oh well.

The mushroom soup that I am confident to declare it as premium quality.

It's thick (almost wheat-like), has a rich taste and simply teases your taste buds; making you crave for more with every single mouthful.

If you love the taste of mushrooms, you will definitely not want to miss it for the world.

Trust me, my stomach has never been so happy before! 

Nearing the end of the event, we went around to take MORE photos; and were pleasantly surprised by a photo booth that we can play around and take physical photos with!
There were even plenty of props, ranging from inflatable crowns, feathers, etc to choose from.
Here are two photos that were taken at the booth- and we were each given the hard copies for keepsake!!
Ah, I love photo booths. They are the IN thing now, seriously!

My momo scanned them using his scanner and I have since made it my Facebook display picture!

Group pic!

Had so much fun with the props that we tried almost all of them!


Feeling angelic so I had a halo at the top of my head! LOL:

And last but not least, ending this post with a happy pic of us enjoying the event!

I have to admit that the photographs I have taken are NOT enough to do justice to the real physical experience stepping in there. It was a real eye-opener to be standing there and admiring the interior beauty of the restaurant.
Even if it is just a simple chilling out session, I am sure you will never feel like leaving the place once you dine in and sit on their couch. I will definitely be back there again sometime ; it's worth a trip if you are someone who loves premium quality food in a non-typical restaurant.

It is located conveniently near Clarke Quay MRT as well - with around 5 minutes walk.

Address:
Address : 3A, Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, #02-04 Singapore 179020

Nearest MRT Station:
NE5 Clarke Quay MRT (about 5 mins walk)
NS25/EW13 City Hall MRT (about 10 mins walk) 
NS26/EW14 Raffles Place MRT (about 10 mins walk)

Bus Services:
54 from Scotts Road or 32 and 195 from City Hall MRT Station

River Taxi Services:
From Raffles Place MRT Station (Standard Chartered Bank Exit)

Thank you to Mapwerkz and Fullhouse Signature Singapore once again for having us at the opening ceremony!
It was certainly a memorable experience for us!

Credits: Thank you to my lovely boyfriend for helping to take so many wonderful pictures of the event as well! You are the best!