Em by the River, Robertson Quay

Arbite, Serangoon Garden Way

 We were headed to NEX to watch the movie "Flight" (god knows why it only shows at Shaw) and since we had the car we decided to try some harder-to-get-to areas in the Serangoon area for brunch and dessert. Arbite turned up quite highly in the brunch department so we decided to give it a try.

 We parked our car semi conveniently at a private housing estate across the road, through the drizzle was a hassle. This brunch spot was located on the second floor amongst a row of shops just next to Chomp Chomp.

{ Long Black and Flat White }

 It was packed and we were lucky we made a reservation when we did (though we still arrived earlier) - a queue started to form not long after we sat down. We started with coffee after ordering our brunch. The black for me was just regular, not much depth and a little thin for my liking - could it be I just don't like Avanti? *shrugs*

{ Croque Madam ($15.90) }

Toasted Foccacia sandwich with a parma ham, brie cheese and truffle mayo filling topped with a poached egg

 Now this was just ... wow. What a shame.  had this. Firstly I have to say I didn't think this particular foccacia fitted the sandwich right. There was too little ham, or cheese, and I thought the egg wasn't quite poached right either (a sunny-side fitted it better too). All in all the flavour was there but the plate was badly plated and the portion small for that price. Not quite the croque madam we had in mind.

{ Arbite Breakfast ($15.90) }

Scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, veal bratwurst, sautéed mushrooms, toasted brioche and pomme noisettes

 This was just alright. Again I felt the brioche was a poor complement - it was too sweet and buttery (though nice) but didn't quite go with the rest of the plate. I thought the bratwurst was a little undercooked (skin was tough and insides still creamy) but everything else was ok. Comparing portion alone you could see what a let down the croque madam was!

As we left hurriedly in lieu of the queue we both were rather puzzled about why this place seemed so popular. The place was cramped and totally enclosed which meant the discussions and laughter at other tables just seemed deafening. Coffee wasn't great and the food wasn't either. I'd take my money and my time elsewhere.

Arbite

66A Serangoon Garden Way

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Main website : http://arbite.com.sg/

HGW Link (88% recommended at time of posting) : http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/arbite/

Rating (out of 4) : 

Mezza9 Champagne Brunch, Grand Hyatt

 Ah ... the legendary Sunday champagne brunch - offered by most hotels in Singapore, if you have roughly $150 (per pax) to spare. We decided to head to Mezza9 @ Hyatt for our first experience of such decadence!

 As the 138++ Champagne Brunch suggests, it's free flow champagne from 11:30 to 3. Let the debauchery commence!

 Bubbly and coffee - never a better way to start the day (we do not recommend drinking these together, however)

 We were seated right next to the sashimi counter and had good views of fresh slabs of raw fish on display. These were so good I succumbed to two full plates of salmon, swordfish, tuna and fat salmon roe :)

 Glorious sushi platter, which we didn't go for..

 So. Much. Unagi.

 Ho damn, mushroom risotto in the frickin' cheese wheel! Scrape bits of cheese off as you scoop your risotto. Granted I thought the risotto was slightly undercooked, but still great.

 Baby eggs benedict - I didn't think this was very nice because it gets a bit gross when it's not completely warm.

 Fresh mussels and lobster tail - good stuff! Mussels were quite surprisingly flavourful and the lobster flesh sweet.

 The hidden barrel of port wine next to the cheese station - heavenly!

 And ... desserts.

 Heaven is a place on earth :)

 Not the first time I harboured thoughts of swimming in a chocolate fountain. The champagne in my bloodstream made it very hard not to.

Plate 1 - prosciutto ham w/melon, assorted hams, oysters, mussels, lobster tails, smoked duck and asparagus salad.

Plate 2 - mekajiki, maguro, salmon, all the ikura in the world, with some lobster salad and miso shiro

Plate 3 - mini eggs benedict, mushroom risotto with freshly scrapped cheese, creamed spinach, creamy mashed taters, sautéed mushrooms, and foie gras

Plate 4 - roast beef, roast lamb, roast pork neck, rotisserie chicken, yorkshire pudding w/beef gravy, bernaise and mustard, with white pepper prawns and fried soon hock

Plate 5 - smoked salmon on bread w/cream cheese and capers, cheese platter with fruit bread and breadstick, and a glass of port

Plate 6 - tempura, chicken w/leeks, unagi, bacon w/tomato

Plate 7 - fresh cherries, chocolate mousse cake, cocoa chocolate thingy, strawberries in chocolate sauce, pecan pie

Plate 8 - bread and butter pudding, lemon tart, cherry pie, marshmallows and grapes in chocolate 

 After 3.5 hours of eating and drinking, it's safe to say this is the best birthday celebration so far :)

 Being the first champagne brunch we've been to, I can't really say if it's better or worse than others. But the service was excellent, our bubbly glasses were never (even half) empty, selection of food was great and quality was good. The winning dish of the day no doubt goes to the chocolate mousse cake - and the selection of desserts in general.

 Pro tip: Feel free to mix champagne with orange juice for your own free-flow mimosas.

Rating (out of 4):