GIN KHAO BISTRO

Sunday evenings are when we have our family dinner out and since Sentosa Cove's Quayside Isle  is much more pleasant than the overcrowded Resorts World complex, we end up heading there for an early dinner al fresco overlooking the marina.  Since Quayside Isle opened in December 2012, there have been several changes in the restaurant offerings - the space right beside the popular Blue Lotus used to be a Japanese restaurant, then an oyster bar and now is the space where the Thai restaurant Gin Khao is located.

Gin Khao Bistro serves simple Thai dishes at very reasonable prices. I might be mistaken but it seems like they have the cheapest food in the strip of restaurants of the usually overpriced Quayside Isle (not counting the Panini at the newly opened Joe & the Juice).   We usually order the same dishes from their menu which features Thai street food:  Po Pia Tod - prawn spring rolls, green mango and prawn relish with rice crackers and Tom Yum chicken wings plus by their larb moo - warm minced pork and mint salad or the spicy green papaya salad to start.  They do a decent seafood pad thai and have a good selection of grilled seafood (mackerel or squid) or meat (chicken or pork belly) served with the addicting nah jim (green chili and lime dip). There are several types of fried rice on the menu from the spicy green curry to the salty black olive rice to the sweet pineapple and the unusual watermelon rice.  Service is always courteous and efficient and best of all, the food is hot, spicy and inexpensive, the way Thai street food should be.

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Gin Khao Bistro

31 Ocean Way #01-12 Quayside Isle, Singapore 098375

Tel: (65) 6570 2208

Email: feedback@ginkhao.com.sg

Mon to Thurs: 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Fri: 12:00pm to 12:00am
Sat/Eve: 11:00am - 12:00am
Sun/PH: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Last Order: 30 mins before closing

*10% off for Sentosa Cove Residents

*Takeaway available

THE KNOLLS SUNDAY BRUNCH

One of the first weekend brunches we tried in Singapore was at The Knolls in the Capella hotel.  Located right beside the terraced pools of the hotel, The Knolls is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and brunch on Sundays.  

Brunch is a gastronomic affair with a large seafood buffet (fresh oysters, king prawns and scallops), mini-seafood and meat appetizers, an assortment of fresh bread and salads with fresh burrata on the buffet.  The Mediterranean-inspired hot dishes change every Sunday and include - freshly pizzas with shaved truffles, roasted suckling pig, seafood paella, grilled sausages and lamb or beef skewers, assorted grilled vegetables and a roast meat.  There is also an amazing three-tier cheese cart served by a cheese expert who guides you through the day's choices.  Desserts are plentiful as well with pastries, cakes and an ice cream cart all served in individual portions which gives one the chance to try several sweets instead of just one.  There is a free flow of mineral water and soft drinks included in the price and an option to have free flow of champagne and wines or just wines is also possible.  It's a great way to get away and spend a long, leisurely lunch by the pool with a view of the sea and with live music in the background.  Sundays in Sentosa at the Capella brunch is like a mini-holiday from the hustle and bustle of Orchard road.

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The Knolls
Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa
098297 Singapore
Telephone: +65 6591 5046
*Open daily for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. 
*Brunch on Sundays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(Brunch includes soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea) 
$168++ per Adult with free flow Champagne and wines
$148++ per adult with free flow of wines
$128++ per adult for food only
$78++ per child (7-12 years old)
$48++ per child (4-6 years old)

THE KNOLLS at Capella Singapore

 Capella Singapore's mix of colonial and modern.

Spending a day in Singapore is always a treat.  Last week, we had to go for one night for a visa run.  We arrived late afternoon on Monday and went straight to the hotel.  After checking-in and leaving our bags in the room, we went to to Food Republic in Wisma Atria for a quick dinner then crossed the street over to Lucky Plaza to get a new portable DVD player for the little one.

The following morning I crossed over to Sentosa and met up with J for breakfast at The Knolls at the Capella hotel.  It was first time on Sentosa and I was surprised how near it was.  J met me at the main entrance which is in the colonial part of the hotel - a low two-story red-tiled roof structure with white shuttered windows and a verandas on both floors.  We then went downstairs to the restaurant which is in the modern Norman Foster-designed addition.

The breakfast buffet at Capella Singapore's The Knolls

It was quiet for a Tuesday morning so we had the buffet mostly to ourselves and a few other tables.  I insisted on an outdoor table and to brave the humidity so we could have an al fresco breakfast alongside the pool and overlooking the ocean.  The buffet was spread out into separate areas - near the entrance was a long table with fresh juices and fresh fruit.  Further in was a table of breads and pastries.  On one corner were dried fruits, cereal bars and sliced fresh fruit and in the middle, there were tiny individual portions of smoked salmon, fruit yogurts and platters of cheeses and cold cuts.  There were also individual portions of assorted cereals in glass jars.

We settled in to our breakfast starters and coffee and chatted about what each had been up to since we last saw each other in Bali while we waited for our eggs and sausages to be served.  Several coffees later when we were no longer in the shade as the sun started to hit our table, the mid-morning humidity began and we had enough of being outdoors.  After a quick tour of the library, we said good bye at the lobby and planned our next encounter in Singapore at  one of the gastronomic restaurants at the newly-opened Marina Bay Sands.

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The Knolls

at Capella Singapore

1 The Knolls

Sentosa Island, Singapore

Tel: +65 6377 8888

*Open daily for breakfast. lunch, tea and dinner.  Brunch on Sundays.