7,717 views

Zhou’s Kitchen – Posh Zi Char

Rating:

By Veron Ang

When you’re dining under the Tung Lok group of restaurants, you are assured of decent food and service. Zhou’s Kitchen is the group’s newest addition, named after the owner himself.

This mid-range restaurant offers a high-class version of Chinese zi char (home-cooked fares). While it is marketed as a place for casual dining, the food and decor are by no means casual. You would find slightly “posh” dishes such as wasabi-mayo prawns and crab glutinous rice (with a whole crab!) here. The atmosphere is unintimidating and friendly, and would appeal to families of all generations. My Mom totally enjoyed the Chinese oldies playing in the background. We sat by the large glass windows overlooking the posh car showrooms across the road. These, I feel, are the best seats in the restaurant.

Sautéed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat

Sautéed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat
S$12++
Rating:

Starting out light, we had ourselves the sautéed egg white with dried scallops and crab meat. The egg white is steamed to perfection, intermixed with bits of vegetable and chunks of tasty scallop and crab meat.

Sauteed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat

The result is a unique blend that tastes not only light and delicious, but is healthy at the same time. The health-conscious bunch would love this (or is there high cholesterol level in this?). But if you’re someone that fancies a lot of flavour in your food, this may be a tad mild.

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flakes

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flakes
S$14++
Rating:

The coffee pork ribs with almond flakes is one of the most unique dishes I have ever come across. I never imagined coffee would be used as an ingredient in dishes! Being a coffee fanatic, I was looking forward to sampling this dish for the sole fact that it’s coffee-flavoured. Even as I worried that it might end up tasting weird, I felt it’s one of those dishes that’s worth trying just for the heck of it!

Boy, were my worries unfounded! This was easily the best dish of the night! The dark coffee sauce tastes bittersweet and fragrant and goes remarkably well with the meat. Strong coffee aroma filled the air throughout the entire meal. Along with the fact that the chunks of pork ribs are so very tender, it suffices to say that I love this dish, even if I don’t normally take pork.

Ever come across any other coffee-flavoured dish? Let me know and I would love to give it a go!

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce
S$18++
Rating:

The deep-fried prawn dish is a house recommendation. Huge prawns dipped in wasabi-flavoured mayonnaise sauce. That’s bound to be good right? At least that’s what I thought.

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce

Seriously, the dish was only average. For starters, other than the light minty green shade, I couldn’t tell there’s wasabi. I have had better renditions at japanese restaurant, Sho-U and was pretty disappointed with this. Plus, 18 bucks for 5 or 6 prawns is a bit much, don’t you think?

Claypot Braised Diced Chicken with Garlic Cloves, Ginger and Basil Leaves

Claypot Braised Diced Chicken with Garlic Cloves, Ginger and Basil Leaves
S$10++
Rating:

The braised diced chicken fares much better. Besides the coffee pork ribs, this is another dish that won me over. It arrived in a claypot full of chicken chunks which were packed with intense flavours, due to the use of garlic, ginger and basil leaves. At just ten bucks, this is a robust-tasting dish that goes easy on the wallet too.

On weekends and public holidays, the restaurant also offers a high tea buffet with a different set of dishes.

Zhou’s Kitchen
- Far East Square
- Square 2
Website

Tags: Chinese, coffee, dinner, Far East Square, high tea, lunch, Novena, Raffles Place, restaurant, Tung Lok, zi char

Subscribe to new posts

About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

Inle Myanmar – Burmese Flavours

Tony Roma’s – Mouthwatering American Grill

Comment using Facebook

Responses Leave a comment

py
183 comments

I had passed by this place a few times while I was on the bus, but never knew what kind of food was offered. It looked like a place serving expensive food. But after reading this post, I realised the food isn’t as expensive as I had thought. Yup, mid-range is the word.
Reply
Posted August 4, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Kyo
54 comments

At their Far East Square branch, high-tea is served from around 2:30pm onwards (could be 3pm). Had a late lunch there about a month ago and when we finished, two other early tables (full of tai-tais) had sat down for high-tea and were well into it by the time the bill arrived.
Reply
Posted August 5, 2008 at 1:29 am
abaoo
1 comment

hihi…nice to know u ^^ Congratulation to you get in top 3 …Wish you all the best ^^
Reply
Posted August 5, 2008 at 11:46 am
bin84
1 comment

Same as py i had passed by a few time of that restaurant. Initially i thought is some celebrity open their new restaurant. Anyway, i find the restaurant was built with good interior as well as exterior design. As for the prices, it sounds reasonable and affordable to me. Maybe should make a trip there with my mum someday.
Reply
Posted August 7, 2008 at 12:58 am
X-Wings
50 comments

Yup, remember trying the coffee pork ribs at another outlet a few years back…..nice fusion !!
Vaguely remember its the smell from other tables that prompts us to ask and order the dish !
One thing about this disk is it kind of “over-whelms” over “lighter taste” dishes so the sequence of eating it is quite very important…
And you can forget about a good night sleep if you wanna eat it for supper, may keep you pretty awake either from the cafeine or from over-eating it…..
: )
Reply
Posted August 9, 2008 at 9:18 am
Winnilicious
4 comments

I did not know its under Tung Lok. Anyway, looking at the picture, its seem like worth trying. Thanks for the recommendation.
Reply
Posted August 10, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Walter
72 comments

Hey thanks for this review. Its a restaurant that I am quite keen to try to as its near my place.
Reply
Posted August 10, 2008 at 11:03 pm
TeReNcE
14 comments

share a good a news.. i am getting married soon! :D
Reply
Posted August 13, 2008 at 4:52 pm
X Wings
50 comments

Hello…..
U been watching too much sports …right ?
Wake Up ! Wake Up !
Time for a new entry ? ! !
Hahahaha…just kidding….real miss you though
;P
Regards
Reply
Posted August 25, 2008 at 11:22 am
TeReNcE
14 comments

monday blue.. start the week with a SMILE :P “åŠ æ²¹”
Reply
Posted August 25, 2008 at 4:53 pm
ladyironchef
10 comments

hm, i just went to zhou’s kitchen last sat for their high tea buffet, haven written my review yet, but the food was normal, nothing special. can eat until very full la, but the quality not there
Reply
Posted September 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Veron
3438 comments

Really? Wow, this is news to me. So far I have been quite confident of the good food at Tung Lok. I was really looking forward to going for their high tea buffet! Would love to read your review :)
Reply
Posted September 10, 2008 at 10:43 pm