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Never quite a fan when it comes to hip places because that generally equates to unnecessary waste of time on long queues. A shopping trip along Orchard Road unexpectedly brought us to Mandarin Gallery and while we were really looking for a place to get away from the crowd and rest our legs, we landed at Sacha & Sons.

With a label that reads "family recipes since 1927", I thought that it would be worth a try until tmcy reminded me that this was the hip 'New York Delicatessen" that drew quite a fair bit of attention...in Dec 2014. "Well...better late than never" was her response, accompanied by forlorn glances.

Politely handed over a All-day brunch menu by one of the servers as we loitered at the entrance, the sight of bagels and pastrami on it caught our attention and there we go!

Grilled Reuben - Pastrami with Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut and Russian Dressing | S$20++

While we were contemplating ordering sides to share, the sandwiches come served with homemade coleslaw. Not usually a fan of coleslaw, I actually enjoyed the clean taste, juxtaposing the otherwise commercial renditions which are typically excessively creamy and satiating.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Moroccan grated carrot | S$6++/100gm

If there is one side you must have, please choose the inconspicuous-looking Moroccan grated carrot. I promise that it is more than grating your own carrots at home. With fresh mint and parsley leaves folded into the bed of grated carrot and juicy raisins, be guaranteed a refreshing burst of flavours powered by orange and lemon zest. Touched by the acidity introduced by the citrus elements, I found balance in flavour complemented by the natural sweetness of the carrot.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Scrambled eggs & Toasted Bagel with Smoked Salmon and Caramelised Onions | S$18++

It would be a crime, almost, to not try their bagels. Hand rolled, boiled and baked from scratch - never deny the old school way of doing things right. Comes complete with a generous slab of cream cheese, liberate yourselves and indulge a generous spread on your freshly toasted bagel.

With a choice of sesame or pumpkin seed bagels, we opted for the latter though the order was mixed up and was served the former. Quite frankly, I did not notice it until doing this review as I was already fighting to put off my impulsion on tucking in immediately - of course our cameras have the privilege of being first-to-eat.

I enjoyed the crispness of the bagel while the dough gave a nice chewy texture. It reminded us of our university days back in UK where we would wait out between lectures and seminars over our favourite smoked salmon bagel!

Mildly disappointed by the appearance of my smoked salmon as I was expecting it to come untarnished. It was actually tossed into the scrambled eggs and while you could still enjoy chunks of it, I generally prefer my smoked salmon whole and not cooked. The salinity and smokiness were balanced out by the richness of the cream cheese which added depth and flavours to the innocent looking bagel.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Paris Hot Chocolate - Varlhona Chocolate, Whole Milk & Marshmallow | S$8++

Theatrical displays in any form always draw attention in a restaurant setting. The extended presentation of a simple cup of varlhona-based chocolate drink served in a separate canister before being poured into the porcelain mug made us sit-up for my usual Long Black Coffee (S$5.50++) hardly needs an introduction. If you are a fan of brews from Common Man Coffee Roasters, you would not be disappointed with the coffee here as they come from the same source.

The richness of the chocolate was enough to please the lady though she still preferred Angelina (Hong Kong) but the homemade marshmallow made a difference. The only complaint was that the drink could have been served warmer as the relatively cold environment cooled the drink quite quickly.

Verdict: 8.0/10

(Credit: Interior and exterior photos of the restaurant were taken from Sacha & Sons Facebook Page as we were too satisfied with our meal that we conveniently walked off thereafter)

Overall, we enjoyed the food and experience though during the visit, it was relatively quiet so I cannot say for sure on a busy Sunday brunch session at 12pm. The service was immaculate as we were greeted upon entering and leaving the premise. They were attentive to the levels of our water glasses and needed no reminders to top it up at any time. If you do not know what to order, ask for recommendations and the folks would be more than happy to help out. The best part - they do not oversell as I wanted some sweet treats but they told us that our orders would be quite filling for two pax and could wait till we are done with our meals before ordering desserts. Nonetheless, they recommended the sundae and that would be on our to-try list in our next visit. 

A note on payment, unlike a typical restaurant, expect a deli experience. Place your orders and payment upfront at the till and food will be served to you after.

Will we return? For sure, and I already have my orders planned.

Overall Verdict: 8.5/10

Sacha & Sons | NY Delicateseen

33A Orchard Road,

#03-02

Mandarin Gallery,

Singapore 238897

Tel: (65) 6735 6961

Website: http://sacha-deli.com.sg/

While most CBD folks would be familiar with The Rotisserie, few would be aware about another brand under its portfolio, the Dallas Restaurant & Bar. With its first opening back in 2006 at Boat Quay, the second restaurant opens at Suntec City's sky garden providing a sweet spot for after work chill-out sessions.

Given everyone's penchant for happy hour, Dallas similarly runs the session from 11am till 8pm where house pour wines and spirits go for S$12++ and draught beers for S$14++. Not exactly the fairest deal in the CBD area but expect to be greeted with an extensively curated list of drink options ranging from quintessential cocktail classics to New World wines and champagnes.

A cursory glance at the menu suggests Mexican so we started our evening with some taco options!

Snapper fish tacos | S$22++/3pcs

Some delightful colours on the platter! Expect generous chunks of deep-fried snapper laid on the mini tortillas with Spanish onions, cabbage and a gorgeous pineapple chutney! Topping it off with that Chipotle mayonnaise introduces an element of heat in each mouthful. The tender fish coated with a light batter was cooked brilliantly to a tantalising golden brown tan and I could not resist having my hands on the wrap!

Verdict: 8.0/10

Crispy pork belly tacos | S$14++/3pcs

My personal favourite for the night was this - crispy pork belly on mini flour tortilla with guacamole spread and drizzled with homemade aioli. The pork was cooked to absolute perfection with that lovely crackling at the back of your mouth. I also enjoyed the tender meat which gave that much desired juiciness to the tortilla. The only drawback for me was that the flavours of the guacamole were masked by the dominating creaminess of the aioli. Squeeze some of that lime wedge to introduce a subtle level of acidity which I promise would make all the difference. If you are sharing with friends and one is not enough, please feel free to get add-ons at S$5++ each.

Verdict: 8.0/10

Jalapeno croquettes | S$15++/4pcs

For those who love their creamy bites, these deep-fried nuggets of breaded mashed spuds mixed with bechamel sauce, shredded cheddar and chopped pickled jalapeno peppers would ignite joy in their eyes. Served with the green chilli mayonnaise, I found the heat rather muted and would have preferred a greater kick in flavours. Else the added richness made it slightly too satiating for my liking.

Grilled corn | S$6++

Thoughtfully sliced into quarters for easier bites, the beautifully roasted sweet corned was topped with Chipotle mayonnaise before being sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. I thought the amount of spice on the corn was spot-on for me, leaving most with the need to quench the heat with a drink!

Dallas meat platter | S$70++ for two and S$130 for four

The above illustrates the portion size for two and with four types of meat available, it will not disappoint carnivores. With two grilled Australian lamb cutlets, half slab of pork ribs, quarter Rotisserie chicken and 250 grams of prime rib steak, it comes alongside mint, black pepper and mushroom sauces. I thought that all meats were treated with utmost respect during the cooking process with my favourite being the ribs which one could choose between a BBQ glaze or tangy sweet berry. It was fall-off-the-bone tender and half-slab goes away quite quickly before you realise it! The prime rib steak was also cooked perfectly to medium rare and went really well with the black pepper sauce. The Rotisserie chicken needed no introduction as quality was consistent and spot-on, tender even for the chicken breast. While I personally do not take lamb, others at the table commented on the robust flavours without that gaminess. 

Verdict: 8.0/10

Overall, I thought the food ticked the right boxes for me in terms of flavours and quality. Perhaps it is my personal scepticism towards tacos and tapas but I somehow struggle in coming to terms with their price points. The meat platter however was definitely value-for-money and plenty as I thought the portion was generous for two to share.