According to traditional meanings – a 3rd year wedding anniversary is signified by “leather”. why leather? Not sure – nonetheless, leather products are one of Kim’s fav. “)
‘Cos I was nursing a flu, we decided to keep the celebration simple. Decided to go to East Coast Park to a small Japanese-fusion restaurant called Zen Cafe – Shindoart
It is a small dimly lit restaurant which ain’t too eye catching. Believed we are the first customers for dinner; so had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Nice.
- View of restaurant (in-door seating)
- another view of restaurant interior (taken with night scene-this is more like the actual view)
We decided to splurge a little since it is our wedding anniversary. So I took a value set comprising of
1) a starter – mango prawn fritter/roll
2) Oriental mushroom soup
3) Main course – Tempura fish & chips
4) Dessert – Zen Tiramisu
5) Drinks – I upgraded to a warm honey lemon ‘cos of my flu
Kim shared my meal and ordered another main course – Kobe-style beef, a tom yum soup and a cold honey lemon.
The mango prawn roll is alright; passable – not amazing though. But for $3.80 (per serving), I am not complaining. The soups were great. Especially the oriental mushroom soup. It is mushroom-ish yet with a sweet aftertaste. Both soups are served piping hot – GREAT!
Main courses – Tempura fish and chips is an interesting alternative to the usual beer-battered fish. Tasted a little healthier though the tempura flour do require some getting used to due to its “tangy-ness”. I personally loved the side – vegetable salad. The mayo is really unique and not overly creamy for me. sweet with a tint of sourish taste. Nice.
As for Kim’s Kobe-style beef – I think it is a bit “over-the-top” with the presentation and a little under in terms of taste. Both beef and mashed potato is served a little cold for my liking. Kim thinks it is fine though – but we tasted the “real-kobe beef” before; and this is nowhere near the original taste. No marbled meat nor melt in your mouth feeling. But will give it credit for creativity and passable taste for a beef steak dish.
The highlight was the dessert – Served once again “over-the-top” but really pretty though a little cheesy (check out the chinese writings on the plate). I LOVED the tiramisu! It tasted so home-made and the chef got the portion of each ingredients just nice. Wished it was a bigger serving though!! Can safely say – one of the nicer tiramisu I ever tasted before! 🙂
Overall, an affordable place to come for some fusion-art-inspired-Japanese cuisine. I will return to try the raw stuff that I can’t eat now!! 😛
Total amount spent for 2 = just slightly less than S$70
- Mango prawn roll (almost gone before I could take a pic!)
- no..not beer (i wish! esp in this warm weather!) – just honey lemon (love the warm lighting though)
- tom yum soup

- my piping hot mushroom soup
- Kim’s kobe-style beef sitting on a bed of mashed potato (a piece of art!)
- My main course – Tempura Fish & Chips (loved the side salad!)
- One of my fav for the night – DESSERT! For one who doesn’t really have a sweet tooth – this won my heart. Zen-tiramisu presented once again as a piece of ART!
- And of course … stars of the night. 🙂