Just to share...

Just found out that Secret Recipe at Mall Gadong Brunei has open...

So people in Brunei, this means save your time and money as well too. Now, you don't have to go to Kota Kinabalu or Miri, or even fly to Kuala Lumpur anymore if you want to go to Secret Recipe...

Will go there soon for their pan fried Carribean Seabass with cream sauce... Yummy!!!... And will update after my visit to this new branch later.

Secret recipe....

Somewhere 3 weeks ago, my family and I went to Kota Kinabalu visting my 100+ yr old grandaunt plus a short holiday. Manage to go to few places to eat and one of it was Secret Recipe.

I am pretty sure a lot of people know Secret Recipe; a lifestyle cafe especially to those who are in Asia. The branch in Sabah we went was one in Palm Square, Centrepoint at the 4th level.

We dined in for lunch and at that time, the cafe is quite packed with other diners but managed to get seats for 5 of us. The dishes we ordered are;

1) Grilled chicken with mushroom sauce- RM 14.50

2) Grilled chicken with black pepper sauce- RM 14.50

3) Grilled chicken with BBQ sauce- RM 14.50
4) Carribean Seabass with cream sauce- RM 18.50

5) Beef spaghetti bolognese- RM14.50

Apart from the above, we did takeaway for the desserts; Brownie walnut, Cappucino cheescake, Durian Cheesecake and mosit chocolate cakes.

I chose Carribean seabass for lunch and I also had tasted the grilled chicken with black pepper as well as the BBQ sauce.. I did not taste the spaghetti because I can smell the strong smell of the beef and has passed the grilled chicken with mushroom as I was so full by the time I wanted to taste it.

Personally, I prefered the black pepper sauce over the BBQ sauce although the black pepper flavour is quite strong and the BBQ sauce, it was less smokey flavour but more to tomato soury taste... However, I give a thumb up for the Carribean Seabass, the fish meat was moist, not dried and the cream sauce was delicious. To fish lover, I recommend you this dish and you won't be disappointed, trust me...

Overall, we did enjoy our lunch to the last bite... and it costs me RM 154.10 excluding the service charge and the tax. (this price include our main dishes, desserts and drinks).

Taste the authentic Singapore Cuisines?

Hmmm... this time it might be a harsh review from me but will try not to. Although, I have been disappointed with few other restaurants, cafes and etc but this is the worse so far I have come across.

Straight to the point, Food Fan and I went to D'other Office Cafe & Bistro in Kampung Delima (Jalan Muara) on one fine afternoon and after dining in, be honest I was unhappy.

Firstly, the foods were not even match up to their slogan; "taste the authentic Singapore cuisines", secondly, note to waiters/waitresses; don't rely incorrect information to customers especially on how long it will takes the food to be ready and if you are not sure, get back to us after you have confirmed with the chef. (Time is essential...)

I ordered Chicken Nasi Lemak and Tuna Jacket Potatoes; it was an odd combination but I was intrigued by the jacket potatoes as it was my first time came across with a cafe/ bistro in Brunei serves the dish.

The richness of the rice is bearable but less aroma, the sambal...oohhh... please check it again, do you actually serve me proper sambal. I can only taste hot and sweet means it is just like blended chillies and sugar; no other ingredients.

Lastly, my ultimate comment for jacket potatoes: it is not suppose to be boiled potatoes, it must be BAKED!. The waiter told me it will be ready in 15 minutes but actually I have waited for 45 minutes and so... and definitely, it is not worth waiting for...

 Food Fan's review:

Just want to add my experience.

I've been to the restaurant once before this excursion.  Wasn't impressed the first time but as we (Food Lover & I) believe in giving second chances I went there again.

This time I had the Lontong, Mee Hoon and sausage rolls.

In my very humble opinion the Lontong sauce was weak.. not rich as I expected and as mentioned in the menu.

The Mee Hoon/Bee Hoon was bland...it lacked something... which I unfortunately am unable to remember.

The sausage rolls really irked me as I honestly believe the sausage was not cooked well through.  It was coated with slices of bread so I was left to assume that they only made sure that the bread browned beautifully but not the meat inside...

Overall it was disappointing especially since I've been hearing great reviews about them.  Will I give it a 3rd try?  Depends on Food Lover :)