I am a CRITIC: 2014

Monday 3 March 2014

EatPlayLove Cafe @ Aliwal Street

Date Patronised: 28th Feb'14

No. of pax: 2+1

Spent: S$31 (inclusive of S$5 for off-peak craft for the kiddo)

I've known about the cafe during their soft launch as it's owner is a friend of my good friend. But I've not been there since I seldom get to that area.

It was a brilliant opportunity as we intended to bring our son to the Children Toy Museum at Kampung Glam, it was not opened yet, so we thought of yumcha when I realised we were very near the cafe.

And so we popped by twice. Yup, twice!

First time, it was not opened yet. Ops.. it's open at 12 to 10 pm daily. We were 15mins away from 12pm.. Zzzzz...

Second time, you guessed it, we were the first customer!

It's located at Aliwal Street, at Aliwal Arts Centre

I really like the cafe

With many small little things that make you feel cosy, really

It was empty at first, but flooded with customers when we finished our lunch

Somehow feel the personal touch

Kiddo was given a tag - probably to indicate we have paid for the art & craft corner

Included in the small fee

This too!

The stools at the kiddie corner with 3D carving..

Kiddo engrossed at work, although he produced none.
Thought it would probably be better if there were more kiddos around.
Inspiration has to come from somewhere!

Chicken Soup Macaroni With Veggie for kiddo - Set at S$6.50
Comes with Yakult

Baked Mushroom Rice for him

Chicken Chop for me!

There were a few surprises:
1) The space - I've thought it was a small cafe, I was surprised it was very spacious, as you can see above..
2) The food #1 - I was surprised to have some decent meals
3) The food #2 - and was even more surprised the food was yummylicious!
3) The price - set lunch at S$9.90 (a main and choice of ice lemon tea/coke/sprite/coffee/tea)

We think it was a great deal. Great place to hang out, yumcha while the kiddo busy away.

Best part, hubby said we can go again, which is rare, trust me!

The fee for the art & craft corner:
S$5 for first 2 hours on weekdays
S$5 for first hour on weekends, PH and school holiday
**Subsequent 30mins at S$2.50

For more information:

Website: http://www.eatplaylove.com.sg/ (Check out their party packages too, now I wish my son was only turning ONE this year so we could celebrate his birthday in this cosy cafe)

Address: 28 Aliwal Street #01-07 S199918 Aliwal Arts Center

Tel: 6444 6400

PS: there's a public carpark right in front of the cafe, limited lots though, we saw a number of cars waited around.

Disclaimer: While my good friend is a friend of the owner, I do not know the owner myself, so this post is solely based on my personal experience and humble opinion. :-)

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Clout Shoppe (Online Shopping)

Date ordered: 6th Feb'14 (Thursday)

Date received: 7th Feb'14 (Friday)

Spent: S$90 (inclusive S$6 for delivery)

I was so happy with the prompt service!

They ought to improvise the sealing of the paper bag though..
The staples hurts and I didn't really want to remove them.

Excited!

My first Melissa flats!

Smell really nice and soft...

The trademark

I had to ask for an exchange though.. as the size US6 is too big for my left foot, it literally dropped out if I lift my left leg.

So I wrote in to arrange for the exchange the next day, which was a Saturday. I was feeling a little phobic of online purchase exchange etc.

Surprisingly, I got a reply from them on Monday, before lunch time. The Customer Service was so nice, she even thanked me for getting in touch and noted my concern and told me in details the procedure for exchange. She also asked me to make arrangement in advance so that they can make necessary arrangement. Also told me right away that smaller size is not available for this colour. I may want to choose other colour or design.

WOW!!

And so I chose Burgundy, Black, which was nice too!

I asked hubby to go down to them on Tuesday, and tarah... I've got my shoes exchanged nicely within 2 working days!

How cool!

Do note though, price on Clout Shoppe not necessarily cheaper than Reebonz but I like the variety of products.

Friday 7 February 2014

Reebonz (Online Shopping)

Date Ordered: 20th Jan'14

Date Received: 24th Jan'14 & 27th Jan'14

Spent: S$97

I ordered a necklace and 2 leather bracelets from Reebonz on impulse. Haha.. I'm a sucker for accessories (and leather bracelet is so IN now!), and what's more, they get delivered to my doorsteps, I don't even have to do it physically [(but virtually ;-)].

Adrianne Multicoloured Chain Necklace

Adrianne Wrap-Around Leather Bracelet

Adrianne Faux Leather Skinny Wristband

I was counting the number of "business days" as Reebonz will deliver in 3 working days, my friend confirmed it. Actually I got it on the 4th working days, maybe that's how they count it. I was surprised by their packaging! God! So nice! And more surprised to find out that they are located just very very near my office.

Oh ya, I got them delivered to my office instead coz I just couldn't wait!

The paper bag is solid

Very nice red packets for CNY too!

I was very excited when I saw this nice box.. but was wondering why is the box so small?
Can it contain all my purchases?

True enough.. it couldn't.. only 1 out of my 3 accessories came! Boohoo!
To make it worse, one of the strand was not hooked.. Double boohoo!

And so I "lodged" a complaint immediately on their website for the defect, and later on I gave them a call. Thinking it would save them a trip if I could make them bring a replacement for the necklace when they deliver the other 2 bracelets. Brilliant isn't it?

NOT!

To be honest, I didn't get any reason why my bracelets didn't come together. I was told she would get back to me by the end of the day. And I can't ask for replacement when they deliver them coz they need me to "lodge an official" complaint via their website so that they could "process".

And immediately she offered a REFUND instead. I told her I like the bracelet very much, I do not want a refund, I would like to have a replacement. She acknowledged my request and asked me to "lodge" the request and they would process it on the following Mon (it was a Fri when I called them). So I asked when I would be able to get it back, she said "can't confirm can get back by CNY".

What?! I need it by CNY! So I said fine, I will get someone to fix it! And so I did (that night)...

At the end of that day, when I thought they would not call, they really called! The Customer Service is a different one this time. She told me there was only 1 bracelet ready for delivery and that the other one (the pink double leather) is physically in their stock but they were not able to release due to some miscount during their stock take end of the month before.

If I were nasty, I would really ask her, what has their stock take has got to do with my order? I only want to know when I can get my purchase?!

So, after repeating to me a few times that she can't release, and that I would get the other one only after CNY, I asked that she sent the one she could release first. I want to wear it for CNY!

And so I get the 2nd delivery on 27th Jan'14.. I was only expecting ONE obviously, but both bracelets arrived! I was puzzled, but it was a happy surprised. Haha!

To be honest I was a little disappointed this is not bright orange as I expected,
but Reebonz did put a footnote that colour on the website could vary from the actual product.

However, this bracelet dropped out thrice when I wore it on 2nd day of CNY!
I nearly lost it at one point! :-(

Anyway, it's nice isn't it!

This is one of my favorites.. swarovski element make it so elegant.
And it's buckled, so it'll not drop out, wish it was wider though.
I love it nonetheless!

To be honest, I was quite disappointed with Reebonz. It was supposed to be a purchase from a leading online shop for luxurious items, but other than the packaging, the experience didn't feel luxurious at all.

Oh well, probably coz I just spent S$97 on some accessories and not the bags? Hehehe..

By the way, they finally replied to my "complaint" on 29th Jan'14 asking about my defect and asked me to provide them with images on the affected areas so they can look into my concern. I replied that I've got it fixed, but I sent the photo nonetheless.

As expected.. no response since.

AND I'M SUCH A SUCKER..

I BOUGHT A BALLY BELT FOR MY HUBBY AT S$299 ON 24TH JAN'14 (thank God we received it safe and sound without any obstacle)

AND A BCBGMaXAZRIA EVENING CLUTH AT S$150 YESTERDAY!

GRRRR.....

Updated on 10th Feb'14:

And I got my clutch the next day!! Yippie!

Tuesday 7 January 2014

My Rail Coffee @ JB

Date patronised: 5th Jan'14

No. of pax: 4+1

Amount spent: RM57.10

If you love the famous Kluang Railway Coffee, this is the place you should check out. Not just they made the original coffee, they also have something about railway in here.. a train cabin! How about that?

The famous Kluang railway coffee: http://kluangrailcoffee.com.my/ (I highly doubt My Rail Coffee has anything to do with this Kluang Rail Coffee though.. if you could confirm that, please drop me a note!)

The mutton rendang is something I strongly recommend to try. Can pass the chicken rendang.

For more details:

Address: NO 17, Jalan Molek 1/5A, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru

Han Korea BBQ @ JB

Date patronised: 4th Jan'14
No. of pax: 4+1
Amount spent: RM130+

I was really worried about how we smelled after this meal, but surprisingly, although we did smell of BBQ, it was not very strong. The whole experience was homely and cosy, but they could do with better service at replenishing. Either understaffed or understocked food? Not sure