What was supposed to be a quiet day in school to start my final report before graduation turned out to be a day of random shopping and more. I do admit, I get easily influenced whenever I don't have the mood to study or do my work, so I gave in and willingly headed down to Marina Square for some window shopping. Less than 1hour of shopping, and it was time for dinner!

Dinner at Cafe Cartel. On a weekday at around 5pm, the place is relatively empty, so we stood outside waiting to be served. But when the waitress came towards us, she informed us that it is free seating. Fine, so we chose the seats that we're most comfortable at, and sat down. We were served ice water immediately, so we still felt that the service was acceptable. But what happens after that made me go ARGH!!!!!

So, as some of you know, Cafe Cartel offers free and unlimited amounts of bread. Yes, those sua ku Singaporeans, you can start getting plastic bags ready and head on down to collect those free bread. Usually, the bread would have been sliced and placed in the bread basket for easy serving by the customers themselves. But the one at Marina Square didn't do what they were supposed to do. The baguette, otherwise known as the long long bread wasn't sliced, and was just placed in the bread basket. So, my kind friends took the initiative to slice the bread themselves.



They did have some fun slicing the bread, but that's not the point! The waitress that walks pass them didn't even stop and offered her help. She saw them, and just walked away, pretending as if nothing has happened. And that's called SERVICE! And at that point in time, a couple entered, and the manager upon seeing them, went up to them and greeted them. She even showed them to their seats. Like WTF? They were shown to their seats and we're told that its free seating? So now, teenagers are losers? WE DON'T DESERVE TO BE RESPECTED AS A CUSTOMER? PISSED!



The bread that my friends sliced!



Yes, butter is free for all to take as well!

So, after we had a few pieces of bread, we decided to order. We raised our hands to call for a waiter to assist us, and apparently at that time, there was only one waitress and a manager from what I've noticed. Obviously it took quite some time before they noticed us, and walked over to get our orders. They suggested us to get their set meal, so that we can get a soup and drink, so I asked the manager what's the soup of the day. She said Chicken soup, and somehow, she left the table for awhile, and came back informing us, "Sorry, We have changed the menu, no more chicken, now it's mushroom!" She can't even keep one single food item in her mind, and she's the manager! Not even knowing what's the Soup of the Day? Like seriously? Okay, maybe I've been observing too much of such issues since I've studied in the relevant diploma, so I expect good service! If not, why should we pay them the 10% service charge when they are not even doing the job well right? I know most of you would be like nodding your head and agreeing with me on this!



That's the mushroom soup!





Now for the mains, Macaroni and Cheese. Tastes quite bland but very cheesy. I hate cheese, so I don't recommend it!



Ribs and Hot Dog. Yes, it's a very long and thick sausage. Please don't get the wrong idea!!!! This dish tastes awful! I'm serious! The ribs are dipped in a relatively thick batter, so the entire exterior was really thick and hard, and the ribs have a really strange taste to it. I think it's the marinade, just doesn't taste right. As for the sausage, worse one I've ever eaten! The meat isn't juicy at all, and isn't firm. It's like some saggy pork or something! GROSS! Not recommended at all! However, I do have to admit, the price is really reasonable, even though everything tastes bad!

Food Quality: 5/10
Food Portion Size: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10 (Really quiet on weekdays, the atmosphere is great!)
Service: 3/10
Recommended for: Teenagers who doesn't mind eaten lousy restuarant food at a relatively cheap price!

So after the unhappy meal, I was again influenced into going for a K session. So we headed over to Top One at Bugis. The session was from 6pm to 11pm, at a price of $28 per person. For students, one just have to be a member at a price of $10, and the price for everyone is at $21 each. Unlimited juices is offered. Yes, the typical Singaporean will go "WOAH! GOOD DEAL!", but the drinks are mostly mixed with water and added with lots of ice before serving, so how good a deal is that?



The room is pathetically small as you can see. 4 person in such a small room, either they are full house or they're just saving the cost.



They save costs from juices as well, since most of them come in large cups, but the juices I guess, are filled less than half, and filled the rest up with water and ice.



The first KTV that I've been to with a touch screen song selection machine. K Box and Party World should improvise this system. They even have special lighting (Disco or Spotlight) to go with the different songs at a click on the menu.



Yup, that's about it. And let me stress it once again, GOOD SERVICE is lacking in SINGAPORE NOW! NEEDS TO CHANGE!

Labels: O.C.K. and Frenz, Random Stories