Siam Samrarn, West End, Brisbane

Known for its authentic Thai cuisine with hand carved teak furniture, stylish interior and their loyal customers who just keeps coming back over the years. Being located at The Markets in West End, diners are able to have easy access to parking as well as dessert restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood after finishing their meals. The menu consists of more of the traditional as well as combining a variety of unique dishes that represents the past and future of Thai gastronomic culture.

'Deep Fried Crispy Pork with Garlic' ($17.9) is simply as what the dish is called, deep fried crispy pork topped with fried crispy garlic. We had quite a high expectation for this dish but sadly it wasn't as delicious as we thought it would be. The fried crispy garlic was well done allowing all of the deep fried crispy pork be able to infuse the garlic flavour. However, the deep fried crispy pork was sliced very small and the batter was just not bland but not flavoursome either. Some of the deep fried crispy pork also didn't taste like it had any pork in it and just seemed to be the deep fried crispy batter by itself so that was a let down. Once or twice is fine, but not when many were like that and only some had pork inside it whilst alot more of it were just deep fried batter.

It would have been better if the pork was sliced in a chunkier piece or just slightly bigger than how it was, allowing diners to actually see that there is meat inside as well as being able to chew it instead of just eating simply crispy and crunchy batter. Do be careful when you bite some because some may hurt your teeth as it was just simply too crunchy and hard. Although there were a side salad placed on the side, it didn't help at all with the dish but maybe asian greens may have been a more suitable choice. Overall, although we both love our garlic, the dish was sadly a let down for us as it had many hard and tough pieces, lack of actual pork meat, too thinly sliced pork in the batter as well as having only deep fried batter and no pork.

'Gang Keaw Wham aka Green Curry' (Chicken: $17.9) is a Thai green curry with coconut milk, green beans and bamboo shoot as well as a choice of your own meat, may it be beef or chicken, tofu or vegetables. I do have to say that although the green curry may seem abit small but it actually is an efficient amount where you can share it with another. The amount of green beans, bamboo shoot and chicken breast pieces has never let us down as the whole green curry is always filled with it. The spices and herbs is just right, not too mild and not too spicy either which was good for me although bear in mind when you do get to the bottom of the bowl, that's where it tends to get spicier.

'Coconut Rice' (Small: $3.5)

Morning After, West End, Brisbane

Many of you may have heard Morning After from their rendition of Carbonara for breakfast. Located at Vulture St in West End under an apartment building, you may miss it if you're not careful and keeping your eyes open trying to find it. It is great to see restaurants and/or cafes supporting its community and Morning After does just that, using Tassel Salmon from Tasmania, Granola from The Unrefined, Brisbane and baked fresh bread by French Twist.

'Hand Crafted Elixirs (Peanut Butter)' ($8) - peanut butter, maple syrup, banana, ice cream and milk

'Eggs Benedict' ($16) has an option of smoked salmon, smoked bacon or cotechino where he chose smoked salmon. Served on a bed of wilted spinach and topped with micro herbs and hollandaise sauce. A simple dish though Eggs Benny has to be one of our favourite brekky dishes to order and have. Although one downside when the dish did arrive on our table was that it had only one slice of toast. 

With Eggs Benny, sometimes you would get one slice of toast while at some places, you would get two. But having 2 poached eggs and a big bed of wilted spinach sometimes makes you wonder what if I finish the first toast? What would I eat the other egg and the leftover spinach with? Well, I guess by having only one toast, you really need to divide the smoked salmon, the two poached eggs and the spinach between it. The poached eggs and smoked salmon along with the wilted spinach was delicious, the poached eggs were done well though abit more extra hollandaise sauce would have been great. The hollandaise sauce was not too acidic nor was it too strong but did have a very strong lemon flavour.

'Carbonara' ($19) is an interesting dish to have for breakfast but since Morning After opened, the one dish that made me want to dine here was to try their Carbonara breakfast dish. Don't imagine your creamy egg and bacon carbonara you usually have, imagine this as your leaner and healthier version of it. Plus, the downside for some would be that there is no sauce in this dish.. Yes, no creamy sauce at all.

Consisting of Pappardelle pasta, 63 degrees hens eggs, field mushrooms, smoked pancetta and pecorino romano. What made the dish great was that the field mushrooms, smoked pancetta and pecorino cheese worked well with each other of course. It would have been great if the serving of the pappardelle pasta was more than what it was although it was quite thick in width, it seemed that it only needed a few fork twirls to finish it all. The 63 degree hens egg was quite interesting but for those who don't know, hens eggs are usually quite smaller than the usual.

Everyone has their own way of eating this dish, but for me, I first tried all of it by itself before breaking into the egg and mixing it with the pecorino romano to make the dish have some sort of a sauce.

Overall a pleasant experience at Morning After. If you are curious, then definitely do come and have a try and yes, the Carbonara is a must try although it may not be everyone's favourite.

The Three Monkeys, West End, Brisbane

Although coming here would be your coffee and cake usual spot, Three Monkeys also offer some hot food.. May it be a sandwich or focaccias or salad or even just a bowl of chips, it may not be a whole hearty food but something to nibble on sometimes is just better than sweet cakes. It is usually quite full on Fri or Sat night, but when you come on a weeknight or even Sunday night, it usually isn't too bad..
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Habitat Restaurant & Bar, West End, Brisbane

Habitat Restaurant and Bar was one restaurant I've wanted to try for quite some time now but didn't have the chance, well, we finally did. The third venture of rugby legend Scott Higginbotham and his business partner, Malcolm Watts after Moose and Gibson in Woolloongabba and Leaf Espresso Bar in Tarraggindi. A much classier venue and relaxing than the other two I may say, maybe my most liked in regards to its design, what you may call it as to be sophisticated.

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PJ's Steaks, West End, Brisbane

Philly cheesesteaks has gone back as far as we can imagine it to, reminds me of those street hotdog vendors in America in which you would see basically everywhere. Since the American feel has been booming here in Brissie, I do have to say, sometimes you don't really need the up-end restaurants to have a decent hearty or that American authenticity taste. Located in West End, PJ's Steaks do serve your freshly baked roll filled with rib eye fillet with assorted ingredients or toppings, and of course, topped up with cheese.

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