Swensen's - Sides Part I

Swensen's is a pretty popular brand in Singapore and quite a favourite choice sometimes.
And I know most of us go like "Oh I prefer somewhere more unique" or "Swensen's? No better place meh?" but the truth is - Swensen's is actually not that bad to be honest.

We've already covered a few of their breakfast dishes and also the soups and salads.
Luckily for us, they also have an extensive Sides menu. So extensive that we need to split it up!!
Anyways, if you're gonna eat there, maybe this might help you choose on some side dishes to go along with your main course!

Meatballs in Pepper Sauce ($9.40)

In what was probably the biggest surprise food-wise in quite awhile, these are actually the bomb!
I really was expecting just another generic dish and it was probably not going to be anything special but oh boy was I completely wrong on this one!

The mashed potatoes were an absolute dream.
I can't be sure if they're instant or if they're made scratch from actual potatoes but whatever the case, they were definitely put through the ricer again which results in an absolutely creamy texture and enriched with a nice hearty buttery taste.

The meatballs themselves were absolutely divine.
A combination of chicken and beef, these were cooked to perfection and were not overdone at all. The meat remained juicy and soft and the pepper sauce went together perfectly.

I know you think I'm probably exaggerating but I seriously enjoyed every last bite of this dish.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks ($8.40)

Something pretty basic like this can still be easy to mess up.
(Trust me I've had some bad fried cheese sticks in the past. That's right I'm looking at YOU Pastamania!)
But at Swensen's, they pleasantly surprise.

One of the main plus points - it's not oily despite being deep fried.
I literally ate these with my fingers and had little or no oil residue on my fingers at all. And I know it was fried because I got the oil when I bit into the cheese.

The outer-coating remained crispy and managed to maintain its integrity by not falling apart or going soggy. The cheese melted a little bit but you still get a bit of the chewy texture you'd expect from some mozza. And the salty flavour of the cheese is definitely evident here. Minimal seasoning lets you enjoy the cheese!

I'm certain that all you cheese lovers out there will enjoy this!
But cheese is always heavy on the palate so maybe this one might be best to share.

Adam's Verdict:
Meatballs in Pepper Sauce 5/5 -- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks 4/5

If the sides are this good, then I might just have these without ordering any mains!
Let's see what else they have on the Sides menu... Will report back soon!

Swensen's (Bedok Mall)

Bedok Mall
311 New Upper Changi Road
#1-77

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Weekdays
8.00am til 10.30pm Weekends
(Last Order at 10.15pm)