Glass windows open out to greenery, as the setting at Cali Rochester Park Avenue beckons. Quite different to its branch in Raffles Place where the business district atmosphere is evident. I felt relaxed as soon as I stepped in. High back chairs made dining comfortable with two distinct dining spaces. My mind immediately hopped on the idea that I could have an intimate celebration with a few friends here sometime.
Connected to the Rochester Park Avenue Hotel, guests have the convenience of dining in this lovely restaurant while feeling a connection to nature outside. I noticed three good choices for a light lunch - the Southwest Caesar Salad, chicken quesadillas and grilled Portobello mushroom. All well priced around $12 and with portions that would hit the spot. Delivery Orders
Cali Rochester Park Avenue has a full variety of Southwestern cuisine so there is something for everyone. I tried the BBQ baby back pork ribs which fell off the bone and was basted generously with a signature sauce. Delivery Orders
Meat lovers, this is a good option if you are in the mood to get your hands dirty, as it’s finger licking good. Served with fries and vegetables this is a wholesome, full meal that is so reasonably priced at $28. It is no wonder that Cali have five branches including Park Avenue Changi, Pen & Inc @ NTU and My Café Bar in Balestier. I couldn’t help but feel this was good value for families and larger groups to enjoy an affordable Southwestern meal.
Being a crab lover I decided to try the drunken crab pasta which was done in an aglio olio style with Dungeness crab meat. Loaded with crab meat, this linguine dish was adorned with baby asparagus, garlic slices and cherry tomatoes. All very appealing to my taste buds! The next time I visit Cali Rochester Park Avenue this would be my pick. Delivery Orders
For those who love a set lunch there is a choice of having a main dish only to indulging in a two, three or four course. Great flexibility given to diners who may all have different levels of appetite. Not forgetting the wonderful desserts that Cali churn out I was blown away by the Mexican brownie – light crunch on the outside and chewy inside. Hard to beat I thought, but when the warm apple crumble was presented, it made for a great competitor!
Ice cream lovers take heart. All four warm desserts have a big scoop of ice cream to complement. This was my second trip to a Cali restaurant. I had pretty much tried everything on the menu and could declare that this was a fine consideration of a restaurant (more than 12 years in existence) when you are next on a hunt for affordable, family friendly dining options.
Cali, Park Avenue Rochester
a. 31 Rochester Drive, Singapore 138637
s. www.facebook.com/Cali.Singapore
w. www.cali.sg/
MORE ABOUT CALI
Whether you are a newbie or a connoisseur of modern Southwestern cuisine, Cali will still find a way to give your tastebuds a delicious surprise. Their menu makes daring promises that it certainly lives up to – no matter which dish you order! It consists of uniquely Southwestern dishes - made with the finest ingredients and the freshest natural herbs and spices.Delivery Orders
For veggie lovers, check out the deep-fried jalapeños - served with tostadas and avocado mango salsa. There's enough cream cheese to make you feel like ordering one more! If you want to bite into some grilled mushrooms, order their portobello mushroom that is served with house marinade, baby spinach, and pine nuts for that extra oomph.
Now, for the pièce de résistance noun – a slew of main courses that offer the best of the Southwestern worlds. Their braised beef cheeks are slow-cooked to perfection in red wine sauce, with some good old-fashioned mashed potato. If pork is on your mind, don't think twice about ordering the extremely tender BBQ baby back ribs - made with their chef's special mix of fresh spices and basted with Cali's signature BBQ sauce. If you'd rather choose seafood, you can't go wrong with the grilled sea bass that sits next to buttery brown rice and mind-blowing aloe vera salsa. Delivery Orders
If you're looking for some more carbs, try a plate of juicy Fajitas. Pick your stuffing – chicken, pork loin, or beef tenderloin – and be amazed at how tasty their wicked marinade is. Each one is lovingly served with tortilla wraps, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole salsa. Cali also offers homemade thin-crust pizzas that are topped with chicken tikka, parma ham, or buffalo mozzarella. And when you want to have a burger, Cali understands that you need to have the right-sized one! Their Wagyu and Crab Meat Burgers are showstoppers in their own right. If pasta is what your heart desires, look no further than their hardcord prawn or drunken crab pasta.
Cali also ensures a great end to the journey – having created exciting dessert combos. The quality is unmatched – not just for the freshness of ingredients but also for the way they are prepared. The molten lava torte combines the best of both worlds by fusing perfectly-baked chocolate cake with summer berries compote. The lip-smacking apple crumble is a thing of beauty – served with crumb toppings and vanilla ice cream. Then, their neo-classical warm pecan pie has that sweet buttery caramel filling – along with fresh pecans, cinnamon caramel sauce, and chocolate ice cream.
Of course, there's nothing like a good drink to accompany these wonderfully diverse Southwestern flavors. And what's good for you is a matter of choice! Cali offers a wide array of non-alcoholic beverages like mocktails, smoothies, or fresh juices and alcoholic beverages like Grey Goose vodka, Hendrick's gin, Captain Morgan rum, Jose Cuervo tequila, and a lot more.
The red and white wine comes from world-class vineries across Australia, France, New Zealand, Spain, and the USA. They also boast of an impressive single malt list, including the prized Glenfiddich (18 years).
Cali, Ascott Raffles Place
a. 2 Finlayson Green, Level 2, Singapore 049247
s. www.facebook.com/Cali.Singapore
w. www.cali.sg/
t. +65 6336 1228
