Having lived in the West for more than half my life, I’m really happy that there are so many new shopping centres offering a whole host of dining options. We went to Earle Swensen’s at JEM last Thursday to check out their revamped menu.

We hit the buffet salad bar first. All mains at Earle Swensen’s include the buffet salad bar and there are 25-30 different options at any time! I particularly liked the fruit salad and pasta salad and I topped off my plate with a generous amount of fried wanton skin.

The Mushroom Bruschetta is great for sharing while waiting for the mains to arrive. Delightfully cheesy and perfect for kids who don’t like the usual bruschetta with tomatoes (like my kids!).

Whenever we go to Swensen’s, Adrian orders the Fish & Chips. He likes it so much that he doesn’t even bother to open the menu to think about what to eat. I think I could convince him to try the Reel Big Fish Burger. Crispy and juicy fish in a bun!

I really like the Lamb Chops at Earle Swensen’s. Very tender and tasty New Zealand lamb served with mint sauce and special homemade gravy. Perfect if you are craving some meat but prefer not to eat beef.

To be honest, when I want a juicy slab of steak, Earle Swensen’s is not the first place I think of. But the USDA-certified 1855 Black Angus ribeye I had was so flavourful and tender that I finished it easily even though it was a substantial piece of meat. Really good stuff; I’m dreaming of it now.

When I saw the poached pear on the menu looking so plump and perfect, I knew I had to order it. It did not disappoint. Delicately infused with strawberry tea, the poached pear is served with raisin ice-cream and butterscotch sauce. My only regret was that I had to share the dessert; it’s so yummy I could have easily eaten one by myself.

I personally prefer red meat but there are plenty of tasty chicken and seafood options as well on the revamped Earle Swensen’s menu so check it out at Vivocity or JEM!