Javier's Rotisserie & Salad Bar, Orchard Cineleisure

This place (8 Grange Road, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, #B1-03/04/05/K4 S239695) sure kindles me the memories of Ponderosa back in the day when they still graced these shores and I was but a mere kid. A lot of that kindling probably came from the layout of their salad bar and the selections they had. Not to mention that Javier's Rotisserie is run by the people from our local chain of pretty respectable steakhouses, Aston's, whose owner was formerly from Ponderosa. I wouldn't dispute that these were also the guys that lengthened the yardstick for the general masses on the quality of grilled beef on this island in the recent years since they've established themselves.

Mnemonic embers and the current history of plated bovine aside, the food was pretty decent. To simply put, one chooses a meat of choice and helps themselves over a spread of warm and cold salads. Rotisserie and salad bar. I found the beef nicely done, enjoyable as what I could reasonably expect from such a joint. Although I did think it might have benefited from being served a little warmer than it was. Don't even think about getting that antiquated Kenny Roger's into comparison for their roasted birds. The latter's only salvation these days are the corn bread and their mac & cheese.

What did appeal to me was the salad bar though it wasn't quite that feeling that I had as a child, standing, spoilt for choice and wondering what was good. They even had that coleslaw which tasted exactly like the ones I liked at Aston's.

It was a little quiet down on a Saturday afternoon. I sure hope that business picks up for them so that they can stay around.