When Paul suggested that we try this restaurant, I looked at my list of restaurants to try, and saw that it was on the list… for the last three years. Hmm, I can be a bit tardy. Also, lucky for me that he and Johny invited along two more friends since with Asian food, the more the merrier.
I would rate the taste of these dishes as between ‘great’ and ‘effing fantastic’. OK, it’s a humble little place with quirky decor, and the service, though sincere, seemed a bit confused. And all the food came out at once, quickly, and with the entrees coming somewhere in the middle.
But oh my god, the flavours. We loved the tamarind fish curry and the belachan water spinach. A famous chicken dish that people travel for miles for… was covered in a yellow sauce and was tender and tasty. I particularly liked the prawns in salted egg yolk… and my favourite of the night was the eggplant in salted egg yolk, though splitting this rich dish between five people was about right; it’s too rich to eat any more. But god, it was good, the creamy eggplant inside a very crisp and unusual tasting batter. A bit similar to the eggplant chips I had at the Eate the other day, but these were better.
We had a roti each, perhaps a little greasy and not the greatest roti. A small complaint. Ah, we also had otak otak, sort of a fish mousse wrapped in banana leaves. I liked it and had never had the dish before. Apparently this place opened in December 2010 (and is overseen by Chef Tan, who celebrated 20 years in Australia by opening his first restaurant here). Don’t make the same mistake as I did and take your time discovering this place.
Nice review