Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
108
Coca Steamboa t
CHINESE/SINGAPOREAN Beloved b y S ingaporeans, a
steamboat is a tureen of stock that's kept simmering at the table. D iners choose a flavor
of stock and add side v egetables, fish, and meats, which ar e dipped into the br oth to
cook, then eaten. The best par t of the meal is at the end, when the flav ored stock is
enjoyed as a soup on its o wn or with rice. Coco has a huge range of side dishes and
consistently good, fresh ingredients, from simple cuts of meat to authentic S ingaporean
staples like fish balls. I par ticularly like the duck br east and the wontons, and ther e's a
good selection of unusual mushr ooms. Throw caution to the winds and pick some old
favorites and ne w flavors, dipped in the signatur e chili sauce if y ou like it spicy . Not a
place to choose if you're in a hurry, but great fun for families and gr oups.
International Bldg ., 360 Or chard Rd ., #02-05.
&
65/6738-2588.
Reser vations r ecommended. L unch
buffet S$20-S$25 (US$13-US$17/£9-£11), dinner buff et S$39-S$45 (US$26-US$30/£18-£20). AE, DC,
MC, V. Daily 11am-3:45pm and 4-10pm.
Patara Fine Thai
THAI Patara may say “fine” dining in its name, but the food her e
is home cooking: not too haute, not too traditional. S eafood and vegetables are the stars
here. Deep-fried
garoupa
(grouper) is served in a sweet sauce with chili that can be added
sparingly upon request. Curries are popular, too. The roast duck curry in red curry paste
with seasonal fruits is juicy and hot. F or something really different, Patara's own inven-
tion, the Thai taco, isn't exactly traditional, but it is good, filled with chicken, shrimp ,
and sprouts. Their green curry, one of my fav orites, is perhaps the best in to wn. Their
Thai-style iced tea (which isn't on the menu, so y ou'll have to ask for it) is fragrant and
flowery. A small selection of wines is also available. Patara has another outlet at Swissôtel
The Stamford, Level 3, Stamford Road (
&
65/6339-1488
).
#03-14 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd.
&
65/6737-0818.
Reservations recommended for lunch, required
for dinner. Small dishes S$22-S$30 (US$15-US$20/£9.90-£14). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-2:30pm and
6-10pm.
6
INEXPENSIVE
Ah Hoi's Kitchen
SINGAPOREAN I like Ah Hoi's for its casual charm and its selection
of authentic local cuisine. The menu is extensiv e, specializing in local fav orites like fried
black pepper
kuay teow
(noodles),
sambal kang kong
(a spinach-like v egetable fried with
chili), and fabulous grilled seafood. The alfresco poolside pavilion location giv es it a r eal
“vacation in the Tropics” sort of relaxed feel—think of a hawker center without the dingy
florescent bulbs, gr easy tables, and sludgy floor . Also good her e is the chili crab—if y ou
can't make it out to the seafood places on the east coast of the island, i's the best alternative
for tasting this local treat. Make sure you order the fresh lime juice. It's very cooling.
Traders Hotel, 1A Cuscaden Rd., 4th level.
&
65/6831-4373.
Reservations recommended. Small dishes
S$14-S$26 (US$9-US$17/£6-£12). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-2:30pm and 6:30-10:30pm.
The Rice Table
MAL AY/INDONESIAN/DUTCH Indonesian Dutch
rijsttafel,
meaning “rice table,” is a service of many small dishes (up to almost 20) with rice. Tradi-
tionally, each dish would be brought to diners by beautiful ladies in pompous style. Here,
busy waitstaff brings all the dishes out and places them in front of you—feast on favorite
Indo-Malay wonders like beef
rendang,
chicken
satay, otak otak,
and
sotong assam
(squid)
for a v ery reasonable price. It's an enormous amount of food and ev erything is terrific.
You will pay extra for y our drinks and desserts.
International Bldg ., 360 Or chard Rd ., #02-09/10.
&
65/6835-3783.
Reser vations not nec essary. S et
lunch S$15 (US$10/£6.75); set dinner S$24 (US$16/£11). AE, DC, MC,
V. Daily noon-2:15pm and
6-9:15pm.
