Baba Chews Bar & Eatery @ Hotel Indigo - All-New Neighbourhood Cafe In Hertiage Katong

Occupying the former Joo Chiat Police Station is a new dining place, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery. Located inside an old conservation building with colonial and Peranakan elements, the restaurant offers a marvel of grubs influenced by cuisine across the Straits of Malacca.

We started the dinner with some keropok that comes with a chilli sauce dip and satay sauce like dip. The chilli sauce dip is rather spicy so go easy with it. Made from 3 different types of nuts, using peanut, pecan and walnuts, the satay sauce like dip is quite addictive.

Side Dish Sampling 

On my sampling plate, there is the Otah Siew Mai, Five Spice Ngoh Hiang, Chilli Crab Cake and Achar. Do kindly note that this not the actual portion. It like the idea of the Otah Siew Mai dressed in a prawny flavoured sauce. It has never come across my mind that we can incorporate both otah and siew mai into a dish. Not to be missed is the Five Spice Ngoh Hiang that is wrapped in a thin beancurd skin and fried to golden crisp. I enjoyed so much that I ordered it again during my re-visit.

Pong Tauhu 4/5

Pong Tauhu ($9) is a traditional Peranakan soup with homemade prawn stock, pork meatballs and bamboo shoots. The pork meatballs may appear to look like a huge tough rock but it was actually very soft. If I am not wrong, the minced meat is mixed with tofu before shaping into the round meatball, hence the wonderful texture.

Chap Chye 4.5/5

A dish that I always order when I have Peranakan food is the Chap Chye ($12). The Peranakan mixed vegetable stew is a dish that will determine the standard of the nonya food for me. The vegetable were not too soft but still retained a crunch to it. Fermented bean can be quite acquire in taste but this is nicely balanced not overpowering instead complementing it.

Barramundi Goreng Chilli 4.2/5

The Barramundi Goreng Chilli ($29) is a dish that I would not order normally but it turned out to be a wise decision. The pan fried seabass fillet is coated with homemade sambal chilli that added a coat of shine to the moist texture of the fish. I have enjoyed the dish and ordered again during my second visit with my foreign friends.

Beef Short Ribs Rendang 4/5

A signature at Baba Chews is the Beef Short Ribs Rendang ($25). The beef short ribs were stewed in a rich gravy of coconut cream, spices, gula melaka and turmeric leaf. During my visit the texture was a bit tough but on my second visit, the texture was really tender. Not to mention the delicious rempah that worked the beef short ribs beautifully.

Kueh Durian 4.5/5

The dessert menu maybe small but its not to be missed, especially the Kueh Durian ($12). Chef has cleverly took the traditional kueh dedar, wrapping the pandan crepes with a variation of homemade durian mousse and shredded coconut cooked in gula melaka. This is topped with a scoop of homemade gula melaka ice cream. The interpretation has definitely elevated the whole enjoyment of a traditional dessert.

Tea Tarik Ice Cream 3/5

Besides the All Day Dining Menu and Dinner Menu, Baba Chews also offers a Weekend Brunch that consists of an A La Breakfast Carte Menu of Continental, American and Asian breakfast staples, as well as a breakfast semi-buffet option priced at $28++ per person. Staying true to its café identity, Baba Chews also serves up coffee that are carefully crafted with roasts by Common Man Coffee Roasters, making it first in its neighbourhood to offer this option. A selection of TWG teas is also available on the menu, catering to diners who prefer tea to a cup of joe.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Baba Chews Bar & Eatery
Hotel Indigo
86 East Coast Road
#01-01
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 67232025
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
All Day Dining Menu: 11am - 1030pm
Dinner Menu: 630pm - 1030pm
Bar Bites Menu: 11am - 12am
Weekend Brunch: 1030am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Tenderbest @ Ayer Rajah Community Club - Crispy Half Chicken At $7.90

With the re-opening of Ayer Rajah Community Centre, we also see a few food establishments moving into the venue. One such tenant is Tenderbest. Unlike their parent group Tenderfresh or better known to many as 可爱鸡, Tenderbest offers a variety of western fare and beverages on top of the sign fried and bbq chicken.

Bandung with Grass Jelly 4/5

I ordered the Bandung with Grass Jelly ($4.50) which I thought is rather interesting. This is a like a fusion of our Malay and Chinese culture, adding grass jelly into the bandung drink. A sweet and refreshing drink to kick start the lunch.

Laksa Prawn Spaghetti 3.5/5

Besides their fried chicken and bbq chicken, Tenderbest offers a variety of western fare such as pasta and steak. After browsing through the extensive menu, I decided to give the local flavour inspired Laksa Prawn Spaghetti ($8.50) a try. It turned out pretty decent with its modernized interpretation and we still can taste elements of the laksa flavour. I like the fact that it is very saucy. It felt like we are having a bowl of laksa, slurping the pasta that is well coated with the sauce.

Crispy Fried Half Spring Chicken 4/5

I could not visit Tenderbest without trying their chicken. I decided to go for the Crispy Fried Half Spring Chicken Rice. The huge portion is really value for money and it is only $7.90. It even comes with buttered rice and coleslaw. The restaurant never fails me with is well marinated and flavoured crispy skin while the interior is still tender and juicy.

Tenderfresh is like my childhood and it is glad to see the home grown brand expanding its business in recent years with up to 9 different brands under the group now. They have continued to provide consistency and quality food, spreading their brands to every corner of the island. With Tenderbest they have gone a bit up market providing a more comfortable and cozy bistro like environment for diners which is also more family friendly. In addition, they have kept the price quite affordable and it is halal.


Tenderbest
Ayer Rajah Community Centre
150 Pandan Gardens
#01-02
Singapore 609335
Tel: +65 90565366
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]