Chilli Padi Nonya Café

S and I came here once a few months ago wanting to try the high tea buffet, but there was a decent queue outside and it was obvious that there was only a small number of seats in the place so we decided not to bother. This place was extremely popular then as it was featured in a local TV food show. So this time we decided to make reservations :)

I'm a huge fan of Kueh Pie Tee so it was in the first round of things I tried, together with a Samosa and a bowl of Laksa -


The laksa gravy looked really thin and unappetizing, but tasted much better than it looked. The kueh pie tees were pretty good, and the chilli fresh and spicy - but it was so much work to have to stand at the buffet line to fill up the little cups... yes, yes, I'm lazy :P

Second round was Chwee Kueh, Gado Gado and a bowl of Mee Siam -


The Chwee Kueh was surprisingly good and so was the chilli that went with it. The best thing about this kind of buffet is that you can make up anything you want... which meant that the Gado Gado was made up of stuff I liked - that means rice cake, cucumber and prawn crakers :) The mee siam was good - a must try!

For the dessert round, I tried Kueh Lopez (green triangular one), Kueh Kosui (small brown one), Kueh Dadar (green springroll one) and a bowl of Chng Tng -


The Kueh Lopez was not bad, went perfect with the Gula Melaka. I haven't had this many times before but decided I actually quite like it. I always like Kueh Kosui and this one was pretty good too. I've never actually had Kueh Dadar before so decided to try it, and found it just ok. The Chng Tng washed everything down nicely :)

This high tea buffet costs $7.90+ on weekdays and $8.80+ on weekends and public holidays. For less than $10, this was pretty good value. The place has next to no ambience but it's hard to complain when it's this cheap. A few decent dishes makes this worth it but do make an advance reservation coz there's normally a queue.


Chilli Padi Nonya Café
470 North Bridge Road
#01-02 North Bridge Commercial Complex
Tel: 6339 7745
Operating Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 11am - 2.30pm
Hi-Tea Set: 2.30pm - 5.30pm
Buffet Dinner: 6pm - 10.30pm

http://www.chillipadi.com.sg/

Ivins

I know some people have been coming here for yonks but I've only discovered this place the last few years. It's now one of my favourite places to go for good no-frills Peranakan food...

For me, the must-have dish here is the Beef Rendang $4.50. It looks a little empty because I took a piece of beef out before remembering to take a photo... I love love love the gravy here - the claypot is pretty much empty after I'm done with it :)




The Tempra Promfret was decent. A pretty small fish but then it only costs 8 bucks...




This is another one of those "Things that Esther has for some reason never tried" - Ayam Buah Keluak $5.90. The buah keluak just does not look or sound like the most appetizing thing so I've never had the urge to try it. For some reason, I expected it to be spicy. It wasn't bad or anything, but I'm in no hurry to try it again...


Also had the Honey Pork $4.50 - the pieces of pork were way too small and were too tough to be considered tasy. Definitely not ordering this next time... Don't understand why this is one of their signature dishes...




... and Tauhu Goreng $3.20. Lots of peanut sauce, not much tauhu - makes me want to go have the Tauhu Goreng at Rice Table.



Don't forget to ask for the sambal belachan - it's really good, I had two whole saucers of it. Definitely coming back again soon... I forgot how much I love the Beef Rendang here :)


Ivins
207 Upper Thomson Road
S574346
Tel : 6254 1877