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3.3
from 1 to 5
1 Liang Seah Street
#01-05/06Singapore
Postal code: Show postal code
Telephone: 6339-8662
Website: www.tongshuicafe.com/
Category:
Restaurants » Chinese
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Overall Rating:
26
I have been conscientiously avoiding the Hong Kong style cafes that have sprung up all over Singapore. Mainly because the "cha charn tang" or Chinese teahouse serving modified Western cuisine simply does not sound appealing to me. However, one day I was enticed by Tong Shui Cafe (some good reviews, delicious website pics and unusual decor).
My friend and I shared an oven-baked rice with chicken wings (S$8.88). He too, had never tried a cha chan tang, not even in Hong Kong. The oven baked rice came in a bamboo steamer. It had a casual homemade feel and taste about it. The cheese and sauce on top was quite delicious. I wished there was more. The rice is a bit like fried rice, topped with two fried chicken wing drumlets coated with BBQ sauce. Surprisingly the rice didn't taste greasy or overly satiating at all. Yum yum. I would eat this again.
Yes, I had my FIRST ever HK-style thick toast (S$2.88), believe it or not. My friend's first time too. The bread is extra soft, just lightly crisped on the outside and fluffy inside. That plus the peanut butter and condensed milk make this a total carbo bomb!
Oh, we had to have this when we saw it on the menu. D24 durian puree on toast (S$3.88)? It was heavenly! I'm sure sugar was added to sweeten it further but the durian fragrance was unmistakable. Another carbo bomb but some things are worth it.
The cha chan tangs are particularly famous for their fragrant milk teas, and some weird concoctions like that awful "yuan yang" coffee and tea mixed together - something I *still* can't get my head around to (yuck yuck). My friend's milk tea with grass jelly (S$3.88) was nice and light though.
Cold Eight Treasures Tea (Ba Bao Cha) comes in an iced carafe: I had the 8 Treasures Tea (S$3.88) which came in a tall carafe, with more than enough for two glasses. Extremely refreshing and best of all - it seemed sweetened only by the longans within.
The decor? Kitschy pink and lime green redolent of "Shanghai Tang"...It's one way Tong Shui Cafe stands out from the rest of its competition. Bright walls, bold Chinoiserie, dark furniture and French chandeliers.
"Tong Shui" means "desserts" in Cantonese but this place serves well more than that, as its menu of over 300 items can attest to. What's even better? Free wi-fi, Chinese movies on cable, football match screenings, and operating hours that run from noon to 6am - good news for night owls seeking a place to chill, eat and chat!
Cha chan tang food is still not my favourite cuisine but it's OK once in a while, I guess. And you have to pick the right dishes, as I hear some others are not too good.
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506
After our dinner at Jian Dao Jian, we took a leisurely stroll to Tong Shui Café at Liang Seah Street. I had heard of its existence but this was the first time I had actually seen it. It was eye catching to say the least, with the walls painted in bright shades of red and green and traditional red Chinese lanterns hanging along the pathway. It gave a very traditional Chinese feeling, although the chandeliers inside did seem a little out of place. The eating area was small and cozy (though it might seem a little claustraphobic to some), with lots of decorations hanging from the walls. The ordering system at this eatery is similar to that of Hong Kong Café’s, in which you write your orders down on a slip of paper and pass it to the wait staff who will serve your order to you. As we were quite stuffed, we went for the Toast with Peanut Butter and Condensed Milk, Tofu with Meat Floss, Ice Cappuccino and Ice Milk Tea.
The Tofu with Meat Floss was a let down. I had expected a silkier tofu and more flavourful Meat Floss. The gravy was also too salty and oily for my liking. Toast with Peanut Butter and Condensed Milk might seem like a weird combination, but it tasted good. The Peanut Butter was smooth and creamy and the Condensed Milk added a certain sweetness to it. The toasted bread could have been crispier though.
The Ice Milk Tea and Ice Cappuccino were served in glasses that were reminiscent of honey containers and usually reserved for apple juice. I found them a little heavy on the sugar content.
All in all, a rather average experience at $15.53/-. Not too expensive and I might consider going back for supper or chit chat sessions. They close at 6am and are close to town, which makes it an even more attractive option.
See all my pictures here.
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38
Hong Kong cafes are all the rage recently! And this Tong Shui Cafe along Liang Seah Street is one of them. But in my opinion, not the best of them.
The cafe is usually pretty packed (these days, which Hong Kong cafe isn't?) so big groups might find it difficult to get seats.
I tried their Fried Rice with Salted Fish and Wolfberries and Iced Yin Yong, which are decent. But at $8.88, I am inclined to say that it's a little high on price.
They also have the very popular Nissin noodles, which I should try one day!
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