Posted by CyberTron on Mar 26, 2009 1:41AM
A few times when I'm on my way back to office, I notice this place is forever crowded in the evening and at night. Out of curiousity, decided to pop by here for dinner today. There's a lot of choices from the menu, ranging from typical prata, to burgers, grills and even thai! I decided to try out the garlic mushroom chicken ($12) from the grill menu. Even the place was quite crowded, my order did not take that long to be served.
Portion wise, the food is more than one typically get at hawker centre or food court. You get two scoop of mash potato, generous serving of mushroom, and the chicken chop itself was decent. Taste wise find it decent, nothing special though. Though the portion is generous, I find it a bit pricey though. One can probably get 2 sets of chicken chop at a western food stall at hawker centre.
Overall, if you are not sure what you want to eat for a late night supper, you might want to give this a try. BTW, they supposedly do delivery service too. So if you happen to live nearby, you might want to check out their delivery service as well.
Portion wise, the food is more than one typically get at hawker centre or food court. You get two scoop of mash potato, generous serving of mushroom, and the chicken chop itself was decent. Taste wise find it decent, nothing special though. Though the portion is generous, I find it a bit pricey though. One can probably get 2 sets of chicken chop at a western food stall at hawker centre.
Overall, if you are not sure what you want to eat for a late night supper, you might want to give this a try. BTW, they supposedly do delivery service too. So if you happen to live nearby, you might want to check out their delivery service as well.
409 River Valley Road
248307
Phone : 6734 9194
Opening hours : Weeksdays : 6pm - 6am, Weekends : 6pm - 7am
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Summary
Slow and inattentive service, cramped conditions, long waiting time, bad food, weak beverages, laughable prices. Give this place a complete miss. Review was undertaken in the first week of March 2010.
Service
Service was slow and inattentive. We stood around for several minutes and not a single server offered us a seat or a menu. We were standing in full view of the manager at the counter. We finally seated ourselves. This inattentiveness was not limited to us. During our time there, several other parties were left to mill around and wait. The result was that we had a very noisy dinner, with people standing around us, yakking at the top of their voices while waiting for service.
After our orders were placed, the food took forever to arrive. When the food finally arrived, one dish was served way ahead of the other. So much so, that when the second dish arrived, the first dish had already been consumed.
Service was very poor. There has been much recent media attention on poor service standards and this place reflects that. Orders were taken without any greetings or smiles. It was very hard to get anyone's attention to get seated and during dining (for supplementary requests). No apologies were given for the looooong waiting times.
Layout
Seating conditions were cramped. Tables in the interior dining area were placed too close together, giving a claustrophobic feel. Tables in the outdoor eating area were lined up by the side of the road. Diners in the outdoor area have to contend with inconsiderate motorists who illegally park by the kerb, spewing out their petrol fumes while you eat. This outdoor seating arrangement -- being so close to the road -- was also not safe. All it takes is for one errant motorist to plough into the seating area, to cause multiple casualties.
There were also tables placed at the entrance to the restaurant, along the pavement (what we traditionally call the "five-foot way"). This gave the place a very cluttered feel, with not enough space for patrons and employees to move about freely.
Food
All our food items were miserable. The Penang char kway teow had one or two tiny pieces of shrimp, and one or two pieces of shrunken cockles. The fried rice with salted fish (nasi goreng ikan massin) was excessively salty. Yes, while this is fried rice with salted fish, the entire dish was still so salty that it made you wince, instinctively closing your eyes shut and tightening your lips at the taste. The teh si peng (iced tea with evaporated milk) was so weak it tasted like diluted milky water. There was no hint of tea in the drink. We requested that some actual tea be added to the (alleged) glass of tea.
We asked for sambal belachan as a condiment. The sambal belachan was even saltier than the fried rice with salted fish. How is this possible? How does a Singaporean eating place serving local food get sambal belachan so awfully wrong? Sambal belachan is the litmus test, the watermark of acceptable culinary standards. This is especially so for establishments that serve Malay food. We asked for two extra pieces of lime, and squeezed out the juice onto the sambal belachan and mixed it in. Even that could not mask the high sodium content.
Prices
Value for money is absolutely zero. A sample of prices from the menu (link included):
http://www.spizeconcepts.com/mpmenu.htm
The grilled BBQ stingray is $12/$18! (small/large). The steaks are $15! The fried chicken cutlet is $10.50! The burgers are $7! The tom yum prawn soup is $12! The baby kailan is $9! The hotplate tofu is $14! The pineapple rice is $9! The murtabak is $8.50! (All those exclamation marks are intentional.)
And this is essentially a glorified coffeeshop by the side of the road. Even in good times, it would be hard to justfiy such ridiculous prices for coffeeshop food, let alone during such bad recessionary times.
Why is it that halal-certified eateries get to charge such high prices, serve substandard food, and get away with it? Is it because they know that once they get halal-certified, they are assured of a captive audience? Do halal-certified eateries pass on the costs of halal-certification to their customers? Where else can halal diners go? After all, eating at other places is not an option. Halal diners deserve better.
Location
Located along River Valley Road, in a cluster of other eateries. The location is just about the only reason why this place has any customers (the other being halal certification). For much better food at reasonable prices, amble along to the other eateries along the same stretch.
Conclusion
Slow and inattentive service, cramped conditions, long waiting time, bad food, weak beverages, laughable prices. Looking at the other bad reviews that this place has received, it is unlikely that standards will improve soon. One diner on hungrygowhere.com called it "horrid", another group said that it was their "worst experience ever", while another diner said that he had multiple bad experiences there. All have invariably complained of bad food, poor service bordering on violence, and high prices. Management apologises but these are generic responses rather than any real, sincere attempt to address recurring issues. There seems to be no noticeable improvements made to food quality, price levels, or service standards.
Singaporeans will pay -- and do pay -- for good food. But bad food at exorbitant prices with terrible service is a recipe for disaster. Give this place a complete miss.
Slow and inattentive service, cramped conditions, long waiting time, bad food, weak beverages, laughable prices. Give this place a complete miss. Review was undertaken in the first week of March 2010.
Service
Service was slow and inattentive. We stood around for several minutes and not a single server offered us a seat or a menu. We were standing in full view of the manager at the counter. We finally seated ourselves. This inattentiveness was not limited to us. During our time there, several other parties were left to mill around and wait. The result was that we had a very noisy dinner, with people standing around us, yakking at the top of their voices while waiting for service.
After our orders were placed, the food took forever to arrive. When the food finally arrived, one dish was served way ahead of the other. So much so, that when the second dish arrived, the first dish had already been consumed.
Service was very poor. There has been much recent media attention on poor service standards and this place reflects that. Orders were taken without any greetings or smiles. It was very hard to get anyone's attention to get seated and during dining (for supplementary requests). No apologies were given for the looooong waiting times.
Layout
Seating conditions were cramped. Tables in the interior dining area were placed too close together, giving a claustrophobic feel. Tables in the outdoor eating area were lined up by the side of the road. Diners in the outdoor area have to contend with inconsiderate motorists who illegally park by the kerb, spewing out their petrol fumes while you eat. This outdoor seating arrangement -- being so close to the road -- was also not safe. All it takes is for one errant motorist to plough into the seating area, to cause multiple casualties.
There were also tables placed at the entrance to the restaurant, along the pavement (what we traditionally call the "five-foot way"). This gave the place a very cluttered feel, with not enough space for patrons and employees to move about freely.
Food
All our food items were miserable. The Penang char kway teow had one or two tiny pieces of shrimp, and one or two pieces of shrunken cockles. The fried rice with salted fish (nasi goreng ikan massin) was excessively salty. Yes, while this is fried rice with salted fish, the entire dish was still so salty that it made you wince, instinctively closing your eyes shut and tightening your lips at the taste. The teh si peng (iced tea with evaporated milk) was so weak it tasted like diluted milky water. There was no hint of tea in the drink. We requested that some actual tea be added to the (alleged) glass of tea.
We asked for sambal belachan as a condiment. The sambal belachan was even saltier than the fried rice with salted fish. How is this possible? How does a Singaporean eating place serving local food get sambal belachan so awfully wrong? Sambal belachan is the litmus test, the watermark of acceptable culinary standards. This is especially so for establishments that serve Malay food. We asked for two extra pieces of lime, and squeezed out the juice onto the sambal belachan and mixed it in. Even that could not mask the high sodium content.
Prices
Value for money is absolutely zero. A sample of prices from the menu (link included):
http://www.spizeconcepts.com/mpmenu.htm
The grilled BBQ stingray is $12/$18! (small/large). The steaks are $15! The fried chicken cutlet is $10.50! The burgers are $7! The tom yum prawn soup is $12! The baby kailan is $9! The hotplate tofu is $14! The pineapple rice is $9! The murtabak is $8.50! (All those exclamation marks are intentional.)
And this is essentially a glorified coffeeshop by the side of the road. Even in good times, it would be hard to justfiy such ridiculous prices for coffeeshop food, let alone during such bad recessionary times.
Why is it that halal-certified eateries get to charge such high prices, serve substandard food, and get away with it? Is it because they know that once they get halal-certified, they are assured of a captive audience? Do halal-certified eateries pass on the costs of halal-certification to their customers? Where else can halal diners go? After all, eating at other places is not an option. Halal diners deserve better.
Location
Located along River Valley Road, in a cluster of other eateries. The location is just about the only reason why this place has any customers (the other being halal certification). For much better food at reasonable prices, amble along to the other eateries along the same stretch.
Conclusion
Slow and inattentive service, cramped conditions, long waiting time, bad food, weak beverages, laughable prices. Looking at the other bad reviews that this place has received, it is unlikely that standards will improve soon. One diner on hungrygowhere.com called it "horrid", another group said that it was their "worst experience ever", while another diner said that he had multiple bad experiences there. All have invariably complained of bad food, poor service bordering on violence, and high prices. Management apologises but these are generic responses rather than any real, sincere attempt to address recurring issues. There seems to be no noticeable improvements made to food quality, price levels, or service standards.
Singaporeans will pay -- and do pay -- for good food. But bad food at exorbitant prices with terrible service is a recipe for disaster. Give this place a complete miss.
2010-03-05 15:58:01
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Latest Comments
CyberTron commented..
Is diagonally opposite Jogoya. Supposedly the quality is better than Jogoya. Price wise, if we convert currency, then Malaysia is cheaper. If we do not convert currency, then Singapore is cheaper. Generally, a japanese buffet in Siingapore is around SGD30+ range.
2010-01-29 14:24:34
Ah King Food Talk commented..
I didnt know about this place, look like quality Japanese food with reasonable price, must pay a visit someday....BTW, would like to have your opinion, generally Japanese buffet is cheaper in Singapore, or in Malaysia?
2010-01-29 14:18:06
CyberTron commented..
I'm not sure exactly where the original Leong Kee moved to, but I believe the one at Sultan Gate is still there. I also saw one at junction of Jln Besar and Hindoo road. Just at the junction before beancurd city
2009-12-19 00:33:45
CyberTron commented..
Hi Jamerie,
Thanks for the tip. I've updated the typos in the review.
2009-12-14 12:21:40
CyberTron commented..
hi!
The bak kut teh at this place is Klang style. If you refering to the peppery style Bak Kut Teh you typically find in Singapore, then this is not the place for you.
For the peppery style one, the famous ones are probably ones are Balestier Road or the one at Tanjong Pagar complex. For me, I usually just go to Song Fa at Rochor which is decent for me, and more convenient as well.
2009-12-14 12:18:06
Ah King Food Talk commented..
I don't remember if i'd ever come across cheap and nice seafood in KL...I suggest you to plan a trip to Sabah, that's really what I call heaven for seafood lovers. ;-)
2009-11-22 18:34:23
CyberTron commented..
hey...wat's a good place for seafood in KL that's not too pricey? Something like below RM50 per pax?
2009-11-22 09:43:46
CyberTron commented..
hmm..no wonder the last time I went, I tot the chicken tasted a bit different. So any idea what is uncle Ah Tong's plan? Start his own stall?
2009-11-05 22:16:42
CyberTron commented..
I tot the last time when I saw it open earlier this year at bukit merah central, the auntie son is helping at the stall if not wrong....
wonder if anyone knows if they are still in business somewhere...
2009-11-02 10:22:49
Ah King Food Talk commented..
Please check my previous post "Seremban Restoran Yi Poh 姨婆老鼠粉", I listed the address of Yi Poh, this siew pao bakery is just opposite.
26GR, Jalan Seng Meng Lee,
Off Jalan Temiang,
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
2009-10-06 22:25:44