Tiong Bahru Bar: Where it’s casual Friday every day!
PUBLISHED June 25th, 2013 04:00 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:34 pm
On the fringe of the all-too-hip dining enclave of Tiong Bahru sits a new chill pad called Tiong Bahru Bar (TBB). It doesn’t try too hard, and that’s where its charm lies.
TBB is a sprawling space, all 4000 square feet of it, with furniture as disparate as its décor. A mix of directors chairs, cushy couches and plastic seats seems like the result of TBB’s designers having arrived at a second-hand furniture sale too late. Japanese-inspired lamps hanging side by side with a massive chandelier seem to echo the same eclectic indifference when it comes to prettifying the bar’s interior. It’s a refreshing change, especially when you’re not in the mood to dress up too much, or to dine at an establishment that’s a sucker for etiquette. On the night we visited, there were wandering tourists, showy expat types, sleepy Tiong Bahru denizens in slippers and shorts, and a large birthday dinner group. There’s also something for everyone on the menu, which is honest and straightforward.
At TBB, it’s predominantly Spanish dishes with solid flavours put before fussy presentation. Beef Tenderloin Salpicado cubes ($18) are succulent and well-seasoned, best dipped in an accompanying brown sauce that again sounds underwhelming but over-delivers.
Both the impossibly-crispy Chicken Skin ($6) and wafer-thin Luncheon Meat slices ($10) come with tantalizing chilli sauces, which aren’t quite necessary given how the nibbles are flavourful on their own. Give the luncheon meat a go even if it sounds super low-class – it’s got an unctuous quality, yet light in its thinness.
The classic Spanish Omelette ($10) isn’t messed around with too much either – its filling of potato and egg is creamy and starchy as it should be. But a Garlic Gambas ($14) of head-on shrimp is cooked to death and presented in a pond of oil, very disappointing considering that the seafood in TBB’s Seafood Paella ($40) is far more juicy. Giant prawns, mussels, squid and whitefish are soft and pillowy like the rice they sit on. While missing the characteristic flavour of saffron, the rice was something we could eat everyday, including the crusty bits at the bottom of the large pan. Our generous serving of Magic Fries ($8), however, could not be forgiven for its timid flavouring – its promise of a ‘secret’ magic dusting turned out elusive, so mild it was indiscernible on the mix of thick and thin cuts of fries.
On the drinks front, TBB’s philosophy of unpretentious chow rears its heard again – no mixologists or fancy concoctions. Mojitos ($14) are your only cocktails on the beverage list, but they come varied enough to feed your palate’s curiosity through the night, be it lychee, granny smith or a version that comes with a Kronenburg Blanc twist (it’s called Blancito by the way)! Whisky drinkers can also rejoice with the extensive Glenlivet range on offer, from fruity 12-year-olds to intense 25ers. Pairing it with a cigar – also sold on premises – would be TBB’s way of telling you that life is wonderful.
If the night is still young, the bars in the heart of Tiong Bahru could be your next stop. But sometimes, to see and be seen is not one’s greatest life priority, and that’s where TBB is perfect for a night of lazy drinking and eating. For all you know, its slightly mismatched vibe and honest fare could jolly well push your jaded gastronomic buttons.
Written by Mr Nom Nom
On this occasion, the meal was compliments of Tiong Bahru Bar
