SINGAPORE'S VINTAGE EATING PLACES: TIM'S RESTAURANT & CAFE @ TOA PAYOH

We've come here many times, especially when my son Shan Ming was younger. Tim's Restaurant & Cafe was a favourite of ours, an informal heartlands eating place which was a spin-off of the Hainanese Western cuisine of the famous Marriners' Corner. Its proprietor, Nepalese chef Tom Shrestha was originally the manager of The Vines Restaurant (sister restaurant of Marriners') at Novena when we first got to know him. He later started this establishment at Block 95 Toa Payoh, Lorong 4 selling Hainanese Western and the favourite comfort food of his homeland.

My latest visit was with Piano Duo CieL, Jared Liew and Juyen Chai, who had come from Seoul, South Korea to perform here. They had never visited Nepal or sampled Nepali cuisine, and so this was the perfect opportunity. The popular dish is momoes, meat dumplings which resemble xiao long bao but without the soup filling. Another was the Nepali chicken salad served on a crunchy poppadom. 

The Nepali chicken salad
was mouth-watering.

Just the starters:
Nepali momoes & garlic cheese mussels.

The man himself, Tom Shrestha
serves up his Nepali pork belly.

The meat dishes are mildly spiced with herbs and a far cry from the fiery curries of the south. Tom's piece de resistance is his Nepali pork belly, which is succulent and almost melts in your mouth. The Nepali dishes are enough to fill the belly even without trying the Western dishes (steaks and seafood), which are also very satisfying. But this did not prevent us from enjoying the garlic cheese mussels and minced beef pizza. 

Served with spiced rice and salad,
this Nepali pork belly is a must-try.

Nepali lamb tash
& the minced beef pizza.

Most memorable is Tom's personal touch. He always remembers his patrons and their preferences, but is unafraid of suggesting new dishes to try out. I remember my 2011 trip to Kathmandu where the local restaurants serve up a wide variety of dishes to suit every taste, and Tim's menu is just as broad, and there is little to be disappointed about.

After the meal, there was a short walk across the courtyard for some ice cream at Shrove Tuesday, a hip little gelateria. This area of Toa Payoh, one of Singapore's oldest housing estates, has gentrified a little, but not too much. It's still as local as one can get, and it's only a matter of time we will return. 

TIM'S RESTAURANT & CAFE

Blk 95 Toa Payoh Lorong 4

#01-52. Singapore 310095

 Tel: 6250-5246