Okay...Ready...Let's Go - My uncle pretty much functions like that. He loves taking out the whole family for meals, whenever he's available, and to wherever he wants to go. His selections, I must say, have been very good. He's like the Directory King of Hawker Centers in Singapore, and some say JB.
Most of the time they are dirty, ultra gross-ness, and dirt cheap (pun very much intended). So guess where we landed for dinner the other day? (Old) Lai Huat Seafood Restaurant. Say what? I know...I had no clue what the cuisine was or where it's at. In fact, I'm still figuring out what's with the bracketed prefix.
It's an open coffee shop space with a few fans that didn't really break their wind on us. All three generations were perspiring while the round table was being prepared. Being prepared for what you may ask? A lady started mopping up the humoungous table with a soapy piece of cloth which splattered everywhere, a lot more on my mum than she would have liked. And then a mega huge plastic in pink, covered the table before the orders were taken and the food were laid out. The plastic table thingey stuck to the surface easily, thanks to the foamy layer of soap.
It's the first time in my life that I've witnessed this spectacle in any eatery in the world!!! But I guess it makes a lot of scientific, chemical sense.
Anyway, moving on...we ordered a round of young coconuts and they were yummy. Sweet and fleshy. Although I still prefer Quayside's which are pricier (the one at Clarke Quay). Then my uncle, with an independent mind ordered what he wanted us to have for dinner that night - fried bass (I think) in sweet & sour gravy made crunchy with sliced onion wholes.
Then there were Sambal Kangkong which was super sambal belanchan-ized. Shiok. Meatballs and Fish Tofu. Very tender and smooth, yumsie-doodles. Also fried young squid. Fabulous, just fabulous. It's done old-school style and served on an assortment of orange melamine plates. Probably that's why the seafood here tastes better than the atas eateries which bank on air-con, reasonable location and an extensive menu to seduce the hungry ignoramus population here.
By far, this restaurant has exceeded my fussy expectations. Total Shocker : IT WAS WORTH IT. And if it does matter, the meal was extremely affordable.
Plus, I earned for myself a lifelong friend :)
Not-So-Secret Hideout : (Old) Lai Hust Seafood Restaurant
Address : #01-01/02, 223 Rangoon Road, Rangoon View
Tel : 62927375
