A taste of home that won't hurt the pocket

Yeoh Wee Teck | The New Paper | Tue Aug 24 2010

Singapore, August 24, 2010

Space@My Humble House
#02-25 Esplanade Mall

Never judge a restaurant by its neighbour.

Space stands next to My Humble House at the Esplanade. My Humble House is well established and much loved, and that adulation is reflected also in the
pricing and the dress code.

It’s for grown-ups with grown-up wardrobes and very mature wallets.

Space, on the other hand, seems content to appeal to the direct opposite, even though both are run by the Tung Lok group.

Space is casual and noisy, with a menu loaded with comfort food and comfortable pricing.

I’m a big fan of comfort food, so I was overjoyed to find dishes I really liked.

The claypot rice in consomme (right, $12) is one of my favourites. It has a hearty broth that compliments the rice and there is enough seafood in it so it’s a one-dish meal.

The Royal Carrot Cake ($14) is another winner.
It’s decadent with ingredients – crabmeat, prawns and scallops – but the radish cake also impressed. It was just the right amount of mush.

The dish comes slightly spicy, so do ask for it to be chilli free if you can’t handle it.

The zhajiang mian (handmade noodles with minced pork sauce, $10) is also good. The savoury sauce compliments the noodles.

But while I like the stock for the rice noodles with fish fillet ($12), it was more decent than spectacular.

It’s the same case with the much-touted Mama Leong’s Chicken Rice ($12).

The rice is amazing – fragrant, light and not oily. The chicken is good but not exciting.

I went there twice – once invited by the restaurant and once on a quiet Saturday afternoon – and the standard of the food remains unchanged.

It is hearty and tasty, and comes in a portion good enough for sharing. It’s home-cooked food (if you have a kitchen like this) that is ultimately familiar and welcomed.

The menu is small but it won’t be a problem because it’s the sort of place you return to just for your favourite dishes

Space@My Humble House
#02-25 Esplanade Mall
Singapore 039802
Open daily, noon to 3pm for lunch and 6pm to 11pm for dinner.
Tel: 6423 1881