18 Chefs

I met up with JO and W for a very late lunch today at 18 Chefs. It was a good break from work and a wonderful opportunity to catch up with JO. After reading about 18 Chefs in one of the famous food blogs, I suggested taking a drive down to Eastpoint mall to check it out.

18 Chefs is a casual dining cafe that specialises in baked rice and pasta dishes.  The first thing that struck me was that the customers were mainly nurses (from the nearby Changi Hospital) and students (from the nearby secondary schools). Not surprisingly, there were posters promoting discounted meals to these 2 groups.

The menu had been printed on the table and was part of its design. To order, you tick your choices on a piece of paper and then proceed to the cashier to make payment. In terms of variety, the menu is rather limited with the usual favourites. The highlight was the flexibility given to diners to create their own baked dish by choosing the sauces and ingredients. Though the waiters were relatively young, service was prompt and friendly. Best of all, there was a free flow of condiments and ice cold water placed at the service counter where we could just help ourselves.

We ordered some garlic bread, a salad and some calamari and onion rings. Simple fare but appetising nonetheless.

The calamari rings came coated with a light crunchy batter.

  
JO ordered some home made ice lemon tea which arrived in an interesting  glass mug. I was tempted but decided on a diet coke instead. I try not to waste calories on sugared drinks, unless of course it's booze.

My dish was the first to arrive - Seafood Aglio Olio. The spaghetti (with squid, prawns and mussels) was generously coated with garlic, herbs and olive oil. Personally I much prefer pastas with a tomato or olive oil base. They are light, zesty and do not overwhelm the delicate taste of the rest of the ingredients.

When JO's Seafood Marinara came, I realised that she had ordered a tomato-based version of mine. It looked extremely tempting...should have asked her for a bite...rats.

W ordered one of the specials of the day, Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce, which came with corn soup and ice-cream. The grilled salmon lay temptingly on the rich sauce with a bed of vegetables by the side.

The pasta dishes range from $7+ to $13. Sides and salads cost between $3 to $7 and drinks will set you back from $1+. Best of all, there's a 25% discount on the meal on weekdays between 3pm to 5pm.

18 Chefs
Eastpoint Mall
Simei