It was one of those Saturday evenings where my partner and I had no idea where to go for dinner. Dinner at the mall was not ideal as most of the restaurants would be packed (even the lousy ones hah..hah...)
We have been wanting to try The Museum@The Starling but there is always a long queue since it is a new sensation. We'll just have to wait until the novelty wears off.
So the only place I know that might be peaceful is Tables of Joy (CLOSED).
It was about 7:30pm when we walked from The Starling and when we passed by the corner Korean BBQ place (geez..I don't know their name!), it was jam packed. So was The Good Batch. But it was all quiet at Tables of Joy. We were the only ones there.
Again we ordered from the sharing menu. We had the steamed spare ribs which my partner remarked "has been in the fridge before".
I don't know about that but what I have to say is that it was underwhelming. Not something I would order again.
For vegetables, I ordered my partner's favorite ladies fingers.
And the other vegetable, due to lack of choice was stir fried cabbage.
We had one more dish of course, which turned out to be the best one, the Chicken in a Basket.
The spring chicken was of a good size, not like the microscopic one that we had at an expensive restaurant at the mall. Besides fries, it came with a small serving of salad.
I told my partner, half-half heh..heh... We had half a chicken each and I enjoyed the chicken so much that I was thinking of visiting on my own and having that for lunch.
In spite of his not so favorable opinion on our previous visit, my partner did not say no to the cendol.
The green cendol jelly was still not as soft as it should be but we did not mind. I was really stuffed that evening because heh...heh.... I had my favorite dakgalbi for lunch.
When we left that evening, there were still no customers. I kind of feel sorry for them and I hope it was not a representation of their traffic on typical evenings/weekends. Would we be back? Of course, but I would be more inclined to choose from the set meals menu. I am sure my partner would find something suitable to eat.
When every other place is packed jam with people yet tables of joy is bare, it doesn't sound well for them. The spring chicken dish looks like a western dish. of all the dishes you ordered here I would go for the spring chicken due to the fries.
ReplyDeleteI worry they can't survive. You will like the spring chicken.
DeleteEven though Tables of Joy didn't give you complete joy, you've been back quite a few times I see. It doesn't bode well for them when they don't have the numbers during weekend dinners (coz that's the time most people would eat out), so they'll certainly need customers like you to survive. I wonder if it's because of the limited menu or because they didn't update their menu (after two years). The vegetable dishes look too simple (if I fry cabbage at home, it'll turn out like that...haha!). P/S: Wah, your partner has a very discerning tongue leh (even knowing when something has been in the fridge before)...he should be a food critic himself and do some guest posts on your blog...wuahahahaha! ;D
ReplyDeleteI think they may not be so "exciting" compared to the other trendy restaurants/cafes and the food is more towards home cooking which some may find too "boring". I have been there 4 times, twice on my own and twice with my partner. Oh yes, the man has quite sensitive tastebuds. He once remarked at a restaurant that "this fish has been in the freezer for a long time already" hah...hah....
DeleteLove the pleasant surroundings, the simple decor. There is beauty in simplicity, too much decor gives me a headache. I like those places where they serve their food in a basket on the waxed brown paper - no need to wash using water and detergent, just throw away the paper. Business here is rather slow too, most places. 7th Month some more, all the Hungry Ghosts have come out to roam... LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too. It's quite tranquil but not exciting enough to draw the crowds especially the younger set. I think it is more appealing to the more mature folks, like us hee...hee...hee...
DeleteYou and your darling are always eating within a 5km radius from home. You should pamper yourself to dine at those restaurants at Damansara Heights and thence to a romantic drink at their lounge pubs there. I guarantee you will love the ambiance and different class of customers there, never mind the bill la. Your partner will tab la.
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't like to battle with traffic and crowds, so we venture nearby only. Besides, my partner's taste is more towards Chinese food, so pubs and lounges are out hee..hee...
Deletesimple dishes which I think PH can cook better than these ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL at Twilight Man's comment, but well yea, kinda agree with him that you both should do something exciting during the weekend than eating at a boring place....hehehehehe!
LOL! What to do, my partner is not really into the more trendy kind of places. Actually, me too hah..hah...
DeleteThe stir fried cabbages look too simple, maybe their menu wasn't all that exciting which explains the lack of customers
ReplyDeleteYou may be right.
DeleteSo many choices to spoil the customers. Some with packed crowds, some may be few or poor traffic. Good that you give it a try. Not all sounds satisfying but glad you find the spring chicken good. I dont mind that.
ReplyDeleteI won't mind having the spring chicken again.
DeleteHope they'll see better crowd!
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling over the cendol and dakgalbi. :)
Competition is stiff what with restaurants at the mall.
DeleteI think you lunch dakgalbi looks the best pick of them all.
ReplyDeleteIt was really good, my favorite at Sopoong.
DeleteThe spring chicken looks yummy. Looks like this place is losing out to the other eateries.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for the proprietor.
DeleteThe spring chicken looked good from it glistening skin, and I hope it had crispy skin too, did it?
ReplyDeleteYes, the skin was crispy and very tasty.
Delete