![]() |
|
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLY T’S |
Tucked away between The Cathay and Plaza Singapura along Handy Road, Charly T’s was just easily accesible, yet quiet enough for a date. I was greeted by the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors, on which were plastered pictures of food items and their countries of origin, such as the Kalua Pork from Hawaii. I spied a vertiginous-looking little perch up in one corner, with a music stand and wondered if anyone had performed up there. The huge television screen right above my head went undetected, until I had sat down and noticed its reflection on the glass doors and reflective walls. The warm, earthy décor was thoughtful yet understated, which also made it a good place to hang out and spend some time with friends.
Known for their unusual sauces, my quarter chicken came with the creamy roasted sesame sauce and Kampong Amber with roasted peanut sauce. It felt a little weird to have such unusual offerings apart from the usual chili and ketchup sauces, but these tasted so great I mopped up every drop with my chicken.
My partner and I tried three side dishes—the German potato salad, coleslaw and the macaroni and cheese. The coleslaw was forgettable, but the other two were exceptional. I could barely detect the sauce used for the German potato salad, but it brought out the flavor in the dish superbly. The macaroni and cheese was unique and delicious.
The pricing is similar to Kenny Roger’s, and is pricier than Astons, but the chicken is worth every cent. Juicy and succulent, it was beautifully marinated with herbs, and peeled easily away from the bones. While I was there, the staff also came around to promote Samoi Michalls cookies that their American boss had brought in from Hawaii, which came in Toffee Macadamia, Lilikoi Macadamia and Chocolate Macadamia flavors. I also noted merchandise such as tee-shirts and wine-stoppers being sold at the entrance.
True to Charly T’s tagline—Food Journeys—the website http://www.charlyts.com is a delightful accompaniment. A blog explains the inspirations behind some of the most popular items on the menu. Not merely a restaurant, Charly T’s looks set to introduce a whole new concept into the Singapore food world.