Where I was staying before at Tampines, there used to have a really really good western food at the kopitiam 5 mins from my block.
It was run by an old hainanese couple and the chicken chop or pork chop or whatever chop came with this wonderful mild curried flavour gravy that is so deliciously unique. It went to the point where I started asking for that special gravy even when I ordered a cutlet or fish n chips. And ever since I have been using my experiences there as a yardstick to measure the value of other western food. Unfortunately when they went into retirement in the 90s, they did not pass on the business and therefore it is for me an experience of reminiscence now and nothing more. Now we see why MM Lee is advocating the institutionalisation of skills.
Since then, I have tried many western food and there are many good ones but great ones – none. The thing about western food is that it isn’t just about the piece of meat, same like kway teow soup isn’t just about the kway teow. There’s the soup and there’s the other ingredients like pork or fishcakes so if all I see in a western food is run of the mill sides like fried bun(damn oily!), slaw(factory made), baked beans(canned) etc etc..then it is really nothing special because the fact is I see those things all over the place.
Once upon a time I was quite fascinated by the creativity of Kenny Roger in it’s sides like potato salad, garlic potato, macaroni cheese etc. In those days, $2.80 for a portion of that sort of thing was quite a steal simply because it was something new to eating outlets of that level. Those were the Kenny Roger days so would you not think that it is an even bigger steal now if I were to say you can get a portion of those sides at $1.50 each?
The many good things about Aston was first told to me sometime last year after they’ve opened for almost 2 years. After which so many people were raving about it and I read so many good reviews in blogs and forums about how they were taking on the local western food market by storm. They were clearly amassing loyal supporters steadily. And so skeptically(because I didn’t want to look naive) I finally made my first trip to have a meal at Aston western food at Serangoon Gardens.
The special thing for me about Aston is that you get to choose your sides from quite a big spread. Even when I was ordering, I could feel the passion from them in providing good food. I mean it’s not very often that you can walk up to any hawker stalls and they ask you, “Which one would you like to go with your food?”. When they give you choices then it’s clearly something they don’t have to do but yet they’re doing it. That kind of activity is considered a customer service and it clearly can enhance the level of customer satisfaction(at least it did in mine). And the thing is at that point I’ve not even tasted the food.
I had prime sirloin steak many times before so I know what it needed to taste to be a good one. But the thing is, that is the cheapest beef item on the menu so I can’t expect so much can I? But after my first bite, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is strangely addictive. It miraculously had that right succulency and the flavour. I went on and on until the whole piece is gone, I was just short of licking up the leftover juices. Man, it had quality and most importantly the consistency. Now for $10, that is the best steak I ever had. Infact it even beat many $30-$40 ones. The flavour was distinctly unique and it clearly had replaced the yardstick from the one that was set by the hainanese couple.
I went back a few more times and tasted other things like chargrill chicken chops and pork chops and I had exactly the same sort of satisfaction. They clearly had got it right, the side dishes were real bonus and for a chicken chop like $5.90 with 2 of those sides? I don’t know about you but it isn’t difficult for me to decide what to eat whenever I see an Astons.
Pork Chop: 8/10 
Well I’ve tried sevaral sides like potato salad, mashed potato, cajun fries and slaw and they were all quite competent. I have to specially mention that if you were to order the cajun fries for $1.50, they packed it into the paper bag right to the top of it and the look of it could really make your jaw drop. Now, not many places can really offer this kind of quality at this kind of price so if you really care about eating the best $10 steak, then you must really try it.
Price: $8.90
Recommendation: Pork Chop, Prime Sirloin
Conclusion: Their side dishes will beat many steaks that can cost you $40 at restaurants. The cheapest items so far has been real impressive so I reckon the more expensive items on the menu must be better. You can’t get more value for the money spent.
Likes: Terrific flavour.
Dislikes: Food not warm enough.
| Address | Overall Rating | ||
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Tampines St 11 Blk 139 #01-08 Stall 10/11 |
Food: 8/10 Value: 9/10 Service: 6/10 Ambience: 6/10 Cleanliness: 6/10 Overall: 7.25/10  |