Loading Bay The Bistro
750D Chai Chee Road
#01-02 Technopark @ Chai Chee
https://www.facebook.com/loadingbaythebistro
Hidden Find With Decent Western Food & Desserts
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $14 per person.
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Founded in August 2013, Loading Bay The Bistro in Chai Chee Technopark has largely flown under the radar. Partially due to very little advertising, and very little awareness in the Chai Chee community, many people working or living nearby don't even know about this casual Western cafe and bar! Furthermore, as it's name suggests, it's actually located next to a loading bay! Sad, as Loading Bay The Bistro is worth a visit!
Ambiene at Loading Bay The Bistro is their strongest point. Part modern cafe, part laid back bar, the spacious interior features an eclectic decor. Furniture is a mish mash of industrial and wooden, befitting its location, but work well. Retro pieces like an old television are juxtaposed by hand painted wall art, and diners are even invited to leave their mark! Best of all, Loading Bay The Bistro has a pool / snooker table, and a lounge area for chilling!
Service at Loading Bay The Bistro is largely self-service. You order, make payment, and collect your order from the counter, as well as help yourself to drinks. Still, staff are rather friendly, and handle enquiries well. Pretty decent service, and staff will even engage you in conversation if you so choose. I also like that they are particular about cleanliness, dirty tables are cleared very quickly.
Food at Loading Bay The Bistro might be their weakest point. They offer a casual Western menu, which is not only rather limited, but their food is mostly processed, frozen, or pre-packaged. Still, I have to give credit, as their dishes turn out decent and edible, portions are large for 1 person, and they bother to use fresh salad. Prices are wallet friendly, a meal here costs less than SGD $10, or less than SGD $15 with drinks.
Desserts are a different matter entirely. Loading Bay The Bistro handmakes most of their desserts, which means their cakes / confectioneries are decadent and really yummy! They also have a small breakfast menu in the mornings. And because they sell beer, and have a lounge area with a pool / snooker table, Loading Bay The Bistro is a perfect after-work chilling place with friends.
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Unless you're looking for it, you wouldn't even know there was a restaurant / cafe / bar in Chai Chee Technopark, as there is very little advertising, or signage around the Bedok / Chai Chee area. Walking in, you're struck by the large and comfortable looking space, which looks inviting.
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| Loading Bay The Bistro Signage |
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| Entrance Walkway |
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| Counter |
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| Pool Table & Lounge |
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| Pool Table & Seating |
Quirky art pieces, many contributed by diners, adorn the walls near the entrance. The lounge area has a pool / snooker table, a book / magazine rack for browsing, and comfy reclining chairs for lazing.
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| Guide To Coffee |
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| Express Yourself Wall |
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| Chai Chee Technopark Businesses |
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| Kinetic Sand |
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| Loading Bay The Bistro Decor |
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| Quote Of The Day |
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| Quote Of The Day Again |
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| Loading Bay The Bistro Opening Hours |
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| Christmas Cupcakes |
For an additional SGD $3.80, you can add on 1 can soft drink and the soup of the day, for every purchase of 1 main course. I found the Cream Of Mushroom & Chicken Soup to be decent, better than I expected with chunks of chicken within.
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| Soft Drinks |
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| Cream Of Mushroom & Chicken Soup |
Beer is pretty cheap here, and although the options are very limited, the Beer Hoegaarden (SGD $5.90) is sold for much cheaper than elsewhere.
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| Beer Hoegaarden |
The Golden Breaded Fish With Pasta Spaghetti In Red Sauce (SGD $9.50) has 3 crisp, fried fish cutlets, on a bed of spaghetti tossed in homemade tomato red sauce. I like that the salad is fresh, and that the pasta isn't drowning in sauce. Decent dish.
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| Golden Breaded Fish With Pasta Spaghetti In Red Sauce 01 |
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| Golden Breaded Fish With Pasta Spaghetti In Red Sauce 02 |
The Lasagne (SGD $9.50) was a huge serving, I couldn't finish it! Quality is average, seems to be the pre-packed kind that was reheated. But the salad was clean and refreshing, and I like the touches of perfectly toasted garlic bread as a side. Above average dish!
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| Lasagne 01 |
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| Lasagne 02 |
The Steak & Fries (SGD $13.80) is hit and miss. The steak is a nice medium rare, tender, and juicy with good beef flavour, but this is the default state, they didn't ask me how I would like the doneness. The vegetables of coleslaw is forgettable, and while the brown meat gravy is savoury and thick, it's also a little too salty. The thick cut fries are nice though, warm with good potato flavour.
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| Steak & Fries 01 |
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| Steak & Fries 02 |
A side order of Fries + Chicken Wings (SGD $7.50) is great for sharing, or even to consume by yourself! Freshly cooked to order, the Fries are thick cut, with solid potato flavour, while still being fluffy within. The Chicken Wings are piping hot, with a crisp outer skin, and tender, juicy chicken meat within, carrying good savoury flavour. Excellent!
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| Fries |
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| Chicken Wings |
The Chocolate Truffle Cake (SGD $4.80) was awesome! The cake was sweet, rich and dense, with full chocolate flavour, yet not too overpowering. Rather filling for 1 person, best shared. Highly recommended!
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| Chocolate Truffle Cake |
An above average American Cheesecake (SGD $3.80), this was properly sweet, but not overly so, with a dense, creamy texture. The crust is crumbly, and has a hint of buttery biscuit texture, but the white chocolate garnish was flat and weak in taste. Pretty decent option here.
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| American Cheesecake |
The Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie With White Chocolate Chips (SGD $1.30) is below average overall. While I liked the good dark chocolate taste, contrasted well by the sweet white chocolate, the texture was rather dry, and neither crunchy nor soft.
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| Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie With White Chocolate Chips |
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CONVERSATION