Hot Tomato: Hot Ticket For Your Budget

There are days when the good old char siew pork or laksa just can't make my day.  There are days when I stare blankly into space and dream of the sinewy tender morsels of Snackaroo steak swimming in that sinful mushroom gravy.  There are days when I long for real, badass, high protein, high cholesterol meat.  Thankfully, this was a day that deserved such gluttony.

Pardon the late post, but on my special day (my birthday, of course!), we scooted over to a locally run joint that caught my eye when I passed by one of their branches in Bedok Mall.  Plastered over one poster was the tempting and salivating sight of steak, with a promise that it was the best cheap steak around these places.  I was hooked instantly, and there was no better day to try it out than on my day, when I gave myself the freedom to splurge on calories and cholesterol.

Red hot.

We picked the branch in 313 Somerset since on a weekday, it was quieter, hidden within the mall's basement bowels, away from the maddening shopping crowd.  Having scouted the menu before, we knew there was an ongoing promotion during off-peak hours: 20% off each main course during weekdays from 3 to 5:30 PM.  That alone was a steal.

Hot Tomato offers straightforward Western food, no strange east-west fusion, no weird sounding names.  All these at a price tag that would shame any Western food court stall.  Curious and craving for the true taste of grilled steak, we both picked meats for our main course.  No holds barred.

Perfect time: no crowds, 20% discount.

The place was practically deserted at around 3PM, with a couple of tables occupied by customers finishing off their orders.  Cozy round couches resembling plump sliced tomatoes seemed the perfect spot for dates or groups of friends, while several tables were just simple and neat, obviously for those just wanting to eat and run.  We settled for the tomato couches (how I call it), and wasted no time ordering.  It was past 3PM and we were clearly starving!

We upgraded one of the main course for just an additional SGD 2.90 to score on their soup of the day, garlic bread, and a drink.  The garlic bread looked so shabby and shameful, I didn't post a picture of it.  Clearly not worth the added bucks.  Still, the soup looked promising when it arrived.

Fresh Tomato Basil Soup, SGD 4.50 (solo, +7% GST and 10% service charge, approx. P160)

Of course, Hot Tomato just had to offer tomato soup on its menu.  This warm and filling concoction was tasty and heartwarming.  The goodness of fresh tomatoes gushed forth with each slurp.  They just got it all right with the soup bearing their name.  It was an auspicious start to our meal.

Just Fries With A PInch of Pepper, SGD 3.90 (+7% GST and 10% service charge, approx. P140)

No kick starter would be complete without the standard fries on the side, but this version was quite above standard.  Despite its humble name, these were real potato fries cooked to a crisp.  Although a tad under-seasoned (a pinch of pepper probably isn't enough, eh?), there was nothing a dash of tomato ketchup with Tabasco couldn't fix.  The serving size was worth the price, but still, I've had better fries some place else.  

But, the limelight was to be shared by our two meaty main courses.  Choice cuts of meat paired elegantly with pasta for the obligatory carbs.

Lamb Chop and Bratwurst Sausage, SGD 12.90 (+7% GST and 10% service charge, approx. P460)

Apparently tired of the erratic taste of hawker lamb chops, she tried Hot Tomato's version this time.  All of their grilled meats came with spaghetti aglio olio (sadly, there is no other choice), and a small side of fresh greens.

Where's the sausage?

Resting lusciously on the bed of spaghetti was two large slabs of lamb chops glistening in its greasy glory.  They were beautifully charred on the outside, the distinct aroma of fire grill wafting upwards from the plate.  The meat was tender and oozing with flavor, although we would have preferred it to be a tad more well-done.  There was a generous sliver of fat on each chop, cloying and toying with our senses.

There you are!

Not to be outdone, the bratwurst was seared on its sides yet exuded the juicy and peppery goodness of sausage.  It was huge, by the way, and paired with two large chops, we couldn't finish it off.  All these meaty pleasures paired well with their signature pepper sauce, proudly home-made.  I would have preferred mushroom gravy, but the pepper sauce was addicting!  

The spaghetti, on the other hand, was a stark contrast to the near perfect execution of the meat.  It was bland, to say the least, and perhaps smothering it underneath all that meat was a pretty smart idea, so as to let the flavor of the lamb and sausage drip and mix with the pasta.  Nevertheless, it would be better if the pasta stood on its own.  

Rib Eye Steak, SGD 14.50 (+7% GST and 10% service charge, approx. P518)

Hot Tomato offered only limited cuts of beef, so I picked the rib eye, which they promised to be tender all the way.  And they made no mistake about it.

With the tell-tale criss-cross charred markings on the surface, this huge slab of beefy goodness occupied almost the whole plate, eclipsing the sad spaghetti underneath.  Again, the salivating aroma of charcoal grill rose from my plate, beckoning me to begin slicing through it.

Somebody stop me!

With very little traces of fat, you're quite sure to get all your money's worth for every gram of meat.  I ordered mine medium well, and it was perfectly executed.  The exterior was grilled to a smokey taste, while the meat within remained juicy and tender.  Still, some parts seemed under-seasoned, but the signature pepper sauce remedied that easily.  

Just the way I like it.

Although I ventured to believe the steak would have been better with mushroom gravy (just like Snackaroo), the pepper sauce was quite a revelation.  The serving was also huge and nearly overpowered me, but I was able to finish it off after an extra effort!

Fresh Lime Juice, SGD 2.50 (+7% GST and 10% service charge, approx. P90)

With the upgraded meal came a choice of drink, and the fresh lime juice was just typical and ordinary, but able to quench away all that peppery taste and greasy flavor.

Hot Tomato's attractive menu and even more attractive prices explains why it is such a hit among the younger crowd in Singapore.  With steak grilled the way it should be, it offers locals the true Western flavor, without damaging the wallet too much.  The 20% Happy Hour promotion seems a smart choice, but considering the added 17% from GST and service charge, you actually just get 3% off.  But choosing the off-peak time saves you the hassle of queuing up (and lines do become long here), so the 3% off seems okay.

Still, some aspects of their menu need some polishing.  Perhaps some more flexibility with their steak and pasta pairings would help, or an even more smashing idea is letting diners choose their side dishes.  One thing for sure though, they got their steaks right.  The flavor of their rib-eye reminded me of Borgo Cafe's Butcher Steak back home, and that alone will keep me coming back.  So despite some misses, Hot Tomato remains the easy choice for those craving for a quick steak fix without burning the budget.

Jones

Hot Tomato

313 @ Somerset

313 Orchard Road, 

#B3-35/36

Singapore

http://www.hottomato.com.sg/