Posted on Tue, 12 Apr 2011
Tawandang Rocks
Toss together Thai food, a German pork knuckle or two, live music, dancing waiters and beer, stir fry a little, and serve up Tawandang Microbrewery, an odd Thai-German microbrewery that is taking Singapore by storm. It’s a perfect case study of how you can never tell what will work and what won’t. Lots of fancy restaurants have opened and closed, yet others with a seemingly motley mish-mash of unrelated concepts come together and it flies. And strange as it sounds, Tawandang’s packing in the customers and the place rocks! (See the crowded picture? – this is the typical scene you get there. Nice and fun – like a beer hall.)
What’s even more amazing is that it actually succeeds in being ‘everything to everyone’ – it’s a family restaurant, so grannies and young tots come along to rock on, too. How totally cute is that? I’ve been to their Dempsey Hill outlet a couple of times and it’s always fun, especially when you reserve a table with a good view of the stage.
The food there is good and cheerful but not great: then again, it’s the whole experience at Tawandang that counts, rather than just one focal point. Its bestseller, the Deep Fried Pork Knuckles with Spicy Sauce, was particularly created to pair with the microbrewery’s three types of German beer – Lager, Dunkel and Weizen (from S$10 for 0.3 litres to S$50 for 2 litres). The a la carte menu serves up the usual suspects of Thai cuisine – Spicy Tom Yum Soup with Prawns in Coconut Milk is a favourite, Thai curries, olive and pineapple rice, pad Thai, and one of its latest offerings, Fried Seabass served with ‘Three Tastes’ Sweet, Sour & Spicy Sauce.
Tawandang’s latest outlet which opened recently is smack bang in the heart of the officelands of Suntec City, giving working execs a place to eat and let down their hair after work. Lunch time offers a special menu – Pad Thai ($11.90), and mod Thai food like Spaghetti Hoy Rai Pad Pik Pao (Spaghetti with Clams in Sweet Chilli Sauce, $13.90), Rad Na Ta Lae (Crispy noodles with Seafood, $13.90), and a range of one-dish rice meals.
The live music is turned on at all its three outlets in the evenings where the resident bands belt out a mix of western and Thai pop. Sometimes, the whole wait staff come forward and do a choreographed jiggle or even sing along, too, which is real cute. That’s when the more spontaneous of the diners get up and dance along at their table mid meal. That’s the kind of fun and happy atmosphere you get at Tawandang, which the thai call ‘Kwam Sook Sanook Sa Narn’ (literally, happy and fun). It’s the sort of place you can go to for a quick casual meal in your jeans and T-shirt, or Bermudas even, and work in a quick dance along. No pretentions or airs – just loads of fun and good food. Elaine and I really like it, and if you haven’t tried it out yet, perhaps it’s time you do.
Thai Pop Night Every Last Wednesday
By the way, Tawandang Microbrewery @ Suntec will be hosting a series of themed evenings on the last Wednesday of every month. The first takes place on 27 April 2011, featuring Thai top 40 music, and one-for-one beer all night from 6pm. I bet it’s going to be really fun. Reservations so essential. Tawandang Microbrewery @ Suntec: 6243 2291
1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec Convention Hall #01-01A/B
