MH Tham
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An old family favourite in the East, this restaurant has been a weekend staple for years. For some strange reason, we would willingly squeeze in with the crowds, just like many other families. Reservations are highly recommended, almost mandatory.
It used to be far more chaotic, but they have now streamlined their processes with three dinner seatings: 5:00pm, 6:30pm, and 8:00pm. If you are in the first slot, parking is usually available. For later slots, be prepared for the traffic jam outside the restaurant before being able to hand your car over to the valet.
Once inside, everything runs like clockwork, as long as you manage to catch the attention of the waitstaff. If not, you risk wasting precious minutes from your 1.5 hour dining time, as dishes do take time to arrive.
The atmosphere is incredibly lively, ranging from crying babies, the occasional semi-tipsy uncle, and the chatter of families over food.
As for the menu, our staple includes the coffee ribs, black pepper beef cubes, prawn rolls, vegetables with shark cartilage broth, and of course, the crabs. We usually go for the chilli crab, which tastes more tomato than chilli, but is already spicier than elsewhere. The black pepper crab is a strong contender, though it can be a bit too pepperish at times.
All in all, a good place for family dinners, but if you would prefer to avoid the crowd, consider going on a weekday before 6:30pm.