The north-east of Singapore is not just about Coney Island and perpetual construction of housing projects
As with all things ‘hip’ and new, the SOP for most Singaporeans is to gather their friends for a trip down and document it on social media. The container eateries @ Tebing Lane have recently burst onto our F&B scene, adding to the plethora of dining options on our tiny island. It is an initiative spearheaded by the Social Innovation Park Ltd, a non-profit organization incubating social entrepreneurs and innovators. This container dining concept has made its mark in Seoul with Common Ground, Boxpark in London and even one across the causeway.
Tebing lane is situated at the rather obscure end of Punggol, a short walk from Riviera LRT station. Let’s warn you beforehand that its accessible yet inaccessible location is likely to be the deciding factor if the place is a keeper for you. However, once you get there, you will be glad to discover that the north-east of Singapore is not just about Coney Island and perpetual construction of housing projects. A hidden gem indeed.
The container eateries @ Tebing Lane has amassed plenty of online coverage if you need to do your due diligence but here, we give you 3 reasons why it’s worth a visit.
1.Big Fish, Small Fish
Serving up affordable Fish & Chips, this container eatery has 5 different types of fishes for you to choose from. The chips aren’t your usual thick hand-cut potatoes, so don’t expect the food to be traditionally British. However, what sets them apart would be their free flow sauces. We sampled the Dory ($6.90) and Salmon ($12.90) and both came with super generous servings of thinly sliced fried potatoes. They were all prepared upon ordering, which excuses the longer waiting time and really, that first bite will cut it for you.
The Salted Egg Fried Calamari with Bonito Flakes ($7.50) is great for sharing as we feel the salted egg and fried calamari combo gets rather cloying. The calamari gets soggy towards the end too but just order it for the Salted Egg sauce, it’s that good.
Overall, they’re great for fuss-free meals that won’t break the bank. Their container concept houses an indoor seating and open concept kitchen, so it may leave you reeking of oil. We recommend heading down in the evening when seating al-fresco sounds more practical.
Big Fish, Small Fish
Food – 4/5
Ambience – 3/5
Price – $$
2.Seoul Good Dessert & Coffee
As the name implies, they serve all things Korean and instagrammable. Seoul Good’s current offerings includes their specialty Fried Chicken ($9.90 for 6 pieces) and Bingsu. The Bingsu flavours albeit common, is well-varied. We went for the Strawberry Yogurt Bingsu ($18.90) and loved the sweet-sour contrast the yogurt and strawberry syrup provided.
We felt that the price point is a little steep, and besides the container novelty, there isn’t anything compelling about them yet. Seoul Good does appear to be promising and we hear they are adding more items to their menu, so they’re definitely staying on our radar for now.
Props to them for also being the most appealing container out of the whole lot!
Seoul Good Dessert & Coffee
Food – 3.5/5
Ambience – 4/5
Price – $$$
3.Whisk & Paddle
Whisk & Paddle is not part of the container enclave but they’re right next to it. A cafe right by the river? It’s as picturesque as you imagined. They offer a lunch/dinner menu but we recommend checking out their weekend brunch/dessert items. The interior is spacious and with friendly servers, it’s perfect for your low-key Sunday afternoon. Whisk & Paddle has that refreshing cafe vibe which is something hard to find in most cafes. Pick a seat on the verandah with a riverside view and watch the day run by. Bliss.
Try the Warm Chocolate Fudge Cake ($6) and pair it with their Homemade Iced Teas ($6.90) for that afternoon pick-me-up. Their dessert offerings are all reasonably priced but try the variety of Bar Bites if you’re not a fan of sweets.
Whisk & Paddle
Food – 4/5
Ambience – 5/5
Price – $$
YP’s Verdict
Tebing Lane’s selling point is definitely its chilled river-side vibes and we reckon it’s Punggol’s answer to the super crowded Marine Cove @ East Coast. While there is a variety of food options and a scenic view to boot, we’re not head over heels for it yet. We see potential for a hangout spot but for now it’s more of a place you remember existed when you’re sick of your go-to spot. But to each his own, so we say definitely head down and see it for yourself; you won’t be disappointed with our 3 picks!
10 Tebing Lane Singapore 828849
Opening Hours
The container eateries: 12 noon – 10pm
Whisk & Paddle: 3.30pm-10.30pm (Tues to Fri) / 9.30am-10.30pm (Sat/Sun/PH)