Bistro One Zero Three

We weren't feeling particularly hungry that day. All we wanted to do was to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Since our car was veering towards the West, a colleague's recommendation of Bistro One Zero Three suddenly came to mind.

The restaurant's address (103 Pasir Panjang Rd) runs synonymous with its name. Given the restaurant's unassuming exterior, we would have zoomed past it without batting an eyelid if not for GPS. Parking is a breeze since there is a huge public carpark just behind the restaurant.

I was a little apprehensive upon stepping into the restaurant. It felt like a flashback into the 80s. The chairs were old and the furnishings felt a little dated. Even the air smelt a tad musty. After scanning the restaurant, I was slightly relieved to find 2 families tucking into their main courses with much gusto- a very good sign indeed.

Since I already had in mind what I wanted to order, I quickly caught the attention of our very smiley waiter and impatiently rattled off my orders. While waiting for the food to arrive, I suddenly felt some stares coming from the counter and realized I was being "sized up" by a group of aunties (one of which probably comprised of the towkay neo, this being a family run restaurant).

Our dishes arrived in quick succession.

Bruschetta- Well toasted garlic bread topped with chopped tomatoes, onions and a drizzle of olive oil. Flavors were simple and clean but nothing to shout about.


Mushroom soup- Couldn't help but detect a hint of Campbell's canned soup in this dish. Surely the cook could have done better?


Rack of pork ribs- This dish came highly recommended in the various food reviews and it didn't take long for us to realize why. The BBQ sauce boasted sufficient kick and it only took a gentle nudge from the fork for the meat to fall off the bone. The accompanying sides were equally impressive. I really enjoyed the piping hot potato wedges which were crisp on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. They tasted so good on their own that I didn't even have to baptize them in chili sauce (which is my usual practice). Even the portion was generous- Hubby and I shared this as our main course.


Dessert- Brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream- Again, Hubby and I ordered this to share. The brownie came slightly warm and tinged with nuts. Eating it brought back fond memories of our dating days, when brownies with vanilla ice cream were vogue (that was before chocolate fondant came along). Even the scoop of vanilla ice cream that came with it boasted a smooth creamy texture that is far superior to the icicle speckled ones you find in supermarkets.


All in all, this was a wholesome dining experience with no frills. Prices are also pretty reasonable (SGD50 for the whole meal).

Whilst it is unlikely that we lazy Eastlanders will be making a return visit anytime soon, we would definitely drop by this unpretentious hole-in-the-wall eatery if we find ourselves in need for some good ol soul food in the West.