Seasonal Salad Bar, Toa Payoh

Children from the eighties and nineties might be able to recall American-style salad bar restaurants having a major presence in Singapore. The likes of Ponderosa, Denny's and later Sizzler all offered a similar premise: unlimited helpings at the salad bar, with or without a main course, for under $25 at most (about $35 in today's money). Oddly enough, despite its name, the salad bar offered more, hot pasta and even ice-cream being typical. This made it viable to go without the main course and still have a decent dinner for even less.

They're all gone now, though nobody knows why. Denny's beat a hasty retreat to Marina Square, where it made its last stand briefly as Checkers. Ponderosa had a happier ending, its chef going on to start Aston's, now a mainstay of eating out here. The most recent memory I had of the salad bar restaurants was a gathering I had at Sizzler in Suntec City, as late as 2010. Since then they appeared to have vanished without a trace.

... Until recently, when two things happened. Swensen's stepped in to fill the gap with Swensen's Earle, and Seasonal Salad Bar - earlier known as Chum's Steak House - took on the premises previously occupied by Sizzler in Toa Payoh, later expanding to a second location in Kent Ridge. On a whim, the family went to Toa Payoh for dinner last night, and so I get to relive my memories gorging myself on salad from my younger days.

The salad bar is now slightly more localised, with Singapore fried noodles appearing alongside pasta amongst other things, and there are several changes to the main courses on offer (Country Fried Steak might be of interest). Quality of food is largely the same, ie, not great, but you were not here for that as you were for the quantity. 

The premises were spacious and can seat large crowds, which might make this the ideal place for large groups with tenuous aspirations to go into competitive eating. Alternatively, this might just be the sort of place you would want to take your significant other on a date if you really want to relive the past, and want a break from the offerings from more contemporary eating places.

Verdict:

3/4 - that one oso can

Location:

190 Lorong 6,
Toa Payoh #02-516
Singapore 310190