236. Chiam

My friend and I paid two visits to Chiam during April 2006. The first, lunch on Thursday 13th April would have inclined me to rate them excellent on every count. The surroundings are simple, relaxing and stylish. Our waitress was friendly and informative and the food and service was of an exceptional standard. We returned on Tuesday 18th April, again for lunch. The food was, perhaps, not quite up to the standard of our previous visit but was still of a very high standard. This time, however, service was poor. The vegetable appetizer, presented at all tables, was absent from our table. When the waiter noticed this, instead of bringing it, he merely removed the plates set out for it on our table. The proceedings were supervised throughout by a rather abrupt head waiter. Before the final course of our meal had been served, he brought the hot towels (which were, in fact, cold) together with my bill. He then stood about three feet away, staring, until I produced my credit card. We had arrived at the start of lunch service at 11.30am so I presume the idea was to rush us through in lightening fast time in order to liberate the table for more regular customers. There were, however, still empty tables at the time of our departure.If one is paying over $30 per head for a lunch, this attitude is not acceptable. On the basis of our first visit we would have recommended this restaurant without reservation. However, a restaurant in this class should be consistent and I shall therefore be advising my friends and colleagues to be wary of this place.

I have visited Chiam twice in the last month, both times with Asian exchange students (China and Japan). Everything was excellent.