(THE NEW PAPER) - If you are a crab lover, HolyCrab should already be on your radar. It has a small menu of nine crab dishes (Sri Lankan crabs at $9 for every 100g) and a few other dishes.
The restaurant is the result of a partnership between owner-chef Elton Seah and restaurateur Jamie Lim.
Its Green Chilli Crab could be your new obsession. It has a moss-coloured sauce that may put you off, but when you taste it, there is no holding back.
It features a sauce created from two types of green chilli, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, candlenut and onion.
There is a tinge of spice, but it is more aromatic than scorching hot - perfect for dipping your mantou ($1 each) into.
The Devil's Crab is more creamy than spicy. I don't know how it got its name.
The almost-sweet sauce has evaporated milk and salted butter. This is perfect for those who prefer food on the safe side.
Not safe at all is the Balsamic Crab. In fact, it is one of the most unusual ways to eat crab.
The sauce is made out of balsamic vinegar, red chilli and curry leaves. This dish is definitely unique.
You will either love this or, like me, move on after one taste.
The vinegar is too in-your-face sharp for me. All you are tasting is vinegar and not crab meat. But my friend who loves pork leg stewed in vinegar was absolutely enchanted by the dish.
While the crab dishes are the draw, I will return for Hooked On Mee ($15), its take on Hokkien mee.
The prawn stock takes this dish on an umami high, but it is the liberal dose of deep-fried pork lard that will make me a regular - especially when you can ask for all the lard you want.
You may roll your eyes at the name of its bee hoon dish.
It is called Succumb To Mee ($15). The name proved prophetic.
I was stuffed by the time I got to this, but the moment I tasted the crab broth (flower crabs, peppercorns and lemongrass), I knew I was going to exceed my calorie count.
It tastes so simple and unassuming, until you think about it and realise you are hooked.
So, as expected, HolyCrab has attracted a lot of attention.
Book a table before heading down because you don't want to be that hungry man with a craving for crab stuck outside, watching others digging out every bit of flesh.
HOLYCRAB
2, Tan Quee Lan Street, 01-03
Lunch from Mondays to Saturdays
11.30am to 2.30pm; dinner 6 to 10pm daily
Tel: 8444-2722
