More than just desserts

Tong shui may be the term for "desserts" in Cantonese, but Tong Shui Cafe serves up a lot more dishes than desserts, and good ones at that.

Having only frequented the cafe at ungodly hours (e.g. after a hard night's clubbing at Zouk just down the road), I can hardly comment on the crowd (there being none at 4am). However the staff are unfailingly alert and attentive when my friends and I wander in in search of respite for our tired feet and parched throats. I love sinking down onto the antique Chinese dark wooden furniture, revelling in the cool blasts of air-conditioning, and watching ancient period dramas on the restaurant's widescreen plasma TV.

The lady boss is always prompt in bringing us menus and water, and she makes great recommendations. One is spoilt for choice from the extensive menu of over 300 items. Tong Shui's staples include the ubiquitous Iced Milk Tea and traditional Sweet/Sour Plum Drink. An eating companion swears by the Noodles with Sunset Egg and Beef Brisket, beef noodles with a poached egg that comes dry or with an amazingly fragrant soup. Another swears by the Thick Toast, which comes warm and soft and slathered with anything from D24 durian puree to peanut butter and condensed milk. For those desperately in need of a thirst quencher, there are comfort drinks like Eight Treasures Tea and Hot Coke with Ginger (guaranteed to cure the sorest of throats).

The main draw, however, has to be the fruit cocktails with shaved ice, such as Mango Strawberry Snowy Mountain, a delicious combination of fresh fruit, sago and syrup. One of my personal favourites, it combines just the right amounts of sweetness and tanginess in one bowl. Altogether a refreshing and satisfying end to a night out.

In a quiet and yet central location, Tong Shui makes for the perfect post-clubbing rest stop. I definitely intend to make more trips here, just for the tong shui it is fondly named after.