Family-run TM’s by The Den is a big sibling to local spots The Den, which showcases Australian Wagyu M5+, and bar Pete’s Place. Although Wagyu also features on the menu, seafood and dishes with a Peruvian flair – the team of Filipino chefs have experience cooking in Latin America – are the focus at TM’s.
The open-fronted spot has a breezy, chilled vibe that’s perfect for kicking back and digging in. The staff here are exceptionally warm and friendly – and not just because we were there for a media tasting (one of our staff was sat outside in the blazing heat with her toddler twins a few weeks ago trying to hail a taxi and a server popped out to offer her little ones some chocolate milk to cool off – bless!). It’s the kind of place where every diner is made to feel like a valued regular.
In addition to a full à-la-carte menu, TM’s offers a semi-buffet weekday lunch (from $88) and semi-buffet weekend brunch ($168, including complimentary drink), plus Monday and Tuesday Wagyu Night ($168, including complimentary drink). The menu itself deserves a mention because gluten-free (G), dairy-free (D) and vegetarian (V) dishes are all helpfully labelled for those with special dietary requirements.
We found the mains we sampled a bit hit-and-miss. We liked the unique concept of the pescado de la leche (milkfish stuffed with mussel, scallop and prawn; $268), but the flavour fell flat for us, and the wet, grainy texture of the seafood paella ($168), made with squid ink, was all wrong (more risotto than paella). But TM’s definitely redeemed itself with its extensive range of starters and ceviches, which were universally delicious, if pricier than we were expecting given the ‘hood.
There was a pleasing punch of spicy and sour elements in the Nikkei-inspired scallop tiradito ($188).
The mixto ceviche ($188) was packed with sea bass, octopus and tuna in a vibrant rocoto chilli and leche de tigre sauce.
A gorgeous starter sampler, just for Foodie: grilled asparagus and halloumi ($78), grilled avocado ($108), Wagyu beef sliders ($88 for 2; $108 for 3) and tuna tataki ($98).
The grilled avocado was the surprising standout of the platter. A seemingly humble dish, we loved the smoky grilled flavour in combination with the avo’s creamy texture. The freshly decobbed sweetcorn nuggets and zesty chimichurri were worthy counterparts.
The artfully presented tuna tataki was another winning combination of fusion flavours and textures.
The leche flan ($78) provided a lovely little sweet ending to our meal.
23 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, 2872 6288
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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