By Jill Alphonso, with additional reporting by Aaron Goh, 29 May 2005
Sunday Times

FAST FOOD: Office workers can grab a quick bite from the many outlets in the Raffles Place area for breakfast or lunch.

ACCOUNTANT Delmond Yeo has got his sums right. Figuring out that the working masses in the Raffles Place area could always use another place to eat, he opened The Well at Caltex House four months ago.

The 226-sq ft space with several tables and chairs sells dimsum and pau.

'I used to work in Cecil Street and know from experience that many people usually try to find breakfast or a quick snack to take away,' says the 32-year-old.

He spent $50,000 to start the business, which is run by three employees. He also works for an accounting firm in Bukit Merah. The Well is now turning in a profit of about $4,000 a month.

The downtown commercial enclave of Raffles Place is home to thousands of working folk.

The rush for breakfast starts as early as 7am and dies down around 9.30am. Lunch-time, from noon to about 1.30pm, is the other food rush-hour.

Many head to the many small outlets on the ground floor and basements of Caltex House and Clifford Centre, which sell everything from dimsum to simple meals.

Others seek out culinary delights like prata and prawn noodles in the food centre on the first floor of the Golden Shoe Complex.

But if you hunger for some relative tranquillity, the tree-lined Market Street is ideal. Here, you find nasi briyani, beehoon and curry.

Business here tends to peak largely at breakfast and lunch hours, but food sellers do not mind, pointing to the comfort of a catchment crowd.

Mr Teo Kim Bee, 56, owner of Alfo Trader, says: 'It's good because there are certain set hours with the working crowd - you know when they're going to arrive and leave.'

It sells everything from wonton mee to carrot cake bought from well-known stalls in Maxwell Road and Amoy Street.

'If I worked in a residential area, I'd have to practically work for 24 hours,' says the man who has been renting his 300-sq ft stall in Market Street since 1991.

He also delivers food to businesses in the area during lunch. He declines to reveal how much he makes, saying modestly that he survives well enough.

Is the food sold in Raffles Place any good?

Ms Lynn Tan, a management consultant who gets her breakfast fix in Raffles Place nearly every day, says: 'There's a pretty good selection so I can't complain.'

Mr Harwin Chandra, 27, an art director at an advertising agency, has no complaints either.

'I'd recommend the food here,' says the man enjoying a plate of fried noodles at a stall in Market Street.

'It's cheap and the food's good. You can sit outdoors which gives you a couple of minutes to relax before getting back to the office.'

RAFFLES MRT AREA

PEOPLE working in offices in Caltex House, The Arcade and Clifford Centre are spoilt for choice for takeaway food.

The Well
#B1-08 Caltex House
Opens: 7.30am to 7.30pm, Mondays to Fridays; 7.30am to 2pm, Saturdays

If you are a dimsum lover, partake from this Well which sells chee cheong fun and chwee kueh at $1.50 each. On the menu too is homemade porridge, the cheapest being the peanut variety at just $1.90 a bowl.

Pulp
#01-k2 Clifford Centre
Opens: 7am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays

Pulp caters to the health-conscious and uses fresh fruit for its wide variety of drinks. The bestseller is the Pulp Cocktail, which contains the pulp from all fruit used in each concoction.

Food from Zaiton Selera Rasa

Zaiton Selera Rasa
#01-04 The Arcade
Opens: 6.30am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays

This family business offers traditional Malay food such as mee siam, lontong, mee rebus ($2.50 dine-in, 10 cents more to take away), and kuehs.

Quick Picks
#01-09 The Arcade
Opens: 7am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays

Started by 10 men who met in the Air Force, the five-month-old eatery caters to those who want a fuss-free breakfast. Try the big pork pau ($1).

Crispy Pancakes
#01-10 The Arcade
Opens: 8am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays

If you prefer sweet over savoury, don't miss these crispy pancakes (90 cents each). The batter is made using a recipe from owner Kevin Loh, 56, who also conducts pancake-making classes.

Corner Delights
#01-31 The Arcade
Opens: 7.45am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays; 7.45am to 2pm, Saturdays

This 11-year-old family business serves chwee kueh ($1.50), soon kueh (80 cents), dumplings ($1.50) and yam cakes ($1), among others. The most popular item is the chee cheong fun ($1.50). Also check out its signature dish of prawn noodles ($3), available on Saturdays.

Chun Zhai
#01-34 The Arcade
Opens: 6.30am to 3.30pm, Mondays to Fridays

For vegetarians who want something more substantial, this stall located along a quiet corridor would be it. The main offering is the vegetarian beehoon ($1.20) with a variety of side dishes like curry vegetables.

GOLDEN SHOE COMPLEX
(50 Market Street)

NOW that the third-floor hawker centre here is undergoing renovations, people are turning to this 24-hour food centre. It has popular selections for a quick bite. Most opt for coffee and toast but why not check out the other stalls?

Arifjacke Indian Cuisine
Opens: 24 hours daily

The roti prata (60 cents) is a hit. Special pratas like those with cheese or with honey ($1.50 each) are available. Also serves thosai ($1.20), murtabak ($3), mee goreng ($3) and Indian rojak (price depends on what items you pick).

May Sin Drink Stall
Opens: 24 hours daily

The only drinks vendor in this food centre serves a mean cup of coffee to kickstart the day. Try the Breakfast Special before 10am - two eggs, pieces of bread and a hot drink ($2.20). Also serves snacks like chwee kueh ($1) and chee cheong fun (70 cents).

Waterloo Street Goreng Pisang
Opens: 8am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays; 8am to 2pm, Saturdays

Fried banana fritters (70 cents each or $2 for three pieces) are available at this stall, tucked away in a corner in front of the drinks stall. It is an expansion of a stall in Waterloo Street which was featured in the TV show City Beat.

MARKET STREET

THIS tree-lined nook tucked away off Cross and Church streets is lined with outdoor cafes.

Pin Le
30 Robinson Road, Robinson Towers #01-02
Opens: 7am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays; 7am to 3pm, Saturdays

This little stall offers drinks like wheatgrass and soy, almond and soy, and ginger and soy ($1.30 to $2.50). Also try the mini red bean rolls, green tea rolls and peanut rolls ($2 for a box of four) - lighter fare for those watching their weight.

AEC Cafe
141 Market Street #01-00
Opens: 7am to 10pm, Mondays to Fridays; 7am to 6pm, Saturdays

This cafe is an expansion of a catering business of 20 years, so you can't go wrong eating here. Breakfast favourites are mee rebus ($2) and mee siam ($2). Don't miss the Friday lunch special of chicken briyani ($3.50).

Jie's Cafe
146 Market Street #01-08
Opens: 6am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays

Traditional bread in colours from green to pink is available at this small, charming cafe. Try it with spreads from kaya to peanut, and add a coffee to the mix ($1.50). Chicken curry with rice ($3) will fill those hankering for more.

New Hong Kong Dim Sum
146 Market Street #01-26
Opens: 7am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays

Count on friendly, laid-back service at this stall where the most popular dish is fried beehoon with extra trimmings like fried egg for $3. Check out the prawn noodles with a breakfast special price of $2 (usual: $3). Dimsum like chicken pau ($1.20) and siew mai (60 cents) are available.

New Asia Cafe
146 Market Street #01-28
Opens: 6.30am to 3pm, Mondays to Fridays

This family business serves fresh nasi lemak ($1.90), beehoon and fried noodles (70 cnts). Trimmings like ngoh hiang, luncheon meat and fish cake cost extra. If you're a big eater, don't be embarrassed to ask for extra - they're happy to oblige.

Alfo Trader
146 Market Street #01-30
Opens: 7am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays

Want carrot cake ($2.20) from Maxwell Hawker Centre or porridge ($2.50) from Amoy Street? This stall owner trawls Singapore for the best treats, and brings in food from places like Kallang. For on-the-go food, try the glutinous rice ($1.20) or kueh (80 cents). Ask for lunchtime catering if the food catches your fancy.

The Pelican House
146 Market Street #01-29/31
Opens: 7am to 6.30pm, Mondays to Fridays

This more upscale cafe boasts wooden floors and yellow chairs and tables. Fish beehoon ($2.50) is a popular choice though it is available only from 9am.