Cowboy Caleb the liberal arts, grown-up stuff & random mischief

Restaurant Review: Astons Specialties

ASTONS SPECIALITIES
119 East Coast Road
(Opposite Katong Mall)
Tel: 6247 7857
1130-2300hrs(Close on 1st Monday of each month)

Quite a while back (probably last month), Naiveguy organized a makan outing to this new place alled Astons Specialties. Apparently he had noticed that there were long long queues forming outside every evening. Due to bad traffic, I arrived an hour late and so had to dine with Natsu, Ah9 and my wife while everybody else went off somewhere else to wait for us.

The queues were long, but we got a table in 15 minutes.

I had the Wagyu Beef steak which was rather terrible. In fact, it was a good thing that I had ordered a glass of red wine to go with it because I don’t think I could have swallowed the meat without some lubrication.

The above is a plate of Chargrilled chicken which was what my wife and Natsu ordered - it cost less than my SGD8 glass of wine. And it wasn’t spectacular either.

So why is Astons doing so well in Singapore with new outlets opening all over the place and queues forming every night? The food is sub-standard, the service is miserable and ambience is zero.

The secret is in the pricing - most of the menu is dirt-cheap. At prices these low, one can go all the way with a carnivorous Atkin’s meat diet from Monday to Sunday without the wallet feeling any lighter. And let’s face it, how many Singaporeans know what a good steak is supposed to taste or have tried a real wagyu/kobe beef steak?

I’d say skip this place and hit Botak Jones instead. This place is strictly for folk who don’t know beef from mutton.

Final Verdict:
Food: 4/10
Service: 4/10
Ambience: 2/10
Price: 8/10

bo jio?

that bad? hmm. but i still gotta try it though. *looks high and low for nadnut*

that bad? hmm. but i still gotta try it though. *looks high and low for nadnut*

was it that horrible?
i went to Astons (not Specialties) before and it was not too bad..
(or maybe my tastebuds aren’t as atas as urs :P )

Ugh…. hate Botak Jones.
I cannot cannot believe your tastebuds tell you Botak Jones is better.

You seriously need to get a check up, like now!!!!!!

Just compare the fries at Astons and Botak Jones.

How hard can it be to serve okay fries?

“how many Singaporeans know what a good steak is supposed to taste or have tried a real wagyu/kobe beef steak?”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Hello. We are there for steak, not fries.

I happen to find that Aston’s steaks are more juicy than the rubber served at Botak Jones.

I totally agree. Astons is only cheap, it’s not that good. I have tried the wagyu beef there and it’s the worst steak I’ve eaten.

However, I’m not sure Botak Jones is any better.

i must have been there on a good day. on 3 diff days for the steaks were juicy and good.

Botak Jones and Astons have similar pricing and target the same segment (cheapo no frills folk).

I prefer Botak Jones because at least they dont pretend to be atas.

Hmmm. I’ll go to Astons for steak and Botak Jones for the hotdogs. Shiokadoodoo!

When wanna go Botak Jones? There’s one near my place!

*shrug* The wagyu is good enough for me, both times. It’s not grade 9, so when I had grade 9 I’ll let you know ok?

i’ve just went to astons prime (diff one). the wagyu they have is grade 9 - 11 but i didnt try. maybe u can try it?

Nah. Same difference.

Is no one else disturbed by the fact that the chicken is accompanied by baked beans? WTF?!