three babas is called three babas because it was begun by three babas, only two of them pulled out at the last minute leaving my cousin allan (yes, the one who cut some of your hair) holding the baby, but he is doing very well out of it, all the same. as its name suggests it's a peranakan restaurant, and now that su-;in has discovered bakwan kepiting i would like to have dinner there with everyone. i went down with my parents over the weekend. on the menu are sweet potato leaves, bakwan kepiting (comes in individual portions,) kangkong with sambal, udang nanas (prawn and pineapples and tamarind paste,) sotong in chili or black sauce, ketchup duck, crispy baked duck, liver rolls, mutton and beef rendang, nonya chapchye (very soft and mushy, dark fragrant gravy with lily bulbs and pork pieces afloat,) ayam buah keluak, and more besides, though not necessarily peranakan, some of it just home cooking he remembers from our great grandmother, and a bit teochew. i should also mention he does a special pork knuckle - fried/roasted golden, german-style, and then cooked in assam and other spices. (order a day in advance.) the desserts are excellent. the chendol is thick with real gula melaka not just some tinned brown syrup. the borbor chacha is really thick and fragrant, and his pulut hitam is my absolute favourite, i swear the sight of the coconut cream he puts on it can make your arteries weep for mercy. two old gramophones in the middle of the restaurant - you're welcome to bring your own records or to make requests (45s only not 78s) and old photographs (some of them of our relatives heh) and other artefacts that our relatives have dug up for him. third grandaunt's cabinet and second uncle's incense bowl and granny's picture frames. he also does a variety of coffees, really rather nice, and you can take it into the back seating area, which is openair with attap roof over, and fern and fountain, and there are two adorable and frisky puppies you could feed under the table.

i don't have the exact address and i'll ask my pa for it and put it up later, but it is in upper thomson, towards pierce reservoir. when you visit, ask for allan and say minzhi sent you. closed on thursdays, gets crowded on weekends, best to go on tuesday and wednesdays for freshest food (market days.)