Once Upon a Thyme is one of those places I would go for fuss-free pasta on a budget — it's simple offerings somehow satisfies, especially when you are just looking for something to treat yourself without unnecessarily splurging at a hipster cafe.

Yes, the pasta is slightly past al-dente, but it doesn't really bother me here especially with that extremely fiery tomato cream — it's tangy and surprisingly bold in terms of spiciness; they never seem to hold back on the chili paid here so be ready to sweat it out while finishing the pasta here. Not forgetting those succulent, juicy chicken meatballs that adds a meaty, savoury flavour that completes the entire experience, it's one of those pasta I definitely wouldn't mind having if I am craving for a simple meal while alone thinking of what to eat for dinner around Clarke Quay.