Once Upon a Thyme (Square 2)

I used to eat @onceuponathymesg almost once every 2-3 weeks in the pasta! But now the prices have risen so much such that I only eat it once in a blue moon!

Decided to give myself a good treat and got the spicy meatball penne pasta ($11)! Now the ordering is via the self ordering kiosk and you can choose your pasta - linguine or penne, as well as spicy level - no spicy, spicy, extra spicy!

But somehow it tastes slightly different from what I recall it to be. The pasta was not as hot/warm when served even though I has collected the order immediately when it was ready.. the sauce was also not as shiok as before (or maybe I need to get extra spicy level)? And the spicy tomato cream sauce today looked like it wasnt quite mixed well with blobs of white still seen around

I have been eating Once Upon a Thyme Spicy Meatball Penne for years (almost 4 years, from the clarke quay outlet to the novena outlet)! For the first time, decided to try out another item off their menu - seared salmon pesto pasta ($13)! Featured here is also their new packaging! (used to be in white boxes without a logo haha)

Comes with a very well seared and black peppered seasoned salmon, shiitake mushrooms, tomato cream, basil pesto and parmesan! There is a choice of penne or linguine. I am always for penne! Easier to eat!

The pasta portions were also very filling, it kept me full for 5 hours! I would have preferred the spicy tomato cream sauce instead though! And I actually thought the combination of tomato cream with basil pesto was kinda weird. I actually didnt mix them up much as I didnt want the tomato cream sauce taste to be disturbed.

Except I asked for the non-spicy version. This is a tomato cream-based pasta with crabmeat lumps and a few cherry tomatoes. As with all the pastas here, you get a choice of either linguine or penne. I really enjoyed this, the tomato cream was delicious and there was plenty of crabmeat.

This is $8.80. They raised the prices and it became pretty pricey :( usually I'll get linguine but the outlet in Square2 doesn't offer linguine. They only have spaghetti and penne, only The Central have linguine. The sauce isn't as thick and flavourful as the one in The Central which is pretty disappointing. I'll go back to The Central outlet instead for my pasta fix!

Square 2 is for takeaway only but they do have some high chairs at the back but it's pretty uncomfortable. But the pasta is still good. Just that I personally prefer the one at Central.

a small shop at the basement of Square 2, the chef serves up the food wth dedication. observing his serious face while he cooks up a storm, i could see his dedication to his food. i think the pasta could use some heavier seasoning to give it a boost, but the fish was totally awesome. crunchy and flavorful, perfect if there was beer to go along with it xD

I have been wanting to try this place for a while. What with the creative shop name and all. But sadly to say, the meal was somewhat of a disappointment. I ordered a sausage and mushroom tomato cream penne ($6.50) with add-on of the soup of the day: pumpkin soup ($2). The penne was good, the tomato smell not too overpowering and there was a generous serving of sausages. Perhaps the pasta sauce could be thicker but considering that I'm not one to like tomato base pasta, it was good. Maybe it's the fact that it's half cream base too. The soup however, was disappointing. It was overly liquidy and felt like flour on my tongue. I could have gone without that. My friend ordered an aglio olio ($6.50) and she didn't like it. It was too dry and there was not enough flavour like the olive oil or the basil. However, she enjoyed the ice lemon tea, which was homemade and I thought it was good too.