If thoughts of a staff canteen conjure up impressions of a dull, utilitarian dining area with a handful of stalls offering a limited menu, then Tower Café at the National University Health Systems Tower Block could well reshape that perception.
Just four months old, Tower Café is a chic and contemporary-styled staff canteen located on the first floor of what is better known as the National University Hospital’s (NUH) administration block.
Operated by NTUC Foodfare, the 100-seater cafe has an indoor and al fresco area to suit different tastes. Generous use of wood throughout the space has created a homely atmosphere, with caged hanging lights nuancing the space.
Affordable Meals
The whole mission behind Tower Café is to provide NUH staff with an option for delicious, healthy meals at affordable prices.
For a start, diners are guaranteed to be spoilt for choice during the café’s opening hours from 7am to 4.30pm. On any given day, one can expect between 18 to 22 economy mixed rice items at the Halal-certified eatery.
A noodle station also offers two different dishes for those in favour of a less carb-heavy lunch. Daily specials consisting of unique dishes from various cuisines are also available, in addition to a regular à la carte line-up of rice, kuay teow, and noodle offerings.
Expect to pay between $2 to $4 for a basic meal; with standard kopitiam-style hot drinks available from less than a dollar.
Naturally, healthier options too, are available with fresh salad, yogurts and sugar-free drinks.
As for the crucial taste test: delicious!
Despite the use of healthier vegetable oil, less salt and sugar, the sample dishes of seafood fried rice, kung pao chicken and seafood hor fun tasted just as good as those offered at your favourite zhi char stall.
Bridging Needs
While Tower Café today averages out 650 diners on any given day, with many doing takeaways, the decision to establish a staff canteen in the space had not come easily.
Healthcare Services Employees Union (HSEU) President K. Thanaletchimi shared how HSEU approached its NUH management and NTUC Foodfare to explore the possibility of establishing a staff canteen after the removal of the original NUH staff canteen to make way for a new hospital facility. And while there were other dining options for staff, prices were still relatively high at the privately-operated eateries, which prompted members to seek help from HSEU.
“NUH management was very forthcoming. When we first approached them, then-CEO Joe Sim readily responded with the space for Tower Café,” said Ms Thanaletchimi.
“The space had been vacant for a long time, but the (foot) traffic wasn’t good because most people work in the other buildings. But if we could provide a low-cost model for food and drinks, productivity elements, variations form the other eateries and healthier food as an option, these were the things that were discussed. Rent-free came about readily.”
Leveraging The Network
Many of the challenges centred around ensuring that the business could be sustainable.
“As a union, we want to be responsible. We looked at traffic flow and explored whether business would be sustainable before approaching Foodfare,” said Ms Thanaletchimi.
The union helped to promote the cafe’s existence to get more people to patronise the café. They also urged their management partners to consider Tower Café as one of the official caterers for NUH.
“This cafeteria is dedicated to serve the staff at NUH and to provide them with meal options at an economic price, while providing variety. The menu is rotated to excite the staff with good value dining options. We maintain close communication with the human resource department to garner feedback from the customers,” shared an NTUC Foodfare representative.
“Tower Café reminds me of my neighbourhood coffeeshop where I would admire the way the chef prepares all sorts of sumptuous dishes for people during makan time. Food is simple and healthy. Most importantly, it is affordable for all levels of staff. We like the variety of ‘economy rice’ dishes the most." Siti Meriam, Nurse Manager
“I enjoy having lunch at Tower Cafe. The price for mixed vegetables rice is quite affordable and there is one aunty working there who is very caring, flexible to changes and makes sure that I enjoy my food." - Dora Lang, Nurse Clinician
