At Popular TikToker Lukeychan’s Pasta Joint, Diners Can Cook Their Own Food

Teamed up with DLLM Lok Lok eatery’s boss

Luke partnered kopitiam stall towkay DLLM Lok Lok’s owner, Jayden Loh, 30, to launch their new concept. The duo, who have been gym bros for years, tell us they came up with the idea to start Pasta Papa during a random workout session together. This also explains their amusing name. “We always go to the gym, and we’re guys, so we thought, papa lor!,” Jayden laughs. 

Though it might seem more apt for gym bros to open a more health-focused low-carb eatery, Jayden says they scrapped the idea as they felt the market for that “too niche”. “I wanted to tap on Luke’s audience also, so I felt that selling Italian dishes and pasta would be more marketable,” he explains.

Luke, on the other hand, adds that he had always wanted to open an F&B business, but had just been unsure of what to sell till now. “I know that F&B has a more challenging nature. I actually wanted to prove to myself, and the people around me [that I can do it], and do something that I like. I enjoy serving people, and since young I enjoyed pasta a lot,” he says. The two of them, alongside two other biz partners, invested around $50K to open Pasta Papa.

TikTok fame helped attract customers

“Most of our customers are actually [my] viewers. There’s been a good response so far, even though there are some haters dropping comments that I’ll close down in a few months. But I try my best to not be affected by it and just do what I have to do,” Luke laughs. 

His message to the haters? “Sometimes we have to take the risk, if not we’ll never know what we can achieve. It is definitely normal that people will hate on someone when they’re trying to grow – even God has haters, so who am I to not have haters. It is what it is, you just gotta do what you gotta do!”.

He continues: “I think one of the interactions that surprised me the most was when this customer came down three days in a row. This customer watches my videos and I think he likes the food too! When we first opened he gave us two chocolates, then the third day he came and gave us two bottles of wine. That really touched me lah,” he says.

‘Cook Your Own Pasta Set Menu’ with a ‘Cooking Mama’ concept

What’s unusual about Pasta Papa is that you can do your own cooking here, if you wish. For $39.90 (feeds two pax), patrons have the option of donning chef’s whites and whipping up their own pasta main (either bolognese, carbonara, vongole or seafood aglio olio). With each DIY package, patrons will be provided all the ingredients required for making their pasta, plus an instructional video on how to go about cooking it. 

According to Jayden, you don’t have to worry if you’re a novice cook: “There’s a step-by-step video in animation form, so we’ve kinda gamified it to be like a Cooking Mama concept. It’s very suitable for kids and couples,” he says. He adds that there’ll be waitstaff walking around at all times to oversee the process, in case customers need help.

Has anyone complained about this DIY pasta experience?

But isn’t the whole point of going out for a meal so that someone else can cook it for you? So far, he says the DIY pasta experience is most popular amongst couples and families with kids. He adds: “No one has complained, ’cos it’s your choice. We still have the option for us to cook for you, so if you don’t want to cook your own pasta we’ll still do it for you”.

Each set also comes with one appetiser (either bruschetta or smoked duck), two soups, and one dessert (tiramisu or panna cotta).

Of course, if you’re not keen on ‘working’ for your food, Pasta Papa also has their regular menu, which offers the typical range of cafe-style pasta options. Here, Jayden says their signatures include Carbonara ($11.90), Bolognese ($10.90), and Seafood Aglio Olio ($13.90). There is also Truffle Risotto ($11.90) and Crab Meat Risotto ($13.90). 

Pasta Papa is at 3500A Bukit Merah Central, S159837. Open daily 12pm - 10pm. Tel: 8223 4073. More info via Instagram. 

Photos: Pasta Papa

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