Coast and Company @ 54 Siglap Road

I haven't been blogging for a really long while, and I suppose it took a food trail by my friends as well as the opening of a new cafe - Coast and Company, to get me blogging again. Coast and Company is the newest addition to the cafe scene in the east, a collaboration between Papa Pahleta and Coast Cycles, and the first thing that came to my mind - "Will this be a concept similar to Wheeler's Yard?" The answer? Although there is a bicycle workshop on site, it's definitely not as chic as Wheeler's, but the concept of having a coffee joint next to a bicycle workshop is definitely practical. You can actually pay for your bicycle to be maintained while enjoying a cuppa at the same time, in air-conditioned comfort. The coffee, from Papa Pahleta, the same people behind Chye Seng Huat, is definitely something to go for anyway. The inclusion of bicycle racks is also practical as there is limited legal parking available without causing obstruction to the residents in the somewhat sleepy neighbourhood. Therefore, both residents and cafe hoppers alike can take advantage of this cheap and healthy form of transport.

Just my luck to have a "cycle" in the frame, but no, they don't sell motorcycles.

Lyssa Zampa, already seen at this new joint!

I'm expecting this cafe to fill up quite a bit over time, as more people learn about it through social media and word-of-mouth, and you'll probably end up like this moth, waiting outside and peering into the cafe in hope of a seat. There is no outdoor seating as of now, but there are some air-conditioned recess areas within the cafe. I estimate that the cafe can seat about 25-30 people at once, so do head down early if you're going to be there on a weekend or public holiday. I went down in the afternoon so I gave their food a miss, but went for teatime instead. They serve a variety of cakes, cookies, muffins and even traditional ang ku kuehs and nine-layer kueh (九层糕).

Blueberry Cheesecake

The blueberry cheesecake that I had was delicious, and to my delight, there were fresh blueberries on top. The cake was sufficiently sweet and the cheese wasn't too overpowering. It also wasn't too heavy that it would be difficult to finish one in a sitting. The cookie crust was also soft and just crunchy enough to satisfy cheesecake lovers. 

Flat White and Latte

Coffee from Papa Pahleta - What more can you ask for? Definitely saves you the time from travelling down all the way to Chye Seng Huat or Loysel's Toy if you stay in the East, and for now, ensures you a good cuppa in a quiet environment with friendly service. They do serve their hand brews here as well, if you prefer that to pressured coffee. Check out more drinks that are available in the menus below.

Overall I enjoyed my time at Coast very much, given its spaciousness and minimalist architecture. The coffee is undoubtedly excellent, and the pastries are decent too. As of now the food menu is pretty limited, but I expect this to expand over time. Definitely coming back here in the near future.

Expect to Pay: $10-20

Coast and Company
54 Siglap Road
Singapore 456176

UPDATE: Chye Seng Huat @ Tyrwhitt Road

Went back to Chye Seng Huat on a weekend and boy was the crowd crazy. Hard to find even a place for two, and 15 minutes of frustration later, finally got a comfy seat with backrest (yay). Decided not to go for their filtered coffee but rather their pressured coffee this time. After all, I always prefer pressured coffee. Had the almond croissant again which I love, but the chocolate brownie which I had the other time was gone. Probably a seasonal offering ):

Decided not to go for their Nuts + Bolts Espresso, and instead went for their Throwback, which was a blend of Brazilian and Sumatran coffee beans. I loved it as it was much stronger than the Nuts + Bolts, as I compared the taste between single shots for both the blends. I myself had a double shot Throwback Espresso (pictured below) which is a nice upgrade if you love coffee (it costs just $0.50 for one additional shot). The Throwback was also more bitter and heavy, and it made the Nuts + Bolts taste much milder in comparison. However, the Throwback isn't a permanent brew so I would catch it while you can! 

View the full post on Chye Seng Huat Hardware here:

http://eatwheresia.blogspot.sg/2013/12/chye-seng-huat-hardware-tyrwhitt-road.html

Toby's Estate @ Rodyk Street

It was definitely difficult to find Toby's Estate on my first visit and I had to resort to using my GPS although I had looked up the place a couple of times. One of the reasons was that it was on the far side of Clarke Quay, so I ended up trekking quite a distance to get here. However, despite all the fatigue, I found my visit here most fulfilling. Out of all the cafes I have visited thus far, I would have to say that Toby's Estate is my favourite by far when it comes to their coffee. Sadly, their location makes it rather inconvenient to get to, and hence I am unable to visit this place as much as I would like. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Toby's Estate is still a gem waiting to be discovered, but it's definitely a place for coffee lovers to make a pilgrimage to as I believe they serve the best coffee in Singapore. 

There is a large common table that is perhaps the centrepiece of the cafe, and this table is usually filled up during peak hours. Although some may find it slightly comfortable to be sitting in such close proximity to strangers, it is done with the hope that people can literally make conversation over coffee. The cafe is adequately bright for one to bring in a book to read and also for one to bring his or her Macbook for some work. The weather was rather hot on the day that I was there, otherwise, I might have been tempted to sit outside and enjoy the breeze. That being said, being able to enjoy the smell of freshly-ground coffee is something preferable to me.

As you can see in the picture below, they have a cake set which allows you to have any slice of cake paired with any of their drinks for the price of $10. Not sure if this is still on at the moment, but it's a good bargain for good quality coffee and a decent slice of cake. 

Toby's Estate coffees come in standard sizes, and I had the luxury of trying more than one drink (I came in for late brunch and stayed until tea-time). As you can see, the latte art here is pretty impressive, and the drinks are housed in clear glass for you to see the layers within the drink (not sure if its visible in the pictures below). Quite a few people can be spotted with a cuppa in hand and chilling, and I would definitely come back here JUST for their coffee, even if there was nothing else on offer.

Their food isn't too shabby either, although I had a bad experience with the poached eggs here. Mine were slightly overdone. Also, I felt that the dishes were a bit too dry and salty, but that's just my personal opinion. Their 2 best selling breakfasts - Eggs Royale and Toby's Breakfast are listed below for your viewing pleasure. 

Eggs Royale

Eggs Benedict - Poached eggs and smoked salmon with Hollandaise sauce on toast. I like that they made the effort to decorate the plate - very few cafes bother with that. The Eggs Royale looked so delicious I could barely wait to tuck in, but alas, pictures first. Heh. I would have liked the smoked salmon to be stronger flavoured, and I found the poached eggs overdone (like I said before) but it might have been a once-off incident. Oh did I mention that Toby's Estate uses white farm eggs so they certainly taste different.

Toby's Breakfast

Big Breakfast here we go again. Espresso bacon (something new here!), greens, cherry tomatoes, wild mushrooms, poached eggs and toast. Their bacon is seasoned with espresso so it's definitely unique! However, the flavour isn't incredibly strong to put off those who do not like the coffee taste so much. Think coffee pork ribs. The greens didn't come with dressing, which disappointed me. I would have preferred a light dressing. The wild mushrooms aren't to everyone's taste for sure, as we're used to having portobello mushrooms in breakfast sets. However, I laud them for daring to be different. The toast was normal, but I would say it was a couple notches above average.

A nice touch at cafes, water is served in glass bottles. However, it's slightly different here. Kudos to the management for purifying the water on site as part of their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and also eliminating waste, thereby saving energy. Water tasted purer than your normal dispenser water, and don't worry, it's free of charge.

The chocolate mousse cake and the oreo cheesecake were both decent, but I wouldn't say they were great. It's definitely challenging to provide all-round quality food that would satisfy everyone, but objectively I would have to say that their desserts are their weak points. The chocolate cake was a bit mild to my taste, and definitely too dry. This was fine when it was paired with the mocha I ordered of course, but still, hmm. The oreo cheesecake also had too little oreo flavour so I didn't enjoy it as much. It too, is rather dry, which spoilt it a little for me as I expected the texture of the cheesecake to be smoother. However, Both cakes are okay when taken with a drink.

Their mochas are one of the few mochas I've had where the coffee still has a more prominent flavour than the cocoa. There have been many instances where the drink becomes reduced to a drink that tastes like milo with a hint of coffee, but not here at Toby's. Like I said, I stand by the statement that they serve the best coffee in Singapore and hence their coffee still shines even when taken in such a way.

Look out for the quirky Alkaaf Bridge and you know you're on the right track to finding Toby's Estate. It's definitely a nice place to start your day, or to hang out in the afternoon. It has a really chill vibe and the place isn't too noisy. I reckon it'll be pretty romantic at night, with it being by the riverside. Toby's is definitely one of my favourite cafes overall at the moment, and tops my list for places to go for coffee. If you're a coffee enthusiast, you MUST COME here and give it a try. Having their food and cakes are optional, in my opinion. Like their coffee? They do sell their own blend, called the Rodyk blend so you can enjoy their coffee from the comfort from your home. Highly recommended!

Expect to pay: $5 for drinks, $20 with food.

#01-03/04
8 Rodyk Street

Group Therapy Cafe @ Katong V

Group Therapy Cafe Katong V is one of the newest additions to spring up in the east, making it much more accessible to fans without having to head down to their outlet at Duxton Road. Nestled in a relatively quiet corner of the mall, you would be forgiven for missing the cafe as the storefront doesn't really stand out. Then again, GTC believes in space AWAY from the daily grind, so it's nice that it's relatively quiet. However, I can't say that the cafe itself is relatively quiet as I have encountered quite a few families with young children which pretty much terrorise all the other patrons. That being said, it is no fault of theirs but do expect families here as it is strategically located to be near residential areas.

There are nice lounge chairs and a sofa inside the cafe as well to relax in if you're just there for your daily cuppa. If not, there is a free-seating concept and you can head on over to order and pay at the counter when you are done browsing the menu. There are numerous all-day breakfast items on offer, as well as sandwiches and some mains. The food and drinks here are decent, but definitely not the best around. 

Big Plate

Naming a dish does not get simpler. What you see is what you get, with multi-grain toast, back bacon, sauteed mushrooms, sausage and a side salad. Eggs can be poached or scrambled, and are usually served on the side. I didn't really agree with the eggs being served on the side as it kind of makes the main plate look a little empty. The multi-grain toast is decent and fresh, while the sausage is well-done. The mushrooms are average, and the bacon is salty in general. I do like the salad here mostly due to the sesame and garlic dressing which I find tasty, even if it might be from a bottle (hmm, sometimes it's better not to know and just enjoy the food).

The same dish served with brioche toast. I was disappointed, to be honest, at the thickness of the brioche toast. Tasted more like your regular white bread to me, and as you can see below, the picture doesn't do much to support the alternative to my statement. That being said, the toast was crisp enough for most people to enjoy. 

Poached eggs with salmon and gruyere on toast

For those who do not know, gruyere is a type of cheese, which I feel is a good and viable alternative to Hollandaise sauce that is so often seen with breakfast and toast dishes. The poached eggs are drenched with this sauce, and it goes well with the toast. The serving of smoked salmon is fairly generous in my opinion, but isn't of an exceptional quality. I believe you can get better quality and stronger-tasting smoked salmon from your local Cold Storage store. However, it was good enough to make me satisfied with this dish and I will definitely be choosing this over the Big Plate or their other breakfast offerings for the time being.

Their buttermilk pancakes come in a generally small serving size, and hence I did not order seeing it after seeing the people at the table next to me looking victimised by the small serving. However since it costs $12, I would say that is reasonable, bordering upon expensive, for the thin pancakes. Their drinks fare better though, and are served in cups and saucers of contrasting colours. This means that your cuppa looks sprightly when served to you, and it does brighten your day. Their drinks come in iced or hot versions, but since I personally prefer hot drinks, I only have photographs of the hot ones. I've seen quite a few people order this Iced Green Tea Latte, but it looks rather dilute based on its colour and consistency. It looks a bit too pale to satisfy the average Green Tea lover, and I would definitely stick to having my Green Tea Lattes as Starbucks.

Triple Shot Latte

From what I learned from the barista, their lattes are served with 2 shots of coffee. Personally, I like to add an additional shot to make it 3. The third shot greatly enhances the flavour and aroma of the coffee in my opinion. While the latte art isn't great, at least there is a show of some effort which I find to be satisfactory. After all, who really cares what is on the top of your drink when you're going to stir it in anyway. However, their drinks come in one size only, with the height of the cup being around 10cm if I remember correctly, or about the portion of a tall cup.

Mint Mocha

I tried this drink as I was feeling Christmasy at the time. Not sure whether it was a latte art gone wrong here, but as I mentioned before, it doesn't matter. The combination of mint and chocolate is one that has been tried-and-tested by many, so it's definitely safe to drink. If you have enjoyed drinks such as the Peppermint Mocha served at Starbucks, you'll find this comparable, but not markedly better. The chocolate used in this drink doesn't taste extraordinary, and the mint taste is slightly on a mild side, probably because the barista doesn't want to push the limits of this drink as not everyone appreciates a strong peppermint taste. This is a good alternative to the latte if you don't really want to taste your coffee.

GTC charges GST although there is no service charge, and hence the prices can vary a little from what you see on the menu. It's definitely a good place to meet up with friends as the seating space is adequate and the overall ambiance is very relaxed. The cakes and pastries look rather underwhelming and as such I haven't tried them yet. The location is also decent with cheap parking in the vicinity. It's also a good getaway from the crowds that throng Parkway Parade and its coffee branches, so I believe to be worth the walk across the overhead bridge and across the car park of Katong V. The food I would say is better than average, so I would come back for the food, just maybe not too often. The drink size may not suffice for a long conversation, but is a good size for your regular pick-me-up. Also a good place for families to stake out while the other members shop for groceries at the nearby Fairprice Finest. Do give it a try if you're in the East Coast Area.

Expect to pay: $15-25

#01-11
Katong V
30 East Coast Road

Wild Honey @ Scotts Square

When people talk about breakfast, brunch or cafes, the first place that comes to mind is always Wild Honey. Therefore I'm going to give this place a solid, wholesome review (: This is because I feel that they are one of the few places that dedicate their efforts into giving you, the customer, the best breakfast experience possible. Their all-day breakfast is available at both their outlets, at Scott's Square and Mandarin Gallery. However, there are certain menu items that are only available at either one of the two outlets, and there are occasional daily specials as well. Wild Honey is definitely a one-stop joint to experience breakfasts from all over the world, and they are particular about their presentation as well. Each picturesque dish is definitely instagram-worthy on its own, and looks even better on a DSLR or after some post-editing. Lastly, you are GUARANTEED a quality breakfast each time as they maintain high standards when preparing your food. 

Both cafes are generally vibrant and noisy, with the nondescript furniture at Mandarin Gallery giving it an extra homely feel. However, seating space between tables and at tables is rather tight, and it can get slightly uncomfortable in big groups. Carrying bulky items is definitely not a good idea as you're highly likely to bump into someone or something. However, it's definitely very cosy and good for a romantic date as the lighting is dim. If you're meeting a friend, however, I would definitely recommend you to go for their outlet at Scotts Square. For starters, the ceiling is much higher and the space is very much bigger. It still retains it's cosy feel but I find seating here much more comfortable (BACKRESTS!) as most of the chairs are spacious and for the ladies, you can place your bags behind you rather than on the floor. The service here is also great in general, although you can see that some staff are markedly more enthusiastic than their lacklustre counterparts. However, it can get a little hard to get the attention of the servers during peak hours (12pm-2pm) but other than that, no big issue. If you are queueing, be prepared to wait up to an hour to get your seat, especially on weekends.

The Wild Honey menu items are named after their country of origin, which really gives a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that I like, instead of giving names that are hard for the common man to grasp. 

Wild Honey Bread Basket

Such a pretty basket of bread! An assortment of bread that can be shared by up to 5 people, it's a good way to start the meal if you're hungry and can't wait for your mains to arrive. I would advise you to ask for sharing plates and try their different freshly-baked breads as each has its own individual taste and textures. Condiments include butter, chocolate sauce, raspberry jam and a zesty lemon jam.

Norwegian

Poached eggs on wheat toast, wrapped with Norwegian smoked salmon and grilled asparagus, topped off with Hollandaise sauce and salmon roe. This pretty much looks like the cousin to the European (pictured below later), but the Norwegian replaces ham with smoked salmon, which is a match made in heaven. Furthermore, the salmon roe bursts with flavour when you bite it, and really every bit of this dish tastest great. The eggs are poached perfectly and do not taste too rubbery (which often is the case) and I like to let the yolk ooze out onto the toast to make it more moist. A must-order for those who love salmon.

European

2 poached eggs on toast, wrapped with imported Italian ham and drizzled with Hollandaise sauce, topped with sauteed mushrooms. Although this is perhaps one of their other more ordinary offerings (the other being the English), the ham is seasoned well and has the right amount of saltiness to go well with the runny eggs. Similarly, I like to soak my toast in the yolk before eating it. The sauteed mushrooms are also tasty and it's one of the little things that make the European more special. I generally prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon dishes, but it worked well with this one. 

English

Scrambled eggs, back bacon, pork sausage, baked beans, grilled vine-ripened tomato, breakfast potatoes and 2 slices of Wild Honey's signature brioche. As I mentioned in another post, I like to try the "big breakfast" that each restaurant has to offer, and although I have to say the English is good, it's definitely not one of Wild Honey's better dishes. This is no fault of theirs, but I feel that the wide range of other alternatives doesn't make this a first choice for many diners. That being said, the bacon and sausages are delicious. The breakfast potatoes are also well done, and the baked beans go well with the scrambled eggs on toast. I loved the vine-ripened tomato which was grilled to perfection, and it is extremely juicy. Vine-ripened tomatoes are certainly a class above your ordinary tomato or cherry tomatoes. Parents, feed your kids with this to start them on vegetables (: Wild Honey's brioche is probably the best around, but 2 slices of it might be too much for the conservative eater to finish. Do order this on your first visit to Wild Honey though, English breakfasts don't get much better.

Tunisian

I'm just going to lift the description off Wild Honey's website as I doubt I can do justice to this dish with my mediocre judgment of its ingredients. Sizzling pan of spicy shakshouka (tomato, red onion, pepper chilli), studded with Chorizo sausage, crowned with 2 fried eggs, signature brioche and Israeli salad. Sounds funky doesn't it. The Israeli salad is simple, with cucumbers and tomatoes inside but I don't find this exceptional. This is best eaten by just tucking into the stew directly, and dipping the brioche as and when you feel like it. I don't find this dish that spicy, and it's certainly edible for those who don't like spicy food. The Chorizo sausage, however, might be a put off for people who aren't a fan of sausages as it has a strong meat flavour, and tastes a bit like salami.

Spanish Hash

Diced Chorizo sausage, corned beef and potatoes, with poached eggs in Hollandaise sauce, and with ciabatta bread. I had this recently when I met up with a friend and I have to say I was a little envious of her Norwegian. The dish tastes great, but it can get a bit monotonous after eating corned beef and potatoes for the majority of the dish. I also wish that there was more Hollandaise sauce (despite my claim above that I prefer Hollandaise sauce with salmon). I think my main grouse was that by ordering this, I deprived myself from having my favourite brioche at Wild Honey. However that is my personal bias for the brioche, and looking back objectively, ciabatta was probably the better choice to match the dish. The bread was filling, and so was the rest of the dish. Definitely one for the big-eaters.

Boulevard St Michel

Baked Spinach Souffle, Savoury french toast with double-baked cheese, grilled back bacon, slowroasted vine-ripened tomatoes, and poached egg with cheese batter. My current favourite dish at the moment, due the assortment of flavours and colours that this dish offers. The spinach souffle is tasty, and is a good complement to the back bacon which is a little on the salty side. The spicy tomato chutney goes best with the Parmesan coated poached egg, as well as the souffle. The vine-ripened tomatoes, like its counterpart in the English, is extremely juicy and this juice explodes in your mouth when you bite it. The portion of the french toast is decent enough such that this dish is filling, but not to the point that you'll feel bloated. 

Breakfast Hangover Sandwich

Club sandwich with back bacon and scrambled eggs, served with breakfast potatoes. Don't feel like having one of Wild Honey's breakfast sets? This is a safe choice for most people, as you can't go wrong with bacon and scrambled eggs. The serving of breakfast potatoes is also substantial, and extremely well-seasoned. Your meal here is also well presented, and can be shared by 3 people for a light appetiser in place of the Bread Basket mentioned above.

Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Hot Chocolate

This is probably the best Hot Chocolate that I know of. Needs no introduction, just sweet hot chocolate that has just enough of the taste of bitter cocoa to keep true chocolate lovers satisfied. The marshmallow on the side is a nice touch, and it's super squishy. I wish I had more of them to go with my drink. On my must-order list each time unless I am in a desperate need of caffeine.

Macchiato

Wild Honey's coffee is perhaps it's weakest selling point, with the coffee being good, but not something to come back for. This is because it lacks a strong aroma and a unique taste that will make you come back wanting more. That being said, the macchiato was well prepared with the right level of milk and foam.

Cafe Mocha

Can't decide whether to have either the Paris Valrhona Bittersweet Chocolate or the macchiato? Why not both? Enter the Cafe Mocha, which is well-balanced between being a comfort drink for chocolate lovers and giving the caffeine kick that many people need to get their day going. However, I would still stick to the Bittersweet Chocolate if you really want a wholesome chocolate drink as the chocolate flavour is simply better without the caffeine.

Bostok

A weekend-only dessert, Wild Honey's signature brioche is dusted with almond flakes, icing sugar and jam. It's a simple, homely dish that is guaranteed to satisfy. Well, expect maybe for the price tag. For it's price, I would probably venture into Wild Honey's other dessert offerings in the future. This goes very well with the Bittersweet Chocolate though. 

Wild Honey is, and probably will continue to be my favourite breakfast/brunch in the near future. Although prices are bit on the high side, it's definitely worth saving up for (Eat biscuit lo!). Eating here is not merely a consumption of food, but the enjoyment of a beautiful breakfast experience. Do push the boundaries of your comfort zone and try new dishes each time as every dish is pretty much good, if not excellent. If you are going in larger groups, you should definitely make reservations at the Scotts Square outlet, where the Verandah is available for large groups. Furthermore, you can book the same Verandah, which overlooks Orchard Road, for private functions. Good for meet-ups, first dates, family meals, and even business meetings. If you haven't tried Wild Honey before, you're really missing out.

Expect to pay: $25-30

#03-01
Scotts Square
6 Scotts Square

#03-02
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road

Tiong Bahru Bakery @ Raffles City Shopping Centre

Tiong Bahru Bakery by Gontran Cherrier is one of my favourite cafes in town at the moment given its location at Raffles City Shopping Centre, which is like connected to 3 of Singapore's MRT rail lines. Despite patronising them on a few occasions, I usually "tar-pow" or take away my food from there as I usually like to have it for teatime or for the next day's breakfast. What I like about this outlet of Tiong Bahru Bakery is that it has ample seating and the water feature gives it an open-ness that I find to be calming. This is especially since the water feature cuts through the middle of the cafe, giving each quite a bit of personal space to each table. The concept is simple: You go up to the counter and choose which pastries you want, then you choose which drinks you would like to go with your pastries, and then proceed to pay up and then you may sit wherever you wish. Plain water is provided, as is a free flow of packaged butter and jam. In a few words, I would say that Tiong Bahru serves excellent pastries, and although prices are slightly high at the moment, it's certainly a good alternative to commercialised coffee joints such as Starbucks or The Coffee Bean.

Tiong Bahru Bakery also serves excellent coffee of the "40 hands brew", a similar one to the one you will find at Common Man Coffee Roasters. I've had the latte on 2 occasions and the taste has been consistent, which I'm pleased with. Pictured below is a layman's guide to ordering coffee, showing the amount of coffee, milk and water in each drink, which I found extremely helpful. 

Their croissants, which are not pictured here, are definitely one of the better croissants in Singapore, trumping those made by Maison Kaiser, San Moulin, Paul's and DONQ. They are extremely flaky and crisp (even on the second day) and it tastes extremely good even on its own without any condiments. Its variants include chocolate, almond and orange croissants, which all have their own distinct flavours, but I prefer the original one personally as I feel that it is the most crispy. 

Large Latte ($7.50)

Like I mentioned earlier, a little bit pricey for the size of the cup, but the quality of the coffee and the luxury of space makes it worth it to come here. I would also say that their coffee is one of the stronger and better pressured coffees in Singapore. Their latte art is very ordinary though. I would have liked more variation instead of getting hearts all the time but ohwell -shrug-.

Kouigh Amann ($4)

One of Tiong Bahru Bakery's signature pastries apart from their Croissants. This pastry is extremely sweet on its own, which is why I like to take it with salted butter to balanced out the taste. It also happens to be one of the victims of the price increase (it used to cost $3.50) so sales for this have definitely dropped since then. There is also a chocolate variation of this ($4.20) but I prefer the original. MUST TRY if you are here for the first time.

Apple and Raisin Brioche (4.20)

I'll be the first to admit that I love things that are value-for-money, and hence when I realised that the Apple Crumble cost a whopping $6.80 for a 10cm by 5cm size with a thickness of about 0.6cm, I immediately went to source for an alternative. My answer? The Apple and raisin brioche. The filling is pretty much the same, and I find the brioche a much more crispy and pleasant on its own than the crumble which looks a bit on the dry side.

Expect to pay:  $10-15

#B1-11/12
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road

PS Cafe @ Palais Renaissance

PS Cafe is one of the other so-called "controversial" cafes in Singapore, because the big question is, is it worth to try the food there? I will attempt to give an answer to the best of my ability below. I have visited their outlets at Palais Renaissance and Paragon, and even then the experiences between the 2 locations vary greatly. The pictures below are mainly from their PR outlet, whilst the desserts are from their paragon outlet.

At first glance, you have to admit that PS Cafe is extremely posh and classy. Looking in from the outside, one would probably hesitate to enter if he was wearing casual wear like bermudas and slippers. Furthermore, it is set in the pretty "atas" location of Palais Renaissance. That being said, the patrons here are not necessarily well-dressed, as I found out when I entered. The decor of the cafe in PR is reminiscent of a hotel lounge, as you can see with the extensive use of wood and marble tiling. Inside, however, it is constructed to resemble a barn or farmhouse, with reflective mirror panes replacing the standard glass panes. 

PS Cafe still has a pretty strict no-photograph policy which I find annoying. I would understand totally if I was invading the privacy of someone else, but why can't I take pictures of the interior or the food? That being said, #YOLO so the pictures below are for your viewing pleasure.

PS Big Bacon and Eggs 

2 poached eggs, grilled asparagus, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, salami sausage and toast. That's what I remember was in my dish anyway heh. I have a policy of usually trying what the cafe touts as their "big breakfast" when I visit them for the first time, and I ended up satisfied with the Big Bacon and Eggs. It was fairly filling, but not to the point that one would feel bloated. The poached eggs are excellent, and the spiced sausage is a refreshing change from what you would normally get from other brunch places. The toast is definitely not in the league of that served in Wild Honey, and I expected more from the tomatoes and mushrooms. They didn't taste exceptional to me. The "atas" touch? The asparagus, which was grilled well and added flavour to the dish.

Chicken in a Basket

I was surprised at my friend's decision to have this - after all, we came all the way to PS - but it was a good solid meal of fried chicken. As you can see, the basket is filled to the brim with lightly-battered chicken which was well seasoned. and wasn't too oily. The fries were pretty normal, although PS Cafe's truffle fries are good. Be warned though, a serving of truffle fries would probably require like 4 people to finish it comfortably, and leave enough room for dessert. This dish comes with ketchup and lemon sauce on my last trip. The greens are just average, but the carrot sticks are decent I suppose.

The pictures below are from my trip to PS. Paragon. There are 2 areas open for seating, one being the normal one within the mall, which I feel is too open and lacks privacy. Nothing special about the outdoor seating area. The rest of the cafe shares its space with a retail store called Projectshop BloodBros. The tables here are fairly small and the area is dimly lit. As you can see, the main source of lighting is supplied by tealights, which is really romantic in my opinion. GOOD FOR DATES *cough cough*. However, I would rather have my main meals over at PS's other outlets, as it's brighter, and I would probably only come to Paragon for dessert. That being said, the desserts at PS are reason enough to go back, even if their prices are on the high side.

Banana cake with Butterscotch Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

This is my personal favourite dessert at PS. The banana flavour is prominent in the cake, and it makes it extremely fragrant. The butterscotch sauce is not overbearing, and it isn't sickeningly sweet. The vanilla ice cream goes well with either the cake, the sauce or both at once. Although overall the dessert on a whole is on the sweet side, it's still extremely enjoyable and it goes well with the coffee they serve (especially if you take their drinks without sugar).

Double Chocolate Blackout Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

PS's signature dessert. As the name of the dessert suggests, it's just CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE. Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate mousse in between and drizzled with chocolate sauce and its paired with vanilla ice cream. Guaranteed sore throat after eating this but it's well worth it if you're a chocolate lover. The cake is extremely moist on its own, and even it acts as a sponge of sorts to soak up the chocolate sauce for even more chocolate flavour. 

In summary, PS is undoubtedly a good place for meeting friends or bringing your special someone out on a date because the ambiance is generally better than other restaurants in the area. The food is of a good standard, but it's definitely not something that is out of this world. Furthermore, the prices aren't exactly wallet-friendly either so you wouldn't be really heading down there every week. My verdict? Above average food, Good desserts, but both at high prices. Make sure your pay is in before heading down.

Expect to pay: $30-35 for food
                      $15 for desserts

Outlets visited
#02-09A
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road

#03-41/44
Paragon Shopping Centre
290 Orchard Road