Lola's Cafe

It's been two years since I last visited Lola's for their main menu items.

They have since taken over the shop space next to theirs and still doing a roaring business. 

I ordered the Smoked Pulled Pork Sanger ($15). I was first exposed to pulled pork in the US and never looked back since. Generous chunks of pulled pork dunked in BBQ sauce were sandwiched between the lightly buttered and fluffy brioche bread. The thinly sliced potato fries were also crispy and addictive- better than McDonald's (I think McDonald's fries are pretty legit).

I always get the Honey Parprika Crispy Wings ($10) when I come to Lola's. It's almost a crime not to get these beautifully deep fried wings. Crispy, yet not oily. With each bite oozes chicken juiciness, paired beautifully with the layer of honey glaze on the chicken. A must order.

Lola's Cafe 
5 and 7 Simon Road
Tel No: 6284 0349 

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Department of Caffeine

I'm not a caffeine person but ended up at Department of Caffeine anyway. 

On weekends, reservations are an absolutely must. Otherwise, be prepared to wait. 

I ordered a Fish Finger Sandwich ($14). This reminded me of the Fish Burger at Grub. Incredibly fluffy sandwich with a piece of deep fried (but not oily) fish in between. The texture of the fish was smooth and moist. To sum it up, this is a glam version of Fillet-O-Fish (costing several times the price of eating at Mcdonalds), but more moist, more satisfying and infinitely tastier.

I ordered a Latte ($5). Over the past few months, I have ordered coffee several times voluntarily, even though I still can't appreciate it. I have considered signing up for coffee-appreciation classes but decided that I wasn't going to allow myself to get potentially addicted to the caffeine. The smell of coffee lurking at every corner of CBD is honestly rather intoxicating. Friends tell me that sugar ruin the taste of coffee and I know lots of them who drink black coffee.

Million dollar question- what's the best way to really appreciate coffee?

Department of Caffeine
15 Duxton Road
Tel No. 6 223 3426 

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Kith Cafe (Park Mall)

Somehow, brunch always goes right with this particular friend. Once, it was at Wild Honey where I had the insanely good Tunisian breakfast, another time it was at Penny University which had affordable brunch options. This time, we found ourselves at Park Mall. 

I had the Chicken Mushroom Sandwich ($12). My philosophy towards dishes containing mushrooms is give me plenty of them, sautee them well and the rest doesn't matter anymore. Indeed, the mushrooms were lovely and the grilled chicken was juicy. The thing that was unfortunately wrong in this dish- the chips! Been kept for too long and tasted a little stale. 

You may have to share tables with others as the queue list can get quite long- if you are okay with sharing (indirectly) you life stories with the stranger next to you or listening to that stranger's life stories (i heard that they are doing theatre studies), then why not! 

Kith Cafe 

Park Mall

9 Penang Road

#01-01E

Tel No: 6 338 8611 

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Lola's Cafe

We can all talk about having dreams and aspirations- but how many of us actually put that into reality? It's therefore always impressive when young people decide to give it their all and push the boundaries. Set up by a couple who met on exchange in the Netherlands, this place was crowded when we visited on a Sunday afternoon. 

I ordered a Lola's Full Monty Breakfast ($15 nett). I thought the portion would be rather huge but it turns out to be just right. If there's anything that I remember about this dish, it's how all the meat has a sweet tinge to it- honey baked ham and honey bacon. The brioche was a little too small for my liking and the scrambled eggs a little too buttery for me.

I would say the food is decent but unless I'm in the Kovan area and craving brunch food, I wouldn't make a trip down just for the food. Service was friendly and interesting decor.

Lola's Cafe 
5 Simon Road
Tel No: 6 343 1808 

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Group Therapy (Katong V)

Another place on my Want-to-eat list is finally struck out. Group Therapy's new branch at Katong V is of course welcome, given that their branch at Duxton is always crowded. On a Saturday afternoon, this place was comfortably filled up, with no queues. 

We had a large group and it was a good thing that we could fit in, because no reservations are allowed.

I got Poached Eggs ($15) with an additional side of Mushrooms ($3). It was only this year that I had a new-found liking for salmon. I didn't eat salmon in the past because of its taste but this taste has grown on me and I am now found of salmon, whether grilled or smoked.

Combine the smoked salmon with eggs and thick, fluffy toast, there is what comfort food tastes like. Ordered an extra side of mushrooms which gave an extra juicy kick to this already complete meal. I felt that there was too much hollandaise sauce though.

For those who don't want to jostle with the crowds at the Duxton branch, this is an alternative you can consider.

Group Therapy
Katong V
30 East Coast Road
#01-11 

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Penny University

The East Coast stretch is one of my favourite places in Singapore- not only because there's plenty of good food here but also because there's an eclectic blend of the new and the old and you get to see beautiful architecture in this area. 

There are very few brunch places in the East and Penny University stands out because it's affordable and the food is good. 

There was a pretty large lunch turnout and the place can be a little cramped. Other than that, some retro elements in this place coupled with a comfy setting.

If you have a look at their menu, you will realise that their menu options are a lot cheaper than other brunch places. I had the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($12) which consists of poached eggs on sourdough toasts, hollandaise sauce drizzled over the eggs and smoked salmon. Apparently, there's supposed to be chilli jam as well- but this was not spicy at all. I had a nice time wiping this dish clean- poached eggs were done beautifully, salmon was fresh and bread was delightful.

The desserts display were pretty insane- such beautiful homely looking desserts! Croissants, little tarts, mint chocolate pie, carrot walnut cake etc. But this humble looking French Apple Cake ($5.50) appealed to me. This cake was not too sweet as many apple cakes tend to be and the baker didn't skimp on the apples as well- every bite had apple slices in it.

A very good option for brunch in the East, service was average.

Penny University
402 East Coast Road
Tel No: 9008 9314 

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Wild Honey (Mandarin Gallery)

I have always wanted to visit Wild Honey, but the thought of having to wait in the line endlessly (they didn't take reservations, the Scotts branch does) turns me off. To celebrate a good friend's birthday, we decided to meet early so that we didn't waste time in the queue. 

They had their menu on tablets at the counter. One lady tried to take the picture of the menu on the chalkboard and the girl at the counter said, "Sorry, no photos allowed." Not really sure what the rationale of not allowing her to take photos of the menu since the menu is already available online.

I had the Tunisian Breakfast ($19) which I really liked! Unlike your usual breakfast platters consisting of eggs, bacon and/or pancakes etc., Wild Honey totally nailed it for their innovative breakfast offerings. Piping hot and spicy pan of shakshouka together with Chorizo sausage with two fried eggs and brioche. The shakshouka was flavourful and was perfect with the fluffy brioche. It was like a treasure hunt trying to find the Chorizo sausage but really, anything doesn't matter as long as you have the heavenly combination of brioche and shakshouka.

Interesting breakfast choices, but be prepared to wait during peak hours!

Wild Honey (Mandarin Gallery)
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road
#03-02
Tel No.: 6 234 3900 

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Selfish Gene Cafe

Who wouldn't be intrigued by the name of this cafe? I always thought the owner was inspired by the book The Selfish Gene (which I tried reading but it was too heavy going) but it turns out that it's named as such because Gene, the owner, is selfish when it comes to food- he would not serve anyone food that he would not eat himself. 

A nice cosy place where strangely enough, crowds didn't congregate here on a weekend.

I got myself a Breakfast Plate ($15.80). As usual, this didn't manage to fill me up because I have a pretty big appetite. But the food was good. The scrambled eggs were runny, the sauteed mushrooms were moist and infused with a herby garlicky flavour, the tomato confit was sweet (very surprisingly), the honey baked ham was normal and the bread was warm and fluffy.

We also got the Chocolate Cake ($5.80). While it was decent, it wasn't that fantastic. In my mind, I still can't forget the insane Death by Chocolate cake at Riders Cafe.

And the famed Banana Cake ($5.80) is really something worth getting. The crumble beneath the bananas gave a nice twist to this homely moist cake. So did the lines of peanut butter sauce over the cake- not a fan of peanut butter, but it was subtle and provided a different edge to the cake. Definitely worth getting this cake!

Service was friendly as well. Worth a visit!

Selfish Gene Cafe
40 Craig Road
Tel No.: 6 423 1324 

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SPR MRKT

Finally got to try SPR MRKT last weekend after seeing how Bern from The Hungry Bunny repeatedly raves about the food here. Reservations are a must on weekends because we repeatedly saw how people didn't have seats because they didn't make any reservation. 

The theme behind this place is Food. Retail. Art. Food is easily explicable, how about Retail and Art? Little knick knacks like postcards are sold here and photographs/art are hung on the walls. The smell of toast envelopes this place which exudes a homely feel. Their menu changes on a daily basis so be sure to go to their website to check out the day's menu.

I got a Sausages & Mash ($16) which consists of two sausages made of korubuta pork, as well as fork mashed potato. To me, pork is pork. But I decided to check out what korubuta pork is and found out that it is "black hog" pork which comes from the Berkshire pig. Apparently, it's prized for its "juiciness, flavour and tenderness" (Wikipedia). Unfortunately, the sausages didn't really live up to expectations- they were pretty average. The sausages were a little too dry and tough. I wiped the delicious mashed potato clean though!

I also tried some of the Eggs Florentine ($14). To be honest, the portion is a little small compared to the ones I normally eat which come with an additional side like roasted potatoes etc. Nonetheless, the poached eggs and the toasted crumpets were done perfectly. That said, what's the difference between crumpets and English muffins? For those who are interested, here's what the intelligent internet tells me.

Food here is slightly above average. Atmosphere is great. Great thinking on the part of whoever arranged our seats- we got the only circular table in the whole shop as we had 6 people. If you are just looking for an afternoon to chill, consider this place!

SPR MRKT 
2 McCallum Street
Tel No: 6221 2105

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The Fabulous Baker Boy

I was reading a magazine that recommended this place. Tucked safely at Fort Canning Hill opposite Liang Court, it was a place that I would definitely not have chanced upon. 

I ordered a Towkay Ng's Eggs Benedict ($10.50). It is probably one of the cheapest egg benedicts you can find in Singapore. I loved this dish- the two egg benedicts were served on warm toasted brioche with a layer of sauteed spinach. The egg white was firm with runny egg yolk. The roasted potatoes felt a little extra though. The portion was, however, not enough for someone with a huge appetite. I went on to try some pancakes and they were really fluffy.

Desserts are a must-order here. Feeling more adventurous than my usual chocolate-cake-only order, I got a Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte ($7.50). I didn't regret choosing this. Layers of rich and moist chocolate, were complemented perfectly by the salted caramel. So delightful.

Based on the food alone, I would recommend this place. But service from a particular server was ridiculous. To cut the long story short, place your reservations well in advance otherwise the server may not give you a seat even if the tables are empty. One table only indoors, with a very small table. Sitting outside might be a better choice if you don't want to feel so cramped.

The Fabulous Baker Boy
The Foothills
70 River Valley Road
#01-15
Tel No.: 6 694 8336 

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Eggs & Berries

Recently, my good friend since secondary school days came back from Australia and together with another close friend, we decided on Eggs & Berries. Lots of fun colours at this place which serves all-day breakfast. 

I got Eggs Benedict ($16.80) which consists of 2 poached eggs with English muffins, bacon, ham, hash brown and salad. My idea of hash brown has always been the McDonald's kind. To me, this seemed more like rosti. The shredded bits of potato were a little clumpy. The eggs were runny and done nicely. Ham was pretty ordinary although I liked the bacon because it was not too salty.

We also got the Over the Rainbow ($13.80) which consists a variety of fruits and nuts. I'm not sure why the amount of fruits look significantly downsized, as compared to this blogger's picture. I love thick waffles and this was pretty decent, with a good portion of macadamia nuts and pistachio. You could also choose from a selection of chocolate sauce, maple syrup or raspberry sauce to drizzle over this delight.

I think it used to be more value for money but the prices keep creeping up. Nonetheless, it's still a good price to pay considering that the food's decent and it's a good place to spend the afternoon at. Service is also friendly.

Eggs & Berries
Changi City Point
5 Changi Business Park Central 1
#01-37/38
Tel: 6636 4212

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Strangers' Reunion Cafe

As someone who doesn't drink coffee or have brunch often, it must be pretty strange that I ended up at Strangers' Reunion Cafe on a weekend morning.

I completely do not know how to appreciate coffee so it comes as no surprise that I didn't know that the person who handles the coffee here is a two-time national barista champion. It probably doesn't make a difference to me though since all coffee tastes the same to me. Yes coffee lovers, feel free to roll your eyes. 

Sometimes, when nostalgia kicks in, all you can think of are the sights and smells that once surrounded you. The smell of coffee, the smell of food being prepared, the selection of music- everything just reminded me of Panera Bread, a place I used to visit whenever I was too lazy to cook.

We settled for a cosy little corner. There are paintings on the walls and I suppose they are for sale since prices are indicated.

I didn't try the Hot Chocolate ($5.50) and the Buttermilk Waffles with Vanilla Ice Cream and Fresh Fruits ($8.50) but they surely looked pretty. The people who drank/ate them said that they were yummy although the one who drank the hot chocolate commented that the one at Starbucks was better.

I know most people just have their famous Magic coffee/waffle/cakes, but I decided to have the Scrambled Eggs with Sauteed Shrooms ($15). Scrambled eggs were cooked just right and the mushrooms were nicely seasoned- they were a little dry though. Other than that, I liked how everything came nicely together. Some places have issues with English muffins where it can end up a little tough but there was no such problem here.

I heard it can be really crowded on weekends but when we went on a Saturday morning, it was pretty empty till we left. Most servers weren't friendly, with the exception of one guy who was very pleasant. It's a nice place to hang out and enjoy the music and the food. Bad reception within the cafe, which is a good thing so that you can't check your phone! I also love the little pots of flowers on each table!

Strangers' Reunion Cafe 

37 Kampong Bahru Road 

Tel No: 6222 4869 

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Riders Cafe

Someone holds me safe and warm, horses prance through a silver storm.

For those who actually watch Disney cartoons, you will find the above lyrics pretty familiar. We were hoping to see some horses at the Saddle Club. Unfortunately, as it rained before that, no horses were in sight. This place is difficult to get to by walking, so it's ideal to drive in.

We reached at 11:06 a.m., just 6 minutes after the breakfast cut-off time. The waiter when handing us the menus told us that breakfast was over. With pitiful looks on our faces, we asked if it was possible to still order the breakfast items. He asked the chef and they said yes! How accommodating.

As we went on a weekday, it was pretty empty all the way until around 1 p.m. when the place became full.

I got a Blackstone Benedict with Bacon & Tomatoes, Poached Eggs & Hollandaise on rustic Sourdough ($15). Don't laugh, but this is the first time I'm eating eggs benedict. If I never eat it, I will never understand why people love it so much right. So I realised that Hollandaise is actually an emulsion of egg and yolk and butter and other seasoning. 

I like the way the eggs were poached nicely, runny but not too runny. I haven't eaten bacon for something like 2 years and this was done just right, not too fatty but just enough fats to make it moist. The juicy tomato and the hollandaise sauce seeped into the bread which made it a pretty satisfying eat. But truth to be told, I'm not much of a brunch person. So, while I find this pretty good, I probably won't pay this to eat such a dish. 

I also got a Death by Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice cream ($12). On the menu, it was stated that it takes at least 12 minutes to prepare this dish. Well, this is a whole new level of sinfulness and decadence. Two of us shared this and it totally filled us up. It was incredibly moist and warm and all that chocolate sauce was moderately sweet. That intense shot of chocolate was just wonderful. But don't attempt to eat it on your own, or you might really get death by chocolate cake in the long run.

After lunch, we took a stroll around the place and took a few pictures. Lovely place with colonial buildings which transports you out of the busy life just for a while. Service was good. Although I have some issues with the wooden tables which were pretty sticky. One of the waiters who helped remove my dish had quite some trouble trying to remove it. But overall, a wonderful place if you are a brunch person.

Riders Cafe
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
51 Fairways Drive
Tel: 6466 9819 

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