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The Refinery (Weekend Brunch)
making the second visit to The Refinery, this time going for some weekend brunch. some of us were first-time visitors and were a tad disappointed that the eatery does not offer its popular rice bowls (typically served during weekday lunch - refer to earlier post) on weekends, but oh well, that gives us a reason to visit this place again right?
taking in a nice warm brew whilst observing the crowd, this cafe/bar seems to be growing from strength to strength since the last time we came here. and considering its slightly off-the-beaten-track location, this place does draw quite a following indeed. i believe alot of this success goes to its unique menu offering of fusion dishes, as well as its concept of workspace on the upper deck, where budding young designers congregate to share ideas. 
no Refinery bowls on weekdays, so we went for the Refinery Roll instead. this is essentially a lobster bun roll, dressed with salad, Japanese condiments and served with fries. the generous serving of lobster, coupled with the flavourful sauce, actually makes this a pretty hearty meal. a favourite combination to go with this would be some Cauliflower fritters, served with wasabi-mayo dip, making the perfect side to go with the main dish. 
for those with bigger appetites, there are heavier mains such as this Chicken-not-so-little waffles. as the name suggests, the portions are not very little, with chunky paprika fried chicken, decked with Parmesan cheese, red pepper and tomato sauce over crispy waffles. i think this meal is good for sharing, but a little overkill for one person due to its thick flavour. 
the barista also prides itself with its own blend of unique drinks. the Refinery's version of frozen espresso comes in the form of this expresso ice ball served with warm milk. This Coffee Baller is pretty potent, and depending on your preference for coffee intensity, should be accompanied with the right amount of milk. In all, this concept makes it perfect to do turns around the clock.. the lunch menu of weekdays provides good, quick choices for the working groups, while the weekend brunch whips up unique dishes to be savoured at a more leisurely pace. something for everyone, and a place we'd certainly visit again (stay tuned for dinner offerings). 
The Refinery 115 King George's Ave Singapore 208561 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Thursdays: 12 pm to 3 pm; 6 pm to 12 am (closed on Mondays) Fridays: 12 pm to 3 pm; 6 pm to 1 am Saturdays: 11 am to 4 pm; 6 pm to 1 am Sundays: 11 am to 4 pm Happy hours, happy times.. Labels: #brunchcafe, #brunchfood, #jalanbesar, #japanesefusion, #therefinerysg Chock Full of Beans
a recent Pokemon hunting trip led us to Changi Village, where it was known to breed scores of some of the rarest monsters. it was somewhat of an open secret such that even the weekday lunch crowds at several eateries were overwhelming and the carparks, a perennial challenge. i'm ashamed to say that although Changi Village is home to some popular brunch cafes and coffee houses, i couldn't bring myself to travel all the way there... until now.
Chock Full of Beans has received several good reviews for its brunch food and coffee for almost 5 years. well known for its 2D and 3D latte art, the eatery served quality pastas and brunch food which explains how it lasted the test of time despite being located in the far east. the shop unit itself is pretty small, with limited seating, so the concept has pretty much all its patrons experiencing al-fresco dining.. 
first visits to a cafe would typically involve a sampling of their pastas. we tried the spaghetti with prawns in arrabiatta sauce which turned out surprisingly good. a decent portion of spaghetti, with a generous serving of prawns prepared with a spicy tomato based sauce and sprinkles of cheese. for weekday lunches, the main dish will be served with either a soup or drink of your choice, pretty good deal. 
we also ordered the Eggs Atlantic off the all-day brunch menu and immediately understood why most people gave positive comments for this place. the brioche toast was soft with a crispy crust, the poached eggs were watery inside but solid and there was a generous serving of smoked salmon to go with. a simple and hearty dish. of course, we had our set lunches with their acclaimed latte art drinks. they were well detailed, but i guess on a busy lunchtime morning, most patrons ended up with the same characters on their drinks. 
and so we had our Pikachu to "savour" while we enjoyed good food and caught several virtual critters at the same time. Chock Full of Beans is certainly a place to chillax if you just want a day out. not only is there good quality lunch grub, there's an interesting variety of drinks for those Instagram junkies to go trigger happy. a unique place with enough new offerings surfacing on social media to make us want to go back again soon. 
Chock Full of Beans 4 Changi Village Road #01-2090 Singapore 500004 Operating Hours Tuesdays to Fridays: 11.30 am to 10.15 pm Saturdays & Sundays: 9.30 am to 10.15 pm (closed on Mondays) a laid-back and cosy place to chill out with family and friends Labels: #brunchcafe, #brunchfood, #changivillage, #chockfullofbeans, #latteart |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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