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The Workbench Bistro
Hip cafes starting out in HDB heartland areas often require an interesting concept to take off, more so those who have chosen to start up in matured housing areas. it actually means that the cafe has to either convert the palette of its immediate catchment, or have strong enough outreach through various media channels to bring its target customers to the location. either way, you'd have to applaud those cafes which have established in such a backdrop.
The Workbench Bistro started out as an ice cream shop in Ang Mo Kio, after a concept tweak, it rebranded itself as a cafe offering a range of burgers, pastas and finger food that adopted more modern and artisanal recipes. Ice cream still forms part of the menu, with its sweet potato flavoured waffle one of the signature dishes. the food is promoted for its quality, and affordable price range. moreover the locality ensures that there's ample parking and proximity to public transportation, making this a viable alternative to Bishan Park or Thomson where most hipster cafes have gathered. 
The pastas at the store seem the most attractive and we tried a couple on our visit. This Ma La Pasta which is essentially Linguine served with fried buttermilk chicken and a special Ma La sauce has all the right flavours and a spicy punch that's all the rage now. Ma La is the new salted egg (the cafe has a selection of salted-egg inspired dishes too) and the dish allows customers to decide the level of spiciness to suit their comfort level of enjoyment. The crab meat Linguine that we also tried was also great, there was a generous serving of crab meat, mixed in a unique white wine and tomato cream based pasta which got tastier with every mouthful.. 
No cafe can be complete without its coffee and although there's no fancy barista reputation that comes with the Workbench, they do whip up some decent coffee blends. we had some flavoured lattes which proved to be pretty much comfort drinks to go with the food on a lazy weekend. both the caramel and hazelnut lattes were not overly sweet, and the aroma of the coffee can still be felt which we found was good value for a nice warm cup. 
Its useful to note that The Workbench Bistro is what we consider a family friendly place as well. we observed some families coming in during our short time there and we've got to say that having an ice-cream selection certainly helps. there's a range of flavours including some premium ones and they can be enjoyed either in a cup or served with their signature waffles. The highly advertised Moreffles, which is a mix of red and blue velvet waffles decked with melted marshmallows would certainly be as popular as their sweet potato waffles. those thirsty after a long day's work would also be cheered to know they sell bottled beers, with bucket promotions as well. in all, there's something for everyone and for a cafe that has been in Ang Mo Kio since 2016, these guys have got what it takes. 
The Workbench Bistro Blk 332 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 #01-1881 Singapore 560332 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 12 pm to 10 pm Fridays & eves of public holidays: 12 pm to 11 pm Saturdays: 10 am to 11 pm Sundays & public holidays: 10 am to 10 pm born out of a vision to create honest, practical and delicious food and drinks.. Labels: #angmokio, #brunchcafe, #brunchfood, #heartlandcafe, #icecreamshop, #malapasta, #sgbrunchfood, #theworkbench, #theworkbenchbistro Pastaria Abate
there are not many Italian family restaurants with a native chef operating in Singapore. the popular Italian restaurants based here are also likely to be rather damaging to the wallet. so for those who are looking for a no frills, authentic family-styled Italian fix, it is welcome news to discover Pastaria Abate that is located along Craig Road. Opened by an Italian chef and his Singaporean wife, the restaurant aims to bring the taste of home-cooked dishes to the local clientele at very affordable prices..
the restaurant is located within a shop house along Craig Road, the interior carries a very simplistic and homely fitout with shelving showcasing their various pasta sauces and wines that are up for retail sales as well. though the place is entirely packed, it has a cosy and vibrant atmosphere and it wouldn't be surprising to find the couple meeting up with patrons to introduce their best dishes and ask about their cooking. to keep costs low, the no frills concept involves requesting diners to collect their food from the kitchen window when their buzzer beeps, a small activity before enjoying quality home-style Italian food. 
before even going to the pastas, this appetizer dish is seen to be popular amongst the customers here. Fried Mozzarella that comes with an abundance of cheese and a crispy exterior served with a unique red sauce. We saw many younger patrons working on their Boomerang photography by taking a short clip of themselves stretching the Mozzarella cheese ball. the dish itself was great and it went well with the signature red sauce. 
Moving on to their specialty which would be their pastas. In particular, due to the owner's family history, the focus is on their red sauce or tomato based pastas. we tried this Linguine served with bacon and cherry tomatoes, it was splendid. as with good Italian pasta, the tomato based sauce was not overpowering, light but flavourful with a tinge of olive oil. the pasta itself was of a silky but harder texture which I personally liked very much, and it carried a strong savoury taste that many local pasta places cannot deliver. we enjoyed the pasta very much. 
Upon the owner's recommendation we also went for their Ravioli dish that contained mushroom and cheese filling. not a particularly heavy dish with an ample serving of Ravioli but extremely flavourful and certainly a good suggestion. we topped off our meal with Italian Spritz (soda water served with Prosecco and Aperol) and enjoyed a very hearty session for less than $20 per person. No fireworks or jaw-dropping food in a family-based diner afterall, but we felt it was good value-for-money and we would gladly come again. 
Pastaria Abate 43 Craig Road Singapore 089681 Opening Hours Daily: 10 am to 10 pm freshly handmade pasta in Singapore at prices that won’t break the bank.. Labels: #craigroad, #familyfriendly, #familyrestaurant, #italianfood, #mozzarella, #pastaplace, #pastariaabate, #ravioli, #redsaucepasta, #sgitalianfood Soi Thai Kitchen
The quest to bring authentic Thai food to Singapore has always been the goal that set part these little institutions from the chain stores serving Thai food. More established names such as Nakhon Kitchen and Aloy Thai would often come to mind as they have succeeded in drawing the crowds to them, given the stamp of approval and encouraged them to even set up more than one outlet. We decided to try another up and coming operator that has already quite a few stores open, and we checked out their latest one at JCube!
taking the 4th floor of JCube just overlooking the ice-rink, Soi Thai Kitchen is now considerably a familiar name on the "authentic Thai food" scene. as with the other eateries, their fit-out is simple, they carry the full works for signature Thai dishes and probably a stand-out feature for them, they offer very generous portions at affordable prices. we have varied responses to the food itself, although there are several selections that are fairly on point.. 
first up, the Pad Thai which came in a very very ample portion, certainly good enough to make one meal if you're eating alone. there is a hearty serving of seafood, peanuts and spices that makes the dish really flavourful when mixed together. in our opinion, this was their stand-out dish and something that's good enough to eat on its own. we also liked the minced Basil Chicken that also came in a big plate. watch out for the diced red chilli padi in this one, it can be really potent. 
No Thai meal can probably be complete without a bowl of Tom Yum Soup. we often hear that the clear soup version is actually the most spicy one, but we decided to try the Red Tom Yum Seafood Soup this time which we felt was more original. the spicy kick was present but the overall soup lacked flavour from the various spices so this one was a little miss for us. Similarly, we didn't find the marination of the Pandan Chicken strong enough and the taste felt somewhat flat. 
it seems like Soi Thai is really better with their basil based dishes and this Basil Tofu was very tasty as well. it was one of the dishes that accompanied well with steamed Jasmine rice and we lapped it up readily. the cold drinks such as Lemongrass drink and Thai iced-tea were also great tasting thirst quenchers. in all, we think that Soi Thai Kitchen delivers real value for money, and if you live in the West, the outlet at JCube is probably the one to visit. 
Soi Thai Kitchen (JCube) 2 Jurong East Central 1, #04-12 JCube Singapore 609731 Opening Hours Daily: 11 am to 10 pm Authentic Thai food at affordable prices.. Labels: #authenticthaifood, #jcube, #jurongeast, #padthai, #pandanchicken, #soithaikitchen, #thaifood, #tomyumsoup Dim Sum Inc by Crystal Jade
Michelin rated Singapore restaurant chain Crystal Jade has got a new Dim Sum concept that is designed for fast, no frills dining. Coined as Dim Sum Inc, they have opened up 2 outlets in Chinatown and developing new town Punggol. the menu carries a pretty wide selection of Dim Sum, Hong Kong styled roast meats with rice or noodles and other cantonese small bites. the food variety focuses on giving patrons a quick meal, that is also ideal for takeaway or simple meetings. the range is affordably priced and probably akin to the fast food version of the entire Crystal Jade franchise..
we visited the outlet at Punggol Terrace which has a small indoor seating area and a few more outdoor seats. the concept is really no frills, where we ticked our own orders off a 2 page menu sheet and would have to pay upfront whilst making our orders. the Dim Sum also includes the cute and eye-catching types such as colourful Har Gao and animal shaped lotus buns. drinks are served in unique long bottles to complete the experience. 
we found it hard to explain to our friends what no-frills Dim Sum really meant so this Cheong Fun or traditional Hong Kong styled rice roll could be a good example. most rice rolls served at Dim Sum restaurants come with some filling (shrimp or roasted pork) and would take a longer time to prepare, the ones served here are simpler plain rice rolls drizzled with sweet and sesame sauce, abit more like those we find at local food centres. most of the Dim Sum baskets for dumplings and buns come with 3 of each type, ideal for smaller groups or individual dining. 
a dish that we found to be particularly good was this XO carrot cake. fried in little chunks with XO sauce, there is also a spicy kick to the dish that made it enjoyable and appetizing. we liked the shrimp & pork wrapped in beancurd skin with oyster sauce, which had generous servings of filling, smooth beancurd skin that was flavourful with the sauce. other Dim Sum selections that we enjoyed were the custard buns and Cantonese styled congee. 
and so the much Instagrammed about animal-shaped buns, they certainly look pretty when all decked out together. To manage expectations abit though, we found out for the Punggol outlet that there was only one selection of animal at any given time. for our meal, they only had the yellow chick buns (would have loved the pink porcupine ones). while the exterior was cute for the camera, we found that the lotus paste on the inside somewhat fell flat, it was a tad too dry and felt more like red bean paste. oh well, this order was for fun and for the kids anyway. all in all, it was a good experience. the food was served fast, warm and generally reasonably priced. we would recommend Dim Sum Inc for quick and comfortable dining, in air-condition and without having to deal with long queues. 
Dim Sum Inc by Crystal Jade 681 Punggol Dr, #02-36 Oasis Terraces Singapore 820681 Opening Hours Mondays to Fridays: 11 am to 10 pm Saturdays & Sundays: 9 am to 10 pm The latest all-day dining quick service concept.. Labels: #animalbuns, #crystaljade, #dimsum, #dimsuminc, #fastdimsum, #punggol, #xocarrotcake Old Hen Coffee Bar
wholesome meals and great coffee brews are the new wave of cafes. as part of the national movement that rewards people for eating nutritious food, this cafe has brought wellness into its menu and still looks hipster while at it. this kinda reminds me of the Percolate concept at Bedok that we featured earlier this year. quite a few similarities in terms of the cosy fit-out, the emphasis on wellness and good coffee, as well as the retail element of their coffee beans and products.
Old Hen Coffee Bar is located at Rangoon Road, home to local delicacies and a breeding ground for modern cafes. the menu is simplistic with focus on coffee and tea, including cold bottled beverages that are prepared in-house. the food menu mixes lots of greens, health snacks and high protein food, going at very reasonable prices. there is quite a fair bit of street-side parking within the area, but it'd be better to arrive somewhat earlier if you're dining at peak hours. the cafe is going strong after over a year of operations and has even expanded into a more mainstream cafe and bar on the next street. that is a story for another day... 
in the spirit of eating right, we went for their Toasted Museli Bowl, which came with honeyed museli, seasonal fruits and greek yohurt. there is the option of replacing the yohurt with milk, hence ours looks more like morning cereal. the serving is fairly generous and the fruits are fresh, if cereal at home is always this good, we might be waking up for such breakfasts more often. 
if your idea of breakfast has to be fuller, complete with eggs and toast, then this Big Breakfast would be more conventional. served with sourdough toast, spinach, avocado, a chorizo sausage and a choice of poached or scrambled eggs, this makes for a heartier meal. is it just me or does this look abit like a grumpy old clown? jokes aside, the eggs were well done, and the quantity of greens would please any salad lover. 
good breakfast topped with fantastic coffee is always welcome. we tried both their white cold brew as well as their traditional warm coffee with milk. perhaps it was the whole ambience with aromatic coffee filling up the room the moment that we stepped in, but this turned out to be one of the better coffees we have tried. a testament to that would be the people that would stop by just to order coffees to go, Old Hen Coffee Bar has somewhat transformed into the local coffee place for its neighbours. we made mental notes to try their other specialty drinks on our next visit, such as their cold matcha milk or their dark cocoa drink. in all, it was a good feeling having a seemingly unsinful treat, and an enjoyable visit to this coffee joint. 
Old Hen Coffee Bar 88 Rangoon Road #01-03 Singapore 218374 Opening Hours Mondays to Fridays: 12 pm to 10 pm (closed on Tuesdays) Saturdays: 10 am to 6.30 pm Sundays: 10 am to 10 pm check out the various cold bottled beverages.. Labels: #brunchcafe, #brunchfood, #coldbrew, #museli, #oldhencoffee, #oldhencoffeebar, #rangoonroad, #wholesomemeal Platform 1094
Theme cafes that are inspired by long running movie franchises would often enjoy a good run, especially if the movie series is still running or much talked about. However, if the cafe is modeled after J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter franchise, throwing in props, costumes and "magic" that enable customers to participate, then the interactive nature of the concept would ensure the cafe's greater longevity.
Singapore's Harry Potter inspired cafe is called Platform 1094. The name was adopted from its address along 1094 Serangoon Road, although searching for Harry Potter Cafe on Google would probably also lead you to this place. The folks behind this theme cafe are the similar ones who brought in Blue Willow (now closed), the avatar themed blue cafe that once operated from Clementi. It is no wonder that creativity runs deep in this group, as several of the food and drinks served here are certainly iconic to the theme. 
The food is also of fairly good quality, with this crab meat Aglio Olio being one of its signatures. Spaghetti prepared in a spicy sauce, the dish is served with crab meat slices, smoked salmon and fish roe. extremely generous and flavourful servings which made it a very popular choice here. the same cannot be said for another of its featured mains, the HP lamb shoulder. I guess, lamb dishes could be a hit or a miss at casual diners and for this restaurant, we found the meat a tad too rubbery and really difficult to bite through.I guess, other recommended mains could be alot easier to cut up. 
another fascinating feature of the cafe would be its really creative cake designs. This book of spells cake is actually part of the cafe's thematic offering, termed Sweet Treats of the Wizardry World, the chocolate cake is as tasty as it looks photo-worthy. other cakes and desserts there are also designed to the magical spirit of Harry Potter and are also commonly featured on social media posts. To top it off, the cafe is interactive, providing patrons with costumes, props such as magic wands and other figurines to make the experience more complete. 
if the desserts are much talked about, then the drinks here would be the champions. in fact, one of its drinks is probably the signature feature of the whole cafe. Mr Lich's flaming brew could well be the main highlight when people talk about this cafe. the blue drink is literally flaming when served, and customers can even sprinkle cinnamon powder over it to create that goblet-of-fire effect. Butterscotch beer is also a signature for the Harry Potter cafe in London, over here they have tweaked the drink slightly to a Butterscotch ale that is sweet, delicious with alot of froth. On the whole, we were greatly impressed by this experience, the cafe had several interactive elements, there were several cakes and drinks that stuck to the theme and were great for the camera and the general food quality was good.. just stay clear of the lamb. 
Platform 1094 1094 Serangoon Rd Singapore 328192 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Fridays: 11 am to 10 pm Saturdays & Sundays: 10 am to 10 pm (closed on Mondays) Welcoming Wizards & Witches since 2016.. Labels: #brunchcafe, #butterscotchale, #crabmeataglioolio, #harrypottercafe, #platform1094, #thematiccafe |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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