A nice change from the usual strawberry variant, Nesuto’s Melon Vanilla Shortcake was pretty refreshing. Layered with diced Australian Rockmelon and Vanilla Souffle Sponge, the Vanilla Mascarpone Chantilly Cream was light yet aromatic with a pleasant dose of sweetness. Holding everything together, the airy whipped cream was the best part for me as it didn’t take the spotlight away from the melon. The chiffon was also soft and mild in flavour so most of the sweetness was from that of the fruit.
My favourite at the table was their 5 Formaggi ($39). An indulgent pizza topped with five rich cheeses - Mascarpone, Smoked Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Talegio and Parmigiana. I am no cheese lover but the savouriness from the cheeses was very wonderfully balanced. Even the usual funk of the blue cheese was very palatable and that small pitcher of Italian honey on the side was a god send as I really love the sweet-salty mix - turning it into a dessert pizza of sorts.
While prices are steep, all pizzas are handmade by the chef and the quality was certainly there. So it is best to head here in a small group to try out more! A waiting time of 15 to 20 mins is to be expected.
Featuring a relatively thinner slice than the standard pie, Tokyo Neapolitan-style pizzas are one for crust lovers as the charred ends don’t feel like dough overkill. And one of the newest pizza speciality restaurants in Bugis, Beyond The Dough, delivers exactly that - the signature puffy, airy crust with the thin center of Naples-style pizza.
The Singapore Rampage ($39) – a local exclusive flavour – boasts a spicy garlicky sauce base made from over a hundred prawns that are cooked for hours and topped with basil as well as chunks of minced prawn. The heat was tolerable for me as one who can’t handle her spice and overall moreish with the savoury crustacean flavours shining through. The prawns tasted fresh and sweet. It does get a little greasy (perhaps due to the olive oil drizzle) but the strong flavours were right up my alley. Well-worth the try, do note the sauce does weigh down the slice a fair bit so the thin crust feels not as satisfying for this combo.
For those who like a more classic number with olives the tomato-based Diavola ($35) was hearty and crowd-pleasing. The pie sports hunks of aromatic homemade salsiccia (Italian sausage), basil, mozzarella and chilli. Well-seasoned, the smokiness from the edges also goes very well together with the medley of ingredients. It doesn’t feel very heavy and the briny burst from the black and green olives gives that extra oomph - a little simple if you are considering the price but nice.
Much like a wonderful cross between a classic Japanese-style soufflé pancake and Taiwanese castella cake, Croissand Cafe’s Fluffy Castella Pancake ($7) was perfectly sweetened. Super light and fluffy, the soft baked dessert had a very pleasant airy, pillowy, moist texture with a heady eggy aroma. Served with maple syrup, icing sugar, and a sizeable pat of butter, this was a dream to dig into (be sure to eat it quickly). The casserole dish can also easily feed two to three people and takes around 20 to 30 minutes to be served. A must-order if you are there but note that it is only available from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Brewed from TWG Earl Grey tea and peach syrup, the Earl Grey Peach Foam Tea ($7) was a delicious thirst-quencher as well~
The Mentaiko Crispy Pork Cutlet ($13.80) was nicely done as well. The breading was thin, light and crunchy while the pork loin remained moist and tender. And each order comes with a side of coleslaw and a choice of homemade mashed potato or fries.
Off their all-day brunch menu was also the classic American-style CAMO Brunch (Fall In!) Platter ($19.80) with a side salad dressed in sweet balsamic vinegar, toasted slice of baguette, smoked sausage, osmanthus honey-glazed bacon, baked beans, roasted vine tomatoes, eggs and hashbrown. A very hearty option that is good for sharing. The plump smoked sausage was especially good.
For a little more spice and heat, the Angel Hair Seafood Laksa ($13.80) packed quite a punch. With quite a generous amount of prawn and scallops, the spice level of the dish is pretty high but very moreish and rich. The thin slurpy pasta also served as a great medium to soak up all that lemak flavour.
A surprising joint venture between Tunglok and Safra, the army-themed CAMO cafe serves a largely localised menu. With a fun twist to the quintessential Singapore breakfast, the CAMO 5BX Breakfast ($8.80) featured crunchy desiccated coconut between sweet coconut kaya slathered on a light baguette and a pat of cold butter and sunny side-up on the side.
For dessert, I was eyeing their creamy Biscoff gelato ($5.50/ scoop) though the others (will get the Hojicha next time) on display tasted great as well. Milky but not overly so, the kind of buttery, caramelised flavour really came through. Studded with bits of cookie crumbs, it was also not too sweet and was wonderfully smooth. Loving their selection of house-made gelato, I found their Charcoal Matcha Waffle ($3.50) to be even more enjoyable as the texture was a nice in-between of dense and airy. The areas with the matcha batter were slightly softer while the charcoal batter seemed to yield a crisper crunch. And I was most impressed by the fact that the mixed batter had a pleasant sweet aroma with the green edges offering a pronounced roasted tea flavour.
What a great hidden find it turned out to be, The Shelter located in Fook Hai Building boasts quite a unique blend of localised bites and cafe fare. Here for dinner, their Curry Chicken with Rice (S$7) was affordable and of a good portion size. With a rich spiced and well-balanced gravy, the bowl also came with a substantial amount of potato chunks and tender fall-off-the-bones meat. Best post-workout comfort food.
Pricey but a really tender and succulent piece of fried chicken leg, Wild Coco’s Ayam Berempah Leg ($10.90) comes coated with shreds of aromatic lemongrass and ginger. With no flour batter, the sizeable spiced-rubbed protein felt lighter than most and not as cloying. The flavour from the seasoned crust was also nicely balanced and the wonderfully browned skin was crispy. However, the insides could use a little more oomph from the marination, in my opinion. The Chao Ta Chee Cheong Fun ($13.90) was decent. Full of wok hei, it can get a bit bitter with the over-charred edges. The two large tiger prawns were nicely done though.
