Tag Archives: Weekend Brunch
Five & Dime Eatery
Five & Dime Eatery opened to much fanfare last year and getting a reservation on weekends have been near to impossible until recently. Located along River Valley road, this charming white-washed two-storey shophouse is almost hard to miss, and surprisingly accessible with the bus-stops strategically situated nearby.
The first floor is decidedly more chic as compared to the second, with a minimalist bar where the cocktails are concocted and diners can choose between the stylish stools that line the bar counter or the lacquered wood tables with matching chairs of brown and seafoam. My favourite spot in the day would probably be at the tables beside the windows, where a ray of sunlight enters and falls onto your food so naturally.
The best friend and I dropped by one Saturday afternoon for weekend brunch and ordered way too much from the considerably modest one-paged menu. We could have probably stopped after a salad, two mains and dessert but after seeing how almost every table had a platter of Fish and Chips $20, it was hard to resist ordering it as well.
I liked how the deep fried battered catfish, cut into smaller pieces, gave the illusion that there was more fish. It was flaky, crisp and extremely fresh. While I am hardly the best judge of Fish and Chips, I thought this one was possibly one of the better ones I have had. Extra points for presentation and the overall rustic feel contributed by those chunky cut fries as well.
The Salmon Rocket Salad $15 raised some eyebrows as the perfect example of how delicious fare need not be complicated as long as fresh ingredients and right techniques are used. Pieces of seared salmon wrapped around arugula had just the right contrast of sweet melt in your mouth smoothness and crunchy subtly bitter leaves. The wasabi mirin dressing too deserves a mention.
Possibly what Five and Dime Eatery is most popularly known for, their Mentaiko Pasta $18 is yet another dish seen on almost every table. The spaghetti was cooked al-dente and tossed in creamy mentaiko sauce before being topped with more cod fish roe. If you are those who shy away from dishes with a ‘fishy’ aftertaste then this is probably not for you. Apart from that, I liked how it was not overly heavy and brimming with umami. This is one creamy pasta you will not find difficulty finishing on your own.
The French Toast $15 came highly recommended by the server and it was good! That piece of fried toast with a slab of butter melting so conspicuously and lathering the entire surface was simply a standout. The best part would be munching down the middle section where the bread has soaked up all the butter with sticky notes of syrup. While it comes with a choice of pork bacon or chicken chipolata and fruit salad, the french toast is really all you need on the plate.
Symmetry @ 9 Jalan Kubor
Symmetry along Jalan Kubor is possibly one of our little island’s newest and hippest hidden gems. The entrance along the row of shophouses is hardly noticeable but once you find it, it is like discovering a prized secret. With its distressed bricked walls and rustic-like vibe, the space spells indie, contemporary and is just different from the rest, without trying too hard. Though the concept behind this place was the brainchild of the same people who founded CM-PB in Dempsey and The Coastal Settlement, Symmetry holds its own with character, attitude and stands by its mantra of being a ‘humane’ restaurant by serving up organic eggs and grass-fed beef.
We dropped by on a Saturday afternoon to try their weekend brunch menu (Symmetry also offers a separate menu for both lunch and dinners on weekdays) and fell in love with the place just walking in… Coupled with the fact that it was raining that day as well and having window seats to watch the raindrops beat against the glass as we ate made the whole setting for us quite complete.
Prawn Popcorn $14
Not to be mistaken for popcorn chicken, this starter was unlike its greasy and oily distant cousin. The fresh succulent prawns inside had a nice bouncy and natural sweet bite, while the thin layer of light batter gave the exterior that perfect crunch. Served with wasabi seaweed remoulade that was positively addictive and went well with almost everything we had dipped it with, this was a great introduction to the next few dishes to come.
Flan $23
A cute twist to the usual pastry shortcrust flan that we usually see in desserts, this was instead a very unique and interesting savory item of sauteed mushrooms soaked in a glorious mixture of onions, cream and pommery mustard, hinting of a Carbonara-like creaminess to it. Break the poached egg and stir in the runny yolk for added textures. The two chunks of Pork cheek confit had great marinate and flavour while the generous topping of salad greens on top was a nice simple contrast and balance to the saltiness contributed by the cream sauce and pork cheeks. And the best part? Eating the flan after it had soaked up all that sauce and softened to almost a chewy soggy consistency that was surprisingly the highlight.
Weekend Breakfast @ Bistro Du Vin (Zion Road)
A classic French breakfast is traditionally a simple affair. Unlike your elaborate hearty American or Continental breakfasts which often feature whole sausages, thick bacon strips and the like, the French value quality and satisfaction over quantity and is instead all about freshly baked baguettes and croissants served alongside a good brew of coffee or freshly squeezed fruit juice. The Bistro Du Vin branch at Zion Road offers just that very experience.
Available exclusively at only the Zion Road branch, Bistro Du Vin has recently added a breakfast menu on the weekends. From 8.30-11am every Saturday and Sunday, one can expect only the classics of Le Panier (1 croissant, 1 Pain au chocolat, Baguette) $9, Brandade with poached Egg $14, Plates of Cheeses, Ham & Saucisson at $20 each and Eggs prepared in different ways for $16. The menu, while limited in variety, is comprehensive enough to re-create the actuality of having a very Parisian breakfast in a little French bistro.
Le Petit Déjeuné Complet: $23.00
Choice of hot Beverage
+ Glass of Juice
+ Basket of Bread & Croissants
+ Choice of “Let’s Get Serious”
- Omelette $16.00 (ala-carte)
- Fried Egg $16.00
- Scramble Egg $16.00
I strongly recommend getting the Le Petit Déjeuné Complet. For $23, one can enjoy two beverages, a basket of freshly baked French breads and a choice of eggs done the way you like it. The eggs also come with sides of Sautéed Lardons, Iberico Ham, Sautéed Mushrooms & Grilled Tomatoes as well. An absolute bargain for a hearty brunch, let alone a quality French one at that.
London Eats: The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields
The Breakfast Club is by far one of London’s most popular breakfast/brunch franchise and judging from the long queues that snake from the inside of the cafe to the roads, it is no secret that this club is well loved by all. We made a huge mistake by coming here on a Sunday at 12pm, the ultimate brunch hour and needless to say, we had to queue. The wait was about an hour to an hour and a half during that period and it was cold. The good and thoughtful people at The Breakfast Club however made the wait a little more bearable by bringing out shots of free hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows and it was awfully comforting. On hindsight, it was an excellent marketing gimmick because once we got a table, we had to order a cup of their hot chocolate. It was actually really good.
The Full Monty
Bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, home-style fried potatoes, mushrooms, beans, grilled tomato and toasted multigrain bloomer
As the name suitably describes it, it is the full monty with everything piled onto a single plate. Portions were well and generous, perfect for sharing and substantial to feel satisfied, though there was unfortunately nothing really outstanding about it. The sunny side ups had glossy and runny yolks, mushrooms well sauteed in butter and I have a soft spot for those lovely roasted potatoes but apart from that, overall, it was just good, not fantastic.
Kilo at PACT @ Orchard Central
A collaborative concept between the people behind Kilo at Kampong Bugis, menswear boutique K.I.N. and hair salon PACT + LIM, this unique space is all about style, class and quality with a twist. The 3,700 sq ft area located at the corner of the second level of Orchard Central is spacious and open, with a modern contemporary interior design of straight lines and clean finishes.
Kilo is markedly obvious on the extreme left of the entrance when you first walk in, where the seating area is, while the right side has a long wooden display showcasing pieces from the K.I.N. line and the hair salon is just short flight of stairs away.
The furniture used at Kilo are mostly made of concrete, used in its untreated roughness, maintaining that stony hardness for a rustic touch while a few tall cactus plants take centre stage in a rectangular planter that is sitting right smack in the middle of all the dining tables. Full height clear glass windows form the perimeter, allowing natural light to flow through and the whole vibe exuded is so raw yet polished, it is an enigma that is simply chilled, laidback and almost soothing.
Food served is a fusion of Japanese, Vietnamese and Italian, with a special menu on the weekends for brunch.
