The Glasshouse is a name that shouldn’t be a stranger to the F&B scene — having first started out within CHIJMES in a container box that has see-through glass windows, they have since moved to a permanent shop unit within CHIJMES; they have also opened a new outlet which had just recently officially opened at 136 Neil Road within Goethe Institute. Taking over the former premises of the now-defunct The Lokal, the interior design of The Glasshouse’s newest location does seem to be less connected to its namesake as compared to that of its original location. That being said, the space is decorated pretty tastefully still as one would have expected — whilst the layout of the space has largely stayed the same since its days of being The Lokal, The Glasshouse’s interior now features concrete-esque walls with red tiles that gives off a feel that is similar to that of bricks for a slightly raw look; all that with cushioned chairs and tables featuring a marble-esque accent, while some of the furniture and fittings feature wood for an earthier feel. With this new outlet of The Glasshouse, a new food menu has also been introduced at this outlet; whilst some of its offerings at CHIJMES such as the Caprese Ricotta Tartine and the Avocado Dukkah & Poached Egg Tartine are also available at Neil Road, the menu at their Neil Road location also features new outlet exclusive items such as that of the Corn Fritters, Fried Chicken Burger and the Roast Beef Sanger; the food menu at Neil Road also features other items such as salads and sharing plates as well. Specialty coffee forms up much of the beverage offerings at The Glasshouse at Neil Road, which are brewed using beans which they have roasted by themselves.

Considering the limited variety of items available on their food menu, we found ourselves going for the Corn Fritters; the item featuring Charred Corn, Avocado Tomato Salsa, and Whipped Sour Cream as described on the menu, though patrons can also opt for either a Beef / Chicken Sausage — an option which we skipped on since we didn’t feel that we needed it. Being charred corn nibs that comes with a deep fried batter that is served in a “cake” form, we found the Corn Fritters to be an item that is more suitable to have as a sharing plate rather than a main course when one decides to opt out of the sausage — coming in three pieces, the corn fritters itself was executed fairly well. Think crisp “cakes” that contains corn nibs that come with an extra bite; the fritters being free from grease, while the nibs of corn within provides a hint of sweetness to go along; the tomato salsa provides a tanginess that and a burst of refreshing notes that cut through that fried nature of the dish, while the sour cream provides an added creaminess that provides for yet another dimension of texture when added to the corn fritters. They have also seemed to have added guacamole to the corn fritters, giving the dish a buttery texture that also helps to bind the corn fritters and tomato salsa altogether.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say how The Glasshouse has become quite an established brand name within the local cafe scene ever since its inception — originally known to be an instagrammable spot that serves up great coffee at a convenient location, they have since managed to expand their offerings over the years with a few tweaks being made to their operations. The opening of their new Neil Road outlet is pretty much a testament to what they have been doing in the local cafe scene — providing patrons with quality coffee and hearty brunches in conducive environment great for catch-ups and dates. Whilst sown might mention how the food selection at Neil Road does seem a tad limited at this current juncture, the selection looks decent enough to provide something for everyone. With the The Glasshouse at Neil Road being in its full launch now that they have started serving up their hot food menu, one could easily expect their new outpost to be a haunt with cafehoppers looking for a spot that is great for the ‘gram as well as for a satisfying lazy weekend brunch; pretty much the same for what one would be experiencing at their original location at CHIJMES.