Much hype has surrounded this new cafe player and it sure has lived up to mounting expectations. For those who've had enough of pricey, run-of-the-mill brunch fare, Populus might just be the solution to your weary palate.

The menu here is peppered with familiar brunch favourites given an interesting spin; take this French toast-inspired dish for example. Served in the form of a brioche bread pudding, the cloud-like milky pillows cranked it up a notch on the comfort food quotient. Thoroughly enjoyed this dish; each bite introduced a new dimension from its complex flavour profile -- a delightful zing (lemon curd and yuzu mascarpone), textural contrast (cornflakes crust and pistachio crumbs), and lingering headiness (red wine poached pears, and thyme-infused pure maple syrup).