Brunch Places

Antoinette is one of my favorite brunch places in Singapore. It's a Parisian Cafe or Tea Salon located at Mandarin Gallery, Orchard. They are actually popular for their cakes and pastries but I recommend you to try their food selection especially their breakfast or brunch menu.

Their Classic Egg Florentine and French Toast with Salty Caramel are my favorites! These paired with their Cafe Viennois is my perfect idea of a luxurious weekend brunch...fit for a queen.😊

Their take on the Classic Eggs Florentine with its buttery and fluffy brioche bread, sauteed wilted spinach, Serrano ham and perfectly poached eggs were heavenly! I must say the Serrano ham was really a great addition to the traditional Florentine dish. It was topped with an excellently cooked creamy hollandaise sauce and came with a side salad. I also liked their appetizing presentation and plating of the dish.

Their French Toast with Salty Caramel was just divine! They used Brioche bread which was pan-toasted just right leaving the outside crisp and golden brown and the inside soft and fluffy. It was drizzled with Salted Caramel and served with Chantilly cream...who could go wrong with that? It was something I wouldn't and couldn't say no to even when I'm full...believe me I tried, but it was just irresistible!

Their coffee in general was great but I just wished it came in a bigger cup. Although, the cup that it was served in was charming and actually very fitting of the feel and theme of the place.

All in all, I simply cannot get enough of Antoinette. They serve amazing food in very reasonable prices as compared to other brunch places in Singapore who has a similar vibe but much more expensive. I love their chic and elegant ambiance, very much suitable for a Parisian-style pattiserie. It is the perfect place to go to enjoy a lazy brunch on a weekend or afternoon tea with a bunch of your girlfriends.

A few days before I left Singapore, I came across this simple cafe with unforgettable eats at Serangoon Garden. It’s called Chillax Cafe…and so I call that experience as Chillaxation…

They offer a kind of Asian-Western fusion cuisine.

Their Arancini (risotto balls) just have the right crunch on the outside and soft creaminess in the inside. Their homemade salsa served on the side complements nicely with the entire dish. It does not only taste good but also has a very nice French-inspired presentation.

Their steak is cooked properly based on our specification…medium-well. It’s served with a mushroom gravy sauce and a generous helping of greens for a balanced meal.

I just love their Wagyu Beef Rosti. But just a note of advice, it’s better tasting seasoned with Tabasco to help remove the strong taste of the beef. Sinfully garnished by a poached egg, this added to the richness of the flavors of the dish.

One low point is their Chili Crab Linguine. Although it consisted of just the right amount of real crabs, it wasn’t able to provide the “Chili Crab” flavor I was looking for. The chili is too overpowering and the sauce is too oily for my taste.

Their own rendition of Eggs Benedict is heavenly…by far the best I’ve had. And let me tell you…I’ve already had a lot. Yum Yum!!! =)

Who could forget dessert after this hearty meal? They offer a wide range of choices from macarons, pies, and cakes. I had Apple Crumble Ala mode. Not exceptional but it was ok…enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Overall, I believe I got a good value for my money. Dishes were reasonably priced but ambiance and service was not that great though. The location is kind of hard to find and the cafe does not have air conditioning. Service is kind of slow owing to the fact that there was just one waiter serving everyone and maybe because it was already kind of late on a weekday but at least he was friendly and courteous.

Overall, it’s not perfect and it has its lows but generally this cafe has definitely captured my palate. So despite the not so good ambiance and service, I definitely would want to go back to try the other dishes they have to offer…and have another “Chillaxing” experience.

Tolido's Espresso Nook is a quaint cafe located at Crawford Lane in Singapore (nearest MRT - Lavender). The place is a little small which can be crowded on a busy day but is quite cozy which I think is a must for any cafe.

Browsing thru their menu, nothing really stood out for me. No item that I found distinctly Tolido's...if you know what I mean. Good thing I saw a scribble on one of their blackboards advertising their Pumpkin Spice Latte...this is definitely unique and so I opted to try it. Luckily it did not disappoint. The Latte art was nicely executed. It is Christmas in a cup and is called rightly so...it had the right temperature, creaminess and amount of spice which definitely reminds the drinker of cinnamon, nutmeg, eggnog and Christmas!

My sister tried their strawberry milkshake and I took a sip. It was okay but I've had better. Theirs had little bits of ice in it so it was not that rich, thick and creamy. I can sense a bit of artificial flavor in it and it was too pink for me. Don't get me wrong, the pink color was definitely appealing to the eyes but it was too artificial for my liking.

As for the meal, I decided to try their Croissant with Scrambled Eggs. Plating is so-so...could have been done better. The Croissant was buttery, flaky and crunchy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside...surprisingly good considering the plating. However, it was really very small...and in consequence not very filling! I would say the size would be more suited for a snack rather than for breakfast. The scrambled eggs were creamy and light which is good. For presentation purposes though, they should be more careful when serving their eggs with thin strips of uncooked eggwhites...it is very unappealing (you can see it in the photo)! I had to remove them before eating it. The bacon, although delicious, were not crispy according to how we requested it.

My sister ordered their Triple-Cheese Baked Penne which for me was a big let down. Given that it's named "Triple-Cheese "(Cheddar, Parmesan, Mozzarella), one would expect the dish to be topped with oozing cheese not lacking with the main ingredients the dish was named after. In addition, the description in the menu said "Bolognese-style"...uhmmm...where's the minced beef? The sauce although tasty is definitely not bolognese. They should be more careful with the description they put in their menu since they might mislead customers who are expecting the real deal.

For dessert, we had their Triple-Decker Gelato Pancake. Their pancakes were fluffy but had a floury taste. The cookies and cream gelato and the strawberry syrup drizzled over it, helped improve its flavor though.

Overall, place is just ok and given that its location is not easily accessible (quite a walk from the nearest MRT), I would not recommend this to any of my friends. Food is not that great to deserve a hike or a cab ride! You won't see me coming back here anytime soon.

Arteastique is a unique and charming tea salon located at Mandarin Gallery, Orchard. It's a place where one's creative juices can take over and can choose to paint while having their tea or coffee or just relax at their stylishly designed lounge.

As their name suggests, they offer a wide and artistic selection of teas. However, we went there for brunch and I am more of a coffee person so I wasn't able to try them out.

Their Crab Cakes Benedict was really disappointing. The picture in their menu was very misleading since they look big. When it came to our table however, the portion was very little that it left me hungry afterwards. Also, I felt that the crabs they used were not that fresh...I even suspect it may be the frozen or canned kind. It lacked the chunkiness and meatiness that I was expecting from a great crab cake. The hollandaise sauce that came with it was not lemony enough to remove the fishy taste of the crab and not to mention the bread that they used was nothing special at all...it was just a regular hamburger bun. The poached eggs were perfectly cooked though and it came with a side of fat, high quality, perfectly steamed asparagus which still had a bit of crunch when you bite into it that I liked.

Their Short Ribs Croque Monsieur, on the other hand, was a bit better. The Short Ribs were very tender that it melts in your mouth. It was a bit bland though so I needed to add more salt to it. Again, the bread that they used wasn't exceptional...just like your ordinary grocery-bought white bread. I love the sweet potato fries that came with it though. Perfectly crispy in the outside and soft and fluffy in the inside with the right amount of seasoning.

I appreciate how they exuded innovation by trying to have their own rendition of the classic Eggs Benedict and Croque Monsieur dishes. However, their execution was dissatisfactory...definitely not what I expected from something that costs that much!

Their Cafe Latte and Caramel Hot Chocolate were also nothing special. We felt that they were too expensive for the size of the cups they came in. The latte was just like any other regular latte. As for their hot chocolate, Swiss Miss tastes better in my opinion. Both came with small, crispy biscuits which is a good addition if you're going there for high-tea. For brunch though, I don't think that it was suitable. They could have offered an option without the biscuits so that it would not be too expensive. I mean, 8.50 and 9.50 respectively for each? It was really not worth it!

Overall, Arteastique is definitely a place emmanating elegance and luxury not just in the ambiance, decors and furnishings but on their table and plate settings as well. Every dish served was like a work of art. All this, of course, comes at a price so prepare your wallets! It is definitely not a place I will be visiting anytime soon....

Arteastique Boutique Tea House
333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery
#04-14/15, Singapore 238897

Price: ~84sgd (of above)

Known for its dark, hipster interior and good food, Symmetry commands a queue on weekends, making reservations a must. Start off with the Crispy Baby Squid ($14) or the Truffle Fries ($15), a crowd favourite with its heady truffle aroma in a seemingly bottomless bucket. Go for the Truffle Eggs Mushroom ($22) — scrambled eggs drizzled with truffle oil, sauteed mushrooms, a slice of toast and hashbrown — or the Big Breakfast ($24) for its insanely good blueberry butter. Finally, finish off by sharing their epic waffles ($16), it is a beautiful mess of bananas, strawberries, peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream. The coffee here is excellent, sure to please all you coffee fiends; they use the Slayer!

Housed in a stunning light-filled space, Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters is the venture between Thailand's Pacamara Coffee and Oz Specialty Coffee, so you can expect both good coffee and brunch fare. Extremely popular is the Truffle Benedict ($18): truffle hollandaise sauce blankets poached eggs, smoked ham and wilted spinach, all set atop brioche toast. The Salted Caramel Banana French Toast ($16) is another winner, think eggy, fluffy French toast doused in salted caramel sauce. Other popular dishes include the Eggs Royale ($18) and Red Velvet Pancakes ($16).

Seasons Bistro is great choice for brunch if you're in Orchard, serving photogenic American-style brunch dishes. The Buttermilk Pancake Stack ($18) is sure to please those who prefer sweet brunch plates, while those who prefer savoury dishes should go for the Montreal & Lox ($21), featuring smoked salmon, tomatoes, capers and a good, chewy bagel with cream cheese. If you can't decide between savoury and sweet, go for the Lumberjack ($26) — eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries on top a pancake, with maple syrup alongside. The reasonable prices and good food here keep people coming back for more!

This French cafe is a hidden gem along the rows of shophouses on Tras Street, perfect for starting your weekend at. With its beautiful, airy, light-filled interior, you're bound to feel like you're being transported to a Parisian cafe. Particularly good is the Croque Madame ($18), a classic French ham and cheese sandwich layered with bechamel and topped with a fried egg. The viennoiserie (croissant, pain au chocolat) are good as well, especially when paired with French butter and jams. Their menu is not extensive, which allows them to deliver quality - ultimately what makes food satisfying.

Situated within Phoenix Park in the Tanglin area, Boufe (the word a portmanteau of "boutique" and "cafe") Boutique Cafe shares a space with Ohvola boutique. The usual brunch fare such as Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast and Croque Madame are served, but you should really try Boufe's Big Breakfast or "Triple B" ($21). Creamy scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, sausages and a freshly baked buttery croissant — not a bad way to start your day at all.They serve fantastic pastries as well, of which the Strawberry Shortcake ($8) and Citron Tart ($5.50) stand out. Given the quality of the food and the killer combination of spaciousness, chic decor and warm ambience, this place will only become more popular with time.

For something a little different and for a pinch of Argentinean feel, head to boCHINche, located right above Common Man Coffee Roasters. Start off with the Provoleta ($17), a sizzling dish of salty, gooey cheese balanced out with glorious honey and topped with almonds to provide crunch. With Pan and Manceta (Peurto Rican breads, $7) to go along, this is a winning dish that should be shared. The classic pairing of Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs ($24) is elevated here by dill cream cheese slathered beneath. End on a sweet note with their popular Milk Cake ($14) — made with three types of milk and also soaked in milk, it is a dessert so delicate on the palate, and pairs excellently with passionfruit sorbet.

Known for having very good eggs ben/royale, Choupinette is a cozy French restaurant tucked in Bukit Timah. It is hard to get eggs ben right, as simple a dish as it seems, but they always nail it here. The hollandaise sauce is perfectly executed and it's safe to say that you'll definitely get some of that #yolkporn you're dying to capture. Brunch here usually comes in sets, which includes coffee/tea and juice. Finish off with a slice of pear tart topped with ice cream, or the millefeuille framboise. If you can't get enough, get some viennoiserie, brioche, or chouchous to go! Prices here are steep ($25+ for Eggs Ben, $26+ for Eggs Royale), so be prepared.

Don't be alarmed if you find tiny, beautiful, edible flowers on your plate — it's Bridge Cafe's way of aesthetically sprucing up their dishes, and they taste pretty good too. Wildly popular is the Truffle Honey French Toast ($13): crisp on the outside, fluffy and eggy on the inside, and accompanied by vanilla creme fraiche, berries and truffle honey. Opt for the Eggs Benedict ($16) if you gotta have your eggs for brunch! Bridge adds a twist to this classic by using champagne hollandaise. The coffee here is pretty solid as well.