I’ve never been a fan of octopus until I visited Portugal and Spain. Their rendition of this Great Tentacle yields a sweeter, softer, and smokier taste than the typical Asian renditions (partly due to the naturally smaller and sweeter-tasting species found in their warmer waters).

Since then, I have been craving for an octopus dish that would come close. Done well, it would strike a good balance of softness and chewiness that leaves a sweet flavour. Done badly, it would be limp, tough, and overly chewy. Thankfully, the Pulpo a la Brasa ($24) was done well here. It was fresh, juicy and charred just right. We chose a side of green asparagus which did not disappoint either - it was soft, juicy, and sweet - making it a perfect match to the octopus. The dish also came with a wonderful portion of grilled potatoes (which had a nice char) and a dollop of garlic mayo (which gave the dish a nice garlicky punch).

Probably our favourite dish for the night.

The Croquetas De Jamon ($11.90) was the very first dish presented to us, and boy, was it spectacular. It was a great way to start our evening of tapas.

The croquettes were unlike any that we had tasted before, and we were so happy in potato heaven that we would‘ve been contented just feasting on many more bites of them!

The crust was cooked to perfection - light and crispy, which protected the soft pillowy potato creaminess inside just waiting to explode in your mouth. It was such a delicate and tasty construction that left us pretty impressed. The Iberico ham that topped it was pretty standard, and we did wish for a more generous portion. Even so, the coquettes won our hearts.

One of my favourite places for a lazy Sunday afternoon hangout, because of their outdoor alfresco area :)

I usually go for their Cold Batch Brews but they ran out early that day. So went with a Cappuccino ($5.50) and Flat White ($5.50). Their espressos are pretty well-balanced, with a flavour profile of stone fruits, almond & butter.

One of my favourite places for a lazy Sunday afternoon hangout, because of their outdoor alfresco area :)

I usually go for their Cold Batch Brews but they ran out early that day. So we went with a Cappuccino ($5.50) and Flat White ($5.50). Their espressos are pretty well-balanced, with a flavour profile of stone fruits, almond & butter.

RONIN does pretty unique takes on mochas - they have their signature Wicked (Mint Mocha) and Generra (Orange Mocha). But sometimes you just want a comforting mocha. Their mocha is pretty smooth and not too thick, great for those days when you want your usual flat white but with a splash of chocolate comfort.

Chasing away the mid-week blues with Bundt. They have some of the best perk-me-ups nestled in this cosy little corner. Got a pretty perfect Iced American White ($4.50) and a pretty perfect walnut brownie ($4).

Their Iced American White currently ranks among the best iced coffees in town (easily a Top 3 on my list) - largely because of the espresso ice ball. The drink actually tastes better if you leave it out for a while, so that the intensity of the espresso blends into the drink. Drink it very slowly. We experimented with leaving a cup out for >30 mins before drinking and it had the best flavour.

Oh, and how could you not love their brownies? I’ve been dying to try them - and they are pretty sublime. Moist, soft & chocolately, without a cloyingly sweet aftertaste but a salty dark chocolate finish.

P.S. The staff here are really lovely and they also take advanced orders/reservations for their bakes on Instagram ;)

These are the sweet treats I imagine savouring if I had a Peranakan/Malay Grandmother :)

The kuehs were the highlight for me: Kueh Kosui (steamed tapioca flour cake with palm sugar) and Kueh Bingka (baked tapioca cake). I’d never tasted Kueh Kosui before this, and I consider myself a fan now. The crumbly shaved coconuts bits drenched in Gula Melaka give a sweet kick to the light, refreshing and soft kueh which is almost jelly-like.

The other two banana breads (original & chocolate) were decent, but not as moist or banana-y or cinnamon-y as I would like my banana breads.

Perfect for your lazy weekend dates where you want to retreat from civilisation and connect to a part of Singaporean kampung life that is sorely missing today.

The bistro sits on a wide plot of farm land where they grow most of their ingredients that you find on your dish. So for tree huggers like myself, you’d be pleased to know that your carbon footprint has been dramatically reduced for this meal :)

Our group of 4 ordered the Nasi Lemak Platter ($20 for serving size of 2) and the daily special Kampung Platter ($22 for serving size of 2) to share. The dishes had a taste of home - they taste like something your grandmother who has many years under her belt would whip up in her kitchen only a daily basis. Hence the flavours were not over powering, but quite mild and light on oil, well-suited for those who want a semblance of home-cooked meals.

What we loved in our platters:
- Moringa tempura
- Bolly wings (crispy, but not too oily)
- Barramundi fish fillet
- Kangkong

Overall, the whole experience felt like a sojourn back to home - friendly and attentive wait staff who serve you as if you were their own family, with humble home-cooked dishes.

I love Mondays here because as a TCA coffee card holder, I get to enjoy 1 for 1 classic/signature coffees (which I can treat a friend with)! The coffee card works like a gift card - $55 for 12 cups of coffee.

My usual picks: Cappuccino when I want something strong and full, and Manuka Honey Signature when I want a sweeter treat :)

Their classic espresso blends here are rather full-bodied, and good for those who don’t like hints of acidity in their coffee.

It’s easy to pass this shop without noticing it, but your nose will definitely not miss the smell of torched mentaiko wafting from this small little kitchen.

On its wall brightly proclaim “an underground torching project” and rightly so, as you see each bowl being torched like clockwork in an assembly-line fashion. Although the queues look awfully long during lunchtimes, don’t be deterred by it. It’s worth the wait. Plus, you can entertain your time by watching the ladies torch each dish as you wait 🔥

I got the Honey Glazed Tofu bowl ($4.90 for SMU students/staff, and $5.90 for the public) with Cha Soba tossed in wafu dressing. All bowls come topped with sous-vide egg, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and pickles - but you get to choose your protein and base. For the whole of this week, they are throwing in free mentaiko sauce for each bowl as well!

Overall, I’m pretty impressed. The tofu is glazed just right with the right amount of sweetness, which remaining soft (not overcooked like the ones you might find at The Daily Cut). The Cha Soba is silky and not too al dente, and well paired with the dressing. And the mentaiko sauce rocked the dish.

P.S. The portions are slightly small, so bigger eaters might want to upsize their protein/base.

This is a much quieter branch compared to the main CMCR branch at Martin Road, which make for better coffee dates :) There is even a ‘barista mugging’ room where they hold classes. Would love to check that out sometime!

Coffee wise, you get a wide variety of espressos and brews to select from. I went with the CMCR espresso blend - which has their signature rich & dark flavours (cherry, berries, and chocolates) fused with light citrus notes which give a slight acidic kick.

Plus, this is one of the few coffee joints where their service is worth commending. Hats off to the staff here who impressed me by how they went out of their way to take care of their guests.

For as long as I can remember, Strangers’ Reunion has one of the smoothest cappuccinos in town. Love that it doesn’t leave me with a bitter lingering taste, but still gives me that caffeine buzz :)