Paper Crane – Waterloo Street [Permanently Closed]
Paper Crane is exactly one of those cafes that you would chance upon while roaming. A sign stating ‘Want Hearty Meals for $10?’ set in a vibrant design was what caught my attention – even on a rainy evening. Tucked away on Waterloo Street in the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) building, this is a fuss-free cafe offering simple food. Their menu is neatly written on a chalkboard and they keep changing it frequently. For vegetarians, the options are limited and hence it is better to inquire before you travel specifically to this place. If you are in the area, you can surely drop by to check the menu and their daily specials. I am pretty sure they can make a basic vegetarian pasta on request. Our alfresco seating was perfect (even with rains) as the cafe is well-shielded.
The Orders
With limited veg options, it’s always safe to go for the Pasta. The ‘Spaghetti Arrabbiatta’ was a delightful experience with the sauce evenly coated across the pasta strands. The olives and capers provided the necessary bite and this turned out to be a decent dish.
The regular readers of my blog would know by now that I consider it as a welcome sign when a cafe attempts a non-mushroom burger in the vegetarian section. The same thought made me order the ‘Falafel Burger with Fries’ with a lot of anticipation. Unfortunately, I was let down by the dryness of the chickpea burger which had the texture of a frozen patty. But it was heartening to see that the owners took the feedback in a constructive manner and I hope to try it again sometime 🙂 The fries on the side were a good munch.
During rains, its thrilling to get a ice rush in the form of slushies which are ideal summer time treats. I ordered the ‘Watermelon Slushie’ filled with ice and this turned out to be a good slow sipping drink.
The cafe has a small dessert counter with few options. We tried the ‘Carrot Cake’ and ‘Baklava’ which were strictly passable. Nothing much to write about on these offerings except that the prices were reasonable.
On the whole, the dishes are friendly on the wallet and the service is extremely friendly. Pay them a visit if you are in the area!
| In a Nutshell | Deelightful Rating |
| Cuisine Type: Western | ★★★ |
| Nearest MRT: Bras Basah | |
| Address: 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967 | |
| Timings: Mon-Sat: 11am – 10pm | |
| Website: https://www.facebook.com/papercranesg/ |