Tag Archives: Cafehopping

Well Dressed Salad Bar and Cafe – Chinatown

If you are a (local or tourist) vegetarian/vegan visiting Chinatown and looking for some great food, look no further than Well Dressed Salad Bar and Cafe, a vegetarian eatery located in South Bridge Road, right below Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant (run by same management). It is a small and charming cafe that serves a variety of dishes – wraps, sandwiches, curry sets, juices, smoothies and desserts. Attractive food posters hang from the walls and I loved their menu board which stated ‘Meatless does not mean Tasteless’. I believe that no diet form is monotonous as long as you find ingredients to create dishes that are flavorful, healthy and tasty. Vegans also have a lot of options in this cafe as they can easily customize your dishes.

Well dressed menu board

Well dressed menu board

The Orders
The menu is full of interesting things and I knew instantly that I would have to visit the place again 🙂 For starters, we ordered the ‘Broccoli Soup’ to give a green start to the meal. The soup was well salted, wholesome and a nice way to start the meal. It did need a dash of pepper to add depth to the flavour.

Broccoli soup

Broccoli soup at $3.5


Called as Wrap Stars on their menu, we tried the ‘Wrap of the Day’. Neatly stacked with layers of purple cabbage, carrots, lettuce, tofu and vegan cheese, this was a vibrant wrap. It had a citrus dressing which lent a burst of flavour to the veggies. The wrap was packed to perfection which made it extremely convenient to eat. Apart from this, you can also customize a wrap along with the ingredients at the salad counter. We tried another wrap with bell peppers, corn, beans and lettuce which was quite good. Ensure not to mix too many water-leaving veggies together so that your wrap remains non-soggy.
Veg wrap with vegan cheese

Veg wrap with vegan cheese at $10


Customized veg wrap

Customized veg wrap at $10


For the rice lovers, there are ‘Veg Curry Sets’ which come along with brown rice and a flavorful curry along with seaweed crackers. The curry was slightly under seasoned, but the veggies were plentiful and cooked just right. The seaweed crackers were yummy and addictive that I actually placed an order for an extra bowl of crackers. Highly recommended if you like munchies.
Veg curry set

Veg curry set


Seaweed crackers

Seaweed crackers


I have always had a weakness for fresh fruit juices and hence I was happy to see the variety on offer. I ordered the ‘Carrot and Apple Juice’ which was made by the owner and it was one of the best I ever had. Strained finely, there was no grainy texture of the carrots and it was a refreshing glass of juice. Do not miss this!
Carrot juice

Carrot Apple juice


I had heard a lot about their desserts and ordered their famous ‘Orange Slice Cake’ which was moist and extremely tasty. The orange zest notes run through the cake and help offset the richness. Note that it is also eggless. Apart from this, they have an extensive display of cakes on their counters – some of them are French rose vanilla cake, Matcha cake etc.
Orange cake

Orange cake


For the chocolate mavericks, just delve right into their ‘Raw Chocolate Molten Cake’ oozing out delight in terms of taste. The caramelized bananas on the side act as a worthy accompaniment.
Raw chocolate molten cake

Raw chocolate molten cake


Also noteworthy are their newly launched ‘Vegan Donuts’ in interesting flavours. As they are in the initial phase, right now its better to place an advance order for these and keep track of the delivery schedules by following their Instagram handle. I packed a box of 6 and I must say that there is no compromise on taste or the feeling of eating a donut except that the size is a bit small. My favourites are Pink Blueberry, Fresh Lemon and Cinnamon Sugar.
Vegan donuts

Vegan donuts (Box of 6 for $12)


Its heartening to see a vegetarian joint offering innovative and healthy offerings in the area. For its menu variety, for its fresh fruit juices, eggless desserts, Well Dressed Salad Bar and Cafe is highly recommended. And irrespective if you eat meat or not, support a place that dishes out good food 🙂 I know I will visit the place again!

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Vegetarian ★★★★
Nearest MRT: Chinatown
Address: 282 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058831
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11am – 10pm
Website: http://www.8treasuresgroup.sg/well-dressed-contact-us/
Advertisement

Hungry Heroes – Tessensohn Road [Permanently Closed]

With Batman vs Superman not hitting the mark, a lot of expectations are pinned on Captain America: Civil War for the superhero crowd storming the theaters. Nevertheless, we always look forward to this genre for the larger-than-life characters to infuse entertainment into our daily routine. Hence, I finally decided to visit Hungry Heroes, a superhero themed cafe situated at Tessensohn Road in Little India. Located in an unassuming alley, the cafe lights shone bright through the dark night. They have a cool logo that looked quite interesting. There are fewer options for vegetarians on the menu but my fascination to explore a different dining ambiance led me to this place.

Hungry Heroes

Hungry Heroes


This two floor cafe has the decor nailed to the T. Large figurines adorn the walls – most of the superheroes are from the owner’s personal collection. There is a huge chandelier made with tiny superheroes stuck together. The place is a delight for fans of superhero memorabilia – there’s a lot to look at and admire. Needless to say, this cafe is quite a hit with children and a good option if you want to throw a birthday party for large groups. The placemats were newspaper style and quite hilarious to read. They helped in bringing the superhero world to the forefront on the table.
Hungry Heroes decor

Hungry Heroes decor


HH placemats

HH placemats

The Orders
As a refreshing summer salad, we ordered the ‘Super Corn-y’ salad which was fresh corn shucked from the cob and served along with a tangy twist. The charred effect on the cob was definitely a hit and the tomatoes and onions lent balance to the salad.

Super Corny

Super Corny at $5


As a complete no-brainer, I had to try their (only) vegetarian burger offering called ‘Mario’s Lifeline’. Neatly stacked with layers of vegetables on the breaded and fried portobello mushroom, this burger was damn good! I was glad the the mushroom patty had a crisp bread covering which gave the necessary bite to the burger. Having said that, I really wish F&B outlets think of using ingredients like beetroot, chickpeas, zucchini etc. instead of the traditional mushroom offering everywhere. (Just a thought!) The fries and the side salad were well made.
Veg burger

Mario’sl Lifeline at $21


As a fun accompaniment to the burger, we ordered the ‘Colossal Coke Float’ which was a refreshingly bubbly ice cream float. Imagine a mammoth 1 liter mug on the table – that quantity is obviously to be shared 🙂 The vanilla ice cream was delicious and as it melted and blended with the coke, the drink became more tasty!]
Colossal Coke Float at $10

Colossal Coke Float at $10


Along with the food menu, they have an extensive drink selection in the form of beers, ciders and wines. Happy hours ends at 8pm, so if you are in the weekend mood, place an early beverage order.
Red wine

Red wine glass at $10


Advance reservations are recommended for this place. A special mention to service staff who clearly knew that I had vegetarian food requirements (as I had mentioned during reservation) and they were helpful, provided guidance and followed up when I actually visited the restaurant. For their superhero memorabilia, for their unique implementation of the themed cafe concept right from decor to the menu, for their service and good food, Hungry Heroes is worth a visit!

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: American ★★★
Nearest MRT: Little India/ Farrer Park
Address: 33 Tessensohn Road, Singapore 217656
Timings: Tue-Fri: 4pm – 11pm ; Sat-Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Website: http://www.hungryheroes.sg/

Delicius Pasticceria – Lau Pa Sat

Its been quite a while since the extremely popular Lau Pa Sat got refurbished. It now has a lot of stalls offering a variety of cuisines to office-goers in the area. When I was roaming this area post-dinner, I spotted a well-lit cafe that had a very enticing cake display counter which was visible from the road. That’s how I landed at Delicius Pasticceria, a cafe serving interesting pastries. It originates from Osaka, Japan. After glancing through the pastries, their names sounded on the French-Japanese side. But what surprised me the most was the affordable prices in this central area of town!

Delicius decor

Delicius decor

The Orders
Chocolate lovers should not miss the delicious ‘Chocolate Raspberry’ cake. The tangy raspberry taste cuts through the moist chocolate and gives a refreshing feel. Their plating was quite neat and artistic. It definitely added a visual flair.

Chocolate raspberry

Chocolate raspberry at $5.8


For those who prefer not to taste berries in their desserts, they have an option with the ‘Caramel Chocolate’ cake. It looked like a mousse cake but had a firmer texture. Have a bite with the cream served on the side for an enhanced taste.
Caramel chocolate

Caramel chocolate at $5.5


And for the exclusive chocolate lovers, there is the ‘Chocolate Cake’. Well, this could definitely have been better in terms of texture and taste. Since I have tasted quite a few chocolate cakes around Singapore, my standards are higher in this regard.
Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake at $5.8


We also decided to try one of the many fruity offerings they had on display. We chose the ‘Green Apple Tart’ as we found it to be unique. It was quite tangy and the green apple presence was quite strong. So you will have to pace your dessert and savour the taste. Other than that, it was interesting to try as a different option.
Green apple tart

Green apple tart


Apart from these options, their fig tarts, apple cheesecakes and matcha soft serves are supposed to be pretty good which I plan to try next time. They also have cookies and candies that you can buy off-the-shelf. For their really unique offerings, for the price point and for their continuous change in variety of cakes, Delicius Pasticcerie is highly recommended.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Cakes ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place
Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582
Timings: Mon-Sun: 8am – 11pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/DeliciusSG/

Long Black Cafe – Biopolis

Biopolis is predominantly a workplace area. There are however, quite a few eating joints here that deserve your attention. On a friend’s recommendation, I reached Long Black Cafe to try their food. The cafe serves Western cuisine at affordable prices and has an extensive menu with diverse items. They are pretty crowded during lunch, but if you reach a little after 3 pm, you will find the place to be calm. The alfresco seating is well laid out and you can catch up on a book or just enjoy a nice breeze and the space. This is a good place to chill-out with friends (or even if you are alone) in the off-peak hours.

The Orders
In the mains, there are limited options for vegetarians. They have bruschetta and mushroom sandwich in the mains. I ordered the ‘Aglio Olio Classic’ pasta which was well-made. The spaghetti was cooked al-dente and served with a garnish of parsley and chilli. The chilli had a kick to it and hence the pasta had a spicy bite. It turned out to be a good option to order at this cafe.

Aglio olio classic

Aglio olio classic at $8.90


The hot weather and such a relaxing ambiance demanded a cold beverage. The ‘Strawberry Fizzy’ fit the bill perfectly. Refreshing, with a slight hint of mint, this drink was perfectly balanced. I also liked the fact that it was not extremely fizzy.

Strawberry fizzy

Strawberry fizzy at $3.50


If you are a fan of chilled espresso, then their iced lattes were good. I tried the ‘Iced Hazelnut Latte’ which was sweet and tasty. It was a pleasant sip to break away from the day’s work.

Iced hazelnut latte

Iced hazelnut latte at $5


Coffee breaks get enhanced with sweet bites like this ‘Carrot Cake’. Beneath this unpretentious appearance there were layers of moistness in this lightly spiced cake. It was a delectable dessert and hence stands highly recommended.

Carrot cake

Carrot cake at $4.50


If you are in the area for work and looking for good food at affordable options along with a calm setting, then Long Black Cafe is worth a visit.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Cafe style ★★★
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista
Address: 20 Biopolis Way, Centros Block, Singapore 138868
Timings: Mon-Fri: 8am – 7.30pm
Website: http://www.longblack.com.sg/

Coffee Nowhere – Tampines Outlet [Permanently Closed]

It is rare to find cafes which are unassumingly tucked away in a corner of an HDB. Popular for their specialty coffee chains in Malaysia, Coffee Nowhere have expanded to Singapore. Their new outlet has opened in Tampines which should be welcome news to the East-siders. Their name actually stands for ‘Coffee Now Here’. Their Tampines outlet is quite small and can seat around 12 people. It would typically suit folks looking for a quick coffee break or takeaway. The cafe structure is linear and the dimly-lit yellow lights give it a warm feel.

Coffee nowhere decor

Coffee nowhere counter


The cafe has the standard fare in the menu – sandwiches, waffles, juices, coffee and tea. But the menu has some very interesting options that I tried for the first time and they turned out to be really good.
Coffee nowhere menu

Coffee nowhere menu

The Orders
To get our caffeine kick, we ordered the ‘Creme Brulee Capuccino’ which had a nice taste to it. The layer on the top made it look like a creme brulee and the taste of burnt sugar was subtly present which made it a good choice.

Creme brulee cappucino

Creme brulee cappucino at $7.80


Since the menu options did seem interesting in terms of the flavours, we ordered the ‘Rose Latte’. At the beginning, I was apprehensive as to how this entire drink was going to turn out but I ended up loving it. They use the Monin flavored gourmet syrups in their flavored lattes which gave it a nice twist. The almond biscotti paired well with this latte.

Rose latte

Rose latte at $6.80


The waffles trend is here to stay in Singapore and almost every cafe has it in the menu. The ‘Strawberry Waffles’ at this cafe was decent. The waffles could have been a bit crisper, but they were light and fluffy on the inside. The ‘Snow White’ scoop of ice cream was really good. Their ice cream counter has a neat display of a variety of flavours and that is really pleasing to see.

Strawberry waffle

Strawberry waffles with snow white ice cream at $12.80


The service staff is extremely friendly and open to suggestions. Like their other outlets in the West side, I really wish they had more space inside the cafe. On the whole – for their good service, for some unique offerings and for satiating your dessert cravings even late into the night, Coffee Nowhere is worth a visit if you are in the area.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Cafe style ★★★
Nearest MRT: Tampines
Address: 820 Tampines St 81, #01-524, Singapore 520820
Timings: Mon-Sun: 10am – 11pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee-Nowhere-Tampines/469876729835976