Le Petit Baker

I can’t really remember what we came here for but in the end, we walked pass Sprmrkt and decided to try it because we have heard a lot about them.

We ordered one platter and also a fish and chips. The platter was undeniably great. The crispy yet soft toast, perfectly moist scrambled eggs, nicely charred vegetables and evenly baked mini potatoes; everything was awesome. The fish and chips was special because the batter was jet black! To some it might be off-putting but I think it was really cool. I think it was a squid ink batter and the difference in taste from the usual batter is very minor. The fish was fried to perfection and the fish was fresh and flaky. As you can see from the photo, the chips were an amazing golden brown as well.

The service was fast and accommodating. We were first seated on a sharing table and when requested to shift to a newly available private table, the staff quickly obliged and helped us move over.

Overall, it was a simple yet chic restaurant which is great for gatherings and meals. Food is served fresh and service is fast. Price was a little on the high side but it was actually worth it.

Sprkmrkt @ Cluny Court
Address: 501 Bukit Timah Road Cluny Court, #02-13, 259760
Contact: 9736 4170

Opening hours:
Mondays to Thursdays- 8am to 8pm
Fridays and Saturdays- 8am to 10pm
Sundays- 8am to 6pm

Personal rating: 4/5 (delicious food and great atmosphere, with nice staff)

We visited this store on a weekday for lunch just before it rained, so it felt very cool and gloomy that day. The decor of the restaurant was really rustic and chill and we saw many people sipping their coffee and typing away on their laptops. The place just gave us a very relaxing vibe, like a place where writers come to find inspiration; or to get their dose of caffeine.

We ordered a breakfast platter and a chai latte to share. Sad to say, we were under-whelmed. Although the photo looks kinda inviting, the taste was not that good. I felt the dishes were poorly seasoned and the taste could be improved very much. What I did like was the thick slice of bread. It was the type of bread I enjoyed very much and it seldom get’s served in restaurants. The chai latte was just acceptable. I felt it could have been spiced just a tad more for a better kick. It kind of tasted a little too milky instead.

Overall, it is a great place to spend some time reading a book and meet up with many friends because they actually have a huge sharing table. I would visit this place again if I were close by.

Toby’s Estate
Address: 8 Rodyk St, Singapore 238216
Contact: 6636 7629

Opening hours:
Daily, 7.30am to 6pm

Personal rating: 3.5/5 (acceptable food but great atmosphere)

I have lived at Kovan for a few years now and there are tons of food stalls littered all around. One of the Saturdays, we chanced upon this stall called Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum. It was a really small stall hidden in a corner of a tiny coffee shop as well. It seemed like many people were trying it so we waited for a seat and decided to order some of our favourite dishes.

It took some time for our dishes to be ready but I have to say it was worth the wait and worth the money as well. Everything was fresh, made on the spot and served piping hot. The taste was really great and I think it was actually better than many other high priced Dim Sums I have had at other coffee shops. What surprised me was the Xiao Long Bao. Usually, as such coffee shop stalls, they seldom sell XLB and even when they do, it is usually horrendous, but this was good! It actually had some substance to it and I appreciated the quality.

I tried this place some time back and will be trying it again soon. Hopefully the standard is still good.

Yi Dian Xin Hong Kong Dim Sum
Address: 1012 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534750
Contact: 9168 5587

Opening hours:
Daily, 7am to 3pm except Tuesdays and Public Holidays

Personal rating: 4/5 (affordable and tasty)