Jones The Grocer

photos and more: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/jones-the-grocer-town/

disappointing expensive dessert at this town outpost of the australian delicatessen newly opened on the top floor of the ion orchard mall. I wish this place actually served good food – but I think I’ll be sticking with the marmalade pantry for now - I haven’t tried their savory items, so while I can’t give you a full low-down on the cafe, the desserts sure don’t provide any impetus to return.

we had a sticky toffee pudding and a lemongrass panna cotta, both rather doleful renditions. the toffee pud looked great but the ice cream was icy and the cake was microwaved. the pannacotta was an insult to its name – this was a firm pudding, closer in texture to and gelatinous like an asian mango pudding, almost bouncy. that lemongrass proved a soapy aftertaste – coupled with the jelliness of the pannacotta, it felt almost like eating some sort of soap gel.

I do wish this place had worked out – but it really didn’t. it’s just as expensive as you’d expect it to be – not ridiculous for the area but you’re much better off going shopping with that money.

I walked into Mandarin Gallery after a wedding reception at one of the nearby hotels, for the purpose of hastening up the digestion of the huge amount of food I ate. I never expected to eat MORE over here!

What motivated me to enter this restaurant was the setting - it was simple yet unique, reminds me vaguely of a countryside cottage restaurant, but in a dark coloured theme. There were no sofa seats, everybody had to settle comfortably in upright seats. I spent alot of time walking around the entire restaurant marveling at the products of accessories and food hanging on display racks. The concept was open and inviting.

There were many chefs (all of them westerners), a row of them behind the food preparation counter, which only had a panel of transparent glass separating the customer and the food. I saw the magic in their hands and heaven in their food.

I couldn't resist myself anymore!Red Velvet Cake

I personally don't see this flavour around much in Singapore, so I jumped at the chance to be able to dig into one. Each bite was soft and heavenly!Macarons

A common snack in Singapore as a result of its exponential growth in popularity in the past few years. I've eaten macarons from various bakeries or cafes but this is surely da bomb. This macaron melts in your mouth!

I regret I wasn't able to eat more from being too full, but I'll be back for more! Just you wait!

Went for a weekend brunch and I was disappointed in the quality of the eggs. The eggs were not poached and were VERY overdone. I told their waiter about it and he came back with 1 decent poached egg.
The kitchen had ran out of avocado and offered slightly more smoked salmon slices, which tasted mediocre as it had a slight fishy taste.
In comparison to local brunch shops such as Hatched and Riders Cafe, I think Jones the Grocer fares very badly in view of the (heavy) price and poor quality.

2013-03-17

For more info, feel free to click on my site: http://thedessertprince.com/jones-the-grocer-mandarin-gallery-afternoon-tea-turned-brunch/

Tucked along the fourth floor of the posh Mandarin Gallery was Jone The Grocer, some of the finest gourmet cafe in town. A place I thought worth for tea after much shopping along Orchard street. I can always enjoy a good afternoon tea but leisure sure doesn’t come easily, much like their Cappuccino (5.00) and Mocha ($5.50). They sure aren’t cheap but it was a good caffeine fix. That’s what you get if you visit gourmet cafes… What’s tea without something sweet? Consider their Strawberry Shortcake ($6.50)? A cube of sweet sandwich. Chantilly cream may look excessive and fattening but it was light and very delicious. Once in a while, it’s good to let loose and enjoy something good!Good things often come in a pair and I thought why not get something cheesy like a slice of Oreo Cheesecake ($6.50). Honesty speaking, it was something not worth praising but I heard much relish about their red velvet cakes but never had the chance to try it. Maybe I will have it on my next visit?Being the excessive me, I like something savoury and sweet to sip. French Earl Grey ($5.50) ought to do the trick! But as minutes turned to hours, we suddenly got a little bit hungry and decided to proceed from tea to brunch!

It wasn’t a weekday so there’s no breakfast served (8.30am – 12pm) and we had missed the weekend brunch (8.30am – 3pm) so we flipped the menu, seeking something that will satisfy our hunger pangs and I thought Croque Madame (20.50) would do just the trick…I thought it was gonna be something great but when it appeared on our table, I felt a pinch on my already thinned wallet. I don’t doubt the ingredients they put in my French sandwich but I expected more since I can get one at much affordable rates…

If you’re seeking somewhere nice for brunch along the streets of Orchard Road, I suggest you seek somewhere else. Especially if you’re a student. Stick to their desserts and drinks and you will do just fine. Personally, I prefer their outlet at Dempsey Hill where I can enjoy the early morning Sun over something sweet.

For pictures and reviews, visit:

http://madamechewy.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/jones-the-grocer/

Delightful Lunch with a girlfriend. Enjoyed our appetizer and mains immensely. We were full to the brim after the mains and had no space for dessert. Would like to try desserts their desserts someday....

We had:

Tapas: Piquillo peppers filled with feta wrapped in parma ham on melted tomato sauce. Unexpectedly delish!

De cecco malfadine pasta with braised duck, porcini mushrooms, spinach and parmesan

Confit chicken with herbed potatoes, french beans, mushrooms and jus. The mushrooms and potatoes were fantastic but the chicken was a tad too dry

Its not our first time here because my ang mo kia often misses the saucisson and charcuterie which he can hardly find here (and super ex!).. Jones allows u to choose a combination of htings to form a charcuterie platter (charcuterie=raw meats/sausages)

Platter introduction: the one on the top left is what he calls saucisson, which is a bit like salami.. or like a rather raw form of chinese sausage.. he loves it to bits but complains the ones here are never as good as the ones in france and mayb 3 times the price. We chose a light cheese (so i can eat) which is a brie.. and the last one at the bottom of the platter is a kind of ham.. so of course he enjoys the platter alot but i dun think its very value for money. I tried the thing on the top right.. its a big like a fig paste thing with nuts.. Oh i know its quince! its the thing u eat often on a cheese platter.. that was quite yummy.. The platter cos close to $30 and comes with the bread basket as well..

I ordered something more normal.. lol. and i didnt regret.. was very yummy! chicken avocado sandwich.. had everything i wanted.. egg, chicken.. salad on the side and portion was perfect. I dun even usually like avocado but it worked surprisingly well in the sandwich.. comparatively.. mine cost abt $13 i think..

I also ordered a machiatto which was very strong but comes in an espresso cup.. which i didnt know... nice strong brew. =)

Overall.. i would say its quite pricey but i think for a foreigner craving for a piece of france it was the closest my boyfriend could get.

2012-05-13

SGD 20

I like the chips very much..!
It is very crispy.
Even from the other tablei also can heard the cracking sound,so can u imagine the crakiness of it??
It taste better than potato chips alot.

For the beef burger.It looks huge.
The bread is very dry and crispy.
But inner part is soft.
It is really nice,quite special.
Because usually the bread will very soft,but this is not.
The beef is also very thick,and there is a strong pepper smell.
But what i recommend is,eat this burger with 1 more person,because of the thick beef,i will feel boring after eating half.
By the way, it really taste nice.But it is expensive as this shop is quite branded.

I wouldn't have dine if if i dint make a visit to mandarin gallery which this cafe was situated quietly at the most upper floor of the building.

Jones the grocer is a famous food store concept, providing premium food with many selection and their very own restaurant. This place is always crowded and we waited for almost 30 mins to get a table for 2.

I have always have main course at the dempsey branch and is time to try something light instead of heavy meal. I had their signature sandwich which was served with yummy salad with balsamic vinegar. Very big portion and worth every penny. We also had coffee there and it was quite satisfying tea time to us. WIll visit this place for breakfast again.

https://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/jones-the-grocer-i-am-the-eater/

Quietly seated at Mandarin Gallery, Level 4, is the underrated Jones the Grocer. It sure isn’t designed like an ordinary restaurant set, what with racks of items for sale (eg. cups, chocolates, coffee beans etc.), a near-symmetrical design – with a counter each on your left and right, while the center area is reserved for dining. It basically adopts a different kind of ambience and setting – not like your everyday restaurant with dim and comfortable lighting and the likes. This uniqueness, for one, gives me the feeling of being home away from home. It gives me the vibe that I’m not dining in Singapore (also thanks to the ‘high-class’ Mandarin Gallery vibe), and that is surely an experience.

Simple yet soothing to your eyes, the furnishing is one of a kind in a restaurant. No sofa, no cushion seating. It’s pretty fresh a change, once in a while. There are writings (of the menu) on the blackboard – those are which you can’t find in the menu, so you might want to take a look at it, especially for the brunch and breakfast dishes. Timings for the brunch and breakfast are also stated on the board itself. Below it are pastries (cakes, macarons, brioche, muffins etc.) laid out neatly at the counter. It’s not on either of the menu, so you might want to take a walk along the counter before ordering anything on the menu (because the display might just make you full already, just like how they did to me!). On the other side of the restaurant (ie. the other counter), they serve wine and cheese and such, a different side of breakfast that Singaporeans rarely do try. I myself have yet to have a breakfast like such, although I should really give it a shot one day.Traditional Hot Chocolate ($5.00) :: There probably isn’t any better way to kick start a breakfast with a cup of (beautiful) hot chocolate. The marshmallow is like a cherry on top of a pie. It’s definitely a decent drink – it’s just too bad that on both my visits there, they’ve had their ‘Jones Special Hot Chocolate’ ran out. Shame.Tomato Mozzarella & Basil Sandwich ($13.50) :: I love how it is presented – on a wooden ‘chopping board’, very sleek and authentic-looking. See, food is like wine. it’s not just about how it tastes, but how it looks, and smells (the latter two comes even before you taste it). It’s like imprinting a good first impression. Even though the sandwich isn’t top-notched, it is acceptable what with the price, and the portion being reasonable too. Just like most other sandwiches, eating it with a knife and fork might get a little messy. Hah.Coconut Pancakes ($14.50) :: Embrace yourself, because when the plate of coconut pancakes arrive in front of you, you’ll go ga-ga and melt with the smell of the coconut and the pancakes, mixed together. The slightly burnt sides of the pancakes, ironically, makes it even better – the smell probably came off stronger than when it’s well-done, and it would then not have a slightly crispy sides to it too. The ice cream and mildly sour mango cubes make the pancakes less ‘gelat’, even though at the end of the day, I still couldn’t finish the two thick slices of pancakes. It’s a little too much on a morning. With that being said, what would be perfect would be to order that and share it with a friend of yours – each a piece, and voila! Perfecto!French Macarons (Chocolate) ($5.50) :: It’s $2/piece, $5.50/3 pieces. Of course, me being a macaron-addict, I couldn’t help myself but to buy down 3 pieces of the macarons that were calling out to me from behind the display window. If I were to compare the macarons, Jewels Artisan Chocolate > Jones the Grocer > Bakerzin. So, tada. Not too bad anyhows.Chocolate Tart ($6.50) :: I know what’s on your mind – this tart looks dry and hard, and would probably be fake-chocolate-tasting. Aha, the exact same thought that went through my mind when I saw this. But give it a chance and you’ll realize that its looks are actually deceiving. You have been tricked – it’s anything but the aforementioned description. PS: The white sugar on top is placed just for beautifying-of-the-tart purpose.Tiramisu ($7.50) :: In my opinion, this is quite a good tiramisu done. Many a time, tiramisu is substantiated more by the coffee taste than the cocoa’s/liqor’s. In this case, I thought it was well mixed, and for me, I love how equally it tasted, and so I’m pro-Jones the Grocer tiramisu dessert.

Even though the main courses aren’t as fantabulous as the drink / desserts, I still give Jones the Grocer a full 4 stars (✰✰✰✰), thanks to the contributing factors of unique ambience and setting, very friendly staff and more than awesome, less than excellent food. It’s definitely worth a re-visit for me (for breakfast / brunch menu).

—> Note #1: All prices stated are already inclusive of GST & Service Charge. Nett prices.

2011-02-04

SGD 20(Breakfast)

This café environment is cosy and the waiter/waitress are friendly. lol I had have my breakfast here twice during my last visit, because the organic bread being served is freshed from the oven. We also tried the waffle with vanilla ice-cream on top, but bear in mind, it is in big size, however it is good enough for a share of 2. The English breakfast is rich and yummy. Overall, the food is fresh and great!

Had brunch at Jones the Grocer @ Mandarin Gallery. i ordered sides of mushroom in addition to my simple egg and bread breakfast.Even though the portion looks really small, its actually very filling because of the large slices of bread served and also the number of times my cup was filled with water (very prompt service). The mushrooms were actually really great while they were hot but after awhile when it started to turn cold, they became a little too salty and i had to add lots of pepper. With the eggs it was the opposite, i felt that it could have been a little more salty because it was rather bland. but not to worry, u can add salt and pepper to fit your taste buds.

I still can recall that my wife and i went Arteastiq for High Tea and we happen to see Jones The Grocer had another branch at Mandarin Gallery. Recently my wife keep telling me that we have a long time never go jones for breakfast. By not disappointing her, i told her why don't we do it now since it is only 9.30am. She is so happy to hear a yes from me and we changed immediately. We reached Mandrain Gallery ard 10.30am. Luckily the queue is not long and we get seated down very fast. We ordered our breakfast and enjoy our meal till 12pm.

This café environment is cosy and the waiter/waitress are friendly. I had have my breakfast here twice during my last visit, because the organic bread being served is freshed from the oven. We also tried the waffle with vanilla ice-cream on top, but bear in mind, it is in big size, however it is good enough for a share of 2. The English breakfast is rich and yummy. Overall, the food is fresh and great!

2010-07-29

Haven't got the opportunity to try the food at Jones The Grocer but I'd definitely love to. Only purchased a bag of macaroons of 4 and it was goood for its price, tasted much better than some macaroons from many other bakeries I've tried. At least it was displayed on the table in an enclosed glass so it was kept in room temperature and not chilled. Chilled macaroons taste awful to me. Will go back there for macaroons again and dinner soon.

2010-08-19

SGD 5.50