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Selfish Gene Cafe (Closed)

3.5

3.5

16 Reviews

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56

Tanjong Pagar

$11 - $20

American Café

11

5

0

poohlovesfood

Level4

121

11

Together with another intern, we decided to hop to Selfish Gene for our lunch towards the last few weeks of internship. Another small sized cafe with limited seating. Almost full-house during lunch hours. A very simple cafe with minimum decorations. I realized quite a number of cafes are including set lunches in their existing menu which is good, as it gives people like us more choices to choose from.So my friend got the lunch special. Pasta Alla Olio with mini soup and salad ($18). Soup of the

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Together with another intern, we decided to hop to Selfish Gene for our lunch towards the last few weeks of internship. Another small sized cafe with limited seating. Almost full-house during lunch hours. A very simple cafe with minimum decorations. I realized quite a number of cafes are including set lunches in their existing menu which is good, as it gives people like us more choices to choose from.
So my friend got the lunch special. Pasta Alla Olio with mini soup and salad ($18). Soup of the day was tomato soup. Not the creamy base kind of tomato soup but rather, refreshing, sourish with tad of sweetness. Salad was fresh, crisp and crunchy. The Pasta Alla Olio resembles the one i had before in Miam Miam, feel very chinese-like. I find that the pasta is a lil too oily probably due to the existence of bacon too. After mixing the hidden egg with the pasta, it smooth-ens the overall mouthfeel.
& i ordered the Smoked Salmon & Eggs ($15). Norweigan salmon with scrambled eggs and sauteed mushrooms. Creamy and fluffy scrambled egg. Sauteed mushrooms were buttery and aromatic. Generous portion of smoked salmon and it is not too salty, fresh, and goes really well with the scrambled egg and sauteed mushroom. Side salad complements and balance out the dish well.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Dining Method

Dine In

Spending Per Head

$18 (Lunch)

Alamakgirl

Level4

1.5K

35

Second cafe stop for the gang. The cafe is not very crowded and we are able to find a big table for the group in front of the counter. I think we have the brightest table in the cafe, as we have the view of the sky above us. After looking through the menu, one just orders and pays at the counter. No GST or service charge here. A number tag will be given for each order and remember to give it back after all order is served.THE VALERIE ($11.80)homemade berry compote & cream cheese on toasted brioc

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Second cafe stop for the gang. The cafe is not very crowded and we are able to find a big table for the group in front of the counter.

I think we have the brightest table in the cafe, as we have the view of the sky above us.

After looking through the menu, one just orders and pays at the counter. No GST or service charge here.

A number tag will be given for each order and remember to give it back after all order is served.

THE VALERIE ($11.80)
homemade berry compote & cream cheese on toasted brioche with scrambled eggs and mesclun salad
The soft and buttery bread, topped simply with cream cheese and delcious but not too sweet compote, makes it a very yummy breakfast. I wish there could be an additional of brioche as it gone too soon.

SCRAMBLED EGGS & BRIOCHE

SCRAMBLED EGGS & BRIOCHE ($10.80)
scrambled eggs on thick toasted brioche with mixed salad
The scrambled egg is simply very creamy. One guy simply feels very pleased with himeself after having this. He just wants to have a good sleep after the meal (Maybe to dream further about this dish).

Banana Cake ($6)
Mini loaf of banana cake served warm with banana, caramel, crumble and peanut butter sauce.
It is very soft, and the peanut butter adds a zest to the cake.

Orange Yogurt Cake

Orange Yogurt Cake ($4)
Orange yogurt cake with orange glaze and candied orange peel
It is a surprising moist cake. I like the orange peel which is not too sweet.

Cappuccino ($5)

Cafe Latte ($5)
The drinks here are much better than the previous cafe which we have visited. I feel awake after my first sip. Shiok man, ready to face the day.

Overall this place is a yes for everyone (even for the guys) and we enjoyed the food very much.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2014-05-01

Waiting Time

5 Minutes (Dine In)

Spending Per Head

$10 (Breakfast)

Recommended Dishes

melodyinthemist

Level3

70

0

According to owner Gene, it is not that he will never share his food, but rather he will not serve anyone food that he never tasted. Selfish Gene Cafe offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffee.It was pretty packed when I reached so it's always wiser to make a reservation in advance especially if you intend to visit on a weekend. Lucky us, only had to wait for around 10 minutes.B.O.B ($15.80) which I didn't try as I'm not a fan of smoked salmon and my boyfriend didn't comment mu

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According to owner Gene, it is not that he will never share his food, but rather he will not serve anyone food that he never tasted. Selfish Gene Cafe offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffee.

It was pretty packed when I reached so it's always wiser to make a reservation in advance especially if you intend to visit on a weekend. Lucky us, only had to wait for around 10 minutes.

B.O.B ($15.80) which I didn't try as I'm not a fan of smoked salmon and my boyfriend didn't comment much on the food either, except that the poached eggs ain't runny? Breakfast plate ($15.80) for myself! I really love their scrambled eggs, not too creamy and not too runny as well as the toasted brioche!

Prices here are really affordable, mostly $10-$15 and there's no service charge. If you're around tiong bahru area, it's a definite must to drop by there and have their all day breakfast.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2014-01-11

Spending Per Head

$15 (Breakfast)

Recommended Dishes

spherepiece

Level4

422

25

Ave and I were searching for a brunch location and decided on Selfish Gene Cafe which has made several appearances on my Instagram newsfeed. This cafe opens seven days a week (they are open on Tuesdays too!), and has a more extensive food menu than drinks. Coffee selection seems limited - they might need to work on that part. Tables are a little too close for comfort - a good way to maximise space for profit, but noise level is disturbing. Not suitable for first dates nor for whiling away long a

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Ave and I were searching for a brunch location and decided on Selfish Gene Cafe which has made several appearances on my Instagram newsfeed. This cafe opens seven days a week (they are open on Tuesdays too!), and has a more extensive food menu than drinks. Coffee selection seems limited - they might need to work on that part.

Tables are a little too close for comfort - a good way to maximise space for profit, but noise level is disturbing. Not suitable for first dates nor for whiling away long afternoons with friends.

Chicken Sandwich - $9.80
Despite a terrible ambience (more so, lacking), the mains was really good! I've always had bad experiences with sandwiches in cafes, usually being too dry. But the foccacia bread for this is not dry and it is also very fragrant with herbs! Very lovely especially with mayonnaise dressing. The chicken meat was a little stiff though, but still acceptable. The salad could do with more of the dressing. Well I'm biased against it because it is green.

The Valerie - $11.80
Averie's pick was The Valerie, blueberry and cream compote atop toasted brioche, with scrambled eggs to go along. Pinched a little from her dish, it was pretty good too!

For more food adventures, follow me at http://spherepiece.blogspot.sg/

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-12-23

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happytummy dumpty

Level3

92

3

Went there for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, found the place easily with my Google maps haha It was about 10 min walking distance from Tanjong Pagar MRT. It was slightly packed, was lucky to get a table within a minute.Ordered The Valerie ($11.80) and Breakfast Plate ($15.80) as well as a cup of cappuccino. For a person who have a "mild-sweet" tooth like me I enjoy The Valerie very much! ^^ It might seem a bit unbecoming, at least in my opinion initially, to have a combo of berry compote, cream c

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Went there for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, found the place easily with my Google maps haha

It was about 10 min walking distance from Tanjong Pagar MRT. It was slightly packed, was lucky to get a table within a minute.

Ordered The Valerie ($11.80) and Breakfast Plate ($15.80) as well as a cup of cappuccino. For a person who have a "mild-sweet" tooth like me I enjoy The Valerie very much! ^^ It might seem a bit unbecoming, at least in my opinion initially, to have a combo of berry compote, cream cheese and scrambled eggs altogether with brioche but, awww, I find them matching together perfectly after trying it.

The Breakfast Plate was not too bad either for its reasonable price. It originally comprised scrambled eggs but I had it changed to my favorite poached eggs instead, with an additional charge though. The other cafes don't usually charge for that.

Coffee was not too bad though I think The Plain which is nearby Selfish Gene serves better coffee. Ordered banana cake ($5.80) for dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth. It was one of the recommended items but I personally would not recommend it. A bit pricey for a small portion of banana cake. However it was not too bad with its combination with some peanut butter sauce topping.

I would definitely return for the food. It is a nice spacious cafe in the quiet CBD area during the weekends.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Spending Per Head

$18 (Lunch)

ShufenChua

Level2

27

3

Selfish Gene Cafe is a little cafe hidden inside the many alleys in Tanjong Pagar. Visited the cafe on a Saturday afternoon and it was full. Had to wait for a few minutes to be seated.As my friend and I had a heavy lunch earlier, we settled down for just teabreak.Iced SGC Tea (SGD 6) and Iced Matcha Latte (SGD 6)SGC tea was a blend of ceylon and earl grey tea, the taste was a tad too bitter for both of us and we added quite a bit of sugar in it. Guess we didn't really know how to appreciate the

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Selfish Gene Cafe is a little cafe hidden inside the many alleys in Tanjong Pagar. Visited the cafe on a Saturday afternoon and it was full. Had to wait for a few minutes to be seated.

As my friend and I had a heavy lunch earlier, we settled down for just teabreak.

Iced SGC Tea (SGD 6) and Iced Matcha Latte (SGD 6)
SGC tea was a blend of ceylon and earl grey tea, the taste was a tad too bitter for both of us and we added quite a bit of sugar in it. Guess we didn't really know how to appreciate the tea taste.

As for the Matcha Latte, you can really taste the fragrance of the Matcha, however, I felt that it was not sweet enough.
For a small cup with so much ice cubes inside, I definitely do not think it is not worth it.

Shall stick to the water provided next time. By the way, there is no service charge for the cafe therefore, a huge jar of drinks with many colourful plastic cups were placed at a table nearby and it was all self-service.

Toasted Bagel (SGD4.80)
Toasted Cinammon Raisin Bagel with butter and homemade berry compote, which was pretty nice. The bagel was served hot and when we open it, smoke was actually coming out. The bagel tasted good on its own with the cinammon and raisin mixing well together, sweet and all. The berry compote was a little sour which gave the bagel some kicks!

Carrot Cake (SGD5.80)
Carrot Cake with crushed walnuts, crumble and cream cheese icing. The cake was moist enough and had just the right amount of sweetness. Would have preferred the cream cheese icing to be richer in taste though but my friend loves it. The walnuts went well with the cake as well.

Overall, the experience there was a rather good one and even though it was self-service, the staff over there were really helpful and food came rather fast as well.

Not to mention, the toilet was huge and clean! You know usually those shophouses kind of cafes will have crampy and cheap looking toilets right? Not for Selfish Gene Cafe! Everything was placed nicely and clean! (Y)

Definitely coming back here again to try the main dishes and shall see for myself if they are good as well!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-09-28

Spending Per Head

$13 (Tea)

Recommended Dishes

mycc

Level4

217

81

Coffee art never fails to make our day while chilling over brunch (:A rejection at the Plain Cafe as they were having some maintenance work got us visiting Selfish Gene again, just a few doors down the lane. My first visit there had left me craving for its mains as we only had the chance to try their desserts, though equally satisfied with the Banana Cake!The Valerie ($11.80)This was one of those on my list previously, wanting to come back for a shot. It’s pretty much won me over since I was cra

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Coffee art never fails to make our day while chilling over brunch (:

A rejection at the Plain Cafe as they were having some maintenance work got us visiting Selfish Gene again, just a few doors down the lane. My first visit there had left me craving for its mains as we only had the chance to try their desserts, though equally satisfied with the Banana Cake!

The Valerie ($11.80)

This was one of those on my list previously, wanting to come back for a shot. It’s pretty much won me over since I was craving for some decent eggs brunch. With creamy scrambled eggs retaining the buttery fragrance, it was a simple one done nicely. It was also even so you don’t really get problems of having some chunks of eggs here and there to spoil the consistency of the texture.

Next was a treat for those with sweet tooth! Showered with blueberry compote and cream cheese, it was a messy yet satisfying treat for my sweet cravings! I would have preferred a slightly more toasted brioche for that perfect dish, though this was good enough for our liking!

Carrot Cake ($5.80)

A supposed popular item on the menu, I’m not one who’s really appreciative of carrot cakes so I’ll take some tips from my picky companions. We loved the surprise raisins within the carrot cake, spicing up what would otherwise be another boring piece of cake. Ordinary with the fragrance of cinnamon coming through, pair it with loads of cream cheese given as its topping for some sweet indulgence! We found this a decent piece, sticking right to its basics.

Orange Yoghurt Cake ($3)

A simple cake off its usual menu, we were just looking for one other dessert to go with our meal. It looked pretty dense but I was quite surprised to find it so light on the flavour and texture. The orange yoghurt on top simply wow-ed me as the sweetness blended in so nicely and the refreshing slight tang got me hooked! This was one simple delish that managed to impress!

Matcha Latte ($5)

Just as I was reminiscing a cuppa matcha latte like the one I’ve had in Sydney, this curbed my cravings with a warm cup of strong matcha fragrance and taste. Smooth and flavourful, it is definitely one that I’d go back for!

My second visit has left me with a better impression this time round, perhaps with several hits on my list of orders. Comfortable chilling spot, it's probably making it into my list of favourite hide-outs!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Titania

Level4

138

12

Selfish Gene Cafe is one of those cafes that I've been wanting to visit but somehow pushed to the back of my mind as new and exciting food places open each month. I decided to just try it out one weekend when I had to arrange a brunch outing with friends. One thing to note is that this place does not take reservation, they take in walk-in only. My group had 8 people and we were quite worried that we wouldn't find seats but luckily they had 2 long tables which were unoccupied. Perhaps it was less

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Selfish Gene Cafe is one of those cafes that I've been wanting to visit but somehow pushed to the back of my mind as new and exciting food places open each month. I decided to just try it out one weekend when I had to arrange a brunch outing with friends. One thing to note is that this place does not take reservation, they take in walk-in only. My group had 8 people and we were quite worried that we wouldn't find seats but luckily they had 2 long tables which were unoccupied. Perhaps it was less crowded because we went earlier (about 11 plus) as by the time we left around 1pm, the place was quite packed.

The cafe is not that big and when you enter you walk through a "hallway" where they set tables and chairs for smaller groups along the walls. The long tables are towards the back near to the counter.

Very simplistic design - no decorations or fancy lighting and even the counter was quite simple. There is something unique at the spot where we sat - there is a glass ceiling, hence the light was quite strong at our area. I like the idea because you get plenty of natural light (good for photo taking!) and it's quite beautiful to see the sun beams filtering through the glass ceiling. BUT as the afternoon approaches, this area will get very sunny and if you are sitting directly under the sun rays, it will be quite warm. For people who cannot take the heat (like me), you might want to avoid this area.
Also, ordering is self-service here. They will give you the menu and you head to the counter to place your order. After you pay, they will hand you a number plate and will bring your food to you.

As usual, I will order Iced Mocha whenever I go for brunch. The drink looks very "gao" (strong or thick) but sad to say it was quite diluted. I didn't taste much coffee in it and so it tasted like slightly diluted iced chocolate. I will try their hot drinks next time to see if they fare better.

I was super torn between trying their Breakfast Plate or B.O.B. but in the end I chose the B.O.B ($15.80) to test the standard of their eggs benny (if I'm not mistaken, this item is available on weekends only). The 2 mounds of eggs were super appealing and wobbly. I got two poached eggs sitting on thin slices of salty Norwegian smoked salmon, crème fraiche, all sitting on a slice of toasted multigrain bread. I am pleasantly surprised with this dish. The eggs were a touch overcooked (not as runny as I would've liked) but the overall combination of flavours with the smokey salmon was very tasty! I didn't think I would like the bread (usually I have eggs benedict with softer bread like brioche) but the multigrain bread was very nice! Crunchy crust with bits of grains to add texture and elevated the dish. The mesclun salad was also not bad with a tangy vinaigrette which helps cuts through the rich egg and salmon. The portion is not very big and I didn't feel super full when I finish this dish which is great because that leaves room for dessert!

Most blogs that I read about this cafe recommended the Banana Cake ($5.80) so I had to try it. It's very adorable! You get a mini-loaf of banana cake served warm with caramel, banana, crumble and peanut butter sauce. The banana cake was very very moist! I think serving it warm helps with that and somehow enhances the banana taste. It tasted quite fresh and not like those frozen cakes you get at some bakeries. I couldn't taste the caramel sauce as the peanut butter was too strong but I greatly enjoy this mini dessert. It's pretty small so not a problem to finish it by yourself.

Overall, I think the food was pretty good and I will definitely be back to try the other items! And since it's at the quiet Duxton area, you get to escape the bustle of the town areas. Perfect for a day to chill out with friends.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-10-05

Spending Per Head

$20 (Breakfast)

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sistasi

Level3

39

0

My friends and I went there for lunch, actually we wanted to celebrate my friend's birthday too.We bought cake from Flor which is nearby (duxton hill), but turned out they are not able to help us keep the cake in the fridge. Ok, we thought it's okay to just leave it outside fridge for the time we are having lunch.I ordered beef sandwich (the one with the heart in the menu - 12.80), the beef was a bit tough to chew. However my friend told me that the ham and cheese sandwich (10.80) was good, yeah

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My friends and I went there for lunch, actually we wanted to celebrate my friend's birthday too.
We bought cake from Flor which is nearby (duxton hill), but turned out they are not able to help us keep the cake in the fridge. Ok, we thought it's okay to just leave it outside fridge for the time we are having lunch.
I ordered beef sandwich (the one with the heart in the menu - 12.80), the beef was a bit tough to chew.

However my friend told me that the ham and cheese sandwich (10.80) was good, yeah I think it would be better than the tough beef sandwich. My other friend ordered the salmon sandwich, and he also mentioned it was okay too.
Anyway this cafe sells sandwich n all day breakfast.
After we finished our food quickly, we wanted to celebrate there but then when I asked whether we can celebrate there, they said we cannot celebrate my friend's birthday there

So sad... overall this cafe was just okay.. if u happen to go there, don't try their beef sandwich, just try the salmon or ham and cheese sandwich.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-09-20

Spending Per Head

$12 (Lunch)

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gninethree

Level3

95

35

Having been around for the last 2 years odd, Selfish Gene Cafe has already made quite a name for itself in the Duxton area. Opened by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Gene Mok, this cafe prides itself at serving unpretentious, affordable and definitely tasty food accompanied with a good brew of coffee or tea. After all, as his tagline goes.. 'Gene is selfish because he will not serve food he would not eat!'We wandered to this cafe quite by accident because Group Therapy Cafe was closed for the day and my

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Having been around for the last 2 years odd, Selfish Gene Cafe has already made quite a name for itself in the Duxton area. Opened by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Gene Mok, this cafe prides itself at serving unpretentious, affordable and definitely tasty food accompanied with a good brew of coffee or tea. After all, as his tagline goes.. 'Gene is selfish because he will not serve food he would not eat!'

We wandered to this cafe quite by accident because Group Therapy Cafe was closed for the day and my were we glad we made that 'accident'.

The Smoked Salmon Sandwich was a good portion and size. The focaccia had a well kneaded tough exterior but a complimentary moist and holey middle after biting into it. Though we did away with the cream cheese for this one, the sandwich was still not too dry and definitely refreshing for an afternoon bite! The accompanying mesclun salad with the homemade dressing was delicious. It was tangy, sweet and perfect for those green leaves. This is one homemade recipe I would really like to get my hands on!

The Mushroom Toast was great mix of chopped mushrooms sautéed in a little butter, olive oil, garlic and thyme and topped on a crisp slice of toasted bread. This tasted as pretty as it looked and it definitely left us wanting more after we cleaned this plate up.

Café latte ordered by the coffee enthusiast of the group commented that this cuppa was decent but still preferred the one at The Plain down the road. Perhaps Gene was not around that day to work his magic on the coffee maker.

Overall, I loved the airy and bright open feel of the cafe when you walk in. The place is relatively spacious and there are paneled glass windows at a ceiling corner angled to allow that tiny bit of sunshine to come in for some natural light. A very homely and chill out atmosphere that Selfish Gene offers. Especially with its rather extensive menu of breakfast, lunch and sweet offerings accompanied by an equal emphasis on both coffee and tea, it's safe to conclude that this hidden find of Duxton area has much potential.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-08-05

lirongs

Level1

1

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Who doesn't love all-day-breakfast eh? I especially chose this cafe to visit for the good reviews of course and also because it's a very pocket friendly one as well. Prices ranges from $10 - $15 and the quality of food was definitely not compromised.We love the scrambled eggs so so much! Soft and moist, perfect for some foodgasm. Scrambled Eggs & Brioche, $10.90scrambled eggs on thick toasted brioche with mesclun saladValerie 2, $11.90Toasted brioche with homemade berry compote, cream cheese, me

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Who doesn't love all-day-breakfast eh? I especially chose this cafe to visit for the good reviews of course and also because it's a very pocket friendly one as well.

Prices ranges from $10 - $15 and the quality of food was definitely not compromised.

We love the scrambled eggs so so much! Soft and moist, perfect for some foodgasm.

Scrambled Eggs & Brioche, $10.90
scrambled eggs on thick toasted brioche with mesclun salad

Valerie 2, $11.90
Toasted brioche with homemade berry compote, cream cheese, mesclun salad with scrambled eggs.

Breakfast Plate, $15.90
Scrambled eggs, English pork sausage, honey baked ham, sauteed mushroom, tomato confit, toasted brioche, french butter and jam.

Overall, my partners and I enjoyed our meal a lot! By the way, if you're coming on a weekend, do their their special B.O.B, which is only available on weekends.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-06-17

Spending Per Head

$13 (Lunch)

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shirlynnyang

Level3

34

2

For full review and photos, please visit shirlynnyang.blogspot.comThe cafe was pretty empty when we were there. And I'm totally loving it as we prefer to be in a quiet place to catch up with each other! But I think the cafe soon turned a bit noisy cos of our laughter Quoted from the Selfish Gene website, "Gene has always been rather selfish when it comes to food. It is not that he will never share his food, but rather he will not serve anyone food that he would not eat himself." I've to say, my

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For full review and photos, please visit shirlynnyang.blogspot.com

The cafe was pretty empty when we were there. And I'm totally loving it as we prefer to be in a quiet place to catch up with each other! But I think the cafe soon turned a bit noisy cos of our laughter

Quoted from the Selfish Gene website, "Gene has always been rather selfish when it comes to food. It is not that he will never share his food, but rather he will not serve anyone food that he would not eat himself."

I've to say, my taste of food is pretty much the same as Gene ;)

If you have read about Selfish Gene from other blogs before, you would have known that their banana cake is one of the most popular items there. True enough, the cake was light and fluffy and the peanut butter surprisingly goes so well with banana cake! The crumble on top provided a different texture to otherwise soft and fluffy cake. The 3 slices of banana served at the side was really yummy too.

The 3 of us shared a caffe mocha as we want to save our stomach space for the other cafes. I had a sip of it and thought that it was pretty bitter as most would have expected caffe mocha to be sweeter due to the chocolate content in it.

Haven't heard much about the breakfast items at Selfish Gene but I'm so glad we tried them! The simple named Ham & Cheese Sandwich was not simple at all! It was really delish, our eyes lit up the moment our teeth sank into it.

Their Breakfast Plate was really good too. The scrambled eggs was more to the creamier side but it suited our palates. Both my friends agreed that the tomatoes were really fresh and juicy. The bread was crispy at the edges. The best thing was, everything was served on a warm plate, which helped kept the food hotter for a longer time!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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mycc

Level4

217

81

For full review: http://makeyourcaloriescount.blogspot.sg/2012/10/sg-selfish-gene-cafe.htmlDo you have the selfish gene in you? Once again, I'm attracted by the interesting choice of name. A visit to the place then revealed that the name came about as the chef, Gene, is selfish because he doesn't serve food that he doesn't eat. It was almost an assurance that the food served will be of a certain calibre, making us look forward to what was going to be served. This was a little out of our expectat

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For full review: http://makeyourcaloriescount.blogspot.sg/2012/10/sg-selfish-gene-cafe.html

Do you have the selfish gene in you? Once again, I'm attracted by the interesting choice of name. A visit to the place then revealed that the name came about as the chef, Gene, is selfish because he doesn't serve food that he doesn't eat. It was almost an assurance that the food served will be of a certain calibre, making us look forward to what was going to be served.

This was a little out of our expectations, and thought we were served wrongly initially as we were expecting a cake slice rather than 3 small pieces. Upon our forks touching the surface of each slice, we realised that it was quite a chore eating this and eventually made a mess of the dish. The caramel toffee was just too hard for us to cut through and the biscuit base just came apart in our attempts to split the pieces so that each mouthful isn't too overwhelming. It tasted just like toffee candies, and the biscuit base had an interesting salted twist to it. I like the toffee for not being overly sweet, and the slight savory biscuit to go with it. It would have been so much better if the toffee pieces were softer so that it could go better with the base and not have us pairing it individually.

Warm, soft and moist banana cake, what can I not love about this? The cake was very light and fluffy, with a dash of moistness from the fresh slices of bananas inside, and heated up just right that it almost just melts in your mouth. The cake with the crumble bits were good, giving a well-complemented texture. The peanut butter sauce on top, was however, a little too strong for my liking. Thick, salted and creamy, it overpowered the taste of the banana cake, turning the limelight onto the peanut butter instead. I would have preferred it without the sauce actually, though it gave a good shift in the taste such that the sweet and savory parts combine. Perhaps the peanut butter sauce could have been served by the side, so the authenticity of the banana cake is allowed to shine as well. Nonetheless, it's quite a good bake in my opinion, given the quality and texture of the banana cake. It's so light and yummy that it's hard to feel jelat from it.

Quite an airy yet cosy space, great for chilling out! It only opens till 6pm though, so perhaps if you're feeling tired from work, this is a great place to enjoy the peace and serenity.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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CoffeeLover

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8

Have been working in Tanjong Pagar for 3 weeks now and I’ve been checking out the cafes and food places online.. there are so many funky places to go to and I hope I can get to try one of these specialty cafes for lunch once a week.. Abit indulgent but given that i work nearby thats the best opportunity right?I have heard alot about selfish gene and finally was able to get a friend to come with me. Even though it is located in quite hidden area on craig road, I was pleasantly surprised that it w

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Have been working in Tanjong Pagar for 3 weeks now and I’ve been checking out the cafes and food places online.. there are so many funky places to go to and I hope I can get to try one of these specialty cafes for lunch once a week.. Abit indulgent but given that i work nearby thats the best opportunity right?

I have heard alot about selfish gene and finally was able to get a friend to come with me. Even though it is located in quite hidden area on craig road, I was pleasantly surprised that it was quite full during lunch time on a weekday. Well in terms of variety I don’t think we can ask for much here, but let’s say im not frustrated by the portion of my chicken salad. It was refreshing and well-balanced between portions of chicken, veg and sauce. Not too bad for $9.

My friend ordered the srambled eggs on broiche and after taking one bite, he gave me the ‘ummm’ and nodded in approval.

He told me it was very smooth, rich and good! the broiche was a kind of thick toast, and as you can see they were generous with the eggs and the colour was indeed very appetizing! I liked the vibe of the cafe and though we didnt have time for coffee, Im sure the crowd is a testament to the success of the place!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2013-05-21

Spending Per Head

$12 (Lunch)

foodnotes

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11

Walk along Craig Road and you might actually miss this cafe. Located at number 40, it’s the last grey coloured shophouse at the quiet end of the road. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and although it was deceptively calm and quiet on the outside, the cafe was actually almost packed to the brim inside.At the door, you will be greeted by this vintage converted sewing machine, where you help yourself to the menu, water and find a table (if any).Generally, the cafe is really warm and cosy, but since

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Walk along Craig Road and you might actually miss this cafe. Located at number 40, it’s the last grey coloured shophouse at the quiet end of the road. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and although it was deceptively calm and quiet on the outside, the cafe was actually almost packed to the brim inside.

At the door, you will be greeted by this vintage converted sewing machine, where you help yourself to the menu, water and find a table (if any).

Generally, the cafe is really warm and cosy, but since it was a full house Sunday, noise gets trapped inside the boxy shophouse. Don’t expect a quiet sunday brunch here. But surely there’s a reason why people flock like bees to honey to this place right? Apparently, Gene (the cafe’s owner) is selfish because he will not serve food that he would not eat (hence the cafe name, get it?). Perhaps this is a strong signal that the food has gotta be DECENT and people really like quality food whipped out here.

So you place your counter located inside the cafe and they give these cute yellow paper cups containing your number, receipt and change. A really nice idea to cut down waiting time (for payment that is)

I had the B.O.B. ($15.80) all day breakfast set, which is only available on weekends.

Not sure why it’s called BOB (reminds me of a certain singer), but this is a delightful dish served with perfect runny poached eggs slapped atop Norwegian smoked salmon, creme fraiche and multigrain bread. I really enjoyed this dish; the salmon wasn’t overly salty and I was quite content munching on the yolk soaked salmon and bread combi. The salad is served with tangy lemon vinaigrette dressing, which really completes the meal.

For other scrambled egg lovers/ deluxe breakfast set lovers, do try their Breakfast Plate ($15.80), which has a little of everything: eggs, sausage, ham, mushrooms, tomato, brioche:

I had a cuppa Chai latte ($5) to go with my breakkie set. I would have preferred a slightly more spicy version of it, but for those who like their milky chai latte teas, you will probably get a nice balance in this cup.

AND FOR DESSERTSSSSS;

You have to try the Banana cake ($5.80) here. Each bite is chock full of banana flavour, it’s really not something you can get elsewhere, unless you blend a sack of bananas and bake your own. It has a nice warm and extremely moist texture and it goes so well with their crumble and peanut butter sauce topping. The only downside? It’s really really small. If not for my lunch partners, I could have popped the entire loaf in one mouth.

The other dessert item we had was the Lemon Tart ($5.80) also only available on weekends. The lemon curd inside was really well balanced- not overwhelmingly one sided sweet or sour, but a really nice refreshing balance of both. The slightly italian meringue went really well with the lemon curd tart and again, the dessert is unfortunately really small. (Photo was zoomed in!)

We came to the conclusion that Gene is indeed really selfish, for only serving certain good stuff on weekends and also shrinking their desserts to nano-bite size. But for small eaters and people cannot resist the allure of desserts (and their associated calories), the mini desserts and a nice cup of coffee/tea is something you would want to grab at this cafe. Plus, the small dessert size really forces you to take small bites and slowly savour the every bit of goodness.

For more photos, do visit http://mrfoodnotes.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/selfish-gene-cafe/

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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