Beansporation's Profile

The Alley Cafe is so aptly named because it's really right up my alley. Located at the relatively inconvenient Keong Saik road, it would take you about a 7-10 minutes walk from Chinatown MRT, just enough to work up an appetite! I believe it may be closer if you were to take Exit H from Outram Park MRT, something I figured out while visiting The Lokal the past weekend. I decided to visit The Alley on a Saturday afternoon, after gym, because I heard about their protein packed salad, damn good coffee, and their free wifi! It was indeed a relatively long walk, especially under the hot and sultry weather conditions.Located just further down from the popular Potato Head Folk!The AmbienceThe design of the cafe was indeed the perfect depiction of its name. Dark and looming vibes, I personally would not take notice of this cafe, or would find it too dodgy to enter if I haven't heard of it. However, once I entered the cafe, the cosy atmosphere and comfortable sofa seats, made the cafe exude a very homely feel, and time seemed to just slow down, because it feels so laidback and nice. The sofa seats made me feel like lounging on them the entire day and I suppose it's pretty convenient to host big groups of diners with that as well! Besides, one thing I love about this place, is the available power points around that makes it easier for diners to work on their computers or fuel their phones while having their meals, and not forgetting the complimentary wifi.The FoodI very much wanted to try out their Truffle Mac and Cheese, but I was feeling quite sinful for all the rubbish I've been eating these days, so I opted for the salad instead. I went for the Macho Salad ($15++), which was basically a salad of meats with vegetable toppings. Hahaha! It is worth every single cent paid!The Macho Salad ($15++): consisted of a generous serving of smoked salmon, grilled chicken, bacon and mesclun salad. This was the first time I finished my greens with proteins still left over, despite having them with every mouthful of vegetables. Besides, what elevated this dish was not the generous heap of proteins, but the scoop of guacamole with diced tomatoes served atop of the greens. It gave the salad a creamier feel, and the combination of guacamole with greens and a protein, was just perfect. This is possibly the best salad I've had in a while! Non-meat lovers may want to steer away from this dish!I would definitely come back for their truffle mac and cheese and other truffled items on the menu. Since I was being very conscious about my diet that day, and also stressed over some work, that was all that I've tried from the food menu. I ordered an iced mocha ($6++), to go along with my salad.At first glance, I was quite disappointed because the drink did not look chocolatey enough, and there was a layer of melted ice floating above the coffee. However, after I took my first sip, I began to realize the meaning of not judging a book by its cover. The mocha was thick, and not overly sweet. It was indeed really satisfying and I immediately isolated the drink just to take a picture of it. I daresay it's the BEST mocha I've had, compared to all the other cafes I've been to. And I can't imagine any would be able to top this.Closing RemarksDespite the relatively ulu location of The Alley, I wouldn't mind paying them a visit every weekend just to get my mocha fix, and a quick bite. The food may be a little pricey, as compared to the other cafes, but the quality makes up for it. Besides, it's a good place to get some work done too. Many cafes tend to be overcrowded during the weekends, and as much as I want the goodness of this cafe to be known, at the same time, I want to keep this little gem a secret to myself, so that I can have a quiet retreat here after a hectic week.The entire stretch of Keong Saik houses a couple of good eats as well, including Tong Ah Eating House, for some traditional kaya bread, and cafes like, Potato Head Folk, The Study, Muchachos and Bread & Hearth! So go and visit these places instead! Haha!…Read More

I just had the best cup of flat white ever! I dare say nylon serves possibly the best coffee in Singapore! (: The store is nicely designed with a rather retro/old school design! However the store is really tiny, with minimal seats. You would probably be better off getting your coffee to go, because it's way too cramped to enjoy your coffee in the store! If you're looking for a relatively cheap yet quality coffee, go to nylon, you won't regret it! I've got a 5oz flat white for $3.80, and the biggest size they have is 7oz, going at $4! The coffee choices may be limited to only espresso, long black, flat white and their daily brew but it's really worth trying out! …Read More

I have been craving for a nice ice cream on a hot day in school, and I stepped into cedele, and saw them having an ice cream corner!I decided to try a single scoop of one of the flavors because it said it's eggless icecream! So I was really curious and tried the cappuccino almond flavor, and it was amazing! The ice cream had more of a gelato texture and the combination of the crunchiness of the almonds... Perfect. It's pretty inexpensive for a cup of ice cream as well! $3.40 for a single scoop for NUS students and staff, and $3.80 for public! YUMMMM!…Read More

I don't know if it's just me but I can't seem to find any store that sells churros any where in singapore! You could imagine my joy when I saw churrosity at holland v!These churros were rather affordable as they gave a good serving and for a low price as well! You get the sauce of your choice, and I chose chocolate! The hot churros with chocolate sauce tasted divine! Not too sweet and the fragrance and crunch was just right! One of the best churros I've had in Singapore, and it's conveniently located outside the holland v mrt station, along stretch that houses crystal jade! You may miss it if you're not careful, because it's just a stall for take away orders!…Read More

We were drawn by this little store along Cluny court by its hot chocolate cupcake placed strategically at the window! A chili padi on top of a chocolate cupcake?! Awesome stuff!Each cupcake was priced at $4 and above, a little overpriced if you asked me. This hot chocolate cupcake was a dark chocolate ganache with chili. I won't recommend you to eat the chili padi with the cake because the spiciness would be too overpowering even though the store owner recommended us to. I did, and it wasn't a very pleasant taste! My partner tried it without the chili padi and said that the ganache has a hint of spiciness and it was a unique sensation with the chocolate cupcake!In my opinion, the cupcakes are pretty overpriced because the one we tried was pretty dry, and the taste of chocolate was mild. Although it may be a unique blend, novelty has its risks! Most people usually take away their cupcakes because the place is really small! Not exactly a good place to chill out if you're looking for one!Located just beside cold storage and with island creamery and dapaolo nearby, there may be better alternatives around the corner!…Read More

Relish has a nice dining environment, and it is very convenient to get there too! Located just opposite bontanic garden MRT, and above dapaolo, it's really easy to spot!We went there because we've heard about how good their burgers are! We've ordered the recommended Steak with Pear Chutney and Blue Cheese ($21) and a Breakfast Burger ($21)! The blue cheese burger tasted amazing, the combination of flavors burst in your mouth with every bite, literally. Oh, and a tip! Order your steak medium well and below, so that it's not too dry and it blends well with the melted blue cheese! The breakfast burger was also yummy! It comes with an omelette and beef party, and the first bite actually tasted like MCD's sausage mcmuffin with egg, but when eaten together with the sautéed mushrooms, it tastes amazing! I'd definitely try out the Charsiew Burger the next time I'm here!! We ordered their famous Strawberry Cheesecake ($9.80) too! And it was served in a unique champagne glass and the crust and cake was all mashed into a glass! It tasted amazing, especially with the large strawberries chunks mixed with the cake and crust! Everyone should try this when they are here!…Read More

I went to Lola's after the Nike 10k run on Sunday, and was looking forward to a sumptuous meal there, however my partner and I were disappointed by the limited menu they have for brunch! We ordered a bartwurst and mushroom and cheese toast which tasted pretty good, but we were hoping for a greater variety though. We browsed through the menu and realized that Lola seemed to serve many interesting dishes for dinner, so probably you guys may want to visit them in the evening if you're planning to have a meal there!It's usually packed during the weekends, so it'd be better if you visited them during the weekdays if you're looking for a place to chill out ! They serve pretty good desserts however! I had a dark chocolate tart which tasted really awesome! One thing good about Lola's is probably its nett prices on the menu! I'll definitely return to try their dinner menu out!…Read More

Grub is located at bishan park, but be sure that you're on the right end of bishan park, otherwise you're gonna take a long, long stroll before being able to get there! The decor of the cafe was really nice, with a very classy feel! The food there is amazing! I ordered the CHURROS for my appetizer and it tasted really good, together with the chocolate sauce and zesty lemon sauce! I had the famous pork belly, which was crisp on the outside, tender and succulent on the inside! Eaten together with the mash, which had a mango taste, it was simply divine! The best pork belly I've had in any cafe. My partner ordered a mushroom risotto, as much as it was pretty good, i wouldn't recommend it if you're a huge eater or you're famished because the portion was really really small! I'll definitely be back for the burgers because they look so Instagram worthy! Hahaha! Do arrive early because you may have to wait for a while for your food to be served! (:…Read More

Well... It took me a while to find this little cafe tucked within the heartlands and at a corner of the building in toa payoh! The store was really small and cramped which made it really noisy and we couldn't really chill out there as we felt like we were imposing on others if we talked while we ate!! How pressurizing!We ordered a waffle with 3 scoops of ice cream, the dark chocolate rocher, Thai milk tea and earl grey jasmine! The ice cream flavors were pretty unique and really yummy but the waffles, I guess it is a tad bit overrated because it was served to us cold, and there was not much taste to it! Maybe because I've had the amazing buttermilk waffles from strangers' reunion and hence, there's a standard to beat! Hahaha! I'll talk about them in my next review, but yeah, creamier is a nice cafe to have have an ice cream and waffle, but if you really are looking for a place to chill, it's probably not the place you're looking for on a Saturday evening! (:…Read More

Wimbly wimbly where do I start?Firstly, this place is kinda inconvenient to get to without a car! A 5-7 minute walk from either serangoon mrt station or lorong chuan!I've always wanted to come here because I've heard the rave reviews by many of my friends, so I was really excited to finally try the food here! The decor of the place is really nice and cosy, a good place to chill out over some dessert and catch up with friends. I ordered a root beer cake, lemon meringue pie (only available on weekends), and a chocolate molten lava cake! The root beer cake has a unique taste, served together with a vanilla bean ice cream, well... I expected more than what it tasted, it was just so-so for me, because it's basically just a cake that tastes like root beer! The lemon meringue pie was ok for me as well, although all my friends loved it! I think it tasted zesty and nice but there's just something off about it, that I can't really put a finger to! The molten cake was a tad disappointing with the size, but the texture and taste made up for it! Crisp chocolate skin on the outside, which crackles when you dip your fork in, and the hot chocolate oozing out after which was an amazing feeling and sight. It tasted as good as it looks too! I've heard many good reviews about its waffles, but didn't have the tummy to try it, so I'll be back to try them out next time!…Read More

I've always wanted to try out drips cafe because it's just beside the steamboat place I frequent. However, I've never tried them because I thought that their pastries are a tad bit expensive! I can't remember how much the tart cost but definitely more than $6!I decided to try them in the end cause they look so enticing, and I didn't regret at all. The crust of the tart was so delicately made and it simply crumbles in your mouth, the taste of the crust with the blend of raspberries and blueberries were divine. Definitely worth the price, and I'll be back for more!That reminds me, I've got to review on the steamboat place beside them too! Really awesome stuff! But this place may be a little inconvenient if you're not driving! My friend and I had to take a 7-10 minute walk from forty hands!…Read More

I heard about this bakery and travelled all the way down to serangoon to buy them to try, because it was the closest store to me. The time travelled was worth it. I went down there at 10 and the golden sands bun were SOLD OUT! I ordered other breads like the char siew bun, custard bun and stuff, while waiting for this legendary golden sands bread. 2 ladies in front of me ordered 20 of them each! Now, you can imagine how popular it is! There was a wide selection of breads in this bakery and at a really low price too, ranging from $0.70 to $1. I don't think I saw any that were more than a dollar! Not too sure though but EVERYTHING IS CHEAP. The golden sands bun was worth the wait! Have them hot, and it tastes divine! You've got to try them!…Read More

I came here on a Saturday, and the place was so cramped up and noisy, I was lucky to be able to share a seat with 2 other girls. I was getting bored of eggs Ben, so I decided to order a sandwich because I heard that their portions are pretty generous! Ordered the Thai chicken sandwich, and it was really yummy! The 2 sandwiches were surprising filling! If you like food with a tangy taste, do try the this sandwich. I'm a huge fan of Thai food, esp tom yum so this hit the spot! Although the chicken breast can be a little dry, the sauce and the other ingredients made up for it! A perfect choice for someone who watches their diet! You could prolly order 2 sandwiches if you're with a friend and share them, best of both worlds! The coffee was disappointing however. I didn't find it good at all! Probably because it was a weekend, and the baristas are all busy and stuff. Of course, even though it's overpriced, I still ordered the tau sar pau, just cause I had to. Hahaha! It was pretty nice, the pau was thick and fluffy, I loved the texture and the filling was not too sweet! Definitely worth a try! Right opposite Forty Hands is a nice little oldschool local book store called Books Actually, perfect place to go to right after your meal, and you can head down along the street to get a PV cupcake for desserts!…Read More

I ordered a jerk chicken for $22 and the portion was surprisingly generous! It came with a side of onion rings, however I changed it to a salad instead and it was super yummy! And thankfully it was mostly chicken breast which fit into my diet well! If you're not a fan of chicken breast, like many of my friends, don't order this! The meat may be too dry for your liking!I ordered the chili chocolate mocha ($6) one of the 2 competition coffee! I don't really know how to taste what's a good coffee or what's not, but this cup of coffee left me in awe. Served with a cinnamon stick, the cinnamon taste was divine when mixed together with the hint of spiciness in the coffee, and blended well with the chocolatey taste. The best coffee I've ever drank. I'll be back for more food and coffee! Do try it out! I spent a total of $32 inclusive of GST and service charge!…Read More