Opened by the same people behind Sarnies and located along the busy streets of Neil Road, The Lokal is a fairly new cafe which serves good food at an affordable price. It's focused on using the best raw ingredients to make the kind of food that everyone loves - a wholesome hearty fare that will not break the bank (As adapted from their FB page). Address:

136 Neil Road

Nearest MRT Station:

Outram Park MRT Station

What they are famous for:

Customizable breakfasts, sandwiches

Opening hours:

Monday - Friday: 8am - 6pm

Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 4pm

Atmosphere: 7/10

Price: 7/10

Food: 7/10

Service: 8/10 Interior Open Kitchen Concept Food Menu Drinks Menu

We had: Pimp my breakfast - $15.50

(Scrambled eggs, Smoked salmon, Toasted sourdough)

Here at The Lokal, customers are given the choice to pimp their own breakfast with the different sides available on the menu. I had the scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and toasted sourdough. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the smoked salmon, because unlike other cafes, this did not come in thin slices but in a thick piece, just like a normal salmon fillet. And yes, it was smoked perfectly with the right texture! The eggs were decent too and I must say that they were pretty good. I was also rather pleased w my sourdough as they were still fluffy and crispy by the time we ate it . Pimp my breakfast - $15.50

(Scrambled eggs, Grilled sausage, Toasted sourdough)

Almost the same like my breakfast, just that we subbed the smoked salmon for a grilled sausage.... Which was quite a disappointment for me. The sausage had a foul smell to it so personally, I wouldn't order this again. Not for $6 and definitely not in a million years.Roast chicken panini with crispy panchetta, tomato, avocado, cos and aioi - $15

Ahh I loved this! The chicken spread reminded me like that of chicken mayo and the other ingredients used were delicious! Toasted banana bread, home-made vanilla yogurt, toasted macadamias, caramelized banana - $12

One of their signature dishes! The banana bread was moist, and toasted well. The vanilla yoghurt wasn't too sweet or tart, and was the perfect topping to the bread. The caramelized banana and macadamias sealed the deal. Would definitely order this again!Service:

Double thumbs up for the service! It was prompt, and the staff were really friendly. They even gave us free butter and sugar (it's chargeable, btw) just because they didn't have enough change for us. Hahaha

Atmosphere:

Definitely loved the old-school concept with a spacious interior. It was also well-furbished with comfy sofa chairs, beautifully decorated bookshelves and wooden tables..

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Met up with the Cafe hoppers weeks back after Alex came back from his Summer trip and a rewarding brunch before school started. School has been good to me so far, and I'm starting to pace myself better in terms of school work so that I don't have to squeeze everything right till the very end. I only have two final exams this semester (YESSSSSSS) but that also means that I've more CA projects & papers to submit. But I'd rather have that than go through the dreadful preparations for Finals again. Will update this space soon with a proper post

Toodles!

Haji lane is home to countless of cafes, sprouting up one after another in the recent years. Hyde & Co is a fairly new cafe that opened its doors last year and it's known for its wide range of tea served in delicate tea pots. It stands out with its old British charm and draws inspiration from the past. Interior Cafe counter Cakes of the day Food Menu Drinks Menu

We had: Peach Tea - $6.50 per pot (Refillable)

Hyde & Co offers a huge range of teas, similar to what you get at tea boutiques like TWG. I opted for Peach Tea because I wanted a safer choice and well, I doubt that can ever go wrong. The tea was fragrant and fruity! Truffle Fries - $10

(Generously mixed with premium truffle oil and Parmesan cheese)

For $10, I must say that the portion was pretty small. Still, I love how the truffle scent was thoroughly infused even down to the last french fry. I would have preferred if they were more generous with the Parmesan cheese!

Heavily scented The Full Works - $17.90

(Baked cheese portabello mushroom, streaky bacon, honey baked ham, roasted baby potatoes served with Hyde's creamy scrambled eggs and sourdough rye)

One of the main highlights of this dish was definitely the baked portabello mushroom! The scrambled eggs were buttery, but a tad too runny for my liking. I loved the sausage and the crispy bacon, though I was also a little disappointed with the baked ham because it was too oily! Odeh Odeh Cake - $6.50

At first glance, you would know this is unlike any ordinary dessert. This beauty features a pandan base with gula melaka dressing and coconut flakes which really got me wanting more! The cake was light and moist!Atmosphere:

This English inspired cafe definitely won us over with its interior design. They also serve all their teas in pretty teapots that are the perfect setting for Instagram photography. This cozy hangout is definitely a great place for chilling on a afternoon.

Service:

The food was served rather promptly!

Haji lane is home to countless of cafes, sprouting up one after another in the recent years. Hyde & Co is a fairly new cafe that opened its doors last year and it's known for its wide range of tea served in delicate tea pots. It stands out with its old British charm and draws inspiration from the past.

Atmosphere: 9/10

Price: 7/10

Food: 7/10

Service: 7/10

As the word Rookery suggests, it refers to a communal living area of people or certain type of species (as adapted from Dictionary.com). The owners of Rookery stuck by this and turned the cafe by day, restaurant bar by night into a place where individuals can gather to indulge in simple good food. The cafe is nested in the heart of the CBD area, located just opposite Lau Par Sat and gives working individuals another alternative venue for lunch. Bar area Interior MenuWe had: Benedict's Eggs - $15

(Poached eggs, crispy bacon, grilled sourdough, hollandaise, rocket, sampled salmon or ham of your choice)

The hollandaise sauce was more buttery than tart, so I felt it was a little bland to my liking. Still, the smoked salmon and bacon added a good twist atop two perfectly poached twin eggs. Definitely affordable for a dish priced at $15! Rookery's Big Breakfast - $18

(Eggs of any style, crispy bacon, grilled sausages, herb crusted tomato, sautéed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, grilled sourdough)

For $18, I must say that this dish was a tad pricey. Still, I loved the creamy scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes and the grilled sausage! Spanish Chorizo's Hash - $15

(Chorizo sausages, sautéed potatoes, onions and capsicum, topped with two sunny side eggs and served in an iron cast pan)

Chorizo sausages are common in Spanish and Mexican cuisine, and they're pork sausages usually seasoned with paprika and spices. For this dish, I must say that it's pretty acquired because not many people might like the strong blend of ingredients. Still, I had a taste of it and still enjoyed the dish. I loved the smokiness of the chorizo sausages and the well-seasoned ingredients in the pan. Service:

I enjoyed the service thoroughly. Our food was served promptly and the servers were very friendly and attentive in their services.

Atmosphere:

The cafe extudes an industrial vibe and is a great communal place for people to gather for lunch or after work for drinks. I loved the cozy environment which made me enjoy my food even more.


Atmosphere: 8/10

Price: 8/10

Food: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Desserts and pastries available We had:Turkish Apple Tea - $5

The tea was fragrant and infused with Apple slices which was a refreshing change. Smoked Salmon Croissant - $19

(Freshly baked croissant with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and capers and fresh greens)

I loved how the croissant came in smaller pieces, and I could savor each piece with the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon that accompanied it. The eggs here at Boufe came in a drier consistency, slightly different from the usual scrambled eggs you get but still tasty. They were really generous with the smoked salmon too! Eggs Benedict - $16

(Homemade brioche with honey baked ham, poached eggs, homemade hollandaise sauce and fresh greens)

I'm a sucker for eggs benny on brioche, because I'm a fan of having my hollandaise drizzled over thick fluffy bread. However, the sauce might have been a little too creamy for my liking. Still, cheers to the perfectly poached eggs! Atmosphere:

I loved the white washed concept of the cafe, which somewhat reminded me of Blisshouse Cafe with all the swing and pretty vines going on. It's a really romantic cafe, so you might wanna consider bringing your other halves there!

You might find that it'll be quite a chore to head in, but we got buggy rides in from the friendly security guards, so maybe you can try requesting for it too! *winks*

Atmosphere: 9/10
Price: 7/10

Food: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Thanks to the people at Su Food, I got to try out their 8 course Italian-Inspired Vegetarian cuisine.

I have never been a big fan of Vegetarian food, but the dishes served at Su Food definitely made me a convert. I can't wait to bring my parents there to savor them in the near future!

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Background Story:

Founded in 2010, SUFOOD is the first meat-free concept restaurant under WOWPRIME GROUP, the largest F&B operator in Taiwan. Through a joint venture, SUFOOD is launching in Singapore for the very first time at Raffles City in May 2014.

SUFOOD is not only inspired by Italian cuisine but also by how it is prepared; though only using basic cooking techniques, Italian cuisine still exudes diverse and rich flavors. SUFOOD thus relies chiefly on the quality of the fresh ingredients to create innovative and delicious meat-free cuisines.

Their manifesto of using the rule of five:

5-colour groups of vegetables & fruits to give you a variety of nutrients5 natural spices for an added flavor boost and

5 cooking methods to present you with an utterly gastronomical indulgence!

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The set course costs $29.80++, but I can assure you that it is definitely value-for-money, especially with the standard of food served and the pleasure of dining in such an amazing ambiance. I highly doubt you can find any restaurant that serves quality Vegetarian cuisine at such an affordable price.

PROMOTION:

They're currently having a promotion for DBS/POSB card members!

Enjoy a 1 for 1 8-course meal (worth $29.80++), valid from 2 - 4:30pm daily!

(But I mean, I would also go even without the promo because yes, the food is THAT good. I'm not trying to oversell them here. It's truly based on my personal opinion!)Su Food is located at Raffles City Shopping Centre, Level 2!

Opening Hours:

Lunch: 1130am - 430pm (last order at 3pm)Dinner: 530pm - 10.30pm (last order at 9pm)

Tel:

6333 5338Before ordering, the servers would check with you if you're allergic / can't consume Garlic or onion!

Definitely a thumbs up for their impeccable service!

The menu at Su Food is pretty structured and fitted to your personal palette. It focuses on an 8 course meal with various choices of salads, soup, mains, dessert and drinks.We were first greeted with a cup of Mulberry Cider Vinegar to cleanse our palette before each main course. The vinegar might be a little strong for some on the first sip, but you'll gradually get accustomed to it after the consecutive sips! 1) AppetizersWe were advised to dine from right to left so that the end taste would not be too overpowering.

From right to left:

Japanese Yam with wolfberry dressing, Taiwanese, Oriental greens with Sesame dressing and a savory Cherry Tomato Jelly.

2) Rosemary Breadsticks - FAV!Homemade rosemary infused breadsticks ith a choice of Thousand Island / Mustard Dip.

Couldn't get enough of the mustard dip!

3) Salads Mushroom Salad

(Button and Shitake mushrooms with steamed broccoli and sliced cherry tomatoes glazed in a vinegar dressing) Summer Salad

(A colorful array of sweet potato, carrot, pepper. and seasonal fruits served with Thousand island dressing and sesame sauce)

4) Soup Cabbage and Sweet Potato Stew

(Konjac root stewed with cabbage and sweet potato)Mushroom and Pea Pottage

(Button, Shitake and King Oyster mushrooms stewed with blended sweet peas)

5) MainsWild Mushroom Charcoal Tagliatelle - MY FAV!

(King Oyster mushrooms sauteed in light olive oil and homemade dressing on a bed of fragrant charcoal tagliatelle)

For those who might not know what Tagliatelle is, they're long, flat ribbons of pasta. The Tagliatelle at Su Food brought pastas to a whole new level. They were so springy, chewy and light!

I would highly recommend you guys to order this when you are there as it's one of their signature dishes as well! Star Pizza - MY FAV!

(A golden star-shaped pizza, filled with oyster mushrooms, cream cheese, mustard and wasabi mayo sauce. Topped with salted seaweed)

The mains were the star dishes of our entire meal (no pun intended). Like seriously, how can you say no to a cream cheese stuffed pizza? The seasoning and toppings worked really well together!

6) Desserts Vanilla Ice-cream with Hot Chocolate

(Coat your vanilla ice-cream in as much warm, dark chocolate fudge sauce as you wish)Banana Cheesecake

(Banana cheesecake drizzled with blueberry sauce, accompanied with chocolate waffle roll)

7) Drinks Left:

Passion Fruit Calamansi Drink

(Refreshing aromatic calamansi tea with fresh passion fruit)

Right:

The Ashitaba

(Restorative Japanese Ashitaba leaves, blended with aloe vera juice and honey)

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Thank you so much for the invite once again!

This is a restaurant that I'll definitely return to!

Toodles!


I have never been a big fan of Vegetarian food, but the dishes served at Su Food definitely made me a convert. I can't wait to bring my parents there to savor them in the near future!