Singapore 089688
Having brunch is a luxury, and we both have an unbridled lust for it.
Lesser people to jostle with, shorter time to chow down, and slightly more attention from the wait staff, which translates to a happy meal and happier diners.
It was slightly difficult to locate this cafe along the five foot way because it passes off so well as an interior design shop with its unassuming shopfront, and the absence of a signboard doesn't quite help matters. Thankfully we spotted the "50 Craig Road" sign on the shophouse above and with eyes fixated on that sign, we managed to locate the really obscure cafe. It is right beside an antiques shop, and don't be fooled by a huge CHAN & GOH sign plastered outside. Just keep calm and open the door on the left.
Interior of The Plain is well, plain. But there is beauty in simplicity even with its grey-washed walls and simple menu. Lighting was bright and gave a warm, orange glow to the whole café, which made it conducive to chill and chat for a longer time. We didn’t take long to ponder over what we wanted to have, since the menu wasn’t very varied and the items were pretty much the same.
Joy had the humpty dumpty & vegemite soldiers which are dippy eggs with vegemite on buttered toasts sticks while Paul had darling's eggs which are poached eggs with ham, cheese & roma tomatoes on sourdough toast. For drinks, we had cappuccino and hot chocolate.
We took seats at the communal table with other angmohs, also folks who love a brunch at 1.30pm. Some publications were also available on the table. Service was good, and they didn’t charge for it, but there was a tip box at the counter. No pinoys or tiongs this time round, just Singaporeans manning tables and taking orders. Finally it feels like home.
Joy says:
My brunch was a simple one, just eggs and toast with vegemite. Eggs were well, brainless, since they were relatively simpler to prepare than poached ones. My toast was crispy but the vegemite was way tooooooo salty. For $5.50, I would rather have the eggs at OldTown, and toast my own ciabatta at home. Oh well, I am paying for the ambience.
One good thing though, is the coffee. The art on it was so pretty! I dare say this is better than the one at Oriole, or at least to my taste buds. This cuppa was less acidic, with more of the roasted coffee bean fragrance. Mmmmm!
Paul says:
Let's be frank. The food isn't fantastic. The dishes( or at least those that I tried) can be done by oneself, except those heavenly poached eggs. But if there's anything that would keep me coming back to this cafe, it must be the decor. The decor is just amazing. It takes me to a different world with its indie/modern-chic interior. I was just so sucked into the whole chill-out vibes that this place emanates. From those hanging light bulbs that give out a warm, orange glow to wooden tables(like those from Ikea) with thick imported magazines of interior designs that I could only dream of. There's even a copy of the Sunday Times Herald. Though backdated. But they've really put in an immense amount of effort to make those angmohs feel at home. Yes, there were many of them. As such, it's really a good measure of how good this cafe is.
My brunch consisted of 2 slices of lightly toasted sourdough topped with a slice of ham each, roma tomatoes and cheese melted over them. Oh, and there's of course my poached eggs( though not as nice as those that I've sampled at Rider's-those are DA BOMB). The cheese wasn't fully melted, much to my dismay. And the bread felt as though it was left out in the cold for some time( the cheese has hardened too). Waiting for the poached eggs to be prepared maybe? Hot Chocolate was ok too. Not overly thick as well. Just nice.
Service was impeccable in my opinion. The wait staff were all dressed in indie-inspired outfits and they spoke in clear fluent English, tending to our needs. Major plus point. This place is inspired by cafes in Melbourne, which means that you have to tell the cashier your order and they will charge you accordingly. They must have an huge amount of trust in their customers definitely.
I must say again. Their decor has left me hugely impressed, together with the warmth and courtesy of the wait staff. This place hasn't seen the last of us yet. We will be back. To chill out and just soak in the splendor of this place.
Grade: B
Total bill was $26.50 (incl. GST, No Scv Charge)]
In conclusion,
Food: B-
Service: B
Ambience: A
Value-for-$: B-
Overall grade: B
Apples given:
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