Rise & Grind Coffee Co @ Bukit Timah Plaza - Excellent Coffee, Fresh Ingredients & Heartfelt Service.

Near the entrance of Bukit Timah Plaza is a row of shops built on a elevated ground, looking somewhat like Hobbit houses, but urbanised. One of which belongs to the team of Rise & Grind Coffee Co, since April 2015.

Barely 700 square feet including an alfresco area, the compact space houses quite a sizeable kitchen, which explains the simple industrial furnishing- cement flooring, bare ceiling with a few drop light bulbs. The sofa seats at one side, though narrow, appeared extra cosy. Every inch matters indeed. Perhaps due to the limited seating spaces, I was offered by the crew a basket for my bag, taken from a stack of at the entrance. That is what service is all about.

Their menu impresses me, as I caught sight of ingredients such as Halumi Cheese, Salmon roe, 63 degrees egg and grass fed ribeye steak. We ordered their newest creation Pulled pork Benedict ($15), their most popular pasta Tom Yum Seafood ($17) and the lady boss's favourite Burger The Gold Standard ($18).

Tom Yum Seafood Pasta 4.2/5

Among these three mains, our favourite is the Tom Yum Seafood Pasta. It is way more stimulating than any salted egg yolk pasta. The sauce, fragrant with lime leaves, lemongrass, clings onto the spaghetti nicely. It is a little spicy, with creaminess rounding out the tangy edges. What gives the sauce its depth of flavour, which I found out later, is the shrimps stock which they have prepared by cooking the prawn shells for hours before reducing it to a flavourful base. No shortcuts. The prawns were succulent and squids were chewy, and its vibrant orange red makes this dish ever more appetising. Not to forget the stems of parsley that adds a great touch to the flavour. The nori does little to the taste, but it reflects the culinary background of Chef Charles, the soul behind kitchen, who is French trained but with strong Japanese influence.

Pull Pork Benedict 3.5/5

Breakfast & Brunch is no longer just about cured meat, eggs, sausages and Hollandaise sauce with their newly created Pull Pork Benedict. Although this is not exactly something new, but they did it the right manner. The pork shoulders is slowed cook overnight for 24 hours, cooking and soaking in its own flavours and lard, like a confit. It's not at all greasy, trust me. Combined with perfectly poached eggs, I'm quite certain that this will win the hearts of men who always see egg benedict as more of a light snack. I thought my added sautéed mushrooms was pretty tasty too, with a hint of wine along with its earthy taste.

The Gold Standard 3/5

As for The Gold Standard, it is above your average cafe burger but I feel there is still a bit of distance before it reaches the gold standard. The patty is juicy, but I find the brioche bun a little too dense. Smeared with in house garlic & chive aioli, I appreciate the flavour and the tang fired from the sauce, but it doesn't excite my appetite as much as I want it to. The truffle fries was lovely, which is of the right cut and fried till crisp.

Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup 2.8/5

You may also opt for the lighter side if you are here during the mid day. Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup ($8) is a very hearty soup combined with grilled cheese toast. I like its thickness, which is almost like a stew. Perhaps, some basil to punctuate its richness would be good. If not for the cream, I would have really loved it.

Single origin coffee from Dutch Colony is served it, you can go for 3oz, 5oz or 7oz with milk. I like the simplicity of it.

Almost a year on, Rise & Grind Coffee Co already has their pool of regulars who see them as an ideal gathering place, which explains the crowd when I was there on a weekend. Not just youngsters, but families too. They might have something special coming up in conjunction with their 1 year anniversary, hence do look out for it!

Photograph and written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Rise & Grind Coffee Co
Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit
#L1-CA1
Bukit Timah
Singapore 588996
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Nearest MRT: Beauty World (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10am - 9pm
Fri: 10am - 10pm
Sat: 9am - 10pm
Sun: 9am - 9pm

Direction: 
Alight at Beauty World MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Bukit Timah food centre. Cut across the car park and walk towards Shell petrol station. Cross the road. Continue walking down Upper Bukit Timah Road towards Bukit Timah Plaza. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Sakurazaka @ Greenwood (Bukit Timah Road) - Traditional Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki with Refined European Flair

Located in the enclave of Greenwood Avenue is a new Japanese restaurant, Sakurazaka. Sakurazaka infuses traditional shabu shabu, sukiyaki and kakigori with refined European flair. Chef Masashi, with his Japanese heritage and European culinary roots, uses both Japanese and European ingredients, condiments and stock to refine the whole experience of shabu shabu and sukiyaki with a refinement of flavours.

Bouillabaisse and Pork Bone Soup

Ordering is rather simple and straight foward. Choose from the 4 sets which is namely Pork Set ($95++), Bouillabaisse Set ($108++), Beef Set ($128++) and Sukiyaki Set ($150++). All the set comes with a starter, meat (seafood for bouillabaisse set), vegetables, mushrooms, rice or noodles and dessert.

Beef and Ago Dashi Soup

For the shabu shabu set, diners have a choice of 6 different soup base. They are Chicken Bone, Pork Bone, Bouillabaisse, Ago Dashi, Beef and Soya Milk. For our dinner, we tried Bouillabaisse, Pork Bone, Beef and Ago Dashi soup base.

Ishiyaki 4.5/5

The dinner experience began with the Ishiyaki (hot stone) and Onsen Tamago. Depends on which set the diner ordered, slices of iberico pork, Japanese wagyu beef or seafood is served. It is to be cooked on the the hot stone that is heated to 140 degrees. The cooked meat or seafood is then dipped into the Japanese half boiled egg with spring onion and sukiyaki sauce to elevate the taste.

Bouillabaisse Set

The Bouillabaisse Set ($108++) comes with assorted seafood such as tiger prawns, white clams, scallop, red snapper, squid, mussel and prawn ball.

Bouillabaisse Set - Prawn Ball

For diners that ordered the Pork Set ($95++), it comes with Kyushu Japanese Pork Belly (200g) and Pork Loin (200g). While the Beef Set ($128++) comes with Aomori Japanese Rice-Fed Beef Striploin (150g) and Ribeye (150g). While the Kyushu Shirobuta pork and Aomori rice-fed beef are not common in Singapore, they are not inferior in terms of marbling and flavours. In fact, they are as good or even better.

Selection of Pork and Beef 4.5/5

On top of the set menu, diners can also order additional serving from the a la carte menu. I would recommend trying the Joshu Wagyu Striploin ($45/100g) and Ribeye ($45/100g). The flavour is more beefy and intense.

Vegetable and Mushroom 4.2/5

Besides the meat and seafood, every set also comes with an assortment of Vegetables and Mushrooms. Each set comes with 5 different seasonal vegetables and 2 seasonal mushrooms.

Foie Gras 3.5/5

If you are game for some acquire taste, you can try shabu shabu Foie Gras ($14) from the a la carte menu. I personally think that the creamy texture and taste may not be easily accepted by many.

The finale of enjoying the shabu shabu is to cook the rice or noodle in the broth that has absorbed with all the essence of the ingredients. Egg and two different type of cheeses are added into the mixture to thicken and intensive the flavour even more.

Kakigori 4.2/5

The dessert rounding off the set is the Kakigori made of finely shaved ice, flavoured with syrup and condensed milk. However, at Sakurazaka you are in for a different. Chef Masashi has given the dessert a refinement make over. We tried the Ujikintoki Green Tea ($16), Port Wine ($15), Tiramisu ($14), Strawberry ($12), Hokkaido Milk ($12) and Mango ($12) Kakigori. The kakigori creation is really interesting. I think Chef Masahi can open his own Japanese dessert house soon. My favourite is the Ujikintoki Green Tea, Port Wine and Hokkaido Milk kakigori.

What is great food without drink? Worry not as Sakurazaka also offers an exquisite choice of wines, sake, and Japanese craft beers.


Sakurazaka
24 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 298221
Tel: +65 64630333
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Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Wed: 6pm - 10pm
Thu-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to Exit B. Walk straigh to Hillcrest Road. Turn right onto Hillcrest Road. Walk down Hillcrest Road and make a left into Greenwood Avenue. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]