Oriole Coffee + Bar @ Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard - A Cafe by Day, A Bar by Dusk, All In the Heart of Bustling Town

Since its establishment in 2008, Oriole Coffee + Bar in Somerset has been serving diners with their freshly brewed speciality coffee and cafe classics in the day. It transforms into a bar in the evening, with a diverse selection of house-pour wines, beers, interesting cocktails, and hearty dishes - all the good ingredients for a place to unwind and relax for the night.

From 21 August to 31 October 2023, Oriole is introducing their "Oriole's Summer Specials", showcasing a number of new menu offerings and refreshing cocktails that were concocted in collaboration with Tanqueray. Some of these dishes include the Veggie Puttanesca Pizza, Acqua Pazza Barramundi and Donut Balls.

The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seats, each providing its unique vibe.

Truffle Fries 4.2/5

Before taking our seats, we spotted Truffle Fries ($15) on almost every other table. While this starter was slightly pricey, we thoroughly enjoyed the fries' consistent crunch and fluffy interior.

Shrimp-paste Marinated Chicken Wings with Bali Rub 4.5/5

These Shrimp-paste Marinated Chicken Wings ($16) left a huge impression! Following the recommendation of our friendly waitress, we opted for our wings with an additional Bali Rub (+$1.90). The piping hot wings arrived coated in a slick, sweet sauce. The crunch was on point, and the meat remained wonderfully juicy. If you're feeling adventurous, consider adding the Butter Sriracha (+$1.90) for a unique twist.

Veggie Puttanesca Pizza 3.8/5

Our first main was the Veggie Puttanesca Pizza ($22), featuring an all-vegetable assortment of toppings on a base decked with puttanesca sauce. It includes Kalamata olives, capsicum, Roma tomatoes, button mushrooms, yellow onions and arugula. The base leans a little more dry and biscuity.

Acqua Pazza Barramundi 4/5

Our next main dish was the Acqua Pazza Barramundi ($28), which highlighted the freshness of the protein. It was marinated with extra virgin olive oil and thyme before being poached in a tomato-based sauce.

Donut Balls 3.8/5

Oriole's house-made Donut Balls ($15) are freshly fried upon order and come accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was decorated with crumbles and blueberries and served with sweet blueberries and date compote. However, despite the decently satisfying crunch on the outside, the centre was too doughy for our liking.

Mango Berry Sunset

From the special cocktail menu curated in collaboration with Tanqueray, we sampled the refreshing Mango Berry Sunset ($20). It was a very bright concoction, both visually and in taste, with its mix of Tanqueray London Dry, Raspberry Puree, Lemon Juice and Mango.

Do make a reservation before visiting. You can do so easily at https://www.oriole.com.sg/reservations.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Oriole Coffee + Bar
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
96 Somerset Road 
#01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348/ +65 9248 1972
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 1030pm
Fri: 11am - 1130pm
Sat: 10am - 1130pm
Sun: 10am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Go to the ground level. Turn left and walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Singapore JIAK @ Frasers Towers - Four Hawker Food Brands Under One Roof with Dishes Below $10 in CBD

Singapore JIAK at Frasers Towers is a food-court-inspired concept by the Singaporean-owned Akashi Group. Singapore JIAK debuts 4 hawker brands within this cosy space - Grandma's, Dunman Wanton Mee, Teck Kee Fat Duck and Ah Goh Fish Soup.

Grandma's Curry Chicken Nasi Lemak 4.5/5

Grandma's is a resurrected brand under the Akashi Group that was established in 2008. Some of you may be familiar with some of their local dishes. At Singapore JIAK, Grandma's showcases their nasi lemak dish, with options such as Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak ($5.80), Crispy Bukhari Chicken Leg Nasi Lemak ($9.80), and the signature Grandma's Curry Chicken Nasi Lemak ($9.80). We tried the latter, which came with a chicken leg doused in curry that packed a punch. The coconut rice was aromatic and fluffy, and I was delighted by how thick the egg omelette slice was.

Mixed Pork Wanton Mee 4.2/5, Fried Wanton 4/5

Behind Dunman Wanton Mee is the culinary team formerly from Wanton Seng, known for its bowls of springy noodles tossed with aromatic pork lard. There are four dishes on the menu – Classic Dunman Wanton Mee ($5.80), Char Siew Wanton Mee ($6.80), Roasted Pork Wanton Mee ($6.80) and Mixed Pork Wanton Mee ($7.80). We had the ultimate combination - Mixed Pork Wanton Mee. While the Char Siew was on the leaner side, the wantons were satisfying with their plump and meaty fillings, and the crispy pork delivered the much anticipated cracking skin. Fried Wantons is available as well.

Duck Rice 4.2/5

Teck Kee Fat Duck is the sister brand of London Fat Duck, renowned for its mouthwatering roasted Irish ducks. They use the same Irish duck and adopt similar roasting techniques, aiming to deliver the same melt-in-the-mouth and robust flavours to their customers. The menu also features other roasted meats, including salted chicken, roast pork, and honey char siew. True to their promise, what we had didn't disappoint, with its juicy and tender meat complemented by beautifully roasted skin. The sauce worked perfectly to bring the rice and meat together.

Sliced Fish Soup 4/5

Ah Goh Fish Soup is also an original brand created for this concept. The soup itself is boiled using fish bones leftover from premium fish imported from Japan, enhanced with a dash of 20-year-old Hua Tia wine. We had the Sliced Fish Soup ($5.80) with batang fish. What sets this fish soup apart you can taste is the pronounced flavour extracted from the specific fish bones they use. Although it was tasty, I prefer a sweet touch for a better balance. The fish slices were fresh and paired well with a generous portion of vegetables, making the bowl of fish soup delightfully wholesome.

Words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Singapore JIAK
Frasers Tower
182 Cecil Street
#02-15/16/17
Singapore 069547
Tel: +65 86847728
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sat: 9am – 10pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G or H. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Telok Ayer Street. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]