Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Les Mains Deli @ The URA Centre - Flavourful Protein & Salad Bowls, Fresh Bakes and Gelato

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Les Mains Deli, located on the ground floor of The URA Centre, is a cosy café where you can enjoy protein bowls crafted with a well-curated selection of ingredients. As an extension of Les Mains Bakery, a beloved neighbourhood café in Opera Estate, Les Mains Deli also opens for breakfast, offering a selection of their signature bakes. The space likewise houses their in-house gelato brand, Microcreamery, featuring a range of signature flavours.

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Large Protein Bowl

For the Build-Your-Own Protein Bowl, three sizes are available: Small, Regular, and Large, starting at $9. The Large option includes two bases, two proteins, three supplements, one topping, and one dressing. My wholesome bowl featured Mixed Greens and Bulgur Wheat as the base, paired with Oven-Baked Salmon and Tuna Tataki. For supplements, I chose Butternut Squash with Kale, Pineapple Achar, and a Mayak Egg, topped with a sprinkle of nutty and heady Dukkah and finished with a smoky Chipotle Vinaigrette.

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Bulgur Wheat

The Bulgur Wheat base, reminiscent of a grain salad, was packed with texture and flavour, featuring a blend of grains and pumpkin seeds that lent a nutty depth and aromatic quality.

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Tuna Tataki 4.5/5

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Oven-baked Salmon 3.5/5

Of the proteins, the Tuna Tataki stood out as one of the better renditions I've had. The tuna was beautifully seared on the outside and tender on the inside, retaining the fresh, clean flavour of the tuna. The portion of Oven-baked Salmon was generous, though the leaner parts leaned slightly dry.

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Mayak Egg

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Butternut Squash, Pineapple Achar

The Mayak Egg was a standout, with a golden, runny yolk and a savoury umami punch from its soy-based marinade. The Butternut Squash offered a lovely natural sweetness but could benefit from a longer roast to bring out a softer, starchier texture. Meanwhile, the Pineapple Achar added a tangy acidity and vibrancy, balancing the richness of the proteins. Both vegetarian and vegan-friendly versions are also available.

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Lentil Meatballs 4.5/5

I particularly enjoyed the Lentil Meatballs, which is one of the protein options. They were thoughtfully prepared, not overly seasoned or oily, retaining a rustic mashed-lentil texture with a hearty bite. You can also top up for drinks like fresh fruit juice, kombucha, or coffee.

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Black Sea Salt Croissant 4.5/5

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Shio Pan 3/5

During breakfast hours, freshly baked goods are available alongside their coffee offerings. I tried their signature Black Sea Salt Croissant and Shio Pan. The croissant delivered with a rich, buttery aroma and flavour, complemented by a subtle hit of Black Sea Salt. The Shio Pan had a crisp, crusty exterior and a buttery base, although it could have benefited from a more generous filling of salted butter at its core.

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EVOO Strawberry, Rum & Raisin

Microcreamery, their in-house gelato brand, offers both classic and unconventional flavours. From their original 16-flavour lineup, popular options like EVOO Strawberry, Baileys & Cookies and Pandan Blueberry are available at this outlet. I went with the recommended EVOO Strawberry and a staple Rum & Raisin. The former was delicious, with pockets of tart strawberry puree and a subtle grassy note from the extra-virgin olive oil. The Rum & Raisin was a classic done right. It was indulgent, creamy, and packed with plump, rummy raisins.

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Vanilla Affogato

Off the menu, you can also request your gelato to be served affogato-style for a bitter-sweet dessert or a mid-day perk-me-up.

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Photos and 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.


Les Mains Deli
The URA Centre
45 Maxwell Road
#01-02
Singapore 069118
Tel: +65 80205596
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Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm
Sat: 8am - 5pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 2. Turn left and walk to Maxwell Road. Turn left on Maxwell Road. Walk down Maxwell Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn lef and walk to Maxwell Road. Cross the road and walk down Maxwell Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Peperoni Pizzeria @ Greenwood Avenue - For Hearty Wood-fired Pizzas, Pastas, Diverse Mains and Desserts

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Peperoni Pizzeria has long been a well-known brand for its wood-fired pizzas, most notably the XXL 21” versions that let diners mix and match flavours with a half-and-half option.

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Since opening in 2004, it has grown to six outlets across Singapore, including its original location at Greenwood and branches in Suntec, United Square, Biopolis, Upper Thomson, and Frankel. The brand has also recently refreshed its dessert and drink offerings to complement its core menu.

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Blistered Cherry Tomatoes 3.8/5

We stopped by the cosy Greenwood outlet to sample several items, starting with the Blistered Cherry Tomatoes ($16). The appetiser brought together sweet roasted tomatoes, creamy stracciatella, and crusty bread, lifted by a fragrant basil dressing that added both savoury and sweet notes.

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Pumpkin Gnocchi with Bacon & Sage Oil 4.2/5

For pasta, the Pumpkin Gnocchi with Bacon & Sage Oil ($26) stood out with its balance of creamy pumpkin sweetness, savoury sautéed bacon, and crunchy asparagus. It was rich but not cloying, making it easy to enjoy the whole plate.

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Large 12” Pizza - Half & Half 4/5

Naturally, we couldn't skip their signature pizza. We opted for the Large 12" Pizza ($27) in a half-and-half style. One side featured the Brown Butter Pulled Chicken with scamorza, kale, balsamic onions, and parmesan. The other was the Salmon & Asparagus, topped with salmon chunks, furikake, grated egg, and sweet mayo. Both were served on a tomato base with mozzarella. The pizza base and crust were thin, perhaps even thinner than I recall from my last experience. They also leaned more crunchy than chewy.

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Roasted Beetroot Caprese 3.8/5

For something meatless, we tried the Roasted Beetroot Caprese ($24), a vegetarian main with roasted beets, pesto, polenghi, and baked vegetables like baby corn and brussels sprouts. The nutty pesto tied the elements together well, though the tang of the baby corn didn’t quite win us over.

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Baby Back Ribs 3.5/5

We also sampled the Baby Back Ribs ($37), served with a side of mesclun and fries. While we appreciated that the sauce wasn’t overly sweet, the ribs themselves were too tough for our liking.

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Apple Brick 3.8/5

For dessert, we had the Apple Brick ($12), one of the new additions to the menu. It featured caramelised apple slices tucked into a crisp fried pastry, served with vanilla gelato. The contrast between warm and cold was delightful, though we hoped for a more pronounced apple flavour.

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Affogato 4/5

To finish, we enjoyed the Affogato ($10), a simple yet comforting treat of vanilla gelato, espresso, and chocolate chips.

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Beverages

Their revamped drinks list includes refreshing options like the Citrus Thyme Soda ($8) made with housemade lime syrup and herbs, and the Peperoni Sunset ($8), a citrusy blend of lime, orange, and mint. These are more for diners with a sweet tooth.

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.


Peperoni Pizzeria
6 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289195
Tel: +65 6681 6734
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Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 12pm - 3pm 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to Exit B. Walk straight 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]