The Reading Room Cafe @ Bukit Pasoh Road

With the number of hipster cafes popping out in various corners around the island, the cafe scene has become really crowded. When I said crowded, it is not just referring to the competition. It has also become quite hard to find a conducive cafe where one can simply sit back, relax over a cup of good coffee and let the day goes by.

Recently I popped into The Reading Room Cafe along Bukit Pasoh Road and I felt being teleported into someone's little library with the shelves of books around the walls. It is understand that some of the books are bought by the owners while others are donated by travelers or guests.

Even the menu comes in children story book. The Reading Room Cafe is not just only an cafe but it is also a tapas bar at night. On weekends, it even offers a brunch menu.

Caffe Latte 4/5

The coffee at The Reading Room Cafe is imported from Naples in Italy. The owner's relative is a roaster in Italy and this is specially imported for the cafe. The Caffe Latte ($4.8) was a light body, smooth and easy to drink.

Norwegian Royale 4.2/5

The Norwegian Royale ($18.80) which is available for brunch is hugemongous. The generous portion of smoked salmon, rich creamy scrambled eggs and arugula resting on their famous french toast. If I am not wrong the french toast is a brioche hence it was really soft in texture. The creamy scrambled egg is well executed, cooked using french butter instead of milk. It is a dish that will brightens up anyone's day. A little advice is that you have to eat this quickly or the french toast will become a bit soggy because of the runny scrambled egg sitting on top of it.

Minute Steak & Fries 3.5/5

The Reading Room Cafe is also a great place to catch a meal.  I had the Minute Steak & Fries ($18.80). The sirloin is cooked for a minute medium rare and topped with their homemade cafe de paris butter. The french fries is worthy a mentioned with its thin crispy coat which is almost tempura like that give it that extra crunch.

"Our chef visits the markets really really early to pick and choose the freshest produce for our delicious food. Don't mind him if he appears a little grumpy."

"Our chef goes to our butcher twice a week to ensure our cuts are of the best and freshest for our patrons."

"All our seafood is sourced locally in the wet markets of Chinatown."

All these words tell me that the food at The Reading Room is honest. While it can't be compared to top restaurants, the food here is hearty and honest. This itself already is way better than a lot of cafes that uses chef microwave to simply heat up and serve.


The Reading Room
19 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089833
Tel: +65 62209019
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReadingRoom.com.sg
Website: http://www.thereadingroom.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 1130pm
Fri-Sun: 8am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Turn left onto Teo Hong Road. At the end of Teo Hong Road turn left and continue on Bukit Pasoh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Shelter in the Woods @ Greeenwood Avenue (Bukit Timah Road)

Christmas brings joy and what joy is it to know that the popular Shelter in the Woods has finally reopened on the 12 November 2014. Besides offering the ever popular traditional rotisserie's dishes, the restaurant has up its game with the appointment of Consulting Chef Masashi Horiuchi who has more than 20 years of experience in Michelin restaurants across Europe, combining homely rusticity with finesse of execution.

Shelter Charcuterie Board 4.5/5

A great platter for sharing while waiting for the mains  is the Shelter Charcuterie Board ($40). The charcuterie board features the BurgundyTerrine, Foie Grs Au Torchon, Pork Hat Terrine and Pate En Route. A ideal platter to kick start with some drinks.

Pate En Croute 4.8/5

What really stood out on the Charcuterie Board is the Pate En Croute. This is really something new to me for the less travelled and shallow culinary knowledge. It is amazing how something that look quite ordinary which I thought was some sort of a pie can taste so beautiful.

Pate En Croute 4.8/5

Slicing into the Pate En Croute revealed the different layers of duck foie gras, pork, veal, forest mushrooms, pig liver and consomme jelly wrapped in pastry. The harmony of all the ingredients took me by surprise with the consomme jelly and buttery pastry complementing it.

Shelter Quiche 4/5

I have learnt that while quiche is a classic French dish, it actually originated in Germany. A signature at Shelter in the Woods is the Shelter Quiche ($12.50). The short crust pastry is filled with forest mushrooms, Swiss gruyere cheese, garlic/herb butter, eggs and Swiss cream. I am not a big fan of quiche but this actually tasted quite yummy with the cheesy and earthy mushroom flavours.

Endive & Roquefort Salad 3/5

I thought the Endive & Roquefort Salad ($26) could be a bit acquire in taste for some. While the salad has a refreshing finishing with the used of green apple strips, cherry tomatoes and honey dressing, the Belgian endives were on the bitter side for me.

Lyonnaise Salad 4.2/5

I would prefer the traditional Lyonnaise Salad ($20) to the endive & roquefort salad. The savoury and tangy combination of Dutch smoked bacon and confit pearl onions dressed in a sherry vinaigrette provided the zest for the crunchy greens.

Creamy Corn Soup Trio 4.2/5

The Creamy Corn Soup Trio ($12.50) showed a glimpse of the chef's finesse in execution. The Japanese corn and onions are boiled in water and then mixed with roasted corn, hence a hint of smokiness. Milk is added, blended and sleved. The soup is then garnished with roasted corn, pop corn and parsley oil. The detailed into a simple soup dish elevated the whole experience which used to be only know of its homely, rustic, tradition food.

DIY Steak Tartar 4.5/5

A great starter will be the DIY Steak Tartar ($18 for 100g). The Do It Yourself steak tartar of handcut Australian Black Angus beef comes with capers, cornichons, beet, onion, chives and served with toasted farm bread. Mixed them all together with the quail egg to bond all the flavours that burst into a blossom in the mouth.

Rotisserie Suckling Pig 4.5/5

I was expecting a whole Rotisserie Suckling Pig ($35) such as those you get in a Spanish restaurant. Once again I was given a glimpse into his fine dining trained experience. The plating was beautiful. Cooked in the traditional flame rotisserie, the suckling pig is served with rotisserie pineapples, confit onions and gravy made of veal jus and caramelised onions. Perfectly executed, the skin was crackling while still retaining that juiciness. The used of pineapple also freshen up the palate from the natural greasiness of the meat.

Seafood Casserole 4.8/5

Seafood Casserole 4.8/5

The Seafood Casserole ($35) is great for sharing. The luxurious pot of seafood features seasonal fish, prawns, mussels and clams. The highlight has to be the rich seafood broth made from fish soup, fish, prawns, lobster, fennel, leeks, celery. carrots, tomatoes and saffron. The hearty harvest from the sea will get all your senses singing in praise.

Rotisserie Rack of Lamb 3.8/5

I love my lamb but the Rotisserie Rack of Lamb ($39) fell slight short of my expectation. While it was cooked to a nice tender and juicy in the traditional flame rotisserie and bathed in a garlic confit oil, the NZ rack of lamb somehow was lacking that gaminess which I enjoy tearing it off the bone.

Roasted Chicken 4.8/5

Being curator of the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 working with Tian Tian Chicken Rice and Toh Thye San Farm using the corn fed Anxin Chicken, I have known how good and sweet these chickens are. They are unlike the normally commercial boiler. I was quite excited to be reunited with Anxin chicken at Shelter in the Woods with the Roasted Chicken ($19 for half, $35 for whole). The rotisserie chicken is bathed in a garlic confit oil and served with roasted potatoes, mesclun salad and veal jus, caramelized onions gravy. I am glad that I can taste Anxin chicken again cause its sweetness is just so sweet on its own that you do not need any gravy or sauce.

Rotisserie Pineapple Crumble 2.8/5

I like the idea of using the pineapples crumble for the suckling pig and I have enjoyed it. However, knowing that it is available in another dish less the ice cream and having tried it, I am not sure I will pay the money for the Rotisserie Pineapple Crumble ($14). Putting the taste aside, it is too simple for a dessert and probably would not get the satisfaction out of it.

Tiny Crispy Apple Tart 4/5

Having a warm sweet finish to a delicious feast is the Tiny Crispy Apple Tart ($12). The tart topped with Fuji apple, butter and brown sugar is thin and crispy. Paired with a scoop of their house made vanilla ice cream for a comfort finishing.

Meringue Glacee 3.5/5

On a sweet note, there is the Meringue Glacee ($12) that come with a scoop each of the house made raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream, topped with baked meringue cones and pistachio.

The re-opening of the Shelter in the Woods with its new chef and revamped menu definitely made a return with a louder bang. Combining the chef vast experience and rustic tradition, it has bring the restaurant to a new height. The extensive menu is really worth a visit or two and everything on it is worthy for recommendation. It definitely falls into one of favourite restaurants his year that I would want to return to check out the rest of the menu.


Shelter in the Woods 
22 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289218
Tel: +65 64666225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelterInTheWoods
Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6pm - 10pm
Sun Brunch: 1130am - 230pm

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]