26 Seah Street, S(188382)
9.30am to 10.30pm
Tel: +65 6339 6266
In my continual hunt for good food, I went to this cafe, which is a stone's throw away from my office. It's actually a toy museum with a cafe but I was put off by the high food prices when it first opened. Won't have given it a second chance if a colleague didn't rave about the place. And the best thing is that it's much more affordable with its set lunch menus at S$15.80++ (S$18.60 after taxes).
The MInt Museum of Toys (http://www.emint.com/) is a privately owned museum which houses toy collectibles of yore. Have yet to venture into the museum due to its steep admission charge of S$15 (normal charge for mainstream museum is between S$8-S$10). You can also purchase miniature models of vintage toys at the museum or cafe. Its boutique cafe offers a Western menu ranging from salads, sandwiches to main courses. Its drink menu extends beyond the normal coffee, tea & juices to include wine.
The cafe offers al fresco dining on the ground floor as well as indoors dining by the open kitchen at the basement. Opted to sit indoors as the sofas look more comfy and we get to see the cooks in action!
The thematic decor includes nostalgic placemats depicting children playing in old China, paraphernalia from classic cartoons such as a life-sized figurine of Captain Haddock - the grouchy sea captain from "Tintin" and vintage posters of Pinochio and Batman movies. The cafe even screens an old Popeye cartoon (colleague remarked that the usual plot of the muscular Popeye & Bluto fighting over reed-thin Olive Oyl is a paraody) for you to while away the time when waiting for the food.
Enclosed display above the open concept kitchen counter (recognise Fred Flintstone & Batman?)
Cylindrical tube lighting at the ceiling adds to the arty vibe of the place
Lush velvety red sofas for a luxurious feel
Vintage Batman poster
Mickey Mouse!
Menu coverI tried the ratatouille set before and it was good (yep, had to try it after watching the Disney animated movie named after the dish). The menu offers different set lunches but it's equally delicious!
Starter of clam chowder soup
Main course of salmon fillet with asparagus on a bed of zucchini and mashed potato
Dessert of warm chocolate brownie topped with strawberry. Set also includes choice of English tea, coffee or soft drinks
Nostalgic pictures of children at play are an interesting twist to the run-of-mill placemats.
Great food, good company, comfy seats , impeccable service by the well-groomed staff - wonderful yet relatively inexpensive way to unwind. The toy decor evokes a sense of yearning for our lost childhood - even though the toys (remember our wooden numbered blocks, miniature car models, paper aeroplanes, pick-up sticks, five stones & glass marbles) were crudely made & not so attractively packaged, life was much simpler then. My only grouse with the cafe is that the open concept kitchen means that my hair smelled of the food - luckily the smell dissipated after an hour in the air- conditioned office. Hope the cafe's ventilation system can be improved...
No comments:
Post a Comment