Picotin Express
382 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427622
picotin.com.sg
Looking for a new brunch-lunch spot? Champions Golf Course favourite Picotin has expanded to a second outlet on the east side, occupying a stately black and white house on Joo Chiat Road. The cool, French-accented bistro offers upmarket pub grub – including hearty breakfast options. For breakfast we tuck into fluffy American style pancakes with maple syrup and berries ($12), eggs benedict ($12) and a rib-sticking full English breakfast ($22) with perfectly cooked eggs, bacon and sides. A pretty tropical fruit platter ($12) offsets some of the damage, alongside good juices and coffees.
Fancy a lie in? Bring a group for weekend lunch and you’ll find a menu of favourites from pizza and fish and chips, to burgers and more sophisticated plates like steak, whole roasted chicken and delicious salads. Afterwards, burn off a couple of calories with a game of fuse ball, pool or boules. Bring the kids – they’ll adore the relaxed open space, well priced kids meals and regular movie nights.
Verdict: An affordable bistro/bar/café which is perfect for families looking to stretch out over a leisurely weekend brunch or pub lunch.
Little Creatures
Mohamed Ali Lane, 36 Club Street, 069469
littlecreatures.sg
WA craft brewery Little Creatures started with a group of mates with a thirst for hop-driven pale ale. From its original home in a cavernous shed by the ocean in Fremantle, the company has gone global, with outlets in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, and now Singapore.
The newly-opened Little Creatures in Club Street brings a slice of sun-kissed Aussie beer garden to the Little Red Dot. With a laidback, quirky fit-out in a restored heritage building; this is the perfect hybrid of pub-café-restaurant. The menu is designed for sharing, so we pick off a couple of dishes from the ‘Share a Little’ section to pair with a round of house ales – including the famous pale, IPA, and Rogers. A moreish smashed avo bowl with tomatoes and pickled chilli ($18) is demolished in minutes, as are the succulent chicken and lamb skewers with spicy chimichurri sauce ($27).
The chilli mussels ($29) aren’t as popular as the Hawaiian pizza with tomato, pineapple, pistachio mortadella and mozzarella ($24), or the crispy calamari with garlic, lemon and mayo ($22). Caprese salad with roma tomato, balsamic, basil, buffalo mozzarella ($18) adds freshness to the table. There are a decent range of pastas, burgers, grilled steak and lamb mains, if you prefer your own plate, and the desserts feature a warm chocolate brownie, homemade ice-creams, cheesecake and carrot cake (The Aussie kind!)
Verdict: The prices are a little steep for pub fare, but it’s hard not to like this cheeky Aussie import. Dishes are fast, fresh and delicious, and go down a treat with the house brews
