Sunday Market (Cafe)

Sunday Market (Cafe)
22 Lim Tua Tow Road

http://www.sundaymarket.sg/

Fusion Food & Organised Chaos Decor

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $29 per person.

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Tucked away in a quiet corner off Upper Serangoon Road, Sunday Market (Cafe) appears non-descript from the outside, but don't be fooled. This hidden gem of a cafe offers adventurous fusion food, blending elements of Southeast Asia cuisine with classical American and British influences. Sunday Market (Cafe) is definitely unafraid of pushing boundaries!

Ambeince at Sunday Market (Cafe) is one of the highlights. Some have described the place as quirky, which seemingly doesn't encompass what it is... an organised chaos. Decor is urban street grunge, meets anti-establishment, meets elegant sophistication. Rough brick and unfinished cement walls stand opposed to clean white and red walls. Industrial metal and wooden furniture line the floor, while creeping plants fill the corners, and a bright red bicycle hangs over the dessert counter. Suddenly, there's an elegant gold chandelier and a giant bird sclupture too. Even the music is random, you could be listening to upbeat mandarin pop one minute, followed by a mellow jazz number the next.

Service at Sunday Market (Cafe) is pretty good. The young staff are upbeat and proactive, quick in seating you and taking orders, as well as being able to recommend items from the menu. I like that Sunday Market (Cafe) offers tableside service, they even help top up your water glass! They even come around to warn you if the parking attendant shows up, which I understand happens rather frequently in this area!

Food at Sunday Market (Cafe) is fusion, Singapore style. Each dish is creative, with many items here being handmade. However, taste can sometimes be hit and miss, and is rather subjective as their food is experimental. Portions are big enough for 1 person, and prices are at the upper end for a cafe, budget about SGD $29 per person for a meal at Sunday Market (Cafe).

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The decor here is clashing, but doesn't seem garish, and in fact, the place has a chill, laid back vibe to it.

Sunday Market Exterior

Sunday Market Interior

Sunday Market Seating

Dessert Counter

There are so many focal points to look at here, and even the background music fits the organised chaos theme.

Chandelier Lights

Kick Butt Coffee

Giant Sparrow

The Singapore Sling Tea (SGD $5) is inspired by the iconic Singapore Sling Cocktail created by Raffles Hotel bartender Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon, and has that same rich scarlet / pink colour. Taste has elements of fruity with a bitter finish, but lacks that punchy feel of the regular cocktail.

Singapore Sling Tea Leaves

Singapore Sling Tea 01

Singapore Sling Tea 02

The Chicken Little (SGD $11.90) features crisp fried chicken tenders and a creamy home made coleslaw on a fragrant waffle, drizzled with chipotle maple syrup. The weakest part of this dish was the waffle, while it was incredibly fragrant and crisp, it was also dry. I loved the home made coleslaw, which was fresh and slightly sweet in taste. The chicken tenders were moist and savoury, tender in texture, but the kick was the savoury curry spice used as the batter. Great, I wish I could order just the chicken tenders alone!

Chicken Little 01

Chicken Little 02

The Spaghetti Ala Carbonara (SGD $14.90) features spaghetti done al-dente, with diced chicken ham, shiitake mushrooms, cream, scallions, and a runny egg yolk, topped with grated parmigiano cheese. The toppings of chicken ham and mushrooms are rather average, but I like that the egg mixed into the cream sauce becomes properly thick and filling. Decent.

Spaghetti Ala Carbonara

The Asian Pesto Pasta (SGD $15.90) has spaghetti tossed in a savoury pesto made with coriander, cashew nuts, garlic, and chili, garnished with crispy fish flakes, cherry tomatoes, grated Parmigiano cheese, and finished with pan seared scallops. I thought the scallops were a tad overseasoned and salty, and it looks a little thin, like it was sliced in half. But the pasta is tasty, though it starts to get more oily near the end.

Asian Pesto Pasta 01

Asian Pesto Pasta 02

The Beef Rendang Toast (SGD $15.90) is only available as a weekend brunch dish, and is well worth ordering. Chunks of tender beef striploin, marinated in a savoury, spiced rendang gravy, extremely tasty and flavourful! Served with crisp buttered brioche toast strips, which you dip into the incredibly fragrant and aromatic rendang gravy / curry before eating... Highly recommended!

Beef Rendang Toast 01

Beef Rendang Toast 02

The Bangkok Toast (SGD $10.90) is the house signature dessert. A thick slab of sweet brioche toast, filled with a sweet milky cream, dusted with cinnamon sugar and topped with strawberries, is the star on the plate, and good enough to eat on its own. Alongside is a smooth green tea custard garnished with blueberries, and I'm surprised it doesn't have that powdery texture usually associated with matcha desserts. The weakest element is the Thai milk tea ice cream, while the home made ice cream retains the flavour of an authentic Thai milk tea, it had more ice crystals instead of a smooth milky texture.

Bangkok Toast 01

Bangkok Toast 02

The Churros Amigos (SGD $8.90) feature churros made with sweet potato, then deep fried till crisp. Love that it has a soft, doughy centre, and the crisp skin still retains that flavour of sweet potato, rather unique! Served topped with strawberries and a rich, sweet, thick, gula melaka / palm sugar cream glaze. Also loved the sweet and creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream, which I understand is home made!

Churros Amigos 01

Churros Amigos 02

The Coco Loco (SGD $10.90) is a great experimental fusion dessert here. A thick pandan / screwpine leaf pancake, like the skin of a Malay Kueh Dadar, is stuffed with sweet caramelised pineapples that have been coated in dessicated coconut. Glazed with a sweet, sticky Gula Melaka / palm sugar syrup, and served with strawberries, blueberries, and a home made coconut ice cream. Lovely, tasty, and very satisfiying, almost like a premium version of Kueh Dadar!