The Laneway Market

The Laneway Market - Closed
~~266 Tanjong Katong Road~~

http://thelanewaymarket.com/

Delightful Food In The Lane(way)

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $24 per person.

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Opened by chef Christopher Tan, formerly of Kreme Couture, in December 2014, The Laneway Market is a bright, cheery, yet cozy place, serving hearty and modern fusion food. Named for being situated along a small lane in Tanjong Katong, The Laneway Market has a small but simple menu, but promises a good quality meal each time.

Ambience at The Laneway Market is rustic and cozy, and its wooden furniture and white walls offset by checkered patterns lend a relaxing, countryside feel. The counter is a bright burst of colour with fruits in crates and flower arrangements stacked on the walls, resembling a weekend farmer's / grocer's market in the European countryside.

Service at The Laneway Market front-of-house is overseen by mom Karen, while chef Christopher heads up the kitchen. Staff are friendly and look cheerful, and overall service is rather casual and down to earth. They're able to make recommendations, but as the menu is rather small, and descriptions are provided, this is a simple task. I like that they were able to take requests for coffee art though.

Food at The Laneway Market is plated and designed like familiar comfort food, but usually incorporates a twist on ingredients. Chef Christopher experiments with fusion dishes, combining Western and Asian ingredients, producing wonderfully delicious plates of food. Portions are nicely sized for 1 person, and prices are typical of a cafe, budget about SGD $24 per person for a meal here.

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The quirky, rustic interior is cozy and welcoming, great for relaxing and shooting the breeze on a slow day. The counter reminds me of the countryside temporary markets, with its brightly coloured fruits and flower arrangements.

The Laneway Market Exterior

The Laneway Market Interior

The Laneway Market Seating

The Laneway Market Bench

Fruit & Flower Baskets

Olive Oil & Vinegar Jar

The Sea Salt Chocolate (SGD $6) has that deep, rich, thick flavour of good quality hot chocolate, cut through with the savoury, salty taste of sea salt. Well balanced without being overwhelmingly sweet or salty, and you can taste the distinct layers. Good!

Sea Salt Chocolate 01

Sea Salt Chocolate 02

The Laneway Cuppa (SGD $6) is a unique brew of robust coffee, flavoured with coconut. The result is complex, you get the strong, roast aroma of the coffee beans, followed by the earthy, nutty fragrance of the coconut. Novel idea, worth trying!

Laneway Cuppa 01

Laneway Cuppa 02

The Soy Mocha (SGD $6.90) is served without any coffee art, because it's difficult to control the drawing using soy milk, as the consistency of soy milk as opposed to regular milk is different. But what I appreciate most is the staff taking the trouble to explain this, and even apologising for not being able to provide the coffee art! The actual taste is deep and pleasant, a very good coffee!

Soy Mocha

The Earl Grey Latte (SGD $6) has that delicate floral essence of earl grey tea, which complements the coffee well. The addition of tea leaves for presentation is great, but it makes drinking the beverage smoothly rather annoying, as the tea leaves get into the mouth, and release that signature bitterness of tea leaves.

Earl Grey Latte

Absolutely loved the Bacon Infused Dashi Risotto, Mushrooms, Sous Vide Eggs (SGD $17)! The risotto rice has an earthy, fragrant aroma and taste, with a hint of smoky saltiness from the use of bacon and mushrooms. The rice has absorbed the dashi / seaweed stock well, and is an absolute delight to eat, so addictive! Texture is just right too, slight softness but mostly al-dente with some bite, not mushy at all, very easy to consume. Highly recommended!

Bacon Infused Dashi Risotto, Mushrooms, Sous Vide Eggs 01

Bacon Infused Dashi Risotto, Mushrooms, Sous Vide Eggs 02

The Herb Chicken, Truffle Mash, Mushrooms, Roasted Carrots, Berry Reduction (SGD $17) features chunks of fresh, oven roasted chicken, moist and savoury, with tasty skin that is studded with black pepper, giving it a slight punch. The roast carrots are crunchy, but with that pleasant smoky aroma of roasting, while the accompanying garden salad is fresh and light. The base of mashed potatoes and shiitake mushrooms, infused with truffle oil, is so aromatic and earthy, lifting the taste of the entire dish, and pairing well with the chicken. Slightly oily though, as the chicken isn't roasted long enough for the fat to melt away. Also, I couldn't detect the berry reduction in this dish. Overall though, still a very good dish worth ordering!

Herb Chicken, Truffle Mash, Mushrooms, Roasted Carrots, Berry Reduction 01

Herb Chicken, Truffle Mash, Mushrooms, Roasted Carrots, Berry Reduction 02

The 12 Hour Braised Pulled Pork Burger, Purple Cabbage Slaw, Truffle Fries, Salad (SGD $18) features tender, moist, and savoury pulled pork. Good flavour, but flavour is too deep, as the taste of the braising sauce masks the natural taste of the pork. The purple slaw adds a light crunch and bright colours to the burger, and I especially like the taste of the wholegrain burger buns. The garden salad and truffle fries on the side are decent. Not too shabby a dish, I would probably say it's slightly above average at best.