Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Tasting Session 2015

Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Tasting Session 2015
1 Selegie Road
#02-25 PoMo

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 10pm


https://www.facebook.com/montanasingapore

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from PerfectEdge Motorsports, msginginly, Jelly Loves Food, Miss Chocoholic, and Purple Taste.


Urban Chic Coffee House With Creative Waffles

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 7
Budget about SGD $27 ++ per person.


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Founded in January 2015, Montana Brew Bar quickly gained a reputation for their creative savoury waffles and sweet waffles, served in an small cafe designed for urban industrial chic touches. The quick success has led Montana Brew Bar to revamp their brand in December 2015, renaming themselves to Montana Singapore, and opening 2 other food concepts under this new brand.

Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Signage

Ambience at Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore still retains the dark, urban industrial chic decor. Harsh warm spotlights cut through the shadows, creating patterns on the textured rugs. Functional, rustic, metal and wooden furniture line the small interior, with animal print cushions helping to increase the comfort. The open kitchen and bar counter allows you to watch staff at work. However, I find ventilation to be an issue, despite the open space, I had cooking smells staining my clothing on 2 separate occasions. Update: Shortly after our vists, the kitchen was moved downstairs, thus improving the ventilation. The place is now cooler, and there is no cooking smell.

Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Exterior

Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore Interior

Service at Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore is friendly and efficient. The relatively young staff are chirpy and can engage diners in conversation. I get a very comfortable, welcoming feeling. They display basic product knowledge, able to provide simple answers when queried about the menu and dishes, and politely request to check if they're not sure. You can even wander over to converse with the kitchen or barista! I commend the proactiveness in clearing away empty / dirty plates and tables, as well as topping up of water glasses, though I also notice they don't always do this.

Lamp Globules

Coffee Equipment Posters

Food at Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore is Western and Asian fusion, with a focus on savoury waffles, sweet waffles, and coffee. Freshly made, dishes here are tasty, with big, bold, varied flavours. Complex in taste, but it works well together, without clashing. This Modern Singaporean cuisine at Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore is love / hate, either you'll like it, or you won't. Portions are large, and individuals will struggle to finish, so sharing is recommended. Prices are reflective of a high-end cafe, budget about SGD $27 per person for a decent meal here.

Open Kitchen

Coffee beans here are sourced from Common Man Coffee Roasters. The Latte (SGD $5) has a medium, robust body, with good flavour. I get a hint of the roasted flavour of the coffee beans, and I think the coffee art is decently executed too.

Latte (SGD $5)

The Yuzu Coconut Cold Brew (SGD $6.50) is a unique beverage! The chilled coffee has been infused with yuzu, lending a sweet citrus flavour to the robust and deep flavour of the coffee. Realise it may not appeal to everyone though. I personally liked it!

Yuzu Coconut Cold Brew (SGD $6.50)

Pour Shot

The Organic Lemon Lime Bitters Soda (SGD $6.50) is a decent, refreshing soda. Not too sweet and not too sour, it's satisfiyingly fizzy. The are 2 beers available here, the Beer Yenda India Pale Ale (SGD $12) & Beer Yenda Pale Ale (SGD $12), named after the town in New South Wales, Australia, where it's manufactured. The Beer Yenda Pale Ale has a straw golden colour, pronounced floral and passionfruit hop aromas, with a full-bodied malt flavour, some bitterness, and a refreshing, clean finish. In contrast, the Beer Yenda India Pale Ale has a hazy golden colour, pronounced citrus and berries with light floral notes, a strong biscuit and malt flavour, and a creamy, bitter finish.

Organic Lemon Lime Bitters Soda (SGD $6.50)

Beer Yenda India Pale Ale (SGD $12) & Beer Yenda Pale Ale (SGD $12)

The Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Waffle, Version 4 (SGD $12) is creative because the sour jalapenos, macaroni pasta, and gooey cheese is baked directly into the waffle, which has a crisp exterior! The interior is also scented with truffle oil, which creates an earthy taste contrast with the savoury, cheesy taste of the waffle, yet does not overwhelm the palate. Served with a tangy, sour spicy, jalapeno salsa on the side, I thought this was quite good. Worth ordering again, which I did on my 2nd visit!

Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Waffle, Version 4 (SGD $12)

Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Waffle, Version 4

Chef draws on his heritage from Kedah, Malaysia, to create this Assam Crab Waffle (SGD $18). My personal favourite of their new dishes, this is designed to resemble the Malaysian Kedah Laksa, with a fluffy waffle laced with shredded galangal, lemongrass, and herbs, topped with deshelled crab meat that has a lovely sweet freshness, a diced pineapple, cucumber, and radish salsa, and a savoury sour assam / tamarind laksa gravy. Highly recommended!

Assam Crab Waffle (SGD $18)

Assam Crab Waffle

The Korean inspired Bulgogi Beef Waffle (SGD $16) is incredibly tasty! A soft and fluffy rice and lettuce stuffed waffle, which reminded of the Korean pancakes, is topped with tender, savoury, sous vide beef strips, and a perfect poached egg. Cut into the egg and let the yolk ooze over the entire dish. Polished off this dish in double quick time, it was so good. Highly recommended!

Bulgogi Beef Waffle (SGD $16)

Bulgogi Beef Waffle

While the Truffle Egg Fettuccine Pasta (SGD $16) was simple and straight forward, it's well executed. The thin, flat, al-dente fettuccine pasta noodles are coated in a light cream sauce scented with truffle oil, which complements the earthy, wild button mushrooms, and bright, sunny side up egg. Satisfiying and filling, this dish is odd on the menu, while it's tasty, it's not as unique as the other dishes offered. Those who prefer simpler, comfortable flavours will like this.

Truffle Egg Fettuccine Pasta (SGD $16)

Truffle Egg Fettuccine Pasta

Felt the Vodka Crab Penne Pasta (SGD $16) needs a little bit of work. Yes, the vodka taste is evident in the fresh, deshelled crab meat. You get the sweetness of the crab, followed by the spicy taste of the vodka. The penna pasta is al-dente, but the tomato sauce is rather one-note, and boring to eat, as well as look at. Eating this got tiresome after a while, as there is no contrast in flavour or texture.

Vodka Crab Penne Pasta (SGD $16)

Vodka Crab Penne Pasta

The Southern Fried Chicken Waffle (SGD $14) was a disappointment. The blame falls squarely on the over fried, dry chicken with its spice crust tasting like it got burnt. Even the crisp waffle, fresh, sweet corn salsa, and tangy coleslaw couldn't save it. Skip this.

Southern Fried Chicken Waffle (SGD $14)

Southern Fried Chicken Waffle

Choose to have the Chocolate Banana Waffle (SGD $12) either fluffy or crisp, I got this crisp. Excellent, the waffle is fragrant, light, and crisp, with good chocolate flavour. With sweet, caramelised slices of banana, and a generous scoop of fragrant vanilla bean ice cream, this was completely delicious. Highly recommended!

Chocolate Banana Waffle (SGD $12)

Chocolate Banana Waffle

Loved the Black Velvet Waffle (SGD $14), instead of charcoal, the waffle is made with sweet black sesame paste! Topped with a savoury sweet miso caramel, and a vanilla bean ice cream coated in a midnight black shell of chocolate. Crack open the hard, night chocolate shell to reveal the shining orb of vanilla bean ice cream within. Simple, but the flavours work wonderfully together. Highly recommended!

Black Velvet Waffle (SGD $14)

Black Velvet Waffle

Overall, I loved the food and service at Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore, though the ambience needs improvement. The innovative, creative, and tasty waffles stand out, and because they're regularly innovating and updating their recipes, there's always something new for returning diners. Montana Brew Bar / Montana Singapore is a good place for chilling out with friends, and for those looking to try something a little different!


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