Plank Sourdough Pizza

Plank Sourdough Pizza
1 Swan Lake Avenue

http://www.plankpizza.biz/

Pizza Number 4 (SGD $23)

Pizza Number 3 (SGD $24)

Pizza Number 2 (SGD $23)

Artisanal Pizza From Reowned Bakery Brand

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

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Founded in May 2015 by CEO and celebrated baker Mr. Dean Brettschneider, the same genius behind homegrown artisan bakery chain Baker & Cook, is their spin-off restaurant, Plank Sourdough Pizza. As its name suggests, Plank Sourdough Pizza specialises in pizza, made using that same signature hand-crafted dough that is used for Baker & Cook sourdough bread.

Ambience at Plank Sourdough Pizza is rustic and casual, with exposed designer light bulbs handing freely from the ceiling, casting bright warm light over the mismatched, multi-coloured wooden furniture and walls. Small touches of quirky decor complete the homely, comfortable feel within the small seating area. On cooler days, choose to sit outdoors, viewing the quiet, tranquil neighbourhood with its own unique charm.

Service at Plank Sourdough Pizza is average at best. Staff are friendly and polite, but gosh it's difficult to attract their attention. At least requests are quickly carried out and fulfilled, though it's a lot faster to self-service at times, such as getting cutlery or refilling complimentary water. I note that staff are rather knowledgeable on the menu and dishes, able to provide basic descriptions, although the menu descriptions are quite clear in this regard too.

Food at Plank Sourdough Pizza is all about artisanal pizza, made using their signature sourdough pizza base. Head Chef Mr. Melvin Tan heads up the kitchen team here, hand making the pizzas, pressing out the dough in the traditional Italian method (without using rolling pins), and using freshly sourced, quality ingredients. The result is a pizza crust that is tasty and flavourful, with a crisp, fragrant exterior, and a soft, fluffy interior. Portions are large, best shared with at least 3 people or more. Prices are slightly higher than elsewhere, budget about SGD $27 per person for a meal here.

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Plank Sourdough Pizza Signage

Plank Sourdough Pizza Exterior

Plank Sourdough Pizza Interior

Plank Sourdough Pizza Menu 2016

Weekly Specials

Melted Wax Candles Decor

The open kitchen here means you can watch your pizza being made to order! You can tell the chefs have skill, from pressing out the dough, spreading the vibrant tomato paste, and sprinkling the ingredients, before slotting the pizza quickly into the open oven.

Pizza Dough

Pizza Dough Description

Oven

Creating Pizza

The Beer Steinlager Pure (SGD $8) is a European pale lager style beer brewed by New Zealand Breweries Limited. It has a straw golden colour, a thin foam head, with aroma of malt, grains, and citrus, tastes of apple, wheat, biscuit, and cereals. Body is light, clean, and crisp, with a slight bitter finish. Easy to drink, inoffensive, this will appeal to beginner drinkers.

Beer Steinlager Pure (SGD $8)

Loved the Crispy Garlic Bread (SGD $5), which features the signature sourdough bread as its base. Crisp and fragrant outside, soft and fluffy inside, the bread has a natural taste of wheat grains, with a mild sour sweet, tangy, earthy flavour. Topped with a rather potent crushed herb and garlic spread, although the intensity of the taste comes more from the herbs, as the garlic flavour is somewhat weak here. Good!

Crispy Garlic Bread (SGD $5)

Crispy Garlic Bread

Crispy Garlic Bread

Their Pizza Number 2 (SGD $23) features the signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, mozzarella cheese, grilled eggplant / aubergine, kalamata olives, pork chorizo sausage, and chili. Delicious, you get the floral sweetness of the tomato paste, the smoky savoury flavour of the grilled eggplant / aubergine, the earthy meaty olives, and the savoury spicy sausage. Good!

Pizza Number 2 (SGD $23)

Pizza Number 2

Pizza Number 2

The Pizza Number 3 (SGD $24) features the signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, wild button mushrooms, shrimp / prawns, capers, arugula / wild rocket leaves, smoked salmon, sour cream, and dill. At once smoky, savoury, salty, sweet, and herbal, the combination of flavours work very well together. Pretty good, would have been better if the salmon slices were slightly thicker, and the sour cream more well distributed. And because of the more intense flavour of this pizza, the flavour of the sourdough pizza crust is lost.

Pizza Number 3 (SGD $24)

Pizza Number 3

Pizza Number 3

The Pizza Number 4 (SGD $23) features the signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, camembert cheese, fresh arugula / wild rocket leaves, cranberry compote, pulled chicken, and extra virgin olive oil. Super tasty, you get the floral sweetness of the tomato paste, the grassy flavour of the arugula / wild rocket leaves, the earthy milky taste of the cheese, the sour sweet tartness of the cranberry compote, and the tender, moist, savoury strips of shredded chicken meat. Great!

Pizza Number 4 (SGD $23)

Pizza Number 4

Pizza Number 4

The Cinnamon Sugared Pizza (SGD $9.50), unlike other items on the menu, can be an individual or shared dessert. Despite its name, its less similar to a pizza, being more similar to a Danish pastry instead. Retaining the signature sourdough pizza base, which is sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, spread with tongan vanilla creme, topped with seasonal fruits (peaches), and served with a rich, creamy, milky vanilla ice cream on the side. I liked the ice cream more than the actual pastry though, as the alternating sour sweet tastes didn't appeal to me, although the crisp and tender textures of this dessert was nice.

Cinnamon Sugared Pizza (SGD $9.50)

Cinnamon Sugared Pizza

Cinnamon Sugared Pizza

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Update Oct-2018: Returned to Plank Sourdough Pizza after 2 years, and still had a great dining experience. Ambience remains rustic casual, warm and inviting. Service is still friendly and polite, being largely transactional. Food highlights are still their handmade artisanal pizza, though the menu has expanded. Portions are sized for communal group dining, and prices remain largely the same at Plank Sourdough Pizza, budget about SGD $27 per person for a meal here.

Plank Sourdough Pizza Menu 2018

Plank Sourdough Pizza Menu 2018 October Special

The house crafted Beer Baker Boy Summer Ale (SGD $10.50) has a pale straw yellow colour, with aromas and tastes of hops, malt, barley, and wheat. The body is smooth, thin, and light, making it easy to drink, with an earthy grainy bitter sweet flavour, and a short metallic finish.

Beer Baker Boy Summer Ale (SGD $10.50)

The Smoked Barbecue Pork Ribs (SGD $19.50) is only an appetizer, but it's delicious enough that I wish it was a main. Stacked with 4 meaty, moist, barbecue marinated pork ribs that are bold with sweet savoury salty tangy flavour. The way they've prepared this is fusion style, part American barbecue sauce, part Singaporean Char Siew sauce. The taste is comforting and familiar, and it's just salty enough to make you crave more. Slightly expensive for just 4 pork ribs though. Highly recommended!

Smoked Barbecue Pork Ribs (SGD $19.50)

Smoked Barbecue Pork Ribs

Smoked Barbecue Pork Ribs

At Plank Sourdough Pizza, their signature pizza crust is hand made using sourdough. It's still crisp and fragrant on the exterior, while the interior is soft and fluffy, with a light chew. The pizza crust has a natural taste of wheat grains, with a mild sour sweet earthy flavour.

The Pizza Number 7 (SGD $26) features their signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, mozzarella cheese, sauteed portobello mushrooms, sauteed oyster mushrooms, caramelised white onions, mirin rice wine, flaked parmesan cheese, and truffle oil. You get the crunch of the pizza crust, the tender mushrooms and onions, and the slight firmness of the cheese. Notes of earthy sweet savoury, with a light earthy fragrance to this vegetarian pizza option. Good!

Pizza Number 7 (SGD $26)

Pizza Number 7

Pizza Number 7

Pizza Number 7

The Pizza Number 8 (SGD $26) features their signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, mozzarella cheese, lamb and fennel meat balls, balsamic vinegar cured white onions, caramelised garlic cloves, buttered leeks, Italian herbs, and parmesan cheese. A bold, meaty pizza, with the tender chew of the meat balls and onions, the crunch of the pizza crust and leeks, and the smooth, almost creamy texture of the garlic. Punch in flavour, big savoury salty herbal notes here. Good!

Pizza Number 8 (SGD $26)

Pizza Number 8

Pizza Number 8

Pizza Number 8

The Pizza October Special (SGD $26) features their signature sourdough pizza crust topped with tomato paste, and 4 types of cheese, including bocconcini, smoked cheddar cheese, blue cheese, and camembert cheese, then finished with nacho cheese sauce. Loved the incredibly cheesy savoury sweet salty flavours of this quattro formaggi pizza, and the soft stringy bite to texture it has. It's super fragrant, visually pleasing, tasty, and addictive. Good!

Pizza October Special (SGD $26)

Pizza October Special

Pizza October Special

Pizza October Special

The Banoffee Plank Pizza (SGD $14.50) features their signature sourdough pizza crust topped with custard, lemon zest, caramelised bananas, salted caramel sauce, and roasted pecan nuts, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. This dessert pizza has a light crunch from the pizza crust and pecan nuts, with a tender creamy texture to the bananas, and a light creamy feel to the custard. Notes of floral sweet salty nutty flavours. Good!