Park Bench Deli

Park Bench Deli
179 Telok Ayer Street

https://www.parkbenchdeli.com/

Pastrami Sandwich (SGD $24)

Quaint Deli Experience

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $25 per person.

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Established since January 2015 by founder Andrei Soe, Park Bench Deli certainly lives up to its name, serving hearty American and Italian style sandwiches in a casual setting that calls to mind a food shack set within a breezy landscaped city park. While reowned for their delicious artisanal sandwiches stacked with ingredients, Park Bench Deli is certainly more than just another sandwich place, having branched out to offer decent meals and other snacks.

Ambience at Park Bench Deli is homely and casual. The spacious 40+ seater cafe is designed by Dean Chew from DRAWN, featuring clean simple lines, colours of white, brown, and blue, warm lights, and comfortable modern furnishings that lend well to sit-down meals. An open kitchen and bar offers a view of the activity, and allows staff to easily engage diners. I personally prefer the outdoor al-fresco seating on cool nights.

Service at Park Bench Deli is friendly and engaging. Staff make you feel welcome with a chirpy happy demeanor and easy conversation. They demonstrate good product knowledge, being able to describe dishes in detail. They've engaged a senior gentlemen to help with cleaning, and he does this quietly but efficiently. Grabbing takeaway is now easier than ever with their street-facing pickup window; saw many customers just popping by to pickup.

Food at Park Bench Deli is American and Italian cuisine, with a focus on sandwiches. Head Chef Matt Kuhnemann and Senior Chef Ben Phoon lead the kitchen, serving consistently well-executed plates that pack bold flavours. Portions are large and hearty for individuals. Their beverages are curated by bartender Jeremy Chua, offering a good range for a deli cafe. Prices are reflective of a typical cafe, budget about SGD $25 per person for a meal here.

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Park Bench Deli Signage

Park Bench Deli Facade

Park Bench Deli Menu 2021 Food

Park Bench Deli Menu 2021 Drinks

Table Setting

The Beer Suntory Premium Malt Black Draught (SGD $13) pours a deep opaque black colour, with aromas of chocolate, roasted coffee beans, and caramel. Body is smooth, thin, but creamy, with a medium tan foam head, and tastes of roasted malts, toffee, and cola. Medium sweet and bitter with strong hops, and a moderate astringent finish with notes of roast that lingers.

Beer Suntory Premium Malt Black Draught (SGD $13)

Beer Suntory Premium Malt Black Draught

Loved the Smoked Beef Corn Dog (SGD $7). This classic American snack features a large juicy snappy beef sausage, enveloped in a spongy crisp cornmeal buttermilk batter, dressed with a light drizzle of buttermilk. Bite in, and you get the bold smoky savoury salty grainy sweet flavour of the corndog. Delicious and addictive. Highly recommended!

Smoked Beef Corn Dog (SGD $7)

Smoked Beef Corn Dog

Smoked Beef Corn Dog

Smoked Beef Corn Dog

The Croque Madame Sandwich (SGD $22) is an open-faced French sandwich, with a base of thick cut rye sourdough bread, crisp and light with mild bready sour sweet flavour. A generous portion of finely chopped house-made sweetheart ham, tender with light sweet savoury flavour, is layered over each slice, which is then stacked. Coated with gooey gruyere cheese with cheesy salty earthy flavour, thick yellow mustard for a contrasting tangy sour note, and completed with a beautiful sunny side up egg with runny yolk and deep eggy sweet flavour. A satisfying and filling sandwich. Good!

Croque Madame Sandwich (SGD $22)

Croque Madame Sandwich

Croque Madame Sandwich

Croque Madame Sandwich

The Pastrami Sandwich (SGD $24) is among the better versions I've had. This classic American Italian sandwich has thick slices of crisp sourdough bread with bready sour sweet flavour, stacked with thick slices of tender moist house-smoked pastrami, crunchy sauerkraut, gooey swiss cheese, and creamy Russian dressing. Bite in, and you get the succulent burst of meaty savoury salty peppery sour tangy cheesy flavours of the sandwich, so good. Served with crunchy dill pickles with vegetal sour sweet flavour on the side, providing a nice contrast to alleviate the palate. An overall satisfying sandwich, yum. Highly recommended!

Pastrami Sandwich (SGD $24)

Pastrami Sandwich

Pastrami Sandwich

Their take on the classic American Fried Apple Pie (SGD $10) is larger than I'd expected, even bigger than a hot pocket or turnover pastry. The house-made pastry crust is thin and crisp crunchy, with a grainy sweet flavour partly from the dusting of icing sugar. Within, the generous filling of tender soft diced granny smith apple is caramelised and warm, infused with Maker's Mark bourbon, resulting in a bold boozy fruity sweet flavour. Pure comfort dessert. Highly recommended!