Hyde and Co Cafe

Visiting Hyde and Co. on a Sunday was a little out of norm for me, as my cafe prowling is usually done on Saturdays. Factored in with waiting for a seat in the blistering outdoors, it will make me think twice about coming back here again, especially if I do not have a prior reservation.

What I particularly like regarding this cafe is that it differentiates itself from bustling cafe scene of mostly industrial interior to a more British Colonial feel, even decorating the outside of the cafe with pretty potted plants. This is a brilliant move, given that is located in a shop house, disregarding the weather, I could almost imagine strolling by a shop just like this in UK.

A hot day called for ice cold latte instead of my usual hot flat white. However, by icing the potion, I was unable to tell the balance of the acidity in the coffee. We came here for the waffles, which I thought was pretty normal fare, though what sweetened the deal was a lovely dollop of vanilla bean ice cream. The popular pulled pork sliders was a hit, being a fusion of Chinese fried bun and sweet pulled pork. It is great that cafes like these invents its own menu of unique food fare, which could be a great return factor apart from the usual all day breakfast and coffee.

Hyde and Co.
785 North Bridge Rd
Singapore 198753
Tel: 6635 5785
Nearest MRT: Lavender/Bugis

Symmetry cafe with a retro vibe

When I was given a list of cafes to try, I chose Symmetry because of the close proximity to Bugis Junction. Located about a 10 minute walk away from Bugis MRT, journeying to Symmetry is like taking a step back into historic Singapore lined with shop houses and quaint eateries. And it has almost become a norm in Singapore to go for brunch on a Saturday, so be sure to book if you are.

Because Symmetry cafe is so tiny, they allow only a 2 hour slot before you are asked to leave (which we were not informed right at the start). Given there were 9 of us, and the $300+ bill we rang up, I thought they would have at least given us the free flow of time. The other peeve I had was their automated reminder call that kept buzzing me, which initially was a delight, after that became a tad annoying. I asked a friend what did she most remember from Symmetry, and all she said was Truffle Fries and the bill, which on receiving the bill, it was indeed right. The cost of a breakfast meal is around $20+ onwards, same as what you would have paid for a proper lunch/dinner elsewhere with no time restriction.

However, I must say that some of the food items on the menu was pretty interesting. I have made it a point to always try something I cannot or will not cook at home, and this time, it was Seafood Frittata, which is a lovely pan fried egg omelette with salmon and prawns, topped with a generous serving of smoked salmon and avocado. I also tried their waffles and coffee which to me was fairly decent. I must say I like the food here very much, they are generous with their ingredients, which is why the hefty price tag. Symmetry cafe though tiny, gives a retro upbeat vibe, so don't expect to have a cozy conversation here, and especially over the weekends.

Would I come back, likely not, given the influx of cafes, I am more inclined to make my rounds before coming back to Symmetry. But of course, every cafe, including this is definitely worth a visit that you won't regret, as food is reasonably good, and worth the calories.

Symmetry
9 Jalan Kubor #01-01 Singapore 199206
Tel: +65 6291 9901
Email: info@symmetry.com.sg
MRT: Bugis MRT

Opening Hours:
Mon 10.30am - 9pm
Tues-Thurs 10.30am - 11pm
Fri 10.30am - 12am
Sat 9am - 12am
Sun 9am - 7pm