Chinatown welcomes a new cafe, Grids & Circles suited along South Bridge Road. Ambitiously, the cafe occupied the entire 3-storey conservatory shophouse, unit 200. It isn’t difficult to locate the cafe if you know where the famous Hindu Temple is.
The cafe is operated based on the concept Lagom which means just the right amount. Hence they believe in maintaining a good balance in all aspects of the cafe; be it in the food, design and ambience.
Good Afternoon Menu
Grids & Circles has several menu for various timing. Beginning with the Good Afternoon Menu, available from 11.30am to 3pm consisting of rice bowls and pastas. Diners can opt to make it a set with Dessert of the day and a drink by topping up additional $6.
Soup available for the day of visit was Watercress Potage Soup. Lightly starched and was quite tasty.
Among the 3 rice bowls, we tried Salmon Ochazuke ($16). Using brown rice as healthier option, favoured with seaweed and crispy rice cracker. Top it off with Sous vide Salmon with crispy skin and some sour plum to enhance the flavour. Just before digging in, pour the Dashi over the bowl.
Likewise, 3 pasta option. We tried the Almond Bacon Carbonara ($16). Contrarily to the usual Carbonara, this rendition is extremely light with mainly bacon aroma.
High Tea Menu
For those looking for high tea, Grids & Circles offers a handful of option too. This is available from 2pm to 6pm. Diner can opt of High Tea for 1 ($35) or for 2 ($58). Alternatively, order Ala Carte with selection of Macaron ($3), Tarts ($4-6), Cakes ($7-8) and Quiches ($7).
Macaron ($3) was the other sweets we tried. 2 flavours available. First was the White Cheese Macaron which has a taste profile similar to Blue Cheese, sharp piquancy taste. We prefer the Black Truffle Miso Macaron with a smoother feel with truffle and savoury fragrance.
Sweet & Savoury Menu
Tamago Sando ($12) was a comfort food for me. I like the combination of Pear Sauce with Konbu Mayo and the Egg. Though I find the bread was too soft, hence lacking of some substantial texture.
Matcha Affogato ($11) was the only desserts we tried among the 4 items offered on the menu. Matcha with homemade milk ice cream with butter caramel crumble and speculoos. Overall, the milky flavour masked the matcha flavour completely. It was quite a disappointment.
Strawberry Wonderland ($16) comprises 2 dense pancake. Beside the chantilly cream and basil mint sauce, there is a Strawberry compote spread unevenly on the pancake resulting in missing berry flavour especially on the edge.
Dinner Menu
Modanyaki Angus Beef Slider was the only item from the Dinner Menu we tried. Inspired by an Osaka item, Okonomiyaki comprises sweet dense burger bread due to the crispy noodle, cabbage, tasty beef patty with cheese and egg. Overall was pleasing.
Beverage
4 Iced Tea was on the menu. We ordered the light fruity Peach Tea and the stronger Imperial Lychee Tea.
More hot tea options are available on by Grids & Circles.
Menu
Food Menu
Beverages Menu
Tea Menu
NAHMJ Verdict
We like the zen atmosphere at Grids & Circles. Though some of the food taste pretty interesting due to the twist, however, the food was catered mainly to the light palate.
Grids & Circles
200 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058749
Tel: +65 6935 3546
Website: https://gridscircles.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/gridscircles/
Opening Hours
Mondays – Thursday 0900 to 2100 | Fridays – Saturdays 0900 to 2300 | Closed on Sundays
Getting There
By MRT:
- Downtown line or Northeast line – Chinatown station
- East West line – Outram station
By Bus:
- New Bridge Road bus stop 2, 12, 33, 54, 63, 80, 124, 143, 147, 190, 851, 961, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28
- South Bridge Road bus stop 61, 80, 145, 166, 197
- People’s Park Complex along Eu Tong Seng Street 2, 12, 33, 61, 63, 143, 197, 961, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28
- People’s Park Center along Eu Tong Seng Street 54, 124, 145, 147, 166, 190, 851
Rating: 7/10
*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.