There is nothing special about visiting a cafe in Singapore. You will typically get what you would expect: overpriced espresso, common Western dishes, and some overly sweet desserts. I, too, am of the same opinion, before I accidentally stumbled upon a cafe on Simon Road called Lola’s Cafe.
My friend, Sophie, resides in the Kovan area, so I randomly suggested the nearest cafe I could find for a night out with her. Lola’s Cafe happened to be the closest, so off we went.
There wasn’t anything much impressive about its exterior design. If anything, it looked rather duller than most of the cafes I have been to. It’s a terraced shop lot with a plain white exterior wall. Perhaps that is the aesthetic that they are gearing for.
The interior has a quasi-zen and scandi-inspired design, emphasising minimalism across furniture, lamps, and wallpaper choices. However, the cafe was already crowded when we arrived, and it was too compact.
But all those don’t matter because the food there is what changed my perception of this ordinary-looking cafe.
Like many other cafes, the coffee aroma was distinct when I entered the restaurant.
I am not a fancy person, and I like my coffee simple yet rich with the coffee taste, so i went with their “White” (S$6). They have 2 coffee profiles: House and Seasonal. My friend went for the Seasonal, and I, the House.
They certainly didn’t lie on their menu when they said that 70% of their coffee beans are sourced from Brazil. I could taste a tinge of sweetness to it, and there wasn’t any trace of acidity at all. It also had a bitter aftertaste, but not the nauseating kind. It was more like a bittersweet.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good cup of coffee. For someone whose coffee source mostly comes from the office’s vending machine, Lola’s cafe “White” brew with the House coffee profile certainly hits differently.
Its coffee was exemplary, but what truly changed my mind and made me fall in love with Lola’s Cafe was its dishes.
I ordered the Bacon and Mushroom Truffle Cream Linguine (S$18), and it was nothing short of sublime. Everything about it, from its presentation to its taste, was absolutely on point. The smokey bacon and umami mushroom bechamel, mixed with creamy linguine and some truffle, made this not just a simple dish but a worthwhile gourmet experience. Even my friend couldn’t resist a bite after looking at the dish’s presentation.
I believe it’s cooked with white wine because I could taste some alcohol in the linguine. While the taste may not be significant, it added complexities and uniqueness to this dish.
I’m no Italian cuisine expert, and I’m not sure if that’s the authentic recipe. But if it looks good and tastes good, that’s all that matters to me.
Sophie is a seafood aficionado; as expected, she ordered a Tuscan Seafood Stew (S$22).
And let me tell you, while it wasn’t a cold night that day in Singapore, the stew was heart-warming and comforting nonetheless. The broth was flavourful, the mussels tender, the prawns juicy, and the salmon fillet cooked perfectly; basically, all good things about seafood condensed into one dish.
It came with buttered sourdough, a perfect complement to such a hearty stew. Sophie has never been a big eater, but she managed to finish the entire sourdough and stew by herself. I thought she would have some leftovers for me, which, unfortunately, was not the case. I only got a tiny taste of it.
As for the dessert, we decided to share one Black Sesame Tart (S$7). The waiter told us that it was the crew’s favourite. A quick glance around the table showed me that several other diners had also ordered the same dessert.
I recommend sharing any dessert you order between 2 pax, as the size is quite sufficient.
Japanese matcha cookie crumbs were sprinkled on top of the tart, and when cut open, the rich black sesame white chocolate ganache seeped slowly.
While the Japanese match crumbs gave it a unique taste, the tart was pretty average. It was a typical white chocolate ganache you can find elsewhere. However, Sophie seemed to disagree with me, as she found the black sesame and white chocolate ganache a unique combination.
Currently, Lola’s cafe operates in two locations: Simon Road and Holland Village. If you plan to visit on weekend nights, try to reach there as early as 6 p.m. Sophie and I arrived at around 7:30 p.m., and we had to be in queue for about 20 minutes.
I’m not sure about the one in Holland Village, but if you plan to take public transport to Lola’s Cafe on Simon Road, you can take the MRT North-East Line to Kovan Station (NE13). From there, walking to Lola’s Cafe takes about 8 minutes.
Personally, I feel that Lola’s cafe deserves a return visit. My first experience with their coffee and dishes makes me want to try their other options, especially their other kinds of coffee brews. However, next time, I will visit the outlet in Holland Village.
Overall Rating:
Food: 8.5/10 (Non-halal)
Price: 7/10
Atmosphere: 6.5/10
Final Thoughts: At least try their coffee if you don’t feel like eating anything. It will be some of the best you could have in Singapore.
Disclaimer:
The review is based on my personal opinion and experience. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with the restaurant.
