Another cafe review! I just love spending weekends at cafes, enjoying some nice coffee and brunch, and watching the world go by. And since there are just so many new establishments in the Singapore cafe scene at any one time, I just have to go around trying out these places too.

So, Symmetry is one of these fairly new additions (but then again, which ones aren’t, really) at the Arab Street area. As it is helmed by a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef, one might have pretty high expectations of this place. And for the most part, Symmetry didn’t disappoint.

It was a pretty busy public holiday afternoon when we visited the first time on Good Friday – the place was pretty much full house. After a thankfully not too long wait at a bar counter, we were shown to a lovely corner at the back of the cafe.

The second time we went, just recently on a Sunday afternoon in July, it was totally packed inside and so we got a seat outside. The food didn’t take too long to be served both times.

I had a skinny cappuccino, and Z had his usual double shot mocha. The coffee was nice, of mid-strength and fairly robust. Z said his packed enough punch. I also liked that the water was cucumber infused – very refreshing.

To eat (the first time), we had the Big Breakfast (S$24) and the Flan (S$23), which was essentially a pork cheek confit with sauteed mushrooms, onions, a poached egg, cream, parmesan and pommery mustard, housed in a flaky pastry shell.

The Flan was a rather interesting dish – it was a bit like a quiche or pie, but lighter and crispier. This was an open pastry shell filled with tender flavourful pork cheeks, creamy mash, soft and oozy egg and generously topped with rocket and cheese shavings. I thought it was well presented and enjoyable.

But what stole the show for me (well us, actually) was the Big Breakfast, especially the wondrous homemade (just the berry part) berry butter that comes with it.

Priced above S$20, this big breakfast might be considered a little steep when compared to other brunch places. But I would say that you get what you pay for – a decent serving of eggs, a big cheese sausage, yummy maple glazed bacon, sautéed mushrooms, a roasted tomato, mesclun salad, and even a hash brown. Of course, not forgetting the well toasted bread and the delicious berry butter as well. Sounds like a mouthful and more doesn’t it?

And indeed a mouth full of pleasure it was. The slight maple flavour of the bacon really enriched the flavour, and cheese sausage was good and juicy. Having a nice variety of items to alternate between also helped to enhance the overall taste profile of the dish.

Random photo of us. My first photo of people in my blog! Decided to share shots of the people eating the food that I write about as too from now on (ie. mainly Z and I).

The berry butter is SO good. Buttery of course, and also with a sweet and fruity taste from the berries blended into it. Tried both the blueberry and strawberry versions and man, berries and butter is a seriously awesome combination.

Overall the components of the big breakfast were pretty delicious,  making the experience of the dish a good one throughout.

The second time at Symmetry, we tried a new dish on their menu, the Symmetry Eggs Sur Le Plat (S$22)  in addition to our favourite big breakfast (notice the two tubs of berry butter in the background yums).

The Eggs Sur Le Plat came piping hot in a metal pan, looking like a hearty stew of sausages and red tomato/pepper sauce. I personally found this dish a bit too sausage-y (if you like sausages this shouldn’t be a problem for you), but the creamed spinach inside, the tomato/pepper sauce and the eggs helped to balance that out at least and made it nice gooey fun to eat.

We also tried the Brioche Pain Perdu (S$15), which many people seemed to be having the first time we visited.

This was a thick French toast of sorts, topped with rum and raisin milk custard, cinnamon infused apple compote and nuts, accompanied by a dish of maple syrup. This was unfortunately not the dream dessert we expected to complete our lovely meal with – the bread was too thick resulting it being rather plain in the middle, and the rum and raisin milk custard just tasted like a regular milky sauce. The apple compote was quite nice though.

Given its overall quality, taste and design of food, pleasant ambience, and fairly decent coffee, in my opinion Symmetry is one of the best brunch places in Singapore.

If you like coffee and good food, why not give this place a shot? Do call ahead to make reservations to ensure a seat though! It seems that by night, this place turns into a bar – I would like to try that side of it sometime too.

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Symmetry
9 Jalan Kubor
#01-01, Singapore 199206
Tel: +65 6291 9901
Website: http://www.symmetry.com.sg

Open from 11am to 11pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11am to 12am on Fridays, 10am to 12am on Saturdays, and 10am to 7pm on Sundays. Closed on Mondays.