Established by the same team behind Penny University, Brothers In Fine Food (or BFF for short), is situated right in the heart of the Tampines West residential area. In fact, this quaint cafe is located on the second floor of Tampines West Community Centre, found along East Coast Road.
Having recently opened their doors in November 2016, they have since been serving comforting dishes with their very own creative recipes, at reasonable prices. With brunch items served till 3pm and dinner from 5pm onward, this cafe is a great place to go for a meal any time.
The interior may be small but, simplicity always equals a fuss-free and comfy environment. The space also gives off very chill and relaxed vibes with their ambient lighting and contemporary wooden furnishings. The cement flooring and metallic accents add a cool industrial feel to the place, as well.
Hummus ($6.50)
Topped with shreds of pulled beef, the homemade hummus is freshly served with a side of pitta bread. Dip the pitta in the smooth hummus and you’re in for a real treat. Certainly a tasty appetiser to begin our evening.
Beef Steak ($13.50)
As one of our mains, we had the Beef Steak with a medium rare doneness. Sitting on a bed of brightly coloured beetroot thyme puree, this was definitely one of the most presentable dishes.
The succulent and juicy steak was perfectly tender and paired well with the beetroot puree, which was teeming with a tangy taste. I’ve never had my steak with this combination before so it made for a welcoming change indeed.
The sweetness did serve to jazz up the otherwise regular beef steak. The puree was so good that I practically wiped everything clean off the plate even after I was finished with the steak.
However, I did find the fat to meat ratio of the steak to be unbalanced, with a larger fat content being served on the plate. Perhaps they could widen the serving portion to avoid that.
Soft Shell Crab Burger ($13)
Next, we had the Soft Shell Crab Burger that was jam packed with a Thai red curry emulsion, a fresh Russian coleslaw, compressed tomatoes and of course, deep-fried soft shell crab.
I enjoyed the spicy aspect of the Thai red curry sauce which was prominent throughout the burger, the crab might have been a little salty but it was delectable nonetheless. I only wished there were sides that came with the burger as that would really complete the meal further.
Greek Yoghurt Panna Cotta ($8)
And finally, we had the Greek Yoghurt Panna Cotta for dessert. We were fortunate enough to snag the last serving of the day and I’m glad we did because this did not disappoint at all.
The Greek yoghurt element in the panna cotta was a refreshing change as it made the dessert dish much lighter and definitely, healthier. The Greek yoghurt may not be sweet on its own but it made for a great pairing with the homemade honeycomb crunch, lavender honey and seasonal fruits- all of which, added a natural sweetness overall.
The poached pears and bits of honeycomb, in particular, added a nice crunchy texture to the soft and smooth panna cotta. A sweet floral fragrance was also created by the lavender honey which finished the whole dish nicely.
Yuzu Mojito ($6.50)
We also ordered an iced Yuzu Mojito to wash down our meal. Always a sucker for a nice mojito blend, this was simple yet refreshing. The yuzu added a nice zesty tang that went well with the mint leaves. Needless to say, you can’t go wrong with this concoction. If you would like, you can also get this beverage ice blended.
Brothers In Fine Food definitely has some great standout items on their menu that most cafes don’t offer. While some of the dishes could use some room for improvement, I was undeniably satisfied by their innovative creations and lovely plating.
Although their location might be a bit out the way and cumbersome to get to, I wouldn’t mind returning if they should introduce more dishes to their repertoire. With that, I dub this as a worthy dining spot to check out if you are living in the east.
Expected damage: $20++ per pax
