The Brewing Ground, Joo Chiat: “You’ll never lose interest in this sensational avocado toast.”

After a flurry of cafes popping up across the island late last year, it was difficult for me to differentiate and, more importantly, appreciate the minute differences in each place’s details. My perception blanketed all as cafes that serve coffee and cake, alongside a heavy dose of curated furnishings. So, it is a little surprising that when I heard of The Brewing Ground, my gut told me to take a chance on it—don’t knock it ’til you try, as they say.

And so I gave it the time of day—a weekday, specifically, which is when it’s advised to visit, as weekends get insurmountably busy for them. Located in The Yards at Joo Chiat, it’s a nook not widely known to the masses unless you have your kids enrolled in workshops in the shared building. But trust Singaporeans for having a nose for all things new in food, as that weekday afternoon was busy enough to fool anyone that it was a public holiday.

The menu is lean, with cafe brunch staples that will appease any cafe-hopping enthusiast easily. With doubt shrouding my judgement, boy, was I ready to be proven wrong.

What I tried

The avocado toast has made its name as a quintessential breakfast item that’s also wiggled its way into almost every cafe menu. I rarely rely on this over-emphasised open-face sandwich, but I relented when I was suggested to try their Avocado & Ricotta Tartine (S$17). Dressed gorgeously with a splash of colour from ricotta, roasted cherry tomatoes, pickled radish, and almond flakes upon sourdough, I opted for a side of Thick Cut Maple Bacon (+S$5) as well.

Can I skip ahead and address the Thick Cut Maple Bacon first? First of all, it’s a difficult accompaniment to find on menus, and secondly, this iteration is sexily slathered in smoky, sticky maple that only worked to amp the allure of the fatty porky slices. I cannot.

As for the star of the plate, you can quickly ditch the prospect of eating avocado toast anywhere else; the toast is treated with a heavy handful of seasoning, which works to combine the richness of avocado and tang of the pickled radish. There’s an amalgamation of flavours in every bite, never allowing your palate to lose interest in this sensational toast.

Should you be perusing the menu for a dish that’s heartier, the Breakfast Burger (S$20) arouses association of a certain fast-food chain, but only better. Packed within two buttery brioche buns, lies a pork sausage patty, silky scrambled eggs, caramelised onions, cheddar, and ketchup-mayo. With a side of crispy hashbrown, you’ve got yourself a breakfast you won’t want to share.

The layered frills of scrambled egg remain fluffy and airy, even as I take my time savouring this luxuriously palatable burger. Once again, the seasoning is proper, and I’m starting to realise that The Brewing Ground is not just ‘another cafe’.

Alas, there was a slight downfall in their Crabmeat Tagliatelle (S$26). When opting to go for a thicker pasta, it’s always wise to marry it with a sauce viscous enough to cling onto the strands. Here, the thin lemon butter sauce slides right back into the bowl, resulting in the crabmeat-and-pasta combo being a mismatch. In addition, having had two stellar dishes prior, the lack of robust seasoning took centre stage here, which added to my disappointment.

How can one dine at a cafe and not order waffles (if they’re not already stuffed)? As one of the oldest, long-standing must-haves in so many Singapore cafe brunch menus, this rendition of Buttermilk Waffle & Ice Cream (S$11) can beat any other effortlessly. I prefer mine crisp on the exterior and fluffy to the core, which this performed immaculately.

Although I opted for chocolate ice cream to accompany it, I could’ve easily been just as—if not more—satisfied relishing it on its own, with only a drizzle of maple.

Final thoughts

Disclaimer: I thoroughly enjoyed The Brewing Ground so much that I returned the following week, for my birthday brunch.

If that’s not a marker of someone who absolutely adores a food spot, I don’t know what is. However, be sure to carve out some time on a weekday to head down—and even then, with a reservation. Having been only in operation for a few months, The Brewing Ground’s reputation is certainly gaining organic traction. All I can say is, I don’t think I can ever accept poorly seasoned avocado toast ever again.

Expected damage: S$15 – S$25 per pax