As promised, I will gladly share with you the cafe I went to the last time I went to Jalan Pisang. My friend introduced me to this place. It's a hole in the wall type of place, with a very eccentric feel to it, at least to me.
At first, I thought I just stepped into an indoor garden, I really did, or maybe I just could not see very well. As my eyes adjusted to the light, the first thing that caught my attention was the table. They seem to be made from recycled woods, reshaped, repainted, given a new life back, and I like that. I couldn't help to touch them for some reason, and it was clean (yippiiee). Always a plus when you're eating at a new place, it has already made a good first impression on me. That's not always the case, you know.
As I took a clearer look around the place, I found out that what made me thought it was a garden, was the huge flower bouquet at the back of the room. I guess, the mind works in mysterious ways sometimes.
After I realized my mistake, I then looked at all the pipes on the wall, and the menus, and the fact that they were stuck together on clothes hangers. Interesting, but I think I would appreciate it more if they were printed, you know, like conventional menus. Or at least, write them down on a big blackboard. Having the menus on papers stuck together like that, all worn, doesn't appeal to me personally actually, sorry. Personal preference I guess.
At first, I thought I just stepped into an indoor garden, I really did, or maybe I just could not see very well. As my eyes adjusted to the light, the first thing that caught my attention was the table. They seem to be made from recycled woods, reshaped, repainted, given a new life back, and I like that. I couldn't help to touch them for some reason, and it was clean (yippiiee). Always a plus when you're eating at a new place, it has already made a good first impression on me. That's not always the case, you know.
As I took a clearer look around the place, I found out that what made me thought it was a garden, was the huge flower bouquet at the back of the room. I guess, the mind works in mysterious ways sometimes.
After I realized my mistake, I then looked at all the pipes on the wall, and the menus, and the fact that they were stuck together on clothes hangers. Interesting, but I think I would appreciate it more if they were printed, you know, like conventional menus. Or at least, write them down on a big blackboard. Having the menus on papers stuck together like that, all worn, doesn't appeal to me personally actually, sorry. Personal preference I guess.
The place did not look like a lab, as I initially had imagined, because of the name. But then I thought, they named it that because they like to experiment with food and share it with us customers, duh!
I like the counter though, it looks very cool, and hip. Wow, I can't believe how old I sounded saying 'hip', makes you cringe somehow. I mean, in the words of Stephen King on writing, 'Who farted right?'
I like Stephen King. He's funny.
Anyways, on with lunch. Since my friend was the one who invited me to come and she happened to be treating my daughter and I lunch that day (lucky!), she recommended and ordered for us all the good stuff. Yes, please hook us up :).
So, we ordered the Heisenberger, the Terefrank buffalo wings and a pepperoni pizza, official name of which I forget.
After an amazing appetizer of some heavenly cookies (who has cookies for appetizers??? ............eerrr, this one), which was somewhat totally (?) unplanned and unexpected (you can find the full story here), all the food came, and we first helped ourselves to the Heisenberger.
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| Potato and sweet potato fries, yumm |
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| Look at that meat patty, and the sauce dripping from the top |
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| Ready to eat? |
As I took my first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the caramelized onion, did it read so on the menu? I didn't realize, but it was lovely. It matched very well with the white sauce and the spices in the meat patty. There was a turkey bacon on top too, which I love.
But what was interesting to me at that time was the bun, it wasn't a normal burger bun. I tasted a lot of buttery-ness, so I guessed the bun was a brioche (?). Feel free to correct me if I'm not accurate.
This made the bite to slide even smoother in my mouth. A good burger overall, even one of the better ones I've ever had. Buttery bun+juicy meat patty+crisp turkey bacon+slightly wilted lettuce+white sauce+caramelized onion = perfect bite. Never leave one element out.
One personal preference though, and I'm sure others may not agree entirely, but for me, I like it better if the meat is cooked through and added a bit more salt. But that's just me.
Because, I don't really enjoy looking down my food and having to stare at the strands of fat and uncooked meat in my hands, and realize I'm going to have to put that meat in my mouth. But again, that's just me :).
Next, there was the pizza.
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| Pepperoni Pizza |
Either my daughter was hungry or the pepperoni was just too appetizing for her, she took a slice before I could even take a proper picture. But, this came out better than what I had in mind.
Pepperoni, good. Sauce, good. Cheese, good. My daughter loved it so much she ate 3 slices. She said she liked it because the bread was crispy. But when I tried it, it turns out what she meant was cracker crispy. I thought it didn't really taste like the normal pizza bread, but the consistency was more like a bread stick. Which is fine, it still tastes good, but that's new. I guess 'The Lab' is a proper name for this place after all. They DO experiment with food :).
Pizza topping on a 'bread stick' pizza bread; fun to eat! Who would have thunk it?
After I tried the two main dishes, I eyed the wings, they were looking wholesome indeed.
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| I love them wings |
At first, I tried the wings without the sauce, it tasted savory and slightly sweet, but not spicy. So I had my daughter to try some too. Unfortunately, she didn't like it. I'm guessing it's because the spices were not something she's accustomed to.....on chicken wings. Also, it was either we came too early, or they just didn't marinade the spices into the wings properly, but the spices didn't come through to the meat inside, which would have tasted even better.
The second wing I tried, I dipped it in the sauce first, the sauce was sweet, so I guess my friend ordered the lychee sweet chili sauce. Good combination, I loved it. And there was something reminiscence about that chili, it reminded me of my grandmother's sambal or chili sauce she used to make. Then, I realize the taste was that of dried chili. Was there really dried chili in that lychee sauce? I didn't ask, but it was good, it added a savory bitter aftertaste that I like.
Only now that I'm writing about it, and google the Lab Sg's menu, that I realize there are three levels of spiciness to the wings: Wild, mild and.....yek eleh. I'm not sure how this last one is supposed to be pronounced, but if it sounded like how I imagined it, then it's hilarious. I still smirk a little now imagining how it sounds ^-^.
It was a good dining experience for me, added by the fact that it was free. Another good halal eating place added to my list. I hope you can experience it too one day.
More information about The Lab SG:
1 Jalan Pisang #01-01
Singapore 199069
Tel: 6299 5681
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 12.30 pm - 10.00 pm
Sunday 1.00 pm - 9.30 pm
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