If you haven’t heard of Assembly before, you could be forgiven. Nestled in a quiet corner of Evans lodge — next to the Prata House – Assembly is a newcomer (or latecomer as it were) to the Bukit Timah café scene. Serving up a delectable combination of unabashedly simple fare and aromatic coffee, Assembly appears to have discovered part of the secret to gastronomical success. While I don’t mean to heighten expectations, what Assembly can guarantee you is a good cup of coffee at a fair price.
At first blush, and indeed from external examination, Assembly didn’t amount to much. It appeared to be just another one of your unexceptional run-of-the-mill coffee joints. However, upon stepping into the narrow confines that Assembly calls home, my perception was immediately altered. Adorned with simple yet modern finishings, Assembly exudes a rustic sort of charm that one would normally associate with little ‘hipster’ cafes in the Tiong Bahru or Kampung Bahru area. While, owing to spatial limitations, the seating capacity is somewhat limited, that does little to detract from the cozy and warm atmosphere that fills the room.
And without further ado, allow me to unveil their humble offerings:
1. Scrambled Eggs Croissant
Of the 4 items in the picture, only the eggs were cooked on-site. As is often the case with most cafés/bakeries, their pastries are purchased from external retailers. However, the croissant was soft and yet not too buttery. For the more health-conscious readers, it wasn’t particularly oily either. The eggs were light and just about perfectly scrambled.
Price: $13.90
Rating: 4/5
2. Quiche of the Day
As you might’ve guessed, the type of quiche you get depends on the day. On the day that I tried it, it was a bacon, egg and spinach quiche. As with all their other pastries, it isn’t made on-site so do try to manage your expectations. The pastry wasn’t particularly dry, but the filling was a little bland. All in all, nothing to rave about.
Price: $9.50
Rating: 3/5
3. Buttermilk Waffles with Chocolate & Strawberries
This was probably the highlight. The buttermilk waffles were fluffy and light and combined nicely with the chocolate and strawberries. Understandably, eating waffles with chocolate, strawberries and ice cream everyday would surely result in the early onset of diabetes, but once in awhile, this little platter of heaven is a sinful treat worth having.
Price: $11.50
Rating: 4.5/5
Now of course, to the coffee:
4. Café Mocha
Price: $5
Rating: 4/5
5. Café Latte
Price: $4.50
Rating: 4/5
6. Flat White
Price: $4.50
Rating: 4/5
In the interests of disclosure, you should know that personally, I am quite partial to mocha. While I am also slightly averse to coffee that is too sweet, their mocha struck a nice balance. Overall, their coffee was smooth and yet not too milky. It was strong, but not ridiculously packed with caffeine to the point where you would palpitate after having a cup. For the price, I think that they provide a cup of coffee that is value for money and yet an alternative to the coffee served at other places in or around campus. P.S In case you guys were wondering, yes, there is a discount for NUS students.
Editor’s Note: Yes, indeed. The kind folks at Assembly Coffee are offering NUS Law students 10% off their total bill. All you have to do is show your matriculation card and you’re good to go!
Article by: Douglas Wong (Year 2)
