Cheap fix
If you need a hipster food in Balestier, Fix is it
One of the successes of the local hipster cafe scene is Grub at Bishan Park.
And now, the group behind Grub, Cookyn Inc, has landed another unlikely location to open Fix, a cafe offering simple inexpensive food.
There is no lack of quality food in the Ah Hood Road/Balestier area. Here, you can find authentic food from vendors who have been around forever.
While that is appealing, there will always be those attracted to the innate coolness of a place like Fix.
It feels like Fix is determined to be youthful - the customers are young, as are the servers.
And, to me, only the young can truly enjoy a place without air-conditioning.
On a humid day, you might end up eating under a layer of sweat.
And it is located inside the relatively inaccessible obscure HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse (a six-minute trek from the Toa Payoh MRT, via the Toa Payoh Town Park).
Still, the two times I was there, it packed a decent crowd.
Fix is waiting to be awarded with a halal certification too, opening it up to a wider customer base.
Like a lot of cafes, the draw seems to be the coffee and the desserts.
I enjoyed the milkshakes, especially the lemon curd ($7).
- TNP PHOTO: YEOH WEE TECK
NAANWICH
The beef and kimchi naanwich ($10) is a clever idea. Instead of the traditional wrap, they use a naan. But I found the naan too dense and cumbersome.
The naanwich could have used a bigger hit of spices, too. Still, if you are hungry, this will fill you up fast.
- TNP PHOTO: YEOH WEE TECK
COMMON BUT DECENT
A common cafe dish is the 3-cheese penne gratin ($10). This version will not change the landscape of cheese gratin dishes, but it is more than decent.
However, when I turned up unannounced and tried it again, I found it slightly dry.
- TNP PHOTO: YEOH WEE TECK
PRETTY TIKKA
The prettiest dish is the chicken tikka, feta and almond salad ($7). The taste is not revolutionary, but there is enough hint of spice and the almond adds a nice crunch.
The dish is photogenic, so you may spend time perfecting that shot to post on Instagram, but get to the salad quickly.
I took my time and found a pool of liquid at the bottom of my bowl.
- TNP PHOTO: YEOH WEE TECK
LOOKS & SMELLS GOOD
The strawberry pistachio rose tart ($6) had the right combination of aroma, taste and texture.
At the invited tasting, I found the base too dense, but it was much lighter when I returned.
- TNP PHOTO: YEOH WEE TECK
TART & LIGHT
My favourite cake is the passion fruit, mango and coconut chiffon cake ($7).
The tartness of the passion fruit keeps it interesting and the lightness of the cake is appealing.
This is a dessert that needs repeated tastings.
FYI
Fix
HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse
31, Ah Hood Road
Opens daily 9.30am to 10.30pm
Call 6256-1484 for reservations
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