The popular Populus cafe at Neil Road (blogged about them here) has a new sister, and that's the Apricus cafe at Jalan Kayu! The name is Latin for sunny or warmed by the sun, apparently. I guess that's quite accurate too because the space has a skylit roof which lets in plenty of sunshine, making the space the perfect bright and airy place for chats and coffee. I had the pleasure to be invited for their preview tasting and enjoyed all the food we tried! The Populus folks went for the tried-and-tested route, bringing their signature items over to the Northeast side of town plus the addition of more Middle Eastern inspired cafe food items, and I think that's a good formula! You'll notice the cafe (the block opposite Jerry's Grill) facing a small park with black, white and gold colours, and a block of dotted lights at the front. Very cool.
Here's their menu (taken from their Chope). As you can see, brunch is the name of the game. Prices are on the high side, but inflation's no joke. At least you know when you pay here the food's worth it though (given the ingredients, portion sizes.. see later).
We started with the good ol' Populus Scramble (S$20) featuring the signature buttery croissant with turkey bacon (it was rather tough then, hopefully it would be crispier now!). The scrambled eggs were really creamy though and this is still a very good dish so glad it's carried over! 4/5
The vegetarian Hummus & Foccacia (S$13) was one of the unexpected favourites. The bread was really fresh and soft and went quite well with the hummus, with bits of pomegranate adding pops of freshness. Overall a delicious dish, though the portion is a bit big for small eaters. 4/5
The Apricus Green Bowl (S$19) was VERY generous in portion with elements like quinoa and bulgar wheat, charred brussel sprouts, slaw and squash and my favourite avocado, which was perfectly ripe. The only thing was the chicken skewers (optional add-on) felt a bit extra. The yogurt & herb dressing was also very appetising but not sure if it's the best combi with the chicken. It felt a bit too healthy for me, overall 3/5
Instead of the green bowl, go for The Apricus 'Curry' Chicken Stew (S$19) - it was the best savoury dish of the day! The chicken was melt-off-bone tender and superbly cooked and the tomato-based curry stew was full of spice flavour. The okra were also a great touch. Actually some bread would be good with this too 😅. 4/5
We also tried a side of Charred Brussel Sprouts (S$12), which were slightly bitter, but the tobiko were a nice touch. It was quite a big portion for a side dish. I don't think I would crave for this though. 3/5
Lastly, we also tried the Roasted Cauliflower Steak (S$16). I like the idea of a non-beef steak, but unfortunately the cauliflower was not well-done enough (ha!) and I would have liked the seasoning to penetrate more of the core. I did appreciate the kale chips and mustard caviar though! Maybe if I was still a flexitarian I would voluntarily order this, but as a meat eater, this will be unlikely. 3.5/5
While you're there you should definitely order their coffee with amazing latte art. Anyway, I'm glad the Apricus cafe has opened up nearer to me (only 13 mins from my place) and presents a good option for coffee and brunch. Congratulations to the team for pulling this off in year 3 of the pandemic as well!
🙅 Thank you, next
🤷 Try if nearby
💁 Bookmark this ✔️
The Apricus Coffee & Food Co.
248 Jalan Kayu, Singapore 799472
Mondays to Fridays 10am to 6pm (last order at 5.30pm)
Saturdays and Sundays 9am to 9pm
Closed on Tuesdays
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