La Fez is a new Muslim-owned (pending Halal certification) Moroccan-style cafe that opened 2 doors away from Kota88 Restaurant at East Coast Road.
The “East Coast (Café) Plan” is certainly getting more exciting, with La Fez joining other new names of Neptune, Seng Coffee Bar, The Brewing Ground, East Coast Commune and Sundays Ice Cream.
Inspired by the Moroccan architectures, the iconic “horseshoe” arch can be seen from their windows and doorways from a distance.
Stepping inside, I felt like I had stepped into Marrakesh, one of the four historical capital cities of Morocco.
It is also known as the “Rose City” due to the natural red clay used to tint their buildings.
Inside, the entire 70-seater space is painted in rose pink and gold, equipped with rattan chairs, and exudes a Mediterranean charm with a unique dining experience.
Two different menus are available, namely an all-day brunch starting from 8am and Lunch & Dinner from 11am onwards, with the incorporation of Arabic spices and ingredients in most of their dishes.
For their all-day brunch menu, signature dishes include the Majorelle Shakshuka with Feta Cheese ($19.90), Ziz Latkes Potato Pancakes ($12.90), Maghreb Baghrir Pancakes ($15.90), La Sultana Pandan Pancakes ($16.90) and Kasbah Brioche French Toast ($18.90).
The Majorelle Shakshuka with Feta Cheese ($19.90) was my favourite, served in a traditional earthenware and two slices of baguette.
Coming with spiced tomato, poached eggs, mushroom, onions and pepper sauce, the Shakshuka was tangy and savoury, with the right amount of creaminess due to the poached eggs.
The onions added a tinge of sweetness to the combination, whereas the pepper sauce elevated the flavour of the entire dish.
I wished that the baguettes can be crispier and more generous in serving, meant for dipping into the Shakshuka.
I initially thought that the Kesra Avocado on Sourdough ($18.90) would be served on Kesra, a traditional Algerian bread.
Instead, the avocado and hummus were served on a sourdough instead, sprinkled with La Fez’ Arabesque spice and poached eggs.
Somehow, the spices were a tad bland and the avocado lacked the creamy and buttery profile.
The plus point was the well-executed poached eggs and presentation, beautifully served on a wooden board and a silver shiny plate – like something Aladdin would present to Jasmine.
Pastries are freshly baked in-house daily, with a selection of Moroccan Strawberry Tea Cake ($12.90) and Fig Cake ($12.90) that can be a little pricey.
The Moroccan Strawberry Tea Cake ($12.90) comes in a vibrant shade of red, essentially a mousse cake on top of a hazelnut feuilletine for the extra crunch.
The chocolate mousse is infused with earl grey tea to add some complexity to it whereas the layer of strawberry compote in the middle adds a touch of citrus-ness.
While the texture is light and airy, I wished that the different components and flavours could be more pronouced.
Using a single origin from Victoria, Australia and roasted there for their espresso-based drinks, the usual items could be seen: Cappuccino ($3.90), Flat White ($3.90), Café Mocha ($3.90), Americano ($3.90) and Decaf Coffee ($3.90).
For customisation, add on $1 for an extra espresso shot, soy milk or oat milk.
The Nous Nous ($3.90) pronounced as “noos noos” caught my attention.
The half espresso, half milk beverage was served in a Moroccan glass with a gold rim around. Being a dark roast, robust with a lingering acidic taste, it may not be everyone’s cup of coffee.
No magic carpet ride for now, but with a unique pink interior and variety of Moroccan dishes, La Fez can probably be the next destination to check out when you are in the East.
La Fez
907 East Coast Road, #01-04 Springvale, Singapore 459107
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Tue – Thurs), 8am – 10:30pm (Fri – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
Neptune (East Coast Road)
Seng Coffee Bar (Changi Road)
The Brewing Ground (Joo Chiat)
East Coast Commune (East Cost)
Sundays Ice Cream (Telok Kurau Road)
* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
