Whisk & Paddle is no stranger to residents staying in Punggol, a popular riverside cafe since 2014 along the Sungei Serangoon Park Connector that leads to Coney Island.
True enough, I wasn’t surprised when Whisk & Paddle decided to open a second outlet along another Park Connector (Choa Chu Kang PC).
This is right opposite Bukit Batok Driving Centre within the soon-to-open Bukit Gombak Park.
Unlike their outlet at Punggol Waterway with both indoors and alfresco dining area, this 80-seater new outlet is fully air-conditioned.
There is natural sunlight during in through the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows in this standalone glasshouse building, which adds to the ‘instagrammability’ factor.
Surrounded by lush greeneries from the Bukit Gombak Park, diners can momentarily experience dining in the woods with an extensive menu.
Food choices range from Starters ($9.80 – $14.80) to Brunch ($14.80 – $20.80), Mains ($25.80 – $32.80), Pasta ($14.80 – $20.80), Bar Bites ($11.80 – $13.80) and 10-inch Pizza ($18.80 – $24.80).
While most of the menu is similar to their sister outlet at Punggol, some of the new outlet exclusive items include the Tom Yum Pizza ($24.80), Pumpkin Pizza ($19.80) and Mushroom Bacon Risotto ($17.80).
My favourite was the Tom Yum Pizza ($24.80) came with slices of prawns, mushrooms and onions, drizzled with chilli oil and lime juice for the citrus punch on top of a thin crust pizza.
The pizza crust was crispy with the right amount of thickness, complemented by the different textures from the toppings.
Flavours wise, the level of spiciness was manageable and well-balanced without being one-dimensional, coupled with sweetness from the prawns.
For the Mushroom Bacon Risotto ($17.80), there was a balanced amount of creaminess without being too moist, topped with cheese crispy for the added crunch.
The flavours were on the milder side, and could perhaps be elevated with more seasoning.
One can never go wrong with their all-time signature Fish & Chips ($25.80) with thick-cut fries and tartar sauce on the sides.
Served in a chunky golden-brown single slice with crispy and crunchy textures, the fish was soft, tender and moist on the inside.
There is also a kids version ($13.80) portioned into thinner cuts instead of a single huge slice.
All their pastries are made in house such as Raspberry n Vanilla ($9.80), Matcha Kinako ($10.80), Chocolate Tart ($9.80), Warm Chocolate Fudge Cake ($6.80), Cookie Monster with Ice Cream ($8.80) and Macarons (Peach $3, Rose $3, Choco Fudge $4, Salted Caramel $4).
The Raspberry n Vanilla ($9.80) was the crowd’s favourite, filled with almond sponge, raspberry compote and mousse and Vanilla whipped ganache shaped like a flower.
The tart crust was buttery with a nice crunchy texture, complemented by the fruity berries in it within.
My friends were all amused by the Matcha Kinako ($10.80), in the shape and colour of the alien creature CJ7 (长江7号) by Stephen Chow.
Made from matcha ladyfinger, gluten free shortbread, matcha whipped ganache and matcha glazed, the Matcha Kinako ($10.80) was smooth with notes of matcha.
The Kinako mousse with kink nuts embedded in it adds a more earthy profile and creaminess to the overall flavours.
With many years of experience in the industry, Whisk & Paddle has continued to innovate to provide a more extensive menu to the diners.
I believed this will be a popular pit stop for cyclists to grab a bite due to the close proximity to the park connector and a conducive space for families and friends to gather over some hearty brunch.
Whisk & Paddle
816 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, #01-01, Singapore 659089
Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 9:30am – 10:30pm (Sat – Sun)
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