Mad Roaster is not a stranger to the coffee scene in Singapore. Years ago, they started serving coffee and bakes with a social cause to support the refugee community through NGO partners such as Habibi International and People Serving People Foundation.
Most recently, they opened a full-fledged café serving all-day brunch, coffee and pastries situated in Enabling Village in Redhill, a very apt location befitting of their purpose to advocate for the less fortunate.
The standalone brick-and-mortar café is both pet-friendly (at the lawn and backyard) and kid-friendly (both indoors and outdoors), so be prepared for the friendly chaos if you’re thinking of visiting over the weekend. Bonus point for book lovers – there is a mini library set up by the Casual Poet Library (a community library based in Redhill) in the café.
I visited the café on two separate occasions, one on a weekday morning and one on a weekend morning and I highly recommend the former. It was peaceful such that I could read the books on the shelves while enjoying my breakfast.
I played safe and went for the White Coffee ($6) – a double shot ristretto, made with their house blend (aka Mad Blend).
On my first visit, I had the Matcha Latte ($7) and opted for no sugar, but oddly on my second visit, I was not asked to pick the sugar level and was served with a matcha latte that was too sweet for me.
Each of my drinks came with a small card which featured a unique logo coloured by a refugee in Asia who was commissioned by the cafe, and it was heartening to know that I was indirectly helping the refugees.
The breakfast menu is served from 8am – 3pm with vegetarian and vegan options. I had the Granola Bowl ($16) which came with house-made longan and gula melaka granola, grape compote, macadamia praline butter, coconut yogurt and coconut chia pudding. The granola bowl was on the sweeter side but I enjoyed every component coming together nonetheless.
I also had the ‘3-Chilli’ Fried Eggs and Avocado Skillet ($18). The fried eggs were incorporated with 3 types of chilli – Mojo- Picon, lao gan ma chilli crisp, and green chilli chutney. Despite that, the amount of chilli used was minimal so it was not quite spicy. With the addition of marinated kale, avocado and freshly-baked and crisp sticks of focaccia on the side, the dish was well-balanced (with carbs, protein and fat) and hearty.I also had the ‘3-Chilli’ Fried Eggs and Avocado Skillet ($18). The fried eggs were incorporated with 3 types of chilli – Mojo- Picon, lao gan ma chilli crisp, and green chilli chutney. Despite that, the amount of chilli used was minimal so it was not quite spicy. With the addition of marinated kale, avocado and freshly-baked and crisp sticks of focaccia on the side, the dish was well-balanced (with carbs, protein and fat) and hearty.
In the glass display was a range of bakes that can also be found in their other outlets. Perhaps the signature one would be their Chocolate Babka slice ($4), which came toasted and topped with house-made custard followed by salted chocolate crumble. Though I found the babka to be slightly dry on its own, the custard helped.
Mains are served from 11am – 8.30pm. I didn’t get to try them, but some of the dishes like the Beef & Marrow rice bowl ($22) and Seafood ‘Al Ajillo’ with lime rice ($26) sound delicious.
With the warm service, cosy atmosphere and unpretentious, comfort food and drinks, I could see why the café was buzzing with people from as early as 8am.
20 Lengkok Bahru, #01-20 Enabling Village Outpost, Singapore 159053
8am – 9pm daily
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 