COCONUTS HOT SPOT — You know that feeling when you discover a new gem of a find and you want nothing more than to keep going back? That’s how we feel about Caffe Fernet. Here at Coconuts Singapore, we go through a fair bit of new restaurants every month. By no means are we culinary connoisseurs, but if something’s great, we’ll wax lyrical about it.
And Caffe Fernet is fantastic. Honestly, we haven’t felt as excited about a new restaurant as this mod-Italian one in a newly-constructed space at the Customs House. It’s got all our boxes ticked for a great night out: Good vibes, upbeat tunes, glorious views, creative cocktails, and a superb menu of meats, cheeses, and pasta.
Unsurprisingly, the hip hangout was buzzing with dressed-up CBD types when we visited, even though it was only a Tuesday evening. With the breeze in our hair, the twinkling lights across Marina Bay, and the warm, Italian trattoria-inspired contemporary decor, Caffe Fernet made for quite the intoxicating experience — we almost forgot it was just a weeknight in little ol’ Singapore.
If you need any more convincing, the 130-seater is run by the Jigger & Pony Group, the same one behind award-winning bars like Sugarhall, Gibson, and its eponymous Amoy Street one. It’s also helmed by chef David Tang, whose résumé includes the kitchens of various Wolfgang Puck restaurants over the last decade.
Essentially, everything that we sampled on the menu was worthy of another order — if only we had two stomachs to fill up. Start by savoring a dollop of creamy ricotta cheese topped with chestnut honey and thyme, slathered on toasted sourdough bread ($15). Next up, veggies never tasted so good with smoked leeks, gorgonzola and toasted pecans ($19), and red beetroot mole tossed with rocket leaves and feta cheese ($21).
When you move on to the large plates, keep in mind that the bigger portion sizes are meant for sharing, so you don’t make the mistake of over-ordering. An iconic dish that’s elevated here, the Mafaldine ‘Cacio e Pepe’ ($25), is a dish of nicely al dente, ribbon-shaped pasta simply mixed with pecorino and four types of peppercorns. Just as good is the spanner crab spaghetti ($29), a zesty bowl of carbs tossed with pine nuts, lemon, and parmigiano-reggiano.
If you’re after some protein, the chicken picatta ($36) offers a generous serving of juicy meat swimming in a sauce made of saffron, lemon, and capers. Alternatively, there’s the crispy porchetta with pickled mustard seeds ($38) and the veal parmigiana ($46) with smoked scamorza.
To end your meal on a sweet but light note, the fluffy olive oil cake with mascarpone ($14) or the bomboloni stuffed with vanilla-lemon curd ($13) will do just the trick.
Or you can just sip on cocktails for the rest of the night — there’s the refreshing watermelon frosé ($15); the communal flamingo punch bowl ($230) filled with prosecco, vodka, Aperol, passion fruit, grapefruit, and lemon; the Amalfi spritz ($17) gin concoction; and the caffe boulevardier ($21), a caffeine-infused, bourbon version of the Negroni.
Sadly enough, as you may have noticed by now, prices here are predictably not wallet-friendly (except for happy hour drinks), just like any other Marina Bay eatery. So it’s best to save this spot for a special night out, unless you’re the type who can easily afford to blow at least $80 on a random Tuesday dinner.
Caffe Fernet is at #01-05 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, 9178-1105. Mon-Thurs 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am, Sat-Sun brunch 11am-4pm.
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