Feast with Fluffy at pet-friendly, Japanese-French cafe in Punggol

New cafe spot for North-East residents and their pooches.

By Coconuts Singapore

Aug 22, 2022 | 3:19pm Singapore time

Fuel up on food with your pets by your side at a new cafe joint aiming to be more inclusive with their menus.

From the same people who brought cafes Botany to Robertson Quay and the Ritual to Bukit Timah Road, the Well Collective at Northshore Plaza II in Punggol opened this month to feed more mouths and create an inclusive space for the community and furry friends.

“Holistic wellness is the balance of mind, body and soul and this is what Well Collective is about. I design all my F&B concept spaces to integrate mindfulness and the community from wholesome food, service to the environment,” Founder Cassandra Riene Tan said in a news release, adding that she hopes the space would gather people with the same hobbies and passion.

The 2,800-square-foot space has a separate, al fresco dining area for customers with pets. It is situated right next door to a pet groomer and vet clinic, and can seat up to 100 people.

Its interior has Japanese, French and Mediterranean influences, mixing the different cultures with concrete, wood, and stone finishes. Its windows are arched and wooden with concrete walls and bamboo lanterns spread throughout.

The goal was to make the space personal but also have a life of its own, the brand said.

Heavily influenced by French and Japanese cuisine, the cafe prices its menu on the higher end. It justifies this by using finer and natural ingredients like olive and vegetable oil, Himalayan salt, and different herbs and spices to create vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes.

They also exclude the use of pork and lard, but the cafe is not Halal-certified.

*From left to right, Barramundi with Yuzu Miso Sauce (S$28), No-Chicken Katsu Sando (S$19) and the Mid Wings with Yuzu Chili Sauce (S$13). Photo: Adrian Lee/Coconuts*

Starters include the silky smooth Torched Pitan Tofu (SS$10) made with silken tofu, century egg yolk paste, Japanese fried garlic, scallion and black caviar; and the Tofu Tempe Fries (S$12) served with wasabi mayo.

Mains include a Barramundi with Yuzu Miso Sauce (S$28) which comes with barramundi, charred cauliflower, mashed potato, green apple, yellow onion and yuzu miso sauce; and the No-Chicken Katsu Sando (S$19) made with toasted sourdough, plant-based Impossible Chicken, yuzu kosho mayo, pickled daikon, and fried kale. It also has the option to swap out the fake for real chicken meat.

Other dishes include a Matcha Azuki, Smoked Duck with Yuzu Miso, Wagyu rice bowls, and Chicken Yakitori.

Desserts include a very dense Creme Brulee French Toast (S$19), French Crepes (S$22), and an assortment of waffles, muffins, and cakes.

All dishes are free of MSG, preservatives, and additives.

As for drinks, they have several cocktails made with prosecco, rum, gin, and whiskey, as well as smoothies, cold-pressed juices, cold brews and fruit sodas, in addition to the usual coffees and teas.