Cafe Natsu is known for serving western brunch with a Japanese flair. The brainchild of Chef Lewis Barker, Cafe Natsu opens its second outlet at Clemenceau Citadines Connect Hotel, just six months after its debut at Joo Chiat. We visited the Joo Chiat outlet on a rainy afternoon and it was bustling. We were told that there is a refreshed menu that was recently launched to exude a stronger Japanese influence.
For starters, we had the Ebi Croquette ($12++). Ebi prawns that are soft and creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Kewpie mayo is then drizzled and finished with some prawn oil. We also tried two items from their new menu. The first was the demi-glazed Wagyu Hamburg ($26++) served with okonomiyaki pancakes and mixed green salad. The hamburg had a pinkish-red center and retains some moisture despite having been seared to finish. It is well-seasoned and we liked the accompanying okonomiyaki pancakes that were slightly crispy. The green salad has a refreshing dressing which cuts through the heavier hamburger and okonomiyaki. The second main we had was the Short Rib Ragu Kare Casarecce ($24++). Casarecce Pasta is used as a base and cooked with tender short ribs braised in Japanese curry spice. The heat is mild for this dish so those who don’t take much spice can still have this. The pasta was a tad too firm to our liking. So if you prefer pasta that has a somewhat firm texture but is still slightly tender, you may want to highlight it to the staff when ordering. For desserts, we tried the Mochi Fried Donuts with Salted Hokkaido Milk Ice-Cream ($12++). This was a delightful end to the meal – the donut balls with chewy mochi in the center, lightly dusted with fragrant cinnamon powder and sugar. The cold salted hokkaido milk ice-cream is a good pairing too.
You may wish to check out their new outlet at Clemenceau Avenue. We noticed many patrons having their Wagyu Sandos during our visit this time so that will probably be the dish that we go for on our next visit!
Budget per person: $20 to $30 per person
Café Natsu
Phone
+65 8886 4497
Address
283 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427537
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