From 14 May to 15 July, Oriole Cafe is having a 3C promotion, that is, the drinks and desserts have chocolate, coffee and caramel.

Drinks

Doppop Dolce ($6.80) and Mocha Storm ($9)

Doppio Dolce ($6.80), made of a double shot espresso (ristretto), warm milk, caramel and chocolate, has a full body and less bitter than usual espresso. In Pierre Goh’s words, it is a “strong roast with a generous cushion of foam that gives the aroma plenty of space to circulate.”

Seven Sins Akin ($16)

Like cocktail and alcohol? Seven Sins Akin ($16) has seven different ingredients including Baileys, Kahlua, white cacao, caramel, chocolate and cold brew. According to the PR, cold brew is a Japanese method of soaking the grounded coffee beans in cold water overnight, to give the coffee a natural sweetness. Not a fan of bitter things (like rum and coffee), this cocktail is sweet, smooth and easy to down. I want more. *hick*

Not a coffee drinker and a teetotaler? Mocha Storm ($9) (cold brew, vanilla ice cream, chocolate, caramel and milk) is like a coffee milkshake, except there isn’t the bitterness of coffee.

I am not much of a coffee drinker myself because I dislike the bitterness. Life is bitter as it is. And Oriole’s coffee concoctions aren’t bitter at all; they are rich and full-bodied which is how coffee is supposed to taste.

Desserts

Carmella’s Kiss ($8.50)

Carmella’s Kiss ($8.50) – chocolate-coffee tart with fresh cream and toffee chard. Bitterest chocolate.

Tiramisu ($12)

The tiramisu is quite different from elsewhere. As you can see from the photo, the ladyfinger is only laced–not soaked–with coffee liquer at the sides. As a result, the sponge cake’s sugary taste is distinct.

The best 3C dessert is Bernini at Sea (not pictured, $10.50), a rectangular brownie topped by a rectangular block of macadamia sea salt ice cream and a shot of Baileys Irish cream by the side. The brownie, glazed with sugar, has an interesting and crunchy texture.

Overall, the desserts, though not as impressive as the drinks, are decent.

Food

We’re starting a “Start with Desserts First” campaign and we ended with the affordable global fare.

We heard of the famous Fish & Chips ($17) from our friends. It comes with hand-cut fries tossed with garlic aioli (garlic sauce), rosemary and parmesan cheese; the fries can be ordered on its own too.

Though just a smidgen oily, the batter is thin and tasty–with a spice that tastes similar to but not as strong as masala–and the snapper is fluffy and fresh.

While Pierre preferred the Fish & Chips, I quite liked the Jamaican jerk chicken ($19). The onion rings are nonsense, hard crust and bland, but the baby chicken–you get the entire chicken for just $19!–is delightful. Tender and moist, with just a bit of char for taste. (The original Jamaican jerk chicken is completely charred but the chef tones it down to suit Singaporeans’ palates.) It is marinated with a combination of spices called jerk-rub. What an unfortunate name but it tastes similar to wu-xiang (five-spiced powder) that Chinese use. The familiarity of the spice is comforting to me and perhaps that’s why I like it.

From Oct 2011 to Mar 2012, Oriole has raised $18, 000 during its recent M.I.L.K (Mainly I Love Kids) charity campaign. Oriole will continue its support for disadvantaged children and youths in Singapore by donating 10% of their earnings from coffee beverages from 1 June to 31 Dec 2012.

Overall, we can understand its popularity. Its main draw is the coffee, which is really quite something. I don’t drink coffee but I want to return to drink seven sins akin and mocha storm. The food is definitely value-for-money and is respectable.

Oriole Cafe & Bar
96 Somerset Road
#01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
T: 6238 8348
Website
Facebook

M-Tue: 11am-11pm
W-Th: 11am-12am
F-Sat: 11am-1am
Sun: 10am-10pm

Rating: 3.703/ 5 kopi-o siew dai

PS: Thanks to Carlyn, Melissa and Oriole for the invited tasting.