Jimmy Monkey Café – Park Place Residences at PLQ (PLQ 3)
Affected by the Circuit Breaker, Jimmy Monkey Café had finally opened its doors at Park Place Residences at PLQ after much delay in its renovations.
(Screengrab of part of the dinner menu on their website; patrons are to scan the QR code to view the menu)
Being located at the ground level of Park Place Residences at PLQ, the cafe is situated at a location that is slightly far-flung from the main PLQ Mall compound, with the space being located at a spot nearer to the junction between Geylang Road and Guillemard Road. Being much of a kiosk set-up rather than a full-fledged cafe, Jimmy Monkey Café at PLQ 3 does have a dedicated dine-in area that is non-airconditioned. The outdoor area is well-ventilated, with fans being installed to keep diners cool; the dine-in space also comes with a number of large tables that would have worked well for large gatherings and communal seating alike, if not for the Covid-19 pandemic that had happened at the time of writing. While Jimmy Monkey Café had established their name over their comforting brunch offerings and specialty coffee at their one-north locations previously, their PLQ 3 outlet sees them venturing into dinner service, with small plates, large plates dubbed “bigger than small”, pasta, salads and desserts being offered on the menu. Specialty coffee and tea, as well as a list of milkshakes (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and sodas also make up part of the beverages menu during dinner service.
(Slow Cooked Cauliflower)
Going for something to be shared at the table, we found ourselves going for the Slow Cooked Cauliflower, which featured elements such as Hazelnut Puree, Pomegranate Dukka, and EVOO. Essentially a dish that features charred cauliflower, we especially liked how the charred florets of the cauliflower come slightly crisp and carried a slightly smoky note; the stems providing a good crunch. The combination of the cauliflower with the Hazelnut Puree and the Pomegranate Dukka does evoke some Middle Eastern vibes for the dish; pretty hummus-esque with a strong hint of spices from the Dukka amidst of the earthiness of the hazelnut puree, while the pomegranate helps to create some crunch and a tangy zestiness that bursts in the mouth as one chew on them for a refreshing contrast of flavours.
(Baked Rigatoni Puttanesca)
For those who prefer to go for something less meaty but do not want to forgo their carbs, the Baked Rigatoni Puttanesca comes as a pretty substantial option on the “Pasta” section of the dinner menu here. Coming with elements such as Olives, Capers, Tomato and Buratta, the dish is essentially a baked pasta item with Rigatoni tossed in a tomato-based sauce, whilst also coming with olives and capers within and “baked” with B Buratta being melted over the top of the pasta on one side. Being a dish that sounded, and even looking pretty aesthetically heavy given the portion size and the composition of ingredients used for the dish, this was an item that felt best to be shared around the table especially for smaller eaters. The Rigatoni comes al-dente, carrying a good bite without being brittle nor did it felt limp; we liked how the melted Buratta somehow fills up the interior of the pasta that provides an oozy, cheesy stretch that we found to be pretty appealing. Tossed in a tomato-based sauce, the sauce provides much of a bright tang to the pasta, but it is the olives and capers that provided an aromatic touch that made the pasta slightly easier to finish as it provided a dimension of flavours that helped to take away some of the heaviness of the punchier flavours from the cheese and tomato especially. An item that would work well for those who usually prefer going for a hearty, but well-portioned pasta item during their cafe-hopping visits.
(Sticky Honey Chili Sakura Pork Belly)
We also went for the Sticky Honey Chili Sakura Pork Belly; one of the items which stood out to us while we were skimming through the menu on their website. Consisting of elements such as Lemony Sumac Potatoes, Roquette-Hazelnut Pesto and Roasted Roots served alongside slabs of Sakura Pork Belly slathered with Sticky Honey Chili, the item belongs to the “Bigger Than Small” section of the Dinner Menu. Indeed, being part of the menu of the bigger plates served here, the Sticky Honey Chili Sakura Pork Belly comes pretty substantial and would work well as a sharing plate for those with smaller appetites. Of particular note, we found the pork belly to be pretty well-executed here; the pork belly comes with distinct layers of fatty and lean meat, providing the dish with a meaty bite and a soft, melt-in-the-mouth and gelatinous texture at the same time. The meats come drenched in the Sticky Honey Chili sauce; something that we felt was pretty close to a local sambal done well, striking a balance between the saltish notes of sambal and a slight sweetness that was pretty uplifting and provided the dish with contrast in terms of flavour. Coming with an assortment of root vegetables on the side, the root vegetables are sauteed for a crisp exterior while maintaining a soft crunch within. The Roquette-Hazelnut Pesto provides a refreshing respite from the heavier elements of the dish, lending the entire dish an aromatic, herb-y zing that cuts through the savouriness and meatiness of the entire affair.
(Purin)
Ending our meal at Jimmy Monkey Cafe with a dessert, we found ourselves going for the Purin; an item that is described as a “Japanese Caramel Custard Pudding” on their “Sweet Treats, Pastries” section of the dinner menu. Served in an inverted orientation, the caramel sits at the bottom of the bowl; the pudding being almost akin to that of a Panna Cotta; smooth, creamy, milkyand eggy whilst being paired with a bittersweet caramel that further enhances the flavours of the pudding without causing the entire dessert to f eel like an onslaught of saccharine sweetness. Topped with a chopped strawberry over the top, the strawberry provides a slight tang to complement the lightly sweet flavour profile of the dessert.
(Flat White)
Being at Jimmy Monkey Cafe, it is almost certain that we would not leave the cafe without going for the specialty coffee here. The Flat White here is well-pulled; smooth and creamy, whilst featuring a medium body with an earthy and nutty flavour profile and comes with a speculoos cookie on the side. A cuppa that would work especially well as a morning perk-me-up.
Having been around in the F&B scene for quite a while, it is interesting to see Jimmy Monkey Cafe finally expanding its operations after all being that indie set-up that is well-hidden in the one-north neighbourhood all these years. The new location does provide more exposure to the brand, considering how most folks in the East may not have heard of them before if they rarely travel out of the area and are not familiar with the local F&B scene. It is also exciting to see how Jimmy Monkey Cafe has strayed out of the comfort zone and started to serve up dinner grub; a refreshing change from its operations at one-north which is known to serve up comforting brunch dishes. Their dinner items are pretty substantially-sized and do work out pretty well for groups and hungry folks alike, while also attempting to keep up with the times where cafe-goers are seemingly moving away from the classic brunch-style dishes and pasta that was all the rage back then when the cafe-hopping movement was going on strong. The only qualm we have with the space at PLQ 3 will be how the seatings are all outdoors; not a bad thing considering it helps to create a unique ambience and that the ventilation is managed pretty well with the environment being pretty cool for the most part, though getting ourselves fed while multiple mosquitoes feed on us was something not quite pleasant overall. However, Jimmy Monkey Cafe’s new location at PLQ 3 is indeed a spot worthy to check out; a spot that is slightly far-flung from the main PLQ area that is quieter and more serene; a space that works well for catch-ups without having to jostle with the crowd that serves up decent fare and good coffee to pair with.
Jimmy Monkey Cafe 2 Paya Lebar Road #01-10 Park Residences at PLQ (PLQ 3) Singapore 409053
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