Tucked away into a little corner on Ann Siang Hill sits The Club, with a cosy little café/bar nestled in its basement that serves all sorts of wonders. The café/bar Mr & Mrs Maxwell’s is designed for a huge versatile crowd that goes past The Club every day, from breakfast items to cocktails to coffee.
The Club is also home to a few other eateries, namely The Disgruntled Chef, Tiger’s Milk and B28. Hotel guests tend to stop by for their first meal of the day, which means that breakfast is served all day until 7pm. No qualms about missing breakfast if you decide to sleep in. At night, the place turns into a homey bar with cocktails or house wines and spirits at the bar to help you unwind as the night settles in.
The entire concept of Mr and Mrs Maxwell’s takes inspiration from the travels and adventures of a couple — from the interior of the restaurant made to emulate a cozy living room to cuisines inspired by different cultures around the world. It seems like the place is full of hidden alleyways, because there is also an outdoor courtyard framed with trees and windows lined in red that allows a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
We were offered a curated menu of some of Mr and Mrs Maxwell’s take on the well-loved classics. A total revamp of the menu means each of the dishes were never seen before, such as the Elvis’s French Toast and their Maine Lobster Laksa.
First up we tried the Lobster Omelette (S$16). A simple yet timeless dish to start the day, the omelette was cooked to just the right amount of fluffiness and had a generous helping of lobster. Served on sourdough toasted with gruyere cheese, the bread itself could be the focus of the dish, with the sourness not too overpowering, yet managing to complement the omelette and the herbs. This is a nice change, compared to the usual omelette that most eateries sell.
Usually found in cheesecakes or pastas, ricotta was infused into the pancakes itself for a slightly heavier take on an all-time favourite. The Ricotta Pancakes are not for everyone though, as some people might be turned off by the cheese taste, especially if they don’t fancy dairy products. While it was quite refreshingly different on the taste buds, it became a little bit too rich for my liking after a few bites. It would have been better if there’s something savoury on the side, like bacon or sausage to take some away the cheesiness. Best to share this with a buddy.
The Corned Beef Hash is yet another breakfast dish I wouldn’t mind waking up to every morning. This breakfast hash of corned beef, potatoes and onions on toasted panini is like comfort food, nothing special but yet still has a special place in your palette. Fans of eggs would love the sunny side up which was cooked perfectly that the yolk dribbled all over the plate once broken.
Every café has its own special burger, and Mr & Mrs Maxwell’s The Club Burger pretty much kills the competition. Topped with candied bacon similar to bak kwa (Chinese pork jerky) and Emmental cheese, the burger simply melted in my mouth. Perfect if you have a meaty craving, even though I would have preferred melted and stringier cheese drizzled all over my burger. Worth a try if you are a huge fan of burgers.
Finally, we reached my favourite part of the meal – dessert, which turned out to be Baked Alaska. We watched in fascination as the delightfully colourful cotton candy stacked atop a scoop of baked ice cream was drenched in rum and lit up with fire. I would say the entertainment factor for this dish was more exciting that the dish itself. Most of the alcohol had soaked into the little wafer biscuit hiding under the ice cream, which led to an bitter mouthful of rum at the end. While I did not fancy the aftertaste, rum lovers might find joy in this dessert.
Another performance dish is the Crêpé Suzette; I had the joy of watching the staff prepare it as if it was a live cooking show. Flambéd with orange liqeuer, the crêpé was presented with some ice cream to even out the citrusy flavors. I would say this is more geared towards those with a sweet tooth.
The café also offers a wide range of cocktails and drinks, which you can pick depending on your mood or to complement your palette. Their Chocolate Baileys and Vodka Peanut Butter shakes are their more popular adult shakes, for moments when you want something refreshing and at the same time feel like having a bit of alcohol.
If you are in a more fancy mood, take a shot at their champagne punch which comes adorned with fruits or a Truffle Martini, one of their signature drinks. The latter is made up of cold espresso topped with vodka and Frangelico. The sweet yet bitter Sarnies coffee gave me a the right kickstart to the day, yet is also perfect for winding after a long day.
Mr & Mrs Maxwell’s
28 Ann Siang Road
Singapore 069708
Tel: +65 6808 2188
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday: 7am – 11pm; Friday to Saturday: 7am – 12mn
