Many Singaporeans would be familiar with home-grown restaurant Jack’s Place. This year, the Singapore brand is celebrating its 50th birthday. In conjunction with this milestone, Jack’s Place has collaborated with home-grown brands like popular ice-cream creamery Udders and coffee brand Smitten Coffee. Apart from the collaborations, Jack’s Place has also created a new extension called Jack’s Cola Café last year.
Before it came to be known as Jack’s Cola Café way back in 1967, Cola was started by Say Lip Hai in a shop house in Jalan Legundi in Sembawang. In 2015, armed with a revival plan, Jack’s Place brought back the brand Jack’s Cola Café in February at Paya Lebar Square.
Stepping into the café, I immediately felt at home and comfortable. A nice playlist of English chart-toppers from the 2000s were playing softly (I found out subsequently that it was a specially curated playlist of songs featuring the likes of Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch). What stood out however was the decor; the chairs were printed with colloquial Singlish words like shiok and hungry meh, making for good conversation fodder and cute Instagram pictures. I can totally imagine myself spending an afternoon here with a cup of coffee. But apart from the ambience, does the food hold its own alongside Jack’s Place restaurants?
A quick perusal of the menu left me pleasantly surprised. Prices looked reasonable. I opted for the bolognese lasagne (S$10). It was a little on the salty side for me, but the prawns were fresh and the portion was value for money.
Bolognese Lasagne
At S$8, the freshly baked baguette topped with crispy chicken cutlet too was a steal. I really liked the salad and the coleslaw. The vegetables for the salad were crunchy and I liked the choice of dressing. The coleslaw was tangy and refreshing. The only slight let-down was the chicken, though; it wasn’t as succulent and juicy as I would have preferred.
Freshly baked baguette topped with crispy chicken cutlet.
The show-stealer for Jack’s Cola Café, in my opinion, were the desserts collaborations with Udders Ice Cream. The Cookie Wookie Sundae (S$14.50), concocted from one scoop each of Snickers Mars Honeycomb Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, and Horlicks Balls, was just the right amount of crunch and sweetness, thanks to the crunchy caramel biscuits, digestives and Oreos.
Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry Smoothies, and the Cookie Wookie Sundae.
Made with one scoop of Classic Chocolate, Peanut Butter Crunch, Snickers Bar Honeycomb Vanilla ice cream each, and drizzled with caramel sauce and oreo shavings, I’d like to think that the Choco Peanut Butter is how happiness on waffle tastes like. You can top S$3 for a freshly baked waffle to accompany your Choco Peanut Butter (S$14.50).
Apart from dining in, Jack’s Cola Café and Jack’s Place restaurants have introduced a retail concept which sells products like Jack’s Place marinated steaks, sauces, craft beers, boutique wines, and honey at affordable prices. Oh, and did I mention that all prices stated are nett prices? Now, who can say no to affordable dining like this?
Jack’s Cola Café
60 Paya Lebar Road
Singapore 409051 #B1-16
Tel: +65 6341 6918
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 10.30pm
