Shen & Co. is a cafe that doubles as an antique shop, much like the nearby (and more famous) Carpenter & Cook. But while Carpenter & Cook features a cheery, Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired theme, Shen & Co.’s decor is a lot homelier. And cozier. The vintage furniture and dim lighting give the place a rustic, laidback feel that makes it perfect for chilling.
This would be a great cafe for some light reading and a lazy weekend brunch, if the food was actually good. I really dig Shen & Co.’s nostalgic look and vibe, so it pains me have to write a negative review about the place, but I’ve never been impressed with anything I’ve eaten here, the waffles least of all.
Bleh. Where to begin?
Photogenic as it was – especially alongside the pretty two-in-one teapot – this waffle disappointed in every other regard. Soft, chewy and overly eggy, it reminded me of those old-school pandan waffles I used to have as a kid… but not in a good way. You can probably get better waffles for $1.50 at an MRT station bakery (I say this without hyperbole). On top of that, the cinnamon-infused apples were too sour, with the mint leaves and nutmeg being the final nails in the coffin. (Who puts this stuff on a waffle?!) At least the artisan vanilla ice cream was pretty good, being hand-churned and not too sweet, but it couldn’t save everything else.
It’s worth mentioning that I’ve seen other photos of Shen & Co.’s waffle that make it look far crispier, so maybe the kitchen staff were having an off day when they baked mine. One thing’s for sure – no more nutmeg or mint leaves if I ever order this again.
Ratings
WAFFLE: 1.5/5
ICE CREAM: 3.5/5
Address: 140 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588176
Contact: None (antiques aside, they apparently don’t have a telephone)
