SO Robertson Walk is way off your dining radar. You're tired of eating elbow to elbow with other customers in a cramped Paragon shop space. If despite all this you're still a fan of Canele's European-style sandwiches and designer desserts, then stretch your limbs out at its newest and largest space ever in the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre.
Picking up where the former Mix premises left off, the new Canele has a vantage fountain-side position from which it serves an expanded menu in a 74-seater cafe in the shopping centre's Marketplace retail and dining cluster. It's hard to walk past and not be tempted by the vast array of creamy mousse and ganache confections jostling for space with colourful macaroons, pralines and other confections housed in colourful packaging.
This colourful and sweet facade, however, gives passers-by the impression that this is purely a dessert place. True, it's a showcase for patissier Pang Kok Keong's signature dessert creations, but not everybody may know that Canele has a substantial savoury menu where the soups, salads, sandwiches and savoury crepes are no mere afterthought.
Its soups, for example, are hearty affairs priced at a reasonable $8.50. The rich cream of mushroom is a hot favourite, while minestrone lovers will enjoy this creamy version which almost reminds one of Campbell's cream of tomato and noodles which have the texture of the canned variety - albeit in a pleasant, familiar way. Canele's version is beefed up with chunky fresh vegetables, and all soups come with thick slices of its trademark bread.
Sandwiches are priced from $13.50 and the classic favourite would be the croque madame - thick bread slices baked with ham and gruyere cheese, topped with a yummy fried egg and served with salad. Or if you're a smoked salmon and egg fan, there's focaccia piled with creamy scrambled eggs and generous slices of salmon. Or you can pick from so-so pastas ($13.50) and baked rice dishes ($15) - where rice and different toppings are baked in a creamy sauce.
There's also a range of braised dishes like coq au vin or braised beef.
There are several set lunch combinations priced from $19 to $24, where you pretty much mix and match from the main menu. For example, a soup or salad, sandwich and coffee/tea adds up to $24 - which is $2 cheaper than if you ordered them a la carte.
It's not a great deal, considering that some mid-priced places throw in free dessert as well for the price, but then you are paying for good-quality ingredients. Still, some might think it a bit pricey to pay $20 for essentially a soup and a sandwich when you can get the same thing for less at say, Cedele, just a few feet away. But again, it's a question of quality and what one is willing to pay for a simple meal.
Service could also be speeded up - the serving staff are friendly and efficient, but it's the kitchen that could use a sense of urgency.
Still, for Canele fans, the new outlet is a welcome addition. For prospective fans, there's a bigger platform to attract them with. We reckon it won't be hard reeling them in.
Rating: 7/10
Canele #B1-81/82 Raffles City Shopping Centre.
Tel: 6334-7377
