The Tastemaker Store

I went for lunch here one day. I had a ham and cheese sandwich, severely overpriced and nothing special for $ 8. Not filling either. On the side I had a lemon tart, which tasted generic (most likely ordered from a supplier).
The acoustics are terrible. I heard the whole conversation of the guy sitting behind me ranting about his girlfriend, and then a group of office workers came for lunch and the din of their voices plus the clinking of cutlery gave me a headache.

A few of my colleagues and I checked this place out during lunch time as it was pretty near to my office (around 15 mins walk).
If you’re like me and crave for some good ‘olé local (and cheap) food for lunch, don’t bet your lunch money on this café. Have some wantan mee or teochew porridge around the area before heading here for some coffee and cakes.
The local offerings on the menu doesn’t go beyond the 5 fingers on my right hand but it was ok for a café standard with the price range around Wang Café’s standard. My colleagues ordered the Curry Chicken Set, 1 Slice of Mushroom Pizza, Yam Cake and Glutinous Rice. I had a few bites of it and it was not too shabby.
For my, I had my own lunch at the nearby famous Teochew Porridge stall but that’s a review for another time.
On another note, I absolutely love the lemon curt tart which boost the same texture as MacD’s Sausage McMuffin Bun with a sweet lemony stuffing which takes you by surprise. Very nice dessert which I will return for. Didn’t try the coffee as I was abstaining from coffee for a week following my food poisoning but the brew that my colleague was nursing smelt oh-​so-​good!

The coffee is good. The cakes are not. The cakes are dense and feel a bit dry.
What I like about the place is the relative quietness compared to the more hip and happening Tiong Bahru (Yong Siak and surrounds) area. This place has a bit of family run feel to it with its limited menu serving local food with a twist. The décor is simple and minimalist, with some likening it to a Muji-​like ambience with its use of aluminium and wood. Pots of plants on the table and around the place does make it a bit homely too.
A bit of background on this place from what I have read in the news and from friends living in the area. It used to be a stationery store for decades and now the grandchildren have taken over the premise by turning it into a small café. According to the media, the grandchildren pay rent to their grandpa who still owns the place. I thought that is a nice touch, plus the shop still stays in the family.
Besides cakes (probably outsourced from other place) and beverages, you can get local delights such as yam cake, glutinous rice, laksa, curry chicken rice and fried chicken wings (I read some are made with their family recipes). The typical kaya toast with soft boiled eggs has been changed to kaya with clotted cream. Mmmm… clotted cream. Besides kaya, you can also choose lemon curd or fruit jam. There are also regular basic ham and cheese sandwiches and simple pizza for savory food.
If I live in this area, it will make a pretty great spot to chill with a cup of coffee. It is not overly crowded for now. Tables are spaced out nicely that you do not feel claustrophobic or that you can accidentally eavesdrop on others’ conversation.