Well Collective – New Japanese-Inspired Pet-Friendly Cafe in Punggol!

Opened by the same founder of theRITUAL and BOTANY Cafe, Well Collective has just opened its doors in the brand new Northshore Plaza in Punggol. This new cafe boasts a wide menu serving up starters, mains, cakes, pastries, waffles and crepes. Did I mention that they have an array of vegan and gluten-free dishes as well?

As I stepped into the cafe, I was greeted by a zen, aesthetically-pleasing space that looked like it came right out of a magazine catalogue. Right at the counter was the display case where the pastries sat and to the left, the cakes they offered. Besides the indoor seating, they also have a pet-friendly alfresco dining area that is currently still under renovation. We should all keep our eyes peeled for that!

Since they are still in their soft launch phase, I did not manage to get my hands on their crepes as they will only be available later this month. Nonetheless, I decided to gobble down the recommended Belgium Chocolate & Berries Waffle ($15) where the Chocolate Gelato is made in-house.

As a self-proclaimed ice cream and waffles connoisseur, I didn’t hope for much when it came to their rendition of this sweet dessert, considering that they aren’t an ice cream parlour. But boy was I wrong. The Buttermilk Belgium waffles were perfectly crisp on the outside yet still warm and fluffy on the inside! The flavours were also on point with a hint of vanilla and nuttiness.

The Chocolate gelato itself was super smooth and super creamy, all while every mouthful screamed cocoa. That said, it was not too overwhelming. In fact, the richness of the gelato complemented the light fluffy fragrant waffles.

Here, they also add a generous amount of Berry Compote, which comprised whole berries that burst as I bit into it. Although the compote fell a lot on the sweeter side of things, it also carried a tinge of sour notes and acidity that helped to cut through the creaminess of the gelato and waffle.

After indulging in my dessert, I dug into a bowl of Truffled Beef Bowl with Sous Vide Egg ($25). Instead of merely being topped with some truffle aioli or truffle oil, my bowl came with some shaved truffle slices.

While the beef was not exactly melt-in-your-mouth tender, it was still well seasoned and extremely juicy! The saltiness stemming from the toppings sprinkled on top balanced out the slight acidity present in the Tsukemono that was cooked with the Japanese rice.

Hidden underneath the bed of sliced beef was an Onsen egg which sadly did not have that runny golden yellow yolk we all know and love. Either way, it still helped to add a strangely satisfying creaminess to the dish.

During my time here, I caught myself constantly soaking up the good vibes, and I know I definitely will be back!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.