Bearded Bella Review: Beautiful Cafe Serving Melbourne-Inspired Food At Tanjong Pagar

Bearded Bella at Tanjong Pagar

Bearded Bella has been on my radar ever since they opened. Housed along Craig Road, the inconspicuous cafe is tucked behind a wall and reminds many of the cafes in Melbourne. Although I’ve not been to that part of Australia, the food served at Bearded Bella does resemble the cafe nosh I tried in Perth.

Food at Bearded Bella

Better than a regular eggs Benedict is their Pig & Eggs ($24++). Two perfectly poached eggs covered in a vibrant green hollandaise came perched atop sliced baguettes. Accompanying them were three slices of slow-cooked pork jowls and pickled daikon.

On its own, the fatty pork jowl was too unctuous for my liking. But when paired with everything else on the plate, it was a dish that impressed.

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The vinegared flavour from the daikon cut through the richness of this dish, providing a refreshing zing to each bite. A pity there were only a few slivers of the pickled winter radish.

The Italian Meatballs And Sauerkraut ($20++) was a hearty grain bowl that hit the spot.

Similar to the Pig & Eggs, it’s recommended you eat everything in one mouthful for a smorgasbord of flavours; nutty, earthy, salty and tangy.  

Done two ways, the sauerkraut comprised bacon bits, almond dukkah and candied walnuts. Its subtle tartness balanced out the saltiness of the house-made pork meatballs.

Slicing through the meatballs, I found chopped pistachios. This green nuts gave the soft meatballs a nice crunch and depth in flavour.

We couldn’t resist ordering dessert, thanks to the smell of freshly baked goods wafting out the kitchen.

Dense and fudgy, the Bella’s Chocolate Spro Cake ($8) is a chocolate cake on steroids. It uses bittersweet chocolate, which complements the layers of sweet choco cream. There’s also a dollop of bitter chocolate fudge crowning the cake, adding to the overall richness.

For something lighter, get the Roasted White Chocolate Raspberry ($6.50). 

Wrapped around in a sticky white chocolate shell, the dainty dessert was sweet, with a subtle tartness from the raspberry filling.

Do pair your grub with a cup of coffee ($5 for 5oz, $5.50 for 8oz) – it’s specially blended and brewed in-house. Their brew is rather acidic, so skip it if you prefer richer, darker undertones in your cup of Joe.

Ambience at Bearded Bella

Pink and blue are popular colours among kids – and for good reason. Incorporating the winning colours to their interior, Bearded Bella features a blue settee with plush pastel pink cushions. The seating arrangement is rather cramped, so eavesdropping on people’s heart-to-heart will be unavoidable.

The verdict

Good food, gorgeous interior and friendly waitstaff – Bearded Bella ticks all the right boxes and gets my stamp of approval. If the weather permits, I recommend you snag a seat outdoors for a more Aussie vibe.

Address: 8 Craig Road, Singapore 089668
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 7:30am to 5pm, Thur-Fri 7:30am to 11pm, Sat-Sun 7:30am to 6pm
Tel: 9880 0775
Website

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Photos taken by Koh Huiqing.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.