Ergon Deli + Bar Review: Greek Deli That Uses Artisanal Ingredients From Greece

Ergon Deli + Bar opens its first branch outside Europe

Update (4 April 2019): Ergon Deli + Bar has permanently closed.

Greek food calls to mind the famous Mediterranean diet and another, perhaps contradictory, thought – mountains of cheese. An evening at Ergon Deli + Bar reveals it is both. Every dish features fresh ingredients that burst with flavour, and the wholesome mains makes indulging in wedges of tasty cheese a whole lot easier.

Food at Ergon Deli + Bar

Ergon serves what we’d term brunch fare; toasts, pies, and pastries form the bulk of their menu so fans of all-day breakfasts will feel right at home.

We sampled a few of their open-faced toasts first. Grilled octopus on hummus ($24++) was my favourite, though admittedly I have soft spots for both seafood and the dip itself. If you order this on your visit, an entire octopus’ leg will be served on a hunk of sourdough so it does make a filling meal. I wished the tender grilled octopus had a smokier aroma, but the tangy sourdough and salty hummus gave the dish enough oomph in flavour.  

Characteristic of Greek cuisine, seasonings here are sparse to push fresh ingredients into the spotlight. The components of each dish aren’t complicated, but they work well together and are well-balanced in terms of saltiness, creaminess, and savouriness. Those with stronger palates may like their smoked salmon on sourdough toast with cream cheese and watercress ($15++).

Pies are another feature on Ergon’s menu. These have fillings wrapped in flaky filo pastry, and pie is to Greek food what pizza is to Italian cuisine. Cheese pie ($9++) is one I’d order again; buttery cheese between delicate, crispy layers of pastry makes an unbeatable pairing.

Some say Greeks are fuelled by coffee and sugar, which makes me think I’d fit right in. Greece’s most famous dessert is probably baklava. It’s a rich pastry containing chopped nuts wrapped in filo, with syrup or honey drizzled over to sweeten. Ergon’s Baklava ($8++) is made with chopped walnuts.

They also serve Kataifi ($8++) and Saragli ($5++) that are variations of baklava – the former uses shredded filo pastry and the latter small rolls of filo pastry instead of sheets of it. Though the three are essentially the same dessert, the walnuts were especially fragrant in the saragli and helped tone down the sweetness of the syrup. These desserts are best shared, even for those with a sweet tooth.

If you fall in love with any particular ingredient in the dishes you tried, including their creamy hummus dip or briny feta cheese, you’ll be able to buy them at the deli. These products, including pasta, spreads, and sweets, are sourced from producers across Greece and flown into Singapore regularly.

Ambience at Ergon Deli + Bar

The cafe is sleek, modern, and furnished with white brick walls that make an ideal backdrop for any Instagram shot. Rows of eye-catching Greek products line the shelves and the selection is definitely worth exploring – you’ll find everything from food to kitchen equipment.

The verdict

Pop by Ergon to jazz up your brunch routine with something other than eggs Benedict. With fresh ingredients and great flavours, Ergon is a place to start for those curious about Greek cuisine. There’s no questioning the food’s authenticity when most of the ingredients are imported from artisanal producers in Greece.

Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-365, Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: 8360 3616
Website

This was a media tasting at Ergon Deli + Bar.