For The People Review: Gorgeous Cafe With Churro Waffles And Cinnamon Croissants In Bendemeer

For The People cafe in Bendemeer

The Jalan Besar food scene is home to a number of powerhouse cafes, including the OG Chye Seng Huat Coffeehouse, and all-grey cafe Lucid. Recently, a new entrant known as For The People has joined in the area’s cafe ring, hoping to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants with their eye-catching interior and brunch fare.

I’ve eaten my way through many IG-worthy cafes, but right through the door, For The People had me ooh-ing over the gorgeous space that looked straight out of Wallpaper* magazine. Founder Vanessa Yen prides the space for its comfortable minimalism, and food she brands as “easy to eat”. Eager to see if the menu stacked up to the vibes, I readied to plough my way through their highlights.

Lucid: New Minimalist Cafe Serving Artisanal Coffee And Aesthetic Bakes At Lavender

Food at For The People

For The People is best-known for is their brunch menu, available till 4pm daily. Apart from this, they have burgers, pasta and other mains, sides, cakes, and pastries served out of their Muji-esque coffee bar.

My dining companion and I arrived at lunch, so we start with a classic Carbonara ($16+). Served with al dente linguine, I was happy to spot that the sauce was done the traditional way, with eggs and cheese forming the heart of the pasta sauce, instead of gloopy cream. 

Nicely-seasoned with kicks of black pepper, the only downside was having to top-up $3 for bacon slices so the dish could have a protein element.

To their credit, though, we got large slices of bacon, instead of the stingy bacon bits I’ve come to associate with cafe carbonara.

Off the brunch menu, we tried their famed Crispy Churro Waffles ($14+). Inspired by the Spanish street snack, these waffles were liberally crusted with a cinnamon-sugar mix, and served with chocolate sauce and fruits. You can add $3.50 for a scoop of either Earl Grey, French Vanilla or Triple Chocolate ice cream.

The waffles had cakey heft of churros, living up to their name. I liked how generous the coating of cinnamon sugar was, though I wished the chocolate sauce was served on the side bu default—it was a touch too sweet, and tasted pre-made. Still, if you enjoy really dense waffles, you’d be a fan. If not, they do a savoury Fried Chicken & Waffles ($19+) option to go for.

Out of the 14 sides, we ordered the Mozzarella Sticks With Sriracha Salsa ($8+). Golden-brown mozzarella sticks came with a salsa that was so good, my companion ate it straight from the pot.

The vinegary spice of Sriracha sauce added oomph to the tomato salsa, cutting through the richness of the mozzarella sticks.

I liked that For The People had cakes and pastries for folks who want to unwind at the cafe without committing to a big meal.

The Cinnamon Croissant ($4.50+) had the sticky, gooey swirl of a cinnamon roll, albeit with buttery pastry, great to go with a coffee.

The New York Cheesecake ($6.50+) is another solid option to try off their cake menu. More airy than your regular NY-style cheesecake, the cream cheese was not too sweet nor jelak, sitting atop a still moist digestive crumb base.

Beverly Hills Cheesecake Review: Famous Cheesecake Factory’s Desserts At City Hall

Ambience at For The People

The cafe seats 60-people, and even when busy, it doesn’t feel cramped or crowded. Different seating arrangements pepper the space, with tables and booths for more intimate conversations, couches for small groups looking to hang out, and bar seats for solo workers. 

The furniture and the intent behind the design is impeccable. For example, the use of grey sand blues makes diners feel soothed, while light wood and rounded edges on the fixtures add to the approachability. 

I also like the fact that there are power plugs around—crucial in this remote working age, where some of us may turn to quiet cafes as workspaces.

For The People is also relatively accessible. You can get there via a five-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT Station.

10 Jalan Besar Hawker Gems That Deserve As Much Attention As The Cafes There

The verdict

Overall, For The People sets out to do what founder Vanessa intended: to keep it simple and easy. I’d say the food menu adds to the experience, but the real star and the reason I’ll return is definitely the space. It definitely is one of the prettiest cafes I’ve encountered this year, and the thoughtful design makes For The People the kind of cafe that people will remember for more than just its Instagram factor.

For more eats in the Jalan Besar area, check out our guide to Jalan Besar hawker food, or our Scissors Cut Curry Rice stall review, spotlighting this gem that opens till late.

Address: 11 Hamilton Road, #01-00, Singapore 209182
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am to 6pm. Closed every last Tuesday of the month.
Tel: 8133 4819
Website
For The People is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by John Lery Villanueva.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.