As a fan of desserts with sweet and savoury flavours, I was excited to review La Grigne Patisserie, a hidden bakery in the CBD known for their honey-spiked mentaiko croissant. Their pastries and breads are freshly baked every morning using French and Japanese techniques, and you can even see them being made in-house when you’re in the store.
We went straight for their signature item, the Salmon Mentaiko Croissant ($5.50). I was impressed by the substantial-looking croissant, which was puffy and airy at the same time.
After cutting through the croissant’s flaky layers, I reached its centre, which consisted of a piece of smoked salmon marinated in honey shoyu. While it was a small slice of fish, the savoury and salty flavours packed a punch. There was also a dollop of mentaiko cream on top of the croissant for extra umami.
Our eyes were also drawn to the Almond Frangipane Croissant ($6), which is the bakery’s most expensive item. The shape reminded me of a mini Stegosaurus as the croissant was almost entirely covered in chopped almonds.
This croissant had a light sweetness to it and a buttery, nutty flavour. It also had a horizontal cut across the centre that opened to reveal the fragrant almond frangipane spread inside.
As a chocolate lover, I had to try the Chocolate Lava Croissant ($4), dusted with cocoa powder. There was also a glazed orange peel on top for some fresh, citrus notes.
Like the Salmon Mentaiko Croissant, this one was flaky and dense on the surface, but airy inside. The creamy chocolate ganache was not too sweet and flowed out of the croissant with each bite. It tasted even better when it was heated up for one minute, as that made the chocolate lava more warm and flowy.
For something different, you can try the Mini Cinnamon Brioche ($3.50)—a mini loaf of bread with hints of cinnamon. The cinnamon scent was pronounced, which was pleasant, while the brioche itself was not too sweet and had a sticky texture.
Although the bakery is compact, La Grigne Patisserie welcomes a healthy stream of customers drawn in by the display of delicious pastries by the window. There are no seats in the minimalist bakehouse with the exception of a small bench for those queuing up to order, so you’ll have to take the pastries home to enjoy.
La Grigne Patisserie is a minute’s walk from Maxwell Food Centre and a nine-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station.
While $5 can be considered steep for a croissant, one can argue that the size and taste justify its price point. I especially enjoyed the mentaiko and chocolate croissants and found them to be an appetising teatime snack. Of course, I would have preferred to enjoy the fresh bakes on-site, but the bakehouse will be converted to a cafe with seats in the near future, so we can look forward to that!
If you’re looking for more artisanal croissants, read our Konditori Artisan Bakes review.
Address: 33 Erskine Road, #01-02, Singapore 069333
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 6:30pm
Tel: 8831 7175
Website
La Grigne Patisserie is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Jasper Juay.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg
Summary
Pros
– Interesting sweet and savoury croissants
– Freshly baked croissants
Cons
– Takeaway only
Recommended dishes: Salmon Mentaiko Croissant ($5.50) and Chocolate Lava Croissant ($4)
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 6:30pm
Address: 33 Erskine Road, #01-02, Singapore 069333