Chye Seng Huat Hardware

We decided to go on an early-morning Saturday date. 

I love mornings. Getting up really early gives me a sense of accomplishment, even if I don't do anything at all, and just sit on my computer chair, all glassy-eyed, munching the same piece of bread for 20 minutes. 

Despite my love for mornings, I'm not a morning person, and don't usually function too well with other people at that time. Mornings are the times that I have zero tolerance towards anyone who does something I find a pet peeve. Say, licking your fork and knife repeatedly to get pieces of scrambled egg off it (Someone seated opposite me was doing just that, ha.) - Ugh! It's revolting.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware's been the talk of the town for a while (no, it's not a hardware store), especially among young folks that have nowhere to go and don't want to travel overseas... After all, I think all Singaporeans have concluded that there is nothing much to do in Singapore except eat, eat, and eat, and scout for new establishments to try. 

I always like shophouses. They give off such a classic vintage vibe, without being too ancient and icky.  (i.e. Temples are pretty architecture but they're so "ancient"...) Too bad most of them have to be refurbished (always becomes slightly modernised after refurbishment and lose some of their old-world appeal) or they start coming off in pieces. Don't be fooled, you can't actually enter through these doors/gates, and they aren't meant to be opened at all.

The Saturday crowd! We forced ourselves up early, and got there about 9.45am to plenty of seats, but the place really filled up at about 10.30am and then it was full-house. It's great to walk in and pick any seat you want to sit at, but because of the crowd, this lady squeezed in a seat beside me and man, she had a real good time prodding me with her elbows with no clue that she was hitting me every single time she shuffled on her stool or sliced her bread. Hmpf. I really don't know how some people have such low levels of self-awareness...

Don't you think the menu looks like one giant biscuit?

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon (S$11)

One of the better scrambled eggs I've tasted. I like them milky (but not swimming-wet) so these were really to my liking. The colour looks great too (no white patches)! Will definitely return for these. The toasted bread, nothing to rave about, since I can D-I-Y at home. Don't like the fact that there was no butter provided, but I'm not complaining. The pea shoots... definitely unnecessary. They were probably there to fulfil the "healthy" requirement of the dish and add some colour. But... they tasted much like grass, and despite my love for salads and veggies, they were just "ugh, grass". 

Ham Omelette (S$9) + Bacon (S$2)

The Ham Omelette was good! JS topped up $2 to get some bacon, but he says it's not necessary, and the dish itself is quite fulfilling and yummy. Again, the pea shoots were just yucky-tasting, but it's okay since you can just throw it to the side of the plate (and at least nothing it touches adopts that grassy taste) so, no complaints!

Brewed Coffee (S$5): Cappuccino 

Verdict: GOOD COFFEE.

Other than a slightly confusing menu that just says "Espresso", "Espresso with Milk", "Espresso with Water" and "Brewed Coffee", you can actually order brewed coffee in their various styles like "latte", "cappuccino", you name it. They roast their own coffee, and not being a coffee person (I avoid it if possible), I'd say I like the coffee here - which means coffee-lovers can add this place to one of their coffee-must-trys.

A hearty breakfast topped off with great ambience, high ceiling, good coffee, and no pressure to give up your seat. Damage of S$33 for 2 meals and 2 coffees; No service charge. Totally. Worth. It.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road
(Near Farrer Park MRT)
Singapore 207563